Overheard while waiting for tickets to 'Hair' in Central Park: Why one New Yorker isn't voting

[BurtWorm]

She was a middle-aged white woman, middle-class, probably from the Upper West Side--she had her dog with her, which suggested she lived within walking distance of the Park. She was with a group of friends--all women of the same age and class--who were remarkably tolerant of her position, though one did probe her a bit for evidence to support her position that there's hardly any difference between Obama and McCain, on the issue of Supreme Court nominations especially. On that issue, the reluctant voter acknowledged some concern about a McCain presidency, but not enough to move her off her firm position that Obama is unworthy of her vote.

At one point, she went off to talk to another friend on the line. When she came back, she seemed satisfied by what she'd heard--that Obama's trip to Israel didn't do much to shake up that sector of the overseas vote. Older Israeli-Americans, she'd been told, would still be tending to vote for McCain over Obama. Younger ones viewed him somewhat more favorably, but many of them said they could not bring themselves to vote for anyone whose middle name is "Hussein."

I don't consider myself to be fanatically loyal to Obama. I think he's a pretty good candidate--not perfect (on FISA and health care, for example), but not someone like Kerry about whom I had serious misgivings all along. But I found myself shaking with anger over this woman's perverse pride in withholding her support for him, especially when I considered her reasoning.

I had to wonder, is there any difference between a voter who thinks "Barack Hussein Obama" is a Muslim extremist because Fox News repeatedly hints at it and one who thinks anyone with "Hussein" for a middle name can't be good for Israel? Is there any difference between the way those voters think about Obama and national security ultimately? I mean, let's face it: the former are clearly unsophisticated idiots, but the latter may have a point based on sophisticated reasoning about Obama's Kenyan heritage and Indonesian upbringing. Would Obama be more inclined toward sympathy for the Palestinian viewpoint (and hostility toward Israel) than someone who didn't have a Muslim father and step-father? But is this latter point of view, sophisticated as it may be, any more reasonable than the demonstrably false view that Obama is a Muslim? Is it reasonable, really, to base a vote (or non-vote) for president on a person's middle name?

I thought to myself, what's one vote? She's not going to tip it one way or another. New York is going for Obama with her or without her. Still, I wish she would think more about the Supreme Court and maybe this article by Samantha Power in the New York Review of Books than about one-measly-third of Obama's name.

[babylonsister]

1. She sounds so misinformed; too bad she missed this fun fact...

she doesn't seem to be thinking for herself, and that's part of the problem.

New Poll: Israelis Prefer Obama
Seth Colter Walls

July 24, 2008 11:14 AM


Even more positive news from Barack Obama's trip to the Middle East: a new poll by Israel Radio shows, for perhaps the first time, Israelis preferring Obama to John McCain.

When asked "who would you rather see elected as the next president of the United States," Obama bested John McCain by a 37-28 margin. While far from a decisive advantage -- 35 percent of Israelis chose "no preference" or some other answer -- the poll reflects a notably different state of affairs from previous surveys, which generally showed McCain with a large advantage over Obama.

Obama's competitiveness spanned the political spectrum across Israel's top three parties. The Illinois Democrat trounced McCain among Israel's most liberal voters, who belong to the Labor Party (44-6), tied among more right-wing Likud voters (28-28), and held a slight edge among sympathizers of the Kadima Party, which is led by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (40-32).

The survey of 600 respondents taken this week, likely before Obama landed in Israel, also found that more Israelis believe Obama would be a better president for the Jewish state, 31-27. (Forty-two percent registered other responses.)

These latest numbers contrast sharply with other recent polls, one of which gave McCain a 36-27 edge, while another showed 46 percent of Israelis believed that McCain would be a better president for Israel.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/24/new-poll-israelis-prefer_n_114735.html

[Cha]

20. She sounds like smug, egocentric

a$$hole who can sniff all she wants but Barack Hussein Obama is going to be the next president of the United States of America.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. For all the talk about Obama being "inexperienced," he has been

right on every major foreign policy issue. He is right on most economic issues. One of his very few missteps has been on FISA, which by all accounts, can be fixed.

