BARACK THE VOTE!!!

I guess it's not much of a secret that I'm TeamBarack. I just think he's wonderful. He's gotten me all re-excited about politics, government, elections, after being completely jaded from the disasters of the last eight years. He's got me thinking and hoping about an awesomer America. With him, I think it could/might/maybe happen!!!

Here's the thing- it's not that i'm against Hillary. I'm just incredibly ambivalent about her. Nothing about her candidacy excites me. Even the fact that she's a woman is tempered by the fact that our first woman president (Clinton2- potentially president #44) was married to the former president (Clinton1- president #42). Strikingly similar to another president (Bush2- president #43) whose father was former president (Bush1- president #41). Can you only be president if your father or husband was one? Is this a monarchy???? Blah. I digress. The point is, I'll be happy if she wins the general election, and I'll probably even vote for her, but I won't care enough to campaign for her or volunteer or donate. If she wins, there will be a Bush or a Clinton in the WhiteHouse from the time I was 7 until at least the time I'm 31. If you count the years Bush1 was Veep, there will be a Bush or a Clinton in the executive office for my ENTIRE LIFE (including most of the time spent in utero).

Now, it's not that I like Obama's policies so much better than Clinton's. I basically think they're the same. But man, I'm EXCITED about Obama. He makes me want to go out and volunteer for his campaign, and for the country. He makes me feel like this country can change for the better. And it's not that he's going to change anything by himself, but I really think he can inspire others go out and take action and be that change. In him, I see a smart, compassionate, committed LEADER- not just another Washington Blah Blah Blah.

I know I sound so idealistic. But man, what's wrong with idealism? What's wrong with having a candidate who inspires all that? After so many years of unenthusiasm bordering on apathy bordering on hatred, it's nice to feel excited about politics and government and this country.

Also, I love Obama's cred. Minority who grew up and Asia and has a half Asian sister. Awesome. Community organizer in Chicago. Love it. After HarvardLaw, didn't go back to supercorporate firm Sidley and instead worked for a public interest firm. I LOVE IT. Also, he's super smart, married to an intelligent, articulate woman, and used to teach conlaw (it'll be nice to have a president who knows what habeuscorpus means!!!!)

Just one more thing- the experience argument. First, Obama is about the same age as Clinton1 was when he was first elected. Second, who the heck has the necessary experience to be president? There is no other job like it. The closest thing is probably governor. Clinton1 was governor, I think he was a great president. Bush2 was governor, I think he is/was a terrible president. Reagan, Carter- governors. The job duties of a senator don't exactly match up to the job duties of the President. The last sitting senator to be President was... Kennedy? I think Kennedy. And most people agree that although he wasn't the best president, he really inspired the country. Also, he founded the PeaceCorps. (Note: Bush1 used to be a Senator, before he was CIA Director and Veep, Johnson was Senator before he was Veep, and Ford was a Congressman before he was Veep and then President. I'm a nerd.) So basically, I don't think it matters that Clinton2 has more experience in the Senate than Obama.

Arrrrghhh. The past two elections have seen the candidates I wanted fall to the EvilBushEmpire. Will this be another year of disappointment? Another year of a candidate I'm ambivalent about falling to a candidate I despise? (To be fair, I don't despise McCain, just Romney and Huck. And I was actually fairly enthusiastic about Gore and Kerry, because Gore was cool, and Kerry was not Bush2.)

I guess I just want a candidate who I really respect, and who I'll be excited to see in the WhiteHouse. I want a President who will really try to change this country for the better, and who cares about social justice and civil rights and liberties. I want something different, after so many years of the same. I WANT OBAMA!!!

Paid for by me.