Obama, politics
Obama wins! I'm so happy at this outcome. Obama is the embodiment of what I grew up thinking the President should be: an intelligent, compassionate, and just caretaker of our country. Thinking back to my childhood, I don't think I would've taken special notice of the election of a black man. I'm glad that seems to be the prevailing sentiment, and it makes me optimistic.
Obama's acceptance speech was markedly sober. I suppose that's appropriate. As a country we're in a tough spot. It's impossible to know if Obama will be able to right the ship completely, but I feel certain he's our best chance. Looking back over the Bush years (really the only administration I've known in more than a superficial way), I don't really think the mistakes were borne of malice. I think they were the result of some foolishness, a lot of sophistry, and a lack of critical analysis. Obama seems decidedly less likely to be afflicted by those maladies.
I thought McCain's concession speech was very good. For the first time he gave Obama unguarded praise, and it seemed truly sincere. I thought the jeers from the crowd really detracted from it and illustrated how unhinged his campaign had become. I hope he makes good on his promises of reconciliation. Right now Obama's margin of victory is about five points--a clean win, but not necessarily a mandate. Some cooperation will certainly be needed.
I'm anxious to see how the California ballot measure on same-sex marriage plays out. If gay marriage gets knocked down in California the prospects for the rest of the country are grim indeed. I'm kind of at a loss about the whole issue. I mean, religion is the central element to most people's opposition to gay marriage, but our government isn't supposed to support any particular religion. The opposition to gay marriage presupposes that current laws favor their religious views. Isn't that flaw self evident? I guess the real rub is that people don't see it as a flaw... So much for equal protection.
I'm sure some would say, "Oh no, the public interest in marriage is in supporting families." That's so obviously a post-hoc rationalization. You don't have to have/want kids to get married. You can have kids and get divorced. The impetus for opposing same-sex marriage is either religiously inspired homophobia or just the regular kind. End of story.
I'm also aghast that Republicans seem to be setting up Palin for 2012. I mean, I guess she'll actually have some experience and qualifications four years from now, but come on--men and dinosaurs coexisting 6000 years ago?! It'd be funny if only the joke wasn't on us.
Obama's acceptance speech was markedly sober. I suppose that's appropriate. As a country we're in a tough spot. It's impossible to know if Obama will be able to right the ship completely, but I feel certain he's our best chance. Looking back over the Bush years (really the only administration I've known in more than a superficial way), I don't really think the mistakes were borne of malice. I think they were the result of some foolishness, a lot of sophistry, and a lack of critical analysis. Obama seems decidedly less likely to be afflicted by those maladies.
I thought McCain's concession speech was very good. For the first time he gave Obama unguarded praise, and it seemed truly sincere. I thought the jeers from the crowd really detracted from it and illustrated how unhinged his campaign had become. I hope he makes good on his promises of reconciliation. Right now Obama's margin of victory is about five points--a clean win, but not necessarily a mandate. Some cooperation will certainly be needed.
I'm anxious to see how the California ballot measure on same-sex marriage plays out. If gay marriage gets knocked down in California the prospects for the rest of the country are grim indeed. I'm kind of at a loss about the whole issue. I mean, religion is the central element to most people's opposition to gay marriage, but our government isn't supposed to support any particular religion. The opposition to gay marriage presupposes that current laws favor their religious views. Isn't that flaw self evident? I guess the real rub is that people don't see it as a flaw... So much for equal protection.
I'm sure some would say, "Oh no, the public interest in marriage is in supporting families." That's so obviously a post-hoc rationalization. You don't have to have/want kids to get married. You can have kids and get divorced. The impetus for opposing same-sex marriage is either religiously inspired homophobia or just the regular kind. End of story.
I'm also aghast that Republicans seem to be setting up Palin for 2012. I mean, I guess she'll actually have some experience and qualifications four years from now, but come on--men and dinosaurs coexisting 6000 years ago?! It'd be funny if only the joke wasn't on us.