Existential Ennui

~ Searching for Meaning Amid the Chaos

Existential Ennui

Tag Archives: Election 2008

They are Calling Her Palinochio

18 Wednesday Nov 2009

Posted by Sherry in Election 2008, John McCain, Sarah Palin, US Parties-Elections, Women's issues

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

book, Election 2008, Going Rogue, John McCain, Sarah Palin

Yes, I am aware that it is considered a cheap shot to kick a dead horse.

Still, it at some point must be admitted that this is just too good to pass up.

I can but imagine the nightmares that one John S. McCain has lived with, knowing that this moment must come–Sarah would write a book!

We cannot feel a bit sorry for the old codger. He asked for this, exactly this actually. He purposefully chose an incompetent but comely woman in the hopes of resurrecting a dying campaign. He, in his, sexist world, bet the house that women would be so thankful for any woman running for the almost presidency, that they would abandon all ideology in favor of pure girl power.

He bet wrong, because shocks of all shocks, he was dead wrong. And the consequences, as they say, can be a bitch. It is unalterably true that after the short bump, McCain’s fortunes began a steady downward fall as the public got to know his dream barbie. And with that, it was also unalterably true that said barbie would write a book throwing off the defeat at someone else’s feet. Certainly not her own.

So the weary warrior begged his campaign team to lay low, and most especially not to comment on the diva’s ghost written blame book. He begged them not to, because he was in a no-win situation. If he condemned his little Muppet sidekick, he risked the ugly truth that he had knowingly chosen an incompetent person at a critical time in history to be but a heartbeat from supreme power.  If he took the high-road and refused to condemn her, he allowed her condemnation of his team to go unanswered.

He decided that silence was the best response. Never explain. Yet the troops refused to comply as most of them figure they have lives yet to lead and jobs yet to get and there is no way they are going to go quietly into the night  or languish twisting in the wind.

And so the farce begins. Sarah has begun her “book” tour, and for the most part, is engaging in the same, half finished sentences, thoughts, jumbled up, stream of conscience drivel that we so have come to expect. And not only from the McCain VEEP team, but also from media, and worse yet from her own mouth, the lies are becoming apparent.

And outright lying is what it is all about. Republicans for reasons that are not at all clear, continue to believe that anything they say is immediately wiped from the tv, radio and print media archives. She now categorically claims she never said “she could see Russia from her house.” Technically, she didn’t, but she alleged that her state’s proximity to Russia gave her unique abilities of perception, and “did you know Charlie that there are land places in Alaska from which you can see Russia?” Indeed my demented little miss, but so what?

She tells Oprah or Barbara that there was no family vote on her taking of the VP offer, yet she tells Bill-O the Clown that there was a family vote and it was unanimous.

She categorically blames the entire loss on the economy tanking. Nothing to do with her at all. She claims its unfair to ask about her wacko ministers in Wasilla would are extracting demons from people, since she barely ever attends, and then suggests that the Rev. Wright was fair game in the campaign.

She admits her daddy was a science teacher, and then tries to please her right wing crazies by agreeing with creationism, all the while Rethug insiders say she was questioned carefully as part of the vetting, and they were satisfied she was at best an ID proponent, with little of any real understanding of what it even meant anyway.

She claims she learned that the campaign was leaving Michigan as a lost cost from a reporter, but footage of the event shows categorically that she told the reporter she had read the reports herself, and had heard of these intentions and didn’t agree.

Sarah is simply a liar, and doesn’t work any harder than most of the crazy right wing to hide it. She, like her compatriots at Foxy Noise have such a low opinion of their cultish followers, that they know these inconsistencies won’t come to them or won’t be granted any importance if they do. Illogical people are perfectly set to believe illogical arguments.

Mostly, Sarah just continues to embarrass me as a woman. Women have had to fight long and hard to be taken seriously in all areas of life beyond the home. We continue to labor and receive unfair wages for our efforts. We continue to have to be better than most men to get our toe in the door.

It is a shocking shame to most of us, that an air-brain dilettante like Sarah Palin has the unmitigated gall to “represent” us. It is as if some male gay porn star was elevated to be the spokesperson for gay marriage. With “friends” like this, who needs enemies.

Worse, it has divided women, and forced educated and thinking women to be embarrassed by all those women who have so little political acumen that someone “just like me” is what they consider viable as a candidate for President of the United States of America.

