Why ask? What does a white guy in California, older than a Boomer (You didn't know such people existed, did you?) know about this? Just one thing: one of the coolest sights I've seen, this season or any other.
that.is.adorable.
never occurred to me that folks wouldn't know what it was, so the explanation brings a big smile.
a somber and frustrating aside...
Bagnews has a scathing look at the racist and crap-ass faux news slideshow in the times today.
http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/
made me so mad.
What Porlock and Terri said. Quite cool indeed.
Very evocative and, yes, cool -- but mostly because of the expression on her face. SHE showed it all.
Maggie, I totally agree. I am excited to see the role of first lady as expressed by Michelle Obama.
A beautiful moment between two people who not only love each other, but like each other as well.
For that one instant, they were the only ones in the room.
That "slide show" is facing off the obamas against what?
The wicked witch of Arizona and her flying monkey?
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze.
All we need to do is post images of that couple and the captions write themselves.
OMFG, that is a sweet photo.
This guy is so right for the job.
Uhhh no "divisive" intent, but - Black folks aren't going to be commenting on this one. You guys enjoy...
I see that she keeps him encouraged.
I think she said "give me some" before they bumped fists.
The look on his face told me that he was still pissed after hearing Hillary.
So was I. And we can't celebrate yet because she is only suspending her campaign so Obama better keep watching his back.
In my day that was a "dap".
I just love these two.
Dap or handshake or high five, when I see a couple of any race doing this after an accomplishment it tells me they understand the true nature of partnership.
Whether it was planned or spontaneous, the sentiment behind it seems genuine.
they look so connected, so much together...it will eb nice to have a first couple that see each otehr as equals and who are actualy into each other.
The wicked witch of Arizona and her flying monkey?
Oh my.
ceabaird - is that yours? I'd like to make sure I give proper credit when I use it.
OT..I am rather new to hte whole active political thing, some of you here have been around the block for a while so hopewfuly i can pick your brains for soem advice...
if you have a cahnce to say get a job running web security for a canadate running for a high national office, but its onyl a 6 month contract waht are teh odds of continued employment after the inoguration???
it seems like a dream oppertunity, but i got a wife and kids, would I have a job after the campaigne ended, it would be very nice not to work for the great evils of the world for a while (assumeign a win, i know the risk that the canadate loses)?
Please kenga feel free - I'd feel even freer if LM could whip up some appropriate photoshops (hint, hint).
I like the other shot better, the one that shows Michelle's face. And it's much easier to see now that it's the desktop wallpaper on my 19-inch computer monitor.
"Uhhh no "divisive" intent, but - Black folks aren't going to be commenting on this one. You guys enjoy...
drbopperthp"
Yes we are. My sister, myself and a friend were watching about we about cheered my apt. complex down when they did it. And we were talking about it on another blog yesterday. We loved it, and the sentiment and support behind it.
My advice would be to take it, if you can afford to do so. It's good pay, although I imagine the hours would be grueling to say the least. You will no doubt also be living out of a suitcase, and think downtime rather than days off-especially in September and October.
The position would look great to a future employer, and it is not out of the possibility you could wind up with a solid job with the Federal Government when it's over. If not for the first person who hires you, but one of the many contacts you would make along the way. A lot of them need web help too, and someone with your experience in high-level computer security isn't available everyday.
"if you have a cahnce to say get a job running web security for a canadate running for a high national office, but its onyl a 6 month contract waht are teh odds of continued employment after the inoguration???"
Pretty good, assuming the candidate wins. Most elected offices at the federal level these days have at least one slot budgeted for a Webmaster. The bigger the office, the more IT slots will be open.
Keep in mind some differences from private sector IT, though. First, once you're actually working for the government (as opposed to the campaign) you won't be making close market rate in a specialized position, as you'll recall from your experience with DHS.
Second, you need to demonstrate broad value beyond the role for which you're hired. You may start out as the Web security guy, but you'll have to demonstrate your ability to run the entire Web site, end to end. And I don't just mean coding, I mean understanding everything about the campaign's organizational priorities (fundraising, Webcasting, volunteer management, etc, etc) before you actually implement them. The fewer slots available after inauguration day, the broader your experience will have to be.
