On the election

[ellen_datlow]

I'm in Seattle after being on buses all day, having had dinner with friends, and hearing/watching the results of the most important election of my lifetime. I'm tired (about to go to bed) but wanted to post this, despite not feeling very articulate because I've been thinking about it fro the past two days--worrying about the election and now glorying in it.

The election of Barack Obama is a watershed for the US in that it's a step in the right direction not only in defeating the bastards who have been destroying everything good about our country for the greater part of my lifetime. But even more importantly in my mind, it is a tiny step towards ameliorating this nation's racial divide. I am more moved than I can say.

I'm well aware that Obama lost in the deep south but I hope that by his example and his work even many of those die-hard racists will come to realize that color does not make the man. I know this may sound like both a platitude and Pollyanna/wishful thinking, but there it is.

I'm not expecting Obama and the rest of his administration to fix our problems in one term--the Republicans have done so much damage --especially in the last eight years, that it's going to take time to reverse our slide towards a country I've often been ashamed of. I just hope obama is given the time he needs to get us back on track.

Comments

Well expressed...

[themadblonde]

He's got a ridiculously difficult job ahead of him, but @ least I get the impression that he's willing & ready for the work & truly interested in fixing what he can (& has given a lot of careful thought to it as well). Now if he just doesn't CAVE like Clinton did on so many things right after he got into office, there's a fighting chance.

Re: Well expressed...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I think the fact that there is now a more comfortable Democrat majority in the Senate should help. He has an enormous task and must get off the ground running asap.

& to his credit...

[themadblonde]

I get the impression he is longing to do so.

Re: Well expressed...

[nunnehi.livejournal.com]

This is what cheers me as well. Considering the mess that Obama's been handed to try to sort out in the coming years, he's going to desperately need the Democrat majority in Congress to help him push through legislation that would otherwise be deliberately filibustered 'on principle' by his opponents.

[highway-west.livejournal.com]

Sure, he lost the south. However, he didnt lose the south by large numbers. It was very close. That says a lot to me as well.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I haven't looked at the final counts yet today. That's good news.

[dustyskinandall.livejournal.com]

He lost here, but not by the landslide that would have been expected originally. When I stood in line to vote, I saw more African American men and women (and YOUNG men and women) in line than I have ever seen coming out to vote. In the South, especially, that was moving.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

This is really corny, but I can barely read the news reports today because I'm so moved I keep tearing up.
(better than not wanting to read the newspaper because everything upsets me!)

Happy Day!

[zainybrain.livejournal.com]

So many reasons to celebrate! (Also some pissy things: California doesn't want gay marriage, WTF??) McCain ran such a negative campaign -- with overt violent threats a common occurrence at his rallies -- but he lost 2 to 1. I do trust McCain to start pressing his supporters to be uniters not dividers now. His speech was pretty gracious...

Even though Obama and his administration have been handed a "big flaming bag of poo" I feel like Obama knew this, recognizes it, is up to the challenge, and didn't run primarily for the glory and the power. And from news reports, the rest of the world is jubilant with the election results. Yay!!

Re: Happy Day!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

If John McCain's campaign was as gracious and smart as his concession speech, I'd still respect him. Alas, too little too late.

Yeah. I just heard that prop 8 passed, dammit.

[doortoriver.livejournal.com]

There is DEFINITELY hope. And while he did lose in some of those spooky states, it was a thrill to see some unexpected states turn around.

Not to mention that several states (including my own, YES!!) went from red to blue this election. Wow.

[clockwork-zero.livejournal.com]

Belated congrats on the election results. You must be so proud of your country! So many voted, and ever so many chose change. My husband was disappointed by his state results (Kentucky) but it was closer than we anticipated. I'm sure his parents and family (staunch "don't care who it is we are Republicans!") are furious and whispering conspiracy no doubt.

Poor Obama inheriting this mess. Still, I felt a lot of hope when we sat up and listened to his acceptance speech - so very different from many others. There was a real note of seriousness and thought that he seemed to put into his words.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

thank you. I'm eager to see who he chooses for his cabinet. I didn't hear his speech but have read bits of it.