Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Mimi! Curb Your Enthusiasm!
I'm trying. I'm trying really hard, but I just can't curb my enthusiasm for Obama. He's a human being. He can't fulfill all my dreams. Look how 8 years of the Bush maladministration has dragged us down, nearly done us in. There's a lot of fixing to do, and it can't all be done quickly, and it can't be done by one man. We'll need a Congress that's ready to go to work and do hard things. We'll need a citizenry that's alert and watchful, ready to goad the president and the Congress whenever they seem to slack and shy away from difficult decisions. It's not just them. It's us, too.
Am I sounding too hopeful? Am I assuming something that has not happened yet? Will too many of the folks in long lines give up and go home? I pray not.
If Obama is elected, we cannot go back to our lazy ways. We must be participants, not observers.
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Grandmere--it's okay to be enthusiastic, which would mean, in old English --En-Goddened-- God in you-- full of God--full of Divinity, Spirit.
ReplyDeleteSo, dear Grandmere --let go and enjoy the enthusiasm!!!
And a Christian is never too hopeful.
And no matter who is elected, we must never go back to being observers.
Many blessings! (Polls close here in less than an hour.)
Margaret, thank you. That is beautiful. En-Goddened. Oh, I like that.
ReplyDeleteSo Mimi, You're Fired Up?
ReplyDeleteMimi, I don't remember being this jazzed up to vote since my first time as an undergraduate (Carter/Ford).
ReplyDeleteSusan I is fired up, but I yet be worryin'.
ReplyDeleteLynn. it's quite exciting. If only it turns out right. Grandpère heard a woman call in to a radio talk show to say how proud she was that a black man was in the race. Then she said,"But I'm voting for McCain." What was that about?
Amen! To you, not to that woman. How odd.
ReplyDeleteI'm fired up. You are so right about our needing to be active citizens. One person can't fix this mess. One person can't be the city. We are the city.
It has been raining lightly here in NC. The polls just closed. We're waiting now.
Mimi
ReplyDeleteIt is news central here in NZ where it is snowing in Te Anau
May go back to motel and watch results. Fingers crossed
That's my essential meaning, too, grandmere. God bless Wounded Bird.
ReplyDeleteJane, NC looks good as of now. Dole is out in the cold where she deserves to be after her despicable campaign tactics.
ReplyDeleteBrian, the world is watching.
Snow?
Scott love, thank you, my friend in silliness. We're not silly tonight, are we?
It's 9:36 PM. NBC has just reported that your state has gone to Obama.
ReplyDeleteI am so disappointed. Not surprised, but disappointed.
I thought your mojo would swing the state, Mimi.
I'm so sorry.
Elizabeth, you gave me a start there. A little misspeaking, maybe? I wish it had gone to Obama. At least McCain is not in the 60s in percentages, as Bush was.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that Landrieu (D) is back in - not that I like her that much, but she's better than a Republican.
I've talked myself hoarse, but I don't believe that I've made one convert in my territory.
My Bronx students are so excited about the election that I had to let them go early.
ReplyDeleteThey are thrilled at the prospect of winning, and these are folks who aren't used to winning much, especially in politics.
I'm hearing on the radio that big crowds are gathering in Times Square to watch the results, and it's turning into a big Obama party.
"we have got to be participants, not obsevers"
ReplyDeletethis is the heart of it....
yes WE can.
Counterlight, Obama party - YES!
ReplyDeleteDiane, Obama emphasized the "we" over and over. He ran one of the smartest campaigns ever, and he didn't lie, and he didn't go into vicious mode.
I'm getting the feeling, the good vibes.
Grant Park in Chicago is packed!
ReplyDeleteAnd I know that Paul will be ecstatic to know about New Mexico!
I'm hearing on the radio that it may all be over by 11PM Eastern.
ReplyDeleteNPR calls Virginia for Obama.
ReplyDeleteThat's gonna be a party in Grant Park!
ReplyDeleteI think we'll know soon, thank God.
