So ... How Ya Feeling?

[RoyGBiv]

My daughter drove 120 miles tonight after class so she could vote in person in her home district in the morning before turning around and going back to school tomorrow.

And she knows her state will go red regardless.

It's her first vote.

[begin_within]

1. Very relaxed. I don't see why everyone here is so worried.

[RoyGBiv]

6. Yeah, me either ...

We've done what we can do.

Got one more day of some hard, smash-mouth GOTV effort ahead, but I've already got all my rides filled up ... got people still needing rides, and I'm sure I'll find a way. Never had that happen before. I typically have to remind people to get the hell up and put on their damn pants.

I was very anxious ... in a very dark mood four years ago.

Today ... got some excitement anxiety going, but that's about it.

[texpatriot2004]

2. Kudos to her. I'm hopeful about tomorrow, yet some anxiety has

set in.

Thanks for asking. How about you?

[RoyGBiv]

11. Doing well ...

I'm going to have a couple glasses of wine ... maybe three since the first one is already done, hang out a bit ... relax a little and finish up writing something I want to post tomorrow evening assuming all goes as planned.

I haven't relaxed, really relaxed, in months.

Election day 2004 broke gray and cloudy and cold with me in a fight with my employer to get off in time to go vote since some asshat had scheduled a mandatory company-wide BS rah-rah meeting that day on the far end of town. I won that fight with an e-mail and a visit to HR that included some state law on election day requirements for employers, but it was annoying.

Tomorrow ... sunshine and warm and nothing to worry about with the employer.

Ahhhh ...

[ComtesseDeSpair]

3. As long as I avoid Rachel Maddow...

I feel good. :)

[RoyGBiv]

76. She doin' football analogies again?

:-)

[KatyaR]

4. Nervous, excited, queasy, jumpy--you name it.

One minute I want to dance, and the next I want to barf. I can't wait for this to be over with!

[RoyGBiv]

75. Do Both!

:-)

[KatyaR]

80. I"d rather dance than barf, that's for sure!

:bounce:

[KatyaR]

83. Okay, I feel better--

I think I found my groove!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gw1KEjz6q">The Temptations - Get Ready

God, it feels like the Sixties all over again . . . .

[RoyGBiv]

84. Good Stuff ...

This is my first one cued up for tomorrow after it's called ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEMxYggoKQ

[KatyaR]

85. Ooo, I had't thought about that one--

I also thought of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zhNSr7shNk">Martha and the Vandellas - Dancing in The Street

[RoyGBiv]

87. Another good one ...

I might even be able to take the Bowie/Jagger version. :)

And for couple's skate ...

(Child of the 80's. I can't help myself.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZx1LKvW8PM

[KatyaR]

90. One more, then I gotta try to get some sleep . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI1UQxlvpk4">O'Jays - Love Train

Have a great night--see you on the other side . . . .

[RoyGBiv]

92. A Good Night and a Great Day ...

It's a Beautiful Day ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih6lrpzIT9A

[Dem2theMax]

109. I should NOT have clicked on that at midnight.

Now I'm wide awake and rocking out all by myself. LOL.

[RoyGBiv]

110. Nah ...

I'm still up. This thread got me in a music mood, and I've been finding songs all night.

I shouldn't be. I got WORK to do tomorrow.

The next 36 hours or so are gonna be LONG, but OHDAMN they are gonna be sweet.

[SoFlaJet]

The Smashing Pumkins...Today is the greatest day I've ever known

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPkaEK9ToMA

[Xipe Totec]

5. Higher Ground

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45GATIBElbI

People keep on learnin
Soldiers keep on warrin
World keep on turnin
Cause it wont be too long

Powers keep on lyin
While your people keep on dyin
World keep on turnin
Cause it wont be too long

I'm so darn glad he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach the highest ground

Teachers keep on teachin
Preachers keep on preachin
World keep on turnin
Cause it won't be too long
Oh no

Lovers keep on lovin
Believers keep on believin
Sleepers just stop sleepin
Cause it wont be too long
Oh no

I'm so glad that he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
Im so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach my highest ground...whew!
Till I reach my highest ground
No ones gonna bring me down
Oh no

Till I reach my highest ground
Dont you let nobody bring you down (they'll sho' nuff try)
God is gonna show you higher ground
He's the only friend you have around

[RoyGBiv]

31. Oh, great song!

Perfect for my mood this evening.