For those who continue to expect him to be the perfect candidate and then throw out the baby with the bathwater when he fails, I question if they were going to vote for him in the first place.

I wonder if they were already on the fence but are looking for an excuse or justification to NOT vote for him. I also must question whether this is really about his skin color.

I fear that the Bradley-Wilder effect could be bigger than we care to admit because we've witnessed a lot of undercover racism during the primaries and now. I hope I'm dead wrong! :(

[mitchum]

3. Well, at least, Obama didn't change HIS name...

which is probably not the case for her not-too-distant ancestors.
She should give him credit for honesty.

[monmouth]

4. The Jews I've been close to in my life are very familiar with the

treatment of bias/intolerance as Obama has. Jewish people also put great stock into ones education/brain power and intellect. It would seem Obama and Jewish people have much in common. I think this will eventually be a non-issue..

[BurtWorm]

6. I suspect this woman is a disgruntled Hillary supporter anyway.

Not really basing her non-vote on his presumed opinion about Israel. Just using it as an excuse.

[WeDidIt]

7. No matter what else she is.

She proved she is a racist from her statements (about "Hussein").

[yardwork]

19. I suspect that she's a Republican who can't bring herself to support McCain.

I actually hear this story and feel it is part of a hopeful trend. I suspect that this woman usually votes Republican, but this year she's so disgusted with the Republicans she can't bring herself to support McCain. She's not quite ready to support Obama, but she might, and in any case, if she choses not to vote that's one less vote for the chimp party.

[WeDidIt]

5. She's a bigotted git

Nothing else to say about her. She's a racist bigot and to hell with her.

[Ian David]

8. King Hussein of Jordan was a great friend to Israel.

He was also a HAM radio operator and spoke to my father once.

[LynneSin]

9. On the bright side it's New York and that state is a safe Obama state

if it was Ohio or Virginia or another swing state I might actually work that one.

[BurtWorm]

11. Exactly.

Besides, I think her friends are working her and doing it a lot more effectively than I could.

[foo_bar]

10. shoulda told her it's the Age of Aquarius

Not to put a hairpin on it but "middle-class" doesn't really go with "Upper West Side" or "she had her dog with her".

[BurtWorm]

13. "She had her dog with her" goes with "Upper West Side"

because of where we were--on the west side of the Park. I mean I think she was from that neighborhood, which also happens to be an upper middle class neighborhood--the 80s near the Museum of Natural History.

[foo_bar]

16. you'd have to be fairly well off to think of the area as "middle-class"

It is also the wealthiest county in the United States, with a 2005 personal per capita income above $100,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan

The neighborhood is decidedly upscale with the median household above the Manhattan average.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_West_Side

[BurtWorm]

18. These women were not upper class.

They were not lower class. They were middle class. Lots of people of various means live in rent stabilized apartments on the Upper West Side. I'm one of them. You can tell who's who based on their clothes, accents, etc., etc.

[foo_bar]

21. it might be a peculiarly American definition of "middle class" to include one of the richest

neighborhoods in the richest county of the wealthiest nation (pardon me, "upper middle class" for the neighborhood, decidedly "middle class" gentry even if the expense of canine boarding in Manhattan rivals that of human children in the rest of the city/country/world). "Various means" aside, you might be describing an atypical specimen of a middle class voter:

Welcome to New York City's new gold coast. Dotted with elegant restaurants, upscale retail stores and high-living professionals, the Upper West Side has become an enclave for the wealthy. A recent analysis for Crain's by Claritas Inc. shows that ZIP code 10024, which runs from West 77th Street to West 91st Street, is the fifth-wealthiest neighborhood in the city — not far behind the tony zones of the East Side.

