elisi: (Obama by kathyh)
elisi ([personal profile] elisi) wrote2009-01-19 09:21 pm
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Tomorrow...

Firstly [livejournal.com profile] zimshan made an Obama vid! It is wonderful and brilliant, and not about him as such, but more about all the people who helped him win - all the volunteers and donors, those who voted, those who believed that together you could make a difference. (ETA: People like this.) America, you're awe-inspiring right now!

[livejournal.com profile] pfeifferpack has a wonderful post about what manner of man will be president come tomorrow.

And as for the future, then this quote (from this interview), is certainly something to make one hopeful:

"Two years from now, I want the American people to be able to say, "Government's not perfect; there are some things Obama does that get on my nerves. But you know what? I feel like the government's working for me. I feel like it's accountable. I feel like it's transparent. I feel that I am well informed about what government actions are being taken. I feel that this is a President and an Administration that admits when it makes mistakes and adapts itself to new information, that believes in making decisions based on facts and on science as opposed to what is politically expedient." Those are some of the intangibles that I hope people two years from now can claim," - Barack Obama, president-elect.

I also feel I ought to point you towards Andrew Sullivan's article about Obama from yesterday's Sunday Times.

Finally, I like this story from 'The Audacity of Hope':

After one town hall meeting in Godfrey, an older gentleman came up and expressed outrage that despite my having opposed the Iraq War, I had not yet called for a full withdrawal of troops. We had a brief and pleasant argument, in which I explained my concern that too precipitous a withdrawal would lead to an all-out civil war in the country and the potential for widening conflict throughout the Middle East. At the end of our conversation he shook my hand.
"I still think you're wrong," he said, "but at least it seems like you've thought about it. Hell, you'd probably disappoint me if you agreed with me all the time."
"Thanks," I said. As he walked away, I was reminded of something Justice Louis Brandeis once said: that in a democracy, the most important office is the office of citizen.


(I need a new icon. I'm waiting until tomorrow though, I figure that there will be an overabundance of choice!)

ETA: I think it's partly the sense of watching history being made that is so enticing. I'll make sure that the girls watch the inauguration tomorrow, because it's something they'll want to remember. :)

[identity profile] zimshan.livejournal.com 2009-01-20 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
What a excellent quote from Audacity to pull out! It really is particularly apt now. And that interview quote was definitely a favorite of mine. I think that's what is so astounding to think about for me, because to think of having a president who thinks like that? Several times during campaigning, I tried to voice that as the real reason I thought people should give him a chance and at least listen to what he has to say. Because of his level of thinking seen in those quotes you pulled out above. But it was always a hard thing to really quantify. Now, the press is fond of boiling it down to 'pragmatism' and leaving it at that, but I also think something is missed when you do so. Thanks for reminding me of these quotes.

Aw, and thank you for the pimp, you are much too kind! But I had a ball making it, so I'm glad you can enjoy, especially for the other side of the pond and all!

[identity profile] zimshan.livejournal.com 2009-01-20 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
Or, you know, EVERYTHING Sullivan just said in that article. Geeze, that guy hits it right on the head every time.