Bye bye Bush

Warning: This is a VERY opinionated blog. If you don't know me, don't judge me solely on this posting. If you do know me, don't dis-friend me solely on this posting. I am not a hater. I believe how I believe but I do not claim to be 100% right and/or that anyone else is 100% wrong. Differences between people are the best things there are - I don't want anyone to think just like me. I have some very, very close friends who I would give my left lung to if they needed it who are devout Republicans and conservatives. So please, don't think I am a bleeding heart liberal with a close mind. I am a 'beating heart' liberal with enough love to go round to even those I don't agree with.


In about 12 hours we will have a new president. I can hardly wait.

Now... I describe myself as a 'recovering Republican.' Until I was about 21, I was a die-hard Republican. I helped start the Young Republican Part in my hometown. I worked 3 different gubernatorial inaugurations in Alaska. I even campaigned for Bush Sr. (papa Bush if what I call him). However, when I studied abroad in 1996-97 my eyes were opened in ways I can hardly put into words and I have been a liberal ever since. However, in graduate school, my eyes were further openned in ways that lead me to leave the political scene entirely. Since about 1998 I have had no interest in politics - which was very surprising considering how incredibly active I was for so long.

I supported Obama from the start, but I wasn't active or vocal about it. I had watched him on Oprah about a year before he announced his candicacy and I really liked him. He spoke of how him and his wife travel to Africa every year and go with a group of locals to get AIDS tested. He is showing them that "If a well-off American man still needs to get tested, than they certainly do." With the growing AIDS epidemic in that country, I found this act very touching. He does it to show it doesn't hurt, doesn't take hardly any time, and is very necessary. I like him right off. When he announced in candicacy, I knew I would vote for him. But it took me about a year before I committed enough to go get a bumper sticker. And it was the first bumper sticker I had had in over 10 years, for anyone. To me, it was a very big deal. For the first time in those 10 years, there was someone I truly, completely believed in.

However, I never put the bumper sticker up. Just didn't get around to it. And didn't want to commit publicly to supporting anyone - I find most political discussions to be entirely boring and meaningless. Plus most people can't discuss it in civilized, sophisticated ways that still hold a level of repsect between those who don't agree. I just simply don't need that stress and drama in my life. So I kept quiet, mostly. But then it happened. Something I found to be the most offensive, politically non-sensical and entirely reprehensible act performed by a presidential candidate in years - John McCain chose Sarah Palin as a running mate. Sarah Palin?! WTF??!! I was outraged!

I had had a bumper sticker on my car the says "Alaska girls kick ass" for over a year. I am Alaskan and damn proud of it. When I was shopping at a store a few days after this announcement, a stranger approached me and began to berrate me for my support of Palin. WTF??!! I was speechless and entirely offended. I went home and hung the Obama sticker up right next to the Alaska one. I wanted there to be no mistake as to who I was supporting.

I found Sarah Palin to be completely incompetent. Seriously. I have struggled to find even the most simple of things about her that I can tolerate, understand and/or accept. She represents everything about politics that I dislike and made me leave - without education, talent, ability and free thought, someone (ANYONE) can get ahead in politics by simply 'backing the right horse' most of the time. It is not a 'what you know' but 'who you know' environment. Usually, those people do have some level of experience in order to attain high or moderately high office. But for Palin, I see none of that. From her personal choices to her political leanings, that woman offended my very core. And what was worse - she was from MY home! She, in my opinion, was giving everyone in Alaska a bad rap and making them look uneducated, silly and downright stupid. Alaska is my home - no matter how far away from it I get. I have always been, and always will be, Alaskan first and American second - it is the mentality a lot of Alaskans have, not just me. But Sarah Palin... I imagine how I felt about her is equivalent to how any 'group' feels about anyone who somehow gets seen as their leader and seems to exhibit all of the trait and stereotypes they have fought so hard to shed and defeat. Whether or not the country was responsive to her, I found her representation of my home (not to mention women in general) to be entirely reprehensible. Overnight my quiet approval of Obama became a passionate fight for his election. I not only wanted him elected but I wanted HER to lose!

And she did, and he did. I watched the live feed when he accepted and sat at home crying my eyes out. As much as I disliked Palin and wanted Obama, I had had my worst fears realized in too many past elections. My 'trust' in the American public was shot. But then, suddenly, instantly it was restored. I looked at my boyfriend and said, "For the first time in 15 years, I am truly and entirely proud to be an American." And I meant it. Completely.

So here we are on the eve of a historical event. Yes, he is the first black president. But to me, personally, it is more historical than that. To me, this is the first president I have completely chosen and believed in. Others I supported (Bush Sr., Clinton, etc.) I liked and voted for because I thought they would 'do alright' or 'not as bad as the other guy.' But with Obama, he is someone I actually believe in. He is my John F. Kennedy. He is my example of what America can be and may become.

Regardless of how Obama does as president, how the next four years go or anything.... I thank him for giving me hope and belief in my fellow Americans and my country. I know he will have set-backs and he will make mistakes. He has a very tough job to do, more tough than most other past presidents have had. But I believe he was the best choice we had and I believe he will bring new life, love and vitality to our country. I truly do.

And if I'm wrong, I just hope he doesn't screw it up any more than it already it.

And as for Sarah Palin - though I despise her entirely, I thank her for making me loathe her enough to pull-my-head-out-of-my-ass and jump back into politics full-force. Though I don't know if I will remain active or not. Though I have no idea how involved I will become, she represented exactly why it is I believe people need to be informed and educate themselves on candidates and issues. She is WHY informed voting is the ONLY voting that should be occurring. Sometimes the worst example is the best example.... And if she returns, I will be waiting and ready to support anyone and everyone who will go against her and ensure her defeat (politically, I am not advocating a hate crime).

A friend sent me a 'piece of flair' that I think pretty much summed up this election for myself and many others with regards to Palins selection and campaign ideas "Just because I have a vagina does NOT mean I am voting for one."

Good luck President Obama.... please don't mess it up.