Back in the Saddle and Preparing for Lightning...

...not real lightning, of course, but this is a big week for me! Next Wednesday, I'll travel to D.C. for the fourth of four Front-Line Leaders Academy conferences at which my campaign team and I will put more than two months of hard work and planning into play and try to help me become the 2008 People For The American Way's Youth Ambassador, a driving force in the progressive movement. The Youth Ambassador's duties consist of playing a role in People For The American Way-sponsored youth progressive, political leadership training programs' programming and recruiting efforts. In this sense, as YA, I would have a real impact in deciding the type of issues that the progressive movement takes as its main causes, as well as the type of young people that take the driver's seat and moves it into the next generation. I take these tasks extremely seriously. This generation, my generation, faces a great deal of challenges, but it possesses more in the way of talent, drive, and passion to overcome them. The movement to optimize these three critical assets represents one of critical importance. Feeling myself a leader, I believe I would do an extremely good job of ensuring that our strengths reach their potential and create the type of change both our country and world so desperately need.

Also, in D.C., I'll have the priviledge of returning to my old stomping grounds in Foggy Bottom to meet with several senior leaders at George Washington University to speak with them about a possible future with Teach For America. A program that has given me so much in terms of perspective, discipline, and passion for moving forward into a policy making position would go a long way, I'm sure, in the lives of my friends now at GW, working to decide what to do with their immediate future. It's interesting to think that, just a bit over a year ago, I was them- on my way to graduation, positioning myself to get into the best graduate school program as possible and setting up for a job on the Hill. While I do not know how long I'll serve as a TFA Corps Member, I know that the experience I've had thus far (or during the first week of teaching, for that matter) will steer and drive my efforts and vision in any position into which I move in future. I think that the same would be true for the GW seniors with whom I'll have the opportunity to speak next Thursday morning. It will be good to be back on campus.

Back in Gallup, it has been refreshing and healthy to get back to work. After over two weeks of a much-needed vacation, during which I experienced a brother who has, quite frankly, grown into one of the most impressive young people I've ever met (with a height and voice to match a young man- holy cow, I feel old!); played more ping-pong than any human being has business doing during, well, pretty much any increment of which you can conceive; became perhaps painfully aware of the looming and potentially devastating risks of the H5N1 Virus ((a.k.a. avian bird flu) thanks, Bugaj); and traveled to Iowa to campaign for Barack Obama, candidate for president and a great hero of mine, in what will undoubtedly be one of the most inspiring and unforgettable experiences of my life, I can say that, yes, there are many good things about both being away from the 'hard' of teaching, as it allows one to step back and take a broader look at what they are doing, want to do, and where they should head next, and then returning to school to get back with the students and colleagues I've come to know, appreciate, and, in a way, love.

Gallup's cold- real cold. Speaking with a colleague on Wednesday, I lamented about a weather report of which I'd learned that placed Gallup's immediate pre-dawn temperature at 5-yeah, in New Mexico- when she chuckled and informed me that the thermometer at her home, outside the city had reached a balmy 12 below-yeah, in New Mexico. Now, I know you winter experts in the Midwest and Northeast may think of the Southwest as something a safe-haven, a temperately temperatured oasis, in which the cold finds no friend and scarcely lays down to rest, however, to put it frankly, you're incorrect. Gallup's cold- real cold (and I think the fact that hitting my frozen finger on any solid object during my morning run would likely cause it to break cleanly from my hand is a sign that I should move such activities indoors- the gym is $35/month- I'm open to suggestions from the reading audience on this one).

Finally, I can't conclude without putting in a word on the presidential election. Barack unexpectedly dropped the contest in New Hampshire. Kudos to Hillary. She ran a very good race, hung in there, and won. A tip of the cap goes her way, for sure. I was bummed, subdued, and feeling not all too good listening to my daily overload of NPR, which featured no shortage of commentary on how and why pollsters got it so wrong. Two points here- first, Obama's post-election speech, in a way that only this man from Illinois can, snapped me instantly out of my mallaise and spurred me to action. 'Yes, we can', he said, and he's right! That is exactly what his candidacy is about- belief in the impossible, belief in a new way of doing things. Obama's vision towards and mission for the future, to put it simply, is to create a world in which everyone has an accurate belief that everything is possible, that they can achieve anything they dare to dream. For those who say this is not enough of a message to run for, and win, the office of the President of the United State of America, I simply reply that I disagree because the irrepressible hope of the human spirit, when unchained, can accomplish all it sets out to, and we will need nothing short of this to overcome the immense challenges of our time (including bird flu- damn you, Bugaj! It's really on my mind!).

Secondly, this contest is far from over. We go to Nevaga, South Carolina, and we'll have a real competition and, more importantly, debate, on our hands. Most critically, what the early results of this nomination season tells us is that there does still exist fluidity in the U.S. political system. The system needs vast restructuring to allow for more accountability through serious and comprehensive ethics and campaign finance reform, however, there just may be enough fluidity to give the tall, slim senator from Illinois, whose mantra is hope, and whose guilty pleasure since quitting smoking is, apparently, watching Sportscenter (nice!), a chance to win the Democratic Party's nomination and, later, the presidency. I plan to do my part to ensure that his message of hope finds a home in the Oval Office next January.

Fired up, and very much on the go in Gallup,

--Daniel

P.S. A tip of the cap also is in order for New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who bowed out of the Democratic presidential race yesterday, but who, for the first time, gave the Land of Enchantment a serious contender for this country's top political post. For his efforts, Big Bill will recieve an eager, oft-contentious, and heavily-tasked state legislature, which will convene its 30 day session on 15 January. Stay tuned for more highlights from Santa Fe.