Thanks!

[Pithy]

7. I feel GOOD!

You knew that I would . . .

My vote was in a red state, too, but felt damn good to cast it!

[RoyGBiv]

30. I liked the Obama Campaign's e-mail today ...

I imagine it was sent out to everyone in places where there is basically no change of taking the state.

It spoke of mandates.

Mandate. That's a word I haven't heard in relation to a Democrat in, oh, well ... ummm ... huh.

I got nothin' ... :-)

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

44. I liked that it told me where to vote. That's great info. for the 1st timer on election eve..

[RoyGBiv]

62. Yup ...

No candidate has ever done that that I've noticed.

And the cell phone alerts are cool too.

His campaign organizers have earned every cent they've been paid.

[rl6214]

8. Good for your daughter on her first vote

I feel confident.

[RoyGBiv]

13. I felt pretty good all day ...

But, her e-mail to me this evening telling me that she'd done that turned it up a little.

She could have absentee voted. She could have registered where she goes to school since she has an apartment there now. But, she wanted to vote in person at home to make sure her step-brother's wrong-headed vote was met with her own.

She's awesome.

[AlCzervik]

9. This arrived today in the mail, ordered on 8/23, i'm taking it as a good sign.

[RoyGBiv]

15. Oh yes ...

I got several packages Saturday ... buttons and bumper stickers and t-shirts and all kinds of stuff I'd ordered here and there, some of it I'd forgotten about.

I suspect my mail carrier was being a lazy bastage, but oh well.

Getting it all at once was like Election Christmas. :)

[wysi]

10. Cautiously optimistic.

I'd be more optimistic if I could eradicate the memory of 2000. Gore takes Florida - oh wait, he doesn't... :(

In actual fact it feels a lot like '92, which worked out well.

[RoyGBiv]

61. I'm feelin' some '92 vibe ...

I was more worried then than I am now, but I still had excitement going.

I remember in detail where I was when it was called for Clinton. I was in a new house I was renting that was built on someone's pasture land. I'd just had my phone installed the weekend before.

And I called EVERYONE to either cheer together or jeer. :)

:bounce:

[wysi]

74. I was with my (also leftie) roommate...

... at his gf's house in Cleveland when Ohio came in and they called it for Clinton. We danced around the room shouting "Hasta la vista, bay-bee". Here's hoping I'll be doing the same in about 24 hours or so...

[RoyGBiv]

78. It was 12 years then ...

Preceded by four years of mostly depression (general malaise ... accurate, but a bad speech) and 8 years before that of ... well, whatever Nixon/Ford was. There was a song popular shortly before that time by The Call called "Let the Day Begin" where there's a line, "Here's to the closing of the age ..."

Amen.

It's time for our own streak, our own chance to do something worthwhile. Last time we had a Democrat in office for at least 12 years, look what we got out of it ... the beginnings of the things that are positive in our modern world.

[goodgd_yall]

12. Bless her.

Well, she will be counted in the popular vote totals, which, though they aren't what wins the Presidential election, is always an interesting indicator of how strong the support is for a candidate.

I'm feeling confident and excited about watching the results tomorrow.

[RoyGBiv]

27. Yup ...

She's beyond the electoral thing at the moment and just wants to say she's one of those millions that cast their vote for Obama. It'll be somethin' cool she'll carry with her forever.

[BlooInBloo]

14. Sofa king excited! I get to vote tomorrow, get drunk AND watch Obama win!

It's better than frickin Christmas!!!

[RoyGBiv]

18. Awesome!!!

I got my bar stool reserved. Gave my favorite bar tender an Obama button he'd had trouble finding, and he promised to save me my spot on election night. It's a walking-distance pub where university students hang out. I feel like the old man out there most of the time, but the atmosphere is very liberal in a largely conservative area.

Televisions, which normally show sports, will be glued to election coverage.

