So I went to the Obama Inaugural in DC....

It was a madhouse. Glad I went (if only because I will never have to do this again in my life, nor will I get to I think).

Some photos of the thing:
http://public.fotki.com/juanolator/obama-inaugural-09/

Some videos of the thing:
http://www.youtube.com/juanolator

My favorite part of the swearing-in ceremony, which actually didn't hit me until well after the fact, is that since the new president automatically takes office at noon, no matter what, and the ceremony was running a few minutes late, it means that the presidential transfer of power actually happened while that lovely, aetherial John Williams piece was playing, and everybody was just sort of silently listening to it in calm and peace. I managed to get some apropos footage (it was called "Air and Simple Gifts") of some birds flying around the Washington Monument while it played and Obama became president. You can see it at the 4:50 point in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StF__T8ho8I&feature=channel_page


Rather zen I think.

Do you have yours?

Something I got in the mail the other day:

A Slight Problem

vive la difference (zakaria / obama style)

ZAKARIA: Tell me, what is your first memory of a foreign policy event that shaped you, shaped your life?

OBAMA: A first memory. Well, you know, it wasn't so much an event.

I mean, my first memory was my mother coming to me and saying, "I've remarried this man from Indonesia, and we're moving to Jakarta on the other side of the world."

I think it's awesome that the names pertinent to this interview are ZAKARIA and OBAMA.

In the Tank

I designed a bumper sticker last week (in reference to this SNL sketch and the resulting media attention), then had it printed up. I'm hoping it becomes this election's "Don't Mess with Texas" in terms of stupid, out-of-context catchphrases that somehow help the guy get elected.

If you would like to have one please send a SASE (must be at least 10.5" wide; a regular #10 letter one won't do, unless you want me to fold the sticker in half) along with $5 (profits will go to campaign) to:

334 grand ave #1
brooklyn, ny 11238

Let's just put this one under "May I please be in the room the next time Maureen Dowd does an across-the-room spit take?"

Asked about an accusation on the Drudge Report that Clinton staffers had circulated a photo of Barack Obama wearing Somali tribal dress, Singer let 'er rip.

"I find it interesting that in a room of such esteemed journalists that Mr. Drudge has become your respected assignment editor," he lectured. "I find it to be a reflection of one of the problems that's gone on with the overall coverage of this campaign." He went on to chide the journalists for their "woefully inadequate" coverage of Obama, "a point that has been certainly backed up by the 'Saturday Night Live' skit that opened the show this past Saturday evening, which I would refer you all to."

-- Phil Singer, Clinton campaign PowerPointer, somehow managing to give a presentation to elite Washington opinion makers with his head entirely ensconced in his Klein-bottle-shaped GI tract.

Barack Obama is Your new Bicycle

I've been there

From the New York Times front page, a photo of the NY state Obama campaign headquarters, in downtown Manhattan....

I've been in that room. I went there to volunteer my time to do data entry at one point. I ended up networking a printer for them. The state campaign chief said I was a genius.

Obama Gives Clinton a Race in Her Backyard

"I decided 'No' "

(clicky for video)

October Surprize

Al Gore, predictably, has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to promote awareness in global warming and other environmental issues (jointly with the UN Panel on Climate Change, but who cares; they don't have an Oscar). This now officially makes for a dark horse candidate on what is STILL an open field in the Democratic party primaries (don't tell me people are being polled in favor of Hillary Clinton because they think her Bush-lite foreign policy is sound or that her health care plan, above any of the others, is so great).

While my guy Obama may be stuck in second place for reasons as yet unknown, it does present a unique opportunity here.... Potential scenario: Obama doesn't do well in Iowa which means he's "dead", according to people who own better crystal balls than I do. I certainly don't agree with that; Bill C lost Iowa & New Hampshire in '92 and I think he won the presidency but I'd have to look it up. In any case, let's say that happens and he decides to drop out... Now here's how I would like to see that play out:

A press conference is called at some location. Obama gracefully thanks his supporters blahblah says the dream is not over and will continue to live on... fade out...

Elsewhere, later that day, Al Gore announces that he thinks there is a need for an experienced, yet fresh voice to join the current political debate and that he's decided to run for the presidency... and that just to show that his campaign will not be about politics as usual he has decided to announce his running mate from day one... and that he would like to introduce his running mate right now.... and out walks....

.... which immediately prompts the Nobel Committee to rescind the Peace Prize for reason of Al Gore setting off a nuclear explosion in American politics...

On top of the world with Obama

Never the most timely of photojournalists, I have taken slightly over a week to post these photos of a rooftop cocktail party / fundraiser I attended last weekend which was thrown by and for Obama supporters. With particular thanks to our hosts, Molly, Jeff and Terrence.

Step right up! Get your red-hot presidential candidate!

Yesterday I took part in a nationwide initiative for the Obama campaign called "Walk
for Change". The idea is that local groups (minimally overseen but rather
merely inspired by the national campaign) would canvass their neighborhoods (some
going door-to-door) to share our enthusiasm for the candidate.