So Sarah, please, spare me. Go home with your  trigs and bristol meyers, and other oddly named progeny, and leave the discussion to adults. You are so far out of your league. We just got through apologizing to the world for our insufferable lack of paying attention in the elections of one George W. If you keep asking us to take you seriously, no doubt we will soon be swamped with the psychiatric bills of millions overseas who are ready to bunker down at the thought that you are looking Putin in the eye.

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Can’t We All Just Get Along?

02 Tuesday Dec 2008

Posted by Sherry in Barack Obama, Democrats, Election 2008, Essays, Media, Presidency, US Parties-Elections

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

bloggers, dissent, Election 2008, Media, Obama, pundits

pd433937_sWhenever the Rodney King phrase comes up, people kind of titter and grin a bit. How naive can a person be, we seem to say. And indeed, peace and agreement always seems far from the norm in America. We like to fight, figuratively if not physically.

It does get on my nerves, and it’s been especially so since the election. What should be a time of unbridled joy and expectation, happiness and hope, is quickly deteriorating into the usual backbiting, snarling one-up-man-ship that we have lived with for all too many years. I am tired of it.

I am not alone in this. If I Ran the Zoo ran a piece yesterday to the same effect. Why are we busily sniping away at each other and the new President-Elect? I mean really. Are we just in love with the idea of arguing or is it something else? I have no clue, but it is making blogging tiresome. I mentioned to somebody on some comment yesterday, that strangely i have had little interest in blogging on the usual political topics.

Now I don’t like to think of myself as naive. I think I’m a fairly smart cookie. No pie in the sky for me. I don’t have my head in the clouds particularly. But enough already. Do you have nothing to talk about day and night but whether Obama is fulfilling your expectations as a progressive, liberal, center-left, center-liberal, center, center-right, center-conservative? HUH? Were they your expectations or the nations? Point to the manifesto that announced that things would be as you want them to be.

Have you no patience? The dude hasn’t even been sworn in yet. He has no actual power yet. What gives you, citizen X the intellectual prowess to discern that this or that choice in this or that cabinet position is some holy violation of some solemn oath made directly to you?

Now I know, a political pundit is supposed to pundit around daily no doubt. I mean, you aren’t supposed to go on a cruise or off to Tahiti or anything for the next six months. I understand you are being paid, or not, to write something. But does it always have to be about how Gates or Hillary or Emanuel or somebody is the betrayal of all betrayals of your trust and earlier support?

Who named you head brainiac? Did you not elect this man at least in part because you were simply awed by his prodigious mind? If you didn’t then, man you were ummm, having some other agenda which has little to do with fixing the wrongs of American and planet I’ll warrant. Assuming that you did indeed recognize that there was some real substance between those ears, then can you let the guy catch a break? Can you perhaps assume he might, just might know what he is doing?

Everywhere I go, whether to print, Internet or TV, it’s the same story. Will Biden have a voice? Will he order Hillary around? Will Hillary be loyal or do her own thing? Obama has sold out, he hasn’t. He’s too conservative, too liberal, naive, too wrapped up in Lincolnesque ideas of rivalry. He gets how to organize a cabinet, can’t organize a cabinet. On and on, and for every + there is a – following closely on the heels.

What it all points up is the obvious fact that nobody dammit knows! It’s all the most silly speculation. And it’s to be expected from the not-so-loyal opposition. But it is not acceptable from our side. WE WON. Can you get that through you thick Neanderthal mind? We are the ones in charge. Can you let the chief be chief just for a little while? Can you just shut the #*&**(# UP?

What is driving me willy nutty here is that we talked of how smart, and competent this man was but a few weeks ago. We told anyone and everyone who would listen, that the world, and America were safe in his hands. He was bright, he was calm, he was studied, he was steady. Now we act like he is not capable of tying his shoes without constant supervision. And we, those of us not remotely qualified to be President, are the ones who think we are the supervisors.

I mean, really. We aren’t stupid, that I will grant you. Some of us, perhaps most are above average in intelligence. But we have no proof that he has done a darn thing wrong, we are just pissed that our favorite choice for this or that has not been chosen. Some of us are rabid in our distrust of every Republican. Some are distrustful of every Washington regular. But that is our problem not his. He has the right, given he is going to be doing the job, of picking those persons he feels will give him the best advice.

