17 Responses to “Yes we can.”

1. Rachel says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 10:11 am

   So…much…champagne…consumed. Uggggh! And champagne hangovers are the worst! They are made of evil! Sadly, the only hangover remedy I know is black coffee and biscuits with sawmill gravy, and that particular combo only seems to work for me.

   But other than the hangover, I’m so excited, still a little weepy, and so hopeful for the future of our country. What a change from how I felt on election night 4 years ago!

2. AmandaG says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 10:37 am

   I was very excited about Obama winning! McCain was gracious in his speech. I can’t believe they’re already talking about Palin in ‘12. Obama has his work cut out for him.

3. Mel-O-Drama says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 10:37 am

   so hungover and so happy!

   BC Powder and Diet Coke is a fab hangover remedy.

4. Heather Harper says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 10:59 am

   I’m happy and sad. A lot of people I love voted McCain and I feel bad for their loss.

5. Sharlitta says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am

   Bittersweet celebration for us because my father is deceased. He suffered a heart-attack 1 week before September 11th. When he was a young boy, Texas puplic schools were segregated. In fact, he was birthed into this world outside of a hospital because black people were not deserving of medical care. Hand-me-down school books. Back entrances into stores. He had to sit in the balcony designated for Negroes who wanted to enjoy a movie. So last night, our family reflected on my father, his 3 brothers, and my grandfather, and greatgrandfather. All of them deceased and unable to share this history with us. So our hearts our heavy with the burden of loss; BUT, we wipe our tears, have pulled ourselves together…and this day, we celebrate America’s graciousness.

   I supported H. Clinton, but she lost the Democratic primary and although I respect Senator McCain, I could not offer him my vote based on his political agenda. I am so grateful to America for believing in Obama…., before I did. Oh, if there are any errors above, forgive me. I’m writing this with “watery” eyes but NOT tears!!

6. Susan says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

   I used to work at Henry Ford Museum, which acquired the bus on which Rosa Parks was refused a seat. I was fortunate to be able to lead the process to restore the bus and put it on display to tell such an important part of our nation’s history. Just a little more than 50 years later, we have elected the first African-American president. This is truly an awesome day.

7. McCain supporter says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

   I am surprisingly excited and emotionally happy this morning even though my candidate lost.
   I was originally for Clinton but after she lost the primary I wanted to vote none of the above since I was not excited about the other choices.
   A good friend said she was going to write in Tina Fey…Ha Ha!!!
   Seriously, Monday, I looked up Obama and McCain on Wikiepedia (??) and I was surprised at both of their lives. Both men impressed me with their trials and tribulations. I agree we need change but not a radical change 180 degrees but somewhere in the middle.
   Obama and McCain both had impressive post election speeches and it has given me hope for our future as a country. I believe in my heart that Obama’s win will be good for our relationship with foreign countries as far as trying to spread democracy. It shows that America is truly a land of opportunity and that democracy does work…there can be a civilized transfer of power.

   Okay, sorry so long!!!

8. jennzah says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

   i just about lost it last night when i heard he\’d been posted as the projected winner; i started to cry. my heart just swelled with happiness — it was the feeling i wanted to feel back in 04 when i voted for Kerry — only magnified times ten! i truly feel that we\’ve got a better chance at making things better with our relations with other countries, and fixing things within our own borders. my favourite thing about what he said last night was that it wasn\’t just HIS victory, but OURS. that WE did it. im so happy that my niece can now grow up in a country where anything is possible

   and to see the Rev. Jesse Jackson dumbstruck with tears at the announcement that Obama had won? it was just one of those historic moments that you never really forget — Martin Luther King Jr. was smiling down at everyone tonight and saying that his dream had come true

9. Amy says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 1:43 pm

   Well - I have the WORST headache this morning, but not for the same reason as everyone else who’s responded, so I guess I’m now in the minority! Please don’t hate me!!

   I cried my eyes out last night - hence the headache today - because I was part of the (almost) half of the population who voted for McCain.

   But, on the other hand, I’m glad that so many people are happy and proud and are looking forward to the future - as am I! I have Always been proud to be an American - even before this historic election.

   So, even though it didn’t go the way I had hoped, I am very excited and interested to see what the future holds and, hopefully, Barack Obama can find a way to keep his word on all that he has promised. It’s a daunting task - I understand it would have been hard for McCain as well.

   We all have the same goals and just want a truly united America and I look forward to seeing that happen - no matter what it takes to get us there!!

10. Shanna says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    Very excited, happy, and finally hopeful that we are on the right track again.

11. Cathy says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    Well, I am really Upset today, but it has nothing to do with the fact that my Candidate Lost. I’m more angry about California Passing Prop 8, the ban on Same sex Marriage. I Have Many friends who are gay and lesbians, and I feel very sorry for them today, since California (As well as Arizona and Florida) Have Legallized Discrimination against them. Discrimination of any Sort is against the American Constitution, which should render these bans null and Void, but to see that so many people are so Prejudice against one group of people really P*sses me off. If you are going to Ban Same Sex Marriage, then you might as well Ban Marriage all together! OK, Sorry to rant. Just so Upset right now.

