Obama/Biden...all the way to the Whitehouse

I can't even begin to express my happiness, excitement and sense of hope that I have...that Barack Obama was elected President last night. I am so thrilled that the race wasn't even close and that Obama was able to win some of the usual Republican states...such as Indiana (that shocks me...I lived there and that state was always ALWAYS red), Virginia, Ohio, etc.

First of all, I will say that I have an incredible amount of respect for John McCain. I don't think he is a bad man, even though I happen to believe he ran a bad campaign. I think he truly wants to serve his country and put country first. Unfortunately, the man I had such fondness for 2 years...I barely recognized on election day. I think sometimes people change so much...in hopes of getting elected that they start to no longer recognize who they are anymore. I hope to see more of that true maverick, John McCain...in the years to come. I personally thought that McCain's concession speech was amazing...it was a glimmer of that guy who a couple of years ago, I thought I might be able to vote for. He talked about coming together and finding a solution to our differences...because both he and Obama have a great love for this country and long for its prosperity. So, my hat is off to you John McCain. I didn't vote for you, but I have nothing but respect for you.

And...in my moment of pettiness, which I am trying NOT to do. I am attempting to be a humble winner and what not. I will say...it brings me such joy that the "fake Americans" as the RNC so often liked to point out...elected Barack Obama as our new President. We stood in line (some for hours...) and selected a man to bring hope and opportunity and honor back to the White House and the United States. So...whoo hoo for FAKE AMERICA!

Race wasn't a huge issue for me...personally. I did not vote for Barack because he was black. I voted for him because I believed in his policies and saw that he could lead us out of this financial and international mess we are in. However, I will say that the idea that our country has just elected an African American to the White House for the first time in our history...gives me goosebumps. I hoped that I would see this withiin my lifetime, but I didn't think it would be so soon. Honestly, I didn't have this much faith in our country...with the deep seeded, instituational racism that still exists in this country.

I think it happened...because it was Barack Obama. He is not only an incredibly intelligent man, but someone who inspires people and reminds them of what makes this country the best in the world. He reminds us that we have a voice in the process...and to never take it for granted. He reminds us that with hope and hard, down in the dirt work...we can change anything and everything about this country. The way he speaks to people...is eloquent, but not arrogant. It's intelligent, but not elitist. He reminds me a lot of what I was so drawn to in Bill Clinton as a teenager who was just engaging in the political process. Clinton was a great talker...and he also carried a sense of truly wanting the best for the PEOPLE of the United States. I see the same ideology when I see Barack Obama. And now..is the time for Obama to put all those words into action. He has a lot of work ahead of him and the expectations could not be higher.

But before we delve into all that...I am just going to glow in the fact that a black man named Barack Hussein Obama was elected President in the US of A. There might be hope for us yet.