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Change

Ok, since I discovered Facebook I haven't done much blogging, mostly due to time. So if you were interested in my missives, you can catch them more regularly on Facebook. There's a link to my Facebook page in the side bar (although you will have to signup for Facebook if you are not already a member).

Here's some of my recent posts on Facebook:

Courage Campaign | Oscar Grant tragedy: Demand oversight of BART Police 5:24pm
Source: www.couragecampaign.org
On January 1, Oscar Grant -- already subdued by police and lying face down -- was shot in the back and killed by a BART police officer at the Fruitvale station.Unfortunately, this tragedy is not a first ...

Adam is liking the California Supreme Court and their ruling to ban balance billing. 2:31pm

The San Francisco Citizen » Blog Archive » More Elected Officials Call for Increased BART Police Ove 11:17am
Source: sfcitizen.com
It was standing room only last night in front of the California State Building in San Francisco as members of the press assembled to hear details of the plan to allow for more oversight of the BART Police.

Time for calm - and answers 9:33am
Source: www.sfgate.com
Furious over the eyewitness videos showing a BART police officer shooting an unarmed man in the back on New Year's Eve and frustrated by BART's inadequate public communication about the event, protesters in Oakland have taken their feelings to the streets.

The San Francisco Citizen » Blog Archive » Leland Yee and Tom Ammiano Call for Public Oversight of B 4:53pm
Source: sfcitizen.com
Senator Leland Yee and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano arecalling for greater acountability and public oversight of the BART Police today.

Local Wire 3:52pm
Source: cbs5.com
Local Wire
YEE, AMMIANO TO INTRODUCE BART OVERSIGHT LEGISLATION

www.sfexaminer.com >> Local News 3:16pm
Source: www.sfexaminer.com
– A trio of local and state lawmakers are pushing for new rules that would keep a closer eye on BART’s police force.

BART directors face demands of police oversight 3:15pm
Source: www.sfgate.com
(01-08) 13:13 PST Oakland -- Dozens of angry community members crowded into the BART board of directors meeting this morning in Oakland to express anger and outrage over the New Year's Day shooting of Oscar Grant.

As We See It: Free speech for students - Santa Cruz Sentinel 3:14pm
Source: www.santacruzsentinel.com
As We See It: Free speech for students

www.contracostatimes.com 2:57pm
Source: www.contracostatimes.com
Lawmakers propose bill for BART Police oversight

Ammiano, Yee take on BART police - SFBG Politics Blog 2:56pm
Source: www.sfbg.com
SFBG Politics Blog - The San Francisco Bay Guardian

New California law protects school journalism advisors - Los Angeles Times 8:49am
Source: www.latimes.com
The act, said to be the nation's most stringent, prohibits school administrators from retaliating against advisors for trying to protect student press freedoms.

Adam became a fan of Milk. 10:55pmFilm - 7,480 fans
His life changed history. His courage changed lives. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the ...

Adam wishes his phone would stop ringing. 4:52pm

Senator Yee calls on University to end poverty wages for AFSCME workers : The Bayne of Blog: Califor 11:13am
Source: bayneweb.com
Five months after 8,500 University of California (UC) service workers went out on strike in protest of poverty wages, a mediated settlement has been presented to the UC administration. Senator Yee, who ...

Prep journalism teachers get shield against retaliation for student work - Folsom/El Dorado News - s 10:59am
Source: www.sacbee.com
Community News, 24-hour local, state, national and world news, plus politics, sports, business, lifestyle and entertainment coverage, columnists, humor, classified ads and much more

Organization of Champions

Two more fantasy leagues, two more championships for Boston Kegatime.

To my girls

When Sienna turned 1, Isis made her a wonderful movie to celebrate her first year. While she works on Olivia's video for her 1st birthday tomorrow, I have highlighted my girls first year together with the following video.



For better quality video, click here. Then click "watch in high quality" below the screen.

So this is Christmas...

Happy Holidays

Keigwins go disco

...with a little help from our President.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Keigwins go country

...at a pre-inaugural ball.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

History

This past week I gave Isis an early birthday present - DNA testing to trace her roots (and the roots of Sienna and Olivia) to their ancestral homeland. Here's the reaction:











Results in six weeks.

