That's what I want to know. Where were you last night? Your kids may ask you in 20 years: "How did it feel to experience history?"
I tried to go to two different Obama campaign watch parties. One I could not find in time, and the other was way too crowded. I settled down at a watch party thrown by Drinking Liberally in midtown Manhattan. It was a blogger-heavy event whose attendees cheered whenever Edwards was in the number one slot and booed or took another swig of beer whenever Clinton's name showed up there.
While we waited, I ended up in an intense discussion with a friend who supported Edwards, mostly because she felt Obama wasn't tough enough, that he didn't have that Edwards "fire." I explained my perspective on that simply: as a white man, Edwards can scream his head off about poverty and inequality, and I love that he's using his privilege to do that. Obama on the other hand has to appeal to a more nervous group ready to see him as the Angry Black Man. This isn't my own argument, but it was new to her, I think.
I also told her about this video that someone on dKos posted:
When the results were called, I threw my hands in the air and screamed. It was a beautiful moment. I texted mad people, and I browsed for as many stories as my little cell phone screen could show me. One thing that really stood out: participation.
You see that? Democrats had a nearly EIGHTY PERCENT increase in participation (and 30 percent on the GOP side). This is a great sign for democracy, and I wanna thank the people of Iowa for rolling out and representing. I think this also validates Obama's point about bringing more people into the process. I asked a friend in Iowa what it was like for her on the ground. I'll leave you with her response.
Actually, I'll leave you with Obama's post-election speech.
So where were you, and what were you thinking after it all went down? Please share in the comments
I tried to go to two different Obama campaign watch parties. One I could not find in time, and the other was way too crowded. I settled down at a watch party thrown by Drinking Liberally in midtown Manhattan. It was a blogger-heavy event whose attendees cheered whenever Edwards was in the number one slot and booed or took another swig of beer whenever Clinton's name showed up there.
While we waited, I ended up in an intense discussion with a friend who supported Edwards, mostly because she felt Obama wasn't tough enough, that he didn't have that Edwards "fire." I explained my perspective on that simply: as a white man, Edwards can scream his head off about poverty and inequality, and I love that he's using his privilege to do that. Obama on the other hand has to appeal to a more nervous group ready to see him as the Angry Black Man. This isn't my own argument, but it was new to her, I think.
I also told her about this video that someone on dKos posted:
When the results were called, I threw my hands in the air and screamed. It was a beautiful moment. I texted mad people, and I browsed for as many stories as my little cell phone screen could show me. One thing that really stood out: participation.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A wide-open race in both parties sparked a record turnout Thursday in Iowa's caucuses, far exceeding previous contests. Projections showed a turnout of 220,588 for Democrats, compared to 124,000 who participated in 2004. Most projections had estimated turnout would be about 150,000.
Turnout was also up on the Republican side, where projections showed about 114,000 people taking part.
The last contested Republican caucuses in 2000 drew 87,666 in caucuses won by then-Gov. George W. Bush.
You see that? Democrats had a nearly EIGHTY PERCENT increase in participation (and 30 percent on the GOP side). This is a great sign for democracy, and I wanna thank the people of Iowa for rolling out and representing. I think this also validates Obama's point about bringing more people into the process. I asked a friend in Iowa what it was like for her on the ground. I'll leave you with her response.
It was amazing. In my particular location, there were 315 people. 121
of us were for Obama. There were people of all different genders,
races, ages, even political parties. I was talking to a family that
were Republicans, but they were changing parties to vote for Obama. At
one point, the person in charge asked who was caucusing for the first
time. A large majority of people raised there hands. A lot of them were
older, and they were caucusing because they wanted Obama to win.
Actually, I'll leave you with Obama's post-election speech.
So where were you, and what were you thinking after it all went down? Please share in the comments