Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Hey - What Are You Doing?

If you're in one of the 24 states involved in Super Tuesday - get away from your computer and VOTE! I don't care WHO you vote for - JUST DO IT! I will, as soon as I finish visiting the Fun Monday participants...but I WILL DO IT.

I try to stay away from politics on this blog, and I'm not going to tell you what party or which candidate I plan to vote for. However, I received this in an email and had to share it. I heard one of the media pundits speaking about Barack Obama's way with words - how his speeches are poetic. This video seems to substantiate that claim. Sometimes the words are difficult to understand, so I have also copied the transcript of the message underneath the video. Keep in mind, I'm not endorsing Barack, or un-endorsing Barack - but I thought this video was worth sharing, if for no other reason than for its uniqueness.

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.



Your thoughts are encouraged...and if you want to have a political discussion in the comments, have at it....but VOTE!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

nwacritic.blogspot.com

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Eloquent. Simply eloquent, whether you want him for president or not!

Anonymous said...

Well, you know I already voted! Yes we can! :)

Sandy said...

I have always thought it a shame that we couldn't vote for the speech writers!

Ronald Reagan - very eloquent
Peggy Noonan - outstanding speech writer.

Very interesting, Tig. Thanks.

Tiggerlane said...

anonymous - linky love?

tracey - that's what I thought...now I want to read his books, too.

melissa - heck, yes! I am leaving...in about 5 minutes, to do the same!

sandy - glad you enjoyed it - at least the writer's strike doesn't seem to be affecting the campaign!

Unknown said...

See you think today = voting. I think today = MARDI GRAS!! TIme for drinks! Before tomorrow, which will be somber and full of Ash!

Sorry I missed out yesterday. I wanted to join, but am in H-town with my dad's antique desktop & didn't feel good about joining & not commenting much. Great idea the Offspring had.

Karina said...

Wow, that was a fantastic video, thanks for sharing it with us!

I did my civic duty and voted first thing today...and I have a post similar to yours up today too, minus the inspirational video! ;-)

Sauntering Soul said...

Someone sent me that video yesterday. I loved it. It's so inspiring.

tj said...

...Great video and what a great presidential candidate! I voted today. The way I see it, if you don't vote then you have no right to complain about anything! :o)

...Thanks for sharing!

...Blessings... :o)

BS said...

We here in VA have to wait until next Tuesday !!

Cynthia said...

I voted. But not for Barack. I agree, he is easy to listen to. My husband I were talking about that just yesterday.

Anonymous said...

Yes, We Can!! Yes, We Can!!...oh wait....I guess I can't vote...wrong country :-)

I actually like Barack Obama better than all the other candidates.

I agree that everyone should go out and vote. There are too many in the world who don't get that freedom. We always vote...and in fact have to vote on March 3 for our provincial election.

Patience-please said...

Oh ARRGGH. I'm in Kentucky and we don't vote until May. It is so frustrating.
But isn't it exciting how many people are actually voting in their primaries? Maybe that's the only good thing to come of the last seven years.

Patience

mama speak said...

I alway thought I'd vote for Hillary, but I decided I would be happy to vote either Hillary or Barack, so what was the difference? He INSPIRES people. I decided that this country could use some inspiring, so I voted for Obama, if he doesn't win it, I'm ok with that, but I know what Hillary will do and it'll be good. I think Obama has the potential for greatness.

I agree that we should be able to elect the speechwriters. The tone of this one sounds so Kennedy.

Detroit said...

Quite inspiring.

Junebug said...

Well-written speech, well-performed video. I hope the inspiration lasts through the next four years and is able to accomplish what he talks about. I need a new health care plan!

Tiggerlane said...

anglophile football fanatic - I totally forgot about "Fat" Tuesday! I did have a glass of wine last night, just to help make it thru all the CNN coverage.

karina - glad you liked it! I had to do my civic duty during a storm, but I still did it.

sauntering soul - that's what I thought. Even if he isn't your candidate, it's still a great speech.

tj - thank you - and you are SO right - we have to make our voices heard!

bs - I wish there was one big day we ALL voted, so we could get this over with! Some of the primaries aren't over until MAY...

cynthia - he gave another good speech last night. Unfortunately, I missed Hillary's and John McCain's...so I didn't see them all.

sirdar - I would be interested to know what percentage of Americans vote vs. people in other countries. Something tell me we aren't as active politically as others.

patience-please - I HAVE noticed HUGE participation in the primaries this year, and particularly MORE Democrats voting in their primaries than Republicans. I hope that's a good sign that people will become more informed and involved.

mama speak - I agree about the tone, completely. I also think that there will be an Obama/Hillary combo ticket, one way or the other, on the Dem side. And I figure it will be McCain and some "unknown" on the Republican side. I don't think a Hillary/Obama ticket can be beat.

detroit - glad you enjoyed it.

junebug - I agree - it is always disappointing to have faith in all the candidates' promises, and then realize that they don't have the ability to really make a difference once they get into office. However, I have to think that anything is better than what we now have.

the rotten correspondent said...

