Election Day

I can't quite possibly express what it's been like these last few weeks. I believe I stopped blogging when Obama's numbers were at his highest. I didn't know what to say during the time. Were his poll numbers just exaggerated in light of the series of stock market crashes? I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to speak too soon.

And honestly, it's been difficult to step away from the big picture and examine all the forces at play: I just want Obama to win. I want a repudiation of the politics of division. I don't want another 16 year old (me, four years ago) feeling like their religious beliefs, or lack thereof, make them less of an American. Nor do I want another teenager catching bits of our political discourse and sensing that others think they're less of an American simply by virtue of their geographic location (I'm from the San Francisco-Bay Area, and I'm damn proud of where I come from, thank you).

And then, of course, I want competent government. And that's where I could be more objective in the way I view the candidates beyond their compelling life stories.

It's a simple fact that if McCain is elected president, the same rat-bastards that have been screwing us for the last eight years will still have a job in a McCain administration. The composition of the federal bureaucracy only changes -if- the party of the administration changes. Moreover, I honestly don't think McCain has the energy to make such sweeping reforms inside the bureaucracy. And Palin, no doubt, wouldn't be able to help him in this regard. That's why her appointment was so toxic to me.

At this juncture, I think we need a good house cleaning. Hell, fire the janitor.

I don't think Obama will be a perfect president, but I do think he is the best choice at this point in time. I don't think his candidacy means the end of the culture wars-- it just means the end of the culture wars in light of real problems facing the American people.

In four or eight years, I wonder where we'll be. But we'll be better off with Obama.

So I think I'll stop talking now: I've been awake since 4:30am, making calls in Ohio. We made 2000 calls in two hours.

YES WE CAN!