We Are Taking Back Our Country

OBAMA!

That was the headline on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, in newspapers across America.

Just before the Democratic National Convention in 2004, my sister Judy told me that Barack Obama was going to give the keynote speech. I said, “who the hell is Barack Obama?” or something like that. Didn’t you, when you first heard his name? I thought that his speech at the convention was very good. He is an excellent speaker.

Fast forward to the Democratic debates earlier this year. Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Chris Dodd and John Edwards were on the same stage. I liked what Dennis Kucinich had to say.  Congressman Kucinich was the only one who had the guts to present a resolution in Congress to impeach  Bush and Cheney. More congressmen should have supported him. I thought Joe Biden was very good in the debates too.

Then it was just Hillary and Barack. I thought that Barack was a better speaker, but I liked Hillary’s healthcare plan better. I chose to support Barack, although I would have voted for Hillary if she had been nominated. I didn’t like the fact that we would have gone from four years of George H. W. Bush to eight good years of Bill Clinton to eight disastrous years of George W. Bush to at least another four years of Hillary Clinton. Why should two families have all the fun?

There is no way I would have voted for McCain under any circumstances. I think he and Sarah Palin ran an ugly, dirty little campaign. He kept pestering Obama about not admitting that the “surge” was working. I have never heard McCain admit that the war was a shameful waste, didn’t need to be fought and was based on lies.

Barack was an easy choice. I liked what he had to say and he inspired people. I kept hearing about his speech against the Iraq war. I looked it up and read it. I thought it was an extraordinary speech. He hit the nail on the head. Take five minutes and read it or watch it from the link above. It’s too bad he wasn’t a United States Senator at the time. More people might have paid attention.

I was born into a world where African-Americans in America, especially the southern states, were denied the right to vote. It wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that something was finally done about it. I am so glad that we have made so much progress since then. We are not a color blind country yet, but we have come a long way. This election testifies to that.

It was amazing to see all of the huge celebrations going on in the United States and around the world on election night. I especially liked the celebration outside of the White House gates. I saw Jesse Jackson and Oprah crying tears of joy in Chicago.

Let the cynical Republicans go read their Wall Street Journals. I wish Barack and Joe Biden  the best.

We are taking back our country. January 20, 2009 can’t get here fast enough for me.

Your comments are welcome.

One Response to “We Are Taking Back Our Country”

1. Not so Cynical Republican says:

   November 11, 2008 at 8:12 am

   Congratulations on a big, big win.

   I happen to LIKE Obama and I sincerely hope that all of his plans and intentions can come to fruition. If HE succeeds then we ALL benefit regardless of his party affiliation.

   And that’s what it’s all about; doing those things that benefit the people the most. Making sound choices, protecting our Nation and providing for our citizens.

   Mr. Obama is soon to be MY President just as much as he is the President of all of the Democrats (and others) that voted for him. I will respect and serve our President 100% regardless of political differences or Party affiliation.

   That’s the way it’s supposed to be. And any “Republican” who doesn’t see it the same way or takes it “personally” that a Democrat was elected over a Republican or in any way seeks to undermine, belittle or impeded any of the smart and decent proposals made by our new President is a fool and no Patriot.

   (That said; I must admit that my favorite part of the election night coverage was the shot of Jesse Jackson with his finger on his lip and just-this-short-of crocodile tears running down his face. He HAD to find a way to grab the spotlight/make it about him. He’s a joke – he’s gone from relevant – see the 1988 and 1992 elections – to wretched. Mr. Obama would do well to keep him at more than arm’s length as he works to set up his cabinet and his new government…)