President-Elect Barack Obama, along with his wife Michelle, sat down with 60 Minutes for his first interview since winning the election. I just happened to notice the buzz about it on Twitter, otherwise I would have missed it.

Some may consider it fluff, but I thought it was a good chance to see them after the campaigning is done. They seemed relaxed there are touches of humor.

I was able to find parts of it in case you missed it. The color is a bit odd, but it’s the video I found.

UPDATE: If the video is no longer available on You Tube, you can view it on CBSNews.com.

Will.i.am is at it again. I’m sure you remember his “Yes We Can” video that became a “viral” sensation. Well, he is back with “It’s a New Day.” I still get chills thinking about Election night and it’s simply amazing how emotional people have been—myself included. It’s a turning point in American history. But I’ll comment more on my reflections later. In the meantime, enjoy the video—it’ll put a smile on your face.

If your name is Joe, Joanne (or any form of Joe) and you support Barack Obama, Hill Harper has a project that you can be a part of. Follow the instructions on the site: Joes 4 Obama, or watch the video.

On Meet the Press, General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State for the Bush administration gave his endorsement to Barack Obama. He looked beyond party affiliation, and the fact that he doesn’t agree with Obama on every point. He has a lot to say about both men—one he has known and admired for many years (even calls him friend), and the other, he has recently gotten to know. Powell’s comments say volumes about the character and leadership abilities of both men.

The interview speaks for itself. If embed doesn’t work, use this link.

It will be interesting to see how the GOP and McCain’s team try to spin this.

The Chicago Tribune has officially endorsed Barack Obama as the presidential candidate most suited to lead this country during these times of uncertainty. After reading their endorsement, I felt hopeful that there are still people in this country that are able to exercise logic.

Though I don’t base my vote on newspaper or media endorsements, I do find it interesting that this is the first time in the history of newspaper that the editorial board has ever backed a Democratic Presidential candidate. What I find fascinating and amazing is their reason for not backing the Republican Presidential nominee. They compare it to their decision to back Progressive Party nominee Theodore Roosevelt over the Republican nominee William Taft in the 1912. At the time, their decision was “driven by outrage at inept and corrupt business and political leaders.” (If you have the time I would recommend reading the whole article.)

In reference to McCain and the Republican Party, the Chicago Tribune writes…

The Republican Party, the party of limited government, has lost its way. The government ran a $237 billion surplus in 2000, the year before Bush took office — and recorded a $455 billion deficit in 2008. The Republicans lost control of the U.S. House and Senate in 2006 because, as we said at the time, they gave the nation rampant spending and Capitol Hill corruption. They abandoned their principles. They paid the price.

We might have counted on John McCain to correct his party’s course. We like McCain. We endorsed him in the Republican primary in Illinois. In part because of his persuasion and resolve, the U.S. stands to win an unconditional victory in Iraq.

It is, though, hard to figure John McCain these days. He argued that President Bush’s tax cuts were fiscally irresponsible, but he now supports them. He promises a balanced budget by the end of his first term, but his tax cut plan would add an estimated $4.2 trillion in debt over 10 years. He has responded to the economic crisis with an angry, populist message and a misguided, $300 billion proposal to buy up bad mortgages.

McCain failed in his most important executive decision. Give him credit for choosing a female running mate–but he passed up any number of supremely qualified Republican women who could have served. Having called Obama not ready to lead, McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. His campaign has tried to stage-manage Palin’s exposure to the public. But it’s clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment’s notice and serve as president. McCain put his campaign before his country.

In reference to Barack Obama, they clearly state that they don’t agree with all his policies, but they feel he is the best candidate to run the country. And this is where logic instead of simple blind support comes in. Of Obama and his candidatecy the Chicago Tribune writes…

[...] We know first-hand that Obama seeks out and listens carefully and respectfully to people who disagree with him. He builds consensus. He was most effective in the Illinois legislature when he worked with Republicans on welfare, ethics and criminal justice reform.

He worked to expand the number of charter schools in Illinois–not popular with some Democratic constituencies.

He took up ethics reform in the U.S. Senate–not popular with Washington politicians.

His economic policy team is peppered with advisers who support free trade. He has been called a “University of Chicago Democrat”–a reference to the famed free-market Chicago school of economics, which puts faith in markets.

———————–

Obama is deeply grounded in the best aspirations of this country, and we need to return to those aspirations. He has had the character and the will to achieve great things despite the obstacles that he faced as an unprivileged black man in the U.S.

He has risen with his honor, grace and civility intact. He has the intelligence to understand the grave economic and national security risks that face us, to listen to good advice and make careful decisions.

…It may have seemed audacious for Obama to start his campaign in Springfield, invoking Lincoln. We think, given the opportunity to hold this nation’s most powerful office, he will prove it wasn’t so audacious after all. We are proud to add Barack Obama’s name to Lincoln’s in the list of people the Tribune has endorsed for president of the United States.

Source: ChicagoTribune.com

After having ditched his appearance on David Letterman’s show back in September, John McCain finally showed up. Originally, he ditched Dave because he said that he had to get back to Washington to help solve the economic crisis—he even suggested they postpone the first presidential debate until the infamous $700 billion bailout package was signed. The funny thing was, McCain took the time to give an interview with Katie Couric before he actually left for Washington. Dave did not take too kindly to being stood up. In case you missed Dave’s rant, you can check it out here.

Dave should have been the moderator during one of the debates. He asked some questions we really wanted to know about—especially about McCain’s selection of his running mate. What was he thinking when he selected Palin? Was she his first choice? Inquiring minds want to know. McCain was still whining about Obama not “repudiating” (a word I’m tired of hearing) John Lewis’ words against the racist stirrings at some of McCain’s rallies. And yes, Obama did express disapproval of Lewis comparing McCain and Palin to George C. Wallace. Obama’s disapproval of Lewis is more than McCain offered in reference to the tone at his rallies. During the debate, he even said he was proud of the people who attend his rallies. There is nothing wrong with that, but what McCain failed to do was “repudiate” the racism that was loudly expressed at his rallies. When Dave asks McCain if he was aware of the things that Palin was saying to incite those on the “fringe,” he was about to say no. And let me add, it was nice of McCain to correct the elderly woman who called Obama “an Arab,” but he did this after a whole week had gone by with Palin and Cindy aligning Obama with “terrorists” which was their subtle way of trying to say he was one also. Because post Sept 11, 2001, you don’t use that word “terrorist” casually—unless you are trying to incite fear/hate/anger.

I really digressed a bit here, but if you missed the interview, here it is in its entirety, thanks to CBS (unfortunately you have to watch a commercial first.)

(Added note: You can disagree with me about what I’ve said about John McCain or my support for Barack Obama, and that is perfectly fine. But if you leave a rude comment, it will not be posted, so don’t waste your time typing it here.)

I really hadn’t been following all the news and coverage about “Joe the Plumber” the day after the debate. But I found a story that caught my attention. I now understand why “Joe the Plumber,” whose real name is Samuel Wurzelbacher, is so concerned about his taxes being raised—especially since he has a tax lien against him by the State of Ohio. After all this is over, he might not be so happy with all the media attention that has been cast his way by John McCain.

According to the NYTimes:

[...] Thomas Joseph, the business manager of Local 50 of the United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and Service Mechanics, based in Toledo, said Thursday that Mr. Wurzelbacher had never held a plumber’s license, which is required in Toledo and several surrounding municipalities. He also never completed an apprenticeship and does not belong to the plumber’s union, which has endorsed Mr. Obama. On Thursday, he acknowledged that he does plumbing work even though he does not have a license.

His full name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher. And he owes back taxes, too, public records show. The premise of his complaint to Mr. Obama about taxes may also be flawed, according to tax analysts. Contrary to what Mr. Wurzelbacher asserted and Mr. McCain echoed, neither his personal taxes nor those of the business where he works are likely to rise if Mr. Obama’s tax plan were to go into effect, they said.

