In July of 2004, I wrote a blurb about the great speeches taking place at the Democratic National Convention. Here's what I wrote about Barack Obama:

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"Obama is the future start of the party. As long as he's around (barring any stupid screw-ups), his name is going to be one of those names that you hear a lot of in the coming years. I really look forward to seeing what kind of senator he becomes. Although I hope and pray that Kerry/Edwards win this year, if they don't, expect Obama's name to be circulating around the big ticket in 2012 and beyond. 2008 would be too soon for him (probably) but I think we'd better get used to hearing about Obama.

His speech was brilliant. It reminded me what is good about politics, and why sometimes politics can go beyond boring mundane details. His speech had me every step of the way. Seriously, if he was running for national office, I'd take off as much time as was needed to help out his campaign. He seems like the type of guy that I'd love to work for. It's rare these days that a speech can inspire me. His did."

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I wrote this in my more idealistic days as an activist at UNT, so I'm not sure I'm willing to take time off from work to work on anyone's campaign, but now that Barack Obama is officially in the 2008 presidential campaign, I'm ready to donate some of my time to helping him get the Democratic nomination.

Barack Obama is still a bit of a mystery at this point, though the more I learn about him, the more it makes me want to do what I can to get him elected. Quite frankly, he inspires me. After 6+ years of Bush and Cheney, I think our country is desperate for someone that they can believe in and inspire them to do great things. And although I don't want to put Barack Obama up on this pedestal of greatness until he's done something to achieve that status, there's just something about Barack Obama that makes me feel positive about the future. And honestly, that's what I'm needing in a Presidential candidate at this point.

We can't keep attacking our problems using the same methods and solutions that crusty Baby Boomers come up with. Just like Lincoln in 1860 and Kennedy one-hundred years later, it's time for a new generation to step-up to the plate and try to make this country and world a better place. And yeah, I think Barack's the guy to lead the way. He's a progressive, but he's not a hard core lefty liberal. He values compromise. To me, he has the ability to represent a new era of politics; an era of politics where doing what's right for the country has more to do with the beliefs of compromise and less to do with hard-line party affiliation.

But here it is, February 2007. A lot can happen between now and November 2008. I'm sure that at some point, the dead hookers and crooked land deals will come out, proving this whole post wrong, and my ideals misguided.

my two cents for this Saturday.

Go Obama!