What a long, strange trip this season has been. For me, it started in 2005. Having picked myself up after the devastating 2004 elections, I penned a letter to some freshman Senator from Illinois who moved me to tears during the 2004 convention. In this letter, I begged him to run for president, insisting that his inexperience in Washington was actually his greatest asset. Who could have foreseen what would follow?
First, the primary wars... oh, the primary wars. Us silly Dkossacks arguing over the Senator from Illinois and the former Senator from North Carolina... all while the corporate media kept screaming "Hillary vs Giulliani" in our ears. What an emotional rollercoaster... you know, I told TomP to go %$^%$@# himself and that I loved him in the same week. (yes, I feel stupid admitting that).
Hanging on the edge of my seat, I watched the returns on Iowa and cried tears of joy. Then came the big disappointment in New Hampshire. I immediately booked flight on a plane to Nevada and had my first experiences canvassing and phonebanking.
Nevada, oh strange Nevada. The campaign hooked me up with a discounted room right on the strip. As I don't gamble, when not working I just stayed in my room. Ever stayed in your room in Nevada? They want you to gamble... that must be why the television only plays Glen Beck all night. Ugh. What an educational experience that caucus was. For a community that thrives through gambling, those party machines leave nothing to chance (all odds favor the house). We may not have won, but we stacked some delegates!
Returning home to Colorado, I became a precinct captain. My only goal was to deliver my Republican home state for Obama in the primary and the general... looks like success on both fronts!
So, I just wanted to leave a special thanks to this community. During the primary wars, my fellow Kossacks challenged my beliefs, truly engaged me and fostered much critical thinking in my brain. During the general election, you people have picked me up when I was down and battled complacency when I was up.
No matter what happens today, I am thankful to have participated in one of the best advances in democracy since the pamphlet (r.i.p Thomas Paine)!
Only in times of crisis is real, meaningful change possible. The country may be in crisis, but knowing that in a country that turned "subjects" in to "citizens", I get to face the crisis with all of you in my corner gives me hope for my self and my children's future.
Thank you.