« Caption This Photo | Home | So Much For Campaign Finance Reform »
Thoughts On Election Day
By Steve Levine | November 4, 2008
One of the benefits of having lived seven decades is that I’ve been witness to events that were not only personally thrilling, but that were memorable and historic for our country.
Sixty-one years ago, I saw Jack Roosevelt Robinson become the first black man to walk on big-league grass, and it made me proud not only to be a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, but to be an American.
In all the years since, I’ve been unable to reflect on that powerful moment without suppressing a lump in my throat or wiping a tear from my eye.
Some months ago, I saw Barack Obama claim the nomination of his party as President.
Once again, that lump appeared (and the tear, too) and I again felt enormous pride in my country.
Tonight, I’m looking forward to the next chapter in this stirring American saga and to experiencing that feeling again.
Topics: 2008, Barack Obama, Democracy, General, Politics 2.0, U.S. History |
November 5th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Thinking back to the beginnings of all of this I can’t help but be reminded of Josh’s passioned call for election reform and the plowing of a new road. Yet $600 million or so in campaign contributions in the Obama campaigns bank, has all but written an epilogue to and closed the book on any possiblity of reform in this arena.
November 6th, 2008 at 3:58 am
Time, to start a new list! If you want to be president, all you have to do is pay for it. So, its going to require every day of the next four years to get the money. Let the games begin, again. Let’s have a four year campaign so we can top the two and half year campaign that just ended. I would encourage independents and third parties to start implementing a long term strategy now that will oust house and senate incumbents in addition to the Pres. First act, term limits for the Senate and House, including a pay cut.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Deadmessenger,
Our Congress is bought and sold so why not the President?
Sarah Palin has already begun her four year campaign.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:24 am
J.R.,
You got that right! And, in the name of political correctness, diversity and fairness, seeing how we elected a Democrat black (well, sorta) man this time, we naturally have to elect a Republican white woman next time? Would you agree? That’s what makes this country great, affimative action and diversity!
With B.O. the messiah uniter in there we should all come together in bipartisan peace, love and harmony to embrace the glorius promised “change.” Its gonna be so great, all the jobs, healthcare, a balanced budget, an end to war and terrorism, energy independence without coal, college tuition & meaningful tax relief. On top of that, all the fat cats will be foot’n the bill for it. No one will even have to be a U.S. citizen to “cash-in.” Hell, we won’t even need all those jobs he promised.
I’m already pick’n out a couple of trees, at a nice sandy beach I like, to hang my hammock. I should probably wait tho, until the new Obama CC or SS, I forgot the name, Civilian Corp, to tell me the best place to hang it. That way I won’t have to do it twice.
Commrad, I ask you, why should we risk our money to get ahead when we can just sit on our keesters and wait of a nice fat gov’ment check?
November 7th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Does Josh suggestthat the P.E. has left him soured in the area of campaign reform? What ho!!( not contemporary expression )a blot on the escucheon already.
Change HAS come. All them wrinkled one dollar bills which would have traditionally gone to the man with the big diamond ring on Sunday morning TV have elected a President.
1
November 7th, 2008 at 1:30 am
With respect to Jackie Robinson’s achievement, the P.E. has miles to go yet before he can ever expect to walk in Jackie Robinson’s shoes.
Obama is the beneficiary of the Brooklyn Dodger’s courage and conviction and all those Americans of the same ilk from that point on to the present day which made the seat behind the desk in the Oval Office a reality.
Affirmative action did not put Jackie Robinson on the playing field. It took balls!
Now we wait on the new President…………