The Gloves and the Invisible Hand

Trial of the Thugs:

The Gloves & the

Invisible Hand

The so-called "National" newspapers, indeed all channels of the so-called "National" media, tried to portray the crime as a dispute between competing factions of El Ghad Party which ended up in smoke and flames. It was a cold-blooded communication strategy which aimed at discrediting the opposition and scaring the public. It also aimed at spreading a spirit of pessimism and apathy. They wanted to say, "… look how pathetic the opposition is. Look how dirty the tactics they use. How small the personal gains and political rivalry which motivate them."


It was an intended message to the public. "You criticize the NDP so bitterly, look how pitiful the opposition is. You want to play politics, the only 'clean' club in town, at least relatively-speaking, is the NDP."


They failed to mention that El Ghad members have elected 3 different party presidents in the past 5 years. Ayman Nour was elected in Nov 2004, Ambassador Nagui El Ghatrifi was elected in Dec 2005, Attorney Ehab El Kholy was elected in March 2007, and El Ghad members were getting ready to elect a 4th president on 7th Nov 2008. I, and two other candidates, ran against Ehab El Kholy in the elections of March 2007. My friend and colleague, Ehab El Kholy, won by 16 votes, getting about 45% of the votes while I got 42% of the votes. I contested election results on the grounds that none of the candidates had a clear majority of 50% +1 vote, and requested another round between candidates of the highest votes, myself and Ehab El Kholy. I did so, peacefully, lawfully, inside the party, through the council of "Wise Men", or El Ghad Senates, who act according to the Party's bylaws as an "Internal Court" to resolve internal disputes. The Senates took several weeks then announced their verdict in my favor. I waived my rights for a second round and conceded to Ehab El Kholy and worked under his command since then. I am telling this little story, just to show that we can compete and have differences, but we can choose to solve our differences amicably, peacefully, and lawfully. El Ghad is no utopian opposition party. It has its problems, internal conflicts and limitations. But to portray the massacre of Nov 6th as a confrontation between competing factions is a gross distortion of the matter.


The attack on El Ghad party by a group of thugs had nothing to do with who heads the party. Mousa Mostafa Mousa and Ragab Helal Hemida were both dismissed from the party on 18th Sep 2005, as per the verdict of the party's Senate, ratified by the Higher Council, the president - then Dr Ayman Nour- and by the General Assemblies of 20th Sep 2005 and 30th Dec 2005.


The attack on El Ghad Party on 6th Nov 2008 was a campaign commissioned by Mousa but encouraged by the security apparatus, which strives to eradicate any form of real opposition in Egypt. Ragab Helal Hemida, who came hand in hand with thugs and criminals to burn down El Ghad building, supervised a similar campaign on Al Ahrar party several years ago. He is an expert, a special agent which the regime uses to destroy and splinter opposition parties.


In the first few days, after the events of Nov 6th, the so-called "National" newspapers spared no efforts in smearing our reputation in a filthy character-assassination campaign. Leaders of the "real" Ghad party were made to look as criminals and arsons. But when El Badeel newspaper started to publish photos from the crime scene showing Mousa and Ragab heading a group of thugs who started burning El Ghad building down, throwing rocks at the party's headquarters, setting clothes on fire and throwing them at El Ghad, then wrestled with firemen trying to prevent them from putting out the fire, then started smashing cars parked under the building, then started to lute our offices and smash furniture and antiques stolen from inside, then started dancing in Talaat Harb Square celebrating their victory in setting the building ablaze, etc., etc., etc. ..., all of this happening in broad daylight, in the busiest spot of downtown Cairo, under a total absence of police in uniform.


The police mysteriously disappeared, despite advance warnings and official complaints filed by El Ghad leaders asking for protection after Mousa bluntly announced that he will attack the General Assembly. Talaat Harb Square, which is usually packed with security forces, suddenly became a Thug-land. In fact, traffic police stopped traffic to allow the attackers to proceed and complete the job at hand.


When all those photos became public ... when Gameela Ismail, Vice-President and spokesperson of El Ghad, came out on Orbit and Dream Channels and showed those photos to millions of Egyptian viewers ... everyone wondered ... how come that only El Ghad leaders, who were trapped inside, who luckily escaped death by a slim margin, were accused of causing the damage, when in fact they were the very victims facing possible death, just a few hours before?


Then, and only then, did the Attorney General decide to call Mousa for questioning. Only then, did the regime start to notice, that the crime is too embarrassing to shove under the rug. But calling Mousa for questioning is hardly an achievement. Mousa is just a pitiful "glove" to some other mysterious hand which is determined to crush all opposition.


