Colin Powell grooves at the “Africa Rising” fashion show.

Fair warning: The video is a tad shaky in the beginning but so worth sitting through. See Colin Powell wind it up at the Africa Rising music and fashion fete in London. 

Yes We Can!

Caribbean massive!!!

Let’s get out and vote on Nov. 4, or sooner if you reside in a state where there’s early voting. There’s also the option of casting an absentee ballot. Either way, it’s crucial.

Please, – and yes, I’m so groveling at this point – if you think your opinion matters (and why should you think otherwise), cast your vote whether it’s written on a red or blue sheet of paper. It’s clear who I’m backing. Suddenly, I’m thinking of the United Sisters “Whoa, Donkey”. What a fitting ditty these days. 

Gosh, this campaign has got me stoked and inspired! To think that some 45 years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the fame “I have a Dream” speech.

Oh, the possibilities offered in the United States of America. These are the times that I slip into my red, white and blue get-up and run in small circles outside my front door solely because I can. It’s sort of kooky, I know. But it’s my liberty.

I’m totally smirking, and on that note, I’ll put a lid on it. Want an extra helping of inspiration? Check out these videos.  

*MJ is blasting Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” and bopping her head really hard.* Bop. Bop.

Ooh…

If you wake up and dont want to smile,
If it takes just a little while,
Open your eyes and look at the day,
You’ll see things in a different way.

Don’t stop, thinking about tomorrow,
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here,
It’ll be, better than before,
Yesterdays gone, yesterdays gone.

Why not think about times to come,
And not about the things that you’ve done,
If your life was bad to you,
Just think what tomorrow will do.

Dont stop, thinking about tomorrow,
Dont stop, itll soon be here,
Itll be, better than before,
Yesterdays gone, yesterdays gone.

…Don’t you look back, Don’t you look back. 

The New York Times endorses Barack Obama! An Update.

I’m having quite a pleasant morning after chomping on a chewy plain toasted bagel smeared with reduced-fat cream cheese and reading the New York Times’ ringing endorsement for Barack Obama. I’m smiling broadly. The Financial Times also has followed suit. 

Ken Adelman, once a member of George W. Bush’s defense agency, told The New Yorker that he plans to vote for Obama. 

His reasons, according to an e-mail sent to New Yorker columnist George Packer: 

When the economic crisis broke, I found John McCain bouncing all over the place. In those first few crisis days, he was impetuous, inconsistent, and imprudent; ending up just plain weird. Having worked with Ronald Reagan for seven years, and been with him in his critical three summits with Gorbachev, I’ve concluded that that’s no way a president can act under pressure.

Second is judgment. The most important decision John McCain made in his long campaign was deciding on a running mate.

That decision showed appalling lack of judgment. Not only is Sarah Palin not close to being acceptable in high office—I would not have hired her for even a mid-level post in the arms-control agency. But that selection contradicted McCain’s main two, and best two, themes for his campaign—Country First, and experience counts. Neither can he credibly claim, post-Palin pick.

I sure hope Obama is more open, centrist, sensible—dare I say, Clintonesque—than his liberal record indicates, than his cooperation with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid portends. If not, I will be even more startled by my vote than I am now.

Go here to read the entire column. See what some pundits are saying about the endorsement. 

Oh Snap! Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama, reports WSJ!!!

 

WASHINGTON — Gen. Colin Powell, former secretary of state under President Bush, endorsed Barack Obama, giving a major boost to the Democratic presidential candidate and dealing a blow to his Republican rival John McCain.

Gen. Powell, who has known Sen. McCain for more than two decades and Sen. Obama for two years, praised the latter as a steady and knowledgeable leader of a “new generation,” who would be able to restore American credibility abroad and address the country’s economic problems.

“I strongly believe that at this point in America’s history we need a president that will not just continue … the policies that we have been following in recent years,” the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. “We need a transformational figure.”

Gen. Powell said he had found that Sen. McCain “was a little unsure as to how to deal with the economic problems we’ve been having. … That concerned me.”

Both presidential candidates had for months wooed Gen. Powell, a Republican scion who had served in the administrations of both President Bush and his father. Gen. Powell had praised both candidates, saying his selection would not be strictly about party loyalty, nor would it be based on race. He has contributed to Sen. McCain’s campaign.

