Wow, It Actually Happened

Of course Obama winning is awesome, but how cool was CNN's use of hologram technology?

For the final analysis of the '08 election I turn to Kool and the Gang.

Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times, and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now

Celebration
Let's all celebrate and have a good time
Celebration
We gonna celebrate and have a good time

It's time to come together
It's up to you, what's your pleasure

Everyone around the world
Come on!

Yahoo! It's a celebration
Yahoo!

Thank you, Kool and the Gang, for your insightful remarks.

Last night I received my LEGO Robin Hood Adventure Set. I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote about going to bed and waking up to the election results like Christmas morning. Of course I stayed up. Of course I saw the results at 11 p.m. when Blitzer, in all of his white-bearded glory, called the election for Obama. The sights at Grant Park and the accompanying celebrations across the country and the world were amazing. It looked like the end of Return of the Jedi. Prince would say people were partying like it was 1999. In a sense it was a New Year's Eve party. It was a celebration of a new beginning.

Obama's speech last night was so fitting, so eloquent. He amazes me every time he gets behind a podium because he always delivers something awe inspiring when the country needs it most. Some people say there's more to being pres than speaking well. I agree, but, at the same time, isn't part of the President's job description to be the ultimate salesperson?

I wanted a speech about unity and he delivered something that just blew my mind. He didn't holler and rally his followers. Instead, he spoke like the president that we need. He said WE still have a lot of work to do, that WE are all in this together, that it will take a tremendous amount of time and work but WE will get there. The speech was about all of us as a whole and never just about him. He spoke to the folks who voted for McCain and told them I will win your support. For once I don't feel completely cynical towards politics. I feel inspired.

McCain was so gracious with his concession speech. It reminded me of the candidate he was back in 2000. He is a true American hero and patriot.

I still don't think I have fully grasped how truly historic this is.

I'm glad Obama won by more than 7 million votes. We wouldn't have survived another 2000 or 2004.

He's not perfect. He said so himself. He will make mistakes. Even JFK had his Bay of Pigs. To cynics, I ask that you just give the guy a shot. If he doesn't deliver on his message then by all means throw tomatoes.

I want to thank David Gergen and John King for providing such unbiased, insightful election coverage. I will miss the magic map but I look forward to CNN's continued use of hologram technology. Beam me up Blitzer!

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow? or Thoughts on Election Day '08

Election Day. The last eight years will soon be over. No matter whom you prefer, if there is any justice in the world, either guy has to do better job then Bush. Whatever the outcome, in a little more than a month, Bush will be sitting in the oval office, packing picture frames, a novelty decision making dart board, and other office regalia into cardboard boxes. I wonder what he'll be thinking. I think he's relieved. I think when the economic crises happened, he thought "C'mon you couldn't have waited six months." Then he probably thought, well they can't think any worse of me. I wonder what his conversations at night in bed with Laura are like. I wonder if he regrets running for president and wishes he still owned the Texas Rangers. The eight years have definitely taken a toll. His face and hair tell the story of our collective suffering. The ranch has never looked better.

My parents have always been staunch anti-voters, repeatedly arguing that their vote doesn't matter and me responding it's a good thing everybody else doesn't feel that way. I cannot blame them though. 2000 and 2004 are great examples; Elections that close gave us a window into our Democratic dream world. When every single vote actually mattered, we saw how many fell through the cracks and how the presidential election is not a battle between voters but a battle between the lawyers representing each side. I hope Hanging Chad doesn't return this time. For the first time in their lives, my parents are voting. They know what is at stake. They illustrate how important this election is in the minds of the masses. Democrat or Republican, collectively we all know things should be better and people are going out to the polls like never before.

Change. That is what everybody wants. The question is, who will actually deliver it? Obama has championed change from the beginning and McCain grasped on to it a few months ago when he saw the life boat inching away. I have always been vehemently cynical towards politicians. I know Obama won't be able to deliver on all of his proposals, but if half actually jump out of the fairy tale book things will be looking up. I like how he actually holds all of us accountable and expects us to contribute. I hope he actually strive for bi-partisianship because that is what this melting pot of people really needs. I hope he takes a lesson from the last president and actually invites the brightest minds to be a part of his cabinet, regardless of party lines. Something is going on this time around. You can feel it as you stand in line at the polls.

Either way, the end results of the presidential election will be historic. We'll either have the first African-American, the oldest president ever, or the first woman vice. This election will prove that anybody really can become president, although despite your age, race, or sex you will still need millions of dollars to do it. So as long as you're not poor, you'll actually have a shot.

I hope everybody who said they would vote actually does so for once. I'm concerned about what might happen if the overwhelmingly pro-Obama polls turn out wrong. People are so passionate this time around; I don't think they'll shrug and go back to watching CSI and eating Cheetos like in 2000 if there is even a whiff of foul play. I hope Diebold does not decide things. Every election seems like the latest Terminator installment with the machines looking to take over.

Tonight we will go to bed full of nervous anticipation. Some will try to stay up and actually catch a glimpse of the results. Some may leave out cookies and milk hoping to sway the results their way. In the morning, we will wake up and run downstairs and click on our preferred news outlet, either grinning in triumph or howling in disdain. Some will get their LEGO Robin Hood Adventure Set and other will get dirty coal. To the victors, congrats. I hope your guy does all the good he promised to do, and for the losers, at least the last eight years are over. The next guy, even if you did not vote for him, cannot do any worse, right?

I'm not a member of Obamamania screaming and crying at the next pres like a Bon Jovi groupie, but I hope he makes it.

Image taken from obeygiant.com

Let's Get Po-lit-ical, Po-lit-ical: Isn't it a Little Early to be Voting?

Early voting began in Valdosta and throughout Georgia Monday, a month and a half before the Nov. 4 election and days before the first presidential debate, which, currently, is still scheduled McCain or no McCain.

It is irresponsible for voters to cast their ballot this early, especially before any major debate has taken place. What is your vote based on? Party lines. Your gut feeling. Misleading and completely false negative TV ads. 24-hour news talking squares. Teleprompter speeches. In this public relations run world, especially considering the sickening display both camps have displayed towards free press, debates are the one place where voters will be able to see these candidates for what they really are. No more talking points. No more Wikipedia references. No more smiling photo ops. No more waving off screaming reporters, People magazine photo ops, and PR agents saying 99% of questions are off limits.

Besides this point, once you vote that's it, that goes even for you folks down in Florida (By the way, I hope they've finally got their act together. To quote the wise Ug of Salute your Shorts, "Now get it right or pay the price!") There are so many "what if" scenarios that can occur before the election that it seems silly to vote this early. Sure, like most of you, I'm leaning a particular way, but what is the rush? Election time is a mudbog; Let's stop and smell the monster truck exhaust fumes.

So why would you vote this early?

To avoid long lines? You cannot get off work Nov. 4? These reasons are legitimate and it's sad in the self proclaimed model of democracy that people have to choose either a) voting early and possibly regretting their choice or b) missing a day off their paycheck to take part in the Democracy our leaders supposedly hold in such high esteem.

I propose this: If the U.S. government is so quick to write a 700 billion dollar bail out check to big business with little to no checks and balances, why not provide funds to working folks so they can take off Nov. 4 and vote?

If you're going to vote early, vote during the early voting period a week before the election. By then the cards should be laid out for all to see. In the meantime, just sit back and laugh with me at what was supposed to be "The High Road Election" - the "Straight Talk Express" vs. "Hope, Change, and Real Solutions" and what has sunk to Swamp Thing vs. Sasquatch, mud and lore.