Elect this candidate with thunderous certitude and righteous rectitude!

[imomus]

On any other day, count me with the contrarians. Count me, on any other day, with the provocateurs, the losers, the indecent, the ironists, the elitists, the outsiders, the anti-populists, and with perverse gods of sarcasm and perpetual despair. But not today. Today I'm not a Momus but a person who stands together with the vast undifferentiated mass of people, not just in America but all over the world, who have a single, simple, fervent wish, hope and desire: that this man should become the next president of the United States of America.



By some fluke, freak, or piece of incredibly lucky fortune, a good, intelligent, sane, enlightened, cosmopolitan and potentially great man has come to the fore in American politics, perhaps as much despite the system as because of it. All the evidence suggests that he will win this election, perhaps as much despite the conservatism of the American electorate as because of it.

It feels wonderful, for once, to be so unoriginal, to be lost in this enormous planetary crowd and to share this crowd's wishes, its excitement, its probable coming delight. This, at last, is our prodigal moment, the moment when it all starts swinging back our way.

I'm not an American, though I do write for an American paper -- the American "paper of record", and the paper the Republicans despise more than any other. I don't have a vote in this election, but I certainly have a stake in its outcome, as does the entire world. At a crucial moment in history, the stakes could hardly be higher.

Like everyone else I know, I like this man. I want this man to win a great victory, and return America -- as much as any single man can, with the will of the world behind him and the wind filling his sails -- to the place of honour and standing and decency it has so sadly and signally lost over the course of these last eight appalling, disgraceful, banal, toxic, tortuous, murderous and war-mongering years, years in which that exemplary Enlightenment document, the American Constitution, has been mocked, menaced and mangled.

I say it without a trace of irony, a smidgen of decadence, or a whiff of doubt: Viva Barack Hussein Obama -- may the land truly slide for you today! Americans, do the right thing and elect this excellent candidate with thunderous certitude and righteous rectitude. And tomorrow, let a better era begin.

Comments

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

Nick -

Thank you so much for this. We Californians are with you one hundred percent.

Know hope.

[tailchaser.livejournal.com]

brilliantly said.

i am so hoping that some of my faith in the masses is restored tomorrow.

I quite concur!!

[(Anonymous)]

I'm thrilled to be voting this year and wish tomorrow would come quick!

I approve of this message.

[scythrop.livejournal.com]

I can't wait!

The last time I voted in a presidential election, my wife and I walked across the street to our polling place knowing our son would likely be born later that day. He was, and it was the only good thing to come of it. It's so exciting to think that tomorrow we will walk to the same place and cast our votes, and that maybe as much hope and promise and love will be brought into our nation and the world as into our lives that day four years ago.

If not, I'm the one that will need the anesthesiologist this time.

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

Polls being where they are, I think foul play would almost certainly be involved if McCain wins. People with something to lose will be taking to the streets at that point. Words like "secession" or "revolution" might take on added currency.

His grandmother's death just before the biggest day of his life is truly tragic.

[skazat.livejournal.com]

I was pleasantly surprised that when I voted early, I was given a paper ballot. That made me not want to go to the polling station with the ballpean hammer and destroy voting machines (making sure backup, paper ballots were available) in an act of civil disobedience.

[cargoweasel.livejournal.com]

Right there with ya! It feels like we're on the verge of something great!

[skazat.livejournal.com]

At least here in Denver, it's Obama-ized to the hilt, but get a few miles out of the city limits and McCain/Palin signs start sprouting up like weeds. Scary - I was riding my bike in the mountains and felt almost insecure about all the people around me. One van on the side of the road was giving away, "Democrats for McCain" lawn signs. I was trying to figure out what sort of Democrat that could be (as the reverse is at least being reported), but they *were* being planted.

*shiver*

I may never see the day of masses of people in the streets celebrating together because of a full-on cure for AIDS, but if this election goes our way, it's gonna be close. It's gonna be close.

I'm...uncertain.

[xenogil.livejournal.com]

I always appreciate your eloquence, it's something that is sorely lacking in this world today.

I'm at odds whether I should vote for this man, however. While it is obvious that when compared to the opposition he presents a much more desirable image of America to the international community and to this nation, I do not believe that he would be the most fitting individual to hold the position and properly carry out the established responsibilities of the office.

As commander and chief of the combined armed forces, McCain would prove to be a far more competent commander, and he is well aware of the logistical issues and the backlash that may be received if America does not properly rectify the quagmire that the administration placed us into when they chose to invade a particular section of Mesopotamia. While I wish for the withdrawl of troops in that region to be immediate, the timetables laid out by Obama and those in the democratic congress are asinine.

