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Election 2008 - Just Have to Say It

Author: Jenn, Category: Life

I was never a huge Obama fan. But over the last few weeks I warmed to him a bit more. I didn’t find it surprising - I’m never a huge fan of any politician.

Anyway, I voted for him (I believe I had 5 elections yesterday, and voted pretty typically - on a case by case basis that ended up with 3 democrats and 2 republicans).

I tried to convince myself that I shouldn’t watch the results come in. The last time I did was 2000, when I voted for Gore, and well… we all know how that one went. I gave in though. I couldn’t resist.

I ended up watching MSNBC (mostly because I’ve always like Chris Matthews). I was nervous as hell. After voting it got worse - I realized there wasn’t much more I could do but wait.

So I waited.

And thankfully I didn’t have to wait very long.

Around 11pm, they announced it - Obama will be our next president.

Something happened - a reaction I didn’t expect, because I didn’t realize previously exactly how “down” I really was about this country and our government. I cried - like a friggin’ baby. Not because we had our first black president (that’s historically important of course, but I hope it doesn’t distract everyone from everything else this election says). I cried instead because this huge weight was lifted - this incredible, heavy gloom that loomed over me for much of the last 8 years was gone.

Yes, Bush is still our president. But for the first time in years I realized that I could have faith in the American people again. I was finally proud again. We stood up, and said “Not anymore!” We took the country back, and can finally look forward to trying to heal - our economy, our relationships with other nations, and our relationships with each other.

I know everyone’s not happy about the results. Frankly though, I don’t give a damn. Those who feel that dread now can finally see what so many of us felt and feared for years. They called us “Un-American” while being so out of touch with what the American people really wanted themselves. I don’t see us doing the same. In time, I hope that most people will warm to Obama like I did (I know “all” never will). More importantly, I hope he earns that respect and warmth by finding ways to unite us after the divisions of the Bush administration.

I think everyone with an ounce of sense knows things won’t suddenly change for the better the moment he takes office - things take time. We took 8 years to fuck up this country, and it’s going to take time to fix it. What I’m finding amazing here though is that Obama’s helped a lot of folks realize that they can take steps to fix it - they’re not just puppets of their government. And for that, I’m pretty damned thankful. It’s exciting to see that excitement brewing in people who want to get involved. Let’s hope Obama keeps that spirit alive.

Listening to Obama’s speech, I didn’t hear anything overly fascinating. It was about what I expected, and he delivered it well as he often does. I was particularly happy to hear him reaching out to the international community though. Having so many international friends, colleagues, and clients, I often hear what others around the world really think of us beyond what we hear from our government or in the media, and frankly it’s been scary (even from people in countries that are supposed to be our allies). I think Obama will make an excellent diplomat, and I hope he steps up on that front.

Listening to McCain’s speech was similar I suppose. I figured he’d concede as gracefully as possible and not do anything to even further damage his party’s reputation (like acting like a whiny, pouting bitch demanding recounts left and right). So bravo to him for that and for asking his followers to unite under our new president elect. I do wish he’d put less emphasis on the race issue early in the speech though. At the time, I almost got the vibe that it was a “he won because he’s black” sort of thing (although I’m sure that was unintentional), and it disturbed me until he moved past it. Nothing terribly surprising in what he said, but I have to admit, it was the best speech I heard him give. Why he sounded more passionate and involved in a concession than in running is beyond me. Or maybe I was too caught up in feeling hope, faith, and pride last night to hear any typical boring, droning elements.

Anyway, congratulations to the incoming first family. Now let’s sit tight and see Obama’s first important decisions - who he fills his cabinet with.






2 Responses

  1. Jay Says

    17|Dec|2008

    I feel bad for you. Yes, Bush has not been a perfect president but who has? You being in doom and gloom for 8 years sounds like A. you need an anti-depressant B. You have no life besides your hatred for Bush C. you believe all the hate Bush tzunami of the left of Lenin press. I feel bad for you because I thought you dug deeper, asked more questions, and was more pragmatic rather than accepting the press’ advocacy journalism.

    The media has brainwashed a good number of our citizenry to despise Bush. I find that Anti-American. I believe in democratic fashion he represented all of us in the last 8 years because he was elected OUR leader. He has been beaten with so much hatred and reacted with genuine humility and integrity that for merely that alone you should hold your head up about our 43rd president. Yes, I am no leftist and cannot stand Obama’s politics or ideological perspective but I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me and NOT despise them despite socialist leanings and associations with a great number of bad people. I will give him the respect he deserves as OUR 44th president something the hypocritical left never had the decency to do with Mr. Bush since 2000.

  2. Jenn

    17|Dec|2008

    Have to love people who are full of shit Jay. For starters, no, I have not been “in doom and gloom” for 8 years. “Much of the last 8 years” doesn’t mean I spent every waking minute thinking about the man who was supposed to be leading this country. Dreading the political atmosphere, poor decisions, and declining attitudes I watched even friends and clients overseas form toward Americans as a whole based on him… yes. For much of the last 8 years, that’s been the case. In no way does that translate into being depressed or feeling gloom in any other aspect of life. Let’s try a bit of common sense, shall we. And I’m quite content with my life thank you very much. I’m not brainwashed by the “left” media, and I don’t form my opinions based on one or two sources of information. I’m in no way an Obama fanboy type either. But I am incredibly happy to see Americans say enough was finally enough with the bullshit over the last several years.

    I’ve also treated Bush with respect and given him credit in the cases where he deserves it (there haven’t been a hell of a lot of those scenarios that weren’t overshadowed by even bigger fuck-ups, but when they happened, he always got credit from me). Of course, you wouldn’t know that, because you don’t know the first thing about me and my general political views - something I don’t talk about often publicly with the “masses.”

    I do have to wonder what kind of ass someone has to be to make suppositions about someone’s views and life based on one blog post. Assuming you know anything about what I, or others who voted for Obama, have thought for the last 8 years is flat-out ignorant. When he won the election in 2000, I wasn’t happy, but I didn’t disrespect him. I even applauded him directly after 9/11. Things didn’t go south for Bush with everyone “on the other side” in 2000. That started when he led kids to sign up for a war based on lies. He dug his own grave in the polls, and his attempts to dig himself out weren’t as effective as he would’ve liked. Boo fuckity hoo. It’s over. The only people I feel sorry for are the ones who can’t get the hell over it like the rest of us did a long time ago. We lived with a situation we didn’t like, and quite apparently we ended up all the stronger for it.


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