I woke up today with a fright. Somehow, McCain would win, and this election would represent American retrenchment and pessimism. But ultimately, our nation opted for hope, and a sense we still can as a country right the ship. And as I write this, with tears in my eyes that I am incapable of suppressing, I think, what a message we as a nation we sent to the people of the world, that we truly are a United States of America. That a bi-racial fellow with African DNA coursing through his bloodstream, should ascend to the highest office in a nation that once enslaved someone with his level of melanin, shows just how far we have come as a country.
This is a great moment in American history, one that historians 100 years from now will reference with great import. We have been witnesses to this historic moment. We are fortunate to be here at this time, where the greatness of our ideologies aligned with the with our nation's realities. To see white men, white women and minorities all give a plurality to Obama. This is monumental, and though Utah voted for McCain, I stand proud of my two Obama bumperstickers, and the middle fingers I've endured.
One thing I'd like to say about John McCain. The gracious statesman that was John McCain reappeared tonight in his concession speech. The call for unity and support showed McCain as he is, not as what his political consultants wanted him to be. The Rovian disunity campaign showed the ugly underbelly of neocon malice, but it undermined McCain and he stands as a tragic figure, embracing those who destroyed him, to gain the power that eluded him before. I hope McCain will regain his bearings and continue to contribute to our body politic in meaningful ways.
As the dark clouds of our recent cold front descended upon our valleys, I recalled vividly the dark clouds of the paat eight years. I nervously watched the results come in, but in the end, with tears in my eyes, I feel a sense of hope, optimism, and pride in our great nation.
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12 comments:
Today kicked ass.
I hear you on the holding back tears. I was at the gym last night, when the screen changed, and "Barack Obama - 44th President of the United States of America" appeared. The gentleman I was with isn't too fond of Mr. Obama, but notwithstanding, I will never forget where I was, and how it felt.
I though John McCain's speech was excellent and showed great character and honor.
I was even more impressed when the President Elect appear on stage, not as the victor of a long and hard battle, but as a humble man, coming to terms with the awesome responsibility that will now be his.
The sun seemed just a little brighter today!
As one who is old enough to remember the 40's and 50's before any meaningful civil rights laws we passed, when colored people were treated in ways that the younger generation can hardly fathom, and having witnessed the pivotal events of the 50s and 60s, I am thrilled and moved beyond measure to see something that I would never have thought possible.
Those events were huge, but were only incremental and halting moves in the direction that was needed. Watching the news last night was a very (good) emotional experience, and justified the hope that I had for how he might inspire our country. I take a small amount of pleasure from remembering that I wrote to him 2 years ago (before he announced his candidacy) expressing my opinion that our country needed him and that he should seriously look at running for president.
I have no illusions that he will quickly solve all of our problems, but I am convinced that all issues will get a good look, careful consideration, and his best effort.
A very emotional moment came from what would seem to be a small thing. When I touched that screen yesterday and saw the "X" appear next to Obama's name, I could not suppress my emotions as it hit me what that meant. My opportunity to vote for such an unlikely candidate was beyond unthinkable in my younger years. Even today, I can hardly believe it, and have more hope for the future as more of the older generation and their way of thinking dies off.
Urban and J.C., I appreciate your perspectives. It truly was a major moment in our history as a republic, and I feel honored that I was part of it.
I went to my favorite watering hole tonight, and the owner's wife came over and gave me a big hug and a high five. Talking about it brought her to tears, and she told me, "I've never been prouder to be an American."
24 hours later, it still doesn't take much to moisten my eyes over the gravity of what happened.
Don't want to rain on your koombaya parade, but our President-elect so far has had to make three appointments.
Jim Johnson, former CEO of Fannie Mae, profiteer, lobbyst and ruiner of $1 trillion in taxpayer wealth. Resigned in embarrassment.
Joe Biden, water boy for the Delaware credit card industry and general champion of pork.
Rahm Emmanuel, with no education or experience in finance, he parlayed his White House access and influence to a Managing Director job at an investment bank who paid him $18MM.
The evidence suggests the President-elect is 0-3 in "changing how things are done in Washington".
Tell me you are kidding that you are still drinking his Kool Aid.
I think the Kool-aid you've been drinking has far more vodka. Biden has been a competent and honorable senator for decades.
