NP

[Mark Kohut]

 Lisa G by mariyastraussAs an unemployed American whose benefits are set to 
expire the week of Xmas, i may not like this deal but I'm glad for it.

Obama had me BEFORE his 'if that were the measure' for measure mini-speech 
within
his press conference.....despite all my critical reflection and reading.....

To me, he still leads with 'people first'....Whatever I think he might have done 
other, however he may fail
I do think he has gotten himself mentally somewhere beyond ideology, ego [in the 
toughest decisions],
and abstraction when he makes the toughest domestic 
calls............................................

Clinton proclaimed 'feeling one's pain'...Obama thinks others' pain and wants to 
end it......

There is a great story in his first autobio when he is at the library looking at 
a magazine.while his mother met with someone
nearby.

It was Life or Look, he is under 10 years old, his mother is working and he 
turns to an article about
a black man who tried to bleach himself white..........got sick, problems, 
etc..etc.

He is scarily mesmerized...the guy looks like him but this whole concept is 
beyond his ken...
Never has he had the thought this this CAN be done, much less that someone tried 
it.....Why?
Why would anyone do this? Is this what being black means?

He panics at his seat....he gets up full of anxiety to find the trusted 
librarian. She is busy....he wants to
find his mother, but rules are he doesn't leave........he takes himself in hand 
and self-manages the panic,
so to speak...............................

he is OK when his mother shows up shortly..................