I am really ticked. I am in the middle of sending an email to send the link to 10 or so people at the United Nations and the link is broken, AGAIN.
On this page: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/
The link in the box about the Oct 2002 speech points to a 2007 speech instead. Yes, the 2007 is a good one but does someone not understand the importance of the original? Also I think it is poor judgement to make it harder to find the video of the original speech.
If you guys need help with IT, let me know I've been doing it for decades.
Every politician talks about bipartisanship. Why is Obama different? One of the reasons I was drawn to his campaign is that I have never heard the call for unity expressed as unwaveringly or as deeply as his red states - blue states remarks in the 2004 Dem. convention. Obama spoke vividly and succinctly and his words resonated in ways no one else has ever matched.
The text is here: Link and video is here under the "Obama Speeches" tab: Link
What I took away from the speech is that he "gets it". He understands that many Americans are tired of the cheap polarized posturing that gets accepted for political discourse these days. He realizes that there is a lot more our nation can accomplish if we respect other's concerns, seek common interests and get things done employing "the art of the possible". He knows that openness to new ideas and honesty about the issues will only happen in a more constructive toned discourse.
One of the humorous sideshows of this 2008 election is how so many pundits don't get this. Their interests are so vested in the 20th century style of political shouting matches that they are completely blind to what is going on here. Most of the media and even much of the blogosphere are invested in conflict and not collaboration. I believe that what is going on is that we are seeing the first American politician (and I hope president) of the 21st century. And Obama not only has the vision but the experience to back it up.
We turned a corner and the music of Curtis Mayfield drifted our way on the cool breeze, “We gotta have peace…”. As we walked into Federal Plaza I knew I was in the right place that day. People of all ages were there. Families were there. Anti-war music was playing. Everyone was energized. The speakers were going to be Studs Terkel, a theologian, labor leaders and a politician from the Chicago area with a lot of B’s and A’s in his name.