I don't necessarily agree with Rahm Emmanuel ideologically, but he has a reputation for being a vigorous and competent manager. Obama values competence after eight years of devaluing intellect.
Now excuse my ignorance, but what role is Johnson purported to play in Obama's administration?
Johnson was Obama's first pick of any kind. He was chosen by Obama to lead the VP search and vetting team. He resigned quickly thereafter.
As for Biden, he personifies how "things are done in Washington" which our President-elect vowed to change. Would be a little like hiring Al Capone to stamp out organized crime.
I want to believe what our President-elect has said he would do. I more than anyone hates the corruption, profiteering and self-dealing in Washington by both parties. All I am asking for is some evidence of this. So far I'm not seeing it.
Obi:
"Biden has been a competent and honorable senator for decades"
Reality:
Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. is requesting more than a quarter-billion dollars in earmarks to pay for projects in his home state of Delaware in fiscal 2009.
Senator Biden's earmarks: $342 million last year alone, including his own bridge. Sen. Biden (and Obama) voted for the Alaska "Bridge to Nowhere" twice (before Sarah Palin became governor).
Hunter Biden (son) co-founded a lobbying firm, Oldaker, Biden & Belair LLP, along with William Oldaker, a supporter of Mr. Biden who helped launch his political action committee, Unite Our States, in 2005.
The firm's clients over the years included the University of Delaware, for which Mr. Biden has secured millions of dollars in earmarks, and the University of Scranton in Mr. Biden's Pennsylvania hometown.
Mr. McCain says he's never sought an earmark in more than two decades in Congress. He calls earmarks wasteful and promises to crack down on earmark abuses as president.
"Knee deep in . . ." as a title is just too obvious a target for a joke. Substitute "BS" for "Utah" and the description is apt.
I have never been a big Biden fan, in fact I used to lean Republican until the party was hi-jacked by the screaming loonies like Limbaugh and Hannity with idealologues creating such organizations as the Eagle Forum, whish is our local sister to the Taliban. I do not defend those of either party who abuse their office to enrich themselves or their friends (such as we also see in the Utah legislature).
However we were presented a choice between a relatively decent person (McCain) who prostituted himself by catering to the hate and fear mongers, chose a completely incompetent running mate, and offered no solutions, only appealing to the fears of the unthinking, and on the other side, a relatively unknown man who is undeniably intelligent but has a positive vision for what can be done in our country. One appealed to our worst side and the other appealed to our best side.
I would remind Kneedeep that the election is over, and what McCain would do as president is irrelevant. The GOP would be better off to stop the slander and demagoguery, stop attacking and blaming each other for their loss, and start to look for positive solutions that reflect what they have claimed to be their "principles." (Although I have seen nothing in the past 8 years that would indicate that any decision that has been made would seem to have been guided by any principles).
In my posts I have not defended the many shortcoming of the current admistration. So I am baffled when I compare Obama's own words to his own record that the reaction is not on the merit of Obama's words and record, but a rhetorically tangential commentary on radio personalities. How this relates to my factual comments on Biden and his porkish ways is beyond me.
As for kneedeep, it is a reference to my love of Utah powder, and nothing else.
It seems a bit disingenuous to me when the claim is made that one is merely comparing Obama's word to his record when there IS no record of his performance as president. The election was only 3 days ago, he has not made a single cabinet appointment, he is not yet the president, and has no power yet to act as such.
I have no expectation that he will hit a home run every time he steps to the plate. He will make mistakes, and he has long had some ideas that I do not like very much. However, I read the posts as a continuation of the negativity of the campaign, offering absolutely nothing constructive.
The negative searching out of such amazing facts as that Biden's son is a lobbyist (GASP!!) is just more of what we have been hearing, not only from radio personalities, but from candidates themselves.
What is disingenuous is for Obama to be telling us for 2 years that he is going to change how things are done in Washignton and then, so far with three appointments, name individuals who embody how the old way of how things are done in Washington. This is not some wild accusation coming from Fox News or Rush Limbaugh. I heard the same observation today being made by several center-left maistream media reporters and commentators, including NPR.
I really really really want Obama to do what he said he was going to do. I really agree with him. I want him to succeed. But if I were going to try to change how things were done in Washington, the last people I would appoint would be Johnson, Biden and Emmanuel.
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