This has been, beyond doubt, the most extraordinary political day in my experience.
I had multiple opportunities to observe voters during the course of the day. People were willing to wait in line for hours, without complaint. Many came armed with documentation, to make sure that they couldn’t be turned away. Some waited an extraordinarily long time to vote, only to find that they had come to the wrong voting district (this was a particular problem with folks who lived on Meridian Street Extension, most of which is in the city, but a small portion of which is in the town, and therefore in a different voting district). So far as I can see, each one of them set off for the correct polling place, ready to go to the end of yet another long line. The turnout was amazing. I very much doubt that Groton has ever had such high turnout, and I’m sure we were not unusual. The percentage of young voters was high. People truly wanted change.
And from the merely local to the national, this election was almost all you could ask. All of our local Democratic candidates, from state Representative Lisa Wright to Congressman Joe Courtney (with State Senator Andy Maynard in between) piled up impressive margins of victory. The charter on which I, along with the other 8 members of our commission, worked for over a year actually passed- a minor miracle after a string of failed charter commissions extending back into the 80s. The people of Connecticut had the wisdom to turn down the idea of a constitutional convention, the right decision on the merits and also a well deserved rebuke to a Catholic Church that should learn to keep its nose out of politics. The people of Connecticut and New England got rid of the last remaining Republican Congressman, a feat marred only by the inexplicable re-election of Susan Collins in Maine. Finally, of course, the nation had the wisdom to convincingly reject the Republican party and all that it stands for, to listen to the better angels of our nature, and elect Barack Obama to the presidency. The whole world is celebrating our return to sanity. I still can’t believe that I’ve lived to see this day-to see this nation, black and white, elect an African-American president. It makes you believe that there really may be hope for us. The fact that he has the potential to be a really great president, perhaps the greatest since Roosevelt, makes the moment even sweeter.
Oddly enough, voter enthusiasm made our get out the vote effort almost superfluous. People got themselves out. Nonetheless, it was thousands of people like those who worked so hard in Groton who did the work necessary nationwide to make Obama president and make both the Senate and the House a deeper shade of blue.
As I write this there are a few unknowns. There are a couple of Senate seats up in the air. There are four states that are too close to call on the presidential level. It would be great if they would fall Obama’s way, so that the inevitable cries of vote fraud from Fox and the Republicans will have even less credence.
So, a satisfying day. There is another point I would like to make. To paraphrase Cato: Lieberman must be destroyed. He has all but announced that he will not be there to prevent filbusters in any event. He has nothing to offer the Democrats. Cut him loose.
Finally, a few pictures of folks celebrating the Obama pictures at Groton Headquarters. First, a picture of Jason Gross, Joe Courtney’s chief of staff, who made a sentimental journey back to Groton for a visit to his old stomping grounds, posing with his old partners in crime, Liz Duarte, and my wife, Mary von Dorster.
And just a few pictures of scene at headquarters when CNN announced Obama’s victory:
Much to my surprise, I am not drunk, nor have I been drunk in the course of this night, though I fully expected to celebrate much if Obama won. Much to my relief, I am not in the throes of a deep depression. At the moment, however, I am extremely tired, so this long, meandering and somewhat pointless post must be brought to a close.
Just one more thing:
President Obama.
It has a nice ring.
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