i guess we've said all we can about this election. i don't think there's any question on where we stand. but that won't stop me from sharing a couple more things.
the rally:
we left the apartment for the walk (less than a mile) to the rally site shortly after 1. the lines were set to open at 2. by the time we reached the point at which the line started, we were told that the end of the line was more than 1/4 mile away. there appeared to be several lines, starting at different points, at least as long. amazing. we bought t-shirts and buttons and decided that instead of getting in one of the crazy lines, we'd walk over to the public space (mall a) with benches situated in front of the main mall (c) where the stage was set up, figuring that there was no way all the people in line could fit in mall c, and that we'd probably be in mall a anyway. at least we'd be able to sit for the 3 hours before the rally was set to start.
i wore my flag shirt (i call it my jerry rubin shirt), bill his obama t-shirt over warmer clothes. on the walk over, cleveland streets were filled with browns fans (always a spectacle in their browns gear) and obama rally people. a browns paraphernalia vendor yelled to me "lady, that's the best shirt i've seen all day!" i said "you know where i'm headed!" him: "i think we just might pull it off!" me: "god, i hope so!" a really nice, friendly atmosphere.
we found an empty double bench with room for our friends who were biking to the site. another young couple came and sat near us. bill always rolls his eyes at me that i talk to EVERYONE. i do. i had a wonderful time with this young couple. when greg and melissa showed up, we all enjoyed each other's company. how could you not? the news reported that the crowd numbered from 60,000 to 80,000. all excited obama people.
i'm guessing the speakers started well after 4. springsteen may have showed up around 5. well worth the wait. he played an accoustic set of his more "folk-y" pieces, including "youngstown" and a really, really cool slow "thunder road." he spoke movingly about obama, and then obama and family came on stage. he spoke confidently and with grace. i was glad that he was a bit more pointed and critical of mccain. it's hard for me to put into words my admiration of the man. no, i don't think he's a "god." pfffft. i think he's a remarkable, dignified, educated, humble, compassionate, exemplary human being. he inspires me to try to be a better woman. i think he makes americans look better than i think many of us are. if he wins, i believe we'll all be better for it.
we walked home in the rain. i was thrilled that we went. we were there.
and then this: i had one of the most mind-blowing conversations of my life with a friend of mine last night. she is a registered democrat, yet admitted she was voting for mccain/palin. i couldn't believe it. "are you freaking kidding me?" do you want mccain, or worse, palin, with his finger on the button during the next "cuban missile crisis? are you freaking kidding me?"
"you're an educated thinking woman! what the hell??!!" her responses indicated that she knows that obama is the smarter choice, but, but... get ready for this... are you ready?... "i just feel deep down that obama has deep terrorist ties."
this absolutely breaks my heart. i'm slightly nauseous writing this. this is what mccain and palin have created. we are on the verge of having a president that a great number of americans believe is a terrorist. politics in this country has deteriorated to this place. yeah, yeah, i know what mccain said to the crazy lady who said that she thinks obama is an "arab" (code word for terrorist to the ignorant hoi polloi). not enough. we all know that mccain/palin people encouraged this kind of thinking. shame on you. shame. and shame on you IDIOTS who bought into this.
and if mccain/palin wins -- well that's the worst shame of all. john mccain is just a shadow of who he was in 2,000. a shadow. a man who tried to live SOME of his life with integrity has deteriorated to this. this awful shell. if god still loves john mccain, he'll let him lose this election. then he can live the rest of his life trying to redeem himself instead of embracing his ghost.
i'm afraid. and excited. going back and forth. i want to say that i can't wait for tomorrow, but i am soooo afraid that tomorrow will be a day of absolute, utter despair for me and more than half of the american population OR a day of fear to the rest of america that our new president is a terrorist.
thank you, john mccain. america first. pfffft. bullshit.
Posted by Stacey at November 4, 2008 09:32 AMI agree 100%! I liked McCain in 2000. I was excited to hear he was running and thought for a moment that this election might just be worth the choice....
It is going to be a long night and I plan to sit up through the whole thing. I'm excited because Indiana is literally a 50/50 split... I'm hoping it swings our way!
-d
This is where I'm sitting, too. Absolutely and positively terrified that it might turn out to be a day of sheer horror that too many Americans have bought into that line of bull.
I had dreams all night that it was a landslide for Obama. An absolute embarrassment for McCain with numbers that had him nearly hiding. But I am still afraid. It was just a dream, after all...
Posted by: Keri at November 4, 2008 11:37 AMI tossed and turned until 3:00 this morning...angry that the very people who say they know God, should then also know that God does not author fear and confusion. And, these are the very people who are authoring fear and confusion into the hearts and minds of so many. I mean IF the so-called Christian people of our country really believe their bibles...that message is in there for them, clearly.
I am worn out; angered; sad; nervous and excited all rolled into one.
As an afterthought Stace, in my questions or concerns about Obama way back, I never once, not one time even considered that the man might have dealings with terrorists. That is just ludicrous; and I am so sorry that your friend believes the bull. As I live and breath, I hope he has the opportunity to prove the fearmongers wrong.
Your writing of him here is eloquent and lovely.
Miss you...
Posted by: tracy at November 4, 2008 07:05 PM