I didn't expect it quite that soon. At 8:00 p.m. Pacific time, it was announced. That beautiful strip of West Coast states, Washington, Oregon and California, turned a brilliant blue on the electoral map (They don't call us the Left Coast for nothin'!) and it was a done deal. Well, except for the fact that I took the time to snitch the above picture from the Daily Kos site. I don't think they'll object because they had several laying around.When the word came down, I just sat here with a huge Satchmo grin on my face. Remember Louie Armstrong? I can't recall ever watching him perform without finding myself grinning back when he smiled his huge smile. It was an automatic reaction I wouldn't have stopped even if I could.
Well, I'm happy, of course. And grateful. And more than a little bit in awe at the tremendous response of people everywhere, rolling out in unprecedented numbers to cast their votes. I really believe the heavy political activity on the Internet made all the difference. And if the newly elected folks in the White House and Congress are impressed by that, just wait until they see how we netroots folks use the same tools to hold their feet to the fire and insist they do the job they've just been hired to do. Hah!
Because this election is only the first step. It's going to take a lot of work and involvement from all of us to start cleaning up the wretched mess of the past eight years. I don't expect it will be even close to magic wand-waving time. We'll be butting heads as well as working together, winning a few here, losing a few there -- but, dayum! Dare we hope we actually have folks in place who will help us restore our constitution and our self-respect?
If so, it isn't just "Obama Wins!" We ALL win, in this country and abroad.
It seems fitting to add this YouTube video clip of Satchmo doing a special version of "What A Wonderful World." Listen to his prescient lead-in words and you'll see what I mean.
8 comments:
I think a lot of people are singing this song tonight.
Well done, Dee, and well done, America... :-)
You speak truth, Wilma. And I'm glad.
John, thank you. Better times ARE coming.
Yes indeed!
Thanks for sharing this, Dee! It's one of my favorite!
It's a happy day!
Gloriosity!! There's joy in Mudville. Hope springs like a lotus from the mire.
Hugs and Happy Dancing!!!
~ Sil in Corea
Was listening to Morning Joe on MSNBC who was really knocking the media for deifying Obama. He feels a lot of people are going to be disappointed when he can't or doesn't pull it off quickly. Though he knows it takes time.
Me, I just hope he sticks to some bi partisan appointments. And I'm hoping Palin isn't one of them. :-)
What an appropriate song, Dee. Thanks for putting that up. That song is used in so many instances that I nearly get tired of it but it was the perfect song for this day.
The Internet probably did have a lot to do with shaping this race but I have to say that there were many, many, many more volunteers out there helping the campaign this time around. The phone calls and the canvassing were tremendous. I know because I witnessed it firsthand and participated in it here in our little corner of southwest Ohio. The Old Guy was by my side, too. I wonder how many Canadians were out there in the U.S. stumping for Obama?
I was amazed at the organization and the plan that I saw at work and as one of the Obama staffers said, "That's what you get when you have a community organizer running for president." It was done with efficiency and grace.
Yes we could, and we did!!! Personally, I'm over the moon -- now let's hope that all the political differences can be set aside in the need to get this country back on track again!
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