[BlooInBloo]

22. Same here! I'm skipping MNF to be sure I'm in top form!

And when I'm drunk, I'm truly a force of nature! :rofl:

[RoyGBiv]

29. I'm a force of something ...

... not sure what.

I hug people a lot. :)

My bartender may have to tie me down if they call it before I go home.

[nuncvendetta]

16. I have a sense of calm right now that I haven't had in nearly two years

I don't know why. I feel entirely peaceful tonight. Maybe it's Obama's grandma passing putting things in perspective. Maybe it's having the campaign FINALLY over and letting the American people finally do their thing. In any case, we're here, folks. Go get 'em tomorrow!

[RoyGBiv]

20. I've never had this sense of calm ...

... before a Presidential election.

It was close in 1996, but the stakes didn't seem as high then.

[BamaTideFan83]

17. My knee always . . .

. . . bothers me a bit, but other than that I'm doing ok. Got my flu shot last week.

[RoyGBiv]

23. How'd the flu shot go?

My boss was down and out for a week after she got hers. Made her crabbier than normal. I wanted to go find her doctor and make him sit with her until she felt better. :)

[BamaTideFan83]

126. Just a sharp pinch.

No side effects. I always get one. Other than that year 2 or 3 flu season ago when they missed getting the right strains in the vaccine, I think it's been effective.

[Naturyl]

19. Cautious but optimistic.

I think we have an excellent chance and will probably win. Only a miracle (disaster) could really stop us now.

[RoyGBiv]

57. Amen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tox2PBP3mOg

[DixieBlue]

21. Very teary.

A little nervous, but mostly tearing. I can't believe I'm living to see this.

I can't believe I may possibly (attempting not to jinx) a tremendous human being become president. Someone whom I respect and admire. Someone who is a good person. A real person. Honest. Who's made mistakes, admitted them and moved on.

I'm just ... speechless. I have no words to describe it. It's good ... but emotional.

[RoyGBiv]

36. I expect that to come for me ...

It's been on the verge of coming out with all the tribute videos I watched over in the video forum.

YouTube is just on fire with positive messages for Obama.

Tomorrow evening ... when I no longer have to focus on working in time to call people or write letters or, or, or ... it'll come out.

And it will be good.

[PatriotGames]

24. Honestly? Like crap. I don't know what I'll do if O loses.

[RoyGBiv]

48. He won't ...

Look around ... walk outside. Breath some air. Just stare at the sky for a bit.

It's all good.

:hug:

[PatriotGames]

66. Thanks a lot! Will do! n/t

[SoonerPride]

25. Fired Up and Ready to Go!

History is waiting!

[RoyGBiv]

28. Is it out of line ...

... to give a Boomer! Sooner! for Obama?

Nah ...

BOOMER!!! :-)

[SoonerPride]

43. Sooner!

Fired up and Ready to Go!!

Hell yeah!

[RoyGBiv]

46. Been looking for an excuse to post this ...

AGAIN ...

This is as good a place as any. :)

[SoonerPride]

47. Seconded!

[progressiveforever]

26. Cautiously optimistic

I won't really rest until it is over--and i haven't slept well in a few weeks.

[RoyGBiv]

33. One more day ...

Sleep well tomorrow ... maybe Wednesday if I think about it. I doubt I'll sleep much tomorrow, but I plan on it being for a good reason. :)

[WillyT]

32. Feeling Great !!!

:woohoo:

:hi:

[RoyGBiv]

51. WooHoo!!!

:toast:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

34. Excited, tense, relaxed, confident, anxious

confused :silly:

Ready for a win!

[RoyGBiv]

37. Oh, I stay confused ...

Makes the work easier. :P

[NYC Liberal]

35. I'm feeling awesome! But the last 8 years has tempered it a bit, I don't want to be overconfident!

:)

[RoyGBiv]

39. Trying to avoid that myself ...

I haven't allowed myself feel-good comments very much over the last several months ... tried to stay mostly positive, but I've stayed away mostly from any predictions.

Tonight I did a round of phone banking after work, then came home and ate, opened a bottle of wine and thought ... screw it. Let yourself feel good about it all. You did what you could do.

