6th November 2008

He won!

posted in News, Politics |

It’s great.  It’s historic.  Jesse Jackson and Oprah Winfrey teared up on national TV.  The first black American president.

He was my candidate.  I’m glad he won.  But…Now he’s stuck with the job. 

And here comes my cold-water, wet-blanket, pessimistic post.  Sorry.  If you’re still feeling giddy with happiness, go somewhere else and don’t read this post until a few months have passed; I don’t want to rain on your parade.

I had a draft post entitled “the Janitor-in-Chief” (based on John Mauldin’s column, “Electing the Janitor-in-Chief“) which I never published, all about my (usual) dismal outlook on the economy, and the mess that the president-elect (whoever he might be) would inherit, and I’m afraid that my pleasure in Obama’s victory is highly tempered by that outlook.

It’s a mess.  It’s a royal mess.  I reiterate my prediction that the new president will be a one-termer.  I hope not, but the economy is racing down the toilet, and there’s a helluva lot more bad economic news to come.  Auto industry executives have been quoted as saying it’s the worst their industry has seen since World War II; Goldman Sach’s investors’ outlook note leaked today says that they’re revising their unemployment estimate upwards from 250,000 jobs lost in October to 300,000, and they expect it to keep getting worse; commercial real estate investment is drying up; the ISM factory index is the lowest it’s been since 1982; real personal spending–which fuels 70% of U.S. GDP–plummeted at an annual rate of 3.9% in the month of September; and on and on and on.

I’d love to think that the hearts and flowers and joy and luv-luv-luv will win over the 53 million people who voted for McCain, but given some things I’ve read on the ‘net today, and some things I’ve heard on boards and in emails, we’ve got a whole slew of people out there who think that Obama is a Marxist/Leninist/socialist/communist/jack-booted thug who is out to tear down the structure of the United States and RUIN US ALL.

(Hey, it’s the right-wing’s version of the liberals’ dreaded October Surprise, the staged terrorist attack that would give BushCo the excuse to call for martial law and suspend the elections…)

Yup, Barack Obama, who the lefties think isn’t left enough, is too moderate and centrist, is a communist thug.  Sigh.

And I sit here thinking to myself:  What?!  Why on earth would anyone want the job?  Why on earth didn’t we let McCain take it, and have him get stuck with the tar and feathers, the anger and frustration and disillusionment that will greet the upcoming years of cleaning up the mess that BushCo left us with?

Gah.  Maybe I’m feeling like this because it’s November, and the light is vanishing fast, and it’s been cold as hell.  Or because some folks who I really love and respect are taking this…um…not well.

(Edited to add:  Okay.  That’s it.  The last.  I was so excited.  So happy.  So thrilled.  And realizing that intelligent, sensible people whom I know and love are scared just shocks me to the core and makes me want to cry.  I see hope; they see fear and hatred.  I see trying to change some of the gawd-awful stuff that BushCo has done; they see destruction.  I see an intelligent, moderate, quiet man who will do his best to do a competent job; they see a Hitler-like demagogue.  And I want to cry.)

Anyway, to read a better (less pessimistic) take that looks at the practicalities, go read John Scalzi’s post, “Reality Check“.

And really, truly, I’m very happy Obama won.  I watched the speech and teared up.  We made OmegaDotter watch with us, telling her it was a historic occasion that she would remember all her life.  It’s amazing that the U.S. was able to actually vote–clearly and decisively (though not a landslide, as some would claim)–for a black man as president.  Forty years ago, one would never have imagined this day.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 at 1:15 am and is filed under News, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

There are currently 5 responses to “He won!”

  1. 1 On November 6th, 2008, Omega Unk said:

    Something that seems to have been forgotten in the headdiness of BO’s win (of which I approve), in which the TV cameras and interviews, center on folk of the coloured persuasion seeking a Messiah, is that the drive, support and encouragement for him to succeed came from his late grandmother, of the white persuasion.

    Unk

  2. 2 On November 6th, 2008, Journeywoman said:

    As hard as it was for him to get here…this was the easy part. He knows it. We all do.

    I think that one of the things he will do is use his community organizing experience to allow us, normal citizens to get involved in the process. Or at least I hope he will.

    It’s kinda like when you have a kid who is a very picky eater and you get the kid involved in cooking dinner…then they try some stuff cause they helped.

    I’m worried, I’m jubilant, And I…I just HOPE.