There is plenty of time for criticism. But criticism based on speculation is rather stupid wouldn’t you say? Sure, we can argue that historically this or that hasn’t worked and we shouldn’t try it again. But unrelenting argument over every appointment because it somehow violates the list you personally want is just dumb. Nobody elected you anything.

So it’s all become something of an aggravation for me. I’m tired of bloggers and pundits and their two cents worth on everything. We did a great thing. We expect and want great results. What we are entitled to is the best efforts of this man. And it seems we are getting that. So shut up, talk about the weather and give him a chance. As I said, there is time enough to begin criticizing if things don’t work.

Just shut up. Your damned arrogance is showing. And besides there is still so much mud to sling at the Republicans! It’s way more fun!


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Short Takes on the Day 11/12/08

12 Wednesday Nov 2008

Posted by Sherry in Abortion, Congress, Election 2008, Evolution, fundamentalism, science, US Government

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

abortion, Congress, Election 2008, evolution, fundamentalism, Sarah Palin, science

Update: My back is proceeding quite well. I’m hopeful that I will be back to normal within a week or so. I am back to doing housework, cooking and such, although I have to shorten my time certainly. My back begins to tighten after a bit and I have to rest more often. Still, it is wonderful to not feel like a slug. God is good!

I’m off to a meeting with our parish priest today. I figured that some spiritual direction was in order so that I can sort out the competing issues that I feel are present. My desire to do more volunteer or church related activities conflicts with both limitations in funds and time spend from home. I’m hoping Barbara can help me sort out these things and I can come to the best resolution. I’m always inclined to be a bit too self-absorbed in my spiritual life. I am drawn more deeply to study than I am to rolling up my sleeves.

I’m throwing in a bit of shopping as well, since I need a few more clothes that I can wear to church. So the Contrarian is on his own for dinner. My appointment is at 4 and I’m leaving around noon, so I can have a couple of hours to shop.

One last update: To those 3 other people on the planet who still use dial-up like I do, get Foxfire and a google reader if you haven’t done so. The speed is just simply much better. I don’t have to manually update, I can erase all the feeds at any time, the pictures load in the feed reader much faster, and well, I’m at least apply to view more blogs per day. Also, you can erase all but save starred ones which is particularly nice when I am low on time. I can take a quick look, mark a star on those I want to save for comment the next day, and move on. So far the google reader has worked flawlessly, although I see from the help section that it is not trouble free. I keep my fingers and toes crossed at all times. LOL.

You have to admit, Sarah Palin is doing her darned best to remake herself. Except, that as you listen, she really tells you nothing. She just alleges that they (her detractors) are lying, without proof that they are. Her claim that she never tried to get the Harry Potter books banned is symptomatic. She could have just said that she did not. Instead she claims that the books had not even been written when she was mayor of Wasilla. That is simply not true. The lady seems to believe that you can emit any lie, or she is simply so patently lazy that she can’t be bothered to look up the facts. Read Maureen Dowd‘s take on Palin’s latest efforts.

By the way, in regards to Caribou Barbie, let me say this: She has set a standard for me. Any politician, pundit or political speaker who even begins to suggest that Sarah Palin was either unfairly maligned or that she was qualified for VP, has lost my ear. I know you are lying, and I simply don’t have time to listen to ya. Start by saying that Palin was NOT qualified. You may say that she might be in the future. If you do so, I’ll gladly give some credence to the fact that you have normal intelligence, whether I ultimately agree with you or not.

We haven’t featured Susan Posner here in a while and she is still doing a weekly column called the fundamentalist for American Prospect. She assesses the wacko right’s plans for take over of the Rethugs this week. You should read it, because I said you should, or it’s cod liver oil for you! Just kidding. Unbelievably, they argue that the Rethugs aren’t “conservative” enough and that Christianity is now in dire straits and will be persecuted soon. Yes, I did note that Obama certainly resembles Nero a lot. The wingnuts are wigging out in their wingnuttery these days. Also lots of good analysis of the values voter issues this time.

Humor? We got it right here. You thought you knew what Sarah was up to up there in cold Alaska. Well think again. She’s plotting and scheming and making money galore. That underwear actually brought a pretty piece of silver! I want me one of them Toddballs!