[GetTheRightVote]

38. How does she feel being a pride American who is now a part of our Democracy, a member of the vote ?

:bounce:

:kick:

[RoyGBiv]

41. She's very excited ...

And when she gets excited, Katie bar the door. That young woman is a bubble of energy as it is. I dunno where she gets it. Maybe she stole it from me. :)

I told her I'm jealous. On my first vote, my choice was Dukakis, and we all know how that went. (Dukakis is a good guy, but not exactly easy to get fired up about.) She, no matter what happens tomorrow, gets to cast her first vote for That One(tm).

I'll always remember Dukakis.

She'll always remember Obama.

Yup. I'm jealous, but very happy for her.

[InvisibleTouch]

40. I WAS feeling great all day...

...everything going smoothly, coming together, I could just feel everything working out as it should ... and then I went to dinner at my mom's house and she regaled me with all the idiot racist crap that she hears from her acquaintances. Not to mention that my mother and I have always had completely irreconcilable "vibes," the simplest topic can balloon into instant antagonism, and I should have known better than to get anywhere near her today. So, now I feel like shit. The news about Barack's grandmother was just the added last straw. But, it's been an emotional roller-coaster the last few days anyway, so let's see how tomorrow goes.

[RoyGBiv]

45. Call her tomorrow night ...

Give her this:

HAH! HAH!



... and hang up. :-)

You're among friends now. It's alllll okay.

I've avoided most of my family for the last month, although I did learn a few days ago that one of my cousins is voting for Obama. I about fell out of my chair when I read that e-mail. She still thinks Bush is "basically a good guy." But, whatever ... I applaud her ability to make one intelligent choice.

:bounce:

[InvisibleTouch]

64. (snicker) She hates the Simpsons...

...always gets pissed off and condescending when I watch it and enjoy it, because, don't you know, I'm a grown woman and shouldn't be watching cartoons (/sarcasm). Just to clarify, though, it's not my mom who's the racist (she's actually a big Obama supporter), but she knows a bunch of people who are, and can't seem to resist telling me about it. So that got me worried about the election, thinking that there are that many vile or just plain clueless idiots in the country. Other than that, it's just personal incompatibility between us. Anyway, thanks for the reply. :)

[RoyGBiv]

67. Ah ... gotcha

Sorry for the mistaken assumption.

Send her the HA HA anyway for something else. :)

And to all those others ... screw 'em. I bet not a one of them has lifted a finger for anyone in any election ever. Just whiners and moaners.

We got this... :)

[nico818]

42. Surprisingly...I feel great! Yesterday I was having anxiety. I'm confident.

[RoyGBiv]

49. Excellent!

Anxiety is fine ... got a little of the excitement variety myself, although the wine is starting to bite into that pretty well.

A belated Welcome to DU! btw. :hi:

[mollymongold]

50. G

[mollymongold]

52. O

[mollymongold]

53. B

[mollymongold]

55. A

[mollymongold]

56. M

[mollymongold]

58. A

[mollymongold]

60. !

[RoyGBiv]

69. Well put!

I like the way these girls put it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA_oPtsX2ew

[Raine]

54. Very optimistic but

a little nervous, cause I remember being sure in 2004 only to end up being cheated yet again.

[RoyGBiv]

70. I was never sure in '04 ...

I thought we'd win, but it was just too damn close.

Went to a watch party that night with a sense of dread actually. It'd been a messed up day.

No one better mess with my parade tomorrow. :)

[appleannie1]

59. Nervous as a cat in a dog park. I don't trust the machines.

I will be a poll watcher tomorrow. I voted on those machines in the primary and they kept telling me I had not finished my ballot even though I had.

[RoyGBiv]

71. Thank you ...

I wanted to do that and never could figure out who to ask. Doesn't seem to be that high a priority around here it seems.

Thanks for your service.

Nervous vigilance is one reason we're gonna win this thing.

[CitizenPatriot]

63. good. great. nervous. scared. terrified. ecstatic.

volunteered tonight.

live in a red state.

crossing street to HQ, Puke in truck drove by and yelled threats at us.

called people- so many of them EXCITED.

people honking constantly in support.

just saw first Rev Wright ad here. angry.

excited to work tomorrow.

we're up in the internal polls by ONE point here in GA. ONE POINT!

