Conflicted

I've been struggling all day about what, how, if I would write anything about the election. Emotions have been so high. Now that the campaigning and voting is done, I find myself no less conflicted than I have felt throughout this election. I am a riot of emotions. Not all bad, but certainly not all good.

I am optimistic that President Elect Obama can restore faith in our country and return us to a place of respect in the eyes of the world. He is most certainly a charismatic and energetic leader and I have little doubt that he will prove to be an effective diplomat.

I am doubtful because he is one man, one man who has made many, many promises. He is not the first to win his way into office through promises of prosperity and comfort, nor would he be the first to fail to follow through, but his failure will be so damaging to the collective psyche of all those who have pinned such expectations on him that I worry for the fallout.

I am happy that the racial barriers that have plagued our country for so long have at last fallen such that a black man can aspire to AND reach the highest office.

I am saddened that the women of this election who struggled for a similar accomplishment have been met with such unequal treatment. Hillary Clinton was a bitch for being tough like her male counterparts and Sarah Palin was a bimbo who was alternately abandoning her family or using them for political gain. No such treatment was hurled at the males in this election. While we seem to have cleared a hurdle in the racial issue, the gender glass ceiling is still very real.

I am worried that just as a Republican led house, senate and president were bad for our country, so too will be the Democratic trifecta. We NEED balance. We need cooperation. I have seen none of this in a long time, from anyone.

But mostly, I am just relieved to have this all over. I have been in knots for weeks, no, months. I have read and heard so much anger and hate. So much hyperbole. So much finger pointing. I am glad to be done with it.

So. Let's move forward. You say you can. Now prove it.

If Only The Debates Were Like This

I know these are a little long, but, seriously, you have to watch them because they are hilarious. Regardless of who you support*, you must watch BOTH of them.





It is so refreshing to see these two men who have been so vitriolic lately come out with some humor and good will.

*I want absolutely, positively NO partisan talk in the comments. I am sick to death of the back and forth. I hold my views, you hold yours, no one is convincing anyone of anything at this point, so lets just enjoy these videos in the spirit they were intended. Amen.