Dr. Joseph Lowery delivers Inauguration Benediction for Barack Obama

What is really wonderful about this beside the outstanding words and what they mean is that Pastor Lowery got a standing ovation for his benediction. Say Amen.

A PRAYER ...

A Prayer for the Nation and Our Next President, Barack Obama

By The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire

Opening Inaugural Event
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
January 18, 2009

Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…

Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.

Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.

AMEN.

Thank God ...

Thank God, thank God, almight ... thank God.

JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...

OBAMAM, HOPE AND THIS ONE VOTER ...

I have gone back and read about this man ... and heard what ever I could about him ... This is the real thing ... as far as this one man, this one American, this one voter can know ... and in some strange way, that I have only caught bit of in the past he brings some hope ...

ENDORSEMENT, GENERAL POWELL

The rumors that General Colin Powell was going to endorse Mr. Obama have been around for some time. This morning I turned on the TV to hear it but, half asleep, I missed "it" ... until now ... the endorsement is so well reasoned and thoughtful ... and it represents a standpoint and a way of looking at this American way of life that demands to be heard.

A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND ... OR 100,000 IN THIS CASE

ST. LOUIS - Standing under the Gateway Arch, Sen. Barack Obama spoke this afternoon before a crowd his campaign said totaled 100,000, a new U.S. record for his presidential bid. "All I can say is wow," Obama said as he took the stage.

ENDORSEMENTS, LA TIMES, OBAMA

I know I can write; I know how to give a speech but do I ever wish I could have written this. So take a few minutes and read the Los Angeles Times' endorsement for Senator Obama ... it matches Mr. Obama in elegance while not avoiding the "Palin choice" or the challenges that a "President" Obama must face.

It is just a wonderful thing to read, in and of itself ... it ends by saying: We may one day look back on this presidential campaign in wonder. We may marvel that Obama's critics called him an elitist, as if an Ivy League education were a source of embarrassment, and belittled his eloquence, as if a gift with words were suddenly a defect. In fact, Obama is educated and eloquent, sober and exciting, steady and mature. He represents the nation as it is, and as it aspires to be.

Or you can follow the endorsements here on Editor and Publisher which reported today: BARACK OBAMA,
64 newspapers total, well over 8 million circulation (we are still counting); JOHN McCAIN, 18 newspapers total, about 1.7 million daily circulation.

OKAY, MR. OBAMA BE SPECIFIC...

Listening to tonight's Presidential Debates reinforces one thing: I would never vote for Senator John McCain. He brings with him an old fashion view of life that is deeply rooted in the past. While that past maybe enormously important to my own personal history, it has little to do with confronting the times in which we live. I can not vote for a person who so clearly defines him by it nor, more importantly, could I support a Republican Party what so discredits the poor, the outcast and those left behind is "there" version of America.

The challenge for Mr. Obama then is: can you do "something" concrete for individuals and the day-to-day issues we deal with. No where in tonight's debate did I sense an understanding of our daily worries - ones centered about a lack of health care, investments that are now totally worthless and a retirement package that is long gone to Wall Street greed. Tell me, how will you specifically help us with each of those three things? That will make my day a better one?

YARDDOG LISTENS TO THE DEBATES

Listening to tonight's presidential debates reinforced one thing: I would never vote for Senator John McCain. He brings with him a bankrupt view of life that is deeply rooted in a past that while it may be enormously important to my personal history, has little or not value to confront the times in which we live. So I can not vote for a person who so clearly defines him by it nor could I support a Republican party what so discredits the poor, the outcast and those left behind is "there" version of America.

The challenge for Mr. Obama is: is there anything you do for individuals and the day-to-day issues we deal with. No where in tonight's debate did I sense an understanding of our daily worries - ones about lack of health care, investments that are now totally worthless and retirement package that is long gone to Wall Street greed. Tell me, how will you do to help me, not with platitudes of the past but our lives in the next four years?

GREATER ASPIRATIONS ...

"Issues" with Senator Obama's race, religion and marriage will be hammered into us by the political right now. It is to be expected; they are running scared for the first time in 30+ years. Undoubtedly Republican conservatives along with their religious bigots, war hawks, racists and corporate "lap dogs" will try to do their "work" this election cycle.

Just watch as “gay marriage” finds its way on to ballots (as it has in California) or as fear of terrorism is excelled (as it has when the Supreme Count restored the fundamental right of Habeas Corpus to our judicial system). To keep from losing they will try to divide us, make some of “less” because of our faith, or wealth or lack of it, or color or nationality or sexual orientation. That group will eat its own (as it did in 1964 when moderate Vice President Nelson Rockefeller was laughed off the Republican Convention stage). Read Carl Rove’s play book!

But just hopefully an America that cares, that represents its best values, that seeks to bring people together, that seeks peace instead of war, that cares for the world, that welcomes the foreigner, that values the environment and all the people who live in it, will come to dominate our political reality on January of 2009.

If the motivation for being involved in this political season is represented by the politics of the past 30+ years ... it is a point of view unworthy of our founders, our liberties or our countries greatest aspirations.

"The Wife" and "HRC"

While the two of us are not as famous as the "talking-head" couples on national television, the picture above makes it clear who a certain woman in my life, who most often refers to me as "The Husband", is supporting for President.

