it's been awhile

so it's been awhile since i've posted here, but really i just want to start reaching out.

to all you Hillary supporters.

man, this year has been crazy, 16 months of campaigning for a primary? unheard of. and when it came down to it, we had two exceptional candidates who stuck through every controversy and hard hits that were traded back and forth. and they both ran until the final minutes when a nominee was decided in South Dakota.

And i know of a lot of people now who are saying they won't vote for Sen. barack Obama. They're upset that Sen. Clinton not winning, that somehow the election was stolen from her. Or even worse, some people have said they'll vote for Sen. McCain instead.

That's not reasonable at all. Essentially, to "stick it" to Sen. Obama, you'd vote for someone who is more than likely different from a number of your views just to show your anger?

Well look, I've voted in every election since 2000 (every. single. one.) and it's been rare that my candidate has ever won. But does that mean I'll stop supporting my party (even though i did leave it for a few months)? If Hillary would have won, and even if I felt like it had been stolen from Sen. Obama, I would still vote for HIllary in the fall, and why?

Because the option of voting for Sen. McCain goes against all of my political beliefs. the John McCain of 2008 is a different man from the John McCain of 2000, who I would have voted for if he had clinched the nomination.

Voting for John McCain means voting for issues that are contrary to my own: Continuing a war in Iraq (though I do believe it can't end quickly), a weak policy towards the crumbling economy, a person who is not willing to talk to everyone, even our enemies. We live in a global economy. Not in a global economy minus a few nations.

And finally, listen to him speak. Listen to Sen. Obama speak. Yes, true, rhetoric does not translate to governing power. But truly listen to his speeches.

He's excited.

He's excited because he knows we're excited.

He's excited because he knows that deep down inside, all Americans are good people who are just as anxious to make a good impression on the world again.

To lead in the world.
To be respected.
To live up to the ideals and aspirations of our forefathers.

I don't expect some sore Hillary supporters to just jump ship easily, but I do ask that you give him a shot. Visit his website, look at his stances on issues. And just think if voting for John McCain, or not voting at all is what Hillary would want. If you were truly a supporter of hers, you'd want to accomplish all the things she laid out over the campaign trail. And though she's not in the race anymore, I can guarantee she'll be working with Barack over the coming months and years to accomplish all those goals.

So yeah, I hope that we can all come together, and work towards the goal of putting a Democrat back in the White House, and work towards a better America. The one we all remember and hope to be again.

More on this later.