For For and Against Against

Some thoughts on this, one of the most significant days in human history. The day we “Barack the Vote” for real!

I have generally been one who argues that the people who really have the proverbial ‘no right to complain’ are not those who choose not to vote, but those who choose vote AGAINST someone rather that FOR someone. Truth-be-told I believe that anyone who votes has no room to complain but we can debate that later.

After four years of a guy I thought was a loser before his first term, I really wanted so badly to have had a candidate that deserved my vote in 2004. Perhaps if Kerry had a bit more purpose and backbone I may have given him more consideration, but he was just too willing to let people slap him around and thus clearly NOT the leader I wanted. Many of my like-minded friends supported Kerry as a vote of ‘No Thanks’ to George Bush. That approach was doomed to fail.

In case it is still unclear, I am a person who has never been registered to vote. Until now. There simply has never been a candidate that I felt was worth giving my vote to. If was as simple as voting against someone then there is usually no shortage of GREAT candidates. (too much like a one night stand - the glory last for a few hours and then there's the morning after...and the potential long walk of shame.) Now, for the first time in my life I am a registered voter and have voted! Let me tell you, at the age of 41.9, this is a very liberating feeling! I am off the bench and in the game. Shit.

I feel liberated and frightened as I have now put a lot of trust into these men. If my candidates win I believe they will do many of what I consider to be the right things. I know they will also do things I disagree with, but there is no way around that. Will I complain when they do terrible things, or make bad calls, or ‘pay back’ favors to big corporations? Yes! Does it really make any sense for me to complain about the people I elected? No. I could have chosen not to give them my vote. The game is all about intent and integrity on their part, and judgement and intuition on our part. the problem is the leap of faith we are required to take because we have to 'show first' and trust that they will 'show theirs'.

Should my candidates lose, I now bear some responsibility for their opponents. By selecting to cast my vote for Barack Obama, I am acknowledging that this ‘two’ party system we have works, and thus that John McCain is a viable candidate. I do not believe either of those things to be true, but I would be a hypocrite to complain about the system that I have taken some pleasure in using now. Fortunately I think the choice is clear so if the risk is that great I simply don't feel it. A testament to the times I suppose.

One question that was raised recently is why is today not a National holiday? I thought that was a good question.

On a brighter note, I am happy to report that there is a real sense here in the heartland that things are changing for the better. it’s amazing to me that in a part of the country where the only thing ‘worse’ than being black is being on all fours, people are actually giving their votes to brother Barack.

I have never been more proud of my fellow Nebraskans than I am today.