Photos: Barack Obama helping out today at the New Horizon's food pantry in Manchester, N.H.

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., 2nd from left, boxes food donated for people for the Thanksgiving holiday in Manchester, N.H. Wednesday Nov. 21, 2007, at the New Horizon's Food Pantry. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., center, fills boxes with food donated for people for the Thanksgiving holiday in Manchester, N.H., Wednesday Nov. 21, 2007, at the New Horizon's Food Pantry. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, helps move food donated for people for the Thanksgiving holiday in Manchester, N.H. Wednesday Nov. 21, 2007, at the New Horizon's Food Pantry. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., leaves the New Horizons Food Pantry in Manchester, N.H., Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007, where he helped package food donated for the Thanksgiving holiday. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)

No slam at all on Obama, because all the candidates (including my guys Richardson and Clinton) in both parties will be sending these in by the deadline for the 7 PM news and tomorrow morning's paper. I just wish more would find the food kitchens and "low food security" families more often than once a year

we should get a pool going for the candidates

Soup kitchen
Homeless shelter
Fire department
Military base

did I miss any?

Every time I see Barack Obama or hear him speak I'm taken aback with how dignified, graceful, intelligent, thoughtful, strong, and capable he seems. He brought it out well on John Stewart's show when he mentioned that most intelligent people will look at the history of choices and leadership skills a person has and weigh that over the "experience" that some candidates claim. Sometimes the experience makes some politicians even more suspicious.

It infers that they've been willing to play the good ol boys game, that they'll accept graft, that they'll compromise their values to stay in the game. It's often the most experienced ones that I mistrust the most. Barack mentioned that Rumsfield and Dick Cheney had very long political careers and lists of experience, but "how'd that work out for them?" was a very telling statement.

From what I gather on the news, internet, and other media sources, very few Americans trust or believe in either of those men and even those that support Bush tend to believe that Dick Cheney and Rumsfield are very corrupt and sinister. Experience seems to equate with corruption in many cases. I'll take my chances with Barack Obama not just because of how he'll play the game in the future, but on how he's allready played the game in the past. His choices, focus, service and intellect are the very things I look for in a leader and I look forward to seeing how all those gifts will benefit all of us Americans.

A true leader is not one who bullies or manipulates people and organizations to do his bidding, or whose leadership can be purchased by special interests, or who caters to whatever the polls dictate. A true leader is one who educates himself and staff on the important issues at hand, who weighs the options and outcomes of each decision, who is willing to listen to people that he may not agree with or like and still respect their position. A good leader is able to pull together opposing sides and come to a healthy balanced compromise that benefits the most on both sides.

A good leader is one who shows grace under the constant glare of public light. A good leader is one who can motivate, inspire, and show by example the value of action and work toward a common goal. A good leader represents the best in himself/herself, and all of us in the choices to do good, say good things, act upon good instincts, and enact good laws. A good leader creates a setting where many people of diverse cultures, religions, races, and motives can come together to reach balanced treaties. A good leader will show strength of character, conviction, and universal values by his decisions, both in his personal life as well as his public life.

I believe Barack Obama has reflected every one of these traits. It's because of his past record that I believe in his future as the President of OUR United States. He represents the best in all of us and I believe he will represent our nation in the worlds arena with the grace, dignity, strength, and intellect that such a position requires. If anyone can take the bag of broken glass that will be the legacy handed to them in the coming presidency, he can. I believe he has the skills to appoint and direct the right people to help make a beautiful stained glass window of the whole mess. His integrity inspires me and I believe he represents the kind of leader America needs.

I'm guilty of posting this essay on other Barack Obama sites but it was good then so I figure it's still good and your praise resonates. I volunteer at the Vegas offices and see such an amazing outpouring of people who are equally inspired by his message and work. I hope we all get to call him President Obama for the next eight years.

Great post. And good luck to Obama.