Muggles for Obama!

Still looking for the perfect Valentine's day gift?

Look no more:

The Obama-Meter

From the St. Petersburg Times is PolitiFact's Obameter which is keeping track of how Obama will live up to his ~500 campaign promises.
Like many others, I'm willing to give Obama a break. It takes time to effect real change. As long as he's doing something after some careful calculations and consulting, then I'm good. Doesn't it feel weird to have a hard-working, thinking-inclined, competent president?

The Real War on Terrorism, Part 2

@Mother Jones:

In 2001, shortly after 9/11, we invaded Afghanistan. The purpose was to topple the Taliban regime, destroy al-Qaeda, and ultimately capture Osama bin Laden.

We all know how that plan turned out.

There is a horrific, frightening, and telling photo essay ("The Hidden Half: A Photo Essay on Women in Afghanistan) on the effects the Taliban insurgency has had on Afghan women and girls.

The author reminds us that former First Lady Laura Bush said that fighting terrorism included giving Afghan women their rights back. Unfortunately, Afghan women's rights are disturbingly infringed upon:

Six years later, the burka is more common than before, an "overwhelming majority" of Afghan women suffer domestic violence, according to aid group Womankind, and honor killings are on the rise. Health care is so threadbare that every 28 minutes a mother dies in childbirth—the secondhighest maternal mortality rate in the world. Girls attend school at half the rate boys do, and in 2006 at least 40 teachers were killed by the Taliban.

(To the faint-hearted: the photos are real and intense.)

Stay tuned for part 3 when I discuss what was wrong with the war on terror and what the steps the Obama administration should take in the coming years.

The Real War on Terrorism

The War on Terrorism, as defined by the Bush Administration, was not an adequate 'war'. Even worse, their definitions of 'terror' and 'homeland' resulted in damaging America's reputation and goodwill and creating more reasons for Ayman al-Zawahiri and Bin Laden to continue recruiting.

I hope the next four years will learn from the mistakes of the Bush Administration and take on a narrowly-defined "war on terror" and seriously address the humanitarian disasters.

For example, the Taliban has been terrorizing women and girls in certain parts of Pakistan. They have banned Pakistani girls from attending school, threatening to shoot acid at them if they try--just like they did in Afghanistan. This is a serious violation of women's rights. Finding constructive and multilateral solutions to address this problem is a better use of American ingenuity and power.

Best description of Cheney at the inauguration

From Michael Tomasky @ The Guardian: 

As many have observed, Cheney in his wheelchair resembled no one so much as Mr. Potter in the later scenes of It's a Wonderful Life. Makes you wonder whether he stole some TARP money on the way out the door.

Spot on. 

Manny Pacquiao: Top 5 'Most Viewed' on The Telegraph

Here's a surprise: an blog post on Manny Paciquiao makes the top 5 'Most Viewed' on The Telegraph.  

Until now, I was very naive about Manny's popularity and standing in the world.  I knew he was good, but I didn't know he was one of the best.  

The pride that many Filipinos and Fil-Ams like me when a fella like Pacman makes it big in the world is summed up by one of the commentors on the article, btbchamp: 

Most people in Philippines adore Pacman but that's about it. They are disgusted with their government that they couldn't care less. For them Pacman is representive of their struggle to make things right. And when they say "Philippines" they mean Pacman's struggle to reach their dreams without the help of their government.

Change We Need

Los Angeles Times | January 22, 2009 | 8:27 a.m. PT

---

Obama signs order to close Guantanamo in a year

President Obama began overhauling U.S. treatment of terror suspects today, signing orders to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center. Obama also has signed orders for reviewing military trials of terror suspects and banning the harshest interrogation methods.

More at: http://link.latimes.com/r/EBJPXS/MN0TO/GRN2P8/3X3R/9Z5ROD/W1/t

The Onion on the inauguration

Favorite Onion headline re: inauguration...

"Hillary Clinton Mouthing Along to Presidential Oath"

It's funny because I can imagine SNL doing a skit on this! Where's Amy Poehler when you need her?