One thing all those who know McCain know, is that he hates you one minute and then is your bosom buddy the next. Principle seems to escape him. We witnessed this in his hiring of those slimeballs who had trashed him in 2000 to be the ones to run his slime campaign against Obama. Well he seems to be at it again. Saxby Chambliss is locked in a run-off in Georgia. McCain is said to be ready to help out in the campaign. This after he said this about Chambliss’s campaign tactics used against Max Cleland in 2002:

McCAIN: I’d never seen anything like that ad. Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to the picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield — it’s worse than disgraceful. It’s reprehensible.

This is exactly why I will never forgive McCain. He can’t just go back to being one of the boys again. He showed me something about himself that forever will color my view. He is not a good man, he is unprincipled. And read the comments after the link, they are good ones.

Religious Dispatches looks at the broad issue of evolution, choice, and abortion in a thoughtful post called Double Helix: Pro-Choice, Pro-Human, Pro-God. We need to discuss this issue and stop this insane idea that it’s one or the other. We need to find common ground and I am convinced that it indeed exists.

I generally get angry when politicians attempt to score by lambasting scientific study as “silly” and a waste of money. McCain did it several times, the most notably about studying bears in Montana or somewhere. Old John forgot of course, that he voted for the dang bill, duh. But this one, this study here, I can definitely say is worthless. It says that walking helps curb the desire for chocolate! Now who in the freakin’ world would want to do that?

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Short Takes on the Day 11/11/08

11 Tuesday Nov 2008

Posted by Sherry in Election 2008, Gay Rights, Presidency, terrorism, Uncategorized, Veterans, War/Military

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Election 2008, gay rights, Presidency, terrorism, Veterans, War

AlterNet‘s Penny Coleman, offers a sobering analysis of the state of our military and its response to our burgeoning suicide rates. This is one of those dirty little secrets we don’t talk much about. Yet our veterans are killing themselves in increasingly large numbers. When will we do something about it? More than 6,000 die every year.

It seems that Filipino veterans who fought for the US in WWII were promised full benefits as veterans of the US. That promise was revoked in 1946 by Congress. There are still Filipino veterans who are waiting. Read about this in American Street.

If you didn’t see Keith Olbermann last night, you missed one hell of a commentary on Proposition 8. I would deeply recommend that you drop by the link and download the video. It was superb in every way. Part of it is transcribed for those who want the short version. Thanks to Crooks & Liars for the link.

No doubt you have read of Barack and Michelle’s visit to the White House yesterday. You have never, (I promise you) got a description of it the way the indomitable DistributorCap DC can do it. Don’t miss the laugh fest.

This picture is all over the Internet. But the caption is directly from Hullabaloo. Stop by and read a great blog on all things political.

Obama meets with dangerous world leader without preconditions

Obama meets with dangerous world leader without preconditions

Just on a side note, please note that the person in charge of the cleaning and such is very very anal retentive. See how all the chair legs and table legs all line up in perfection. Whoa, seriously anal dude.

If you are interested in how Bill Ayres viewed all the swirling controversy about him, you can bop on over to In These Times and read his thoughts. The man was seriously threatened as you might assume by the usual flaky folks.
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Short Takes on the Day 11/07/08

07 Friday Nov 2008

Posted by Sherry in Catholicism, Chocolate, Democrats, Desserts, Election 2008, GOP, John McCain, Presidency, religion, US Parties-Elections, Voting

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Barack Obama, Catholics, chocolate, Democrats, dessert, Election 2008, GOP, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Neo-cons, pie, Presidency, Sarah Palin, voters

I keep toying with the idea of doing a “How McCain lost” post. And yet I think it’s too near in time to events to be quite ready. In the meantime MYDD has an excellent synopsis of the Palin factor that is worth looking at. It wraps up the choice quite well in my opinion. Take a look and judge for yourself.

Don’t miss the dressing down that Michelle Malkin gives her fellow Rethugs over their nasty drubbing of all things Palin. I mean poor Sarah, who had so much integrity! So much character! Yes, lying is a virtue Michelle and mean spirited race baiting is a clear sign of a good person. It’s fun reading from none other than that flag ship of truth and justice the National Review. Don’t miss the laugh.

Professor at Harvard, Orlando Patterson, in the NYTimes, offers an analysis of Obama’s climb to the Presidency. He places it in the prospective of history, our constitutional mandate, and the rise of minorities. It’s good reading. He cautions that Mr. Obama is not necessarily the Second coming, but a direct result of several earlier events.

