If Obama can sew up the nomination soon (not that I'm counting on it this month), he should hop on a plane to Kenya and use his popularity there to shame Kibaki and Odinga into taking a constructive course to ending the violence.

Either you or Getty spelled "Barack" wrong.

I think he should hop on a plane and get his grandmother out of there, at least until the violence dies down.

Well said, blackton.  I'm surprised she's still THERE.  She must be really stubborn?

Grandmothers tend to be stubborn. One of mine is 100 and still living independently despite our pleas to move in with one of the kids. She did relent and allowed us to hire someone to help her. At that age people get very fixed in their ways.

Wow. Great photo.

As an African immigrant, I had to laugh at the comment about getting his grandmother out of there. Are you kidding? Do you understand the symbolism of a matriach or patriach "abandoning" the family home?

That aside, I can assure you that Grandma has nothing to fear. The powers that be will ensure her safety.

I hope wkwami is right.  Certainly the Secret Service must be worrying now.  The lady would seem to be a prime candidate for kidnapping or worse.

wkwami, what powers? You mean the ones that are trying to kill each other? I understand the notion of the symbolism of "abandoning" the family home, but this is the grandmother of the man who may be the next President of the United States. Just present it as having her "visit" her family in the states, and when the violence dies down then let her go back.

blackton said:

"wkwami, what powers? You mean the ones that are trying to kill each other?"

Easy there... buddy. Let's not display unnecessary ignorance. Grandma lives in Kogelo, in rural western Kenya in the Luo heartland, where life there is as calm and uneventful as it was before the current political violence.

"I understand the notion of the symbolism of "abandoning" the family home, but this is the grandmother of the man who may be the next President of the United States."

With all due respect, I don't think you fully grasp my point. Let's just say that Grandma's security was assured the moment Barack became a viable presidential candidate. The powers that be are well aware of the potential threat of the likes of Al-Queda operatives kidnapping the grandmother of a US presidential candidate. I do also believe that should there be any imminent threats to her safety, grandma will be swiftly removed from harm's way.

By the way, here's a link to a Barack picture I think you'll all enjoy:

liveu-s-58.vo.llnwd.net/.../LiveLeak-dot-com-138637-obama.jpg

yeah, thanks I saw that picture before, that was when Obama went to visit his dads gravesite. Well, I hope you are right about her safety. Still in all, it would be a powerful symbol if she did go to America and showed up at a few of his events.