…Mr. Wurzelbacher told reporters that the company he works for, Newell Plumbing & Heating, has two full-time employees: himself and the owner, Al Newell.

Neither Mr. Newell nor Mr. Wurzelbacher responded to telephone calls. And Mr. Wurzelbacher has provided only vague information on his and the company’s finances since talking to Mr. Obama. But if the plumbing business remained a two-person company and the net proceeds — after deductions for business expenses — were shared by the two men, both incomes would most likely fall well below the top tax brackets on which Mr. Obama wants to raise rates, as would the company itself.

Both, in fact, would probably be eligible for a tax cut, said Bob Williams, senior research associate at the independent, nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, though the cut would probably be greater under Mr. McCain’s tax plan than Mr. Obama’s.

According to public records, Mr. Wurzelbacher has been subject to two liens, each over $1,100. One, with a hospital, has been settled, but a tax lien with the State of Ohio is still outstanding.

Hey, who knows… Maybe he might end up with his own reality show that will let the viewers follow him on his quest to owning and running a plumbing business–or maybe finally getting his license.

Source: NYTimes.com

So, the McCain campaign, in their sleazy, nasty way, want to accuse Barack Obama of guilt by association and label him a terrorist. They have been doing this—mainly through Sarah Palin and Cindy McCain—and stirring up fear and hatred among their crowds. Well, let’s turn that mirror on the accusers and see what we find.

Thanks to Keith Olbermann for taking on the task…

Can McCain think clearly? He is letting his “Rove” campaign leaders drag him around so bad he doesn’t know if he’s coming or going. He used to be a likable guy—before he sold his soul to the devil to win this election (at any cost). He needs to slow down. Really. While speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, he referred to the crowd as, “my fellow prisoners.” If he’s elected president, will he have a “flashback” and have us in another war? This is the person I DON’T TRUST to lead.

From time to time Maureen Dowd says something that I couldn’t have said better. In her Op-Ed column for The New York Times, she raises the question, “When [did] elite became a bad thing in America?” From my viewpoint, I’d prefer to have the leaders of my country to be a bit smarter than me. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the guy down the street to be president of this country. He might be a nice guy and all and can be president of the block association, but he’s not getting my vote for President of the United States of America. And forget about “Joe six pack.” We all know that “six pack” does not refer to his abs. And since when did we begin rewarding “C” students, and ridiculing the student that worked hard and finished at the top of his/her class? What is it about Republicans—some of which are smart people (I hope)—running toward and praising such incompetence in their candidates? Do they just want to win at any cost? Sarah Palin is sadly just another George Bush in a skirt (and lipstick). McCain’s campaign have nothing to be proud of in selecting her. In an excerpt from her Op-Ed column, Dowd offers her insight:

Being mush-mouthed helped give the patrician Bushes the common touch. As Alistair Cooke observed, “Americans seem to be more comfortable with Republican presidents because they share the common frailty of muddled syntax and because, when they attempt eloquence, they do tend to spout a kind of Frontier Baroque.”

Darn right. And that, doggone it, brings us to a shout-out for the latest virtuoso of Frontier Baroque, bless her heart, the governor of the Last Frontier. Her reward’s in heaven.

At Sarah Palin’s old church in Wasilla, they spoke in tongues. Maybe that’s where she picked it up…

…At another point, she channeled Alicia Silverstone debating in “Clueless,” asserting, “Nuclear weaponry, of course, would be the be-all, end-all of just too many people in too many parts of our planet.” (Mostly the end-all.)

A political jukebox, she drowned out Biden’s specifics, offering lifestyle as substance. “In the middle class of America, which is where Todd and I have been, you know, all our lives,” she said, making the middle class sound like it has its own ZIP code, superior to 90210 because “real” rules.

Sometimes, her sentences have a Yoda-like — “When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not” — splendor. When she was asked by Couric if she’d ever negotiated with the Russians, the governor replied that when Putin “rears his head” he is headed for Alaska. Then she uttered yet another sentence that defies diagramming: “It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there.”

Source: NYTimes.com