UPDATE (December 22): Isis received the results today. With over 99 percent accuracy, her DNA most matches the Fulani people living in Nigeria. The journey continues...

Love is all you need

Election 2008

For better quality video, click here. Then click "watch in high quality" below the screen.

365-173

History

President Obama

No longer do I need to pretend when my daughters ask if they too can be President of the United States of America.

VOTE!

There was a time not too long ago that African Americans were not allowed to vote, and marriages and families like mine were illegal. Tomorrow we can take a great step foward in healing the wounds of our nation's past. Think about the history we can make in one day - electing the first African American to the highest office in the land and finally allowing all couples who love the opportunity to marry. I am not running for office and my marriage license is not in jeopardy, but never has an election been so personal and important.

It takes a lot to turn a princess into a ghost, not so much to turn one into a flower

This is no ordinary election

It will certainly be an emotional election day. Not getting a filibuster proof majority in the Senate (60 Democrats) or significantly gaining in the House (at least 25 additional Democrats) would be disappointing. Not increasing our numbers in the State Senate and Assembly would be unsatisfactory. However, second only to losing the Presidency, the passing of Proposition 8 would be the most tragic.



V O T E

Pumpkins '08

Our America

McCain's closing argument: not to talk about McCain

Barbara West of FL's WFTV should be fired, then she can at least get paid by the GOP like her husband

I was planning to write about the Biden interview this evening, but the Daily Kos saved me the typing effort:

--
Barbara West: Republican Operative Posing as Newscaster
by snesich

Former "Miss Vermont", Barbara West of WFTV in Orlando was the woman who essentially got on her knees before John McCain and then shot extremely hostile questions at Joe Biden. In fact, it was almost as if Barbara West was reading "talking points" given to her by the Republican Party.

Well, she probably was. Barbara's husband, Wade West, is a Republican Media Consultant. That's right. Barbara West, who is currently working for WFTV in Orlando has a husband named Wade West who is a GOP Media Consultant.

Compare these two interviews and tell me if you think West favors the Republicans:

http://www.wftv.com/...

http://www.wftv.com/...

According to reports Barbara West used Republicans talking points in her interview with Biden that may have come directly from the McCain Palin communications team via her husband Wade. In addition, the Wests have been big financial contributors to the Republican Party over the years.

Shouldn't WFTV have disclosed West's biases beforehand? Or at least have required her to recues herself from any coverage of the election campaign?
--

And finally, Keith Olbermann as usual setting the record straight and asking why has the campaign that pushed the race-bating, racist story of the McCain volunteer who was "attacked" by a fictitious Obama supporter, keeping silent now that their myth was debunked. Not that the backwards B didn't give it away.

Out of ideas, out of touch, out of time

Perfect ad, perfect timing. And starting midweek, we should focus entirely on a positive message and not even mention McCain. If you are a voter who hasn't made up your mind by Wednesday, you need a good dose of inspiration.

I voted

While I have voted in dozens of elections - state primaries, special elections, recalls, presidential primaries, and general elections - none have been as meaningful as today. Although some have come close.

I remember the joy of going to the polls with my parents and holding up signs outside polling places for various city council and mayoral races.

I remember awaiting the returns at house parties in Marlborough.

I remember posting a scoreboard of primary winners on my bedroom door during the 1988 election. I can still name most of the candidates in that election: Dems - Dukakis, Jackson, Babbitt, Biden, Simon, Hart, Gore, Gephardt. Reps - Bush, Dole, Kemp, Robertson, Rumsfeld.

I remember organizing mock elections at Marlborough High.

I remember casting my ballot at UMass.

I remember voting in North Carolina in the 2000 primary for Bill Bradley for President, despite the fact that he had already dropped out.

I remember teaching my students at Triangle Day School about the importance of elections and not getting even an hour of sleep on Election Night 2000 so I could attempt to explain to them on Wednesday what happened, not realizing that the lesson would continue for weeks as we watched news of hanging chads and recounts.

