Daniel makes stuff, and, in his spare time, writes about things like movies, kid culture, and geek stuff.
This Moment in American History

Abraham Verghese, reflecting on the stirring passage of health care reform in the United States:

I have been trying to explain to my youngest why this is such an exciting moment: front line soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq take personal risks, put their lives on the line. But so few politicians put their careers on the line, even though they make decisions that have an impact on soldiers. President Obama (and to some degree every Democrat who supports this bill) is putting his political career on the line. The idea that you might do what you think is right and pay a penalty has been so foreign to politics that it surprises us when we see it. I think my son is surprised to hear all this. He assumes at 12 years of age that people, especially people we elect, go to Washington to do the right thing.

Mar 22, 2010 :: Tagged under: , , , :: #

David Brooks: "What Obama Stands For"

David Brooks, columnist for the New York Times, provides readers with a strong reminder of who President Barack Obama has actually always been – not a skilled, ruthless liberal and not a weak, cerebral compromiser, but a “center-left pragmatic reformer.” (With an emphasis on the pragmatic part.)

I couldn’t agree more, and it’s his “on-the-one-hand-on-the-other” pragmatism matched with a classically grand ideology of America, not far from the visions of Abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther King, Jr., that attracted me to Barack Obama to begin with.

In a sensible country, people would see Obama as a president trying to define a modern brand of moderate progressivism. In a sensible country, Obama would be able to clearly define this project without fear of offending the people he needs to get legislation passed. But we don’t live in that country. We live in a country in which many people live in information cocoons in which they only talk to members of their own party and read blogs of their own sect. They come away with perceptions fundamentally at odds with reality, fundamentally misunderstanding the man in the Oval Office.

Mar 16, 2010 :: Tagged under: , :: #

President Obama's Role as Father-in-Chief

There will always be fires to put out – and no matter our work or its importance, there will always be a point where we need to check back in with our real values and priorities.

I think it speaks volumes about his character and wisdom that President Obama maximises the flexibility of his office to structure his work around what’s ultimately far more longstanding – family.

Feb 18, 2010 :: Tagged under: , , :: #

Two Things...

#1. This is undoubtedly the most awesome photograph of President Barack Obama ever:

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

President Obama bends over so the son of a White House staff member can pat his head during a family visit to the Oval Office May 8, 2009. The youngster wanted to see if the President’s haircut felt like his own.

… and #2. This is undoubtedly the best excuse note for getting out of class ever:

AP Photo/Shawano Leader, Cory Dellenbach

Jul 06, 2009 :: Tagged under: , :: #