Third, your life will become the campaign. You have to prepare your wife and kids for the next 6 months.
Fourth, here's the catch for a guy like you: no matter how idealistic the candidate, it's politics, and those politics extend into the office. Everyone getting paid to work on the campaign is a political animal in addition to their expertise. Loyalty trumps competence, and that loyalty is a one-way street. You can't call the campaign director an idiot for his moron idea, because he's probably gonna be chief of staff when the candidate wins. And as the security guy you'll have at least one senior IT manager above you who will be your jealous competitor, and probably plays politics and diplomacy a lot better than you do.
If you want to continue beyond the campaign, it means lots of compromise and lots of wasted cycles on office politics from the beginning. And lots more once the candidate wins and you're actually working for an elected official.
You should look at this for what it is: a very interesting and positive six-month gig, followed by an impressive line on your CV and some kickass contacts and deposits in the favor bank.
More later if you want to continue discussing this. Work to do.
moonglum,
What Carol said. The only employers who would take offense to a campaign-related computer job are those whom you wouldn't want to work for anyway.
Considering what the other side has done with high tech, the good guys need all the skillz we can get. Luck.
I lurve them. You know, if I had kids and wanted to show them what marriage looks like (other than my own), I would point to this couple and say "That's what marriage looks like." Compare this utterly adorable moment (OMG...they did a BLACK thing!!!) with John McCain not even looking at his wife when she stands there like a deer in the headlights -- and of course we all know how he's talked to her in public.
Michelle is awesome. So's that guy she's married to.
moonglum,
What are your alternatives? Are they secure? This position would look great on your resume and you could make lots of contacts. But, if you have a newborn and young kids, I can understand the fear of job insecurity.
Rosali I am currenlty in a secure position, honestly the advice here is confirming my intial gut feeling, I don't do office politics, and I need to be able to call my superiors morons when they are (my current and previosu job allows that, moreover taict realy isn't my strong point). gotta stay with the steady paycheck and the 8 hr days...such is life
Obama will just have to find a diffrent web security guru 
..i can still volunteer localy
Let me tell you it was a big ego boost to get an email form them lookign for a websecurity guy.
I love that picture. They are charming together. I also love the picture where she is in a black dress and he is squeezing her and kissing her on the cheek, while she looks all delighted and squinched up about it:
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/
imag...e.barack.gi.jpg
Well, then, moonglum, go straight to the Feds. While the pay isn't the same as the private sector, I can tell you from personal experience the benefits outweigh that somewhat. Think of health insurance, life insurance, paid days off, paid sick days off, (you probably won't be union because of where you might be on the GS scale), Federal Holidays, pension plans, paid travel. Even a low level person like me has some of them. And considering the way the private sector is going these days, at least there will be a Federal Government in about 10 years or so.
Good luck on whatever you do.
BTW, you may want to wait until Homeland Security is finally allowed to unionize and get that GS Scale. The experienced IT people in the Feds won't go to it because of its intended insecurity and Bush cronyism. Once the necons are out of there, and the Civil Service professionalism is allowed to take hold, things will be better.
Moon that is some pretty good advice you got from the others. And if you play office politics the way you spell... well the move might not be a good one.
That said it would be the adventure of a lifetime so maybe you should talk with the people who contacted you and lay out the concerns you have. Most specifically as a techy kind of guy, you need to be treated differently than people with other talents. You might be able to connect and go into the position with an understanding. Plus a little tact and some gentle office politics goes a long way in any job... you don't have to be Machiavelli but you also don't have to be a "dick."
The only reason I mention it is I spent years "too cool for school" before I saw the errors of my arrogance. Learned a little something, something and improved my life and wallet.
Totally awesome. I love the gesture, and I totally love the look on her face. Look at her face. She is going to be the best First Lady ever.