Mimi,
ReplyDeleteI was hopefull I was wrong about the South for once. At least Virginia supprised me, and there's always Florida... I'm still hoping that here in AR proposed act 1 (which bans ALL unmarried co-habiting adults from adopting or caring for foster children) goes down in flames. It's bad enough my state passed that stupid "Defense of Marriage Ammendment" last time.
The headline on MSNBC.com is "OBAMA WINS: projections put Democrats over 270 electoral votes, making him the nations' first African-American president"!! Let's pray it is so!
ReplyDeleteAccording to PBS, California is about to be called for Obama, putting him over the top, if everything that has been predicted for him so far happens! They're already talking about it as if it has happened!!!!
ReplyDeleteDave, we've got a way to go in the South.
ReplyDeleteNBC calling the election for Obama!
Grant Park - party time!
Times Square - party time!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Ohio has gone for Obama! He's over the top!
ReplyDeleteThat bit of news just helped restore my faith in the Electora Process....
ReplyDeleteGo all out Grandmere!! As my mama used to say--Cut the rug!!!
ReplyDeleteMimi, ma cher, We WON!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, everyone! 338 electoral votes for President Elect Obama!!!
ReplyDeleteYou may uncurb your enthusiasm now!
At 3pm this afternoon, I received a robocall from the "yes on 8" campaign with tape from Obama saying he opposes gay marriage.
ReplyDeleteNever mind his campagin officially opposes Prop8. HIs words state otherwise.
So forgive me, but despite my genuine hope for Obama, as I watch my rights be flushed by Mormons, Catholics, and the others of the religious vote, using his words as justification, I'm not really happy about being thrown under the bus for the broader good.
IT
IT, I am so very sorry. It's not right. It's just not right. I don't blame you for not being happy. Would Obama's not saying that have changed the vote? We don't know. Sadly, not everyone is where we are.
ReplyDelete"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice..." MLK
It appears that it's not yet bent enough toward the justice of gay marriage in California. I'm sorry.
IT my love, the very fact that the haters had to work so hard and spend so much money to win, and to win so narrowly, means that they hear their death knell sounding.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't win this time, but you WILL win next time soon.
I see lots of silver linings in that cloud out there in California.
Still, the very idea that anyone's marriage should ever be up for a vote is a bitter injustice.
What Counterlight said.
ReplyDeleteThe irony? THe biggest margin voting for prop8 was in the African American community. So the record turnout of African Americans to vote for Obama, helped deny me my civil rights.
ReplyDeleteIf we had put segregation on the ballot after Brown vs. Board of Education, then the south would still be segregated, and we wouldn't have a black president now.
How fate loves a jest.
COunterlight, the arc of history is against us. 3 more states amended their constitution with hate yesterday. That's not going to break down any time soon
ReplyDeleteIT
IT, I know how disappointed you are, but the breed that passed those measures is dying, despite what you see. The measures passed because they are frightened, and they know what is coming.
ReplyDeleteMLK did not live to see an African-American elected president, but the quote still stands. I know it's hard for you to see that now. Your day is coming. I know it in my heart.
Mimi,
ReplyDelete30 years is too long to wait. So many of us will be gone, by then. Thankfully Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon died before their marriage could be anulled again.
This is hatred. This is religious bigotry. And this is SO personal. I am literally sobbing in front of my laptop. ANd not for the first time, seriously considering moving to a civilized nation somewhere away from hatefilled Jesusland and the evils of organized religion.
I mean, as James pointed out, more people voted to give rights to chickens than to support gay marriage.
IT,
ReplyDeleteYes it IS hatred. But we must not give in to despair. Besides, all gay rights contests are local and vary greatly from place to place. California, as opposed to Florida, is the best place to begin undoing all of this nonsense.
There is progress out there. In some places it is large, and in a lot of other places it is small. But even a small something is better than a whole lot of nothing. A million to one chance is still a chance.
I've seen so much happen in my 50 years that I never dreamed I'd live to see (an openly gay Episcopal bishop for example, other bishops like +Andrus actively campaigning for gay rights). The haters are all angry and stirred up because they know that the tide is ultimately against them. That very expensive narrow victory margin in California is the proof.
This is a setback, but it's not a fatal blow.
IT
ReplyDeleteHere is a post on my blog just for you.