We wonder ... until when, will this invisible hand remain invisible and immune from questioning? Until when will this hand stay outside the realm of the law?


To those who are concerned I would like to ask a question. This pathetic lawlessness which ruled the streets of downtown Cairo on the day of November 6th, 2008; whose responsibility was it? Are we just going to throw the blame on poor Mousa, Ragab and a few other thugs? Come on. I am sure that the regime can do better than that. I think the crime deserves a bigger sacrifice.


Think a little. You can actually benefit from the situation. By putting the blame on some minister or another the regime can also get rid of him. This is a bonus at times like these. After all, let us face it, the "minister" in concern is becoming a burden on the regime and all too powerful to remain in office. After all, news of a likely cabinet shuffle is flying around. The regime is a survivor. I hope it will present a bigger lamb to the sacrifice this time.

To Hell with the Opposition 2

El Badeel

Exposes the Deal

The deal is a "Dirty" one. The regime hands are soiled with guilt and responsibility by vacating the crime scene to the perpetrators despite advance warnings and complaints made by El Ghad party members to Kasr El Nil police station several days before the incident. But let us not fool ourselves. Mousa is only a button, he acts for and on behalf of the regime. Something of this gravity could have never happened in broad day light like this without the regime's approval, in fact, blessings, or even clear orders to "carry out" operation "Torch the Opposition."

The above photos (Source: El Badeel Newspaper) show one of the thugs "Waleed" making way for "Mousa Mostafa Mousa" and "Ragab Helal Hemida", then setting El Ghad Building on fire. A Video which El Badeel keeps, shows "Ragab Helal Hemida" giving instructions to "Waleed" to set the building ablaze. "Waleed" is shown in the photos wrestling with a fireman to prevent him from putting out the fire. El Badeel also has a video showing "Waleed" trying to unplug water hoses off the fire engine to prevent fire fighters from doing their job.

Despite this over-whelming published evidence, Attorney General has informally accused the victims, leaders of El Ghad Party entrapped inside the building at the time of the attack, of setting fire in their own office and has not to-date called "Mousa Mostafa Mousa" or "Ragab Helal Hemida" for questioning or directed any accusations against them.

"Mousa Mostafa Mousa" is the brother of "Aly Mousa", a close ally to "Gamal Mubarak" in the Policies Committee, of the ruling Party, NDP. Mousa Mostafa Mousa, despite having being fired from El Ghad in 2005, has obtained a court order from the regime that he is the President of El Ghad Opposition Party. Mousa is a strong supporter of NDP and the regime. Gameela Ismael has affirmed that El Ghad fight is not against Mousa or Ragab, who are merely finger-men, simply "buttons", "tools" or "gloves" which the regime used against El Ghad, but the fight is against the regime itself.

In 2005, it was hinted that NDP leaders were involved in a plot to control El Ghad Party through jailing Ayman Nour and placing Mousa Mostafa Mousa in his seat. Mousa was fired from the party following misconduct as he removed Ibrahim Eisa, Editor-in-Chief from El Ghad newspaper against a clear mandate by the General Assembly of El Ghad Party that elected Eisa as the editor in chief of the Party's newspaper.

Mousa further worked against Nour in the first multi-candidate presidential elections ever witnessed in Egypt but Nour managed to clinch a second position in the presidential race despite wide irregularities and abuse of power which marred the elections.

For more information:

http://www.elbadeel.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36250&Itemid=120-

http://www.elbadeel.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36400&Itemid=1

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2638924032741082426&hl=en

In the Company of Thugs

جريدة البديل تفضح المؤامرة

El Badeel Newspaper Exposes the Crime

بالصور: مرافق لموسي مصطفي يقود الهجوم علي حزب الغد ويشارك في إحراقه

08/11/2008

المرافق يفسح الطريق أمام موسي وحميدة ويمنع الصحفيين عنهما.. ثم يتجه إلي بوابة المقر لإلقاء زجاجات حارقة

رجب حميدة ينادي علي المرافق: «يا وليد».. وبعدها يبدأ «وليد» الهجوم ويعتدي علي رجال الإطفاء لمنعهم من إخماد الحريق

كتب: عمر الهادي

حصلت «البديل» علي صور ولقطات فيديو تظهر تورط مرافق شخصي لموسي مصطفي موسي، رئيس حزب الغد، في قيادة أحداث العنف التي شهدها مقر حزب الغد ـ جبهة أيمن نور بميدان طلعت حرب وأدت إلي احتراق المقر أمس الأول، وتظهر الصور شخصاً ضخم البنية يرتدي «تي شيرت» بنفسجي اللون يرافق مصطفي موسي ورجب هلال حميدة عضو مجلس الشعب، أثناء توجههما إلي ميدان طلعت حرب ويفسح الطريق لهما ويبعد الصحفيين والمصورين عنهما، كما تظهر الصور ذلك الشخص وهو يتزعم عملية اقتحام بوابة العمارة التي يقع بها مقر حزب الغد وإلقاء زجاجات حارقة، ويبدو الشخص في صور أخري وهو يوجه جموع المهاجمين لمقر «جبهة نور».

