Political Endorsement
I don't talk about it much here, but over the last half-dozen years I have become a lot more politically active. I write three or four emails to various officials most weeks and I make a few phone calls too.

To stay informed I also read a lot about politics and politicians. Not just in the increasingly propaganda-driven mainstream press but on the web at sites like the Library of Congress (loc.gov) where you can read the Congressional Record online and at the League of Women Voters (lwv.org).

This coming presidential election may be the most important of the last half-century. The current administration has done so much damage to our nation, in so many different areas, that we face a multitude of crises. It will require exceptional leadership to reunite our fractured nation, restore our civil rights, rebuild our economy, and regain our credibility with the rest of the world.

I think that Barack Obama is the right person for the job. He seems uniquely willing to listen to listen and learn from people all across the political spectrum. He has shown an ability to work toward building consensus without compromising his own core principles to political expedience. And he has demonstrated the vision and charisma to not only convince but to inspire people.

Hilary Clinton seems to be a good and capable person who would probably make a fine president, but I think we can do better. The most convincing argument that I have seen in favor of Obama over Clinton is to look at their legislative records. Look not only at their voting records, but at what kinds of bills and amendments each authored. They nature of the legislation they created tells a lot about their concerns and how they seek to address them. My perception is that Obama wrote significant legislation in several different areas while Clinton wrote very little beyond bills naming buildings after people or recognizing the merit of organizations.

I don't expect my endorsement to win any votes for Obama, but I hope you will take the time to do some research of your own. The press seems mostly interested in "keeping score", which really tells us nothing about the merits of the candidates. Looking at their records is probably the best way to find out what they really think and how they are likely to act.