Dear Readers,

OK.  I have not decided which Democratic political candidate I'll be supporting in '08.  I attended a smallish brunch for Barack Obama a few weeks ago.  I was able to shake his hand, ask a question and later listen to him answer questions posed by the attendees.

I left that brunch pretty sold.  

But I don't want to reject Senator Clinton out of hand. 

Slight Digression You Might Want to Skip if You're Under 45

I remember seeing Geraldine Ferraro speak in a small public square in Sacramento when she was running for Vice President.  I have to admit that seeing a woman seek that job in that year literally brought tears of joy to my eyes.  It hadn't been that long since I was helping women enter the skilled trades and get jobs at National Steel and Ship Building in San Diego.  I'd been pretty deeply involved in the women's movement.  It was a moving experience.

By now, gender doesn't move me much, though I think it's good for all of us to recall that the "history" of civil rights is history that happened to us as a current event.  If we feel we haven't progressed as far as we wish we had, we should take a moment to recall what things were like in 1962 (and no, this is NOT a pitch to see Hairspray).

O.K. the Younger Generation Can Come Back Now for the Question Whether the Country Needs a Generational Change. 

I don't worry about Senator Clinton being unelectable because she's tough or doesn't bake cookies.  I worry about her being unelectable because she is part of an old guard the country may need to break with.

I genuinely believe the baby-boom has had its chance.  I think we need the insight of the next generation to solve the problems of the ones after that.  Mostly, I think we need the next generation to take the wheel so we can begin to set aside the culture war issues that galvanized, polarized and eventually paralyzed too many members of our g-g-g-generation.  

I like Obama because he's a conciliator.  He seems to bring people together.  He's smart enough (like Jack Kennedy) to surround himself with people who have the experience he may lack.

But my political opinion is not set in stone.  My feet haven't even touched fresh concrete.  I'm still window-shopping.

If you are too, you might want to join with Dana Senit Henry and a handful of others who comprise the local Hillary for President Committee, to meet the Senator for brunch on Sunday, August 12, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. 

It's at the home of Leslie and Cliff Gilbert-Lurie in Hidden Hills.

Here's the flyer for you to download, fill in, and meet the Senator.  If you come and we haven't met, please do come and say hello.  I'd love to meet you!

Best for '08 and our Children's' Futures,

Vickie Pynchon