Aight.

Where have you been Flav?

Looks like the site has slowed a bit. What other worthy madness are you so heavily invested in these days?

For the first time in years I've seen a campaign that I really admire. I thought about voting for McCain only because of his experience. I don't like Palin's views, but I do think she could rise to the occasion. It takes something to beat an incumbent and become a popular governor.

I'm unhappy with the way McCain has run his campaign. Its been eratic. Desperate. No consistency.

I've listened to conservative talk radio hosts; their rants and raves about how Obama will turn this into a socialist country.

I was impressed with what you wrote and will take it to heart. Of the two, Obama deserves to win.

But about what Limbaugh and others say. Do they really belive it? Or is it playing to the crowds?

Miss you.

Elliott

Hello Friends,
This will be the first time I have sent a political message to all of you despite my strongly held views over the years. As many of you know the idea of Citizenhunter and my other projects are to profile the best of what this great Nation has to offer--Her People--and that sees no party, no race, no age, no religion, no geography. I make an exception tonight as we stand on the eve of what I think is a historic and inspiring day--not for the reasons you might expect.
I would love to write with more eloquence or say something new to convince those who still might be pondering whether they will vote, take more folks to the polls, or like two folks I met at a dinner tonight who were still not sure--yes this is true. I feel so unworthy to even suggest my opinion, as I have traveled throughout this country, I have been reminded once again of how humbling it is to realize that I walk among giants (I am not talking about Obama, but you!)and am so very blessed. You know the issues that matter to you. But many carry a few jobs, are busy with soccer practice, or just trying to keep it together and don't have the luxury of reading tons of papers every day or besides just watching the candidates get to interview them--I am lucky indeed.
Below are two articles I wrote a year or so ago and I not only agree with every word today and those I wrote even the year before, but I think more meat has been put on the bones since then and my visceral reactions have been borne out with a beauty I could have not expected or anticipated. I am always proud of being American--it is one of the first prayers I say every morning and before I lay my head on the pillow--that I was lucky enough to be born in this great Country. What I have seen throughput this election has been nothing short of awe inspiring. The candidates have had their moments, the "race speech" given by Obama in Philadelphia is something I could never have hoped or dreamed would be spoken --and not to some group of professors but to a Nation, who listened not with the deaf ears that discriminate, but who really heard a very complex and nuanced argument--some of which was tough to hear.
What has inspired me far more than the candidates though has been the American people and the fact that they have decided to rise up, to ask tough questions, to strive to talk back to a Nation they love, and to take the time to be a part of this great experiment we call democracy. The hope, jubilation, determination that abounds during such tough times, to say the least, is well, unbelievable! Unbelievable that is unless you have had the great fortunate to see that people do such great acts every day, while no one is watching.

Point is this is not about Democrat Republican --Black White--Rich Poor--Young Old--Small town Big City--New Voter Super Voter--well okay it is in a sense that I think the issues by and large, and I have some differences with Obama--some of which are very close to my heart, such as the sanctity of Life. I think that he has better policies and a better vision for the nation--more below.
But there is something even bigger than that--the macrocosm of the microcosm--this is about the boss not the employee. Obama is smart, steady, caring, competent, inspiring, and with sound judgement--but he works for us!!!! We have the power. That is not a slogan, it is the wisdom of our forefathers.
Please, I beg of you --women, blacks, people around the world, soldiers are dying and have died for the right to vote-- for what we often take for granted --do not squander that gift--VOTE!!! Act as if what you do makes a difference in the world, because it does!

My eyes are full of tears as I write, not at the thought of what a historical moment this will be--the many who have reached their hand back in history to bring a Nation along and help it to heal--ok a little. Not for the fact that too great Americans cared enough about their Nation to serve Her and stand in front of all of us and be judged on a level none of us could understand.
I am moved at the thought of all of you who are reading this--how much I have learned from you over the years. Know that no matter who you vote for you are still admired and respected by me. I ask you to vote for Obama,, an ask I have never made.
To the young kids--what can I say--you guys rock! To those reading this in Iraq, Japan, Afghanistan, you have already voted, know that I am quite sure Obama feels as I do that whatever your position on the war, I honor and thank you for your service from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you to all of you for inspiring me to try to be better every day--there has not been one day yet that I have not fallen short of my ideals. We all will, including Obama. His greatest gift is that he understands a fundamental truth I agree with--a true populist, that us regular folks have a wisdom and passion and investment that politicians must harness, respect, illuminate, and expand.
For this and all that I have outlined below he deserves your Vote. For those who don't vote for him please take a moment in the days following to realize the special accomplishment that it is if he gets elected and be proud of your Nation before going back to partisanship. To the Dems who may get a lot of House seats and Senate seats remember the American people are wise and like divided government for a reason and keep yourselves checked and balanced:) There is a Korean Proverb that says Power lasts 10 years, but influence lasts 100. If you care about the issues that impact our lives then seek to influence not just yield power.

With Respect, Humility, Excitement, and Warmth,
Your Friend and Fellow Proud American Flavia Colgan
PS Wrote above in under 10 minutes so straight from the heart, but may have typos have to go back to getting ready for tmrw. sorry for any inconvenience below is better edited thanks to the lovely folks at the Daily News:) Your humble amateur writer.


"A transformational leader stands on the shoulders of his followers, expressing coherently those ideas which lie inchoate in the hearts of the followers -- and in the process makes his followers into new leaders."
-- James MacGregor Burns

"You must not expect anything from others. It's you, of yourself, of whom you must ask a lot. Only from oneself has one the right to ask everything and anything. This way it's up to you - your own choices - what you get from others remains a present, a gift."
-- Albert Schweitzer

Flavia Monteiro Colgan: It's easy: It's Barack to the future

Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
THE WRITER Ingrid Bengis once observed, "Words are a form of action, capable of influencing change." What this country needs is a president not only with experience and knowledge - which both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama possess - but a president with a vision of the future, and the persuasive ability to make that vision come true. Words are not just words when they come from Sen. Obama. They are actions.
The Clintons have made much of Barack Obama's admiration for Ronald Reagan's ability to enact his vision. But I agreed with Obama when he pointed out that to truly and radically change the course of the country, as Reagan did, it takes an inspiring appeal to our better nature.
Reagan didn't simply roll back what President Carter had done in regards to taxes and a more laissez-faire foreign policy. He inspired our country onto a radical new trajectory – from a fiercely smaller (and some would argue, less compassionate) government, to a fervent military build-up. While in many ways this ill-served the nation, Reagan inspired an overwhelming number of people to not just support his policies, but force Congress to follow his lead.
And while both Clinton and Obama have the skills to roll back many of the awful things George W. Bush has gotten us into - war, and a possible recession, for starters - the next president needs to do more than that, but with a decidedly progressive tilt that will serve us and the world well.
He or she will have to begin leading the world again.
On foreign policy, Sen. Clinton has a reasonable plan, from a technical standpoint, to remove troops from Iraq and target the real threat in Afghanistan. But Obama's plan begins where hers leaves off. He is the only candidate who has boldly asserted that we must go beyond the hot spots, change our worldview, and talk with enemy nations. This does not mean capitulating, but it does mean recognizing that to settle the issues in the Middle East, it will mean opening a dialogue with nations like Iran and Syria. Obama is suggesting no different a tactic than another transformational leader, John F. Kennedy, espoused when he said, "We should never negotiate out of fear, but we should never fear to negotiate."
It takes a transformational leader to inspire a nation to march with him or her, especially when the path is untraveled. In this, Obama excels, and can lead America down the better path in a way that Hillary Clinton simply will not.
He did the same in Illinois. When the governor, legislature and even the police said it was a bad idea to videotape law-enforcement interrogations and confessions to discourage brutality, Obama began a one-man mission to convince them all that not only was his view morally right, but essential. He reached out to his opposition, listened to them, heard their concerns but disagreed. Eventually, his bill passed 35-0, and the governor signed it.
The type of leadership that will bring people together for a new, broad coalition of the left, center, and even the right is necessary to resolve our foreign policy challenges, the environment, the economy, trade and so many more issues. We do need words. We need great, inspiring words that call us - not back to the '90s, but forward, into a new and challenging era. And the most inspirational words I can think of are these:
President Obama. *
2. Posted on Fri, Jan. 26, 2007

