Obama won. I drank (James Bonds) and ate (gaucamole, hummus, spaghetti bolognese) more than was strictly necessary. Didn’t get to sleep until nearly 3 am because my head was full. African Americans have gone from 0 to 60 in just over forty years. In political terms, that’s better than a Maserati. Yay! Let’s hope the acceleration continues.
But California’s Proposition 8 passed. Lesbians and gay men are still second-class citizens. For now we still have to sit at the back of the bus and drink from a separate water fountain–and in some states there are no water fountains for us at all.
So today I’m suffering a heavy dose of anticlimax. I am delighted, truly pleased, that Obama won. I am miserable, deeply unhappy, that Proposition 8 (and other ballot measures in Arizona and Florida) passed.
My hope now lies in the Northeast (uh-oh, I think I’ve been watching too much Lord of the Rings *g*), where I think there will soon be a same-sex marriage corridor from Vermont to New Jersey. And there will be lawsuits in California. Go Gloria Allred!
I’m looking forward to what happens in the next few weeks.
Any bets on what role Hillary Clinton will or won’t be offered, what she might or might not accept?
Nicola Griffith 
I’m happy that obama won but I worry that he won’t be very good and he’ll undo all the hard work he’s done and we’ll be stuck with moronic republicans calling the shots.I’m sorry to here about the preposition thing (I live in the UK so excuse my ignorance on this) seems you guys across the pond still have a long way to go with the whole ‘tolerance’ thing…
I am certainly not pleased that the anti-gay marriage amendments passed, however I am optimistic that the country has signaled it is ready for a change.The United States can be very slow sometimes and patience is needed but I truly believe that gay rights will start to move forward, slowly but surely.I don’t see Hillary Clinton being offered a role in this administration. I think that there is a great deal of animosity between Clinton and Obama, probably more so from her husband. Also, she is still such a lightening rod, I don’t think Obama will want to give up any good will to bring her in to his administration. I hope she stays in her current role, she has been good for New York.
spectra, I think he has potential. A lot depends on the cooperation he gets from congress. And, oh yes, tolerance is a bit of a new concept to some people over here. Sigh.rory, oh, we’ll get there in the end, but how many people have to get hurt (emotionally, physically, financially) first? The time is *now*. I’m really, really tired of being a 2nd class citizen.The best job for Senator Clinton, IMO, would be leader of the the senate majority. I think she’d do a kickass job and help Obama get his agenda through.
I agree with you completely, Nicola. Hillary should be offered something big considering the peace she made and the unprecedented campaigning she did for him.And the animosity? I honestly don’t think there’s too much there between Barack and Hillary. They’re much like teachers–they’re too busy and too tired and too focused to waste energy being mad at someone. Especially one who can be of great help.(FYI: Some students have been convinced that teachers hate them for some reason, when they really don’t. We just don’t have the energy to spend on something that silly.
janine, I agree, I doubt Obama and Clinton have the energy for animosity. They’re both Big Picture people (at least if you believe the publicity…). I’ll be following transition team and cabinet appointments with interest.And, yep, about teachers: young people do tend to think they’re the centre of the universe :)Having said that, I know for a fact one of my teachers loathed me (she was my sister’s room mate–they didn’t like each other, either). She disliked me because a) I stole her boyfriend (it was a long time ago…) and b) I was good at sports (she was one of the gym teachers–the other disliked me, too) but left the school teams to do other things.
.snort.Well…I suppose stealing her boyfriend might have added a bit more energy to her emotions. .grin.
Now that the election is done, I will voice my concern’s about Senator Obama. I did vote for him. However,I have, from the beginning, expressed to my friends and family that I feel that there is another agenda. And frankly, if given a better alternative would have gone another way. My concern is that what we have been shown and promised is not really what we are going to get. Senator Obama may be out in front of the troops carrying the insignia flag but there are others that strategically placed him there. Only time will tell to what end.My vote definitely was for change. Not the person per se but the concept promulgated. I think John Mc Cain is a good man- with an inflexible world view. I voted more against the Republican party than this man.I do not believe Senator Obama will serve more than one term. Perhaps I am being cynical and will own up to that.Prop 8: Let us hope that they count every- last- single- vote before it is accepted that it did pass. My HRC bulletin said their were many remaining ballots to be counted……I had a chocolate malt and a good soak in a hot bath.
Before this election I told my nearest and dearest(and a few enemies) that this country would elect a black man before it would elect a woman president. It is really unsatisfactory to be so right. Women remain(including Sarah Palin) second class citizens. That made me angry when I was ten years and it still makes me angry. Yes we can what?
janine, yeah, she was pretty energetic in her dislike :)linda, I much prefer straightforward comments to insinuations. Please speak clearly.barbara, I learnt long ago not to get competitive about oppression. The fact that women are 2nd class citizens sucks, a lot. But I’m delighted for this country that you no longer have to be lily-white to aspire to great things.