Sometimes the D stands for disappointment and not Democrat. I had to work on Tuesday night, but anxiously followed the returns. I was happy Barack Obama had won, but it was a bittersweet night in many ways.
The Republican candidate who manages to convince different groups of people she is pro-life AND pro-choice, depending on whose endorsement she is seeking, won re-election. I had volunteered heavily for our 2006 candidate and my blog mate Clem and I had picked up the day after the 2006 defeat to work on 2008. We worked daily for two years for that only to see our Democratic candidate lose by an even greater margin.
But I had at least got under the skin of the incumbent Republican's campaign manager enough that he accosted one of our people outside of our HQ (across the street from their HQ) and asked, "Are you Carnacki?" That prompted many people to declare they are Carnacki. Buttons were made and the word is that our newly elected Secretary of State candidate, immediately after she gave her victory speech to her supporters, turned to someone and said, "I should have told them I was Carnacki."
It was bittersweet too because I had worked from before the primary to the weekend before the election for Barack Obama, only to see him receive the same percentage here as John Kerry in 2004. I had expected the loss, but after Obama's campaign manager David Plouffle had said there was a razor's difference in the polls between the two in my state, I thought it'd be closer. But I still felt we did our part - driving the contest so close that McCain and the RNC had rushed resources to hold the state, resources that they then did not have to send to Indiana, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, etc. But I had expected Obama to win nationally and as he told my governor, a win in our state would be the cherry on top of the cake.
But we did see improvement: my county went from 63-39 Bush in 2004 to 56-43 McCain. Progress - but not fast enough for me.
And we had done well at the state level. Two races where the state and national Chambers of Commerce had poured $1.1 million to win - the Attorney General's race and the Supreme Court race - we won.
Other candidates I had volunteered for through our coordinated campaign also won: sheriff, county commissioner, a state senator, most of our judges and magistrates. But one I was especially pulling for, Ywatta "Nessie" Mitchell, lost.
So while everyone else was dancing in the streets, and don't get me wrong, I was very happy to see the win, I also was torn for the candidates that I knew had worked so hard also for victory.
Considering how many of our candidates won - particularly in my county which had gone so heavily Republican in recent elections - I shouldn't have been so greedy for victories. But I wanted them all to win too.
Then too maybe it's taken a couple of days for the idea of President Barack Obama to sink in. I feel like that Onion video, that I need to break out my rally sign and begin chanting. At Drinking Liberally next week, I'm going to ask people to bring their signs and those who want to join me after we've had a few to go on the main intersection downtown and do a sign wave one last time.
But I really feel like celebrating tonight and it seems like many have already moved on to SYFPH and bitter recriminations over other losses. I certainly understand that. As I said, the D sometimes stands for disappointment.
But tonight I want it to stand for Displays of joy, Delight, Divine happiness.
I watched this video and it just made me so Damn happy.
Anyone else feel like celebrating? Join me in the comments.