One of my attractions to Obama's campaign from the very start was that he is an authentic sports fan. There are so many politicians whose attempts to talk sports are truly cringe-worthy, it is so great to have someone where sports are an intrinsic part of who he is as a person. His appearance on ESPN back when he was still debating about running was an honest boy's delight in appearing on the network of record for sports. When asked on the rope line by unknowing supporters whether he's for the Cubs, he always shoots back without hesitation "No, White Sox, South side." Spoken like a true fan.
So I was very pleased they brought up his love of basketball last night on 60 Minutes which elicited a great response that he played a pick-up game the morning of Iowa and South Carolina but failed to before Nevada and New Hampshire. And now they play ball every caucus or primary day. He's not going to make that mistake again.
And thousands of people turned away. Here's a picture of just some of those who couldn't get in.
From the Seattle Times:
Officials closed the entrances to KeyArena at about 11 this morning, turning away thousands who had gathered to hear presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama speak at noon.Doors were locked after KeyArena reached its capacity of about 20,000, officials said. Those who made it inside were not allowed to leave because police wanted to keep those outside from pushing through the doors and forcing themselves in. People outside were banging on glass doors and windows of the arena, as police were trying to maintain peace.
Police sent officers outside into the crowd to push people away from the doors so that no one would get crushed or trampled...
There was a mad dash to get inside, with some people going through side doors leading to the upper level of the arena. One couple who got in line at 9:30 a.m. saw the doors close right in front of them before they could enter.
Before the doors opened, thousands of Obama supporters had snaked through Seattle Center, with lines forming before 6 a.m.
William Spiritdancer, of Seattle's Central District, pulled his four children -- ages 7 to 14 -- out of school to see Obama speak. The teachers were cool about it, he said, and wished they could attend themselves.
"It could be history in the making," Spiritdancer said. "He's inspiring. That's what needed. You have to inspire people to something higher."
Brie Creegan, 19, of Tonasket, Okanogan County, who joined the ever-growing line at about 10:30 a.m., said she was excited about attending her first political rally.
"I don't know much about him, but I want to learn more," she said.
Her friend Brittany Gray, 21, of Lakewood, Pierce County, encouraged Creegan to come. Gray, who has scheduled Saturday off from work to attend her Democratic caucus, said she has read every book written by Obama and his rival candidate, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"Barack has more of an insight," Gray said.
Obama began the day in Georgetown with a tour of McKinstry Co., a mechanical contractor that retrofits buildings to make them energy efficient -- and provided a blue-collar backdrop for the herd of media following the candidate.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels joined Obama on the tour, which involved visiting a huge workshop and meeting briefly with workers in the cafeteria...
Obama outlined his energy plan during the McKinstry news conference, calling for a "hard cap" on carbon emissions, dramatically increasing federal investment in energy-technology research, and setting new goals and standards for green buildings.
He praised Nickels and the city as national leaders in the effort to reduce greenhouse gases. He said states and local governments should be "free to experiment" on ways to reduce emissions.
Reducing emissions "isn't a drag on our economy," he said, "it's the future of our economy."
The following is excerpted from a diary on the Think On These Things blog:
As news reports reveal growing numbers of suicide among soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin, Chuck Hagel, and Barack Obama on January 31, introduced major legislation aimed at preventing suicide among active duty members of the military. The Senators' bill, the Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act, would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a comprehensive suicide prevention program including annual training for soldiers, improved instruction for field medics and post deployment assistance. The legislation authorizes six million dollars for implementation of the programs. A companion measure will be introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA).Today's Washington Post reported that Army statistics show that 121 soldiers committee suicide last year - a 20 percent increase from 2006. This is the highest rate of Army suicides recorded since the Army started collecting this data in 1980. The Post also reported that last year about 2,100 soldiers "injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002."
"These startling statistics should serve as a wakeup call that suicide among soldiers and veterans is more than a problem, it is an epidemic," said Senator Harkin. "Thankfully, our push to provide America's veterans with a suicide prevention program was heard last year, when the President signed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act into law. But there is more work ahead - especially in serving our active duty military personnel. We can and must act quickly to save our soldiers who are so bravely fighting for our country."
"Since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan there has been a significant increase in suicides among active-duty soldiers. This is a reality our country must face as we are engaged in two conflicts. This legislation will enhance and strengthen the Defense Department's suicide prevention programs for all active-duty military personnel. It is critical for our service members to be provided with the necessary mental health services they deserve. There can be no higher priority for America than our soldiers and their families," said Senator Hagel.
"Our nation's heroes deserve our greatest support and commitment, and we must immediately address the tragic increase in suicide rates among our active-duty service members," said Senator Obama. "The men and women who serve our country should expect nothing less than world class medical care, treatment, rehabilitation, and counseling services. Suicide can be prevented, and we must do everything we can to help those who are suffering. This bill will help ensure there are comprehensive suicide prevention programs throughout the military, and I commend Senator Harkin's leadership on this needed legislation."
For more details on the bill, please go to: http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/ 2008/02/07/obama-hagel-and-durbin-tackle -suicides-among-active-duty-soldiers/
David Plouffe has laid out the challenge - let's match the 5 million the Clintons put into their own campaign. Less than 24 hours after the polls closed last night, Obama has already surpassed 4 million - a million more than Hillary has set as a 3 day goal. The race is on to see if they can raise another million in the next 3 hours and reach 5 million in one 24 hour period. To watch the progress:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/contribut
e_c/sincefeb5_email/graphic
Always have. Always will. You can tell me Barack's a muslim and a crook and Michelle is a misogynist. You can put up Hillary or Chelsea or Clay Davis, sheeeeet, I'm voting Democratic...except when I vote Green.
I do so because I Vote Hope.
What is significant about this is yet another strong, independent woman who rarely gets involved in politics in this way of endorsing a candidate. She did so through the most low-key route, a letter to the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle:
I have attempted throughout my life to give a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, encouragement to the discouraged, and options to the cynical and complacent. From Northern Ireland to Sarajevo to Latin America, I have sung and marched, engaged in civil disobedience, visited war zones, and broken bread with those who had little bread to break.Through all those years, I chose not to engage in party politics. Though I was asked many times to endorse candidates at every level, I was never comfortable doing so. At this time, however, changing that posture feels like the responsible thing to do. If anyone can navigate the contaminated waters of Washington, lift up the poor, and appeal to the rich to share their wealth, it is Sen. Barack Obama. If anyone can bring light to the darkened corners of this nation and restore our positive influence in world affairs, it is Barack Obama. If anyone can begin the process of healing and bring unity to a country that has been divided for too long, it is Barack Obama. It is time to begin a new journey.
JOAN BAEZ
Menlo Park
t
· MO-09: Democrat Baker Leads in New Poll (HellofaSandwich)
· MN-03: First debate today (MN Campaign Report)
· NV-2: Exclusive Q&A with Jill Derby on Iraq, FISA, Net Neutrality and more (Sven at My Silver State)
· NC-Sen: Hagan and Dole Tied in New Poll (HellofaSandwich)
· MN-03: Blog Day for Ashwin Madia (MN Campaign Report)
· Blogger Running for CA Dem Party Vice-Chair (Bob Brigham)
· Does McCain Want to Reenact the Draft? (fbihop)
· SD: New Poll Shows Tim Johnson Romping (lowkell)
· Iowa commission takes one small step against CAFOs (desmoinesdem)
· LA-06: Cazayoux's Gittin' It Done! (DailyKingFish)
· Secrets of the American Future Fund (chase martyn)
· Happy Birthday Jerome! (Jonathan Singer)
