In New York City, we have the kind of voting booths you go inside, draw the curtains behind you, pull the big lever across to set the machine, and flip switches on the wall in front of you for every candidate you’re voting for.  I’ve done it now for five Presidential elections and many primaries and local elections.  Even at 1pm on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, I froze for a moment staring at the bowels of this steampunk-esque voting contraption wondering if I’d done everything properly; if my vote would be counted.  More so this time than at any other.  So much in this country has been set in the wrong direction by the current administration.  For two years, we’ve been immersed in politics from all parties and candidates eager to turn the page on this disastrous Presidency.  If I could have had my vote count for five million, I would have, but I had to have my one vote, anything but zero!

Well, count it did.  My vote and 85% of Manhattan for Obama.  62% of New York State.  Across the nation, landslide.  Gathering with friends, we watched tallies roll in while devouring Newman-O’s.  It happened quickly.  Within two hours, CNN, Jon Stewart, even FOX News were announcing the President Elect.  I can barely express the profound sense of relief we all feel!  I mean, last time I spent the wee hours of the night in a Starbuck’s watching Ohio teeter red with a bunch of dumbfounded strangers.  Drama was not welcome this time around.  It had to be a slam dunk.

And I have to say, the subway ride home was a bit of a surprise.  Slightly after midnight, the uptown A train was a rowdy affair, with cheers and Obama chanting at every station stop!  Especially rolling through Times Square and Columbus Circle, you’d think the Rangers won the Stanley Cup!  Stark contrast to 2004, when the day after was scene of New Yorkers in dazed disbelief.  And the day after the day after.  And the week after…

Well, there’s still a long way to go to get this country turned around.  I am sure that this is one great step in the right direction, but it’s going to take a lot more than just Obama and a blue House and Senate.  The world is changing a lot.  The planet is changing even more.  So many of us have been inspired by Obama’s leadership.  (I even donated to a political campaign for the first time ever.  Twice!)  But they can’t do all the work for us.  We can do so much to affect matters within our own grasp.  Locally.  The people around us.  Aside from just feeling relieved, I’m feeling inspired that not only can we make a difference in our democracy—we can stand up and create any kind of change we want!  Yeah, I’m energized.  Are you?

This will be the most important thing I do tomorrow.  I hope to see long lines at the polls tomorrow.  Behind me.

Then to work.  Maybe a haircut.  Finally gather with my posse to watch it unfold in all its mass media glory.

While Al Gore was delivering his speech at the Democratic National Convention, network television was feeding us dramas and game shows.  I’m doing my part to undo that by posting the video here.

All of the key speeches from the convention can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/user/DemConvention

I watched the convention mostly on C-SPAN to avoid all the biased pundit viewpoints.  That stuff is out of control.  Fortunately, with YouTube, people can go view the speeches in their entirety and make up their own minds.

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” - Thomas Edison, 1931.