Several of our local political wags have suggested that I have my picture taken with Mr. Obama. Then we could litter our fireplaces with pictures of the person who is obviously going to win and the person who is obviously going to loose.

To suggest which one is which, would put an unbelievable amount of stress on a relationship, that is in reality, the best of both worlds for each of us. And besides, I have a famed personal letter from a former President in my library from, let's see ... his name was ... hummmmm, oh yes, Clinton.

IN ORDER TO FORM A PERFECT UNION

The full written context of the speech can be found here.

DEMOCRATIC SUPER DELEGATES

"Mr. Obama has won more states, a greater share of the popular vote and more pledged delegates than Mrs. Clinton." Sunday 16 March 2008, The New York Times.

If that is the case, and if continues to be the case, than the Democratic nominee should be Mr. Obama

Or the entire convention should default to Mr. Gore ... and let the two of them sit back and "get over. " I would not withdraw my endorsement of Mr. Obama at this point but, dammit you two, get over it .

CAN HE TAKE IT?

If Senator Obama is going to be President, he is going to have to go through these kinds of debates. He is debating one of the best. If he can take everything she "throws" at him and come out a winner that will bode well for November.

ATTACT DOGS ALREADY AT IT.

Several months ago I lemented that the Republican attact dogs where try everything in their power to distroy Senator Obama. I did not have to wait long. Here a few examples of what lays ahead.

John McCain can point out that Obama wanted to make it a felony if your gun is stolen from your residence and used in a crime, if the government determines you did not “securely store” the weapon.

John McCain can point out how Obama opposes a ban on partial birth abortion ban, and who voted against a bill that would require medical care for aborted fetuses who survive.
John McCain can point out how Obama was the only state senator to oppose a law that prohibited early prison release for sex offenders.

John McCain can point out that Barack Obama has been rated the most liberal lawmaker in the U.S. Senate by National Journal.

Damn it! Take a partial truth and make it fact! Damn it!

IN THE BACK OF MY MIND

I got the most amazing political piece in my inbox this morning. It was from a guy named Mitch Steward who is Senator Barack Obama's Texas Field Director. He asked me if I wanted to travel to Texas for a March 1st volunteer training session for the Obama campaign.

“No prior experience is necessary.” He says, “Whether you’re a first-time volunteer or seasoned veteran, you’ll have the experience of a lifetime organizing for Barack on the ground.” Think of it, he wants me, not my money!

It’s no secret that Mr. Obama spent three years as a community organizer in Chicago. My friend Peter Dreier recently wrote in The American Prospect that it is: “Obama's campaign that most clearly embodies many of the characteristics of a social movement -- a redemptive calling for a better society, coupling individual and social transformation.”

When some white guy in California gets an email asking him to join the Obama team in Texas, his point is well taken. I actually felt those stirrings, the old rabble rouser, the guy who like to watch political transformation happen in real time -- this guy got excited.

But having run political campaigns, I know that running a campaign is only part of the job. The other half of the question is, "Can the candidate be the officer holder?"

Recently my friend Diana ran for Assembly against the local political machine. Her adversary was given all the perks that machine had to offer like party email lists and he used some dirty tactics like “push-pull” phone calls. He was not the most qualified person of all the candidates, yet he won.

In office he has not advocated for the issues he talked about during the campaign and his sole claim to fame seems to be his ability to raise money. It was reported that he was considered for the Speaker's position because he could “raise money.”

What’s that all about?

None of this will prevent me from supporting Mr. Obama but there is a part of me that worries about whether of not he is up to it. It is the same type of “in the back of my mind stuff” I have for Senator Hillary Clinton. I guess if he can pull off an election, he can become president. Let's face it, it's not easy and certainly not the same thing as a local Assembly race.

And as I have said before either one of them would be better than the radical conservatives or religious wackos the Republicans are offering up.

OBAMA - A SECOND LOOK

Karl Rove is warning the Republican base that his political creation of religious anti-gay bigots, Southern racists, and riffle totting NRA Westerners should not crackup; that they should “calm down.” The GOP's demise isn’t imminent; after all now the anti-immigrant group has joined us. The race has only begun, he says.

My great hope for our country is that Mr. Rove’s deeply flawed view of America and her people will once and for all be proved wrong and that he and others like him will become just a bad memory; relegated to history’s dust bin.

There is a better America, one that welcomes the stranger, whose laws are just and revered by the world, that cares for the poor, that educates all its children and seeks peace as its number one objective. And there is an America that seeks to include all of its citizens not just a few, not just the wealthy.

I can not say I know which of the Democratic Parties candidates is better. I just know that one of them has a vision of moving us beyond the internecine atmosphere of the last 35 years. And that vision alone is enough for me to vote for Barack Obama.

NO UNITER HERE...

During an interview (here) with the Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), seeking the presidency in 2008, responded to a question on special rights for LGBT citizens.

Obama disagrees with the notion that things like hospital visitations for same-sex spouses are special rights. "How would Jesus feel about somebody not being able to visit somebody they love when they're sick?" He asks.

But that response is a dance around the simple issue of full equality. Perhaps it is his way of sticking to his campaign pledge of being a “uniter.” The question is, Mr. Obama, “Why aren't the basic rights of LGBT citizens important to you?