In televised comments before and after his endorsement, Gen. Powell voiced his disappointment over the party’s “narrowing” appeal to conservatives. He also spoke of its “despicable … demagoguery,” in attempting to paste a terrorist label on the Illinois senator for his association with Vietnam-era radical Bill Ayers. Sen. Obama has criticized the former actions of Mr. Ayers, who had belonged to a group linked to the bombing of U.S. government buildings.

The general praised Sen. Obama’s “steadiness,” “intellectual curiosity,” and readiness “to be president on Day One,” while questioning what he described as Sen. McCain’s continually shifting solutions to the economic crisis. He also criticized the Arizona senator’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

“I don’t believe she’s ready to be president of the United States. … That raised some questions as to the judgment that Sen. McCain made,” he said. Gen. Powell also cited Gov. Palin’s personal attacks on the Democratic candidate, and “troubling” appeals to the far right.

“They are both distinguished Americans … either one of them I think would be a good president,” Gen. Powell said Sunday of the two senators. “It isn’t easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain.”

He said he did not plan to campaign for Sen. Obama so late in the season but would vote for him.

“I’ve been watching for a long time and then in the past couple of months, I really said, ‘you can’t keep watching,'” he told reporters after the “Meet the Press” appearance.

His decision two weeks before Election Day underscores the caution and the political evolution of Gen. Powell, who as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush was the face of America’s military. The son of Jamaican immigrants, Gen. Powell was often mentioned as the leader most likely to be the nation’s first African-American president.

But as secretary of state in the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, he made the case for war before the United Nations — based on faulty intelligence — earning himself a reputation as the Bush administration’s “point man” on the war and considerable criticism since.

Gen. Powell on Sunday stood by his early role in the war, saying that although he favored a diplomatic solution, the decision to invade Iraq was based on the best knowledge available at the time.

Sen. McCain said on Fox News Sunday that Gen. Powell’s decision was not a surprise, and he has “always admired and respected Gen. Powell. We’re longtime friends.”

Republican pundits sought to downplay Gen. Powell’s endorsement of Sen. Obama. They pointed to Gen. Powell’s expressions of admiration for both men, and said Sen. McCain’s campaign was more about working people than Washington elites. In news releases issued after the endorsement, the McCain campaign appeared to ignore the hoopla surrounding the development, instead touting its approval from “Joe the Plumber,” and endorsement from Mexican-American actress Katie Barberi.

Democrats worked to portray the endorsement as a “nail in the coffin” of Sen. McCain’s campaign.

Gen. Powell’s endorsement also places a seal of approval on Sen. Obama’s opposition to the Iraq war. It could significantly boost the Illinois senator’s credibility among some members of the military, and ease lingering doubts among undecided voters about his national security credentials.

Gen. Powell’s endorsement came as the Democratic candidate finalized plans for a rally in Fayetteville, N.C., near the Fort Bragg military base. According to the 2006 U.S. census, 28.3% of Fayetteville residents age 18 and over were veterans.

*It’s been quite a week for Barack Obama, and as a supporter, I’m elated. Not only did Barack score a major coup with Colin Powell’s endorsement, but he also won support from key newspapers including the LA Times and Chicago Tribune. – MJ*

 

Barack Obama Gives A Shout-Out To Hip-Hop – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

Obama and Hip Hop. Say word?

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Dat Lovey Dovey – the Obamas.

Months ago I told my friends I thought the Obamas were the couple to eye. The love between Barack and Michelle is beyond visible, it’s captivating. I certainly can’t get enough of these two.

*Gush, gush.  Would someone please pass the popcorn?*

The Obamas recently celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary.

PDA

 

The beginning.

See what Huffington Post bloggers say about the Obamas‘ relationship. While you’re at it, check out this really cool slide show that will surely leave you chanting, “Yes, we can!”

The Obamas are an example why I scoff when people spew acrid crap about relationships such as men ain’t fill-in-the-blank; women are fill-in-the-blank; love is fill-in-the-blank.

There are LOSERS on the prowl, and these LOSERS are quite deft at masking their ill intentions. But I refuse to let LOSERS win.

Boo, LOSERS!

Speaking of LOSERS and totally hoping McCain and Palin will be among the defeated bunch, I’d like to segue to a related matter about voting. Please be sure that you’re registered to vote cuz, like, you can’t vote if you’re not registered.

