Inspired

I am inspired. Simple as that. As with many Americans last night I stayed glued to my television set watching what many of us felt would be history unfolding. Last night did not disappoint. For the first time in my adult life I was not working in a newsroom or at a campaign headquarters on the night of an election. The evening at home was bitter-sweet, yet the result was no less energizing and inspiring.

As with many in my generation, I have become jaded by politicians that 'represent' us in Albany and Washington and had little faith in their ability to actually inspire those who put them in office. Last night my faith in our ability as a people to unite was renewed. From the early morning hours of people waiting hours in line across the country, to the massive crowds on the streets of Washington, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and New York and around the world. They all felt that this was their election. It was nothing less.

We are experiencing history because of what we did as a people. As I listened to Barack Obama's speech last night, it glowed with unity, not vanity. He reminds me of true leaders of change in America's history - Dr. Martin Luther King and President Kennedy. They served as the beacon of hope for so many. This morning that light will bring the world to a place in history yet to been seen.

In my short 29 years I cannot recall a time in history where we were truly united as one voice other than September 11, 2001. Politics faded and our common humility as a united people were chilling - in that case due to a tragedy. But today we are the United States of America for the first time in a long time. I watched the hundreds of thousands of people on television and their faces said it better than anyone anywhere can ever say it - there is hope.

Election Night High

For the first time in my life, I actually got up early to vote today. For those who know me, I don't get up early for anything (including my wedding). I walked into the voting booth and voted with no false expectations about my vote actually counting on a national level. I 've been born and raised in a blue state and I accept that. However, I've been wired in to the election news coverage for months and now that the day is actually here, I am more inspired and adrenalized than I ever thought I would be about an election.

Regardless of who wins, voting will never be the same, nor should it be. It is inspiring to see people like me all over the country lining up to vote. I watched a piece on CNN where a school district in Florida actually registered all of their high school age voters at their respective school districts and then bussed the students to the various polling locations to make sure they voted. And here's the kicker - the kids were excited to do it. At 7:15 this morning, I actually was to. It's a great privilege to take an active role in shaping the path of history in some small way and I think nation-wide people want to participate in it. That's why you are getting the lines of people who aren't complaining about the wait. They can say they waited in line to participate in history. It's become a badge of honor nationwide. I'm so proud of our citizens for being so motivated. Well done.

Election Marathon Nears Finish Line - Who's Tired?

I can now officially count down the days on one hand until we have a new president-elect. I have my thoughts on who will win, but when this is all said and done, what will we all do next? It seems that we have a perpetual election day IV stuck in our arm and its been pumping toxins for two years. McCain and Obama have been campaigning for two years, which is half of the total time they will spend in office. This is starting to feel like a bunch of Christmas mornings rolled into one with the post-election detox being the ultimate let down.

I give people a lot of credit for becoming motivated and inspired to get so involved in politics this year. Their passion is without question. However, at the end of the day, regardless of who is elected, there will not be overnight change or very little change a year from now. I'm not trying to be a cynicist, but a realist. We live in a world of instant gratification and there is no way that our financial, educational and health care problems will be solved by electing one new person. What Obama symbolizes (in victory or defeat) is that politics will never again be the same.

I watched his $5 million infomercial last night and you can't help but get a few chills. Not because I have faith in his policies, but because he's done something totally new. He has mobilized an enormous sector of Americans. If you look at McCain vs. Obama, they are the epitome of new verses old. McCain is accustomed to politics the old way and hasn't wavered from that. Obama has turned politics on its ear and given those who have given up on the system that helps them and hurts them a little bit of hope.

I hope that when the dust settles, the votes are counted and the world moves on from this marathon of an election that that hope and passion doesn't burn out. We are at a true crossroads. I hope our will is strong enough to carry us.

Joe the Plumber Must Be Sick of Himself

According to CNN, Joe the damn plumber was mentioned 26 times during last night's final presidential debate. I can just see reporters all over Ohio attempting to track down Joe and get his reaction to his fifteen minutes of fame.

Watching last night's debate was like watching a horrible car accident incredibly slowly. Obama is the one who hits and McCain is driving the little Kia Rio that gets crumpled. I really did have higher hopes for John last night and although he tried, between the excessive blinking, cheesy political jabs and beating the dead horse of Joe the damn plumber, it just didn't do it for me.

I felt like McCain couldn't decide what he wanted to be. For the first third of the debate, he was talking about Joe and adopting children and attempting to be a nice, soft-hearted guy. But, as the night went on his trademark scowl crept back across his face and he became more rigid. My favorite tag line of this entire thing is when he points his bony finger at the TV camera and says that he's the one for change. People don't generally flock to nursing homes to find out about change.

I'm not saying that Obama has sold me, but he's sold me more than McCain. He has a very calming way of explaining his position, in a step by step process to the end result. For him its more of the way he says it, not just what he says. I'm pretty sure that our country will be in shambles regardless of who we elect. If there were a quick solution for our educational, economic and health care problems out there, we hopefully would have done it. I don't think that putting either one of them at the helm is going to ultimately fix our many problems.

But, when those problems do attempt to be solved and the president must speak to the public about what and how this is being fixed, we are going to have to listen to someone. Not in what they say, but how they say it. Take our current presidential monkey - its impossible to actually hear what he has to say because he's so distracting. His Texan twang, total inability to pronounce and use the English language and humor that goes over like a fart in church. I saw a bit of that come out in Mr. McCain last night. And although I'm not thrilled with either candidate, I'm sold on which one I would rather listen to.