Your election as well as mine-- some musings

Election Day, especially for the absentee voter, is a bit like New Year's Eve Day. None of the real action actually happens until that evening or usually, around 10pm. Plus, some years, you wake up the next morning and wonder "I stayed awake for that?!?" Thankfully, with the exception of the MN Senate race, I went to sleep excited for the coming day.

The more I think about it, the more I really like concession speeches. Amidst the blue and red maps and Electoral College tickers, the concession speech feels like the first transition vehicle from election to elected official. In 2004, I read an article analyzing the history of concession speeches of the losing candidate, and it convinced me that this is indeed one of the great traditions of our democracy. From what I recall, the article detailed what a concession speech ought to have. First and foremost, it must acknowledge the veracity of his or her opponent's victory. Second, it must tacitly agree to hold to that outcome, as decided by the voters in a free and fair election. Furthermore, the great speeches are the gracious ones, who ignore the history of negative campaigning/slanders/outright lies that were told in favor of the moving patriotic lines. Concession speeches are about soothing the losing side and bringing them back into a larger fold. I admit, I was a fan of Sen. Hillary Clinton's concession speech when I finally watched it days after Obama had clinched enough primary and superdelegate votes. Like many others, I was pleased with Sen. John McCain's speech. It showed a part of the McCain that I admired in 2000. He recognized the magnitude and historical significance of the moment for African-Americans (and really, all Americans in my mind), even as he noted the personal significance for President-elect Obama and his recently deceased grandmother.

On a personal note, EA, the little sister I never had, earned her first "I voted" sticker. :)

One of the network stations had someone reciting part of MLK's "I have a dream" speech. With this in mind, I stand in awe of the multicultural, multi-generational photo shot at Grant Park of Obama and Biden's extended families. In particular, Sasha Obama and Biden's grandkids standing next to each other, smiling and waving to the crowd. That they might think nothing of it and can grin in front of thousands of people, many of whom have tears in their eyes,
is amazing.