What I’m saying is you’ll be turned away when you arrive at the polling booth and that might look, um, embarrassing considering you had like forever to register. Know what I’m saying?

Now that I’ve done my public service announcement bit, I’m rerouting the convo back to fawning over the Obamas.  Ah, yes we can.

*More gushing.*

*MJ is blasting Stevie’s “Do I Do”. *

My life has been waiting for your love
My arms have been waiting for your love to arrive
My heart has been waiting
My soul anticipating your love, your love, your love

...Do I do, do I do
What you do, what you do
When I do my love to you

*MJ is now bopping to Chris Brown’s “With You,” – a downgrade from Stevie’s classic but still a snappy ditty considering the garbage out there nowadays.*

…and the hearts all over the world tonight.

*Improvising*

Ooh, yeah, ooooh, yeah…the hearts, I said, the hearts…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obama “Yes We Can” Video

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Saturday Night Live – Palin / Hillary Open – Video – NBC.com

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Saturday Night Live – Couric / Palin Open – Video – NBC.com

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A Cup of Coco Tea steep in Obama

It’s nice to know West Indian comrades are campaigning even from Jamaica’s Blue Mountains to get Obama into the White House. This is a catchy ditty, wouldn’t you say? Me likes.

So the much anticipated war of the words between presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain took place yesterday evening at Ole Miss. We can all breathe a sigh of relief. Whew! Glad to get debate round one outta of the way. Glad McCain decided to resurrect his campaign. Glad Barack – adamant about going forth with the debate come hell or high water, and rightly so – didn’t have to debate with an empty chair.

The jabs were split between the two, I thought.  Barack held his own on foreign policy issues though I found Barack agreeing with one too many points made by McCain irksome as hell.

A CNN survey found 51 percent of those polled thought Obama did a better job; 38 percent said the night belonged to McCain. Forty-six percent of males gave the win to McCain and 43 to Obama. Women voters leaned toward Obama with 59 percent and McCain with 31 percent. I was too lazy to scroll to the part where it says how many voters participated in this poll so take this tidbit with a grain of salt.

But that’s old news now. I’m eagerly awaiting the Joe Biden/Sarah Palin spar this Thursday. Palin’s interview with Katie Couric was a bomb. I can only imagine how she’ll fare against Biden, a politician known for being verbose.

Let’s get ready to ruuuuuumble! – MJ

Epiphany at an Obama Rally

This Sunday I attended a Barack Obama rally in Detroit. Good stuff. Good times. Good quotes that got me thinking about my goals.

“Destiny is not written for us. Destiny is created by us,” said Obama at the rally.

Those words stuck.

There’s much that I want to do like help fund the grade school that sits on a parcel of land that I own in Haiti. The kids could use some school supplies and clothes.

I also want to write a book and I don’t care if it never makes the New York Times best seller’s list. I simply want to write.

I’m embarking on a new career – sort of.  My new j-o-b is going  to be quite the hustle but I’m prepared to work really, really, really hard. This weekend I plunked down $2,000 to move that ball forward.

I’d like to improve my finances. Sort of strange thinking about finances as the U.S. economy teeters and Congress hammers out a $700 billion bailout. Alas! Gotta look to the future, which starts in the next minute.

Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

I plan to see South Africa, Australia, Tokyo, London, Amsterdam, Brazil, the Amazon rain forest, the Nile River, West Africa, Italy, Greece, and Ireland.

I dunno. Something about economic and demographic shifts happening in Ireland has piqued my curiosity to see this lush island. That and Frank McCourt’s “Angela’s Ashes.” A tearjerker, I know, but what a story about human strength.

I love to read. I want to read more. I plan to read more. I also want to laugh until my stomach hurts. I will laugh more.

I love nature trails. The sound of birds chirping and dried leaves crunching beneath my feet make me feel close to God. I want to lean on God and love him/her deeply. I want to always be grateful for my 10 working fingers and toes because life could be worse – far worse.

I’ve always been a woman of action. I’ve always believe life is what you make it. There are always choices.

Always!

Yup. Yup. Yup.

“Destiny is not written for us. Destiny is created by us.”

How do you want to live your life and what’s taking you so long to live it?

Like the Nike slogan says, “Just do it,” or better yet, heed the words of Sen. Barack Obama.

I know I will. No. Scratch that. I know I am. – MJ