So, it's the next morning, and I'm still dazed and giddily, blissfully happy. I really didn't think I'd get in last night!
My daughter (15 yrs old, who was with me last night) said she supports him even more now that she's heard him in person.
I love his quietly powerful presence. All of us in the stands were going simply mad with applause and yelling (and crying, in my case), and he wasn't swamped with egomaniacal satisfaction, you know? It was part of the experience for him, but not the main part. The main part for him was the whole big historical moment and the message he wanted to share. I don't know, I don't think I'm describing it very well, but it was really clear that his intention is not personal gratification whatsoever, it is about his grandmother and it's about the people of the US and it's about hope for the future. Our love and applause and screams and everything was appreciated, but it wasn't the point of it all. Something about that seems significant.
Off to work, Day 1 of Life in a Much, Much Better World!!

Posted at June 4, 2008 8:46 AM in response to Barack Obama's Primary Night Speech

I think it's interesting that she refers to there being an opportunity on her site to offer comments on whether she should stay in the race or not.. I wanted to vote 'not', went to the site, the pop-up box is framed as a message of support to stay in the race! There is a comments box, but there's no guarantee that they'll read that, vs. just counting the number of comments and saying they're all in favor of her staying. One more disappointing little episode...

Posted at June 4, 2008 7:46 AM in response to Hillary Clinton's Primary Night Speech

Thanks for mentioning that webcast! I got it, but it ended pretty soon after; was great though still!

Posted at May 25, 2008 12:37 PM in response to Obama: I Take Hillary At Her Word On Bobby Kennedy Gaffe

Actually, I was very uncomfortable during it all, couldn't wait for it to end... but then I hadn't yet connected here.. I got lost when this site added all it's features, and hadn't come back till recently. If I'd been here, it would have gone better. But I loathe that part of the process.
Now if you can all just reassure me that Obama won't be assassinated during the next 8 years (or ever, preferably), I'd be forever grateful.

Posted at May 8, 2008 10:19 PM in response to Primary-withdraw syndrome

I really liked your post. I come from union folks, and was missing exactly your points as I read Zakaria's book. His book was interesting etc.. but so scarily positive - caused excessive dissonance in terms of how I had been thinking of things. You've bridged some of that dissonance.
The work ahead continues to seem huge - since we in the US aren't able to bridge differences hardly at all anymore of any scale, how will the grassroots constituencies here sustain meaningful and effective communication with their counterparts in other countries far away? To the extent that it's possible, I imagine folks like you will have a big role to play!

Posted at May 7, 2008 11:38 PM in response to Bashing China (and the US) from the Left - and Below

Wow, you folks are a lot of fun! I don't mean to interrupt or anything, just wanted to say how excited I am to find this all here. Hadn't been around much lately, just was fretting and worrying all on my own. But you all are here, and this is great! I am grateful already for being able to get through this next election with all of you. Ok, carry on!

Posted at May 7, 2008 8:05 PM in response to Hillary Huddling With Super-Dels In D.C.