Like Ryan said, this election is like a graduation: I've been working towards it/ anticipating it for so long that now that it's come and gone, my brain is having trouble processing that it is over. I have so many random thoughts that I will just make a list. God help you if you actually read all of them...
1) America has spoken. Senator Barack Obama is now President-elect Obama because he overwhelmingly won the popular vote and the Electoral College tally. Right now it's 349-162, and Obama will probably pick up North Carolina while McCain will probably take Missouri, making the number 364-173. There is also one electoral vote still to be decided in Nebraska...and apparently Obama might win it.
2) I was wrong on the Indiana/Missouri vote. I expected Indiana to swing for McCain and Missouri to swing for Obama, but the opposite happened. I guess I need to get to know my neighbors better.
3) North Carolina is my new favorite state. They voted for Obama and elected a Democratic senator and governor.
4) Although I am excited for Obama to have been elected since I think he's great, I think one of the most exciting things about this election for me is that the traditional red state/blue state dichotomy has been broken. Virginia and North Carolina in the South, Florida (it's own country...), Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan in the Rust Belt, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado in the Southwest........
5) The people of Alaska have most likely re-elected Ted Stevens. They must be pretty easy to please, which must be why Sarah Palin had the highest gubernatorial ratings in the country.
6) Although I thoroughly enjoyed Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, I will not be sad to see Sarah Palin disappear for a while. She served her purpose in this election (scaring Hillary supporters such as my mother into voting for Obama, providing fodder for late night tv, etc.), but her time is up. I will be horrified if she runs for president.
7) I was so sad when Obama's grandmother passed just before the election. She would have been so proud.
8) I've been an Obama supporter for so long that I guess at times the historical nature of his candidacy is lost on me. But his election is a big moment for the United States. I am so proud of him, everyone who volunteered for his campaign, and really the entire country in general. Electing someone not only of color but who has cultural ties to Africa and Asia does amazing things for the standing of America in the world. There is this commercial on cuatro, a Spanish tv station (and race relations/perceptions are really weird in Spain...) saying, "un negro en la casa blanca, todo es posible" while the Star Spangled Banner plays in the background.
9) The second bottle of champagne was a bad idea. Even though there was a lot to celebrate.
10) The Democrats are not going to come up with 60 votes in the Senate. I guess it's actually still possible, but I think 57 will be more like it, with the Merkley likely winning in Oregon, while Stevens will likely take Alaska. Minnesota is headed for an automatic recount since Coleman has a razor-thin lead, and Georgia will have a run-off but Chambliss will probably easily win since the third party Libertarian candidate probably took Republican voters and the Democrat Martin won't have the advantage of high turnout associated with the excitement of Obama running.
11) I interned for the President.
12) Like I've said before, even though Obama is an inspirational leader and I have high hopes for his presidency, there is no way he can live up to the expectations that have been established for him.
13) Hmm I thought I'd have more to say. Maybe it still hasn't sunk in yet.
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