Here are some photos:



We set up a table with informational materials, registration forms etc right outside Ft. Greene Park around 10am. Tamara Hood, person on the left bent over the table, is one of our neighborhood organizers.

This is Amanda, who painted her toenails with the campaign logo
(click to enlarge):







The Gray Lady was there in the form of videographer Geoff McGhee (who was a really nice guy and always got my good side) and ace reporter Michael Cooper.

(that's Michael Cooper,
not Matthew Cooper....)

I'm told my photo will be featured in the paper but I didn't get a consistent answer on when. Watch this space.



We then walked to St. John's Episcopal in Carroll Gardens where, in the church's recroom basement, some of the national campaign staff people gave us some pointers on how to deal with the public. Basic stuff like showing interest in their lives and not badmouthing the opposition.

The church's priest is this pensive-looking gentleman who actually had some wise words to say to the group regarding the connection between true Christians (i.e., the Golden Rule / love your neighbor / what goes around comes around sort, not the "do as I say or you'll go to Hell" type) and the need to promote political candidates who espouse those values in their policies regarding education, health care, tolerance and inclusivity etc (which was his way of saying that while the church's space was open to be used for any constructive purpose by any of the other campaigns that he was not exactly going out of his way to invite them). I'm also including the photo because it is the first known instance (to me) of a priest standing directly under a mirror ball.

We then went out canvassing again, this time to a combination restaurant / outdoor cafe / flea market which due to a lack of pre-arrangement with the owner, we almost immediately had to vacate.

Instead we went two doors down to Gardel's Gardens who not only let us set up a table outside their business but actually gave us the table to use for the day.

Gardel's Gardens, conveniently located near the corner of Fulton and South Portland Avenue, is a wonderfully stocked family-owned plant shop that has a little of everything and employs a helpful, knowledgeable staff who are eager to answer any questions from the plant-loving public.

Specifically, I learned that the ivy I bought from them does not need a large plant container at all in order to grow large enough to cover this entire wall adjoining my rooftop deck. Amazing!

Tu voto tiene SWING !

This is probably the best political slogan that will come out of this election.
(and it comes with a Reggaeton MP3 when you register)

I'm not being sarcastic.. it's just a little speech impediment...

I'ma sign for'm anyway - Akin's story

(My friend Akin, also an Obama supporter, took the time to write down this anecdote which I think is great and wonderfully told and he gave me permission to reproduce it here)

I'ma sign for'm anyway

So I’m walking back from the bank wearing my Barack shirt and reading Barack Obama In His Own Words while juggling a bunch of bags. As I’m a pretty clumsy guy, I drop the book and it tumbles…into a sewer.

Yup.

I gather up some sticks I think may be strong enough and I lean over the curb to fish the book out. Cars are whizzing by and all when this black pick up truck putters around me and puts on the brakes. I’m using a stick to nudge the book into a dry brown paper bag as the faintly southern voice of an older Black American Man chimes in, “You dead?”

I lift my head up and he frowns, “Nah. You’re just stupid.”

I smile as he tells me how dangerous trying to retrieve this book is. In his dirt smeared white T-shirt and black jeans that are a few sizes too big for him, the Man asks me what is so important that I'm willing to reach into the sewer to get it back. I think he was relieved that I was trying to get a book.

After he makes me swear I will in fact read this book if I get it back, he drives off to get some tools. I listen to Rachel Portman’s theme song to Cider House Rules on my iPod while I wait.

The pick up putters to the corner and the Man emerges with three rather large tools. He offers me a gardening hoe.

“Now I’ma stand in the street while you get your book.”

This man stands in the street while I use his gardening hoe to fish my book out of the sewer. We shake hands and I offer to give him one of my Barack shirts for free.“You made that up yourself?”

“Ahuh.”

“Pay for it yourself?”

“Yup. I’ll give you one – if you want it.”

He mulls it over, sighs that retired man sigh, then releases the proudest of proud smirks, “I’ma sign for'm anyway. You give that to someone who ain’t. Cause I’ma sign for'm anyway.”

And with that, he was gone.

[like so much Kaiser Soeze -- ed.]


Thanks, Akin!

Ted Sørensen endorses Barack Obama

Ted "Ask not who wrote Profiles in Courage" Sørensen has openly, and beautifully, endorsed Barack Obama for president saying he is the New Jack Kennedy. We already knew, but it's nice to get it from somebody who should know.

I'm supporting Obama because I believe he has that same spirit [as Jack Kennedy], that same desire to call to public service, especially the young people, but all the citizens of this country to live up to their obligations of that great title: American Citizens.

-- Ted Sørensen

Video here.

It is always a beautiful daywhen she is seventeen

It was a beautiful day.

