At the end of a totally unrelated old video tape I was watching tonight is video of CNN on election night 2000, at approximately 3:30am, just as they began to realize there would be a recount, and that Gore might actually beat Bush.
And you know what? My heart rate is up all over again. Wow. I remember pacing around all night that night, and quietly (and rudely) interrupting my sleeping girlfriend each time the winner changed. I still remember how hard it was to fall asleep at 4 am.
Finding this bit of tape really put a fine point on what a sweet political victory our health care reform legislation is. I think I'm just now realizing--and so are Democratic politicians!--that our long national political disintegration really is over. 2008 was a real election with real results. Things actually can go our way. Really. Maybe just maybe, Dems are waking up. They should all watch my tape.
Just wanted to share this quick late night stream of consciousness to a crowd who would understand the emotion.