Filling the news cycle

As of 12:56 AM (Pacific Time), the number one most viewed article on The Guardian in the past 24 hours is on the boy, I mean, the man behind Obama's inauguration speech, ("Obama inauguration: Words of history...crafted by 27-year-old in Starbucks") Jon Favreau.

I suspect the media will begin to stop discussing every detail of the inauguration (with the exception of the fashion choices made by the First Lady) in less than 24 hours. The President will start taking action soon and make some importance announcements which will fill the gosh-awful, never-ending news cycle.

The Grey Area

Dr. Joseph Lowery's benediction at the inauguration was one of the highlights. His voice was something to remember. It has depth and it commanded reverence. But the conclusion of the speech is what made it all the more memorable. It got some laughs but rubbed many the wrong way.

Here's what he said:

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.

So of course I'm sure the right-wing pundits/ideologues will be all over this tomorrow, especially the "when white will embrace what is right." But there is reason for other folks to get be miffed.

Nobody calls Asians "yellah" or Native Americans "red". And seldom do Asians or Native Americans use it to refer to themselves. And since when were Asians not mellow? haha

With President Obama emphasizing Change and the whole spirit of his campaign and election, Dr. Lowery's words sort of spit in the face of all that. It especially flies in the face of President Obama's hallmark words during his DNC 2004 speech: "There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America." You would think this sort of thing would have been avoided given the Jeremiah Wright situation.

But Dr. Lowery's presence was of grand importance nonetheless as he helped found the SCLC with Dr. King and leading the Montgomery bus boycott. Essentially, he paved the way for President Obama to take the oath of office today.

But, Dr. Lowery's words are also reflective reality: there is still racism in America.

Thus I'm torn on the issue, as are many people are conflicted about Rick Warren. But we should not be bogged down by these kinds of ideological and religious issues. We shouldn't divide ourselves or emphasize the details of others' beliefs and paint them into categories. Nothing is ever easy especially when you put it in terms of black and white.

I forgot who said it, but we need to accept that in life, there is and needs to be tolerance of a grey area. Certainly, ambiguity and uncertainty creates challenges but they also drive ambition and innovation.

The greatest thinkers and leaders of our time know this:
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." "Be the change." "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." "Yes we can."

President Obama's first day on the job

In an interview with Robin Roberts during the Neighborhood Ball (I think), President Obama said that he would be making some important announcements on the economy and foreign affairs tomorrow! Exciting!

Do you feel the Change?

Don't forget to sign up for for their newsletter! I was a subscriber for the Whitehouse Weekly newsletter during the Bush Administration, but I seldom read them as they usually contained a goofy picture of Bush hanging out in some foreign country while others are in Washington handling issues like Georgia, Gaza, etc.

Under the 'Contact Us', there is a place to send your congratulations or ask policy/non-policy related questions. Now all the Whitehouse needs is a twitter account!

A few thoughts on the First Family

J.Crew took time to say thank you to the First Family for the awesome, most-watched, most-televised, and probably free marketing. Michelle Obama's green gloves and I believe the girls' attire came from J.Crew.

Michelle's fashion choices have always been sensible--everything from the style to the price tags. We know she's a sensible woman because she didn't need the evil MSM to tell her that she was spending too much on clothes (ahem, Sarah Palin!).

Her family's clothes send a message to the hard-working Americans who are increasingly shouldering the tightening grip of the economy: We're with you.

They didn't traverse the union just talking to Americans about the economy--they were listening to them too. My faith in politicians is often ruptured by their hypocrisy. But the Obamas seem to break the stereotype. The Obamas know how to strike a balance between frugality, sensibility, and practicality.

And I hope I wasn't the only one smitten by Mr. and Mrs. Obama's obvious passion for each other on the dance floor! It was so charming to see a couple still in love with each other after all these years of campaigning and raising two kids. They represent the "ideal" American family.

I'm looking forward to the next four years with a hefty load of optimism, hope, understanding , and patience. But I won't relinquish my skepticism of politicians and lawmakers in the name of protecting the interests of "main street."

To the next four years!