I Guess We Can

I don’t really have the words, other than YAY! Which does not remotely sum it up. It’s not eloquent. It just is.

Waking up this morning I turned on the news, still hopeful, not sure if there would be a winner yet, or if it would be right down to the wire. But there it was. Breaking News. Obama is the next President.

And I ate my breakfast while watching people thousands of miles away cheer and laugh and speak about what it means to them. And I will admit, I got choked up, I may even have shed a tear or two. I didn’t know it meant that much to me. Or maybe it’s just that it means so much to other people. I’m happy for them, and I’m happy for the future and the possibilities that it holds.

Right now I’m listening to Obama’s victory speech. That man can speak. He holds your attention. He is what a President should be. He’s one of the smartest guys in the room. That’s what you want. He’s who you want on your side. In the paper yesterday, the only thing I saw relating to Bush were his famous ‘Bushisms’. That’s his legacy. That’s not what we have now.

I feel like I’ve got a little bit of the America I had lost back today. Maybe that sounds ridiculous. I don’t care.

Roll on January.

Can We?

I haven’t said much about the election, not because I don’t think it affects me, it does, it’s just there’s so much that has been said, and that you can say, where do you start? The beginning is always a good place, right?

I’m not an expert on American politics, not even close. Hell, I hardly know anything about British politics. Not something I’m proud of, it just doesn’t seem to stick in my head. But I do find the American system much more interesting, the fight for the nomination, the debates, the voting. It’s pretty great to watch it unfold, especially now. It would be better if I could say for certain that the guy I’m rooting for is going to win, but I learned some time ago not to count your chickens.

Back in 2000 I was living in the US. I was at the University of Maryland, in my second year. I got to see the hubbub up close. Only I wasn’t paying attention. Call me self-involved (you can, that’s fine) but I just didn’t think it was a big deal. And that’s because I didn’t think there was any possibility that George W. Bush would win. I wasn’t remotely worried about it. I figured everyone saw what I saw when they looked at him, which was pretty much a spoiled Daddy’s boy as thick as two short planks. I found him humorous, back then it was fine, laughable was ok, he wasn’t actually going to be important or anything. Actually, I can tell you exactly what I thought, since I have my journal from then. On 13th November 2000 I wrote:

I suppose I should write about what’s going on in this country with the elections…the count was too close to call so they have to re-count Florida and absent ballots. It’s a whole big who-ha that’s been going on for a week and it’s taken over TV and it’s all anyone talks about. I suppose it’s a huge thing really, cos it’s never happened before. I really want Gore to win, because Bush is just so ignorant, he’s so dumb! Why would anyone want him as their President? What kind of country am I living in here!?

Sigh. I kind of wish my younger self had paid more attention to history in the making, but it wasn’t to be. And so I went on my merry way figuring nothing much would change once Clinton left office.

Oh. How wrong can you be?

I remember what happened next. I remember being utterly confused by the whole thing. And then it was 2004, and my hopes weren’t as high, but they were still there, still clinging on. He couldn’t possibly win again, could he? Not after everything? Well, yeah, he could and he did.

And now? Well, I gotta say, the hopes that I threw away are trying to latch back on to me, stubborn little buggers.

And because I’m five years behind and only saw this today:

God, I hope so.

The One Where I Get Political*

So I’ve been following the US Presidential race kind of half-heartedly I admit. From where I am it’s hard to tune into the debates and I’m probably no where near as informed as I should be, seeing as whoever becomes President will have some impact on my life, even though I am not a US citizen. I’m assuming our oh so ‘special relationship’  will continue whoever is in charge. But one thing that I’ve noticed is the huge hype surrounding the possible Democratic nominee. Obviously it’s a big deal, who will run against (most likely at this point) McCain, but it’s kind of bringing me down.

All I hear from both sides now is negativity. Obama vs Clinton. It’s become a war of words, you’re either for or against. And it’s getting ugly. For me, this is pointless. I know I’m on the outside looking in, but they represent the same party. When listening to what they stand for, they seem to basically share the same principles, there’s not a huge difference. And yet supporters are so critical of the other, to the point where I’ve heard people say that if Clinton wins the nomination, they will vote McCain instead. Huh? What? But…you’re a Democrat right? You’ve spent the last 8 years waiting for your moment in the sun when that moron in office gets kicked out and the glory is yours, and now you’re gonna back a Republican? You dislike her that much? That kind of boggles my mind. I seriously must be missing out on the news where Hillary is that evil. Not only that, but Michelle Obama is not sure she would support Hillary should she win. Right, so…you’re gonna vote McCain, or not vote at all? Because if you do that and your husband decides to run again in the future, that’s surely gonna look bad? And you can’t continue to support your own party if she wins? Sour grapes? Do you know something I don’t?

All this in fighting looks bad to me. Really bad. It’s like squabbling children, and who wants those in charge of the most powerful country in the world? I want someone who is respectable, who respects other people’s views, who stands by their principles, who wants to work for the good of their people…perhaps I want someone who doesn’t exist. But seriously, stop with this nonsense. You want the same thing. You want the Republicans out. This isn’t about you, sorry to say, it’s about your country and what you can do for it, not the other way round. Wow, I’m channeling JFK here. But you’ve had this guy who’s basically an idiot for so long and there’s light at the end of a tunnel and you’re gonna throw it all away over petty differences? Because you’re handing it to the Republicans on a plate right now. Get it together.

I might have to take a closer look at McCain myself, if this is the best the Democrats have to offer, and I never thought I’d say that. Plus, he’s about 100 years old. That’s just asking for trouble. Don’t give him any guns.

*Disclaimer: I may not actually know what I’m talking about. Politics is hard man.