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Before too much time passes, I need to comment on John McCain's concession speech the other night. Most people I've talked to or read are in agreement that he was both magnanimous and gracious in defeat. I think so too. But I think I also detected something else.
To me, the man actually seemed relieved. He seemed more at ease and delivered his speech with a sincerity that his presidential campaign clearly lacked. He seemed more like the man who, in the 2000 primaries before he sold his soul to the neo-con agenda, many of us were hoping would beat out G-Dub for the nom.
A few weeks ago, I was watching some of the pundits on one of the news-at-all-hours channels. They were discussing Senator McCain's lack of eye contact with Obama. One of the pundits stated that he had it on good authority from someone who's known Senator McCain for years that the reason he wouldn't - or couldn't - look Obama in the eye was because doing so reminded him of all that he had compromised to become the GOP nominee. The pundit said he was told that McCain had become the type of politician he, himself, detested.
I thought of that as I watched his speech the other night, and I wondered if that wasn't why he appeared so content with the loss. Maybe he took some solace in the fact that the person into whom he'd transformed himself, the kind of politician that would do and say anything to win, was not the people's choice for President this time. Perhaps this was some sort of validation for the person he'd been all those years, his true self.
Admittedly, I could be reading way too much into it. It could be that what I saw was an aged man who was happy for a little downtime after months of keeping up an extremely frenetic schedule. Maybe he was just elated that the election was over, whatever the outcome.
I guess I'll never know.
-e
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The Journey
This morning I slept for 10 whole hours. It's been a long while since I've gotten a peaceful night's sleep. When I woke up, I was startled that I'd slept so well and for so long. And then, suddenly, my grogginess cleared and I instantly knew the reason.
Barack Obama has been elected 44th President of the United States.
I hadn't realized how anxious I'd been about this election until I woke up this morning and missed the ever-present uneasiness that had occupied my mind for all those months.
It all started more than a year ago when I was channel surfing and happened upon C-Span. They were showing an Obama rally. I was immediately taken by the things this man was saying. It was as if he had seen into my thoughts, arranged them in eloquent succession, and validated them by speaking them to that large crowd.
Who was this guy? The bottom of the screen read "Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill". I remembered him. He's the guy that wrote those books, the best sellers I had been meaning to read. And I think he's on MySpace. He's running for President?
Not only did I go to the bookstore the next day, I began actually searching for interviews and speeches and added him as a friend on MySpace. It didn't take me long to realize that this man should be President.
I believed he should be President, but I didn't believe he could be President. I even resorted to the old, long-held justification that if he actually became President I would fear for his safety. Then Barack Obama appeared on the Tavis Smiley show. He stated that people shouldn't be so concerned for his safety that they don't vote for him. He said he had considered and discussed the dangers with his family, and they had all decided that this was something he needed to do. Since that was my last obstacle, I threw my support behind Obama.
Now, Tavis Smiley had asked Barack if he really thought he had any chance of becoming the Democratic nominee when he was trailing so far behind in the polls. He said he did, and that he was confident once he made his case to the masses they would vote for him. I chuckled. Did he really believe that? Naw, I concluded, but he has to act like he does. So, while he had my support, I wasn't very confident that anything would come of his candidacy.
A couple months later, during a telephone conversation with my mother, all hell broke loose. My mother, who was supporting Hillary Clinton at the time, said she was certain that I, too, was behind Hillary. I told her that I, in fact, was not. I said Barack was my guy. She went ballistic on me, and gave me every argument as to why I should support Hillary over Obama. I successfully rebutted each one. Then she said that, even if Obama were to win the party nom, there was no way he could get enough votes to win the general election. I agreed with that assessment, so she asked why I would waste my vote on someone who couldn't win. My answer was simple: Because I have to.
And I did have to because I believed in this man wholeheartedly. Ordinarily I hate politics, so I necessarily abhor politicians. But there was something different about this one. I felt like he understood what it was like to be me on a basic level. I felt his sincerity.
So I told my mother that Barack had my support, but that I'd end up voting for Hillary in the general election anyway. I had nothing against her. I just didn't feel her the way I did him. My mother got angry, didn't speak to me for two weeks, and -- although I can't prove it -- I think she briefly wrote me out of her will.
Then Obama won the Iowa caucuses and people really started paying attention to him, including my mother. My mother, a Texas resident, did cast her vote for Hillary, but she confided in me several weeks later that she wished she'd had that vote back. She now saw in Barack what I saw in him.