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:QWhxAwefrTUJ:www.britannica.com/magazine/print%3Fquery%3Dhippie%26id%3D2%26minGrade%3D%26maxGrade%3D

Just my 2.375 cents. I'm not comfortable with a definition of "middle" that encompasses everyone between Warren Buffett (okay, "within walking distance of the Park") and migrant workers, since it offers semantic cover to the unholy alliance between "working class" "Reagan Democrats" and their natural enemies, but I guess this borders on talking about Marxism.

[BurtWorm]

22. Ok.

You can have the point.

Doesn't change who these women were, but you can have that point since you want it so badly.

:hi:

[Marrah_G]

12. She is incredibly uninformed

There are a few people in my life that by into the propaganda and will not listen to facts and plan not to vote. I've learned to avoid conversations with them about politics as it just isn't worth it.

[AtomicKitten]

14. I would have felt compelled to delicately correct her ignorance on the subject.

But that's me.

[Indenturedebtor]

15. She's an idiot. And Obama has the Jewish vote in spades

Why care about this one idiot?

[LWolf]

17. As usual,

thinking about your post takes me in a completely different direction than I think you intended. (As usual referring, not to you, personally, but to my reactions to a majority of my fellow Democrats.)

What I hear, when I read your post, is how upset you are that she is "withholding her support."

The reasoning is irrelevant, imo, because the upset is that she is withholding her vote, and you think she should bestow it upon Obama. To be truthful, frank, blunt, even, it really wouldn't matter what the reasons were. When people disagree with another's political choice, they jump in to try to debunk that person's reasoning, or to use other reasoning to persuade listeners that one side is wrong, the other right. It's about upset that someone isn't on your side.

I understand that; I feel the same when someone isn't on "my" side on a crucial issue or choice.

One of the things I value most highly, though, is my right to make my own choice. To examine the facts, to wade through the propaganda, through "what everybody says," the "spin," to analyze and evaluate according to my own criteria, and to make my own choice. That's the heart of the democratic process: to freely make our own choice, based on our own judgment. Our vote is a freedom we are still able to exercise.

Whether or not the final vote count is valid is another issue, of course. Still, it's a freedom, a right, a responsibility I guard jealously, for myself and for everyone else.

Because I do, I have to do so for everyone else, too, whether or not I agree with their particular conclusions, or their choices.

I myself don't think Obama is worthy of my vote. I've never pretended otherwise. My reasons are not the same as the woman's you've referenced. I know he's not worthy of it. I'm still undecided about whether or not to cast a "lesser of two evils" vote. I may be undecided until election day.

There's really nothing anyone else can do (other than Obama, of course,) to hasten that decision.

[BurtWorm]

24. I don't have a problem with people not voting for Obama if they can't bring themselves to.

I have a problem with Democrats not voting for him for stupid reasons, as though he is "unworthy" of their vote. I've spent my whole life voting for imperfect Democrats, often ones I loathed during the primaries. Only once did I ever come full stop and refuse to vote for a Democrat: when Lieberman ran against Lowell Weicker for Senate in 1988.

Obama did not excite me the way he excited others in my family and on DU--or the way Howard Dean excited me in 2004. And he annoyed me with the FISA vote. He's not perfect, clearly. But what Democrat is? He is still a far cry from a turncoat like Uncle Joe.

[LWolf]

28. There are reasons, and reasons.

One person's reasons are "stupid," while another's is valid. Depending on the lens you frame it with.

The term "not worthy" is inappropriate, imo. I think Obama is a worthy human being, whether or not he's worthy of my vote.

Being "worthy of my vote" means winning it on platform and record.

[BurtWorm]

29. You seem reasonable to me.

:toast:

[LWolf]

37. Thanks, Burt.

:toast:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

31. Whatever your "reasons", DU has specific rules about participating on this site.

You are in violation of them by expressing lack of support for the Democratic nominee.

[LWolf]

36. You're wrong.

As well as a little arrogant, to think you need to quote DU rules at me, as if I hadn't been aware of them for the last 5.5 years.

