High

I spent two hours on Sunday standing on the corner of 14th and U Streets holding an Obama sign as high as my arms would reach. You'd think this would be easy, because a sign is a piece of paper. But you would be wrong about the first part. When your arms are roughly as strong and taught as al dente linguini, holding anything --nothing -- above your head for two hours is quite difficult. The wind was gusting to fifteen thousand mph, and eventually I couldn't feel my fingers. I started to wonder just how far I'd go for Obama. Aching shoulders? Runny nose? FROSTBITE?

I'm slightly more cynical than Pollyannaish. But I have to tell you that standing on that street corner while hundreds of people drove by, honking and pumping their fists in the air and shouting, "Obama!" gave me so many warm and gooey feelings that I thought my insides had liquefied.

People of all colors and ages stopped to ask for buttons and posters. Pedestrians clapped and cheered. Bus drivers and cab drivers peppered the air with the sound of horns. And then rainbows filled the horizon, the sick were suddenly healed, and all the people in the D.C. metro area spontaneously broke into a chorus of "The Star-Spangled Banner." With angels singing backup.

But honestly, it was really nice. Really, really nice. Even nicer than Slice of Pink's Banana Carmel Chocolate Spice Pie, which I made today. (And trust me, people: That's saying a lot. That pie is a circular piece of heaven.)

I urge you all to go support your candidate and then come home and enjoy a delicious bakeless pie. Because the combination of a democracy high followed by a sugar high? The only thing I can imagine taking me any higher is a 30-minute slow-motion video of puppies running through fields of wildflowers. And since I don't have one of those on hand, I may have to eat another piece of pie.

Comments

[Librarian Girl]

Woo-hoo for democracy! The hopefulness... I love that. And one of these times, we will get this shit RIGHT.

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Teej says:

This time. I'm aiming for THIS time.

[Marmite Breath]

Last night I spoke to my daughter's Girl Scout leader who told me that Hadleigh had been at Scouts talking about politics, and more specifically, Obama.

Apparently, Had (10) was impressed by the Obama music video that she watched with us yesterday, and felt the need to explain to the troop how important it was to find out what you want in a candidate and then GO OUT AND VOTE for said candidate.

As long as they are not Republican. This last part was implied.

I need to hurry up and make up my mind to become a citizen so I can vote for Obama. I adore him.

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Teej says:

How great is that? Little Hadleigh is getting involved! But seriously, kids have built-in bullshit alarms. And if a 10-year-old is moved by what she hears from Obama, then that reinforces what I already feel.

Actually, kids are often just products of their environments. Which means two things: 1) Hadleigh lives in an environment where open-mindedness and participation are encouraged, and 2) kids' bullshit alarms are only as accurate as their parents'. That's how we get tiny brainwashed soldiers like the kids in Jesus Camp. I think their bullshit alarms would be eerily silent during, say, a Huckabee speech.

More Hadleighs, please.

[cadiz12]

i'm so happy you got such a good response; it seems people have finally started paying attention. it's too bad that it took the prospect of things getting even worse than they are to make that happen, though. let's hope the right person gets elected to turn it around!

i watched Waitress last night, so i can't get the delicious varieties of heaven that comes in the form of pie out of my mind. Mmmm, pie.

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Teej says:

I just got Waitress in the mail yesterday, and I'm afraid that watching it will send me on a mad pie-baking adventure. When you don't work in an office, you can't unload your baked goods on your coworkers. You have to eat them all yourself, and then commit to spending an extra three hours campaigning to burn off the calories.

[Sphincter]

There are few wonderful experiences that great pie could not enhance.

[Ward]

That reminds me of something I once read in a parenting book. The author was responding to someone's frustration with their child not wanting to hold their hand while walking around the mall. The response?

Kids are shorter then you and have to hold their arms above their heads to hold your hand. Try walking around the mall for a half hour with your arm above your head. I found that very enlightening.

On a more twisted note... What about pies made out of puppies? Would that double up your high? (I know... that was just wrong)

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Teej says:

WARD IN TROUBLE. WARD BANNED FROM TOUCHING PUPPIES EVER AGAIN.

[Amy]

Good for you for getting involved (and taking the pain)! This is a seriously exciting election:) Pie looks delish...

[Moose]

Fervently embracing the Obama. Also, the pie.

[xteener]

This race has finally gotten interesting. We are all starting to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. There will be change!

[zinta]

Oh to be able to VOTE!!

I have never voted! First I was too young to vote, now since I turned 18, like 10 years ago, no serious election has happened in my little country. Now, we await the big election of the Consituent Assembly which will help us write a people's constitution. Lots of crisis and mess up before the election that the government do not seem to be equipped to handle but keeping my fingers crossed..I hear the UN, the entire fleet of concerned foreign countries and Carter Center is helping us. this election could mean a begining of real democracy (or loktantra as we say here). Can't wait to VOTE!!

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Teej says:

Zinta, I wish you many, many days of democratic voting. You deserve it.

[Joelle]

My DAD voted for Obama last week! Can you believe it? I'm so proud of him...

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Teej says:

Wow. I wonder how many other people in that town voted for Obama. Do you have a feel for this?

[Beth]

Just curious: why aren't you backing Hillary Clinton?

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Teej says:

Good question. If she gets the nomination, I will do everything I can to get her elected. But I’m picking Obama over Clinton mainly because I don’t think she can win in the general. I used to think she could, but not anymore. Her organization is a mess and has been a mess for a long time, though nobody started to notice until she lost Iowa. Many more started to notice after South Carolina. But her campaign -- they’ve had on blinders. I think her campaign leadership has done her a great disservice. It was totally unable to recognize early on that she might not be a shoo-in, and the assumption that she would win caused them to neglect so much. They’re running the kind of campaign that is too top heavy, strategy-wise. Focused on constantly changing message. From everything I’ve read and seen, their organization at the ground level is weak compared to Obama’s. I think both candidates have been responsible for the amazing Democratic voter turnout in this year’s primaries and caucuses. But I would bet that -- due to Obama’s tactically strong volunteer organization -- he’s responsible for more of that turnout increase. And that will be a big factor in November.

