Question of the Week:


What does the Obama victory mean to you?

Let us know here and we may share your thoughts later.

Thursday, November 6, 2008



Well…it seems we as a people did it?! We came together and refused to be controlled by lies and the politics of fear. We elected a leader who does not take our intelligence for granted. We said no to a leader who continually insulted our intelligence during his campaign. Barack Obama is our new president. I do not have to hold my breath anymore. I do not have to skeptically hope any longer. It seems we as a people banded together and said we will not take this, not now, and not again. People got involved this time, and it showed. This was not a squeaker of a win. It was not close. The Electoral College was a landslide, and Obama won over 50% of the popular vote for the first time in years. It was a resounding victory, no doubts about it. Virginia went democrat! Florida went democrat! Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, Colorado, and New Mexico all went democrat! The supposed apathetic youth vote was NOT apathetic this year. The Bradley Effect…well…had no effect. And race transcended all of this. And it was historically beautiful, and singularly moving.



You see…Obama was not a “lesser of two evils” candidate. He was not a, “Well…he isn’t George W. Bush” candidate. Obama is a movement. He is, and represents, a movement of change, a movement towards change, and it was all created by the people and for the people. He is not a politician put in place by a party at power, or a politician that stole an election. Obama is proof that America is ready and willing to change. He is evidence that the majority of us are prepared to take a step into an entirely new and uncharted direction.

Obama represents the idea of a better and more promising tomorrow. He stands for the things that America so desperately needs. He stands for growing the middle class, ending dependence on foreign oil, the possibility of a post-partisan Washington, renewable energy, health care for all, environmental reform, international diplomacy, renewing our status and respect abroad, economic stability, and a military power that will not need to use its power until every other option is completely exhausted. And possibly more important that all of this…he is a leader that the youth of this country look up to, admire, respect, believe in, and not too far down the road, that generation will be the leaders of this nation. They deserve someone who will start to implement the changes that must be made for our nation to continue to thrive and flourish for many generations to come.



This was one of the dirtiest and nastiest campaigns of recent memory. I was glad to see that everyone refused to be swayed by the lies and distortions the McCain campaign so tirelessly spewed forth in their final weeks. I will, however, say this…I feel bad for John McCain. He was very gracious in defeat. I believe at his core, he is a good man, and an obviously dedicated to this nation. I feel bad for John McCain because I believe he surrounded himself with people that convinced him to take his campaign in a direction he himself would not have chosen. I feel that perhaps he saw this for what it was: His final chance at being elected president. And he panicked. He crumbled under the pressure. And I feel bad for him. Granted, I did not want him leading this country, but I do feel bad about all the “Worst Campaign Ever” headlines I have seen recently. Conversely, I DO NOT feel bad for Sarah Palin. She was never qualified for this position. And everyone who thinks she needs to run in 2012 needs to take another look at why the republican ticket lost this year, and realize that she represents all of those things. Politics of fear, lies, distortions, scorch the Earth politics.

And besides…how can you possibly run AGAINST Hope?

I think our country took its first step in the right direction. I am sure there are MANY who disagree. That is fine. I strongly believe that Obama can and will earn the respect of many in this nation. Maybe not those who still believe he is a terrorist or a Muslim. Maybe not those who still believe in a “Real America vs. anti-America.”

I think “Real America” resoundingly and convincingly spoke out on November 4th, and they chose to make a difference. They all chose to leave behind the politics of division. To leave behind the notion of a divided country.

We all chose to give a visionary leader a chance to make a difference, and in so doing, we all made a difference.

Congratulations…Our time has come.


Luxuriating in the deliciousness (thanks Cory Booker)
-LoOK

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