#166 - president obama

while i didn't really have time to watch the inauguration all day, it was quite a day. i was at the hospital for clinicals and it seemed like it was on every tv. people were excited. we have a new president! it was historical. i wanted to watch but by the time i took a break it was 9:30 and it was all said and done and they were showing bush on his way to texas (YEEEEHAW!). see ya. although it seems a lot of money was spent on this whole deal, with parades and balls and such, it was cool. i know a few people who went and it just seems like it would have been a great thing to be a part of. it was cool to see the washington mall full of people, over a million i think. it's like people actually care again. i guess i don't really have much more to say on the subject but i'm so glad to have a new president! i am full of hope. the road will be hard and long but i know we are on the way to a better country. we will work together and do what is necessary to right the wrongs and move on. together. i love it!

#151 - yes we can! ...and we did!

so this is what happiness and hope feels like. it is pretty amazing. i just finished watching president-elect barack obama's speech. he is an amazing speaker that just gives me so much energy. since 2004 when he gave that DNC speech, we've known his ability on a national level to inspire people with his words. he doesn't have much experience but that may just be his advantages. he has and gives us hope. we were able to really believe in obama, not just to vote for someone so the opponent would not get in. this is my third election and i had never felt so invested or positive. i didn't want to get too optimistic before the election because in the last one i felt pretty good. we all know how that ended up. so many people came to and realized that obama is different. he will produce change and give us a new life. we can be really proud of our country. i've never felt this way. i've always known how lucky i am to be an american but this makes it totally different. i can tell people from other countries when i travel that i am from obama's america. i voted for him. he is my president!

i probably do not make any sense on this blog but i'm way too tired from watching all the election results. i'm probably too giddy to even sleep tonight. i have so much in my head that i can't really write about it. it's such an amazing feeling. i can be proud out loud and not be apathetic. i can dare to hope. these are feeling that are sort of unnatural for me and young people in general i think. washington has always been an old white rich man's world and now there is a man who represents real people there, leading the nation. tomorrow is the first day of a new attitude for this nation. we can use hope and not fear as motivation now. there will be change. we did it but the work is only beginning. our nation has become a mess and a lot needs to be done. obama can do it. we can do it.

#148 - ballots!

i just got my ballot in the mail, yay! in oregon we have an all-mail ballot system. we don't have polling places. i don't know how this ever started but it saves a lot of time/money i think. not that the polling people are paid, but in terms of gas and time and all that good stuff. so we get our ballots a couple weeks before election, then fill them out and mail them in. it's great. they all get tallied on election day and on november 4th we will see who the next president will be.

everyone probably knows who i'm voting for president. it's no secret, obama is the man. i haven't opened the ballot yet but as soon as i do, i'm filling it out and sending it in. my vote needs to count. i have no idea who is running for other offices, besides jeff merkley. that's only because i've seen so many ads. there are a ton of ballot measures and none that really stand out. i know there is one that affects nurses so i'll definitely vote on that one. the verbage in those things is so hard to understand.

the only one i do know for sure is president. this year it is as crucial as ever to vote. the economy is in the dumps, something has to be done about the "war" in iraq, national spending has to change to support meaningful social programs, and we need someone we can trust and that has the brain to lead this country. we need change! if you didn't catch sarah palin on SNL, it's funny stuff! tina fey is dead on, i think maybe palin is impersonating her.

she was a good sport but i can't figure out why she wanted to do it. it's not gonna sway voters that way. interesting tactics, maybe they are getting desperate. in any case, what an exciting and scary election. there is a lot at stake and i'm anxious to find out what will happen. will i have to move to another country or am i going to be safe here? what kind of mass cover-up/scandal will happen this year? what kind of bs is the GOP going to pull out at the last minute? we will see.

#138 - sarah palin

who is sarah palin?
for one, she is john mccain's choice for VP. his big issue/concern with obama was that he had no international experience blah blah and who does he pick? the governor of alaska who comes from a small town where she was mayor of less than 10,000 people. who is this woman? i'm sure you've heard or seen her "hockey mom" comment. if not, here is her joke (told at the republican nat'l conv) what's the difference between a hockey mom and a moose? LIPSTICK! omg that is too funny....not. this election is not a laughing matter. our country is in dire need of leadership and change, not four more of the same stuff.

palin is far right, she is against abortion (a woman's right to choose), doesn't believe of separation of church and state, member of NRA, opposes same sex marriage, wants to drill in the ANWR and would not hesitate to go to war with russia. i am all for believing what you want but this woman cannot be president. with mccain being such a dinosaur the chances that he croaks and palin becomes president are high. that is a scary thought.

just listen to this woman speak. first of all she never answers this guy's question, she just dodges and talks about something else. plus she always looks like she's trying to defend herself and looks uncomfortable under pressure.


i've been hearing people who were previously clinton supporters jump over to the mccain-palin side. i wonder why. is it because she doesn't have a penis? why would anyone base their vote on that?! it clearly can't be the issues because on each one they are total opposites - war, abortion, economy, etc. people who would vote for mccain just because he has a woman on his ticket are INSANE! they shouldn't have the right to vote. i also heard the ridiculous notion that by getting palin in this time it opens the door for hilary clinton in 2012! omg that is so wrong.

i hope voters educate themselves and figure out why they are voting for a candidate. not just because "she's hot" (seriously, i heard this!) or he's black. c'mon. look at the deep issues and where they stand on things that are important to you. there is only two months left till people have to make a big decision, which to me is easier than tying my shoes or getting dressed. there is no way i can let this war go on indefinitely, have roe vs. wade overturned, and have the already sinking economy get worse. don't you think our country has gotten bad enough? the time for change is now.

here is one last thing i leave you with. saturday night live, tina fey doing palin. it's comedy.

#133 - there is hope

there is hope again in this country and his name is barack obama. this will be the next president, he understands the needs of our country and what we need to have a future. "the change we need is coming, because i've seen it" what part of our country do we not need change? i see problems in every part: war in iraq, health care, economy/jobs, taxes, environmental policies, education, etc. i called someone to wish them a happy birthday and she said "did you see obama?! it was inspiring!" and it feels like there is so much going on, there is a special energy that seems to be involved in this election. her friend was undecided until she watched his speech. my mom cried. of course, there is a long way till the actual election but man, this is exciting!

you don't have to be a democrat to appreciate this speech. instead of dividing ourselves by our beliefs, why don't we come together as a nation? it is moving and addresses many of the concerns over obama's lack of experience or other issues people may have with him. just listening to him speak gives me the chills and i think it is hope that i am feeling. there is actually hope for this country. yes some may say this is the best country in the world but really, we are suffering as a whole. you may be comfortable in your suburban home with your 2 cars, children, etc but as they say, you are only as strong as your weakest link. we do not take care of each other and the divide between rich and poor is growing every day. we need to take care of those who can't afford health care and education. everyone has a right to those things. many people are born into poverty and we expect them to just rise above it but no one can do it alone. they have so much going against them yet we don't give them a helping hand.

you may not be a democrat, voter, political, idealist, optimist or activist but i know you are human. it is human to want what is best for yourself. everyone wants happiness and what better way than to provide a good life for every man, woman and child? we are just people, the same flesh and bone. we may differ on many things but why should we focus on that? we are all americans, let's come together and change our country for the better! listen and cheer, four parts for your enjoyment.

part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4