Ever since the Iowa caucuses, when it became clear that there was a real chance he could win the party nom, I've been anxious. Anxious for each caucus and primary result, for him to secure the nomination, for the convention, for the general election. I didn't even know I was so wound up until this morning when suddenly I wasn't.
I know that African-Americans everywhere are rejoicing in the history that is the first African-American to ever get elected to the highest office in our land. My mother called me in tears last night when they called the election for Obama, because she grew up in the Jim Crow south, where she wasn't allowed to go to school with Whites or even use the same bathrooms. She never thought she'd see this in her lifetime and was overcome by the moment. I understand that, and, though I never had to deal with Jim Crow, I felt every bit of that history last night.
But it was deeper than even that for me. For once in the past 8 years, the issues actually mattered. So much so that this country was able to look beyond its prejudices and elect the best person for the job.
And so I slept.
But this nation still has a long way to go. Last night was not a victory against prejudice and bigotry, as some have proclaimed. Instead, for a large group of people, it was bittersweet. As this country showed it could look past a history of preconceived notions about one group of people, it also demonstrated, at least in those states that denied gay couples the right to marry (especially in progressive California), that it is still willing to justify discrimination against another group.
So today we celebrate President-Elect Barack Obama. But there is clearly still work to be done. Our journey continues.
-e
p.s. Here are more photos from last night's acceptance speech:
Barack Obama has been elected 44th President of the United States.
I hadn't realized how anxious I'd been about this election until I woke up this morning and missed the ever-present uneasiness that had occupied my mind for all those months.
It all started more than a year ago when I was channel surfing and happened upon C-Span. They were showing an Obama rally. I was immediately taken by the things this man was saying. It was as if he had seen into my thoughts, arranged them in eloquent succession, and validated them by speaking them to that large crowd.
Who was this guy? The bottom of the screen read "Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill". I remembered him. He's the guy that wrote those books, the best sellers I had been meaning to read. And I think he's on MySpace. He's running for President?
Not only did I go to the bookstore the next day, I began actually searching for interviews and speeches and added him as a friend on MySpace. It didn't take me long to realize that this man should be President.
I believed he should be President, but I didn't believe he could be President. I even resorted to the old, long-held justification that if he actually became President I would fear for his safety. Then Barack Obama appeared on the Tavis Smiley show. He stated that people shouldn't be so concerned for his safety that they don't vote for him. He said he had considered and discussed the dangers with his family, and they had all decided that this was something he needed to do. Since that was my last obstacle, I threw my support behind Obama.
Now, Tavis Smiley had asked Barack if he really thought he had any chance of becoming the Democratic nominee when he was trailing so far behind in the polls. He said he did, and that he was confident once he made his case to the masses they would vote for him. I chuckled. Did he really believe that? Naw, I concluded, but he has to act like he does. So, while he had my support, I wasn't very confident that anything would come of his candidacy.
A couple months later, during a telephone conversation with my mother, all hell broke loose. My mother, who was supporting Hillary Clinton at the time, said she was certain that I, too, was behind Hillary. I told her that I, in fact, was not. I said Barack was my guy. She went ballistic on me, and gave me every argument as to why I should support Hillary over Obama. I successfully rebutted each one. Then she said that, even if Obama were to win the party nom, there was no way he could get enough votes to win the general election. I agreed with that assessment, so she asked why I would waste my vote on someone who couldn't win. My answer was simple: Because I have to.
And I did have to because I believed in this man wholeheartedly. Ordinarily I hate politics, so I necessarily abhor politicians. But there was something different about this one. I felt like he understood what it was like to be me on a basic level. I felt his sincerity.
So I told my mother that Barack had my support, but that I'd end up voting for Hillary in the general election anyway. I had nothing against her. I just didn't feel her the way I did him. My mother got angry, didn't speak to me for two weeks, and -- although I can't prove it -- I think she briefly wrote me out of her will.
Then Obama won the Iowa caucuses and people really started paying attention to him, including my mother. My mother, a Texas resident, did cast her vote for Hillary, but she confided in me several weeks later that she wished she'd had that vote back. She now saw in Barack what I saw in him.
