Tonight, for the first time in many years, I feel hopeful.
I was born a Democrat, raised a Democrat, spent months out of my fourteenth year pounding the pavement for George McGovern and worked for the Democratic Party for ten years.
But my loyalty has been tested the past 15 or 20 years.
It seemed like even when the Democrats WON, they lost. Look at what they've done - or rather NOT done - since taking control of the house and senate.
It's been hard to call myself a Democrat anymore, particularly when my views harken back to the days of Bobby Kennedy. Particularly when I subscribe to "liberal" notions, like a quality education for all and health care for all.
The Democrats had moved so far right of liberal that I had trouble identifying anymore.
When it appeared that Barack Obama would secure the Democratic nomination I thought to myself "well the Democrats have gone and mucked it up again."
With our nation's media in the secure stranglehold of the Republican Party I could just imagine the field day they'd have with Obama.
I was wrong.
Here is a brilliant man with fresh ideas and a new way of looking at challenges. Here is someone who inspires with hope rather than pandering to fear.
Here is the one person who CAN take us out of the quagmire into which we've sunk as a nation and restore our credibility throughout the world.