[RoyGBiv]

73. WooHoo!!!

You go.

And take that yelling and screaming stupidity as a compliment. They're running scared and have nothing else.

I've had a few insults hurled my way the past few months as well. The look of one woman's face light up when I took notice of her Obama button and struck up a conversation with her took care of all that.

You're going to be a force for good tomorrow. Count on it.

[CitizenPatriot]

81. thanks!

We'll take this one...landslide:-)

It's a mandate.

I talked to a young 18 year old girl tonight who needed a ride to the polls. We're having someone pick her up from school so she can vote. How cool is that? I reminded her how much Sen Obama needed her vote, so it is vital that she casts her vote tomorrow! Lucky girl, making history with her first vote. Lucky all of us, actually.

[RoyGBiv]

82. It's incredibly cool ...

My day today started off strangely. Mondays always are strange, but this one was really out there.

Anyway, one part of that was the guy from the armored car service coming to pick up some money to be deposited. He asked, "So, you may know this. There's an election tomorrow, right?"

My jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Uh ... yeah."

I almost didn't say "yeah" 'cause I thought no one this completely clueless should be voting anyway. Funny thing, though, based on the rest of the conversation, is I don't know why he asked that specific question. He clearly knew there was an election.

With me still standing there staring at him, stunned, he said, "So, you're voting, right?"

"Yeah."

"Man, we've gotta correct that horrible mistake back in 2000."

And that started the real conversation.

This guy is in his early 20's and so didn't vote in 2000 or 2004. This will be his first, and he was working out how to make sure to get his route done early tomorrow so he's sure he has enough time.

An even weirder thing about the whole conversation is he seemed to go into it with the assumption I was an Obama man. It's work. I have no political paraphernalia on me, have never said a word about politics around the guy, and I have a rather conservative look when I'm at work. But he assumed it, and I'm glad he did.

Anyway ... no point to that story, just wanted to share.

[CitizenPatriot]

86. that's a great story

these conversations are so moving, esp after the last 8 years. Somehow finding out a stranger or acquaintance recognized the problem is reassuring and uplifting. And the assumption-- as if you couldn't possibly be for failin...that says a lot:-)

Perhaps the great feeling comes from the connection to others and to humanity at large, which has been so damaged by the * admin, and which Obama inspires and creates.

I wish you a JOYOUS tomorrow!!!

[RoyGBiv]

89. A Brand New Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQQax5AofV8

... or ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tROqE9N2nuQ

Another brief one ...

I have 3 inches of glass between me and students I deal with every day. There are very few personal connections, and most of my conversations are contentious things, dealing with money, grades ... bad vibe generally.

A few weeks ago I was helping a student work out a problem with some financial aid, and through about a week of "banging on doors" to get it fixed, I finally did and called her to come in and sign some paperwork. She showed up wearing her Obama gear.

When we were done, she was happy, and I put my fist up to the glass.

We had our own little fist-bump.

And every time she comes by the office now we give each other the thumbs up.

'Twas very cool.

[CitizenPatriot]

112. 3 inches of glass?

talk about feeling disconnected-- that's gotta be tough sometimes. That story illustrates what I've seen and experienced as well -- the most unlikely connections, unexpected but bringing an instant solidarity.

It is great to be human again.

This is it, RoyGBiv! Today's the day!!!! I woke up and made Obama Coffee. Getting ready for a long day working the campaign. I'm terribly excited -- and I mean that literally. Terribly excited. An awesome storm ready to rain - high pressure system;-)

Here's to you, today :pals::pals::pals:

Let's do this thing!!!

[RoyGBiv]

117. Good Morning!

Yeah, the three inches of glass sucks, and I don't even understand the reason for it really. It requires me to shout so people can hear me, so half of 'em think I'm yelling at them. Bad deal all around.

Anyway, enough of that.

Fired Up! Ready to Go!

[codjh9]

65. Not as good as earlier today, even, but I'm not going to say why... but I still think we're going to

WIN! So let's do it & get through it.

