The Young Turks

I went to a "Yes We Can" viewing party sponsored by MoveOn. The people were friendly and excited, the dogs were big and fluffy and the food was mostly animal based (Good thing I ate beforehand).

I watched the speeches; Gore, Biden. The video bio about Obama. It all seemed like the usual pageantry. The same old pomp and circumstance.

Then Obama came on. He said a lot of things he's said before . But he said them in the same speech. And with a fire. Most imporatntly, he attacked McCain. Many times. Sure it was his way, the dignified way, but he attacked. He gets it. You need to point out your opponent's weaknesses. And for the first time, I felt Obama took a tire iron to McCain's kneecaps.

I finally became happy. Its a strange thing to be happy about I guess considering all the positive Obama offers. But I finally feel that when it comes down to it, Obama isn't going to take any shit. He'll stand strong in his virtue, but he won't allow McCain and the GOP smear machine to run him over. Tonight I am finally excited about Obama.

You might ask, " Where the hell have you been?" Well, I've been holding onto the belief that there needs to be more than "The One". That we cannot pin all our hopes on one person and I didn't want to give into what I was seeing as uncritical support. Well, I realize now that I can still believe those things AND work to get Obama elected. Because while the change we need doesn't end with an Obama presidency, it certainly starts with it. 

MoveOn has identified a half dozen or so swing states and is having people phone voters there. This Saturday, I'm going to volunteer. It'll be my first time being directly involved in the campaign. It's the first time I feel like doing it. It's the first time I feel that I need to do something to make sure Obama is elected.

I'll be calling people in Nevada and encouraging them to vote for Obama by spotlighting his virtues and by taking a tire iron to McCain's kneecaps.

Peace,

Andrew