In so many ways, we have witnessed a historic election. While the final numbers are still coming in, it is clear that, as Senator McCain said, “the American people have spoken, and spoken clearly.” He didn’t squeak by, or have the deciding electoral votes handed to him by a court. Barack Obama won the election decisively — current electoral numbers are 338 vs. 156. It is encouraging that in his wonderful speech, he made a point of emphasizing that it is his ultimate desire to be the president of every single American, and that he wants to reach out to those whose support he has yet to earn. I think he’s actually got the moves, character, and intelligence to back up his promises of bringing people together. President Obama will be as much of a uniter as Bush was a divider.

I have to hand it to John McCain…that was an extremely gracious and classy concession speech. His supporters didn’t exactly match his grace, but Senator McCain himself showed why he’s been so successful in the past — he really is an honorable man, someone who has sacrificed more for his country than many of us can imagine, and someone who ultimately can put what’s best for the country ahead of his own ambition. He’s just not the man for the job, but he threw his support behind our new president with wholehearted sincerity and patriotism. That’s what America needs, and I hope McCain is properly recognized for what will likely be his last great public act of selflessness for our country.

I hope people realize that despite the nasty mud slinging from the GOP at times, which I do not blame McCain for personally, we just witnessed an election between two good men, politics notwithstanding. I have no idea when that last happened. Now, America has chosen a leader who I believe will represent a dramatic shift in how our government works and in how Americans interact with their government. These aren’t typical times, and this is not a typical politician. He doesn’t want to exclude people, no matter what their political stance — a stark contrast to the Bush doctrine which sees anyone who doesn’t agree with them as an enemy to be squashed.

Let’s hope, for all our sakes, that President Obama brings all of this to the table and more. I hope that even the typically pessimistic can find some room for optimism with Obama’s “we/us/our” inclusiveness, because we really do need a president for everyone.

As I write this in the first minutes of Tuesday, November 4, 2008, I realize that I am — for the first time in my memory — really looking forward to this election day. There’s a buzz, an energy, an enthusiasm surrounding this presidential contest that I have never witnessed, and in the midst of all of our country’s troubles it is uplifting to see so many regular people recognize the importance of their duty to vote. I have mostly phased out politics on this blog, but I would be remiss to let this date pass unobserved, even on my own tiny little corner of the Internet.

What’s different about this election? Well, aside from the country being in dire financial straits, I think the candidates themselves represent a fairly distinct change from what we’ve seen over the last couple decades. Since I’ve been following politics, this is the first time we’ve had two candidates that I can truly — if I reach deep down — respect, at least on some level.

I strongly disagree with most of the policies and the dirty campaign McCain has run, but I’ve been watching the guy long enough — 10 years or so, I think — that I know he’s not a bad man. I think he got sucked in by the Bush-era Republican political handlers, who are for the most part parasitical non-humans, but at his core he’s at least intelligent and for the most part honorable, or at least as honorable as you can expect many politicians to be. Those are two qualities that, at the presidential level, you’d have to go back to at least Reagan, if not further. Unfortunately, since he started running for president those two qualities have been diminished by the structure and tenor of his whole campaign. Picking a wacko like Sarah Palin doesn’t help. It’s also refreshing to see the Republican party pick a candidate who doesn’t completely pander (read: lie) to the far right about religion just to get their votes.

My respect for McCain doesn’t make me any less passionate about my support for Obama, however. Here’s the guy who’s mostly responsible for energizing this election. Extremely intelligent, fresh, straightforward, and not afraid to confront the numbers (I like specifics), something that McCain’s handlers rarely allow into speeches for some reason (his and Palin’s speeches are mostly interminable soundbites). More than any politician I’ve ever heard, I think he actually believes the stuff he says, and more importantly understands it. And whatever disagreements I have with some of his ideas, there’s no denying the fact that this guy is probably this generation’s Kennedy in terms of revitalizing a dormant political demographic. We need this political shot in the arm to give people who have been depressed about the idiocy of the past eight years a chance to regain interest and maybe — just maybe — some degree of faith in our government. Hey, it’s not completely impossible.
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