[RoyGBiv]

68. You're a poet and didn't know it ...

Sorry ... all my cliches are coming out this evening. :)

I like the sound of that. Let's do it and get through it.

And then the real work begins. I can't wait.

[applegrove]

72. Good for her for travelling all that way.

[RoyGBiv]

77. She's an awesome person ...

I have trouble getting out the door in the morning, and she's doing a 240 mile round trip drive in 2 days just to vote.

I dunno how we managed it give all our issues, but her mom and I raised a good one. I'm very proud of her.

[applegrove]

79. She's very lucky too to have such supportive parents.

[workinclasszero]

88. I feel like the whole world is going to change tomorrow!

This is incredible! We will change the world! Yes we can!:D

[RoyGBiv]

91. Fired Up! Ready to Go!

Thank you Edith Childs ... Once voice can change a country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHfbKTiUH8U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leJByjUcbzA

[DeschutesRiver]

93. Feel the same as I have for the last couple of weeks - dead calm, no worry

not forcing anything, just how I feel.

When I ask my Irish side to give me one of those gut instinct checks, it reads Obama. Like I close my eyes and think President, and I see the words President Obama. Even if I try to see McCain winning, there is just a blank screen and nothingness. And my gut is usually good enough that if I have a feeling of dread, then things aren't gonna end like I want them too, no matter how much fun I make of my Irish sixth sense.

I have no dread. My mind is filled with concerns, things I'm wondering about, and such, but my gut sense is completely at odds with that, just writing off my mind's concerns as beside the point. So given my own internal track record, I feel fine about tomorrow. Wierd, but fwiw.

[RoyGBiv]

95. I've got all kinds of concerns ...

Such as, when he's inaugurated, that's when the hard part starts.

But I think on this your Irish side and my English side might be able to get along for the evening. If we're both calm, either it really is okay, or the Spanish are about to invade. :-)

:toast:

[DeschutesRiver]

118. ha!

:thumbsup: :party:

[calimary]

94. My daughter's voting for the first time! It's choking me up. She couldn't wait to

cast her first-ever vote for Obama!!! She's been SO looking forward to it, talking to all her friends, reminding them to vote. My girl. That's my baby!!!

:hug: :loveya: :yourock: :headbang: :patriot: :toast: :woohoo: :applause: :thumbsup:

As far as how else I'm feeling (besides Proud as All-Get-Out), hopefully. Guardedly hopeful. Again. Stopped by the Obama headquarters in West L.A. this morning to buy some stuff and the place was hoppin'! LOTS of people crowded in there and it was really exhilarating. It was buzzing with activity. Everyone excited and in a good mood, and determined. Lots of people going in and out, and volunteers headed out to canvas all over the Westside. I had to wait in line to purchase some of the last Obama items. Which was MORE than alright by me. Really nice to be there! And parked all along Motor Avenue and the side streets - lots of cars with Obama stickers on 'em.

[RoyGBiv]

96. It's great isn't it?

Nothing beats that energy.

I mean, I'm a "serious" political junkie. It takes a lot to get me really worked up about anything. Pragmatism and patience are my watchwords.

So, the Fired Up! Ready to Go! along with a few words from the late, great Molly Ivins and DU's own incarnation in the person of NanceGreggs really do a lot to get me out of that rut.

And then watching our kids just beam with excitement about the possibilities, about exercising their *right* to do this, to stand up before God and everyone and say *this* is the person that I want to lead my nation ...

It inspires awe in me.

[calimary]

97. No kidding! And I'm glad so many of them seem as committed as they do.

I've never seen anything like this. Well, not since my generation was that age - a whole lot of us were fired up - mainly by Eugene McCarthy and Bobby Kennedy and McGovern and against Vietnam. I think some of our young people really do understand how much is at stake - that directly affects them, now AND in the future. That's what I get very definitely from talking with my daughter and their friends. They're taking this very seriously and they're involved! I think they'll be our country's salvation. One of many reasons I want Obama to win. Because I don't want to see all their hearts broken. We'd lose them if that were to happen. We can't afford that kind of mass disillusionment among such a critical demographic. They'd be totally alienated and they'd give up on politics before even getting started. Our country simply cannot afford that.

