Opinion Streams

You’re probably thinking “Why on Earth would Rob, after months of relative inactivity, return with an article about the Miss USA pageant?” I respect the question. The issue for me, however, is not the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is merely a tangential backdrop to the larger issue: the vilification of Christianity in the name of “tolerance”. For those who haven’t followed the story, this year’s Miss USA pageant featured celebrity blogger Perez Hilton as one of its judges. During the final round questioning, Perez asked Carrie Prejean, the current Miss California USA, whether she supported the legalization of same-sex marriage.

President Obama’s first 100 days in office have come and gone. The passage of the first 100 days is, however, significant not just because of the political implications of that milestone, but also, in the context of this website, because it marks the length of time this site has been “dark” (i.e., not updated with new articles, though I have remained active in the comment stream to my last substantive article, “The Conserative Christian Case for Supporting Obama“). I have received many inquiries from friends and supporters of this website, all of whom have implored me to post new content soon.

I have not written an article in quite some time. That is an unfortunate consequence of me going immediately from final exams in December to January session courses in my graduate program.  I could not, however, let today pass without referencing this momentous occasion.  Yesterday I watched - from my television at home since I was unable to get tickets from my congressman - as Barack Obama officially became the 44th President of the United States.  Visitors to my site have graciously referred to my writing as “eloquent” (a sentiment about which I am humbly grateful), but not even eloquent words can sum up the feeling that welled up inside me as I witnessed Barack Obama become “Mr.

In a rare post about my personal life (all of my posts have been about some aspect of politics, policy or technology, while only my “About Me” page focuses on me), I wish to report that I am currently going through final exams. I am sharing this to explain my absence (and my woeful slip-up in not reporting the Blagojevich mess!). I shall resume blogging once I am done finals. Until then, please bare with me and don’t give up on Opinion Streams!

Thank you for being patient with me.

Obama’s pick of Sen. Clinton raises several questions. My first thought regards Clinton’s Senate seat. As several of Obama’s cabinet picks have come from the Senate (not to mention his V.P. pick), I have to wonder how Obama’s picks might affect the power of the Democratic party in the Senate. Also, New York’s Senate Seats are often vied for - and occupied - by major players, including Hillary Clinton. Who will occupy her seat next and how will that person affect the Democratic majority/power in the Senate?

My second thought concerns Clinton’s experience. She is the former First Lady and a sitting first-term Senator.

As President-Elect Obama transitions to the Oval Office, Opinion Streams will also undergo a transition. As regular readers to my fledgling site know, I went live only six months ago, opining on topics such as technology, sports and law, with a spattering of politics. However, as the recently concluded general election got underway, I focused entirely on politics – particularly dispelling rumors about Obama’s background and policy positions, demonstrating the hypocrisy and misrepresentations of certain rhetoric coming from the McCain/Palin campaign and providing analyses behind seemingly benign campaign rhetoric.

On November 4, 2008, The United States, a country that a mere forty-four years ago effectively denied African-Americans the right to vote, elected an African-American president. While this historic moment probably does not signal an about-face for America on race relations, it is a moment all Americans can be proud of. After more than five hundred years, America can finally say to the world that it genuinely is a country committed to equal opportunity, that it finally is a country willing to look beyond race, ethnicity and gender to the content of a person’s character.

I am an evangelical Christian with a record of voting in line with the Republican Party. This year, however, I am casting my vote for Barack Obama. My support for Obama stands on its own, and has been well documented throughout this blog. But why would an evangelical Christian vote for a Democrat? The answer is as much a reflection of what Obama stands for as it is what the GOP does not.

Last week I received an email from Dr. James Dobson – whose internet ministry I subscribe to – imploring me to “vote my values,” meaning to vote for the candidate whose “pro-life” and pro traditional marriage rhetoric carried Dr.

I cannot make any statement about this endorsement that would be better than the statements from Powell’s own mouth.  Thus, I will reprint Powell’s endorsement in whole below:

I know both of these individuals very well now.  I’ve known John for 25 years as your setup said. And I’ve gotten to know Mr. Obama quite well over the past two years.  Both of them are distinguished Americans who are patriotic, who are dedicated to the welfare of our country.  Either one of them, I think, would be a good president.  I have said to Mr.