My First Disagreement with Obama

Lev Davidovich Wuerffel    College Football, Politics     Barack Obama, NCAA playoff

I kind of sat on this major policy difference I have with the now president-elect while I was canvassing for him and supporting him in the 24 hours from when he presented it and when we all made him our new king, but now that he’s in this has to be put on the table: Barack HUSSEIN (I’m just sayin’) Obama has declared his support for an eight-team NCAA playoff in college football.

I’m still one of those ancient holdouts who doesn’t really mind the current system that much. I’m not fully against the idea of a playoff if  indeed a way is found to do it that maintains some lower bowl structure and fairly includes the truly best teams (not as easy as it sounds). But you’d have a hard time convincing me that the best team didn’t come out on top in the last five years. The last time a team that had no business winning got over was probably Ohio State in 2001, and even then the problem wasn’t that they were in the game but that the ref boned the ‘Canes with his late bullshit interference call. Anyway, when Barry starts pushing for the playoff, I’ll be standing athwart him for the first time.

Barack Obama’s election night photos

GoneGator    Politics     Barack Obama

For those who haven’t see Barack Obama’s election night photos on Flickr, it’s worth five minutes of your time.

Now the real work begins for Barack Obama, the nation’s Community Organizer in Chief

GoneGator    Politics     Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin

A couple of days before Election Day, I noted the irony of a community organizer ending the Republican hold on the White House, given how Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin had mocked Barack Obama’s background to the cheers of thousands at the Republican convention.

Here’s a video reminder:

Obama won the presidency precisely because of his experience as a grass-roots organizer. His campaign harnessed the power of the people — and the Internet, the most democratic medium ever conceived — to inspire a nation and build a populist political machine.

This represents nothing short of a sea change in American politics and hopefully in how the nation governs itself. I think Obama realizes that he is now the nation’s Community Organizer in Chief.

From his victory speech:

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

The campaign does not end here — it only shifts its focus to fulfilling the promise of change.

To the hundreds of thousands of volunteers, including myself and many friends who pounded the pavement in the closing days: Don’t stop now. Stay active. Organize. Call and write your Congressional representatives as Obama pushes legislation to effect changes we desperately need.

Obama needs our help now more than ever.

Revenge of the community organizer

GoneGator    Politics     Barack Obama, GOP, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin

Remember during the GOP convension when a smarmy Rudy Giuliani and smug Sarah Palin mocked Barack Obama’s background as a community organizer? What a delicious irony that that very experience likely will power Obama to victory over the out-of-touch Republicans.

Gators win in landslide; Obama next?

GoneGator    Florida Gators, Politics     Barack Obama, GOP, Tim Tebow, W

Congratulations to the Florida Gators, who yesterday avenged Georgia’s insulting 2007 on-field team celebration by spanking the Bulldogs in a 49-10 beat-down in Jacksonville.

The Gators’ landslide included quarterback Tim Tebow’s school record-breaking 37th career touchdown run and three interceptions of future NFL top draft pick Matthew Stafford. Florida held a 49-3 fourth-quarter lead in an unmistakable landslide victory.

Now it’s Barack’s turn. He’s making an aggressive push in Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina and other traditional GOP states in his pursuit of electoral votes. Obama doesn’t just want to win — he wants to secure a mandate. And we’re not talking about the “mandate” W claimed in 2000 when the Supreme Court handed him a victory in an election Al Gore won at the polls.

Yesterday I canvassed for Obama, speaking with dozens of undecided voters. (The majority said they will be voting for Obama.) Today I’ll be making calls to more undecided voters.

What can you do to help Obama to victory Tuesday?

Don’t be a hater

GoneGator    Politics     Barack Obama

Received four GOP flyers in the mail this week, all fear mongering about Barack Obama. Only one of the four mentioned a McCain position. On the other hand, the one flyer I got from the Obama camp encouraged me to exercise my American right to vote and asked for my support — with nary a negative word or a mention of McCain. That, to me, says it all about these two men. I suspect that one day, McCain will look back and feel extremely ashamed of all that has transpired.

Of Gators and presidential politics

GoneGator    College Football, Florida Gators, Politics     Barack Obama, Florida Gators, John McCain, Roanoke, Sarah Palin, Virginia

The next five days could be a boom or bust for me personally.

Saturday afternoon, my Florida Gators take on the Georgia Bulldogs in a game that likely will determine the East representative in the SEC Championship Game. Win Saturday, Gators, and you enter the national championship conversation.

Yet as great as that would be, I’d gladly accept a Gators loss in exchange for a Barack Obama victory next Tuesday.

A good friend and I will be canvassing for Obama this weekend in the very red Roanoke, Virginia region. Life as a Democrat here can be disheartening. Last night, while driving through the countryside and mountains that I call home, I counted dozens of McCain/Palin signs in yards and on rear windows. You know how many Obama signs I saw? One.

This is an area Sarah Palin would call the “real America.” You know, folks who love guns, hate all taxes (even those that pay for their schools, roads, medical care, parks, bridges, etc.), and want to bomb the hell out of every last “towel-head” on the planet. Too many still believe Obama is Muslim. That he wants to take their guns away. That he will tax-and-spend the nation into oblivion. They refuse to listen to evidence of the contrary.

Which is why I fully expect my friend and I will not enjoy the response we get to our efforts.

Please don’t get me wrong — I love the people here. They are warm, friendly, hard-working and down-to-earth. I count many McCain supporters among my best friends. I just wish they’d open their minds a bit more.

So undaunted, we will push forward this weekend. Because while I have no expectation of Obama winning in southwest Virginia, I do think he can compete closely enough to impact the statewide results.

So Go Gators.

Go Barack.

Let’s get a two-fer to remember always!