As promised, here is the speech President-Elect Barack Obama gave last night to the crowd in Chicago's Grant Park. I must admit, Obama had me chocked up just a bit, especially after I saw Oprah and the Reverend Jesse Jackson turning on the faucets. Did anyone else notice the camera man kept stopping on people who looked like celebrities? (Is that Kobe?-Nope, just some dude who looks like Kobe Bryant).
Surprise, Surprise
Was anyone else completely surprised by how fast the results were in and the announcement was made that Senator Barack Obama was elected POTUS? I thought we would at least be waiting to the early morning to find out but the announcement was made and the speeches started before I made my late-night Piggly-Wiggly run. Btw, I read in the Chicago Sun-Times that Oprah cried on some strangers shoulders and evidently the paper is looking for the mystery man-I guess to ask him what it is like to have a billionaire cry on your shoulders...awkward...
For all of those people, who said Barack Obama preaches about "change" because it is an acronym for "Come Help A Negro Get Elected", I thought I would give you something to enjoy today as this election didn't really turn out the way you wanted.
And I leave you with this to think about: when McCain gave his concession speech and mentioned Obama the crowd responded with "boos", but if you watched Obama's speech which if you didn't check back here later tonight and I will have (what will probably be the most important speech of this decade) it posted: I digress; when Barack announced Senator McCain and the sacrifices he has made, the crowd in Chicago cheered. Think about it. And then think about change, we can change friends. And I realize that the political divisions in this country didn't begin overnight and they won't be healed overnight, but we do need to begin the process. "Yes, We Can"
"Yeah, he probably reads the Bushido" I can't take full credit but when Obama said, this [movement] began on the porches of Charleston. And in the conclusion of his speech, he mentioned that "while I breath, I hope" (aka: Dum Spiro Spero) a Charleston, SC and South Carolina motto, but I guess Obama reads the Bushido!
T-Mac sent this picture to me, I am not sure who to contribute it to, but I have to say, I am proud of Us America! The power of the vote, the power of positive thinking for the vision of America's future has prevailed. The Beav told me when Obama spoke at the DNC at the last election, that Obama would run and be our next president (even though I know I told him that, I'll let him take credit for posterity). I knew once Obama took Ohio, our next president would be Barack Obama.
We've got a lot ahead of us America but be proud because we've made one small step for our America and one giant leap for all Americans. America as we look to the future, I remind you of what John F. Kennedy once said at the Convocation of the United Negro College Fund (Indianapolis, Indiana, April 12, 1959) "When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters — one represents danger and one represents opportunity." Be good and God Bless!
You know the thing about a joke is that some people are bound to take offense to it. Call it sensitivity, much a do about nothing or just give it a name. I thought this speech to have that mid-western plain-speak and since I grew up on a farm and listened to my father and his friends talk politics while on the back porch, I've heard the old "you can put lip-stick on a pig, but it's still a pig" saying countless times. That being said, as the audience applauded with laughter, I notice there is probably a bit of double-entendre with him saying this a week after Palin's speech at the RNC, but give me a break people. You all can let your guard down just a bit.
Two Reasons I don't think Obama needs to apologize for what he said for two reasons: 1) Palin took shots at Obama for being a "community organizer" which brought laughs because evidently the whitest and oldest of the oldest and whitest at the RNC didn't understand that being a "community organizer" is an actual and important job. 2) Politicians (for the most part) give the same speech ad nauseum, just as a well scripted performance of an age old play. We all know Romeo & Juliet but when you see it live, Mercutio's jokes are always due for a refreshing laugh. And since most of the country didn't see Sarah Palin run for Mayor or Governor before her debut in Dayton-which most of us didn't watch-we didn't know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit-bull; well we did know the difference, we just hadn't heard the joke. Which for the un-funny people out there, is a common courtesy to extend the joke-teller.
Something to cry about Obama, don't apologize and keep giving it to them when they dish it out. I am tired of these Republicans and their cry-baby, tattle-tail, defeat-again attitudes. Maybe their constituency will treat them like my stoic father did when I was a kid: I remember my father's golden rule like it was yesterday, "If you get in a fight, you better win and not come home crying, because if you come home with a black-eye and tears, you'll soon have something to cry about."
All right, everyone knows that I am a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat and it pisses me off that the President refers to the "Democrat Victory" in Congress, instead of the "Democratic Victory", (Was the President's victory a "Republic Victory"?) but you all know that I like a good laugh as well. Enter Senator Barack Obama. (Photo complments of the good people of the Lincoln State)
As one of the Democratic responses tonight, Presidential Candidate and Senator from Illinois, Senator Barack Obama responded with the following: “The president offered some serious proposals tonight on two issues — energy and health care — that we all agree must be addressed,” said Obama in a statement. “I'm glad he did, and I think it's important to respond in a constructive way. But the last election proved that politics-by-slogan and poll-tested sound bites aren't going to cut it with the American people anymore, and that's why the real test of leadership is not what the president said to Congress tonight, but how he works with Congress to find real solutions to the problems we face. Most Americans believe that escalation will not bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end, and that's why I've proposed not just a troop cap, but a phased redeployment that will start bringing our troops home"
Now I know that looks great on paper, but if I find the video for this, Public Speaking 101 teachers across the country will pull their hair out. Mel pointed out that Senator Obama overuses the (pause) "uhhh". The more I watched the more "uhh.." came out of the Senator's mouth. Sure he was shooting from the hip and on National television representing himself and the Party, but Senator, please by all means cut down your useage of uhhh..what's the word I am looking for? Oh that's it-"uhhh..." I am sure we will soon see this on a SNL (Saturday Night Live) skit, if the right-honorable gentleman representing the great state of Illinois doesn't find a way to trim his pauses.
All information and material herewithin, unless otherwise noted, is copyright of J. Trabert/The Bushido Way.
E-Mail The Bushido
@ thebushidoway@gmail.com
Bushido Disclaimer
Disclaimer: Due to somewhat graphic content: pictures of cheerleaders, friends imbibing libations, obscene gestures made by Pres. Bush, etc. this blog should not be viewed by the Amish, Puritans and those under the age of 18 (w/out parental consent). (Photo courtesy of "The 7 Samurai")
