First, I am absolutely giddy… not just because “my candidate” won the election, but because this is an historic milestone in the history of a great democracy.
Second, my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting President Elect Obama at a backyard barbecue fundraiser for his Senate campaign. It was a great experience and I need to give my wife credit… after we left that afternoon, she said, “Someday he’s going to be President.” She called that one…
Third, Obama probably voted for my wife! She was on the ballot in Cook County… unopposed. 🙂
Updates:
The Speeches. I thought John McCain’s concession speech was magnanimous and very sincere. It’s the first sincere thing I’ve heard come out of his mouth since the primaries. If he had been that open, that honest during his campaign, instead of pandering to the religious right with the Palin Pick, and launching his negative attack ads, etc. this might have been a very different election. Or at least a lot closer. Palin was a pit bull, all right, but America wanted candidates who could speak to the issues, not just parrot attack talking points. I also thought it was telling that when McCain mentioned Obama, the crowd booed… but not Obama’s crowd when he mentioned McCain. I hope the vitriolic supporters of McCain take heed in this election: *America* is tired of hateful, divisive politics. Keep up the hate mongering, and you’ll destroy your own party from within.
The Grand Old Party. Republican’s have some real soul searching to do. The core of the party are white, conservative, evangelicals… not exactly a growing demographic. On NPR this morning, a Republican strategist noted that the fastest growing voter demographics in America are blacks, latinos, and young voters–all of who overwhelmingly supported Obama. Not good for the GOP future. Maybe it’s time to return to a Republican party of old: the one that was less concerned with what women did with their bodies and more concerned with not inflating the national deficit. McCain’s Palin pick was clearly targeted to deliver the base, which it did, but this election showed pretty clearly that the Republican base ain’t all it’s cracked up to be… you can’t win an election in America without the center.
Hoosiers!! CNN hasn’t called it yet, but with 99% of precincts reporting, Obama is up 50% to 49% (by about 23.5k votes). Hooray for Hoosiers!!
North Carolina. Liddy Dole learned what hateful, untrue attack ads get you: booted. Congrats to Kay Hagen. Another lesson for the Republican party: American’s are tired of the B.S. and want some politicians who address the issues instead of attacking the opponents.
Minnesota. According to CNN, with 100% of the precincts reporting, Coleman is only beating Al Franken by 572 votes?! Wow… Recount anyone? I am disappointed that bat-sh*t crazy Bachmann didn’t lose her race. After her McCarthy-esque comments, I wanted to see her go down.
Alaska. Are they nuts up there? Seriously, Alaska, you’re making Florida look downright reasonable these days. Are your brains frozen?? With 99% of the precincts reporting, it looks like Alaska may have elected a *convicted Felon* to the Senate. I think ice must be clogging Alaskan’s brain tubes.
Finally, I was *really* disappointed that not a single person who was featured using CNN’s new “hologram” technology said, “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you’re my only hope.”
Hooray for Hoosiers, indeed!
They didn’t say it, but the first lady did say she felt like Princess Leia.
Personally, I thought they should have said, “Wipe them out. ALL of them.”
Thanks for letting me know Indiana went blue. The first state on the map and one of the last to call it. Kinda anti-climactic, but I’ll take it.
Pretty cool that you got to meet him early on. Sure wish you’d taken your camera.
I’m so thrilled for you that your child will be raised spend her first four years in an Obama administration. Both of my kids grew up in Bush administrations.