We all witnessed history tonight. I recognize the anger, pain and hurt I see in my friends who were supporters of John McCain…I felt the same 4 years ago tonight. However, I was moved on this night unlike any other time in my lifetime. The cynics will snicker at that statement…I know because I have been a cynic for quite some time. I’ll admit I was gloating as the wave of electoral votes began to reveal the obvious. However, that all began to change when John McCain began what I thought was a great speech. It reintroduced us all to the man who has given his life to our country. His true love was revealed. I believed what he said when he offered to help President-elect Obama to bring this nation together.
Barack Obama then gave the speech of a true leader. He was not looking back at a successful campaign but looking forward to lead the United States of America. I believe, despite all our troubles and crises, this could be our finest hour…but not as Democrates or Republicans. We’ll only be able to do this together. On this night, I really am proud to be an American.
Peace! I’m going to bed…….
so here we are in the field... 
McCain was at his best in defeat. I sincerely believe that he wants to reach across the aisle. Now we will see how that plays out.
It is probably the direct result of all the campaigning that we don’t get to see the real person anymore, but rather a caricature.
I am not an American, but other than that I wholeheartedly agree with your post.
Mike, Good stuff.
I thought both speeches last night were very well written and delivered. However, I also remember Obama’s 2004 DNC speech where he sounded like a conservative and a uniter. When he was there, his voting record did not reflect that. Mike, I hope you’re right and I’m dead wrong…but I’m not holding my breath.
Mike,
These are your words:
“real people who very literally have no hope that those dreams of American as a land of opportunity can ever be a reality.”
These are Obama’s words:
“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”
Now that is something I can agree with. Perhaps, if nothing else this will bring an end to the era of “victim.” Probably not, but in this new age of hope, I will hope for it and I will hope that the new emperor really does have clothes.
Revel in your euphoria now, in a few short month’s the song will be “ding dong the wicked Bush is gone” and you can ride another crest. Meanwhile, neither euphoric nor pained, I will wait and watch who gets blamed with the Dem’s in total control.
H
H,
I’ll add to your comments by including McCain’s words…
“In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, [Obama’s] success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans, who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president, is something I deeply admire and commend him or achieving.” –John McCain, Nov. 4th Concession Speech
I think that was a great statement. McCain and Obama addressed that issue from their own perspectives in their speeches on Tuesday night. I think the only way we can fix what needs fixing is to actually begin to practice our American ideals. Rather than placing the blame somewhere, we need to place the problems on the table in front of all of us and tackle them together, from each of our individual perspectives…each perspective shines a little different light on the problem.
My cynicism lingers somewhere in the background…I’m waiting waiting for a big pile of governmental bullshit to some crashing down around me…but…I’m hopeful for the first time in a long time…we’ll see what happens. I’m choosing to work from the “hope” perspective and actually try to do something this time around rather than allow my cynicism to rule the day.
As to the euphoria…I’ll own that…I felt really good on Tuesday night…hell, I still feel really good. However, the things I felt best about after McCain and Obama spoke was the sober tone they each took. I didn’t hear Obama for instance talking “mandate”. He was talking unity and earning the support of his detractors. This has obviously been said before…but I’m hopeful we will try to actually do that this time. If Washington doesn’t wake up and recognize that the partisan gridlock they have created 1)isn’t working and 2) inspires nothing but blame, cynicism and resignation among the people of our country…we’ll be here wallowing in the same ol’ s**t for the foreseeable future.
However, I think we are all better than that… We are the United States of America.
“The Americans will always do the right thing… after they’ve exhausted all the alternatives.” — Winston Churchill
Always in favor of folk being inspired to utilize their abilities and to achieve through hard work and perseverance.
Agree gridlock s**ks.
Will wait and hope things change, though my cynicism is still in the foreground. So far the team has changed but really only one new player. Wonder how much he can change the game especially if his team doesn’t play along.
We’ll see. Sign me up to get some of that redistributed wealth.
H