Both candidates lack a coherent understanding of the economy and how the current financial crisis came about, which also bothers me. In every debate and speech that I have seen Obama participate in, he claims that the problems facing the American economy today are the result of "trickle-down economics", which could not be further from the truth. It is due to the utter incompetence of the banks and poor decisions on the part of the investors in subprime mortgages that have resulted in the current fiscal debacle, and people seem to have forgotten that the banks were also vital contributors to a particular depression which transpired close to eighty years ago in this nation. I'm growing tired of the liberals taking stabs at Reaganomics when the model doesn't apply today, and especially when the enormous benefits of the model could be easily observed a decade after the Gipper presented it to the nation.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm in agreement with a number of the man's ideologies far more so than McCain's increasingly ludicrous positions, but I have many issues as to how he advocates their implementation.

But regardless of which candidate is placed in office, I suppose I can rest easy in the fact that the capabilities of the individual which holds the position are greatly exaggerated.

Re: I'm...uncertain.

[(Anonymous)]

You are an idiot if you think a mere president could solve America's problems.

You are an idiot if you don't believe that sea change takes faith, hope, and a newly-minted resolve to work for solutions together as a country. It takes a rebirth as a citizen, akin to baptism.

I am voting for Barack Obama tomorrow not because he has all the answers, but because he instills in me that very resolve.

How come you don't get it?

[spincyclescream.livejournal.com]

I'm taking to the streets tomorrow--in triumph or defeat.

Either way, the UN really should be supervising our election.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grimtales_/]

I think they are.
Mind you, they did - or tried to - last time, but were barred a lot of access.

[(Anonymous)]

Are you and Brian Eno having crow for dinner tomorrow night?

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Re-read that piece (http://imomus.livejournal.com/376620.html) -- I wasn't saying Eno was right to think America wasn't ready for a black president. I was reporting his view, not endorsing it. It says "If Eno is right...", not "Eno is right".

[virtualoftheday.livejournal.com]

I hope, Obama will destroy USA as Gorbachev destroyed USSR. The same thing - nice looking guy who begins with neat improvements and ends with massive system crash.

[mcgazz.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting idea - Obama attempts to reign in the worst excesses of capitalism to keep the USA functioning and ends up triggering retrenchment from the super-rich, who've come to expect and demand exemption from tax plus vast handouts of public money. I don't know if Obama is really going to threaten the fundamentals of the system that much, though - credit crunch or no credit crunch.

It wasn't really Gorbachev who destroyed the USSR. After around 1975, the Soviet system became unsustainable and the people with the money and power came to the conclusion that the best way to hold on to that money and power would be to convert the country to capitalism (most post-Soviet countries are run by the same people who effectively ran them during the latter days of the Soviet era). This was delayed for a bit after Reagan was elected and openly threatened the USSR with nuclear annihilation, which played into the hands of Stalinist dinosaurs like Andropov and Chernyenko. But, as soon as Gorbachev started to reform the system, the real ruling class made their move. Of course, the situation was compounded by the West, who saw the USSR collapsing and figured they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to utterly crush their old enemy. The "austerity measures" imposed on Russia were, frankly, criminal. The USA, at least, doesn't have to worry about an economic superpower taking advantage of their weakness to destroy their system (unless China is keeping something *very* far up its sleeve).

[cheapsurrealist.livejournal.com]

as much as any single man can

One man who will appoint other highly qualified men and women to important positions.

Imagine that.

[shadowshark.livejournal.com]

They just got my absentee ballot. I'm pretty nervous about how it's going to turn out in my swing county (Washoe) in my swing state (Nevada). If you believe at all in what happened with the rice yesterday, start directing your positive thoughts towards my state and skazat's (everyone)!

[(Anonymous)]

New Labour 1997 anyone?

[robinsonner.livejournal.com]

There is a similar hook in the chorus but I don't think its the same song

[barnacle.livejournal.com]

Count me, on any other day, with the provocateurs, the losers, the indecent, the ironists, the elitists, the outsiders, the anti-populists, and with perverse gods of sarcasm and perpetual despair.

One hope for you and the rest of the dismal kin you describe, Momus, is that having someone in the White House for a change who isn't venal or an idiot might mean that we all—er, you all—have to raise the bar a little. Holding someone to account for what they promised is far harder work than lampooning someone for being mad.