Attackerman has a great post on the Neo-Cons and their search for a new “host.” Randy Schuenemann lost his job as chief of McCain’s national security team a week before the election. That they managed to keep this from leaking is a tribute, since they kept very little else inside the campaign. Schuenemann had the gall to choose Palin over McCain and was leaking to the Weekly Standard apparently. It’s all juicy, and does suggest that that the Neo-Cons are ready to descend upon the unknowing Ms. Palin and attempt to use her as they used Dubya to do their bidding. It does require a dim wit and Sarah would appear to fit that bill rather well. American Street has a similar post here.

Mona at The Art of the Possible, talks about the neo-con phenom and how the Republicans cannot get foreign policy right until they purge themselves of the likes of Kristol and Barnes and others of that Foxy ilk. Her analysis relies on Brad R. from Sadly No. You should check out the link and read it. It’s serious and well done.

Joe Lieberman met with Harry Reid yesterday. I’m told that Reid offered Lieberman a sub committee chairmanship and loss of his present Homeland Security Committee chairmanship. He would be allowed to continue caucusing with the Dems. Lieberman turned that down we understand. According to The Washington Independent, word still is that Reid at leans leans to stripping him from his chairmanship. I think it should be done. Endorsing McCain on security issues is one thing. Campaigning, giving an address at the RNC convention, and speaking in favor of Palin and helping to fuel the fires of Obama’s “socialist, Muslim” connections is quite another. Lieberman went way to far and the Dems need to cut him loose.

Episcopal Cafe has a good report on the Catholic vote this year. Roman Catholics for the most part did not buy into the “non-negotiables” of abortion and gay marriage as calling for a McCain vote. They voted their economic interests pretty much as everyone else did. Similarly, there is a nice post by Bishop Gene Robinson on his meeting with Obama.

This seemed quite appropriate:

Downward facing dog?

Downward facing dog?

Hey, its November with Thanksgiving on the way. And so you have all the excuses in the world to make something utterly yummy and caloric. Try Chocolate Cinnamon Cream Pie! Oh, doesn’t it sound good? Check out the recipe at Epicurious.

And that about does it for today! Enjoy!

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Short Takes on the Day 11/06/08

06 Thursday Nov 2008

Posted by Sherry in American History, Appetizers, Archaeology, Barack Obama, Cakes, Desserts, fundamentalism, Gay Rights, GOP, History, John McCain, Pork, Presidency, Presidents, Psychology, religion, US Parties-Elections, Voting

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

appetizers, Archaeology, cake, chocolate, Desserts, Election 2008, fundamentalism, gay rights, gender, GOP, History, McCain, Pork, Presidency, psychology, race, religion, voting

Well, I’ve been saving a few articles I have run across during my convalescence. As we alluded to last week, the post election press is full of the usual Obama transition elements, but much more fun is the crazy world of Republican politics. The fur is beginning to fly as predicted between Sarah and the McCain campaign operatives. As well, we find the beginnings of the super fight brewing between the moderate wing of the GOP and the reactionary wingnut right. Months of fun are to follow!

Religious Dispatches reports that the much touted and predicted death of the Religious Right is highly exaggerated. In fact, what we will witness seems to be a fight among them for control of the movement. The more moderate faction will attempt to work with the Obama administration, the more wingnuttery will vie for control and try to direct the GOP in an even more conservative mode. Read their analysis.

I am always fascinated with any article that purports to dissect people from a psychological point of view. This article from The Daily Beast suggests that at least subconsciously, McCain deliberately made decisions that would guarantee his defeat. This was not conscious but was subconsciously his way of destroying the people who had destroyed his campaign in 2000. I don’t know if its correct, but I very much have always assumed that much that drove Dubya was tied to his need to prove himself to daddy. I think McCain has issues that stem from his successful father and grandfather and his relative failure as a Navy man. Additionally I think his POW time has a huge impact on him psychologically that was dangerous in it’s possibilities. Read this article and make up your own mind.

Another great post at Religious Dispatches about what role race, gender and religion played in this election. I found the analysis quite thorough and if this subject interests you, I’m sure you will find something worthwhile in the reading.