That was really wonderful. Thanks for posting it.

Are you alright with all the tornadoes?

Anonymous said...

Barrack is an inspiring speaker. I have but one problem with him as president. He knows nothing - nadda - zip -zilch about foreign policy. And his naivety in that realm would land the country in more trouble than it's in now. He seriously has no clue about the rest of the world. And believe me, it would have a major impact. And not for the better, sadly.

Sigh.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

I was going to vote and then the skies opened and the sirens went off and the tornadoes were all around... so unfortunately I did not make it, but my vote would have gone to Obama

M@ said...

Hmmm, so now Barrack's got the Latina vote, Tig?

M@ said...

Normally, I like these kind of songs and I like that dude, Wyclef. Big fan of politics in music BUT this song is shit.

I mean, it doesn't work musically.

bichonpawz said...

I agree with....if you don't vote, you don't get to complain!!!

And HOW could you forget about Fat Tuesday?????????

Go, Right Now!!!! Make yourself a Margarita!!

Kaytabug said...

See, I am torn. You could give the BEST speech but be a shitty leader. His speeches are truly moving, but that is no indication as to what kind of leader he will be.
I am scared that a lot of voters voted for him solely based on his motivational speeches.

I also have issues with the candidates promising to do things if they become president, because like you said in a comment they really aren't able to make a difference once in office... not able to follow through.

Another issue I have is the MILLIONS of dollars spent on the campaigns. All the money raised for these campaigns could and should be used to fix our country.

Kila said...

He's a good speaker, I'll give him that. But when I ask people why they are voting for him, they have no idea where he stands on any issues, LOL, or what he would do as President.

I'm shocked and bummed about Romney dropping out. I'm NOT a fan of McCain. He's not much of a Republican. I like Mike Huckabee, but he doesn't have much chance of winning. I'll vote for him in the primaries, I think, because I don't care for the others.

I've always voted in every election, but I might stay home this November. I can't stomach the idea of voting for any of them. I'm so disappointed, considering what a huge pool of candidates we started out with.

Tiggerlane said...

the rotten correspondent - yes! We are alive and well - we were very lucky that the storms formed AFTER the front came thru our town.

tiger lamb girl - I think if we had a Clinton/Obama ticket, that might compensate for his lack of experience...but then, that's really all that's left, except for McCain.

bond - we had big storms here, too - hope you are okay! I voted in the middle of the storm, which totally made The Offspring wonder if I was insane.

m@ - I didn't say who I was endorsing, did I? :-) I have to agree about the song...it doesn't really work musically, b/c they use the rhythm of his actual speech. If they had John Legend sing the entire thing, it might have worked.

bermudabluez - I need a margarita - you are SO RIGHT! I need to figure out where I packed those glasses - can you drink one out of plastic cup?

kaytabug - I'm with you on the money - it really is sickening. And look at all that Romney spent - and for what? GONE. I wish we could hold our leaders accountable for their promises...but then, sometimes the obstacles they face from outsiders are far too great.

kila - you are so right - I can't believe we are left with basically only four choices. However, I have troubles with the Huckster, since he ran our state for so many years - when the "dirt" comes out about him, people may see him differently. He is VERY engaging, tho - and if I had to only pick between him and McCain, I would probably pick him. McCain just seems too old...or something.

Romeo Morningwood said...

The entire world is watching. The proverbial Rest Of Us can only hope that enough of the freshly minted Gen Xers and Yers pick up the ball that the Boomers dropped back in '68.

Hillary and Barack could have told their handlers to shut up and run on the same ticket..can you say landslide..anyway, they've toned down the snipping at each other but it certainly didn't help.

However, since your country dedicates 51% of it's REAL budget to Military Spending (and borrows $3Billion/Day to keep it going) it seems improbable that the OILigopoly running it will give up the golden goose without a fight.

It is probably going to be a squeaker in November.
Good Luck.

ps:
Anyone remember that the United Kingdom was the uncontested Superpower at the turn of the last Century?

Robocop said...

I have to wait until March 4th to vote in the Primary.

About the military budget, I guess it kind of runs high when a country is at war. Just an FYI. :)

Pam said...

politician's promises...isn't that like an oxymoron or something? lol i did vote on super tuesday at our town's very first polling place. :)

Tiggerlane said...

lord tennisanyone - far be it from me to argue - and I think we will have a combo Hillary/Barack ticket in the end. I just wish I knew how they plan to dig us out of the financial hole the last administration has dug for us all - we are owned by China, in more ways than one.

robocop - I am anxious to see how you all vote! Barack seems to be running the table here lately. And the war budget - sheesh - it would have been lower if we had sent MORE troops, right in the beginning...or dare I say it? Not started this thing at all.

ciara - GOOD FOR YOU for voting!