Motley Moose – Archive

The evolution of events that has led up to the past few days has been hard to put into perspective. More than the events of the weekend, large parts of the population are swinging inside their own heads in their view of Barack Obama in the context of their entire time with him. For many it may be hard not to  experience it similar to the moment when you realize that your quiet card partner hasn’t been just sitting there but has actually lined things up to win the game. He laid his trump out for all to see, and when someone has them all there isn’t anything anyone can say about it.

The dog days of August have long been known as “the silly season” in the media. Most people are busy enjoying the summer and the media has to stretch to find stories of interest. This is the time for “man bites dog” stories. It has been this way in this country for a long time.

Tonight, the silly season officially came to an end.

Anyone who is not blinded by hatred or ideology will admit that Barack Obama is one of the most skilled political orators to ever hold the office of President of the United States. He reaffirmed that status in a speech tonight to the joint houses of Congress.

The timing of the speech couldn’t have been better. During August, the health care debate seemed to be reaching an impasse. Opponents were twisting reasonable proposals into “death panels” and “government takeovers”. Supporters were complaining about lack of leadership, focus, and messaging. It was time to get the reform effort back on track.

President Obama addressed both sides tonight, as well as the huge number of people who were on neither side so far.

Getting older has quite a few drawbacks, namely the aches and pains that come from an abused body, but it also has some benefits. One of those benefits is a lifetime of experience and memories. That bank of memories tends to keep older people from getting too excited about the newest fad. If anyone is entitled to co-opt the phrase, “Been there, done that”, it’s older people with lots of life experiences. Perhaps that’s why the only age group that failed to go overwhelmingly for Obama was the older age group.

Because I am a member of that older age group, my political experience goes back quite a bit. The Presidential election of 1964 was my first direct involvement with politics. I was 17 years old that year. Like most young people at the time, I was devastated by JFK’s assassination. Because of that desolation, it was easy to back his party in the ’64 election. It didn’t hurt that LBJ’s opponent seemed like a scary whacko. Politics was in my blood.

We were successful in 1964. Although I was too young to vote in that election, I had great hopes for the future. Today, I can only shake my head at such naivety. Unfortunately, in the 10 elections that were held from 1968 to 2004 I’ve only voted for the winner once – Bill Clinton in 1996. None of the choices I had over the years were what I would call inspiring. In fact, I haven’t felt inspired by a politician since the death of Bobby Kennedy.

This will be a thread for compiling election results in the Presidential race.

Add observations you find in the comments and they will be reflected in this diary.

Obama won 63% of the voters nationwide who were concerned about Iraq.  Who wins the Commander in Chief debate, you say?

Poll Closing Time Map

EV Count, CNN:  Obama – 207    McCain – 135

EV Count, FOX:  Obama – 220    McCain – 141

EV Count, MSNBC:  Obama – 207    McCain – 142

8:30 – CNN – NH for Obama

8:33 – MSNBC – AL for McCain

8:35 – MSNBC – GA for McCain

8:42 – CNN calls PA for Obama

9:00 – CNN – WI, MN, RI, for Obama

9:00 – CNN – ND, WY – for McCain

9:22 – CNN Ohio goes for Obama!!!!!!!!!

9:31 – CNN – NM called for Obama

11:00 – everyone calls VA for Obama

MSNBC calls the Election!!!!!

Tonight, August 28, 2008, Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado. This speech may well be ranked as one of the best speeches of the 21st Century.

Democrats are uniformly ecstatic about the speech. Republicans are trying desperately to give it a negative spin. Neither group really matters. What ultimately matters is what independents and undecided voters think of the speech. I can’t see how anyone could listen to that speech without being moved.

Even conservatives, like Andrew Sullivan were moved by the speech.

more after the break…