Ever since the Iowa caucuses, when it became clear that there was a real chance he could win the party nom, I've been anxious. Anxious for each caucus and primary result, for him to secure the nomination, for the convention, for the general election. I didn't even know I was so wound up until this morning when suddenly I wasn't.
I know that African-Americans everywhere are rejoicing in the history that is the first African-American to ever get elected to the highest office in our land. My mother called me in tears last night when they called the election for Obama, because she grew up in the Jim Crow south, where she wasn't allowed to go to school with Whites or even use the same bathrooms. She never thought she'd see this in her lifetime and was overcome by the moment. I understand that, and, though I never had to deal with Jim Crow, I felt every bit of that history last night.
But it was deeper than even that for me. For once in the past 8 years, the issues actually mattered. So much so that this country was able to look beyond its prejudices and elect the best person for the job.
And so I slept.
But this nation still has a long way to go. Last night was not a victory against prejudice and bigotry, as some have proclaimed. Instead, for a large group of people, it was bittersweet. As this country showed it could look past a history of preconceived notions about one group of people, it also demonstrated, at least in those states that denied gay couples the right to marry (especially in progressive California), that it is still willing to justify discrimination against another group.
So today we celebrate President-Elect Barack Obama. But there is clearly still work to be done. Our journey continues.
-e
p.s. Here are more photos from last night's acceptance speech:
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Yes, We Did!
Wow! I'm overcome with the magnitude of Barack Obama becoming the 44th President of the United States of America. I'll drop some wisdom on y'all about it tomorrow, when I can gather my thoughts more clearly. Besides, I'm completely spent tonight.
Meanwhile, here are some photos of America's new First Family:
Meanwhile, here are some photos of America's new First Family:
The Candy Nazi
Did you hear about Shirley Nagel, the evil Candy Nazi lady who, on Halloween, refused to hand out candy to children of Obama supporters? In case you missed it, here she is in all her self-righteous glory:
As it turns out, this icky itch lives in Grosse Pointe Farms. My daughter and I were in Grosse Pointe trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
Shirley The Psycho and I have something in common: fortune smiled upon both of us when we did not cross paths that night.
You see, I have a temper. She clearly has no sense. That's a bad combination. Had she been mean to my child, had she caused my child to cry, you probably would've seen me in that video too...in handcuffs. And that McCrazy lady would've been trying to talk to that reporter through a broken jaw and missing teeth.
I know, I know. I'm supposed to turn the other cheek, rise above it all, be a better woman. Nope. Sorry. Mama don't play when it comes to her baby.
It has since been discovered that Shirley The Shrew was a Michigan delegate to the Republican National Committee this year. Now, I've been reading blogs where people are saying that this is "typical" of McCain/Palin supporters. Let me assure you, it is not. It's not even typical of McCain/Palin supporters in the Grosse Pointes. In fact, we trick-or-treated at several houses with McCain signs in their yard. They were all nice to the children and cordial to the adults. No, this was the unilateral action of a lunatic.
And, get this, she used to be a school teacher. How scary is that? Lucky for her she's already retired, because I'm certain there would have been thousands of angry letters from parents demanding her dismissal.
But, since she dodged that bullet, I offer the following information:
Anyway, I'm tired of thinking about that insane wretch. After all, Keith Olberman already named her Worst Person In The World. I'm going to put her out of my mind directly...right after I finish counting my lucky stars.
-e
As it turns out, this icky itch lives in Grosse Pointe Farms. My daughter and I were in Grosse Pointe trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
Shirley The Psycho and I have something in common: fortune smiled upon both of us when we did not cross paths that night.
You see, I have a temper. She clearly has no sense. That's a bad combination. Had she been mean to my child, had she caused my child to cry, you probably would've seen me in that video too...in handcuffs. And that McCrazy lady would've been trying to talk to that reporter through a broken jaw and missing teeth.
I know, I know. I'm supposed to turn the other cheek, rise above it all, be a better woman. Nope. Sorry. Mama don't play when it comes to her baby.
It has since been discovered that Shirley The Shrew was a Michigan delegate to the Republican National Committee this year. Now, I've been reading blogs where people are saying that this is "typical" of McCain/Palin supporters. Let me assure you, it is not. It's not even typical of McCain/Palin supporters in the Grosse Pointes. In fact, we trick-or-treated at several houses with McCain signs in their yard. They were all nice to the children and cordial to the adults. No, this was the unilateral action of a lunatic.