I haven't broken that particular rule, which any close examination would show.

In context, if you follow the whole conversation, I said that I don't think Obama is worthy of my vote. Based on issues and record.

I've said that since the day he entered the primaries. I'm pretty damned consistent when it comes to issues and record, unlike many voters.

I didn't say I wasn't voting for him. I said I was undecided; currently pondering whether or not to give him a "lesser of two evils" vote. Which, based on issues and record, is exactly what it would be.

At this point, we haven't even had a convention yet. I won't be making any decisions until after the convention. Maybe not until I have the ballot in front of me. Meanwhile, holding him accountable for his issues and record is important. I want to see a platform at the convention that I can support. A platform I like, that I can hold him accountable to.

If I were to decide that Obama should not get my vote, and try to convince fellow DUers of that, THEN I would have broken the rule. I certainly have not done that.

There's a difference between earning my vote on merit, and receiving my vote as a vote AGAINST the opposition. Either way, it's supporting him with a vote. As long as that support is still "on my table," then I'm pressuring him to earn the vote.

I have not, and will not, support any of his opposition at DU, which would also break the rule.

Thanks so much for your "concern."

[mrreowwr_kittty]

38. You're slick, I'll give you that. But I'm not fooled.

You may be staying just a hair within the policies of DU, but eventually you'll go too far.

As for your "consistent principles", I guess you won't be affected negatively by a McCain presidency so you don't give a shit. Must be nice.

[LWolf]

40. I don't need to "fool" anyone.

I'm nothing if not blunt. If I wanted to "fool" someone, I'd lie about my evaluation of Obama. I know honesty in politics isn't something we're used to, but in my case, it's genuine. You can disagree all you like, and that's fine with me.

"Eventually I'll go too far," lol. Too far for what, pray tell? I've got more than double your time and double your posts, and somehow I'm still here. There might be a reason for that. For example, the obvious one: I don't spend my time here disrupting. I will suggest to you that trying to purge the board of someone you don't like, because you disagree with them, is not only anti-democratic, but verges pretty close to rule violations, as well.

Apparently, you're just fine with splitting hairs when it suits you.

I have nothing to do with McCain or his candidacy. I certainly don't want him for president, of course. If Democrats can't field a candidate who can defeat him, then the loss is squarely on the party. I believe in accountability, and I don't pull it for my own party.

If Democrats can't field a candidate who can unify the Democratic vote, let alone the rest of the country, do they deserve to win? I'm 48 years old and have ALWAYS voted for the Democrat for president. The fact that I'm questioning that this time around means something. The fact that I'm not alone means more.

I'm about issues. That's the point of politics and party. When it comes to party, I expect more from my party than I do from the opposition, and I will hold them accountable for it. I'm not going to pretend obvious problems don't exist. That's bad for the long term health of the party.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

42. "The fact that I'm questioning that this time around means something"

So that means you voted for at least 2 center-right Democrats (Clinton, Gore). Both of whom had positions on certain issues that should have been at least as alarming as whatever it is that your considering withholding your vote from Obama over.

Hmm...so what could it "mean"? I have some ideas what it could be but I'll leave you to your own conscience. As I said, you must have little to nothing to lose personally, in the short term at least, from a McCain presidency.

As for how long you've been here, big fucking whoop. There is a raging PUMA on this board who has been here since 2002 or something who has not been tombstoned. Yet. Like you, she knows how to skirt the rules. But her day is coming and so is yours.

[LWolf]

43. My concience is clear, thanks.

I've been explaining what that "means" on DU for more than a year now, but it's a big board. You haven't necessarily seen any of that.

I voted for Clinton, as the lesser of 2 evils. I never liked him, and time has proved me correct.

I voted for Gore; he's a centrist I thought had potential. Time has proved me correct again.

I voted for Kerry, reluctantly. Yet, I'd take Kerry in a heartbeat over Obama.

