My yearly-quota-for-political-thoughts post

In the past, I haven't been one to discuss politics: mainly because I have no idea what I'm talking about and usually have other, seemingly more important topics on the brain. Of late, however, I've finally started to grow a social conscience and have been reading/watching about the '08 election, as well as some local current issues.

I have been increasingly intrigued by Barack Obama. I have full realization that even inviting opinions on this matter might invoke a downpour of things not-so-pleasant, but I really am wondering what everyone out there in my little blogworld thinks of Obama. My dad's words were: "Why are you interested in this man? Didn't you know his father was a Muslim?" Perhaps, but I've heard otherwise of him and his religious views. (Though I do think he is a member of the UCC -- yikes.)

In general, I'm just curious and want to hear anyone else's thoughts -- Obama or election-related.

To close, I've found these thoughts by Derek Webb ("A King and a Kingdom," Mockingbird) to be helpful in forming political opinions:

there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him

my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom.