This is my first diary.  I've been a Daily Kos member for years; I post to other Kossacks' diaries... I rate other posts... and I recommend other Kossacks' diaries.  But I have never had the compulsion to actually write a diary before today.

I could not early vote due to the demands of my job, and I haven't been able to volunteer -- again, due to my job -- although I've been regularly contributing my $ to Obama's campaign.  I could not go out and volunteer today because I write for a living and have to work on a Russian election story.

But I am taking a little break to post here -- my very first diary -- because I have to give credit to the Obama campaign and his grassroots volunteers.

-- more after the jump --