Election ‘08 Reflections

Just a few random reflections from the previous night and this morning.

• Thank God it’s over. Seriously, thank God it’s over. Yes, there is/was an awful lot at stake with this election, but the power of politics to reveal even the most rational of individuals as complete asshats and/or total ignoramuses has never been clearer than it was this year.
• Of course, it’s not really over. There’s a lot of work and rebuilding to do, and people can still easily become asshats and/or ignoramuses at the drop of a hat.
• John McCain’s concession speech was full of decency and class. I just wish his supporters would’ve followed his example.
• I found it interesting that when Obama spoke of McCain, his crowd applauded.
• I’ve seen several folks already talking about 2012 with a slight bit of yearning. Stop it. It’s 2008 and you need to live in the now, so to speak, because that’s the only time you’ll be able to make a difference. The only plans I’m making for 2012 are plans to be more informed than I am now.
• I’ve become increasingly convicted about my Christian duties with regards to the president, and I think they can be summed up in two words: “respect” and “pray”. Neither of which, to my shame, I did well when it came to Bush.
• Speaking of respect, his name is Barack Obama, not Barry, the Obamessiah, or any other juvenile reference. Same goes for “Dubya”. You’re not in second grade: have the common courtesy to call your president by his real name.
• I need to stop watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report as much. They’re brilliant shows, and like all comedians, they often have the ability to say things that others should be saying but aren’t — and get away with it. But for me, they feed into so much cynicism and skepticism when it comes to my leaders, that it’s not very healthy. But to each his own.
• Holograms look really cool in Star Wars and Star Trek but look like absolute crap on cable news networks.
• I sincerely hope that Obama supporters will be able to take all of that faith that they’ve placed in their man, and translate it into action. That they’ll really listen to him when he talks about sacrifice and service, and actually do such things, rather than simply stop after celebrating their victory. That they’ll take to heart what Obama said last night: “This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change.”
• I hope and pray that Obama has a change of heart when it comes to abortion.
• I am anxious about the next four years, but more than ever, I realize that my ultimate assurance and comfort don’t come from an election, a president, or a political party, but from the fact that God is still on His throne, He is still sovereign, and He is never moved by the plans of man. And I realize that, while I’m to be loyal to my country, even if I oppose some of what it stands for, my ultimate allegiance lies with the Gospel of Christ and the Kingdom of God.