Moonglum,
Based on your past comments, I thought the office politics aspect would be the dealbreaker. In a "glamorous" short-term venture, no one is indispensible, and you can't get away with the stuff you pulled at the bank.
I'm a hardass, but a diplomatic one, and I have no patience for office politics or style over substance. I won't work for politicians because I learned early on that even the best of them throw you over the side in a minute if you become an internal or external political liability (Amanda Marcotte over at Pandagon could probably tell you something about her experience with Edwards).
If you're not going to take the gig but still want to be involved, you should decline the full-time gig graciously due to "other committments," but offer your advisory services on a casual pro bono advisory basis (spot troubleshooting, purchasing recommendations, high level architecture, etc.). They'll try to take advantage of your generosity, so set reasonable limitsand expectations from the beginning.
If the Obama campaign contacted you directly to begin with, they'll jump at the opportunity and give you a cool title like "Senior IT Security Advisor, Obama for America Campaign." If Obama wins, you'll have helped in getting a good man elected, you'll be owed some minor favors, and you'll have a CV item associating your security work with the next President of the United States.
moonglum:
Good luck in whatever you decide.
"The Pound" couldn't possibly be more over-the-top than this.
Ada-baka-shika-moka-sa-tala-bahaiya indeed.
Awwwwwwwww ...... sweeet. Nellcote posted a still in comments yesterday and on some show brian williams was talking about his interview with obama. He pulled out the still of the moment and showed Obama. Williams said he got a biiig smile and said "That. That right there is why I love my wife." And then he melted away in a pool of butter. Awwwwwww.
Its so great to see an intelligent, strong woman on the scene. She has a "don't fuck with me" confidence without having to say a word. I like it. I didn't care for her at first because she didn't want him to run, but you know, when I heard her speak her strong independent spirit got me. Also, LOVED her dress.
She's going to be a GREAT First Lady!
tlg - Much appreciate your "Celebration" series! We needed this.
Other than observing the sweet and way cool moment between spouses, I think my favorite part is that with all the deep investigation and opposition. Research into Senator Obama's past, the MSM were befuddled by a common gesture in the Black community. I mean a *pound* made the news... Dominant culture, y'all are a trip.
In my day that was a "dap".
BOHICA | 06.05.08 - 5:18 am | #
It still is! "Fist-pound"?! WTF?!
You can't fake what they did.
That's what's so cool about it.
Wonder Twins, Activate, indeed.
JD
Hey, Moonglum, you don't/didn't live in Portland, OR, do/did you? If so, I either know you, or your body double, even down to the spelling.
Er, Wonder Twin POWERS, activate.
Shoot me, I'm forgetting my childhood cartoons.
OTN, Amanda was the first person that poped into my mind...i think I will offer to volunteer for behind the sceens type stuff....a lot of peopel ahve a personal persona and an onlien one with the online persona beign a bit mroe abrasive....im the same in either case....that may not eb good for a political situation.
J Hussein D nope central IL.
Cute AND cool.
Agree: she's looking like there's a very real chance that she'll be the best First Lady ever, & with amazing people like Elenor Roosevelt for competition, that's no small potatoes.
Sigh.....a little island of intimate connection in a very public moment. What is not to LOVE about these two? They're gorgeous and brilliant and savvy and inspiring and classy and decent and adorable.
Loved it. Just got a chance to watch the speech. Loved it. Got all weepy.
Off Topic - doin' my usual web browsing and came across posts about Obama backing Lieberman up into a corner in the senate. I checked GNB before I went off topic, and I'm thinking nobody picked up on it. Didn't see anything in the news last night either - everyone all atwitter about Hillary's next move.
Check it out:
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/show...AA?
diaryId=9723
Furthermore, during a Senate vote Wednesday, Obama dragged Lieberman by the hand to a far corner of the Senate chamber and engaged in what appeared to reporters in the gallery as an intense, three-minute conversation.
While it was unclear what the two were discussing, the body language suggested that Obama was trying to convince Lieberman of something and his stance appeared slightly intimidating.
