Obligatory Political Moment

I'm not going to spend time talking about my political leanings or try to use tarot cards to try to foretell the future.

I'll begin with the right, because I'm right handed:

I was honestly moved my McCain's concession speech last night. It was clear, it was concise...and it wasn't a mouth breathing fear mongering tirade. Where was this man the last months of the campaign? I can only guess that he was convinced that he had to go Rove to win the election. He would have to court the hardcore conservative votes, turn them out in massive numbers, and try to paint Obama as a terrorist socialist... Clearly it didn't work, and I'm not entirely sure his heart was in it. He was hurt when his seven minutes of hate speeches were compared to the rallies in the south during the Civil Rights era...and he never really recovered. But here, at the end, he finally resembled the man from 2000 people I know were hoping for:



As for Obama, what can I say that hasn't been said? Yes, I was inspired, I have hope...and I really hope that his victory marks an end to the murky era of Clintonian back room deals and tyrannical reign of the elite council. Will it? I don't know. I am disheartened by the resounding defeats of gay rights...perhaps in an ironic moment the black community which Obama inspired to vote in record numbers were responsible for defeating prop8 in Cali. (they broke nearly 70-30 against it). Oh well, I'm still...optimmistic? My eyes aren't clouded by unrealistic expectations, but I am excited that this could lead to a new method. Not the best cut of his speech...but who cares.



Oh! And the youth vote...so far it looks like the youth vote increased its overall share of the general vote from 17 to 18%. That doesn't seem much, until you figure that every voting class increased in numbers this year, and the youth vote still gained a percentage point above that increase. Still showing a 33% turnout versus a 51% turnout of older voters...which is sad, but better than it's been before.