[RoyGBiv]

99. I have a theory ...

I have a theory about my generation, the one specific to their first Presidential election being '88.

We -- all my friends and just a lot of people I knew -- were really fired up leading up to that election. We'd had eight years of Reagan. Iran-Contra was still hot, threats of nuclear war still fresh in our minds regardless of what was taking place (perhaps because of what was taking place) in the crumbling Soviet Union, continuing trouble in the Middle East, the middle class shrinking, the poor getting poorer as always ...

We thought we had our answer.

I remember that summer sitting around a dining room table with my best friend, the only person I have to this day met whose political ideology so closely matches my own, and several others who were coordinating our plans for the election season. It was our first, our first real chance to contribute and *do* something, and we wanted to do all we could.

At the time, the poll with Dukakis up by 18 points had just come out. We were thrilled. We were ready, ready to help make it happen, keep the fires lit, bring a closing to the age and the dawn of a new one.

And then it all fell apart.

My best friend today is highly politicized but essentially apolitical, if that makes any sense. He's a complete cynic. I actually had to spend some weeks earlier this year bringing him back down to reality. He was considering voting for Barr ... a gay man, living in DC, considering voting for Bob Barr. The mind reels.

I'm a pessimist. The other people there at that meeting that day are of varying types today, but none are really involved. Of all of us, I'm the most involved, but this is the first time in the past decade I've held out much hope at all. I loved Clinton and was thrilled when he was elected ... the first time. I wasn't all that charged up the second, but still thought he was better than the alternative. Overall, though, from '88 onward, I grew increasingly distant from the political scene, even though I was still involved on the surface. My heart wasn't in it though.

I got re-involved in a big way after 2000, but the pessimism remained.

I told this story in an extended form to a part-time student worker who worked with me for several months this past year. He's 21. This is his first Presidential election, and I see in him the energy I had so long ago. When I told the story, this ... kid said to me, "You just need something to believe in again."

I moved to Houston last year from Oklahoma, where I knew everyone. There I had phone numbers in my head for who to contact to get involved. Here, I have nothing. That co-worker has been my guide though, getting me in contact, keeping me motivated, letting me teach him what I know and teaching me what he knows.

I think that generation of which I am a part was destroyed to a significant degree by what happened in '88, and subsequent generations that came of voting age didn't really understand the stakes. These kids coming up now do, and they are re-inspiring that generation that was lost on a lost election.

I'm very grateful.

[calimary]

100. "You just need something to believe in again." Wow!

How about a PRESIDENT we can believe in!!!

[Dukkha]

98. like I ran 26 miles with 385 yards to go

and I can see that golden tape stretched across the road!

[RoyGBiv]

101. Oh, that's a great feeling ...

A-l-m-o-s-t t-h-e-r-e ...

[Smuckies]

102. Nervous, sick, hopeful.

[RoyGBiv]

103. That's a good combo, actually ...

Enjoy it.

It'll be all the more sweet after tomorrow.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

104. cautioumistic

cautiously optimistic

not getting my hopes too high...but I feel something in the air...

[RoyGBiv]

105. In the Air Tonight

A song for Republicans ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2hnw22MZwg

Excellent word, btw. Consider it appropriated. :)

[Rowdyboy]

106. Very proud.....of your kid.......

Damn its a new day

[RoyGBiv]

107. She's been impressing me for awhile ...

I'm really not sure where she picks it all up. I guess I bleed off on her a little, but I've never pushed an ideology at her. She makes up her own mind.

Her mom is far more conservative than I am. She's a teacher and tends to vote Democrat, but I'm the "psycho liberal," to use one famous phrase in my family's description of me. My daughter is more "psycho" than I am.

At the age of 14, without telling anyone except a like-minded teacher and eventually her mother and me the day before it happened, she organized a day of silence at her school for Matt Shepard. I didn't even realize she knew who he was at the time.

It was very cool, though. The teacher, inspired by her commitment and aware a lot of the other teachers were going to object strongly to it, let her know he had a lawyer friend from college who'd come in pro-bono if it came to that. And it didn't, amazingly. She gave them nothing they could attack.