وفي تسجيل فيديو، لدي «البديل»، يظهر رجب هلال حميدة، القيادي بجبهة مصطفي موسي، وهو ينادي هذا الشخص قائلاً: «يا وليد..» قبل أن يأمره بتنظيم حركة زملائه يميناً ويساراً.

كما يظهر المدعو «وليد» في فيديو آخر ـ تمتلك «البديل» نسخة منه ـ وهو يحاول إعاقة عمل قوات الإطفاء التي جاءت لإخماد حريق مقر الغد، وهدد رجال الإطفاء فور وصولهم، وعندما لم يستجيبوا له اعتدي علي أحدهم بعصا خشبية، ونزع منه خرطوم المياه، وذلك في غياب أمني نادر الحدوث بميدان طلعت حرب، وهو الميدان الذي شهد في السنوات الأخيرة تمركزات شرطية ثابتة في شارع محمود بسيوني الذي يقع به حزبا الغد والتجمع وأخلت النيابة سبيل 41 متهما من جبهة أيمن نور و14 من أنصار موسي بعد تحقيقات لمدة 12 ساعة، ووجهت النيابة 10 اتهامات لجميلة إسماعيل منها إتلاف ممتلكات الغير وحيازة زجاجات حارقة وتكوين جماعة للقيام بأعمال حزبية وإصدار بطاقات لحزب «الغد» دون سند من القانون.

El Badeel

Exposes the Deal

The above photos (Source: El Badeel Newspaper) show one of the thugs "Waleed" making way for "Mousa Mostafa Mousa" and "Ragab Helal Hemida", then setting El Ghad Building on fire. A Video which El Badeel keeps, shows "Ragab Helal Hemida" giving instructions to "Waleed" to set the building ablaze. "Waleed" is shown in the photos wrestling with a fireman to prevent him from putting out the fire. El Badeel also has a video showing "Waleed" trying to unplug water hoses off the fire engine to prevent fire fighters from doing their job.

Despite this over-whelming published evidence, Attorney General has accused the victims, leaders of El Ghad Party entrapped inside the building at the time of the attack of setting fire in their own office and has not to-date called "Mousa Mostafa Mousa" or "ragab Helal Hemida" for questioning or directed any accusations against them.

"Mousa Mostafa Mousa" is the brother of "Aly Mousa", a close ally to "Gamal Mubarak" in the Policies Committee, of the ruling Party, NDP. Mousa Mostafa Mousa, despite having being fired from El Ghad in 2005, has obtained a court order from the regime that he is the President of El Ghad Opposition Party. Mousa is a strong supporter of NDP and the regime. Gameela Ismael has affirmed that our fight is not against Mousa or Ragab, who are merely finger-men, simply "buttons", "tools" or "gloves" which the regime used against El Ghad, but the fight is against the regime itself.

In 2005, it was hinted that NDP leaders were involved in a plot to control El Ghad Party through jailing Ayman Nour and placing Mousa Mostafa Mousa in his seat. Mousa was fired from the party following misconduct as he removed Ibrahim Eisa, Editor-in-Chief from El Ghad newspaper against a clear mandate by the General Assembly of El Ghad Party that elected Eisa as the editor in chief of the Party's newspaper.

Mousa further worked against Nour in the first multi-candidate presidential elections ever witnessed in Egypt but Nour managed to clinch a second position in the presidential race despite wide irregularities and abuse of power which marred the elections.

Torching Opposition

الفكر الجديد

وأسلوب جديد حاسم في مواجهة المعارضة

هكذا يتعامل الفكر الجديد مع المعارضة.

هذه هي ملامح الإصلاح السياسي طبقاً لوعود مبارك الانتخابية.

هذه هي ثالث مرة يتعرض أحد مقرات حزب الغد للحرق المتعمد. تم حرق مقر باب الشعرية مرتين من قبل وهذه هي المرة الثالثة، بحرق مقر الحزب في ميدان طلعت حرب في وسط النهار، تحت سمع وبصر رجال الأمن المتخفين في ملابس مدنية، ولا ننسى محاولات اغتيال أعضاء الغد في كفر صقر وفي بنها والتعدي عليهم في فندق بيراميزا.