What my undecided state "means" is that I don't like Obama's positions on too many issues, I especially don't like the "change" theme when "change" means "embrace republicans, become more like them, and distance the party even further from the left," which is what I've watched him do since he began his campaign. His version of "bringing us together" doesn't fly with me.

None of this is a big secret at DU; here's a selection of journal entries over the last year, and you'll find I've been pretty damned consistent. In choosing these links, I stuck mostly to presidential election stuff, with a few issues posts thrown in, since your "concern" seems to be with the GE.

If you just want to see me go away because I don't worship at the Obama altar, don't bother with them, and don't click on any more of my posts. If you want to know where I stand, and WHY I am there, go for it. My positions won't change based on your opinions; there is no way to WIN by arguing with me, when I'm simply standing on my own principles. Agree, disagree; discuss or don't; I don't care. If you want to continue the discussion, though, it would be good to have a little background.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3615010&mesg_id=3615577

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6488895&mesg_id=6494137

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6470364&mesg_id=6470673

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3549342&mesg_id=3549397

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5254030&mesg_id=5254210

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5097386

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3870670&mesg_id=3872132

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3699275&mesg_id=3699305

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2094673&mesg_id=2094808

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3583332&mesg_id=3584510

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1930001&mesg_id=1945271

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3522679

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3508908&mesg_id=3509076

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1768863&mesg_id=1769233

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3492689&mesg_id=3493076

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3377303

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3361914

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LWolf]

45. Just as I have little interest in

your party purism.

I've already lost much of what I have to lose, and have more to lose during the next administration regardless of who "wins."

I am a woman, still of childbearing years, a mother, a grandmother, and a daughter. An only child BECAUSE of the back alley abortion my mother endured when I was 2, which left her unable to conceive again.

I am your elder in experience as well as other things, and I've been on the front lines for choice and other issues since my teens. It's exactly BECAUSE of those issues that I expect more from my candidates.

Your skills in discussion are pretty limited to begin with, but you are now devolving into fallacy (as if holding Obama to a higher standard somehow threatens Roe v Wade) and personal attack. The personal attack is ironic, since this little sub-thread began with you accusing me of violating DU rules. That's okay; I won't alert. I have thick skin when it comes to juvenile attacks.

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LWolf]

48. That's quite a rant. Do you scream and throw things, too?

:rofl:

Talk about devolution. You've now stepped down from "fuck you" to "pedantic jerkwad."

And you are clinging to your fallacy. My vote belongs to me until I cast it, and it's the candidates', and the parties' jobs to earn it. If a candidate, or a party, chooses not to earn it, then the candidates, and the parties, are accountable for the outcome. If you don't like my waiting to see them earn it, you could offer something to help your case. "Fuck you pendantic jerkwad" obviously doesn't do that. :eyes:

As a matter of fact, I believe this kind of "bringing people together" is likely to do more harm to Obama's campaign than my holding him accountable for issues. How many votes are you likely to win like that?

*Hint: winning a negative number of votes is not going to help the cause. ;)

Or, you could just accept the reality: Obama has pissed off many on the left, and is accountable for that.

My middle school students, juvenile though they are, are better at addressing dissent than you are. They're likable, too. I hereby demote you from "juvenile," to "toddler." The tantrum fits.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

50. Do you have any friends with that sneeringly supercilious attitude of yours?

I'm guessing not. I bet your students find you insufferable as well. No, I'm POSITIVE they do.

As for "helping my case", I'd prefer to spend my time registering new voters and getting out the vote in my community. IRL, I don't waste my time begging a pedantic jerkwad like you to pull the stick out of your sanctimonious ass. I got better things to do.

Vote for Nader if you want, I don't care anymore.

I just think you should leave this site.

[LWolf]

52. Your psychic abilities have failed you, lol.

Yes, I have a lifetime of friends. My students and I get along just fine, thanks. Fine enough that my 8th graders cried, hugged me, thanked me, and promised to let me know how they do in high school next year. They do that each year, and many of them keep in touch for years.

