History has been made!

This is a tremendous day for millions of Americans. Barack Obama overwhelmingly won the bid to become the 44th President of the United States. The electoral votes were something like 337 to 163 (I'll update this later). This is an amazing day. It's going to be weird saying President Obama instead of President Bush, but I'll get use to it! LOL

Obama has become the first African-American President of The United States. I think this is wonderful! I look forward to watching this country unite and embrace all races rather than to continue and divide between them. This opens so many doors for our children and probably our country in the eyes of the world. I've witnessed history and I like it! Think about it, Obama will be written about in history books all over the world. One day when my children are studying U.S. History I will be able to tell them I was part of this history! So cool! It's like my dad telling me he remembers exactly where he was and what happened when the country learned of JFK Jr.'s assassination. Not a happy part of history, but nonetheless a part of history. I've lived though some history making events - Princess Diana's passing, the Space Shuttle Challenger accident (which I watched outside at school with my very own two eyes), a few wars, September 11th - but as you can see none are happy days for America. This defining moment, is a happy day, a day to be celebrated!

As I said in my post below, it's hard to believe any man would want to take office in this environment. Obama has a tough, tough road ahead of him. He faces some very tough critics, an economy in a recession, people who want more for themselves and their countries, and international affairs that are very fragile. May God Bless him in his endeavours and keep him safe and our country safe while he fights for this country.

I like what Obama said in his speech last night. He said something along the lines of "For those of you that wondered if America was still the land of opportunity - here is your answer." Amazing! I love that he embraced this country and reminded people that America is still a place for all people and all people can still build and watch their dreams come true.

God Bless America and God Bless the new President of the United States of America - Barack Obama!

Presidential Election 2008

This is an extraordinary day! A day filled with events that I feel I should record for my children to read in the future. I can imagine that one day when they read this they'll be amazed that this day was a "first" in American history, a first that we lived through and participated in. I can imagine that when they are old enough to vote, the political dynamic will be so different, with women holding high positions and diversity of race in power. But, today, we do not and have not had that dynamic. However, at the end of this day, we are going to have a first in American history and it is so exciting to witness it. At that end of today, the United States of America will have either an African-American President or a woman as Vice President. Older generations probably never thought they would see the day that either of these victories would come true.

I voted today. I voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin. I voted Republican. I wouldn't say I am a Republican, I just believed in the Republican Party in this election. I have voted Democratic in the past. In fact, if you take my views and align them with the politicians, I align with Hillary Clinton first followed closely by Barack Obama. However, I would not have voted for either in this election. I am sitting here watching the live election news coverage and realzing that my candidate is going to lose. This is a first. In every election I have participated in, my candidate has always won. We have the "Electoral College" that rules in this country and not popular vote. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win - right now Obama has 207 and McCain 138. Looks like the Democrats are going to take over. Why don't we count the popular vote? I don't understand that.

The Democratic slogan is "Change We Need." I agree, we need change, I'm just not sure it's Obama we need. I'm not sure it is McCain we needed either. In fact, I honestly feel there is probably somebody else out there that is better and more qualified than these two running now. But I digress. We are talking about the President of The United States of America here. I will support whoever wins. I will. We do need change and maybe, hopefully, Obama will bring positive change.

The thing about politicians is that they never give a straight answer. I tried to weed through what was important to me and vote based on that. At the end of the day, I felt like I couldn't trust Obama but I could trust McCain. I really wanted to vote for Obama, I like what he had to say, I like most of the change he wanted to bring about, I just wasn't sure he could get it done. He seemed a little overambitious, which isn't a bad thing by any means. But I wanted someone a little more realistic. We are in tough times here. Plus, Obama really has aligned himself with people that I wouldn't say are "good people." I feel like he isn't experienced enough and his international experience worries me. His wife has made less than stellar comments, comments that make me feel like she would not make a proper First Lady. I was embarrassed by some things she said. However, I do know that both are well-educated and are extremely smart and I trust can and will represent this Country well if elected. I just chose not to vote for them for many reasons, only a few which I listed.

McCain is proven and he fought for this country. He hasn't hidden anything, at least not to my knowledge. I don't agree with some of his life choices and I am not a fan per se of his wife, but she seems harmless. I just feel like he is the better choice with clear policies, or at least more clear than Obama, ideas that I think can be reached, and he has extensive experience which this country needs right now. I will say, however, that I don't think choosing Palin as his running mate was his best choice. Not by a long shot. It's awesome that she is a woman, but she's so conservative and her views are not aligned with mine. I don't think I could ever vote for somebody who would like to over turn the Roe v. Wade decision. Not that I support ProChoice, but I do think it's a woman's right to choose (in the early weeks of pregnancy) in certain incidences like rape or if the pregnancy is a threat to her life. She has a proven track record in Alaska, but that didn't sell me on whether or not she was ready to be President. It was scary thinking she could become President if McCain passed, but I was willing to bet on that not happening. I did consider not voting for McCain because of Palin. I wanted to vote for Obama, but like I said I just couldn't get there. I just didn't trust or believe he could get things done, at least the list of things he said he would. After watching all of the debates I decided on McCain.

Either way, I just want to reiterate what a historic day this is for our country. In the state of the economy we are in and the happenings all over the world, I'm not sure why a man would want to hold the position of President of The U.S. Ok, I know why, but it's a tough road ahead for whoever wins. God Bless both McCain and Obama for runnin. I'm proud to be an American and I am proud to support whichever candidate wins this election. We need change and hopefully the new candidate will bring that with him. The new candidate will bring something new, something historic - either the first African-American President or the first woman Vice President - but even more, hopefully he'll bring about a better economy, better health care, a better country. Hopefully we'll end tonight with a united country - one that is happy about witnessing this historic day!