The Party is finally over. Not the Bush - Cheney Party. Not the Republican Party, technically speaking. Not the Religious Right party. And...not even the wild party around the corner from me. THAT one, is still going on...and may in fact, never end.
I did, howewer, promise a new and exciting Posting once our own Obama - Biden Victory Party had come to a close. I am pretty sure that not even the guys around the corner are having a better time than we did. No Animals were harmed during the course of the near full day of borderline debauchery. And, lastly...being at a Victory gathering which included young and old, white, black and brown...man, woman and the occasional child...Christian, Muslim and Jew, Native American, Naturalized Citizen, and perhaps even one person who MIGHT not fit into either category...I was even more moved I thought I might be, at the exact moment that the United States of America passed the mantel of power, prestige and authority, to an African American whose real middle name is NOT Steve.
Over the next few days, I will endeavor to collect all of my thoughts on the campaign, the election, the immediate aftermath and long-term consequences of each...and to read the tea leaves, lay hands upon my crystal ball, and at the same time chart a course outlining the future of American Political Theory, Thought and Practice. I will try hard not to dwell on issues or areas which other commentators are finally addressing...and which I have written much about over the past weeks or months; though I may at least remind Readers, in appropriate instances, that I beat those more noteworthy names to the punch.
All-in-all, however, I will go to great lengths to stay on topic and message at a time when our own emotions, as well as those of our neighbors, leaders, nation and the entire world, are at levels which rival any spike in endorphins which has been seen since John Hancock inked his slightly oversized autograph, smack dab in the center of the signature portion of the Declaration of Independence.
Let me start by reminding Readers that I had been writing about LANDSLIDES for nearly two months. It was six weeks ago, when the National Headquarters of the Obama Campaign asked me to please STOP using the word LANDSLIDE in any of my Postings. At that time, we transformed THE L WORD into THE UNSPOKEN WORD...and also promised that we would also agree to issue a heart felt plea to Readers to GET OUT AND VOTE, anytime we used even THE UNSPOKEN WORD in any Posting.
Last night, we had a Documentary Filmaker and at least one member of the Press at our Party. We opened the gathering with an amazing prayer for the safety and security of OUR NEW PRESIDENT and his family. We ate food which my resident Five Star Chef (and soulmate) had prepared for the crowd of more than fifty guests. We sampled a multi-layer cake, fully equipped with what appeared to be the colums which appeared behind Barack Obama during his Denver, Colorado Acceptance Speech. We drank. And...then we drank some more. We watched republicans openly boo OUR NEW PRESIDENT...and wept openly, as we watched the history of the world re-written...when OUR NEW PRESIDENT addressed a quarter of a million people in Grant Park...and nearly 80,000,000 more viewers of the telecast.
We talked about what it took to get to this point...and where we go from here.
And, in all of it...there was almost no discussion of politics, or anything political at all...other than the fact that 364 Electoral Votes, and a near 8,000,000 Popular Vote margin of victory DID, IN FACT, constitute a LANDSLIDE.
So what if Bob Novak was on enough pain medication to suggest otherwise..
So what, if virtually every right-wing talk radio host had at least ten excuses for the McCain LANDSLIDE loss, AND offered no more than a little left-handed support for OUR NEW LEFT HANDED PRESIDENT.
So what if Keith Olbermann made a huge deal on his show about how IRRELEVANT any of those commentators are, or will be again...OR, that I had written about this exact same point more than two weeks ago, in anticipation of an Obama Victory.
For a moment in time...it didnt matter who the republican Presidential Nominee might be in 2012, how much more than $150,000 Sarah Palin might have fraudulently spent on campaign clothling, or whether Mark Salter tried to sneak a peek under her towel during their private meeting in a Minneapolis hotel room during the republican National Convention.
The tears in Grant Park, and in our home, on the faces of those who have prayed for, worked for, and walked this entire walk with OUR NEW PRESIDENT and his family were all that mattered, and needed absolutely no further explanation.
There was a clear understanding that Barack Obama inherits our nation from a morally, spiritually, socially and perhaps financially bankrupt Administration.
There was a clear understanding that Barack Obama could very easily find himsefl three days into a Presidency where he might have to come to grips with the fact that his own worst nightmare might not even accurately describe the situation he could find himself in the middle of.
There was an even clearer understanding that BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA is more than a man, and more than a messenger.
BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA...is THE MESSAGE.
OUR NEW PRESIDENT routinely reminds us that there is no Red America, or Blue America...there is only The United States of America. At our gathering last night, and into today...we did celebrate. And, after Barack made his appearance in Grant Park...we DID have a laugh or two at the expense of John McCain, and especially Sarah Palin. We DID remind ourselves that THE NEW, IRELLEVANT, and henceforth UNSPOKEN WORDS in our vocabulary WILL BE...Hannity, Limbaugh, Bill-O and the rest. We reminded each other of how ridiculously bitter the other side had become.
And then...we promised each other, that the moment OUR PARTY was over, whatever time that might be...we would no longer revel in the dismay of those who supported John McCain, or, spend valuable time continuing to celebrate the political victory which this group of more than fifty people had worked so hard for, for so long.
It is OUR PARTY, which is over.
And, it is our commitment to The Man WHO IS The Message...to continue to work tirelessly in support of bridging the divide which is the only political spectrum that an entire generation of Americans has ever known.
In earlier conversation with a very staunch conservative colleague, that colleague told me he could never vote for Obama, because he was Black.
I told my colleague that Obama is NOT Black...he is GRAY! Half Black...Half White. I told my colleague that any painter in the world will tell you that half a can of white, and half a can of black...will give you a FULL can...of gray.
My colleague shook his head, told me I was crazy...and two weeks later, attended our Party AFTER VOTING FOR Barack Obama.
There is no Red America. There is no Blue America. There is only The United States of America. And, if we feel compelled to assign The Color Purple to the United States...even if royalties are due to Oprah Winfrey in the process...then so be it.
Whether Barack Obama is President for 4 years, or eight years...whether he is succeeded by Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, any Democrat, any republican, or the then reincarnation of Ralph Nader...it will never be The Messenger who will save this country from itself.
Only The Message will permit this Nation and our world to continue to enjoy the peace, prosperity and greatness of character and purpose which has been delivered to us in the form and presence of Barack Hussein Obama.
And, The Message...is that if the scars are not healed...if the gaping divisions between our respective pollitics are not filled, tamped and supported...if, in this time of unthinkable financial crisis, unending armed conflict and more than virtual uncertainty as to the continued viability, not just of this Country, but of our very planetary existence, we are unable to put the interests of ALL above those of a select few...the end we fear...will soon be here.
Thank you, Barack. Thank you for listening intently enough to hear the call.
Thank you for having taken steps in your life, which prepared you for a time when that call would come...and made you able to respond.
Thank you for having the courage to come forward, the will to proceed, and the ability to convince hardened hearts that there is One America...One World...and that WE are what it will take to preserve it.
Many of my Postings will continue to be intense. They will continue to be humorous...occasionally, if not on a regular basis. They will always be well-reasoned, rational and logical. They will also reflect a conscious notion that Growth, in any form...is a process. And, however lengthy OR PAINFUL that process may be for some...it will continue to be my own calling, and in effect, my duty, to attempt to do make some small, but hopefully significant contribution to a movement fostering peace, prosperity, progress and a sense of general understanding and acceptance.
Thank you, My Good Friends.
Lionus