Light-skinned-ed Girl

Ucross: Election Day 2008

So the day is here and I feel unbelievably anxious.  I woke up early just so I could hear on the radio that voting had indeed begun.  I was also greeted with an email from my Danish cousin, Lone, wishing me and America a good outcome to the day (meaning an Obama win!).  The artists here are Obama people.  Thank goodness.  It might have been an uncomfortable night with just this one tv to watch the results.  I'm camped out now in Buck's Cabin with my computer, and radio in tow.  I'm wearing my lucky Obama pajamas and am hoping beyond hope that Obama wins.  I can't believe that a dream that I didn't think could come true in my lifetime, may actually come true.

Oh, and don't miss my brother on Danish network T.V. tomorrow Wed., Nov. 5 at 4:25pm Eastern, discussing the election with Poul Erik Skammelsen on DK2!  www.tv2.dk.

I Voted!

I sat down this morning with my absentee ballot in front of the computer.  I had no doubts about my presidential choice, but many of the ballot propositions were unfamiliar to me and I needed more information to make my choice.  I found the Young Progressive Majority voter guide helpful.  The guide presents the pros and cons of the issues and also YPM's recommendation.  I also paid attention to the Los Angeles Times endorsements.  I found the most difficult choices to make were among the candidates for judicial positions.  As YPM writes about the candidates for Superior Court LA County, Office 84: "Not-So-Fun-Fact: Neither of these candidates are considered to be qualified, according to the L.A. County Bar."  Is it a good idea to let voters elect judges?

I felt a little nervous about voting and read through the directions a couple of times.  I don't want anything to disqualify my vote.  I filled in the little bubbles expertly.  I signed and stamped the envelope, and I'm headed to the post office to hand my little envelope to my favorite postal employee.  I hope my vote gets counted.

Information Over Outrage: Where's the News in this Election?

I am quite over thinking I will get information from the candidate debates and even from NPR's morning edition.  The candidates are allowed to go free-range and give stock answers without follow-up questions or an investigation into specifics.  Media outlets--even my beloved NPR--are highly focused on interviewing the "undecided" and let the "undecideds" spout off whatever half-considered answer they have about the election issues or candidates.  I think I will scream if I hear one more person interviewed on NPR who says I am "scared" of Obama.  What the heck does that mean?  I'm looking for information about the financial crisis, about specifics of the candidate's economic and tax plans.  I have found great information on the Brian Lehrer Show, 60 Minutes, and This American Life (a really great episode about the economy).  Where are you getting information rather than sound bites or expressions of outrage?

A Blue and Red Lego World -- Obama Mix

Isn't it really about choice?

Hear hear, Sen. Obama, for deciding not to use the announcement of Palin's 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy for political advantage.  I hope young Miss Palin gets through this already difficult situation okay.

A female Republican delegate was quoted by CNN saying: "I have a 17-year-old daughter, and they start making choices without us.  I appreciate the choice she is making to have the baby, but it just makes her a real person. It happens every day in America."  It seems to me the operative word here is CHOICE.

That CHOICE is important to all women--not just the V.P.-candidate's kid.

The Obama Celebration

I wanted to celebrate Obama's acceptance speech in style and that required new pajamas. Yes, it was at least idiosyncratic if not weird. After much ribbing from others all day, I had given up until--driving home I drove past a PAJAMA STORE that was having a SALE! I bought Heidi Blue pjs, rushed home to wash them, and then settled in for the wondrous night. And it was wondrous! Obama was in command, speaking with such energy and eloquence about real ideas. I have never felt so inspired by someone's example of integrity and intelligence. How can I grow up to be just like Obama? Well, it's possibly too late for me to aspire to make such a great impact, but it's not for today's young people. I felt like his speech took a lid off of small dreams. We no longer have to dream under a low-sky. I'll be wearing my lucky Obama pjs on election night--I can't wait until he is our president!

It's a Celebration and a New Day

I have no words for the excited feeling I have on this momentous day--the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the day that Obama, the first biracial African-American major party candidate for President accepts his nomination.  I can't wait to hear Obama speak.

Great Job, Hillary!

Nice touch with the line about: are you in it for the mother with two adopted autistic boys who has no health insurance and is battling cancer?  Or are you in it for me?
Etc. etc.  Really good point, Hillary; and very well said.
I don't think she could be any clearer that McCain is simply not a choice for someone who believes in what she believes.  Nice work indeed.
But tell me: did anyone else think the Harriet Tubman reference was a little odd?

Bravo, Michelle Obama

What a moving, inspiring, and heart-felt speech!  How amazing and wonderful to see a smart, talented, gracious and elegant black woman take center stage in America's imagination.  Michelle Obama for President 2016!

A Good Democrat

Results just in: the Associated Press is calling Clinton as the Pennsylvania primary winner.

No, surprise.  And who knows how this will all spin out, but just to be clear: even if my candidate is not the nominee, even though I don't like the political tactics of Clinton(s)--I vote Democrat.  It's the party that still fits me best.