I honestly don't know if this day can get any better.
I haven't felt this good since 1992.
When I finally went to bed last night at 3:30am, Jennifer Granholm was re-elected, Debbie Stabenow was re-elected, the Democrats were up 23 seats in the House, and the 3 remaining Senate races had reached the recount/too close to call stage (though, honestly, how long could it take to count the votes in Montana? How many people live there?!). Plus we can now go booze it up in Zeeland! When I woke up this morning the Democrats were up 28 seats in the House, McCaskill had taken Missouri, and the Democrats had taken back the Michigan House.
And then I got to work where the news just kept getting better.
Tester took Montana.
Webb is up about 7000 votes in Virginia.
And Rumsfeld is out.
Oh, I've just got to repeat that.
Rumsfeld is OUT.
But of course I can't just be happy now, can I?
I now live in a state that has banned affirmative action. Shock and disgust would accurately describe how I feel. It was a sneaky and confusing proposal that never should have made it onto the ballot in the first place. I'm optimistic this will eventually get overturned in the courts. Sadly, it was framed in a "whaddya mean my white kid from the western side of the state isn't going to get into U of M while a darkie from Detroit with lower SAT scores and a lower GPA is?!" Upsetting for a few reasons: it exposes the dirty secret that shhhhh!
racism still exists!
and it completely overlooks the hugely damaging aspect which is women's issues. It sucks. (By the way you can see a delightful picture of me-unshowered and flush with the excitement of having just voted-and my just slightly misquoted take on Prop 2 in today's GR Press. I most certainly did not say "iron the bugs out!")
Though I'm in an unbelievably celebratory mood (did I mention that whole not-since-1992 thing?!?!), I'm also very cautious. Taking back the House was one thing. The prospect of taking back the Senate is another. The last thing we need to do is start investigating and issuing subpoenas. Let's still do what we said we were going to do: fix our broken country that has been run into the ground by this administration. Prescription drug coverage, health insurance, renewable energy resources, education (get rid of No Child Left Behind!), implementing the suggestions put forth by the 9/11 commission, campaign finance reform, and the oh so big reason why we took back the House: Iraq.
So, there it is. I've been on cloud nine all day, but I'm starting to feel that inevitable deflated post-election season feeling. Thankfully, I have but a short time until drumroll please...........
presidential primaries! In one short year we should be gearing up for a variety of options and some rousing debates. Woo.Hoo.
One day more and I'm in for a much needed and much deserved 3 day weekend. Yesterday was not just about Election Day 2006. It was also the DVD release party for Cars. I survived. Everyone was happy. The majority of the problems have been resolved. I'm officially a library rock star and a victim of my own success. Sigh. Regardless, this weekend is looking good. Mr. Budde is in the Michigan area and contemplating joining us for Old Crow Medicine Show. I might finally get to meet the infamous Vito Russo and I'm hoping Glick will wander over from Ypsi to join us all in a celebration. A culmination celebration. A celebration not only of the glory of the Democrats ending a very long, very cold 14 years of frustration and humiliation, but also a celebration of me having survived yet another year of being Erin.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
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