super tuesday
Feb. 5th, 2008 08:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kaydeefalls
I'm not a politically savvy person. I don't talk about politics here much. I know I'm not particularly eloquent or knowledgable or inspiring when it comes to these things. But please indulge me just this once.
In fall of 2004, I was starting my second year at college. I was 19. It was the first election year I was eligible to vote in. Most of my friends were fussing about absentee ballots, and what the deadlines were, and wondering whether or not their votes would even be counted. But I registered to vote with my school address, in Chicago, rather than my then-permanent address back home in New York. I was determined to be an Illinois voter for the sole purpose of being able to vote for Barack Obama for senator.
I've had "barack obama for president" as an LJ interest since that 2004 DNC. I joked that I was going to write him in for president that year, because Kerry (for whom I did vote) was so singularly uninspiring a candidate. Wishful thinking, I figured, but what the hell. In my lifetime, I have never, and I mean never, been at all inspired by any politician. Reagan was president when I was born; I have never known a White House without either a Bush or a Clinton in some capacity. The first election I remember with any clarity was Clinton vs. Dole in 1996; I was glad Clinton won because my parents (even my generally-Republican father) voted for him. I rooted for Gore in 2000 only because Bush was so unappealing; I was kind of sad McCain lost the Republican primary, because he at least seemed like a slightly palatable alternative. I had very little interest in the 2004 primaries, because none of the Democratic contenders were particularly strong candidates; I vaguely supported Edwards, but didn't bother voting in the primary. I voted for Kerry only because he wasn't Bush. I'd never even paid attention to Senate races before -- I just wasn't all that interested in politics. And frankly, with Bush at the helm, I wasn't feeling particularly patriotic or happy to be American. But then suddenly here was this young, charismatic, inspiring, unknown speaker at the DNC, whom I'd never even heard of but who made me want to care, want to be political, want a stake in our government. And that's something I'd never encountered before in my life.
I don't have any real problems with Hillary Clinton. I was happy enough when she was elected senator of my home state. I think she'd make a decent president -- certainly far better than Bush. If she wins the nomination, I'll be content to vote for her in November.
But this morning, I got to vote to nominate Barack Obama for President of the United States, and in a way, it's the fulfillment of a dream I never really thought would come to pass.
Si, se puede.
ETA: For a coherent, well-written review of why Obama would make a good president, have a look over here. She's way more politically savvy than I am.
In fall of 2004, I was starting my second year at college. I was 19. It was the first election year I was eligible to vote in. Most of my friends were fussing about absentee ballots, and what the deadlines were, and wondering whether or not their votes would even be counted. But I registered to vote with my school address, in Chicago, rather than my then-permanent address back home in New York. I was determined to be an Illinois voter for the sole purpose of being able to vote for Barack Obama for senator.
I've had "barack obama for president" as an LJ interest since that 2004 DNC. I joked that I was going to write him in for president that year, because Kerry (for whom I did vote) was so singularly uninspiring a candidate. Wishful thinking, I figured, but what the hell. In my lifetime, I have never, and I mean never, been at all inspired by any politician. Reagan was president when I was born; I have never known a White House without either a Bush or a Clinton in some capacity. The first election I remember with any clarity was Clinton vs. Dole in 1996; I was glad Clinton won because my parents (even my generally-Republican father) voted for him. I rooted for Gore in 2000 only because Bush was so unappealing; I was kind of sad McCain lost the Republican primary, because he at least seemed like a slightly palatable alternative. I had very little interest in the 2004 primaries, because none of the Democratic contenders were particularly strong candidates; I vaguely supported Edwards, but didn't bother voting in the primary. I voted for Kerry only because he wasn't Bush. I'd never even paid attention to Senate races before -- I just wasn't all that interested in politics. And frankly, with Bush at the helm, I wasn't feeling particularly patriotic or happy to be American. But then suddenly here was this young, charismatic, inspiring, unknown speaker at the DNC, whom I'd never even heard of but who made me want to care, want to be political, want a stake in our government. And that's something I'd never encountered before in my life.
I don't have any real problems with Hillary Clinton. I was happy enough when she was elected senator of my home state. I think she'd make a decent president -- certainly far better than Bush. If she wins the nomination, I'll be content to vote for her in November.
But this morning, I got to vote to nominate Barack Obama for President of the United States, and in a way, it's the fulfillment of a dream I never really thought would come to pass.
Si, se puede.
ETA: For a coherent, well-written review of why Obama would make a good president, have a look over here. She's way more politically savvy than I am.
