I am afraid that I am inspired

[ramapo]

I've mostly maintained a distance from much of the primary blather. I, at one time or another, have favored all the candidates, from crazy old Mike Gravel, to my closest ideological partner Dennis Kuchinich, to the very mature and rational Joe Biden. I was wowed with the impressive resume of Bill Richardson, and finally settled in with John Edwards for a bit.

My wife has been for Obama from the start. I read part of one of his books. I liked him but just wasn't sure. Hillary impressed me, although I was never thrilled with the idea of another Clinton. And there's the issue of her voting record too.

I finally watched a debate, sat through all of last Thursday's and, while thinking I was favoring Obama after Edwards left the race, decided I'd be happy supporting either candidate, but still favored Obama.

But today I sat and watched a few hours of CSPAN. Saw a couple of Barack appearances and damn if I wasn't impressed and inspired. Then I had a phone call from the Barack campaign. He's appearing in NJ tomorrow... if only I didn't have job responsibilities.

I then watched McCain appearing with that scum Joe Lieberman. He seemed so old and his message was so worn out. Caught a bit of Mitt. He is so plastic.

Then I saw Michelle Obama speak at UCLA and she pretty much moved me to tears. Never mind Barack, hell, I'd vote for Michelle.

Damn, I thought. Can this be the real thing?

But I have a problem....I am afraid to really hope again. To feel some inspiration that maybe, just maybe, after so many DECADES, that there is a chance that our country can change the downward trajectory that it has been on for so long. To really be a world leader again, to break the politics of hate, to have a government for the people.

My hopes have been shattered so many times. By Republicans, by Democrats, and by the collective citizenry. Since the 1960s, it has been just one bad thing followed by the next. There were the many tragedies with the so many failures, so many mistakes, so many disappointments.

Tonight I do have a real sense of hope that there is a man out there who has the capabilities to lead us out of this wasteland. It scares me because I don't know that I can stand to have hope shattered again.

But I can't wait to cast my vote on Tuesday and then sit and hope one more time that maybe there are enough people in this country that see things the same way that I do.

So far my track record is pretty lousy. But tonight I have hope, and if Tuesday brings us closer to real change, I might just be brave enough to really work at making hope become reality.

[silverweb]

1. Don't let go. Don't be afraid.

Don't ever stop actively hoping and striving. We're not alone.

Welcome to Team Obama!

GObama! _The "Yes We Can" Song_

[TwilightGardener]

2. They don't call Michelle "The Closer" for nothing...

:-)

[Diane R]

3. We all have to take the leap together. My candidates always lose...Gore, Dean, Kerry. Must believe.

[Cha]

16. THose are my candidates, too..

and I'm still not afraid to back who I believe in.

[Windy]

4. Michelle is wonderful!!! She has class, and strength! n/t

[rug]

5. "I am afraid to really hope again"? Christ, I've been enraged for 7 years.

[no name no slogan]

6. Never put your hope in politicians. Put it in THE PEOPLE

People in this country tend to have a messiah complex about our presidential candidates. Unfortunately, no one single person can change the course of this country, for better or worse. It takes a TEAM.

Support your presidential candidate of choice, but don't forget about the rest of the jobs on the ticket: the House, the Senate, state legislature, governor, city council, mayor; hell, even the DOGCATCHER can make a difference.

No single candidate can change things. But electing solid progressives across the board WILL.

[NC_Nurse]

7. I'm with you, ramapo. I made my decision today as well.

I have been let down many times over the years. The people I've supported usually don't make it through the primary,
much less the general. I have held off from really getting excited about anyone, although I supported Edwards for a while...
knowing he probably wouldn't make it to the nom.
Today I decided on Obama. I am not ever going to be the naive supporter who thinks he will FIX EVERYTHING. I am actually not
asking much. Just someone who isn't divisive, who may be able to work with a wide variety of groups to produce some RESULTS that
I am happy with. Shit, someone who can complete a sentence would be nice after Bush!

If you want to check out my process look here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4366736&mesg_id=4366736

Good for you for joining the Obama movement! Welcome from another skeptic! :D

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. I have to agree, if you come at it from a totally objective point of view,

it is so totally inspiring, and I'll be in 51 in a couple of months. I, too, had become so cynical, and dispirited and thought there was just no reason to "HOPE" anymore, but I now have a renewed sense that this country maybe can become what it once was, that beacon on a hill, and once again admired around the globe, instead of loathed & distrusted. Peace brokers instead of warmongers.

