Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a poem about the United States Presidential election of 2008. The poem "Barack Obama: Poetic Politics" was written in February 18, 2008 by Chloe “Niveah” Rousseau before President Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 8, 2008, and before he was re-elected President on November 6, 2012.
This post also provides an excerpt & explanations of the poem/parody "Willard M. Romney, will you please go now!" that was written in November 14, 2012 by dailykos.com blogger skralyx.
The content of this post is provided for historical, motivational, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
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FEATURED VIDEO & TRANSCRIPTION: BARACK OBAMA POETIC POLITICS
Barack Obama: Poetic Politics
Uploaded on Feb 18, 2008
"This is my contribution to the movement. A poem expressing why I'm voting for Barack Obama, and why I believe he is the man to bring the fundamental change we've all been waiting for...Washington watch out!!
Yes We Can!"
-snip-
Note: I made this transcription from the video on November 15, 2012. This transcription doesn't include a reporter's spoken words that are part of the video. However, I did include two lines from a 2008 campaign speech by then then candidate Barack Obama that was also included in this video. I posted those words in parenthesis.
I wasn't able to decipher a few of the words in this poem. The words that I weren't able to decipher are noted with a question mark in brackets. Additions & corrections are welcome. Thanks!
BARACK OBAMA: POETIC POLITICS"
By Chloe “Niveah” Rousseau
He takes the stage.
In awe we silently watch and listen
as this indestructible force lifts modernity
into the palms of his hands
speaks to our souls
in the [?] white noise of prose.
Forgoes the pomp and circumstances of celebrity
and addresses us, his audience,
with humility and ease inspires within each breast
that same audacity
that we too may believe in change.
We hover
on the edge of our seats
anticipating redemption
thirsty for revitalization after years of complacency
we pray
for past sins to be tossed deep within the earth’s oceans
for everyone immersed in forgetfulness
suddenly and keenly aware that there is no future in regret
we press forward
reach upward
extend outward
and stand firm.
Yes, there is a foundation.
There is a universal truth that we can all tap into.
An eternal fountain of youth
not to be found in any person, place, or thing
but an interminable state of being.
(Some recorded words by a journalist not included in this transcription.)
True quality of life can only improve through
quality of mind.
It’s time we asked ourselves
“What is the state of my being?
Do I possess courage, endurance, and perseverance? “
Is not the relentless pursuit of joy, peace, and equality
the brick and mortar of this country?
See, we chant “Barack Obama for President”
print “Change we can believe in” on billions of posters
and brochures
But do we really believe
because “Barack Obama for President” is more than a slogan.
It’s an opportunity
for every American to embrace their inner strength,
seek out their life’s purpose,
and be a part of the rebirth of this nation.
Barack Obama stands for unity, integrity, and truth.
July 4th, 1776 *
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (And) That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter (it) or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to (protect) their Safety and Happiness.”
Barack Obama for President.
We’ve been paralyzed for too long by fear.
Existed for too long as ghost
because we were afraid for too long of being labeled
a Judas, a traitor, a terrorist, or worst, a radical,
an advocate for complete and thorough political and social reform.
(Spoken excerpt from a campaign speech by then candidate Barack Obama:
“We need a President who will not just tell you what you want to hear, but will tell you what you need to hear, will tell you the truth.”)
Barack Obama stands for the transcendental truth that together we can.
We can have a President who keeps his word,
a leader we can trust with fortitude enough to admit when he’s wrong
and fight for what’s right.
There are wastelands filled with children [facing?]
neglect and indifference.
We’re in a war we can’t win yet
we still send soldiers to die.
It’s not right.
People, we’ve got to stop [???]
We’ve got to start caring about more than ourselves.
Progress and pride can’t coincide.
The only way we win is unify.
The crux of this campaign is fundamental change.
But change can’t occur without us.
We own the ballots.
We cast the votes.
We are the hope that we’ve been waiting for
not just November 8th **
But every day.
And not just for ourselves
but for our future.
-snip-
*This is an excerpt of the United States Declaration of Independence. The words in parenthesis are what the poet said that is different than the words in that document. For instance, the poet said "protect their Safety and Happiness.” and the actual words in that document are "effect their Safety and Happiness.”
Click http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ for the full text of the United States Declaration Of Independence.
**November 8th was the date of the 2008 United States Presidential election. The election is always held every four years on the first Tuesday of November. In 2012, that day fell on November 6th.
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EXCERPTS FROM THE POEM "WILLARD MITT ROMNEY WILL YOU PLEASE GO AWAY NOW"
Here's a link to a poem written in November 14, 2012 by skralyx, a dailykos.com blogger:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/15/1160914/-Willard-M-Romney-will-you-please-go-now Willard M. Romney, will you please go now!
This poem was written in the aftermath of the Presidential election of 2012 in reaction to the Republican candidate Willard "Mitt" Romney's comments to his donors that he lost the election because President Obama gave "big gifts" to Black voters, Latino voters, and young voters. Romney cited "health care" and the Dream (immigration) Act as examples of those "big gifts".
Click http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/mitt-romney-obama-gifts_n_2133529.html for a news report about those comments.
"Willard M. Romney, will you please go now!" is a parody of the 1972 Dr. Seuss book “Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!”. A parody of that children's book about then US President Richard Nixon was written in 1974 by political humorist Art Buchwald as a newspaper column.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_K._Mooney_Will_You_Please_Go_Now! for information about that book.
For your reading pleasure, here are excerpts of skralyx's parody/poem:
I don’t care where
I don’t care how
Willard M. Romney, will you please go now!
You didn’t reach 2-7-0
So the time has come to go, Go, GO!
We don’t care what you have to say
You’ve clearly overstayed your stay
Obama won, but not with ‘gifts’
Go ride your automobile lifts
...
You ran a really low campaign
Got fewer votes than John McCain!
Mistakes were made, and they were Mitt’s
(Way to go insult the Brits!)
Yes, you got whipped and got whipped good
So you can’t defund Planned Parenthood
Get lost, Mitt Romney, if you would
...
The time has come
It’s come, indeed
It’s time now, Governor
Please proceed!
[End of quote]
The entire poem is filled with witty references such as [former Govenor of the state of Massachusett] Mitt Romney's plan to build an elevator for his cars in one of his mansions, and mention of the fact that Mitt Romney received less popular votes in the 2012 Presidential election than the Republican candidate John McCain received in 2008. That poem also refers to Mitt Romney's comments that insulted the British during a television interview right before the Olympics, and Romney's vow to defund Planned Parenthood on the first day of his presidency.
"Governor, please proceed!" is what President Obama said to Mitt Romney in their second Presidential debate. Romney thought that he was going to make the point that it took President Obama 14 days before the President described the attack on the USA consulate in Benghazi as a terrorist attack. Because President Obama knew that he had used the phrase "terrorist attack" in his Rose Garden speech the day after that attack which killed 4 Americans, he told Romney to "please proceed". Romney did so, and showed that he didn't know what he was talking about. Subsequently, the phrase "Govenor, please proceed" has become a saying that is used when a person is getting ready to do something that other people know is foolish.
The "270" that is mentioned in the poem is the number of electoral college votes needed to win the United States Presidential election. In 2012 President Obama won 332 electoral votes to Romney's 206. In 2008 Senator Obama won 349 electoral vote to Senator McCain's 173.
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Thanks to Niveah Rousseau for her poem & video about then candidate Barack Obama.
Thanks also to skralyx for his Willard "Mitt" Romney poem.
Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
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