As we welcome a new president in, Britannica Blog has a fun little post on other presidents and some of the quirky things they said and did. Did you know for instance that John Adams swam nude regularly in the Potomac? See? Now go get that perfect water cooler tidbit that you so desire to dazzle your coworkers with. Also good for the kids to use in that next book report! LOL.

History News Network probes the issue of race and it’s impact on the election. Their review of polling information provides some important conclusions that we should all reflect upon. Most important the so-called “Bradley” effect seems to have been debunked as erroneous.

As someone who is more often critical of the Vatican than otherwise, I am pleased to report that Vatican officials are returning the head of a sculpture to Greece for inclusion in it’s proper place in the Parthenon. The head will be on loan for a year, and may be renewed. As some may be aware, the topic of antiquity pieces being returned to their lawful owners is hot news around the archaeology world. Reportedly, the Vatican possesses at least two other pieces of the Parthenon which may also be turned over to Greece. In any event, it’s a fascinating subject. Visit Rogueclassicism for the details.

Oh chocolate sets my heart a singing as you well know. Baking Delights has a lovely chocolate lava cake to offer you palate. I tried one recipe for these which failed rather badly, so I’m interested to try it again when my back allows a little more time in the kitchen. Enjoy.

Since the holidays are now close upon us, I thought I would include this rather interesting recipe for empanadas which are a popular finger food in Spain and Portugal. These are pork curried empanadas and they just sounded great. If you are having a party and want something really elegant but not too hard to make, you might want to take a look. Simply Recipes also suggests that you can vary the filling and spices of course.

Okay, some of us deal with snow during the winter. And those of us who have been raised in that hellish environment know snow, you know what I mean? Well the Angry African sends us a hysterical piece on a novice and snow. He happily waves at the snow plow who covered up all his clean sidewalk and troops out to start shoveling again. You can imagine how long his love affair with snow lasted! Enjoy this piece, but be prepared to laugh a lot, or cry, if it sounds all too familiar. I was nearly screaming with laughter, and pain as my back started spasming from my guffaws! Stop this!

Although we scored a huge victory in Barack Obama’s presidency, we faired badly in California with Prop 8, the ban on gay marriage. I am sickened as are many by this development, one we thought was not possible only a few short weeks ago. But all is still not lost. Read AlterNet‘s report on the what the lawyers say about the legality of the new ban.

Well, enough for today. Enjoy the reads, I’ve already found some for tomorrow that will wow your socks off! LOL.

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While We Breathe, We Hope

05 Wednesday Nov 2008

Posted by Sherry in Barack Obama, Election 2008, Essays, US Parties-Elections

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

Barack Obama, Election 2008

3864448860-obama-wins-historic-election Yesterday is one of those moments in time that will be recorded as a turning point in the way we are. We are forever changed, we can never return to that place before this event.

Yet, I remain, as I always do during a recognized “historical event” or game changer, strangely unmoved and un-awed in the moment. The Contrarian , on the other hand, felt that he was “making history.” I felt no tightening of my stomach as I blackened in the oval next to Senator Obama’s name, nor as I fed my completed ballot into the counting machine.

Oh, sure, I had heard for weeks, and increasing as the days dwindled down, that we were on the verge of something extraordinary, and life changing. Yet I felt none of it, truthfully. I can say the same about any number of events that were “history making” from the past. From assassinations, to the crumbling of the USSR and the Wall between East and West Germany, to 9/11, I have reacted with anger, fear, joy, pain, but I have not recognized that I stood in the vortex of change. I felt no special importance or awe in the moment.

I feel that this is normal really. After all, even on such days, we brush our teeth, fix meals, and attend to many of the usual daily exercises. That alone tends to normalize the event somewhat. More importantly, the significance of any event needs time, time for the consequences, both foreseen and unforeseen, to play out and define change for us.

It is truthfully, one of the few things George W. Bush got right, if only partially. He continuously says that historians cannot judge his presidency now, it will require decades before judgments can truly be made. He is partially right, although what he misses is that we can truly judge that his presidency was an unmitigated disaster. What we cannot yet know, is how deeply the destruction will end up taking us.

But the significance of what happened in America began to hit home last night, as we watched the crowds at Grant Park in Chicago grow, both in size and in diversity. As the crowds grew across college campuses, and major city streets, and tens of thousands gathered outside the White House in utter pure joy. As Gerald Ford remarked at the pardoning of Richard M. Nixon, “Our national nightmare has ended.” Indeed, that is what I felt last night.