  3. 3 On November 6th, 2008, Theresa said:

    Cheer up Omegamom! I want to tell you up front that I did not vote for Barack Obama because of among other things his vow to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act” which would go way beyond Roe and override any common sense restrictions on abortion, some of which have been supported by strong majorities on both the left and the right. The fact that FOCA would eliminate any parental consent laws bothers me the most. Having undergone D&E’s with 2 of my 3 miscarriages the thought that my daughter could be taken to have the same surgical procedure done, possibly by an adult boyfriend using coercion, frightens me. She can’t even get a Tylenol in school without my permission but she would be able have a surgical procedure with risks and potential complocations without my knowledge.

    My parents were deeply involved in the pro-life movement but unlike the way such people are often portrayed in the media they and so many others like them truly walked the walk. The first pregnant girl my parents took into their home the summer I graduated high school was a 15 year old African-American girl from West Philly. Her daughter is now 26 years old, married and a college graduate. She might not be here were it not for my parents. When Barack Obama spoke of his grandmother as one of those quiet hidden heroes I thought of my parents and all they have done tirelessly over the years to help those in need. They inspired me to work as a full-time volunteer with Covenant House after college and I worked with many African American girls someof whom were teen mothers. And I know their example influenced us to adopt our daughter as well as for my Bro and SIL to adopt their two children from Korea.

    Having myself taught in urban schools I am thrilled for the African American community because of the potential President Obama has to inspire young African American students to treasure education and not view doing well in school as “selling out”. And I feel happy when I see his beautiful little girls and think of what an inspiration this obviously devoted husband and father will be to other men in the African American community to do the right thing and be there for their families. They can see firsthand how his own father abandoned him but be called to immitate this man who has been married for 16 years and cares for the daughters he helped create in wedlock. He had a very cute joke about this at that Al Smith dinner a couple weeks ago if you can catch it on youtube.

    My greatest heartache when I taught in a very depressed public school in Philadelphia was that so many of the students seemed to look down on those children who worked hard. I wanted to shake them and make them realize that their enslaved ancestors were forbidden an education and risked death if they attempted to learn to read and write. But as a young white female I felt I could not get through to them. I think President Obama can just by what he and his wife achieved with regard to their own education. And although I voted against him for various reasons I have said all along that would be one of the greatest blessings if he won.

    I have heard him tell parents to turn off the TV and help their children with their homework. I pray now for a softening of his heart on the life issues when unlike his gorgeous daughters over 50% of African American babies’ lives end before they are born. He has the power, respect and mandate among his people to be able to exhort them to stop using abortion as if it were birth control and to take responsibility for the children they have brought into the world.

    I hope and pray we can stop this partisan polarization and truly reach out to each other with differing views to find solutions. My political views may differ from yours OM but you always bring such a thoughtful perspective to your posts. We should all be sending our good wishes, thoughts, prayers, positive vibes to our new president especially with regard to his safety. Given our country’s history he is indeed courageous to step forward to take on this job and I pray that he have a long and healthy life and see his grandchildren someday should he have any.

    I feel hopeful and I didn’t even vote the same as you.
    So cheer up!And get under a sun lamp. I truly admire you for I know I could not handle the weather conditions where you are-our 3 days of cold November rain this week is depressing enough for me.

    And I agree with journeywoman about inspiring each of us to help out more. I was so preoccupied the past few years taking care of my parents but now I am determined to get more involved in the community. I am hoping to use my talents to go to the home for mothers in need my parents helped start and offer to teach them cake decorating or pottery classes and bring some brightness into their lives and possibly a new skill at that. Bothing much but something fun for them and good for their self esteem.
    I worked for a ceramics gallery that goes into schools in Philadelphia to teach clay classes. I’d like to do the same in depressed areas outside the city that this existing program does not cover. We can all do something. And every little bit helps. So I look forward to Jan 20th with hope.

  4. 4 On November 6th, 2008, Jean said:

    Be not so pessimistic. Remember FDR - the economy was in full meltdown and sliding into the worst Depression the US has had since the 1880′ when he was elected. I remember the soup lines, day laborer lines that circled the block, unbelievably dirty streets because Chicago didn’t have the $$$ to clean them - and we weren’t the only country in financial trouble. FDR inherited the Great Depression and was elected for 4 terms. He also was smart enough to keep in touch with the “People” by his Fireside Chats once a week.

    There are some political analysts who say Obama’s biggest challange will not be from the GOP but from Pelosi and Reid and the far left Dems..

    We shall see. Have hope. And his election will empower all African-Americans to hold their heads higher, take pride in their being. And with that find out they also have responsibility for their lives to go along with all that. FINALLY King’s message will come through.

    Jean

  5. 5 On November 6th, 2008, noreen said:

    After eight years of fearing for the this country, particularly the Constitution, I have to hold on to some hope. I do think individuals can be an inspiration, and my hope is that he will bring out the best in us. I’m old enough to remember JFK and the inspiration he was, and I think it can be done again.

Leave a Reply