And, get this, she used to be a school teacher. How scary is that? Lucky for her she's already retired, because I'm certain there would have been thousands of angry letters from parents demanding her dismissal.
But, since she dodged that bullet, I offer the following information:
Shirley NagelI'm not saying she should get bombarded with mail, but it wouldn't hurt for a few thousand people to express their indignation at the way she treated those kids. Clearly the neighbors can't stand her either. You saw how quickly they gave up her name to the press.
465 Belanger St.
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
313-884-2598
Anyway, I'm tired of thinking about that insane wretch. After all, Keith Olberman already named her Worst Person In The World. I'm going to put her out of my mind directly...right after I finish counting my lucky stars.
-e
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Maybe It's Just Me
At some point, after John McCain announced he was pulling ads from Michigan, I figured I'd be spared the bitter back-and-forth that had previously overtaken my television set. Boy was I wrong.
Every state has their ballot initiatives, and Michigan is no different. But ours tend to be controversial.
Enter Proposal 2.
Now, even the name garners bad blood in Michigan because the last significant controversial ballot initiative that I remember was also called Prop 2, and it was seeking to end affirmative action in the state. Believe it or not, that bullshit passed by a 58% to 42% margin. I won't get into the specifics of that battle or the reasons why it slid through, but suffice it to say there was a significant amount of race-baiting and fear-mongering involved. That was two years ago.
This latest Prop 2 seeks to add a constitutional amendment which would allow for embryonic stem cell research in Michigan.
Now, as a science enthusiast myself, I am usually all for research. And, with two of the best medical schools in the country, Michigan State University and University of Michigan (U of M also ranks near the top for medical research), it seems appropriate that the state would adopt this amendment.
But, there are two sides to every story, and the other side has been making its case for months. Also, I like to make sure that I familiarize myself with the language before making a decision, as these ballot initiatives tend to be confusing and sometimes misleading.
Then this came on my television:
Did you see that? They invoked the Tuskegee Experiment. Maybe it's just me, but I think they did it for one reason: they hope to elicit a knee-jerk, emotional reaction from the many African-Americans they know will be voting in this state to help them defeat the proposal. Then, I find out that the ad is running in heavy rotation in the Detroit area, but not so much anywhere else in the state. Hmm...
Well, it worked on me, but not the way it was supposed to. I don't like to be manipulated. If I believe someone is trying to maneuver me into doing something, I will do the opposite just because. Before that commercial, I was willing to give the anti-Prop 2 folks a chance. Now, after that shameful, race-baiting, fear-mongering ad, I know I have to go with my first mind and vote 'yes' on Proposition 2.
Every state has their ballot initiatives, and Michigan is no different. But ours tend to be controversial.
Enter Proposal 2.
Now, even the name garners bad blood in Michigan because the last significant controversial ballot initiative that I remember was also called Prop 2, and it was seeking to end affirmative action in the state. Believe it or not, that bullshit passed by a 58% to 42% margin. I won't get into the specifics of that battle or the reasons why it slid through, but suffice it to say there was a significant amount of race-baiting and fear-mongering involved. That was two years ago.
This latest Prop 2 seeks to add a constitutional amendment which would allow for embryonic stem cell research in Michigan.
Now, as a science enthusiast myself, I am usually all for research. And, with two of the best medical schools in the country, Michigan State University and University of Michigan (U of M also ranks near the top for medical research), it seems appropriate that the state would adopt this amendment.
But, there are two sides to every story, and the other side has been making its case for months. Also, I like to make sure that I familiarize myself with the language before making a decision, as these ballot initiatives tend to be confusing and sometimes misleading.
Then this came on my television:
Did you see that? They invoked the Tuskegee Experiment. Maybe it's just me, but I think they did it for one reason: they hope to elicit a knee-jerk, emotional reaction from the many African-Americans they know will be voting in this state to help them defeat the proposal. Then, I find out that the ad is running in heavy rotation in the Detroit area, but not so much anywhere else in the state. Hmm...
Well, it worked on me, but not the way it was supposed to. I don't like to be manipulated. If I believe someone is trying to maneuver me into doing something, I will do the opposite just because. Before that commercial, I was willing to give the anti-Prop 2 folks a chance. Now, after that shameful, race-baiting, fear-mongering ad, I know I have to go with my first mind and vote 'yes' on Proposition 2.
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