The Faces Of Hope

In the videos below (each less than three minutes), three generations of African-Americans discuss the meaning of the Obama candidacy. But before viewing, consider the weight on that man's shoulders. He's not simply running for president in the most important election since 1968 or even 1932: Barack Obama walks the same path as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Jackie Robinson, and Martin Luther King. Like them, he is under the kind of scrutiny that does not permit a single misstep. Like them, he asks all Americans to go beyond their prejudices and look to their best selves: He asks us to trust ourselves as much as him. And he's doing it with a grace and poise not seen in American politics since the days of John Kennedy. It's been an absolutely bravura performance by a truly impressive human being.

African-American students from a South Bronx high school:

A single mother in Nashville:



A Seattle University law professor:



The good professor would no doubt find himself nonplussed by Sarah Palin's interpretation of the First Amendment. At first listen, she seems to think that its purpose is to protect politicians from the media. The second time through, though, I wondered whether something more sinister was in play -- that possibly she is making an implicit threat to tough questioners like Katie Couric. Judge for yourself:

The future? Let's hope so. Here's how the mock election played out at one Seattle high school...

This can't be what Coach Holmgren had in mind when he decided to come back for one last season...

Well, at least his wife is a staunch Democrat! As are most of the Seahawks...

For a glossary of Palinese, take a class at Woo University...

Convicted felon Ted Stevens soldiers on. And get this:

Best to wait on those political obituaries, say his supporters, and some opponents, too. In a state that can stir up plenty of bitterness toward the federal government and has long revered Mr. Stevens for extracting billions of dollars from it on behalf of Alaska, maybe, just maybe, they say, the votes will still be there for him, polls and conventional wisdom aside.

In other words, "give us as much taxpayer money as we want and then piss off so that we can live our lives of independence and rugged individualism." What's more, they see no hypocrisy in this attitude. That there wouldn't be an Alaska or an American West were it not for the federal government is a reality they'll deny until hell freezes over or the Cubs win the World Series, whichever comes last. (My bet is in on the snow pack in Hades)...

Arrogant And Out Of Touch

Eighty-seven year old Alaska Republican Senator Ted Stevens -- a long-time and energetic supporter of drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) -- has been indicted for lying about gifts received an oilfield contractor. Reportedly, the gifts included a deck for his house and a kitchen remodel. Setting aside for moment that ordinary people take out second mortgages for such home improvements, consider the spectacle of a United States Senator making himself look like Tony Soprano. That a politician sells himself is no big surprise, but I'm always struck by how cheap a price the ones that do put on their integrity and reputation. The corruption of Alaska Republicans has been a story in the Pacific Northwest for a couple of years now and Stevens has a well-deserved reputation for pettiness and arrogance, but this is nonetheless a seedy and shabby close to a 40-year Senate career...

Speaking of arrogance, Johnny Wattles claims that Barack Obama is arrogant and out of touch.  Johnny W. may have a point, as these photos from Obama's Seattle rally earlier this year clearly demonstrate:

Here, Johnny shows off his version of the common touch:

Just what is he reaching for, anyway? For variations on the same theme, click here.

New Orleans pays a call on Deer Island, Maine to great effect. We went to Deer Island twice when I was a kid. I still remember my father and I and couple of my brothers joining the postman on a boat called the "Palmer Day" as he made his rounds among the surrounding smaller islands...

Tonight, we're checking out the Red Stick Ramblers at St. Edwards's Park in Kirkland. Why is a state park named after a saint? It used to be a Catholic seminary, and the seminary building is still there...