For months a group of a couple dozen Barack Obama supporters had been gearing up to throw a rally in downtown Manhattan, New York, to raise funds and awareness for the campaign. Today was the big day, and we pulled it off without a hitch. The weather was beautiful, the speakers were beautiful, the live music was beautiful, the crowd was beautiful and we were gorgeous. My special thanks to Jeffrey, Howard, Raj, and all who made it possible for me to help out.

The following photos were taken at the rally; yours truly can be seen in the last shot. I'm going to upload some video as soon as I figure out why Google Video doesn't like what my camera spits out (or somebody can tell me how to get around the 100MB/file limit on YouTube).

Lyrics are credited below.

	She has no fear of failure, she's not bent with broken dreams. For the future's just beginning when you're always seventeen
It was nineteen sixty-one when we went to Washington; she put her arms around me and said, "Camelot's begun." We listened to his visions of how our land should be; we gave him our hearts and minds to send across the sea. Nineteen sixty-three, white and black upon the land; she brought me to the monuments and made us all join hands. And scarcely six months later she held me through the night when we heard what had happened in that brutal Dallas light.
	Oh, she is always seventeen; she has a dream that she will lend us and a love that we can borrow. There is so much joy inside her she will even share her sorrow; she's our past, our present, and our promise of tomorrow. Oh, truly she's the only hope I've seen, and she is always seventeen.
It was nineteen sixty-five and we were marching once more from the burning cities against a crazy war. Memphis, L.A. and Chicago we bled through sixty-eight till she took me up to Woodstock saying with love it's not too late.
	We started out the seventies living off the land; she was sowing seeds in Denver trying to make me understand that mankind is woman and woman is man, and until we free each other we cannot free the land.
Oh, she is always seventeen; she has a dream that she will lend us and a love that we can borrow. There is so much joy inside her she will even share her sorrow;
	she's our past, our present, and our promise of tomorrow. Oh, truly she's the only hope I've seen, and she is always seventeen.
Nineteen seventy-two, I'm at the end of my rope, but she was picketing the White House chanting, "The truth's the only hope." In nineteen seventy-five when the crooked king was gone she was feeding starving children saying the dream must go on.
She is always seventeen; she has a dream that she will lend us and a love that we can borrow. There is so much joy inside her she will even share her sorrow. Oh, truly she's the only hope I've seen, and she is always seventeen.
	(New York state senator Bill Perkins was kind enough to come to speak to our crowd and to underscore his endorsement of Barack Obama)
sign up! Unfortunately Harry Chapin died in 1981 so we don't know how he would continue the song; I welcome suggestions from those who can rhyme 'n' scan. You may download an mp3 of the song here. Mr. Chapin's estate is entirely welcome to sue me; I'm sure that's what Harry would have wanted.

oBAMTAKETHATSMACKa !

(sorry for the slow news cycle; I'm on vacation but this is the news I've been waiting for months and I had to share) Obama gains on Clinton in US presidential race

Apr 30 05:33 PM US/Eastern

View larger image

US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's popularity has grown among likely voters, according to a poll released Monday which suggested he was gaining on rival frontrunner Hillary Clinton. The poll by the Rasmussen Institute predicted Obama would get 32 percent of the vote in February's primary, compared to 30 percent for Clinton, who until now has been the consistent favorite for the Democratic party. (full story behind the link)

First Democratic Primary debate watched on TV

(All photos link to something because I'm compulsive.)

The first Democratic Party primary debate was held last night in South Carolina. There was a gathering of Obama supporters at Sputnik, a swanky Soviet-themed lounge in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

There were about 20 people there as the broadcast began at 7pm and by the end there were easily 40. I hope that is representative of the overall TV audience (in the sense that people don't usually gather in bars to watch political primary debates like it's a football game).

Richardson looked a bit nervous and stumbled verbally but weirdly that wasn't until the 4th or 5th question asked of him. Clinton is a total screecher (seriously; there's a mic right there and she can't seem to get out of outdoor-rally-voice mode; apparently, and ironically, Chris Matthews agrees with me). That ugly thing called The Consensus says Obama won, but overall I thought all the candidates did quite well and they were all strong and knowledgeable and electable.

(of course, the bar having been
lowered to the level of a municipal
sewer over the last six years,
that was of little surprise).

Well, maybe not all the candidates. These two guys
probably deserve the presidency more than the
rest of the candidates combined; will they get it? No....

...unfortunately...	... and unfortunately.
click here and here to make dennis speak	and here to hear mike

This is Jordan, our main Brooklyn organizer.

He runs a grass-roots pol org called Brooklyn4Barack.

We were also joined by a news crew from the CBS Evening News who interviewed a few of us afterwards (myself included). I was told that if they use it it will be on tonight's (Friday) broadcast. Set your Tivo's to "stun".

There was also a leprechaun, helping to elect the second Irish-American to the Presidency.

(that's a four-leaf clover in place of the apostrophe; very cute)

they also had these great lamps there
that took me exactly 15 seconds to
find in the ikea web site