Pardon all the construction. I heard a new guy is moving in.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Doans in DC
My brother has a business trip in Maryland so he made a stop this weekend in DC. Lots of fun and pictures, which I will eventually load. But here's one early for mom and dad. The Doan kids in front of the White House. 
Pardon all the construction. I heard a new guy is moving in.
Pardon all the construction. I heard a new guy is moving in.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Dear California,
If you want me to come back to the Golden State, you better stop passing ridiculous propositions. I am still shocked that a place that would accept so many lifestyles would prevent two loving people from marrying each other because they are gay. In the word of one of my friends, what a buzzkill to what would otherwise be a great election.
You are supposed to be the bastion of progressiveness, an example for all states to follow. And while we have had some bumps in the road--the recall election, the governator, etc--this is probably the most surprising and unfortunate outcome.
Most disappointed,
Kristina
If you want me to come back to the Golden State, you better stop passing ridiculous propositions. I am still shocked that a place that would accept so many lifestyles would prevent two loving people from marrying each other because they are gay. In the word of one of my friends, what a buzzkill to what would otherwise be a great election.
You are supposed to be the bastion of progressiveness, an example for all states to follow. And while we have had some bumps in the road--the recall election, the governator, etc--this is probably the most surprising and unfortunate outcome.
Most disappointed,
Kristina
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Election Day In Pictures
November 4, 20085am: Wake-up and head to the polls to do Election Protection with the Asian American Legal Defense Fund. As you can somewhat tell from the picture, it is still dark outside.
Hanging out next to someone from the Teacher's Union and Obama campaign (loved the sequined red, white, and blue flag hat).
9am: My morning shift ended when my roommate's began. We loved watching the older couples hold hand and walk to the voting booth, especially when they were supporting Obama gear. I had a good feeling about the day when most of the surveys that I administered said that they voted for Obama.
11am: As I was playing around with my new camera, I unintentionally took a picture of my Law Students for Obama pin, which has Obama's Harvard Law Review Editor picture, on top of the law review papers I graded during the breaks in my day.
1pm: Made a stop at Capitol Hill to meet my friend Chrissy at Hawk & Dove. Of course DC bars have election related cocktails. I did not partake, but we definitely saw a lot of people start their drinking early (Long Island Ice Tea at 1pm)
4pm: Free Krispy Kreme and Starbucks on election day means I get a dose of sugar and caffeine to keep me going during this long day.
7pm: Sports Bars in DC = Election coverage on five televisions right in front of us (and many more around the bar). Even though other networks called states earlier, we did not believe it until we heard it from Wolf.
In 2004 Alex campaigned for Dubya. This time, he wrote me in for President. I think we're making progress. Maybe in four years that light pink shirt will be replaced by a light blue shirt.
Law school friends enjoying election coverage and chicken wings! Unfortunately some of our gang fell victim to the plague going around at our school and could not make it out.
11pm: And we all cheered when they announced Obama President Elect! Love being in DC with 93% voting for Obama.
12am: I think a lot of people teared up watching Obama's acceptance speech. Definitely worth missing the metro and having to wander around DC trying to get a cab.1:30am: Got home and amazingly not as tired as I thought I would be for waking up at 5am. Fueled by hope.
The end.
[A few more pictures available on my flickr account]
Yes We Can. Yes We Did. Yes We Will
I am still in disbelief that Barack Hussein Obama is the President-Elect of the Untied States.
Four years ago I woke up, and that's when the loss hit me. This morning I woke up at 6am (yes, after getting home at 1am and going to bed around 2:30am) and turned on my computer just to make sure this all was not a dream. It really did happen. We have the first black President. A Democrat again. Someone who won decisively. Someone who turned red states blue. Someone who bridged generations of voters and forever changed campaigning.
I almost teared up as I watched Obama's acceptance speech and saw people all over the world celebrating. It really did feel like we were part of a global party. And I will say that I was impressed and touched by McCain's concession speech. While it was disappointing to see his supporters boo Obama, I appreciate how McCain tried to silence them and asked them to support their new President.
Many people, like my friend Eric D., are skeptical or wary about what will happen, and rightfully so. So often, we elect people and expect them to solve our problems. However, the reason why I ultimately chose Obama in the primaries was because he inspired people. I hope he asks us to serve and even if he did not, we would step up and ask what we can do. We have elected new politicians but the change that comes in our day to day lives comes from us. The government, laws, and programs are not the solution but rather a catalyst for us to use.
So let's celebrate now but realize, in the immortal words of West Wing, "break's over." Time to prove that what we can do, we will do.
Four years ago I woke up, and that's when the loss hit me. This morning I woke up at 6am (yes, after getting home at 1am and going to bed around 2:30am) and turned on my computer just to make sure this all was not a dream. It really did happen. We have the first black President. A Democrat again. Someone who won decisively. Someone who turned red states blue. Someone who bridged generations of voters and forever changed campaigning.
