I've been very happy, almost euphoric, for a couple of days. All of the work has paid off and America has a transformational presidential nominee--a godsend during this very bleak moment in our history.
He is Senator Barack Obama. I teared up reading diaries and comments from African-American Kossacks this afternoon.
This is a great opportunity for Americans to wrest control of our country from lobbyists and the passive wealth-building (but active oppression) of power-elites.
Senator Obama and his team won because they worked harder and smarter, and picked themselves up with ever increasing resolve when they were made to stumble.
Let the GOP run against that.
Let's make a toast to Senator Barack Obama, our 2008 Democratic Nominee for President.
Then let's get back to work--as hard as he, his family, and his team have--to frame the arguments, win the discussions, and get out the vote.
Voting prayer (as it were) after the jump:
Because we play by the rules, pay our taxes, and still lose sight of the American Dream. Because we Americans are proud of our country, but suffer one in five of our children to live in poverty and one in five of our people to live in fear because they have no health insurance. Because we are tired of politicians who hate gays more than wasteful earmarks or flaunt flag pins as they collude to wage deceitful war.
We vote.
Because we will no longer be taught to care and then act as though we do not care. Because we will never, not ever, be taught to sit still.
We vote.
Because we pray for those who chose and oppose. Because there is no time to rejoice for those who walk among the noise and deny the voice.
Because the lost heart stiffens and rejoices, and the weak spirit quickens to rebel.
We vote.
Care, don’t say you care. Act, don’t say you will.
Fight, for that is the only way rights have ever been won in America and the only way America has ever been set right.
Become part of this great wave sweeping America clean of wars that make us less safe and counterfeit values that make all of us poorer and less free and less united.
Suffer us not to be separated, but to join farmers and veterans, drivers and engineers, students and teachers, in giving America its great promise back.
Because we have sat and waited too often, but will never again sit back when evil is done to us. Because we have learned that we have not only the right but the responsibility to make our mark in this American experience.
Because we have paid our dues and shed our innocent blood and move forward--resolved--nevertheless.
We vote.
And let our cry come unto America.
NOTE: I have quoted "Ash Wednesday," 1930, by T. S. Eliot, liberally throughout.