It’s not an easy choice. I think Hillary is exceptionally smart where policy making is concerned, and I think she would make a wonderful president. And I have many, many moments when I wonder whether I should be supporting her simply because she is a woman. But my own hunger for that kind of history making has to take a back seat to my gut feeling. And my gut feeling is that I and the country in general can’t handle another war-mongering, reputation-diminishing, personal freedom-curtailing Republican president for another term. So I want the Democrat who I think has a better shot at winning.

[Beth]

Oops, I thought "Smells Like Happy" responded to me on the blog, but I guess she only responded to me personally. Oh, well, I'll post this additional comment anyway, I think it will make sense. I started out thanking "Smells Like Happy," nice to be able to count on someone for a reasonable response. You happen to catch me just after a very disappointing time with my local (Chicago neighborhood) book club– all women, between the ages of 40 and 65, all Democrats and so very mean when they talk about Hillary Clinton. It happens again and again when I ask why someone is supporting Obama instead of Clinton. For all the positive spin about Obama’s campaign, nearly everyone I talk to speaks in terms of Hillary's shortcomings before they speak of Obama’s strengths. Again and again, it's about what's wrong with Clinton, not what's right about Obama.
These women in my book club pride themselves on being progressive, they stood in long lines to meet Hillary Clinton when she was promoting her book at “Women and Children First” bookstore here in Chicago but now they’ve turned on her. It seems like these women (and so many others I know who think of themselves as progressive) have to vilify Hilary Clinton in order to feel good about not supporting her. It’s fine with me if they prefer Barrack Obama,I just wish they could focus on what they like about him without stomping all over Hillary Clinton.

Teej says:

I don't think it makes sense to vilify Hillary -- especially for people who used to adore her. In terms of her plans for the country, she is nearly indistinguishable from Barack Obama. Their personalities and styles could not be more different, however, and I think those differences have ended up mattering where policy distinctions are so small.

[Beth]

Oh, you are so right–both are good candidates. Health care is my top priority, and Hillary Clinton is undoubtedly committed to changing health care. She should not be blamed for 1993, because it was a good plan. And yes, yes, yes, she should have gotten it through then, but geez, do you remember how weird so many people were about her working on health care at all? Folks expected her to quit working, She was the first modern wife in the White House and many, many did not like that. No matter what she proposed, they would have turned it down. She was too big for her britches, women shouldn’t act like they are smart.
We’ve come a long way, baby.
And I believe when Hillary Clinton says she is PASSIONATE about health care, she really does mean it. She wants it, she knows the pitfalls, and I think she'll die trying. That matters a lot to me.
I know health care matters to Barrack Obama, too, and I know he wants things to change. I just don’t feel health care is his top priority. Not sure what his is – I’m guessing it might be bringing the troops home. I also hate the war, so would be happy if he focuses on getting that all straightened out if/when he’s in the White House.
As you say, Obama and Clinton’s plans for the country are nearly indistinguishable. It’s an embarrassment of riches, choosing between these two.

[Katie]

Right on! Snaps to you for getting out there and firing up the masses! If/when you're arms get tired holding that sign, give it just one more hoist for me! I would so be on that corner too!

Until today, I'd been registered Independent, but the lure of voting in the primaries has moved me to finally pick a side. So I went to Overseas Voters Foundation online FIRST THING TODAY to re-register in Oregon as a Democrat! I'm so excited!

If I've understood everything correctly (and there's a good chance I haven't,) I should be able to vote in our primary by the end of April. The task now is to not get my hopes up too much in case, in fact, this is something I should have done months ago & the election officials tell me no dice. Oh, I will be so sad.

ANYWAY. The reason this was the first thing I did this morning is because EVERY SINGLE PERSON I met in New Zealand asked me about the US elections. And these weren't softball questions either. Me: "Thank you." Kiwi: "Where are you from?" Me: "The US." Kiwi: "I know, but which state?" Me: "Uh, Oregon." Kiwi: " That's north of California, right?" Me: "Yep. West Coast." Kiwi: "Have you guys voted yet? What do you think is going to happen? What's a super delegate? Erm, did you want fries with that?" Me: "I'm so impressed with you right now."

I would say nine times out of ten there was a question in there about Clinton vs. Obama & why it seems her campaign has lost steam. I found myself postulating that it might be about the aspiration vacuum the Bush administration created - coupled with Obama proving to be a great orator - more than any stark differences in he or Clinton's ideologies. I'm kind of digging the notion that Americans are jonesing for an inspiring president they can feel proud of and that Clinton somehow doesn't fit that bill for folks?

It'll be mighty interesting to see what shakes down in Texas & Ohio today!

[Beth]

Loved obama's speech yesterday. As sorry as I am that he was raked over the coals about his religious choices, I am nonetheless glad that he's been put through a test like this BEFORE he becomes the official democratic candidate. Until now there had been such a lovefest for Obama (both by his supporters and the media) that I wondered what he would do under pressure -- now I know.
I heard Obama speak in a church in Chicago way back when he was promoting his "Audacity of Hope" book. He had been at a bookstore in Hyde Park that morning, then at a Borders on State Street over lunch, by the time I heard him (late afternoon) he was very, very tired and uninspiring. I always thought, fair enough, poor guy is exhausted. Because of this, though, I never caught on with his "great orator" title. Now that I listened to the speech he gave yesterday, I know what you mean. It was superb.