But more, indeed happened. Who can forget the tear streaked face of Jesse Jackson? Who can not tear up at the stories and photographs of elderly black women casting their vote, women who were born when they were doubly barred from voting, both as African Americans and as women. I began to think of the hundreds of black friends I have had over the years, intimate and casual, and I cannot truly imagine what this night meant to them. But I could get some inkling from the faces, the faces of joy, tear lined as they were that crowded my TV screen.

And we would do well, each of us who are white, to do our best to imagine what it must be like to be African American at this moment in time. Chris Matthews was overwhelmed with how things had changed. How this moment changed everything for the psyche of children, black, white, yellow, and brown. They will grow up in a land with possibilities unlike the ones I grew up with. And that is enormous.

Yet, do not dwell on this blackness thing too long. Remember, as I do, that something deeper and more profound was also at work here. Steven Colbert may be famous among other things for saying that “I do not see race,” but in truth, many of us have come to that place ourselves. And we owe it to Barack Obama.

He came forth and campaigned in a dignified, adult, inclusive way that transcended all ethnic and racial distinctions. In no time at all, we were backing Barack not as a black man running for president, but as a gifted orator, a brilliant mind, a compassionate man of character. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., indeed, we judged him not by the color of his skin but for the content of his mind. And we adjudged him aright. We saw in him a magnificence that transcended such a trivial thing as skin tone.

I cannot, truthfully say when Barack ceased to be black and became only a candidate. It occurred before I gave my allegiance to him, that I am sure of. Long before Hillary dropped out, I no longer saw Mr. Obama as the African American candidate. And i dare say, to millions, he has become simply and importantly the man we felt best could carry forward America’s agenda.

I am starting to see President-elect Obama as awesome now. It’s just beginning, but I know it will grow. Superficially, he indeed represents a huge step forward for African Americans, one much overdue. I am beginning to get a sense, that indeed, he will be noted for so very much more. I do believe this man has the temperament, the mind, and the philosophy to stand and unite a world. No I don’t mean Obama will herald in a new world order. But I believe that he will indeed make us all view ourselves and our planet differently.

Barack Obama shows us by his example that we are one people. He refuses to play into the game of revenge so prevalent in Washington. He refused to ever suggest that McCain was anything other than honorable, though some in McCain’s campaign were acting most dishonorably. He shamed us, and he in the end I think shamed McCain. McCain gave one of the best speeches of his life last night in concession. He could do nothing less if he wished to salvage his personal honor.

The world rejoiced last night. Common people from Kenya to Pakistan rejoiced that a new page had been turned. We in America sighed in relief that we had finally gotten it right. Finally, no more apologies to the world for our insane politics which rewarded pretended folksiness instead of true intellectual fitness. Finally, finally, we can be proud.

Those of you who read this blog regularly, know that I seldom express much in the way of admiration for this country. I have learned too much, read too much, and find from beginning to end, that we built an empire the old fashioned way, one slave, one injustice after another. We support reprehensible regimes across the world because they offer us support, goods, resources or bases. We too often talk what we do not do. We are woefully behind dozens of countries on issues of health care, education, poverty, and a whole host of others. We are more unhappy as people than tens of other countries.

I have often mused that I take no especial pleasure in being born here. I suspect I would have had as good a life in many countries in Europe, and other portions of the globe. I have often felt uneasy that others across the map know that their lives are deeply effected by what we do. We do so much so imperfectly. I often felt shame and disgust.

Last night, I felt pride, pride in a nation that finally got it right. I am proud of America, and hopeful for the future of both the nation and the world. President-elect Obama is that figure, poised at the apex of history, reaching out, asking us to view the world through a new paradigm. We are unsure, we are a bit nervous, we are being asked to leave our comfort zone. But we have hope, and we, with his gentle prodding, are willing to step off that cliff, sure that we will indeed be provided either a hard surface to step onto, or wings.

For you see, we are breathing, and thus we have hope. It is our natural heritage from being human beings. Indeed, Barack has given us back our humanness, asking us to set aside our prejudices and our personal selfish desires in favor of the common good. I am convinced that indeed that is our true human likeness. That is the image that reflects the Spirit of God within each of us. Barack has illuminated our destiny for us once again. We are asked to head down that path. Not alone, but hand in hand, together. That is his gift to us. I for one am grateful.


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