[raspberry-lemon.livejournal.com]

[womanonfire.livejournal.com]

yes nick. thank you. wonderful post. i fully agree and voted accordingly from this distance. but i'm so nervous that i am logging off the internet and not coming back till all this is decided OR maybe i will spend all night hitting refresh on news sites >.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Lest anyone accuse me of being Bono-ish with this post, let's note the fact that Bono, while making pronouncements about this election, isn't endorsing either candidate (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27454828/):

"The way the U.S. is perceived — "Brand USA" — also means something, he said. And it's never been so closely watched, said Bono, who didn't endorse either candidate for president. Regardless of who wins, "it's a great chance to relaunch Brand USA," he said."

Now, respect to Bono for all his charity work -- he has made a difference in the fight against AIDS in Africa. But, given the appalling record of the last eight years, and given that he's making public pronouncements, what are we to make of this failure to endorse either candidate? Is Bono now such a career politician (an unelected one) that he has to take the line that "whoever the incoming administration turns out to be, we look forward to working closely with them"? Is this craven opportunism or some kind of Schweikian-Brechtian tactical, survivalist cunning? Or does Bono, at this point, simply not have a neck to stick out, even when he wants his head to stick up over the parapet and be counted at important moments like this?

[cheapsurrealist.livejournal.com]

Bono is the new Bob Hope (http://video.aol.com/video-detail/bob-hope-on-president-kennedy/2494966818)

[zdover.livejournal.com]

I voted this morning for Barack Obama at a polling place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I was thinking of my European friends the entire time I did it.

Freundschaft.

let a better era begin

[pay-option07.livejournal.com]

My hope for America is that it does what it does by more than 536 votes. Divisiveness, sucks and that's what deprives the world of the countries true potential.

[georgesdelatour.livejournal.com]

Time for a song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Tz2kI_4mU

[(Anonymous)]

Distinctions between the candidates can only be found in the most insignificant issues. The war in Iraq involves--at most--1.5 million active duty US military personnel. That's less than 1% of the population. The number of people having abortions every year is even less than that. Your life will look exactly the same in 8 years as it does now. You will still drive to work every day, passing by ugly strip malls, billboards, gas stations, fast food joints, in a little ugly utilitarian vehicle (the same whether powered by gas or a battery).

[yeah-thatsme.livejournal.com]

I'm actually just heading out the door to the polls. My vote's relatively meaningless because Obama has New York hands down, but I'm very excited that my first vote in a presidential election is going towards this candidate.

[autokrater.livejournal.com]

I can understand how you don't want to see McCain and Palin in office. Palin would have a fairly good shot at being president which would be a horrible nightmare. However why this fawning over Obama? The guy does not support the same things I believe you to support. He is not anti-war,he is not not opposed to taking military against Iran,he is in complete support of the Israeli government,he is opposed to gay marriage,he voted for the FISA bill which gives the U.S. government free reign to spy on all citizens legally,he voted for Paulson's bailout and he hasn't proposed any real drastic plan to take on the economy..which is probably the most serious issue facing us here and the rest of the world. I would sooner have voted for Kerry last time and even though I don't like her,Hillary Clinton was far more progressive. I understand that Obama is a good speaker and after hearing Bush for 8 years it's refreshing to see someone deliver passionate speeches about really changing America. However I wonder if you even researched anything about Obama or have you just been swept up in blind excitement along with what seems like most of these users replying to your post?
I would expect you to be a bit more critical...

[imomus.livejournal.com]

You're not paying enough attention to the incremental, and to the pragmatic. If Obama wins -- and he can, unlike the other candidates who might reflect my and your politics (http://imomus.livejournal.com/408202.html) better -- the world will certainly be improved by many increments. His positions are closer to mine than any US president since Jimmy Carter. He -- and the Democratic majorities in both houses -- will steer America further left than it's been since Reagan took power. That's a long time ago, but not so long that I don't remember it. I remember Howard Devoto changing the lyrics of "Model Worker" from "I know the cadre will look after me" to "I know that Carter will look after me" and then, later still, and with a shiver in his voice, to "I know that Reagan will look after me".

Sure, politically I'm more of a Dennis Kucinich man. But DK has not a cat's chance in hell of being president, ever. Obama will be, in January. That's really something to celebrate, and to orchestrate.

[kementari2.livejournal.com]

I love the colorful assortment in his class photo! Very fresh, creative, and happy.

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That's my America in that photo.