As do their parents.

You know, the people who know better than you. :D

Nader's not on my table; never has been. Again, you fail to comprehend, or you simply use falsehood to make a non-existent point.

The only thing you've managed to achieve today in THIS subthread is to highlight your own deficits, and they are many. One can only hope that you have better things to do; perhaps addressing those deficits would be a good start.

Please, run along and register voters. GOTV. It's much more productive than throwing temper tantrums because you want to be the gatekeeper at DU, or the gatekeeper of democratic thought.

Now we'll see if you really "have better things to do."

:popcorn:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

47. Oh and I read through your journal briefly

Looks like a pile of whining to me. "DU is being meeeeeeean to me!!!"

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

51. Oh yeah

You're the one who is going to ignore the horror of the past 8 years and not vote for the Democratic nominee, but I'm a mess. Oh brother. :eyes:

[LWolf]

53. Sigh.

I thought you had better things to do?

Apparently, the best you can do is try to spin "undecided" into "not vote for the Democratic nominee," which is obviously not the same thing.

If the best you've got is bullshit, why aren't you off doing something "better?"

[windbreeze]

23. I need a reality check....someone help please....

I thought we were voting for a president for the USA...I didn't know we were voting for a president for Israel....we need to get our priorities straight, and this isn't the first time I have seen points like this mentioned...so she won't for a man, who won't be good for Israel in her opinion? Sure seems as though that's the gist of this...surely I musta missed something..wb

[zulchzulu]

25. She's as dumb as the shit her poodle shoots out her ass

I have no time for people like that.

[Doctor_J]

26. Can't wait for the revolution

sadly, it seems our only way out of this mess.

[mtnester]

27. One bigot is the same

as another..so no, there is no difference

[beac]

35. And I'm sure that woman would be LIVID if someone made a judgement about HER based

on the fact that her last name ended in "stein" or "berg."

It amazes me how some people can be part of an incorrectly-stereotyped group and turn around and stereotype members of a different group.

[mtnester]

39. Of course she would

bigots seem to be the last to know or admit it, ad are always completely outraged when the blowback hits.


You were nice using the word sterotype...that is the nice word for bigot...one day she will figure out what she is..one can only hope the sooner the better.

[AZBlue]

30. I would call her horribly ill-informed - and that's being nice.

As other posters have commented up-thread, Obama has a huge amount of support from the Israeli-American community, support that spans across all age groups.

[beac]

32. By this IGNORANT woman's reasoning,

all people with the name "Adolph" in 1941 would have automatically be Nazi-sympathizers!

Pathetic.

[demo dutch]

33. She sounds like an typical American voter... uninformed! and that....

is the scary part!

[jazzjunkysue]

34. That's just bigotry. I've been in that line with that woman 100 times.

She's smart, informed and used to minorities. She lives in NYC. She handles money and is comfortable. She'll never need public assistance of any kind, has guaranteed health care and long term care insurance. She lieves in a rent controlled building and never sees a heating bill. She doesn't drive so doesn't care what gas costs.

She probably wants McCain to keep her upper tax bracket right where it is. But she knows full well he's a liar and a flunkie, and will screw up the economy more.

But all that aside, she's a bigot. There is a substantial amount of bigotry from NY jews towards blacks.

And this has been my argument all along: Republicans can't vote for a loser (Gramps) and won't vote for a black, even if he's the winner.

She doesn't see any place in this election for her, so she'll boycott it.

This is why Obama can't lose. The GOP is staying home. On purpose.

[saltpoint]

41. I hope this woman has a good day.

I think on the first Wednesday this November she's going to pick up the newspaper and read about an Obama landslide, suggesting that a lot of other people's instincts about this election were more intuitive than hers.

I bet her dog was for Obama.

[goodgd_yall]

54. If most voters think like that woman

this country will get what it deserves for being so stupid.

I hope America doesn't disappoint me this time.