Thanks for posting, you sum up the feelings of so many of us, who have come late to the party.

[Whisp]

9. I know how you feel about the hope thing.

with what has happened in the last few years, so many hopes have been dashed over and over again - especially when the dashers are the democrat congress. . . those really hurt.

but yesterday i decided..

SCREW IT! I'M JUMPING IN WITH BOTH FEET!

I'm going to enjoy this.
Hope is great - and there are no guarantees in anything -
but the moment of commiting to it are wonderful - exhilerating and passionate.

like falling in love.

[Bluerthanblue]

10. I share your hope- good things don't come easy- or without

risk.

you are in good company-

thank you for your beautiful post.

peace~

[Barack_America]

11. I say go ahead and hope...

If our hopes are dashed, they will be dashed together.

And we'll still be better off than we were. There's no downside to being reminded how much you love your country.

[blm]

12. It took me awhile, too. Then he started speaking to Open Government and THAT is my language.

And the language of TRUE PATRIOTS.

[Cha]

18. YAY!

:D

[Neecy]

13. I am sooooo with you on this

My hopes have been shattered so many times. By Republicans, by Democrats, and by the collective citizenry.

The night Reagan won his second term, I decided that I'd never again underestimate the stupidity, laziness and apathy of the American people. Then came 4 years of Poppy and two terms of his dumbass son and I realize that Reagan was just the tip of a very gruesome iceberg. I'll tell you what - I can't sit though another election night like those I've known in my life. I can't watch Candy Crowley beaming with joy when another Rethug wins. I can't take another decade of greed, war, environmental rape and the arrogance of people who claim to hate 'big government' bringing that same government down on our necks with their spying, neoliberal economic policies, their wingnut judges and abortion hysteria.

So...I've decided to put my money on hope, because that's really all there is at this stage. I want someone who inspires me because our political system was been so utterly dispiriting. I can't wait to caucus on Tuesday and hopefully we'll get our country back.

[Adelante]

14. Why the hell not hope?

This chance may not come our way again.

[Cha]

15. Michelle did remind us today not to

"Fear"..the "Fear Bomb" is so old school and that goes for hoping we're gonna get a better way NOW..not four years from now.

Edit to say..your wife is smart..it took me a little while to see what was going on after being passionate in 2000 and 2004 about my candidate.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

17. There has never been anything like what we're experiencing now.

That's no guarantee, but the momentum Obama has right now is incredible. I've tried to mentally prepare myself for the possibility of his defeat, but you know what? Heck with it. If he loses he loses. No matter what, he has changed the dialog forever and shown what is possible.

[Nimrod2005]

19. I feel the same way you do....Moved and afraid!

[Laurab]

20. I was inspired a while back by watching his announcement.

When he announced he was throwing his hat in the ring. It was a huge crowd, in the rain, and it was wonderful to see how he could inspire people.

My decision to support him wasn't made because of that, though. It was made after learning about the man himself. I read both his books, and got a sense that this man had something special going for him. I will admit his inspiring speeches are a bonus, and if I watch one, I am sometimes momentarily filled with hope, and he certainly has charisma to spare. What sealed it for me was that he was the only candidate talking over and over about open, transparent government.

I think I am too cynical to hope too much, and there is also the fear that someone who doesn't inspire me in the least may win, and I will be CRUSHED. I'm not sure I'm ready for that, so I hope just a little, and will be filled with hope if he does well on Tuesday. If he does, there will be no stopping him...

[andyrowe]

21. I know exactly how you feel, but remember:

You have nothing to fear but fear itself!

[FrenchieCat]

22. I walk next to Barack, not behind him. That's why he talks in "we"........

in saying, Yes WE can!

We have been waiting for this moment.

The ones that don't believe, are the ones who have been defeated by the Skeptics.

But there are enough of us left to make the difference.....

The revolution is being televised.

[cooolandrew]

23. If in NJ make a few calls to friends and family could make all the difference.

[K Gardner]

24. Your Journey sounds like mine ! I finally gave up, and gave in to Hope and it feels

wonderful. I'm phone banking for Obama today and working at my precint tomorrow. Don't be afraid :-)