I almost teared up as I watched Obama's acceptance speech and saw people all over the world celebrating. It really did feel like we were part of a global party. And I will say that I was impressed and touched by McCain's concession speech. While it was disappointing to see his supporters boo Obama, I appreciate how McCain tried to silence them and asked them to support their new President.
Many people, like my friend Eric D., are skeptical or wary about what will happen, and rightfully so. So often, we elect people and expect them to solve our problems. However, the reason why I ultimately chose Obama in the primaries was because he inspired people. I hope he asks us to serve and even if he did not, we would step up and ask what we can do. We have elected new politicians but the change that comes in our day to day lives comes from us. The government, laws, and programs are not the solution but rather a catalyst for us to use.
So let's celebrate now but realize, in the immortal words of West Wing, "break's over." Time to prove that what we can do, we will do.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
The Next President of the United States
Obama-Biden, Victory 2008
[Yes, I am backposting because I was out in DC all day. But I still had to bookmark this important day. Photo courtesy of NYT]
Monday, November 03, 2008
Cautiously Optimistic
I cannot believe that voting starts in less than twelve hours. Even though we have been waiting for this day for years, and it still feels like the election snuck up on me. I am a little nervous and braced for the worst that could happen (mainly the thought of Sarah Palin as VP), but overall optimistic that Obama-Biden will pull through, Democrats will pick up more seats, and Proposition 8 will fail.
I am hopeful because, at the risk of sounding like a hokey Obama commercial, I have seen such a diverse group of people support Obama. I know at least a dozen friends from high school, college, and law school who voted for Bush and/or are self-proclaimed conservatives who are voting for Obama. Everyone from Evengelical Christians to Orthodox Jews to Muslim friends. Politically apathetical friends. Family friends who were refugees like my parents and are knocking on doors in Minnesota for Obama. The rural fisherman that Alex met in Oregon who has always voted for a Republican until this year. Even the fact that my dad, the "independent," is so pumped up for Obama gives me hope that everything will go well tomorrow.
It is time for me to get to bed now. Have to be up early to start election protection at 6am and then *cross my fingers* celebrate all day long.
I am hopeful because, at the risk of sounding like a hokey Obama commercial, I have seen such a diverse group of people support Obama. I know at least a dozen friends from high school, college, and law school who voted for Bush and/or are self-proclaimed conservatives who are voting for Obama. Everyone from Evengelical Christians to Orthodox Jews to Muslim friends. Politically apathetical friends. Family friends who were refugees like my parents and are knocking on doors in Minnesota for Obama. The rural fisherman that Alex met in Oregon who has always voted for a Republican until this year. Even the fact that my dad, the "independent," is so pumped up for Obama gives me hope that everything will go well tomorrow.
It is time for me to get to bed now. Have to be up early to start election protection at 6am and then *cross my fingers* celebrate all day long.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
First & Second Chances
Every Sunday, my roommate and I watch Extreme Home Makeover and have to hold back our tears. Though I am envious of the nice homes and creative rooms that are built for the families, it's the opportunities that the show provide that always choke me up. Whether it is giving kids scholarships to go to college or parents the first vacation that they have never been able to go on because they have been taking care of kids with disabilities, those are the moments when I have to try not to cry.
Added to my Sunday, feel-good tv rotation is the Chef Jeff Project. The chef, who was a former convicted drug dealer, gives teenagers who have been in trouble with the law the opportunity to work at his catering company and the opportunity to earn a full culinary school scholarship. Today, they catered an event for kids with cancer. The teenagers often talk about how grateful they are for this chance, for someone to believe in them, and to show people that they will not be failures. It might sound super cheesy but it seems very genuine (plus, I like cheesy).
In addition to giving me the warm and fuzzies, these shows are kind of nice perspective on a Sunday. In the same way that the chefs on Chef Jeff felt that their problems were insignifcant to the children they were cooking for, any problems I have are miniscule to those on either show I watch. How can you really complain about law school when you realize how lucky you are to have this opportunity, your health is good, and you basically have no hardships in life? So make fun of my cheesy television all you want, I am just hoping it keeps me a little more grounded and a little less "woe is me law student."
Added to my Sunday, feel-good tv rotation is the Chef Jeff Project. The chef, who was a former convicted drug dealer, gives teenagers who have been in trouble with the law the opportunity to work at his catering company and the opportunity to earn a full culinary school scholarship. Today, they catered an event for kids with cancer. The teenagers often talk about how grateful they are for this chance, for someone to believe in them, and to show people that they will not be failures. It might sound super cheesy but it seems very genuine (plus, I like cheesy).
In addition to giving me the warm and fuzzies, these shows are kind of nice perspective on a Sunday. In the same way that the chefs on Chef Jeff felt that their problems were insignifcant to the children they were cooking for, any problems I have are miniscule to those on either show I watch. How can you really complain about law school when you realize how lucky you are to have this opportunity, your health is good, and you basically have no hardships in life? So make fun of my cheesy television all you want, I am just hoping it keeps me a little more grounded and a little less "woe is me law student."
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