in 2000, i couldn’t believe that anyone would possibly vote for an idiot like g.w. determined that my vote wouldn’t make a difference in the election anyway, since there was no chance gore would lose, i gave my vote to the green party in an attempt to help them get 3% of the vote and a real shot at the presidential election in 2004. both plans failed.
in 2004, it was so glaringly obvious that kerry was the better choice, and i felt like people obviously wanted a change, i didn’t think it was possible that the country would vote w. in for a second term.
this year, i was afraid that even though obama was the best candidate — and not just the lesser of two evils, but a man who would stand as a president for the people rather than in spite of the people — some unknown factor would cause the vote to go wildly in the other direction. even the “maverick” (read: insane) tactics mccain used in selecting an inexperienced hockey mom from alaska as his running mate — so obviously a desperate cry for help — could have swayed the impetus toward him.
i watched the blogosphere and the twittersphere refreshing msnbc.com and cnn.com for updates on the polls obsessively, refusing to get my hopes up in case something went horribly wrong.
today, i wake up, and i can breathe easy — like a weight has been lifted. for the first time in my life, i can be proud to be an american. and i’m proud to live in the age of the first black president. the age of change.
history starts now.
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