لقد تقدمت جميلة اسماعيل ببلاغ رسمي في قسم شرطة قصر النيل قبل الحادث بيومين، بناء على تهديدات نشرها موسى موسى في البديل، وسجلت هذا في محضر شرطة رسمي، بعدم تعرض موسى مصطفى موسى للجمعية العمومية لحزب الغد التي دعا إليها مجلس حكماء الحزب. ولكن الشرطة بدلاً من أن تبعث بقواتها، سحبت حتى خدمة حراسة ميدان طلعت حرب، ووقف رجال المرور يفسحون الطريق للبلطجية ليقوموا بمهاجمة وحرق مقر حزب الغد بقيادة موسى موسى. وموسى موسى لمن لا يعلم هو أخو على موسى عضو لجنة السياسات والصديق الصدوق لجمال مبارك.

ورفيق موسى في تدبير الهجوم هو رجب هلال حميدة، الذي لعب نفس الدور في تفتيت حزب الأحرار، ورجب أصبح بهذه الخدمات الجليلة للنظام حبيب الحكومة، فأهدته الحكومة مقعداً في مجلس الشعب في عام 2005، وأصدر مبارك قرارا بعلاجه على نفقة الدولة، موسى ورجب هما اللذان أوقفا نشر جريدة الغد وأقصيا إبراهيم عيسى من رئاسة تحرير الغد إبان سجن أيمن نور. موسى كما نعلم لا لوم عليه، لأنه مجرد عميل للأمن، واللوم كله، والمسئولية كلها يتحملها النظام من بدايتها لنهايتها.

لا يمكن أن نتصور أن أي مسئول مهما علا شأنه كان يتحمل وحده إمكانية اشتعال وسط القاهرة كلها لأننا نعلم أن الحرائق لا يمكن التأكد من السيطرة عليها، لا يمكن أن أتصور أن رأس النظام لا يعلم، فإن كان لا يعلم، فهي كارثة، وإن كان يعلم وسعيد وراض بهذا الأسلوب في التعامل مع المعارضة بالحرق، فالكارثة أعمق والصدمة أكبر.

إذا كان مبارك لا يعلم، فها هو نحن نعلمه، أن بعضاً من رجالك، رجال الأمن المحسوبين عليك، قد خططوا لقتل وحرق أعضاء حزب سياسي معارض، ونرجو أن نعرف رد فعلك أنت كرئيس لدولة نفترض أن القانون يحكمها، على هذه المسخرة الدامية المليئة بالحريق والدخان والتي حدثت في وسط البلد جهاراً نهاراً على مرأى ومسمع من الجميع، وسجلت أحداثها الصور والأفلام رغم أن رجال الأمن المتخفين منعوا رجال الإعلام من التصوير.

ما هو الهدف من حرق مقر حزب الغد؟

الهدف الأكيد هو القضاء على الحزب المعارض الوحيد الباقي في مصر.

الهدف الأكيد هو إرهاب المعارضين من قيادات الغد بتهم ملفقة، إما أن تصمتوا وتنصاعوا، أو تتعرضوا للسجن والعقوبات الأخرى.

هو إظهار الأمور بأن الأحزاب جميعاً تعاني من الخلافات ومليئة بالبلطجة، وخاصة بعد الموقف المشابه في حزب الوفد، وأنه من الأفضل للمواطن العادي أن يلزم بيته ويبتعد عن المشاكل ويكتفي بأن يفوض الحزب الوطني في إدارة شئون البلاد بالطريقة التي يراها.

الهدف من حرق حزب الغد في هذا التوقيت بالذات أن هذه الجمعية العمومية تحسم الوضع القانوني في الحزب وتقضي على الحجج الواهية التي يتمسح بها عملاء الأمن ممثلي لجنة السياسات في أحزاب المعارضة. الهدف من حرق حزب الغد في هذا الوقت بالذات أن الحزب كان قد اكتسب أرضية واسعة في الشارع بعد أحداث 6 إبريل ونشاط شباب الحزب على الفيس بوك والمدونات.

عندما أتى المحامي العام ليعاين الحزب والمبنى، شاهد آثار الطوب والزجاج والتكسير داخل حزب الغد وداخل النادي اليوناني الذي يقع أسفل الحزب، وسمع بنفسه من العمال الذين كانوا يقومون بطلاء النادي اليوناني كيف أتت مجموعة من البلطجية وحاولت اقتحام المبنى، ولما فشلت في ذلك قامت بحرق بوابة المبنى ثم حرق مقر الغد.

وأمام المحامي العام ونحن في النادي اليوناني، سألت مأمور شرطة قسم قصر النيل، كيف طاوعك ضميرك أن تتقاعس عن حمايتنا وتتركنا نتعرض للحرق والقتل؟ فنظر في الأرض ولم يقو على أن ينظر في عيني.


