PAULA WHYMAN

  curiouswriter

I've been
floating a theory that one reason Barack Obama could be elected
president while Jesse Jackson could not is that Obama was not part of
the Civil Rights movement, the movement that clearly helped make these
historic events possible.  Obama has emerged, post-Civil Rights, the
way having been cleared for him by a previous generation, much like the
Israelites were said to be forced to wander in the desert for 40 years,
waiting for enslaved generations to die off and make way for a
generation that knew only freedom.  Believe me, I understand that
freedom is relative and not absolute; however I think the metaphor can
be applied.

And now is when I get sappy, a condition I previously exhibited only during dog food commercials.  

I'm grateful today to be able to tell my kids that sometimes democracy actually works.

I'm grateful to be around to participate in this historic moment and, I hope, the ones to follow.

I'm grateful that I don't have to move to Canada.  (No joke, I would've considered it.  I hear you can see Alaska from there.)

I found myself (uncharacteristically) sobbing along with Jesse and Oprah during Obama's acceptance speech, and not just the part where he said he was getting his kids a puppy, although that did put me over the edge.  In part, it was out of relief that this long, dark period may finally be coming to a close.

In case it was humanly possible for anyone to forget...

But only if you're voting for the right team, otherwise please do everyone a favor and stay home.   

This has been a public service announcement.

Since I'm at least as qualified to be VP as Sarah Palin, I think I'm qualified enough to offer my take on the first presidential debate. (Note that NBC didn't invite Ms. Palin to comment--They asked Biden...and Rudy Giuliani.  Do you think she didn't have anything to add?  Maybe she told them what she told Katie Couric -- she'd have to get back to them later on that...)

So, IMHO, if you went into last night's debate already favoring one candidate over the other, I doubt the debate changed your mind.  On the other hand, those who are still undecided--WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU???

Check out the new Jib-Jab video.

Maybe I just need to laugh, what with the price of gas, etc., but McCain's gland and Obama on a unicorn are spit-your-coffee funny.

Dear Sen. Obama,

I really admire you.  I've had high hopes, along with all the other Dems starving for an inspiring, ELECTABLE leader, ever since that famous convention speech.  So, pardon me while I express my deep disappointment in your response to the SCOTUS ruling on the DC gun law. 

What were you thinking??  

Not even a few months ago, you were all oh yeah, it's a good law, blah blah.  And now, in the name of political expediency, the law was "overreaching."  I'm sure it's not necessary to say here that just because SCOTUS says so doesn't mean we all have to agree.  We all get why this happened--  It's a conservative court. 

Should she quit?

(Is it still quitting if you've already lost?)

Did anyone else notice that when John Edwards endorsed Senator Obama, he quoted Ronald Reagan?

 “There is one man who knows in his heart that it is time to tear down that wall and make one America, Barack Obama.”

 Has it come to this?  Does Edwards really believe that the polarization of so-called red and blue America are comparable to that of East and West Germany in 1987?  And what subliminal message is he sending--that Sen. Obama is the next Ronald Reagan--or that Edwards is?

Maybe he could talk some sense into all those bitter, gun- and Bible-wielding folks. You think? Clearly, Sen. Obama could use some help with his Pennsylvania campaign. Any suggestions?