A New Spirit.....

"This is a defining moment.... change has come to America." President-elect Barack Obama, November 4, 2008.

A change away from a divisive, oppressive trickle-down government to inclusive leadership that will strive to fulfill Lincoln's promise.... "of the people, by the people and for the people."

And the walls came tumbling down.... the dismantling of that wall started in Iowa.

It's possible that without Iowa, where Obama won the first-in-the-nation caucus last January, the moment might have been missed, and the country would have continued down the "bring it on" path instead of leading the way to "Yes We Can."

The election of Obama shows that, in his own words.... "the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

Yesterday "we the people" chose Obama, a uniquely gifted man of vision, intellect, will and judgment, to lead us out of our national nightmare, newborn into a world of possibilities where we'll no longer need to bemoan..... "What happened to my country?"

"W" Doesn't Stand For Wisdom

"Bush Defends Military Buildup in Iraq" (WaPo) President Bush called for patience with his Iraq surge operations.... "we're seeing some hopeful signs."

"The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie... deliberate, contrived and dishonest... but the myth... persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." John F. Kennedy

"Six Members of Sunni Bloc Quit Iraq Cabinet in Protest" (WaPo) ... The Sunnis have a sense of alienation within Iraq's Shiite-dominated government. And, the "lack of progress on important legislation, coupled with the failure to reconcile with minority Sunnis, ranks among the greatest obstacles to stability in Iraq."

"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." Franklin Roosevelt

"Democrats Plan to Press GOP on Iraq" (WaPo) After the 4th of July break, Senate and House Democrats intend to demand greater accountability from Bush and the Iraqi government with binding troop-withdrawal timelines.... "they will offer weekly votes to force Republicans, and the president, to defend the war."

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president." Theodore Roosevelt.

"Bush Is Told to Justify Executive Privilege" (WaPo).... The White House invoked executive privilege to block the release of documents surrounding the firing of U. S. Attorneys. The chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary committees accused the administration of a "veil of secrecy.... unprecedented and damaging to the tradition of open government."

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts." Abraham Lincoln

"Justices to Weigh Detainee Rights" (WaPo) Yesterday the Supreme Court reversed an earlier decision and will now consider whether Guantanamo Bay detainees have been "unfairly barred from the federal courts by the Bush Administration and Congress."

"...And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it." George W. Bush