I'm glad this election season is almost over. I'm hoping that Americans voted with their minds and not their phobias. I know that in my ultra-conservative neighborhood, McCain will be king. But maybe, just maybe the rest of the country voted for change.

seriously

This excerpt is from an article Michael Seitzman wrote on Sept. 11th for huffingtonpost.com. It spoke to me on so many levels. Thought I'd share.

Stop voting for people you want to have a beer with. Stop voting for folksy. Stop voting for people who remind you of your neighbor. Stop voting for the ideologically intransigent, the staggeringly ignorant, and the blazingly incompetent. Vote for someone smarter than you. Vote for someone who inspires you. Vote for someone who has not only traveled the world but who has also shown a deep understanding and compassion for it. The stakes are real and they're terrifyingly high. This election matters. It matters. It really matters. Let me say that one more time. This. Really. Matters.

dammit

I wasn't backing Clinton just because she's a woman. I was happy that a woman of her caliber had risen through the political ranks to have a chance at running for president. I was excited to imagine what her presidency might be like. I believed in her health care platform as well as her plans for education. I think she was savvy enough to manage foreign policy and socially conscious enough to deal with our domestic issues head on. She's certainly strong enough to be a world leader. She's more than smart enough.

And maybe she didn't have the greatest hair or the keenest fashion sense. Or the best marriage. Or have typical maternal tendencies that caused her to say, "Sorry" a lot and cry or end every statement as if it were a question. But that's what I liked about her. She was strong and no nonsense and intelligent. And I think she'd have made a kick ass president.

super tuesday

I have a confession to make. I've done something I've never done before. Several weeks ago, I got online and requested an early voter ballot. Yeah. I realize people do it all the time.

My grandma swears by it.

But I wasn't one of those people. I have always enjoyed going to my polling place on an election day, the girls in tow and voting for whichever candidate on the DAY. Walking around all day long with my "I VOTED" sticker, feeling like a part of the solution. Now here it is Super Tuesday, and I feel like an outsider. I made my choice weeks ago.

When I dropped the girls at school, there was a man getting out the word for Obama. He was full of hope and optimism. Excited by the prospect of change today could bring. I envied him his enthusiasm.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know I voted, but it's just not the same.