ذهبنا لنشكو من الهجوم وندلي بأقوالنا فتحولنا من مجني عليهم لمتهمين بأننا نحن الذين قمنا بحرق المبنى على أنفسنا! وأن المهاجمين كانوا في مسيرة سلمية ضد إسرائيل، وبالصدفة أن تلك المسيرة حاولت اقتحام مقر الغد.

وأنه بالصدفة أن مقر الغد حرق من قبل مرتين في باب الشعرية.

وأنه من باب الصدفة أن رجال الأمن اختفوا من المنطقة لساعتين كاملتين رغم أننا أبلغنا قسم شرطة قصر النيل، ومديرية الأمن ولجنة شئون الأحزاب بمجلس الشورى. كل هذا من باب الصدفة.



وتذكرت مواقف سابقة في كفر صقر وفي أثناء انتخابات الرياسة، عندما كان يطرق المسئولون وينظرون في الأرض والشعور بالخجل بل بالعار يفضح الضغط الذي تعرضوا له من رؤسائهم.

من الممكن أن يحرقوا مقار الغد وسجلاته. من الممكن أن يحرقوا أجسادنا. ولكنهم لن يستطيعوا أن يحرقوا أحلامنا أو مبادئنا.

Opposition Goes to Hell 1

Opposition Goes to Hell

After the vicious attacks lodged by NDP leaders on opposition during their annual conference held a few days ago, it seems that the regime decided to send the opposition to hell, starting with El Ghad Party.

In the land of Egypt, pro-government politicians attain high offices, control multi-billion dollar lucrative monopolies, are rewarded with vast pieces of premium real-estate of state-land at fraction of market price. Opposition, on the other hand, goes to hell. The regime has decided to give El Ghad an early taste of judgment day on the morning of Thursday 6th November, 2008, in El Ghad Headquarters.

As the party was preparing for its annual general assembly, a large mob of thugs made its way towards the party headquarters Talaat Harb Square, in downtown Cairo. Security forces disappeared from the scene mysteriously. This made everyone at El Ghad nervous. Usually, whenever El Ghad party holds even a small conference, hundreds of security forces would surround the area. On Thursday morning, there was no one in uniform in sight.

Yes We Can: Victory Speech

Yes We Can !

Victory Speech

Photo: Reuters

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

'Unyielding support'

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He ought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

'Task ahead'

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy, who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep, from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers, from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.

And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

'Spirit of patriotism'

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity.

Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends ... though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

'Peace and security'

To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her
skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

'Common purpose'

At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.

'Fundamental truth'

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see?

What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace, to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one, that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America."

Beyond Obama

Democrats Control the

White House, Senate
& House of Representatives:

America Votes for Third Way Policies

We have witnessed a historical liberal victory. A Landslide Majority Victory for the Democrats in the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. This is beyond Obama. Obama is just the symbol of that revolutionary change. This is a new Era for a more liberal America. For a more liberal world. The United States of America has once again proved that it can change. That progress is possible. Last night was your answer. Yes we can. And we will.

In his Victory speech, Obama was sober, full of humility, compassion and determination. Aware of the heavy responsibilities and the dire situation which America and the World has been driven to by 8 years of foolish conservative policies, Obama reached out to the American people from both camps, "for those whose support I must earn, I will be your President, too."

McCain's speech was also indicative of the change to come. McCain must have also realized that the "theories of his GOP party" proved themselves outdated. The ideology of military might and pre-emptive wars was defeated. The fallacy of prosperity trickling down and a market which goes totally unchecked brought catastrophic ends and failed over and over again. That this is a time for more sophisticated policies and not for simplistic or extremist ideologies.

When McCain suspended his campign on September 24th, I think that he was honestly and courageously admitting a fact. I believe it was a personal revelation. Just like that revelation made one month later by Alan Greenspan before the congress. Both men realized that they no longer understood how the real world works. That rigid theories were "flawed" and they failed them. McCain said that "the American people have spoken, and they have poken clearly."

Obama explained that "... the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope."

Despite racial prejudices, the American people elected an African American Obama, for they believed that change of ways, a paradigm shift, was required. They knew exactly what they were voting against. They gave a tremendous majority to the Democrats in the Senate and in the House of Representatives for the same reason. The American people have realized that the failed theories did not work for them. That "a Third Way" must be called in. And their vote last night was the answer to that call.

Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama. To VP-Elect Biden. To the American People. To Liberals everywhere. For a fellow liberal will be soon heading the United States of America.