The Day After

~ Laura

I had three hours of sleep last night. I watched TV commentary until 1:00, then read Facebook statuses, then made PowerPoint slides for today’s lecture. I limped through a three hour class on health care policy and here I am.

I’m digesting turnout numbers and checking out other commentary. I’ll link to the best of both in a bit. But I just want to take a moment to reflect on last night.

McCain’s speech was excellent last night. He didn’t get choked up or look sorry for himself. Somehow he managed to bury the bitterness of loss much better than Hillary did. He gallantly waved down the boo-ers. He recognized the historic significance of electing an African-American into office. He was so much more likable than the angry, vicious campaigning McCain. Good for him. He walked away with dignity and grace.

Obama’s speech was good, though it wasn’t the most memorable part of the evening. It was the look on his face. It was almost grim. He understood the magnitude of responsible now placed on his lap. The presidency has a way of chewing up the individual and leaving him a graying shadow. There was some triumph, some relief in his eyes, but also there was resignation of a man who was about to have a 2000 lb. boulder strapped to his shoulders for at least four years.

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There was the causal atmosphere on the stage with the kids doing funny, random stuff. Michelle’s and Malia’s dresses sort of clashed. (I was very distracted by the fact that McCain’s tie and Cindy’s dress were too matchy-matchy.) The mixed up ethnicities on the stage. The genuine connection between the Obamas. Biden looked odd in that mix.

And the tears in the audience. Jesse Jackson!

It’s no secret that I was a big Obama supporter. I’ve been watching him for quite a while.  I am worrying about a few things, but I think I will put the worries off until tomorrow.

My favorite photographs of last night: here, here,  …

Published by Laura

9 thoughts on “The Day After”

  1. I have to say, I disliked McCain’s speech. It was mostly the things you say, except that his references to race showed completely that he Does Not Get It.

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  3. I was wondering where Biden was when Obama and his family first came out – they way he emerged after the end of the speech, my first thought was “Did he get lost on the way to the rally?”

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  4. I think Biden might have been befuddled by whatever they were giving him to keep from saying anything interesting until after the election.
    P.S. Anybody with the campaign who knows what that med was, please let me know. I think I might need it next week.

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  5. Oh, but we want you to say interesting stuff, MH.
    I like McCain’s speech. I thought it was gracious.
    I noticed Obama’s grimness, too. I interpreted it as sheer exhaustion. But, it’s true — the people in the audience were giddy with joy and excitement. Obama looked like a man on whom a tremendous burden had been placed. I liked that look, actually.

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  6. This thread is probably dead, but I just wanted to comment on the grimness factor. I can’t get over how Lincolnian Obama seems — an hour after clinching the election he was already wearing the mantle of responsibility heavily, something Lincoln always did. I really appreciated the lack of triumphalism; it’s appropriate, given how much of a mess we’re in.

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  8. I saw it too, jen, but I really hoped he would show some celebration. And eventually he did, but he will be a stern leader for four years, or maybe more.

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  9. If Obama’s going to be stern all around, then I’ll be happier with him than I thought I would be.
    Speaking of sternness, I think he should push for a capital gains tax hike on his first day. And a new tax on unicorn farms on the grounds that unicorn farmers probably outnumber people with capital gains.

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