It was awesome.

And kids are still doing it at her old high school. Her and one of her friends started a new tradition.

[Dem2theMax]

108. I feel SOOOOOO good!

I went to the Obama store tonight and bought some history. Tonight, I'm happy.

Tomorrow night, I'll be bawling like a baby. Tears of joy, tears of relief, tears of happiness that the last eight years are done.
Tears of hope for all that is to come.

First time in my life I can't wait to cry. :) :) :)

[RoyGBiv]

111. "I can't wait to cry ..."

I hear ya.

I'm building up a good one, and I'm ready for it, and I want it, need it.

There better be some people where I'm at tomorrow night prepared to be hugged. :)

[demo dutch]

113. I'm a wreak!

[RoyGBiv]

120. It'll all be worth it ...

Watch the fingernail biting 'cause you don't want to go and gnaw a finger off, but other than that, just roll with it.

It's a great day.

[stuntcat]

114. guardedly optimistic

I have learned to ALWAYS be prepared for utter disappointment, but I'm hoping to get back a little faith in my species over the next day or so!

[RoyGBiv]

130. Yeah, me too ...

I've generally lived by the "expect the worst, and you'll always be pleasantly surprised" credo.

I'm guarded, as always, but I'm pretty pumped up too. Lots of smiles and good energy coming out of people around me today, so I'm doing my best to return the favor.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

115. Giddy - Zogby's final poll has us up 11.4

Read and enjoy:

http://www.zogby.com/index.cfm

[Froward69]

116. I got my war face on.

[azmouse]

119. Do you remember a scene from The Simpsons

where Homer danced in the spray from an overturned beer truck?

Kinda like that! :woohoo:

[RoyGBiv]

122. I do remember that ...

Makes me want to go out the hall and start dancing around in circles. :)

:woohoo:

:bounce:

We need a smiley that does that.

[BlooInBloo]

121. Going to get cleaned up and go VOTE!

WOOT!!!

[WhollyHeretic]

123. Excited and scared.Like it's Christmas eve and I'm going to start a new job tomorrow.

I've got a lot of pent up energy.

[BklynChick]

124. FANTASTIC!

[slackmaster]

125. I walked my last precinct for Stephen Whitburn yesterday, and I feel relieved

He's one of two Democrats facing off today in a runoff for San Diego City Council, District 3.

Among the several different pieces of collateral I handed out was a Democratic Party-approved "Official Democratic Voter Guide" listing the candidates endorsed by the party at all levels from city up to the Presidency. It's printed in English and Spanish, so it came in very handy in the "No hablo Ingles" situations.

I wore out a bit of shoe leather on this election, having been involved since the primary season began in January, and I am very relieved to see it finally coming to a close.

I still have a couple of ballot propositions and local non-partisan offices to figure out. I just started sipping my morning coffee, and will be walking to McKinley Elementary School in about an hour to cast my votes.

I wish everyone here a happy and productive day. (I took the whole week off work.)

[RoyGBiv]

127. Wow!

That's awesome. I think you deserve that week off.

I couldn't manage the day off. We had a system upgrade at work that is requiring constant babysitting, and I'm the only full-time employee in my office at the moment.

But, I am leaving early and won't be in tomorrow unless something blows up. I'll be up late this evening and just think we all deserve a break of some kind after all this. I haven't worn out the shoe leather, but I've aggravated my carpal tunnel from data entry and typing here and there and everywhere and think I've burned out my phone. I kept dropping the silly thing for some reason early on when I'd get positive responses. Not accustomed to that. :)

[Alter Ego]

128. Sick to my stomach and wishing I was out of work so I could go vote.

I want it to be 4 pm so bad right now.

[RoyGBiv]

129. Yeah, me too ...

I'm having a helaciously frustrating morning with our system "upgrade" and network downtime.

BUT ...

I snuck an Obama pin onto the collar of my shirt this morning, and I'm getting a lot of positive feedback from it. Got my first fist-bump about 15 minutes ago.

:woohoo:

I get out of here at 3pm. Trying not to watch the clock too much.