theLeftAhead

The first single from the band James.

Former President Barack Obama spoke to more than one thousand students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign this morning while receiving the here he accepted the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government. We haven’t heard much from 44 since he left the White House. It was clear today that he’d been patiently waiting to get a few things off of his chest. I suggest you get your popcorn…

Last night, President Barack Obama addressed the American people for the final time in office. The speech was breathtaking in its thoughtfulness, vision, humility, and, most importantly, its hopefulness. Simply put, it was majestic. Pontificating further on the speech’s merits cannot do it justice so, that being said, below is the video and full transcript of the final presidential speech of a gifted leader, generational orator, outstanding father, and model…

On Tuesday, January 5, 2016, President Obama addressed the nation from the East Room of the White House to announce commonsense gun reform measures that he is taking through executive action. Because of President Obama’s leadership, the United States will now require more gun sellers to get licenses and more gun buyers to undergo background checks. Contrary to the message that the NRA is spending millions of dollars propagandizing their…

On Thursday, October 1, 2015, President Obama was forced to give yet another statement on yet another mass shooting. The President’s remarks came in response to the horrific news early in the day out of Roseburg, Oregon that a gunman had opened fire at Umpqua Community College. The attack resulted in ten people (including the gunman) dead and several others injured. President Obama delivered his statement from the James S….

On Friday, June 26, 2015, President Obama gave a eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney and the eight other victims of the Emanuel AME church shootings in Charleston, South Carolina. President Obama delivered his address inside the TD Arena at the College of Charleston. He gave an eloquent address that honored the victims and their families, and cited their faith as an example of how the power of love and grace…

On Saturday, March 7th, 2015, President Obama gave a speech on the Edmund Pettus Bridge at the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches. It was an exceptional address which expressed humble gratitude for the marchers and the enormity of the history that was made on the very same bridge fifty years before on “Bloody Sunday.” The speech offered sober reflection on America’s past while challenging Americans to embrace our responsibility…

On Monday, January 12, 2015, the San Antonio Spurs were invited to the White House by President Barack Obama for a ceremony in the East Room honoring the team’s 2014 NBA Championship. This is the fifth White House ceremony for the Spurs as an organization spanning 15 years and three U.S. presidents. Head coach Gregg Popovich and power forward Tim Duncan, having been in those roles for all five championships,…

I have held off for some time from putting these thoughts out there for the entire world to see, as I fear it may upset certain people. But the time has come the open up this particular can of worms, if only to work through my own thoughts, and maybe help others in the same situation to work through theirs. I recently read an article about ending friendships over differing…

President Obama made a speech today at the Center for American Progress challenging Americans to address the problem of growing income inequality.   Source: The White House on YouTube #RaiseTheWage

Let me begin by saying that my purpose for writing this is not to present my opinion on whether or not the United States should strike the Assad regime in Syria. I am unable to do that at this time because I have not completed the painstaking task of formulating said opinion. Therefore, this is not a persuasion piece written in hopes of convincing others to agree with one side…

President Obama made an impromptu statement today in the White House briefing room reflecting on the Trayvon Martin case.   #JusticeForTrayvon Source: The White House on YouTube