Post Election

[mapsedge]

Of course I have thoughts about the election. Do I want to write about them? Not really, no. For my own future reference, though, I ought to.

History making? Of course. Am I relieved? More than I expected I would be. The republicans - led by Dubya - and the "Christian" Right have trod on this country's freedoms in a my-way-or-the-hiway power-grab. We have been told what to be afraid of, and who we should hate because of it, for eight years. That is finally over.

Last night, I watched the campaign figurehead of that divisive group concede to a crowd of 3000.

Last night I watched a brown-skinned man¹, a relative newcomer on the political stage, begin the process of unification and hope-bringing, to a crowd of over 100,000. His speech was moving and, I believe, honest.² The speech was sober, with none of the self-congratulation he would have been fully entitled to. He reached out, made it about this country, and I am guardedly hopeful that once again I can be proud to be an American.

Cynically, I almost hoped to hear a news story about Dubya lying on the floor of the Oval Office, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The republicans and radical right took a huge hit last night, and I am glad of it. Take your theocracy and shove it, Mr. Bush, it ain't workin' here no more.


¹ Katie calls him "the tan man", because of his mixed-race parentage.
² On a lighter note it took me forever to figure out where his teleprompters were.

Comments

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

I've never cried through an acceptance speech before. Gods, how amazing this is.

What an amazing day. American has spoken. Now we can get to the hard work.

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

Not to take away from Obama, but you have to admit McCain's speech came from that guy 8 years ago who some of us would have voted for.
It was good to see he's still in there, somewhere.
Perhaps he can make some decent contributions to the country he says he loves before he retires.

*snicker* I was looking for the teleprompters, too :)
AND how they had the bulletproof yet-somehow-invisible shields set up, etc.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

The teleprompters were the two gray plaques on stands to either side of the lectern. They were mirrors with the actual prompters on the stage floor, and allowed him to turn his head side to side while speaking. Pretty neat.

you MUST have known about this

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

That technique (reflective from the floor) has been used quite a bit. Usually you'll see a couple of slightly grey transparent rectangles mounted on stands way out in front of the speaker, at 30 to 45 degrees of his centerline. Discreet, but visible.
The reflectors are on a 45 and look for all the world like a music stand, to me. Took me years to realize that's what those are.
If you hadn't noticed them before, they'll jump out at you now that you know about them.

Afraid to be optimistic

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

But I have not seen the American people, especially the American Youth this engaged and ready to jump in since Robert Kennedy's campaign.
I want to believe, I want to expect great and good things to start rooting themselves in the American culture as they did then - civil rights, equality for women, social justice...

The Bad Guys can't kill ALL of the true leaders that come along, can they?
Eventually a statesman who can lead with his ideas, inspire with his words, and steer America into Greatness again has got to get hold of the reigns long enough to turn the wagon back onto the road.

Maybe, just maybe we are witnessing the start of that manuever.

He can talk the talk.
Now we must make him walk it.

Re: Afraid to be optimistic

[jehosefatz.livejournal.com]

I'm concerned about his safety. There are still those more interested in fear and division than leadership. I'd much rather have a living leader than a martyr.

I'm less concerned about his walking the walk than his ability to help *US* walk it. Americans in great numbers bought on to the hope and change message. Now it's time to buy into the hard work, long haul, and sacrifice message in a way that we haven't had to do for a long time. I think that will be the measure of his leadership -- can he lead us forward into what we NEED to do or will he be thwarted our collective resistance to being led.

- Jeho

Worse than you think

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

If any radical groups or even any nutjobs manage to kill him, we will not be able to contain the African American's rage. And I for one would understand it, even if not agree to it.

People think Watts, 1968, or Rodney King was riots? Oh FUCK no.

If some white supremist whack job does the unthinkable, if this icon of blacks can BE somebody in America now is taken away in an act of violence (racial -or- political), our country will meltdown.
With so much of our National Guard illegally deployed to the Middle East for W's escapade, we will have no defense.

America will burn.

Every American who has an ounce of patriotism needs to be a living flak jacket for this man.

Re: Afraid to be optimistic

[eacole72.livejournal.com]

He's well-protected, by Secret Service agents who like & respect him. It's far easier to take a bullet for someone you respect. Ask anyone who has worked personal security.

I'm more worried about violence done to his children, wife or mother-in-law. They are more vulnerable than he is, and the soul-wound he would suffer should any of them be injured, or, heaven forbid, killed, would quite probably be more incapacitating for him than serious injury done to him.

I said to a co-worker who has been a supporter on the much longer term than I that now the hard work begins for him and for us all. My co-worker didn't get it. Those who don't understand it are going to be among the very first to criticize and rebuke him when he tries to lead us to it. (I work in healthcare, and the Bush Administration has been churning out new regulations that strip old regulations of teeth since July. It may take years to figure out how to undo the damage that has been done to worker, consumer & environmental protections just in the last 4 months, let alone the last 8 years.)