"Change has come to America"

Election day has been a long and somewhat painful day (more about that on a later post). But in our tradition, we picked up some pizza and we watched the polls come in (and watched Nacho Libre during the dull parts). Earlier in the day, Elliot said, "If Obama loses, then I'll cry all day at preschool, Ethan will cry all day at school, Dad will cry at work, Mom will cry at the gym, and Claire will cry at home all by herself." Ethan stayed up until the announcement that Obama had won and also watched his acceptance speech-- Ethan shook his head, wiped his eyes in that new big kid way of his, and said, "This is the greatest day of my life."

our president elect that we saw 10 days ago!!

"Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us 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, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values 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, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world -- our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down -- we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security -- we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright --tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope."

For that is the true genius of America -- that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."-- president elect Barack Obama


"I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure."

OUR WEBLOG FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE RALLY - SATURDAY OCTOBER 25th

6:06pm: waiting in the ADA line, chugging Gatorade and munching granola bars, the kids getting candy and Obama temporary tattoos from the volunteers

Well, as you all probably have figured out, our family here in Albuquerque support Obama. Ethan was the first -- influenced by the primary election last year while he was in 2nd grade, where he and a few others conducted a vote in their classroom on election day, and Obama won by a landslide. Then they had a little impromptu Obama rally -- where they made signs and chanted, and ended up getting in a bit of trouble (the whole time I thought, 'Ah, my little rabblerouser!').

6:58 pm: 45,000 crowd -- quite a contrast from McCain's crowd of 1,500 earlier in the day in ABQ Fairgrounds

Last night, despite my being sick with pneumonia and an ear infection, we braved the elements -- it was about 70 degrees -- and the lines -- we got in a handicapped shorter line because of my hip -- and got seating as a result. Besides our small group of infirm wheelchair folk, the rest of the 45,000 in attendance had to stand in the enormous UNM field. Now, it wasn't ALL to our advantage -- we were right behind the media bleachers -- the only set of bleachers in the whole place. But it was fun, and we sang a LOT of Stevie Wonder, the Boss, and Aretha before seeing Gvnr Bill Richardson, funny man George Lopez, and the big man himself, Obama. We thought it was important for us to show our kids this side of political activism -- the side where Ethan identified, "Oh, this is why it's called a political party." The kids were tired by the end, but they perked up when he came out and began speaking.

7:07pm We got our great seats without the needling of the crowd

8:34 pm George Lopez said, "I came to NM to do two things: tell you all to vote for Barack Obama, and to bring some green chilis back to Los Angeles." Also told us of his dream to be invited to stay in the Lincoln bedroom once Obama is president, and eat a chorizo breakfast burrito in bed. "You have to make my dream a reality, New Mexico!" He was hilarious -- Ethan loved it.

9:04 Waiting for Obama, listening to blasting music: The sweetest little old ladies who were jamming to Bruce Springsteen during this picture -- I kid you not. I loved that they were at an Obama rally on a Saturday night! Who says McCain has a lock on this demographic?

9:24pm It was such a rush of emotion to see Obama -- to feel some inspiration in this time that has been lacking. He said, "Raise your hands if you make less than $250K a year." The above picture was only a piece of the reaction. He laughed and said, "I think we'll be ok, then. That is what 95% of Americans make, and 99.5% of plumbers make."

9:35 pm It was so fun being with this Hispanic crowd, where we would chant, "Obamanos!" and "Si, Se Puede!" We even got ourselves a "Cambio" sign to add to our signs for the boys' bedroom.

"John McCain hasn't been a maverick. He's been a sidekick when it comes to George Bush's economic policies," Obama charged. "When it comes to the policies that matter to middle-class families, there's not an inch of daylight between George Bush and John McCain."



9:46 "This is our moment to seize our destiny... you and I together, we're going to change the country — and change the world."