12. Megan says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    I have a hangover today, too–beer and wine. I like drinking coke and eating potato chips, maybe a big, greasy burger. The spouse gets egg and cheese on bagels for his morning-afters.

    I cried so much last night. I can’t believe we actually elected somebody other than a middle-aged, rich white guy.

13. Cathy says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    BTW, was so busy ranting, I forgot to mention that A tall Glass of Water with 1/2 teaspoon of tabasco sauce maxes a great Hangover reliever. I Can’t speak from experience, never having had a hang over in my life, but my friend swears by it.

14. Jane says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    I still celebrating. I heard Bloody Marys are great when you’re hung over.

15. Suzanne Musin says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 11:19 pm

    I’m feeling great. I woke up and checked again just to be sure, because last night I was really tired and maybe it was all a dream. But it wasn’t.

    I am looking forward to seeing the way our country develops in the next four years. It won’t be perfect and it definitely won’t be free of strife, but it’s a start.

16. Ashley says:
    November 6th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    I apologize if I offend anyone, because I completely respect everyone’s views here. And I hate to put a damper on this, especially since, no matter what I think about Barack Obama, I am glad that we have our first black president—it shows that America can truly rally around a minority with out being biased against them for their ethnic background (though it would have been nice to have a woman for VP, since it’s the second time a woman has run for the office). Being a Puerto Rican, though American-born, girl means fewer opportunities, so this is an even greater step up for our country. Suffice to say, I had a really long day, and I would just like to add that I will miss President Bush because—whether or not you considered him to be a good Commander in Chief, as I do—he was amusing to watch.

    Again, I am sorry, but I just can’t honestly say that I’m pleased with the way that the election turned out. Maybe its just the way that the students at my school have been handling the announcement of Obama’s presidency, by trashing Palin, saying McCain wouldn’t have lived to the end of his presidency, etc.—it’s a little extreme for my taste. Obama is our President, I can accept that, but there is no need to continuously insult McCain and Palin when they are not even running for the presidency anymore. In my opinion, its immature and irrelevant. But, more than anything, I say this because I do not feel that Barack Obama will improve America–he talks a lot, but I do not see the good that he has done for our country. I do know that, either way, our next President (whether he had been a Republican or a Democrat) is going to have a lot of problems–such as the economic troubles with the investment banks. Now, I just want to see if Obama can live up to his hype about his “change in Washington”. (Whatever change he is talking about, I guess we’ll have to see it now.)

    Its been eight years since a democrat has been president (just stating the obvious), and now, with the democrats in power of Congress, I am curious to see if they can do better than the Republicans–as they have claimed. Especially when everyone has been trashing Bush for so long about the war in Iraq, the economic crisis (the fault of which belongs to the banks who made all these loans), etc. But I am interested to see Barack Obama “step up to the plate” (is my family the only one who uses that phrase?) Because the only thing that I see in America’s future is Obama taking the money from the rich and giving to the poor, whether they have earned that money or not. The government is meant to provide defense, not to pay for our mortgages and fill up the gas tank. Anyone heard of the phrase “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs”? Yeah, that’s what it sounds like to me.

    Ok, I’m done.

17. Cheryl says:
    November 6th, 2008 at 10:55 pm

    I would like to express my relief and jubilation as well. Witnessing such an historical event is breathtaking to say the least. Feeling that I was a part of history making is very fulfilling.

    However, the mental anguish has yet to subside as I am still forced to defend myself (sometimes only in my mind) to those dissappointed Republican who surround me at work and in my community. There is still so much tension and division amidst us.

    I do believe that it is important to take stock in ourselves and lives and confront our beliefs periodically. (4 years may be a bit too infrequent, perhaps)

    This election has definitiely forced me to take a good look at my life and how it has lead me to what I believe today. Had I been 10 or 20 years younger at this moment in history, I may have been more easily swayed by those voices around me. However, the friends I have made and the places I have lived, remind me that there are many perspectives out there to consider. I am reminded of how fortunate I have been in the choices I have made and the opportunities I have had to better myself.

    I have had my health and family all along. Many do not have these luxuries. I have worked hard but am humbled by those who have not had the support that I have and yet still strive for a better tomorrow.

    So yes, I am grateful and jubilant in the elections outcome but am even more joyful for the soul searching that such an election has brought about in all of us.

    We have a challenging road ahead but at least our leader is one who I can most relate to (after reading Audacity….I can say this with confidence) and is at least idealistic enough to want to try to confront our problems. That in itself is something to celebrate.

    May we all continue to have open discussions amidst ourselves that challenge our beliefs. This is the only real pathway to a change that benefits us all as a nation and a planet.