Three Days later, Obama’s victory speech is still amazing

Posted by Spencer on Nov 6, 2008 in Op-ed, Politics | 3 comments

How amazing? It nearly brought me to tears again, that’s how amazing. Now I get to look at it with a new eye. A comment I left in response to another person’s comment, seemed to sum up my feelings. Here is that comment (edited a bit to make sense contextually).

I just watched “the speech” one more time. And I was struck by the following passages:

“In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let’s remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.”

And this:

“But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”

It is this very attitude that sold me on President Obama way back in January. The singular thought that if we as Democrats were able to win the White House, that it was our obligation to remember that as President, you are not the leader of the red states or blue states, but the United States (I know – his words).

The feeling of irrelevancy that the Bush administration forced me into, was the worst effect of his Presidency. So bad that I don’t wish it on Republicans. Assigning the status of irrelevant to half the country, is not good for us as a nation, and is among the many reasons we find ourselves in the situation we’re in.

With all that – Obama has so many hopes riding on his Presidency. He has lesser room for failure than any President has every had. But he has something else no other President since JFK can claim – he’s captured the imagination of people that have never felt part of anything ever before. It’s that passion that he must take advantage of if we are to succeed at this stated mission.

Click here if you would like to comment

Sphere: Related Content

Read More

Change has a new website

Posted by Spencer on Nov 6, 2008 in Politics | 0 comments

The Obama administration has launched a new website that seeks to gather thoughts from the public on how we need to bring about change to this country. You can submit your ideas at the site.

Change.gov: The Office of the President-elect

Sphere: Related Content

Read More

President elect Barack Obama

Posted by Spencer on Nov 5, 2008 in Politics | 6 comments

Up until the moment where it was announced that Barack Obama would become the 44th President of the United States, I remained doubtful. I remember 2000 and 2004 all too well. I told Grace not to put the champagne back until we know for sure – it’s the sports fan’s superstitious streak that got me. I remain thoroughly amazed and impressed with America as we seemingly got this one right. I quickly wiped a tear from my eye and Iooked forward to a day where my country can return to form and begin to fulfill on the promise that we’ve put aside for eight long years.

Yesterday I volunteered and it allowed me to see people passionately go about their civic duty. It was satisfying to see so many people look past our candidates race and his Muslim sounding last name, to make an inspired choice. A choice that is all about fixing what’s wrong than it is about keeping things the same. It shows that this country is ready for the woman, muslim, jewish, hispanic, asian, or other candidate. It is the example that we all needed to show what is possible.

I have no doubt that there will be times that President Obama will disappoint me. It will be those times that I remember that he is there because he has the daunting responsibility of ruling to a divided country, but that it was this divided country that made him President. It was this very point that made me an Obama supporter – that after eight years of a administration that ignored half of the country, it was time to have a President that respected all opinions, regardless of whether or not he agreed.

Sphere: Related Content

Read More

Change starts today – Voting information

Posted by Spencer on Nov 4, 2008 in Politics | 2 comments

After almost two years of talking, now the candidates get to sit back and hear what we have to say. I’ll be so glad to not see another political commercial for awhile. 

Here’s some election information. Be prepared to wait – I’ve heard first hand of some long waits especially in swing states. Going midday, if you can, is recommended but if you can’t, bring something to pass the time, your iPod, a book, a newspaper, etc.  If the weather is poor in your area, then bring an umbrella or wear a poncho.

As Michael Penn stated in song “The line is long but worth the ride”.

———————

Election 2008 Voting Information

Today, November 4th, is Election Day! Remember to vote—not just for Barack Obama, but for Congressional, state, and local candidates as well.

Where and when do I vote?

Find your polling place, voting times, and other important information by checking out these sites and the hotline below. These resources are good, but not perfect. To be doubly sure, you can also contact your local elections office.

What should I do before I go?

  • After you’ve entered your address on either Vote For Change or Vote411, read the voting instructions and special rules for your state.
  • Voting ID laws vary from state to state, but if you have ID, bring it.
  • Check out all the voting myths and misinformation to look out for: http://truth.voteforchange.com/

What if something goes wrong?

  • Not on the voter list? Make sure you’re at the right polling place, then demand a provisional ballot.
  • If you’re voting on an electronic machine with a paper record, verify that the record is accurate.
  • Need legal help? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
  • If you encounter a problem, try to videotape the situation and submit it to VideoTheVote.org

Want to do more?

  • Text all of your friends: “Vote Obama today! Pass it on!”
  • Volunteer at your local Obama office. Find an office here or here.

Now, everybody go vote!!!

Sphere: Related Content

Read More

Not Spencer: Michael Penn Exclusive song – The Count of Pennsylvania

Posted by Spencer on Nov 3, 2008 in Music, Not Spencer, Politics | 12 comments

The Not Spencer political series is being extended by one for a special contribution by one of the best singer songwriters of our generation, Michael Penn.  Michael has provided the following song: “The Count of Pennsylvania”, exclusively to A Rubber Door. I think you’ll find the song a worthy end.

Michael and I have talked all through this election – all the way back to the very early primary days and here we are a day before we finally get to have our voice. You have one more day to make a difference – call your friends – volunteer to make calls – write something on your blog. Any or all of the above will help put an end to 8 years of mediocrity and start to recover from the damage done to our economy, our world standing, and the fabric of this country: the citizens of this great country.

When you get into the booth tomorrow – pull the lever for Barack Obama and Joe Biden and as Michael states: “Get in on the landslide”

———————-

[audio:The Count Of Pennsulvania.mp3]

the-count-of-pennsylvania (right click and "Save As" to save an MP3 to your computer)

The Count of Pennsylvania

by Michael Penn

The Count of Pennsylvania never left the commonwealth
he loiters in the alley like a shadow of his former self
cast against the brick and mortar
through smoke from pipes and stacks
one more for the listmakers
a statistician’s artifact
a victim of amphetamines,
of cogs and things that let off steam
a market for a cold machine that left him in-between
the customers and soldiers you divide
but it’s rising up, a high tide
stretching out so far and wide
the line is long but worth the ride
so get in on the landslide
get in on the landslide

—————
Michael Penn’s best of can be found here: Palms & Runes, Tarot And Tea: A Michael Penn Collection
—————-
Links to the rest of the Not Spencer 2008 campaign series can be found here.

Sphere: Related Content

Read More