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YES WE DID
President Obama. Doesn't that have a nice ring to it?
You can sing it -- Pres-i-dent O-bam-a, Pres-i-dent O-bam-a. Sorry, I got carried away there.
John McCain gave a very gracious concession speech. As he spoke I thought "let the healing begin". I know how disappointed his staff and supporters must have felt because I experienced that emotion after the past two elections. Mercifully, that administration is nearing it shameful end.
I didn't get to hear Barack Obama's acceptance speech because my phone rang the second McCain stopped speaking. It was my very excited daughter, Gail, in California calling to celebrate the victory via telephone. We talked for two-and-a-half hours. She told me how much her daughters had been involved in this election. They had followed it from the beginning and were avid Obama supporters. We agreed that this election has provided a great lesson in civics. No other campaign in my memory has been so exciting and has inspired so many people to become involved. John F. Kennedy's campaign was a close second for me, but even he paled compared to the very articulate orator, Obama.
Not only was yesterday's vote a victory for Obama but it was also a victory for tolerance. I see it as a repudiation of the Karl Rove style of slash and burn politics. Elizabeth Dole's smarmy ad probably did more to sink her chances for re-election than any one thing.
To Arizona's shame the ban on gay marriage is winning. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because the troglodytes who got this on our ballot are the same ones that got it on the California's ballot. In California it's the infamous Proposition 8 and in California looks like it will go down to a narrow defeat. As I post this, it's fate is still unknown. The fact that nearly half of California citizens voted for it shows there is still much work to be done to eliminate prejudice and intolerance. My daughter pointed out to her girls that eight rhymed with hate. Religious bigotry makes Christian right an oxymoron.
Now the hard work for Obama begins. There is so much to do, so many wrongs to right, and it all takes place in an economic downturn. There is no better opportunity for health care reform than now. Unfortunately, the economy that made Obama's victory possible is the thing that will make implementing his policies difficult.
We cannot stop now. Take a day to celebrate and then get to work pushing for the reforms that are needed. Also, keep your eye on George Bush. He isn't through yet.
You can sing it -- Pres-i-dent O-bam-a, Pres-i-dent O-bam-a. Sorry, I got carried away there.
John McCain gave a very gracious concession speech. As he spoke I thought "let the healing begin". I know how disappointed his staff and supporters must have felt because I experienced that emotion after the past two elections. Mercifully, that administration is nearing it shameful end.
I didn't get to hear Barack Obama's acceptance speech because my phone rang the second McCain stopped speaking. It was my very excited daughter, Gail, in California calling to celebrate the victory via telephone. We talked for two-and-a-half hours. She told me how much her daughters had been involved in this election. They had followed it from the beginning and were avid Obama supporters. We agreed that this election has provided a great lesson in civics. No other campaign in my memory has been so exciting and has inspired so many people to become involved. John F. Kennedy's campaign was a close second for me, but even he paled compared to the very articulate orator, Obama.
Not only was yesterday's vote a victory for Obama but it was also a victory for tolerance. I see it as a repudiation of the Karl Rove style of slash and burn politics. Elizabeth Dole's smarmy ad probably did more to sink her chances for re-election than any one thing.
To Arizona's shame the ban on gay marriage is winning. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because the troglodytes who got this on our ballot are the same ones that got it on the California's ballot. In California it's the infamous Proposition 8 and in California looks like it will go down to a narrow defeat. As I post this, it's fate is still unknown. The fact that nearly half of California citizens voted for it shows there is still much work to be done to eliminate prejudice and intolerance. My daughter pointed out to her girls that eight rhymed with hate. Religious bigotry makes Christian right an oxymoron.
Now the hard work for Obama begins. There is so much to do, so many wrongs to right, and it all takes place in an economic downturn. There is no better opportunity for health care reform than now. Unfortunately, the economy that made Obama's victory possible is the thing that will make implementing his policies difficult.
We cannot stop now. Take a day to celebrate and then get to work pushing for the reforms that are needed. Also, keep your eye on George Bush. He isn't through yet.
8 comments:
I am so happy right now! I
m sorry you didn't get to hear the speech, because it was mesmerizing. I am sure it will be on Utube later, if not already.
Darlene, I truly hope you get a chance to hear Barack's speech. It was the final inspirational historic touch of an already amazing historic night that will go down in history as no other. I watched every minute of it. The country spoke...and spoke in no uncertain terms. WOW!
I have felt from the very beginning that this man was meant to be here for our country...and he truly is. Last night certainly proved that. He is a man of inspiration and honor and hope. What a difference that the man who will be leaving the White House this January.
What an amazing night. My daughter called me this morning and said, "Mom, I was on some international sites this morning, and the whole WORLD is celebrating Obama's election."
"I know honey....I know."
YES WE CAN!!! AMEN!!!
Yes, this is a time to celebrate the renewed hope this election brings our nation.
I, too, was on and off the phone all night for brief conversations with family and friends. The coverage I watched mostly on L.A.'s PBS TV station was very good. Even when I switched on a couple of occasions to commercial TV they seemed less scatterbrained than usual. Hope you get to read or, better, hear and see any of the events and speeches you missed.
No kidding on Bush. I heard he's trying to ram through as much environmental damage and the taking of American rights as he can before he goes. Most likely mass pardons too :( But it's still a day to celebrate-- for once!
Darlene,
I actually fell asleep around 9pm. I did the same thing four years ago. I'm such a chicken and cannot not stand the counting and the waiting. However, I woke up around midnight and watched CNN until 3am.
What a thrill to wake up and hear that Obama won!
Thanks to all you wonderful ladies for your comments. It is a historic time that none of us will forget.
Yes, the real work is just beginning for Obama and us. We must keep our priorities clear and be patient while the new administration works our way out of a very difficult position. Obama made that very clear in his speech last night.
He is serious about making this a bipartisan administration, which will mean that he will probably position himself somewhat to the right of my position. I expect to be disappointed with some of the positions he takes, but if he is going to truly be the president of all of us he will have to listen to the right wing of the Republican party and, at least, acknowledge their positions. I've already seen him do that a few times, much to my discomfort. I expect to be discomforted quite often by the Obama administration.
Obama's great strength is that he truly listens and considers before taking a position. We saw him do it while McCain was twisting and turning about the economic disaster. When Barack spoke it was calm and deliberate and not over played in the least. Now we will need to keep our priorities before our new president so that he will listen and place them in consideration. We won't get everything we want and not in the time we want it, but I feel confident that, if we will give him time, he will try to make good on the promises he made to us in this campaign. YES WE CAN!
Thank you, Gary, for your wise comments. I want it all right away (Health care, a good economy, ending the Iraq war, etc.) but I am pragmatic and know we will be lucky if Obama is able to achieve half of his promises in the first four years.
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