Flavia Monteiro Colgan | 2008: WATCHING THE BARRIERS FALL

THE long wait is over. In the span of a couple of days, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton all but made it official - they're running for president in 2008.
And there are plenty of reasons for voters to sit up and take notice.
First, the obvious. For the first time in U.S. history, there is an African-American candidate who may be gathering enough support to actually win the nomination. At the same time, in the same party, the candidate still most likely to win that nomination is a woman who has a real chance to go to the Oval Office.
And if that isn't enough, Bill Richardson has jumped in, too, adding some Hispanic flavor to the Democratic free-for-all.
Think about it. If we ask ourselves whether race or gender is still an insurmountable barrier on the path to the White House, we may have to admit that the answer no longer seems to be yes.
Despite all the progress this nation has made on matters of race and women's rights since the 1960s and '70s, the notion that anyone but a white male could win the White House seemed outside the realm of possibility, even during the last election cycle.
Sure, there have been African-American candidates on both sides of the aisle. But, from Shirley Chisholm to Jesse Jackson to Alan Keyes, Al Sharpton to Carol Moseley Braun, the candidacies have never been anything more than a long shot. And the closest we've ever come to electing a woman to anywhere near the White House was Geraldine Ferraro's crushing defeat for vice president in 1984.
What separates Obama from the rest is that he says he's not a black politician, but a public servant who happens to be black. In his announcement on his Web site, there was no mention of his color. He announced right after Martin Luther King Day, but didn't mention the civil-rights leader. Obama understands that if he wants voters to see past his color, he must see past it, too.
At a time when some Americans are feeling low about our prospects and our politics, Obama is positioning himself to be to this nation what Pat Croce was to the Sixers - someone who can help us believe again.
In that sense, Obama is the right man at the right time. In announcing his decision, he focused on rebuilding our politics, on our common aspirations and bringing average Americans back into the fold after so many years of feeling alienated and powerless. That's not a black message, and not a white message. It's the right message.
Hillary faces a tougher challenge - overcoming the perception that she's not as emotionally accessible as Obama, or even her husband, but she has her strengths, too, making the leap from strong first lady to even stronger senator.
While she hasn't grabbed on to large issues in the Senate, she's proven to be incredibly adept at understanding the needs and concerns of her New York constituency. Remember, this isn't just liberal New York City we're talking about. Clinton has managed to use her office to win the favor of normally Republican upstate voters, who rarely vote with the city.
You get the sense with Hillary that although she might not inspire in the same way as Obama, there is little concern that the nation would be in untested hands with her as president. You can picture her walking into the situation room and being in command. Unfairly, most female politicians must overcome the perception that they're somehow not as strong as men. Not Hillary.
Gov. Richardson has gotten into the race with lots less fanfare. But at a time when many Hispanics feel under siege from anti-immigrant forces, Richardson's candidacy is proving that children of Latino immigrants have so much to offer this country.
No matter what happens in the Democratic primary, Obama, Clinton and Richardson have already had a seismic effect on our politics. Their candidacies have the potential to galvanize huge swaths of people who sit out elections because they feel they aren't being represented. Their participation will reinvigorate and strengthen our democracy.
More important, because of their strengths, the media and public at large are judging these candidates on their ideas, not their gender, ethnicity or race.
Finally, thanks to Obama, Clinton and Richardson, what we were taught as schoolkids might finally be true - no matter who you are or where you're from, anyone can grow up to be president. *T

Thank you for taking the time to express your honest, heartfelt thoughts.

I really appreciate the honesty and the insight into who you are.

I support, voted for, Senator Obama and it's my hope & dream that he fulfills every wish you described.

Take care, Ms. Colgan!