Archive for November 4th, 2008

I promised myself I wouldn’t do it, not this year. I swore I wouldn’t believe in a victory until it was absolutely certain. But it’s been building for a while. Now I am almost positive that Obama is going to win tomorrow. I cannot see any way for McCain to possibly pull this off. This is what is scaring me.

I remember what happened four years ago. It was supposed to be a great night. The world was finally supposed to be corrected. Bush was going to be booted for screwing up the country. Kerry was going to bring some sanity back to the country. It was supposed to happen, but it didn’t.

That wasn’t the only thing, either. Somehow Tom Daschle, the most powerful politician South Dakota has had, lost to a neophyte. A neophyte that had lost to Tim Johnson.

I remember that night all too well. I was with my fellow believer, Trace McKellips. We were not yet of age, so we bought several bottles of sparkling grape juice in preparation, as well as various sodas and such. We wanted to be fully prepared to toast and toast and toast until our stomachs hurt from the sweet, sweet sparkling grape juice. But as the night went on, we realized that the toasts would be dark. Our stomachs would hurt, but not from grape juice. The dawn would come, but darkness would reign.

I do not know if I have ever seen a bigger pity party.

This was all before I walked home. I was still up with the sunrise, watching the results. I realized Daschle had officially fallen. It is not easy to admit, but some tears did fall. I have never felt so lost. That is as close to breaking my “never cynical” rule I have come.

It was at this moment that I decided to never feel confident in a political race. Karl Rove had destroyed what smidgeons of hope were left in me.

I thought this hope was destroyed, but it only lay dormant. It was waiting for the right man to show up in the right hour to begin glowing. My hope is back, and I am scared poo-less.

It seems inevitable that history will be made tomorrow. It will likely be one of the biggest days in the history of the United States. It will mark not only a first for the White House, but a turning point in the direction of our superpower. We can regain our standing and our moral authority to lead. It will happen.

Do you see how I’m talking? I am far too excited and far too confident. And now I’m scared.

Enjoy the sleepless night, if you’re anything like me.

Always skeptical, never cynical
Adam Feser

This is a big moment for the country…I am ready to make my endorsements. I know everyone reading this has been anticipating this moment for a long time. Here we go.

I am endorsing Barack Obama for president. I know you’re all surprised, but I was excited for his 2008 presidential run at the end of 2004. If you are wondering why, it is because I feel he is a big step forward for this country, both domestically and internationally. He is willing to fight for the middle class. I could ramble on and on, but I feel he is right for the country.

I am endorsing Tim Johnson and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin in the races for Congress. I think South Dakota is behind me on these two.

I do not feel any of the ballot initiatives or amendments should be passed. Some were okay, but I did not think any of them were special enough to get me to vote yes. I will focus on a few right now.

Ballot Initiative 11
I am strongly against it. I am for reproductive rights, but that isn’t the only reason to vote this one down. If it passes, it is doomed. South Dakota taxpayers will be forced to pay for loads and loads of bills trying to take down a precedent that even conservative judges know is set. This would be an expensive gesture. Let someone else try this first, then watch how horribly it ends up for them. Vote no on this one. We cannot force religious beliefs on others.

Constitutional Amendment J
I am against this amendment, as well. I believe term limits are a good thing. Too often, officials are elected based solely on the fact that they are incumbents. This is especially true with state officials because there is less exposure. I support term limits because new people with new ideas should have the opportunity every so often. There is a reason presidents step down after two terms. Eight years is enough.

That is enough for now.

Enjoy the victory, Tigers. I always wondered what a playoff victory felt like. Savor it, boys.

Always skeptical, never cynical
Adam Feser

I did not go to a movie last night because I was on the long road from Lincoln, NE to Groton, SD. Since I missed one last night, I am going to write about a movie I saw a couple of weeks ago: Appaloosa.

I really enjoyed it. I thought the characters played by Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen were excellent. You could tell they really understood and trusted one another without them being to obvious about it. There were some classic moments between the two of them. Without giving away too much, a woman cannot come between them.

The plot is not too far from a lot of westerns: Bad guys do bad things, new sheriff comes to town, new sheriff institutes some changes that the bad guys will not like. There is also a woman (played by Renee Zellweger). I liked the character because she seemed real. Amanda disliked her because she was not the most upstanding. Carrie disliked her because her backstory was lacking. They both have a point. I think the main character flaw (what Amanda said) she shows is an understandable one for a woman alone in that environment. It is almost a survival mechanism.

There isn’t as much action as some people would probably hope, but I thought the surprising amount of laughs made up for it. When there is action, it happens pretty quickly.

It has been some time since I saw the movie, but I remember being pleased. I thought Harris and Mortensen were awesome together. But it isn’t a movie I am going to rush out and buy as soon as it is available one DVD, which reminds me…

Rating:

Rent it as soon as it comes out on DVD.

Enjoy an amazing Redskins comeback, ’cause it’s coming.

Always skeptical, never cynical
Adam Feser

I figured I better lay out my predictions so everyone can call me out when the time comes. Some of these are obviously nothing but conjecture. Remember, these are not endorsements, they are predictions.

State Senator District 2 – Jim Hundstad
State Representative District 2 – H. Paul Dennert; Daniel Kaiser
State Senator District 3 – Al Novstrup
State Representative District 3 – Mark Remily; David Novstrup

President/Vice President – Barack Obama and Joe Biden (55%, 356 – 182)
United States Senate – Tim Johnson (59%)
United States Representative – Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (63%)

Public Utilities Commissioner – ?????
County Commissioner at Large – Dale Kurth

Constitutional Amendment G – No
Constitutional Amendment H – No
Constitutional Amendment I – No
Constitutional Amendment J – No
Initiated Measure 9 – No
Initiated Measure 10 – No
Initiated Measure 11 – No

Minnesota Senate Race – Al Franken (41%)

Total Senate Seats – Democrats – 59 (including independents who caucus with dems.)
Republicans – 41

Total House Seats – Democrats – 250
Republicans – 185

This is going to be a fun election.

Enjoy being an American tomorrow, possibly one of our proudest days.

Always skeptical, never cynical
Adam Feser