Using forceful, but not angry, hand gestures, Obama literally backed up Lieberman against the wall, leaned in very close at times, and appeared to be trying to dominate the conversation, as the two talked over each other in a few instances.
Still, Obama and Lieberman seemed to be trying to keep the back-and-forth congenial as they both patted each other on the back during and after the exchange.
Afterwards, Obama smiled and pointed up at reporters peering over the edge of the press gallery for a better glimpse of their interaction.
Obama loyalists were quick to express their frustration with Lieberman's decision and warned that if he continues to take a lead role in attacking Obama it could complicate his professional relationship with the Caucus.
And Moldy Dowd called him Obambi. Pfft!
Three things from the photo(s)
1. I like the other angle better, when you see her face and the expression that says 'I love you' and 'see I told you you could do it!'
2. The generation gap is thrown up in sharp relief here, Boomers don't show emotions. How the heck is McCain going to reach out to young people?
3. The unconscious nature of the 'dap' and the way they almost look alone in a sea of people shows to me that Obama will handle the Presidential pressure with grace and dignity. And he can go off script and in any situation and handle it. i.e he will remember where the door is...
Nice dap.
(it's probably been said before)
"Wonder Twin powers, ACTIVATE!"*
"Form of: President of the United States!"
"Form of: First Lady of the United States!"
I loved it. It showed such a connection between them.
And it led partner & I into a discussion of what political couples we have noticed before... (Dennis Kucinich & his wife came up...) and how my feeling of disquiet was only heightened by seeing Bush & Laura together.
She looked so heavily medicated.
It will be a tremendous change in more ways than one.
tlg - I ran across this one I'm going to use in my Celebrate Solidarity Saturday post for the unity effort.
Made me think of your continuing Celebration here. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J...h?
v=J6VfZ4h0uZ4
moonglum
I spent 10 years working for Federal agencies. There are actually very few patronage jobs in the federal government and they are mostly managerial type jobs. Anything remotely connected to computers is either going to be a civil service job or contract job. Most federal agencies are replete with long-term contractors doing all sorts of IT work. My agency always had a stable of software developers under contract doing custom software development. In my case it was the fisheries service and they were always working on software to allow vessel operators and observers to report catch statistics securely via satellite from at sea. And satellite tracking to monitor vessel locations. Stuff like that.
All the web stuff was mostly done in-house by civil service types not contractors.
Point being...I seriously doubt there will be IT-related patronage jobs in any white house. That means you'd be going through the regular civil service hiring process as with anyone else applying for any opening.
That said, I'm sure that working at a high level in any campaign will put you in contact with all kinds of people who will be good to know in the future.
Very cool. Very real. Its a new generation rising...and it couldn't come at a better time.
It's simple from here, and from there then.
Once Kuch and Edwads were bounced, it became simple.
GOBama!
Now, who for the Veep? *G*
And HRC is NOT an acceptable response, as it's sci fi material at THIS point.
As far as THIS Larue's concerned.
I'd like Edwards, but word of Caroline Kennedy?
Without any of the SO CALLED needs for foreign policy and political acumen, Caroline looks good to ME. I like her background, period.
I don't think, as VP, ya gotta be vested in elected and measurable political service.
Your thoughts, blog, and posters?
I'm still pulling for edwards (allways liked him, he would be a great next president after obama) OR richerdson (pure identity politics on my part unfortunatly...it would be nice to have a latino in office)
On some blog, somewhere ... ai yi, so many ... someone floated the idea of Joe Wilson for VP ... mainly because it would make Dick Cheney's head explode.
I prefer the notion of Joe Wilson for SecState. And Valerie Plame Wilson for National Security Advisor.
You can tell me I'm dreamin', that's OK, it still makes me smile.
Larue, Caroline Kennedy is on the Obama's search committee to pick a VP. It has not been reported that she is a candidate.
Wes Clark for VP.
whats the big deal...my nieces and nephews give me the fist bump all the time...only old ofays dont know the gesture...eff em
Clearly a madrassa-learned hamasalqaedaislamofascistlibrullelitist gang-sign flashy thingie.
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