I remember serving as the Campaign Manager for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in San Mateo County in 2002.

I remember organizing press conferences against the recall and against Schwarzenegger.

I remember walking precincts in San Francisco's Tenderloin during a special election, stepping over drunks and drug users, begging students and those of extreme little means to come out and vote.

I remember the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston and meeting then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama in the lobby of my hotel as well as cheering the possibility of the first female Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

I remember voting in 2004 and being interviewed by a Swedish news reporter and having the story mailed to me months later, not being able to read a word of it.

I remember being the first in line during the primary of 2006 at 6:30 AM in order to vote and drive to San Francisco to work on Leland Yee's campaign, which was actually waking up late as I had for the previous several weeks left the house around 4:30 in order to be in San Francisco to work on the campaign by 6:30 AM. I also remember opening the largest bottle of champagne I had ever seen shortly after the returns came in and my job was secure.

I remember casting my ballot in March with Sienna by my side for Barack Obama in the primary and being interviewed by a local TV news station, and of course Sienna stole the show, saying she "boated for Obama."

And I remember this past August in Denver at the Democratic National Convention, realizing that every moment of the experience was history in the making and how proud I was to be a small part of it.

These are some of the most meaningful memories of my life. And yet, today was the most significant vote I have cast. I voted on several ballot measures, Congress, State Assembly, Mayor and School Board. Most importantly, I also cast my vote for Barack Obama for President of the United States.

For reasons well document on this blog, the vote was a no-brainer. Senator Obama has the intellect, the judgment, and the experience to lead. Senator Obama has the ability to inspire here at home and has earned the respect of the world. He is exactly the President we need at this time.

You can not measure his ability simply by his lengthy accomplishments and his rhetorical prowess. I have found a barometer in my children that only one politician has been able to move. Only when Barack Obama is on TV or on Isis or my computer does Sienna and Olivia's attention become tunnel on the screen. Sienna has memorized two Will I Am songs and constantly chants "Yes We Can" and "Obama, Obama" and "We are the ones we've been waiting for."

I know, she may have been a bit indoctrinated. But she does know "Hillary Clit-tin" and John McCain. But she, like many of us, has been inspired by Barack Obama. In fact, she is "going to run for President one day" and she's "going to run fast."

Sienna and Olivia don't yet have any idea about race, the brutal past of slavery or segregation, the horrific discrimination that still plagues, or much of their own family's history. On November 4, our nation will hopefully elect the best person for the job, the most equipped to bring hope to America and respect from the world, and the individual with the judgment to get us out of an unnecessary war and prevent future catastrophes.

We will also hopefully, finally break down all barriers so all individuals, including those with my children's skin tone, can aspire to any position in the world, including President of the United States. November 4 cannot come soon enough.

The Map

Now I am not predicting this will happen, but the potential is there. The polls show Obama now leading in at least ten states that George W. Bush "won" in 2004. Yes We Can!

And a couple more wardrobe malfunctions by Palin and the RNC, we may see Arkansas, Tennessee, Nebraska, Kansas, Arizona, South Dakota, and Alaska come into play.

I am mailing Sarah Palin a copy of the United States Constitution

I am thinking about renaming my blog "Really?" or "Are you kidding me?" or "Seriously?" or "This is getting out of hand."

How can a candidate for Vice-President of the United States of America of a major political party not understand the role and responsibilities of the job? Then she has the nerve to say that the Presidency is not for "on the job training." Well, Governor Palin, it also isn't the place for a middle school civics lesson. Ma'am, in case you don't get the US Constitution I am going to mail to you, you can look up the VP job description here.

This is mind-boggling:



$150,000 in clothes? Wow, quite the hockey mom wardrobe. And our nominee is the "elitist celebrity?" Again, mind-boggling.



Oh and remember that "Joe the Plumber" who was not actually a licensed plumber and who would in fact get a bigger cut under Obama's tax plan? Well, now we find out his name is not Joe either.

Shocking

Congresswoman Bachmann's anti-American rant: Click here

Good to see because of these comments her once safe Republican seat is now a toss-up.

And Congressman Robin Hayes:

Campaigning in Nevada