There have been a lot of explanations as to why the Romney-Ryan ticket went down in defeat. Bill Maher's Dispatches from the Bubble theory seems to have played a big part. The right wingers really didn't know what was going on. Karl Rove's inability to do math was fun to watch. There were the failed Fox predictions before the election. But of all the theories out there the one that caught my eye was the one about the "extraordinary gifts".
The story is all over the media. It seems Romney had a conference call with his deep pocket donors who were wondering just what they got for their millions. Well, according to Mitt, it wasn't just that his campaign GOTV efforts sucked. It wasn't that exit polls showed people disagreed with his message. It wasn't the amazing turn out. The loyal American voters who stood in line for hours to cast a ballot. No, it was the gifts. The "extraordinary gifts"!
The quote below was in Forbes. It reported that
Romney told his contributors that Obama’s strategy was to “focus on certain members of his base coalition, give them extraordinary financial gifts from the government, and then work very aggressively to turn them out to vote.”
So my question, where's my extraordinary gift? I've checked the mail. I get excited every time I see a UPS truck on the street. But so far - nada, zip, nothing.
I'm proud to be from one of the bluest of the blue states, Massachusetts. I donated to the Obama, Elizabeth Warren and Joe Kennedy campaigns. I made some calls. I had my lawn signs. No gift? Not even a Time Magazine alarm clock? A Sports Illustrated team jacket? An OFA hat? Nope. Not even a complimentary campaign pin.
Then I thought, did I really need a gift? Something material to show appreciation for my vote? Or did I get a gift? Did I actually get lots of them?
Maybe my gift is that we won't have Mitt Romney as president.
Maybe my gift is that we won't have to worry about the Ryan budget.
Maybe my gift is that more people will have health care.
Maybe my gift is Elizabeth Warren will be looking out for the middle class as my new Senator.
Maybe my gift is that a new generation of Kennedy will take up his Uncle Ted's dream in the House of Representatives.
Maybe my gift is that climate change will be taken seriously which will make the future a little brighter for my grandchildren.
Maybe my gift is I won't have to hear about Trucky McBarncoat's pick-up anymore.
Maybe my gift is that I am blessed enough already with four healthy grandchildren.
It's almost Thanksgiving. I am grateful for so many things. Including the gift of another four years for Barack Obama and his wonderful family. So from my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.