in my honest opinion...

I wanted to write this last night, but the emotions I felt for this election caught up with me and sleep was fast.

Now that the election is over, there are a few things I wanted to say but again I repeat that this is not a political blog and this is the very rare occasion that you will read about such a topic here. I will also say, that the opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone. I do not claim to speak for anyone but myself even though I'm sure there will be some who agree and disagree with my point of view, these were just some observations I made during the course of the campaign which, of course, does not mean I'm right in any way.

Before I say anything, this is not a brief post so I suggest you get your beverage of choice before sitting down. Of course, if you don't like reading lengthy posts then I suggest you pass my blog by entirely and go onto something, well, shorter!

First of all, I would like to say how proud I am to be an American. We as a people are about to see some significant changes and while the candidate who won the position of President was not the one I voted for, I do believe him when he said last night that he will do everything in his power to make things better for our society as a whole. It won't happen his first day in office and it may not even happen his first year, but I do believe he wants change and he wants the American people as a whole to be happy.

Before continuing, I am not interested in hearing from anyone about my choice in candidates. There have been a lot of mean people out there making their feelings for McCain known in a very public and rude manner, and I won't tolerate it. Just like those of you who voted for Obama, voting for McCain was a personal choice and I won't be badmouthed for making such a choice. Furthermore, if all you can do is poke fun at either candidate instead of offering an intelligent response, don't bother contributing to this blog because your comment won't be published.

Now, getting down to business... I don't know if any of you can recall the first time you voted. I know I can't. I can tell you that I was very excited to finally being of age to cast my vote. Unfortunately, the vote was not mine but my parents'. I voted for the party and not the person. Since then, I have never voted a straight Republican ticket as was the case yesterday. I have always listened to the issues, weighed them and made my decisions that way, as it should be.

This brings me to say how disappointed I am in many of our young voters this election. Y'all don't have to agree with me and I'm sure I will receive some backlash for saying what I'm about to say but at the time that Obama was announced the winner, camera shots were shown of students from an all-black college and it is my opinion from reading their expressions that they voted someone into office based on the color of his skin and not the issues at hand.

Now hold on! I am the furthest thing from racist and I do offer my apology to anyone who may be offended by my saying that. Again, try to think back to the first time you voted. Can you honestly tell me that you voted for someone based on the issues they presented? Can you honestly tell me you even comprehended what their issues were? I can honestly not remember anything about the first time I voted other than I know for a fact that I based my decision on who my parents liked and not for any real issues.

Voting someone into office based on the color of his skin is not what bothers me. I am all for change and I think that Obama can bring that. I am disappointed that many of these young people sold out. We will never know now if the President-elect was really meant to win.

Before the bailout happened, I was undecided who to vote for. I was amazed that an African-American man was so close to possibly winning the race. Even ten years ago, that was unheard of. I was in awe of how young he is, just six years older than I. It was what he said when McCain chose to briefly step back from campaigning to offer his assistance in DC with the bailout, that put the nail in Obama's coffin for me. I was proud of McCain for putting his campaigning on hold to help out his fellow-politicians and was disgusted with Obama for saying that McCain needed to learn how to multi-task. Yes, just that alone was the clincher for me and it sealed it tight when even Democratic strategists said that Obama didn't know the full extent of the bailout issue for him to say something like that.

Watching Obama on stage last night, he looked overwhelmed and exhausted. Perhaps I read him wrong and he was just trying to contain his excitement but I am left to believe that he truly doesn't know what's in store for him. McCain has years of experience over Obama which is not saying he would have made a better President but I do expect that we will see the physical changes in Obama soon enough. I don't believe there's ever been a President who hasn't left the office fully gray!

I was also completely unsatisfied with the choices of running mates on both sides. On one side, Joe Biden, who in the last few weeks leading up to the election was speaking before thinking. I had a huge problem with Pailin accepting the nomination as running mate because of her family - a young, pregnant daughter and an infant with Down Syndrome, both who need her in their lives and not a full-time nanny. Frankly, I don't think she should have ever accepted the nomination and for the reason of her family alone, I'm glad that the McCain/Pailin team did not win. All I know, as a mother, I truly feel she needs to continue to be an active part of her childrens' lives and I hope, in a way, that she is relieved that her ticket didn't win because I don't think she put a lot of thought in what it would take her to be Vice President.

While I'm on the topic of being a mother, I have to say how disappointed I am in all those parents who thought it necessary to drag their young children out last night and keep them up so late. Parents, if you had to explain to your children why you were there, then your kids didn't understand and therefore, don't give a flying fuck who won! You know why they liked being out? Because it was late, past their bedtimes and because you were probably letting them skip school today! Call me silly or other, I don't really care, as a parent, you need to put your kids needs before your own and frankly, your kids did not need to be by your side, even if it was to witness history. Seriously, do you think my kids who are ages 11 and 8 are truly going to understand the magnitude of what's about to happen to our country? I know my kids and even I can say 'doubtful'.

A few more things to add...

I was sad to see the disappointment of losing in Pailin's eyes. I thought John McCain gave the most gracious speech ever given. And I hope that Michelle Obama seeks some expert fashion advice because WTF was she wearing last night?!

I'm done. I have nothing left to offer and/or say things to piss you off! *wink*