A Bittersweet End
It's been a week now since America elected Barack Obama, and I've never felt such a sense of relief and gratitude over a political election. It's even more encouraging to see the president-elect enjoying support from such a broad cross-section of Americans. According to a recent AP poll, "nearly all Democrats and most independents" express confidence in Obama's ability to "make the changes needed to revive the stalling economy" - and so do 44% of Republicans. This may be the honeymoon phase, but it's still heartening to see such immense excitement from people representing such a variety of backgrounds and political bents.
The election results were bittersweet, however, for gays and lesbians, as three states (Arizona, California, and Florida) passed measures denying same-sex couples access to marriage, and another (Arkansas) made it impossible for all but married couples to adopt children - a measure aimed squarely at gays and lesbians. Read more...
Fond Farewells
By LaToya Irby
Our time as Election ’08 bloggers has come to an end. I am glad to have been tapped to participate and can’t think of a better way to have spent the last two months. This was a great group of bloggers and I think we represented a wide range of views very well. We talked about everything from hurricanes to abortions to action figures, and there was even some talk about the candidates.
Read more...Wish List
By Steve Cave
I’m disappointed with Obama, but I would have been disappointed with McCain, too. It wasn’t a good race to be a conservative voter. But, regardless, I think things will turn out fine. Here are some of my hopes for the next four years…
- Alternative fuels: With all the power the liberal party will have over the next few years, I really hope that we will see some rapid growth of alternative fuel solutions. It seems reasonable, and possible, and the propaganda all made it sound like the problem was Bush being buddies with big oil. Which might be true. So, with Democrats running the show, this seems like a realistic dream! Read more...
Patience
By Lahle Wolfe
I hope that our first African American president will go down in history in a positive light, that Obama will rise to the occasion. I doubt he will get much of a 100-day honeymoon because he has inherited a far worse situation than Bill Clinton did. So I hope people will remember that Obama did not create the mess we are in and be patient.
- Acceptance and Patience. My first hope is that all Americans will accept our new president rather than reject him before he has even been in office. I have already read reports that, in mere anticipation of an “Obama economic doomsday,” businesses are threatening to downsize. Do not let bad times become a self-fulfilling promise; let’s wait and see what happens before reacting. Read more...
A Perfect Storm
The 2008 election will be remembered by Republicans as the year of the perfect storm. A candidate without majority support in his party ran a mediocre, old-fashioned campaign in the wake of a rising charismatic Democrat in an America tired of war and neoconservatism and experiencing an economic meltdown. An America-loving hero lost to an inexperienced orator who promises change. The only wonder is that the loss was not more significant.
The primary season sent a powerful message that no strongly backed, electable Republican emerged as a candidate around whom the party could coalesce. Sen. John McCain won because he was the least scary bet – that, and I suspect a bit of collusion with Gov. Mike Huckabee to squeeze Gov. Mitt Romney out. So, I was worried coming into this election season about how solidly Republicans supported Mr. McCain.
The neoconservatism practiced in Washington these past eight years did not serve the party well. Government growth, big spending, war, cronyism and the abandonment of conservative principles in the eyes of many created a Republican party in chaos. A fractured party with a fractured belief system came to the election table.
Read more...Proud To Be An American
By LaToya Irby
I have never been more proud to be an American. I was even proud of John McCain last night as he gracefully gave his concession speech. One of my favorite lines: “Tonight -- tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama -- whether they supported me or Senator Obama, I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president.”
Obama’s speech was also excellent. Last night in Chicago’s Grant Part, he said “I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.” Me too, Obama. Though there are many things I’d like to see from an Obama administration, like better health care options, I realize he’s inherited a tough situation with two wars and an economic crisis. He’ll have hands full with just those issues, but here are the top 5 things I hope to see from Obama. Read more...An Obama Wish List
As Barack Obama said in his acceptance speech last night, his election is just the beginning. “This victory alone is not the change we seek,” Obama told his supporters. “It is only the chance for us to make that change.”
In other words, Obama will now have to govern. Roughly 46% of Americans are probably feeling anxious about that fact this morning, even as 52% are looking ahead with excitement. But it’s been decided. Now it’s time to focus on the next four years.
Obama’s campaign was driven by a lot of “hope,” as he reminded the American people throughout the last several years. So, looking ahead, I’m wondering what my fellow bloggers hope to see from an Obama administration. Read more...
Will McCain Lose in His Home State?
After several weeks of blogging about this election, I'm more excited than ever about what lies ahead as election results are reported today. The slightly jittery part of me is hesitant to make predictions. John McCain's campaign appeared to make a few nominal gains late last week, but polling figures had tilted back heavily toward Obama by this morning. Still, I'm nervous. I've had a few friends suggest that it's bad form to make predictions, lest we jinx the outcome. But I've never been the least bit superstitious - what will be, will be. There is only one electoral act within the control of each of us, and that's casting one's voting. I've already mailed in my ballot (I live in Oregon, where elections are conducted by mail). If you haven't already voted, I urge you to.
With that out of the way, the political-nerd part of me has been fascinated all year with potentially weird outcomes, topsy-turvy races, and often stranger-than-fiction campaign moments. I know many voters are tired of all the coverage, and ready for this thing to be done - and for our nation to move forward and solve the many serious problems we face. I eagerly await the results, and I fully recognize the seriousness of this process. But at the same time, for me, the actual day of any election is a highly engrossing spectator event.
So, it being 5:35 a.m. (Pacific time) on election morning, I hereby weigh in with my predictions for today's Presidential, Senate, Gubernatorial, and Congressional races.
Read more...For Better or Worse
By Steve Cave
My final prediction is that Obama will win, and not just barely. I’d be happy to be proven wrong, but that’s what I’m expecting.
My favorite part of this campaign has been seeing the candidates really put themselves out there in the popular media. Places like Saturday Night Live. It was fun seeing McCain there last Saturday night, and having everyone on except Biden (if he was there, I missed him. Was he ever there?!).
I think that the candidates putting themselves into positions where they can’t necessarily control the level of ridicule and comedy they will be surrounded with is great! It shows strong self confidence.
My least favorite part of this year’s elections are the local adds for senators and what not. Read more...
VOTE!
By LaToya Irby
As much as I love to debate about the election, I think it’s past time for a public service announcement about voting.
Every registered voter should hit the polls on Tuesday. No excuse. I should have been encouraging you to register to vote, but I missed that bus. I haven’t missed this one.
There is power in voting. Think about it: You have the power to choose who will lead this country for the next four years.
Tuesday’s election isn’t just about electing the president, as Andrew demonstrated. Some states will be electing other official positions, like Supreme Court judges. Other states will approve or reject proposed amendments to their state constitutions. For example, California’s voting on the controversial Proposition 8 which would eliminate same-sex marriages. Find out what’s on your state’s ballot at Ballotpedia.org.
You should vote because odds are, you didn’t always have the right to vote. Many people take the right to vote for granted, but those rights didn’t come easily for everyone. When this country was founded, only a certain demographic of people could vote – white men who owned property. Other than that, no one could vote – American citizen or not.
Read more...