I’m Relieved, How Are You?
Finally! There’s hope for change. There’s hope for looking at the big picture. There’s now ‘us’, not just ‘me, me & me.” Goodbye, Joe Six-Pack and Joe the Plumber! Hello, Joe and Josephine Economist, Humanitarian, Realist. Oh, it felt so good to vote yesterday.
Last night, I was never so relieved to hear the words “Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, New Mexico...”
When CNN called it at 10:00, tears were welling up.
I was truly impressed with McCain’s concession speech (with the exception of “my friends”). If he had only been that independent, honest and human in his campaign, it might have been a closer race. With such a big Bush burden, he made too many mistakes (selling out, for example). Sure, they were all bummed to the max, but where was the love and support for each other? Cindy McCain was standing a mile away from her husband with a “Laura Bush smile” and “don’t touch me” look on her face, Sarah Palin looked as if she was going to throw up (at least the tear in her eye confirmed that she’s human and not all pit), and First Dude Palin looked angry! You could visibly see no love lost between McCain and Palin. Goodbye, Caribou Barbie and Redneck Woman (for now)! Thank goodness for McCain’s mother…she may have been his only comfort.
Also, how cute was Biden’s 90 year old mother? She was so overwhelmed by that crowd! I wish Toot had been there for Obama. How bittersweet for him.
Here are my favorite lines from Obama’s victory speech. It was perfect. He didn’t say “Look” once!
“But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you. It belongs to you.” (My favorite – I was spurting tears at that point)
“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.”
“What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.”
“So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.”
“Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.”
“For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.”
“This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people.”
Yes, Texas is still solid Red; however, 3.5 million Texans voted for Obama (44% of 8 million votes) when there was no major push by the Dem party to win votes as in FL, PA and OH. I was really hoping it would have been closer to 50/50 but this is still a State in denial and on the defensive ala Bush.
Lastly, I went back and looked at my prior entries to see if I was politically naïve or maybe on to something. This is what I found:
From 10/16/08 “I’m Not President Bush”: I really don’t want to spew the negative but I believe that McCain has sold out on a lot of issues just to get elected and he certainly is not the same 2000 “maverick-y” McCain (not that I would have voted for him then – I love you, Al Gore even if you’re incredibly boring). This country needs SIGNIFICANT change and IMO, Obama clearly has what it takes - plus a lot less irritating personal traits. Considering the mess we’ve gotten into (all while Bush has been vacationing in Crawford for the last 4 years) it’s going to take a lot of energy, focus, diplomacy, intelligence, realistic solutions, sacrifice, fairness, and emphasis on education (where it all starts), health care and other basic rights and responsibilities. We’ve got to get it right at home before we go out “liberating” others. We can’t act or fail to act based on fear.
From 11/1/08 “My Obsession with Pop Culture…”: Last, but not least, and because this entry comes on the eve of a historic election, a dream that comes to mind is the ‘American Dream’ (maybe I should insert ‘my friends’ for political non-effect.) Yes, I believe that it exists. History tells me so. When we get frustrated and worried about the state of the union (all with good reason) just remember that we have freedom and opportunity or at least freedom to create some kind of opportunity. We can’t be complacent, take things for granted and expect all to be great. Now’s the time to step up, reevaluate our priorities and contribute (I may have to give up my pop culture obsession for the greater good). Giving of ourselves will get us through. Remember your vote (and dreams) count.
CitizenB
