Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States, and the Democrats have gained in both the US House and in the Senate.
Last Night was a triumph of hope over fear, of truth over lies, and millions in the country are still beaming with pride today.
But let's not forget those who have labored and struggled for progressive candidates and causes in places where they might feel right now like the great Obama tide of joy has passed them by.
Thank you so much progressive (Dark and light) Red State Democrats. You are the class of the party and I am in awe of your guts and deternimation.
I currently live in the formerly Red State of Nevada, having left my royal blue home state of Massachusetts feeling as though I was driven out of my homestate by the cost of living there. I never wanted to move, and I certainly didn't want to end up in a crimson state where I would feel like a pariah. But there I ended up, and I ate a lot of shit during the 2004 election for refusing to hide who I was.
It would have been easier to pretend to be a winger.
I was told I was insane to openly push people to vote for Democratic candidates 'around here'.
But I did. I ended up in the Silver state as a poor working class Democrat. Sometimes it was as lonely as hell. Being here at the height of the post-911 Evangelical Conservative high watermark of the 'You Cannot, You MUST Not, Question the Commander in Chief in a Time of War' era as a liberal.
And I am a much better Democrat and a much more effective liberal advocate for change because of it, and because of the Democrats here who did a sometimes thankless job in the name of doing the right thing.
And, last night, it all paid off.
The tears when John Porter relentlessly smeared hard-working local Democrat Tess Hafen with a hornets nest of negative ads unmercilessly until he won. Dina Titus won because of the scars that were earned holding our heads up high while the Hafen campaign was torn down by a Rightwing thug.
So, Tennessee Democrats, Oklahoma Democrats, Kentucky Democrats, Wyoming Democrats, and all the other liberals and moderates who stand up and do what has to be done in a conservative place where you can be made to feel like you are the only person on Earth who feels the way you do sometimes.
Thank You. Thank You so Very Much.
You are not forgotten. The wave has not passed you by. You made it possible by forcing money to be spent in places where the GOP never ever dreamed that they'd have to pay to play.
I am as proud of you as I am of everyone here who turned Nevada blue and someday you will know how we Nevada Democrats feel right now.
Because someday, somehow, a place like rural Texas or Oklahoma will be bright blue again and it will be all because of you.
I only hope to be half the fearless progressives you all are now someday.