Number 44

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let’s remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

Barack Obama
November 4, 2008

I hope he doesn't let us down - I am very anxious to see what the next few years will bring.

But for now - I am celebrating!

Oh - and Prop 2 won in California. Now Happy Cows really will come from California!

Better Times are Coming

I have had this song stuck in my head for days.

There is so much negativity in the media, in the blasted elections...but I tend to have a more optimistic outlook. Get out and vote next week my American friends....better times are coming.

Rocked the Vote

It's in the mail...

I shook hands with Barack Obama

Yesterday I went to the Tiergarten for Obama's speech. I got there around 1:30 or 2 (gates opened at 4, speech was scheduled for 7!). There was already a bit of crowd. When they opened the gates everyone literally ran to to and be in the front row, which was very very annoying. I managed to get basically in the front - and I think if I hadn't I would never had made it. Once we got in the gates we had a three hour wait, we tried to sit but people were cramming in there so tight and were not being very respectful. I tried to go to the bathroom and people literally said to my face they wouldn't move so I could walk by. I thought about telling them I could just go right there...but I decided against it. I still wasn't very nice though.

That being said, it was worth the wait and I am so glad I did it. I shook his hand when he came by and he talked to some of the Kenyan's standing next to me. My feet have not fully recovered and I don't have very good pictures. I was told by people with the campaign that we could not bring bags, SLR cameras etc. (only to find out when I got there that this wasn't remotely true *&#$!) so I went and got a point and shoot for the event, had no idea how to use it or adjust the settings, and the battery wasn't fully charged to boot. So, as Obama was standing with his back to the very bright setting sun, my pictures didn't really work so good (and my camera died right when he started his speech grr). I did manage to get a little video of him walking out and one or two shots of the crowd. I took some other pics with my friends camera (she took alot as well, but sadly, being even shorter than me - if you can believe it -she was getting quite squished. It was like being in a mosh pit). I don't have those ones yet so here are few to tide you over. I will post more about it later when I have the good pictures :)

The Press











A German dude that was happy to pose with his flag for every photojournalist there.