Lateshoes

In keeping with Angie’s theme, I give you Aretha.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHKWBxDzyfU]

I am a total wreck right now. I cannot wait until we know (that Obama won) the outcome of this election. I’m praying. I’m using “The Secret.” I’m hoping. I’m clenching my jaw and I’m counting on a fair and easily determined election today.

Melissa’s reminisence over the 2000 election debacle reminded me just how horribly this process could go (Whoa – I really and truly just had de ja vu typing while typing that sentence) and how long it could actually be before we can sit back, before we can be relieved that a woman who can’t say the word “too” without the word “also” will NOT be our vice president. Before we can rest easy knowing we won’t have a half-senile, warmonger with his finger on the “button.”

2000 was a horror show – there is no doubt about it – and our country has the scars to prove it. 9/11, the war in Iraq, the economy, the neverending embarrassment. We’ve been living with harsh realities of neo-conservatism for 8 years and I’m so looking forward to not having the boot on my neck and the pee-pee in my eyeballs.

Is Barack Obama perfect? No. But, his world view doesn’t involve swirling the country around in a neverending toilet bowl of fear and greed and hate. That’s good enough for me.

He’s a good man and I’m so looking forward to being able to say that about my president again. I’m so looking forward to being proud of my country again.

Except Kentucky. Kentucky can blow balls. Sorry, I just looked at CNN.

Yes, you can pretty much bet that my first few posts for National Blog Posting Month are all going to be about voting…and voting “right” – and by that, of course I mean for Barack Obama.

Mom, I’m looking at you. I kid, I kid. You know I love you, mom, but, if you promise to vote for Obama, I’ll promise to make you some grandkids. You want, grandkids, right? No seriously – how can I bribe you?

I’m still kidding. Sorta.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo&hl=en]

It’s not enough to call this a well-written/ well delivered speech. I spent yesterday morning completely enveloped in the content – in the importance of embracing a leader who is unafraid to “go there”  (just like Degrassi: the Next Generation).

This speech was not a safe – it was not what we expected and it wasn’t what some wanted – but, it may be what we needed. It was straight-talk from a man who was willing to denounce ugly words of racism, but unwilling to denounce the friend who spoke them.

He spoke to the deep complexities held within our nation and when we’re being honest with ourselves, within our own families. I understand these complexities myself and like Obama, I’ve learned to embrace them because they are, as he said, a part of me and a part of my country.

When it was over, I woke Lars up to tell him he missed a great speech by President Obama.  In 37 minutes – he proved how desperately our nation needs a leader like him at its helm.

On a completely different note, I have to wonder if Obama hasn’t been watching The Wire on the campaign trail.  Seriously.