We now have a President-elect, Barack Hussein Obama, who will soon be the 44th President of the United States of America. We have collectively turned our backs on 400 years of history to look forward, with hope, into the future. We have affirmed Martin Luther King Jr’s vision, and claimed America’s promise as its practice. We have said no to the fear-mongers, the hate-mongers, and the greed-mongers in hope of building this country on its constitutional ideals, rather than the financial interests of the corporations who left us afraid, confused, betrayed, and economically devastated. We look to re-building on trust and respect, not for the major benefactors, but for all Man, everywhere. We know that we have disagreements, within our supporters as well as with our detractors. But when has any relationship, however large or small, not suffered its disagreements? Regardless of disagreement, at least now there is an opportunity for the American people to come together in disagreement under the lawful protection of the Constitution of the US and know that their voice will be heard and not suppressed.
Much has been promised, not all can be delivered. Remember, though, that not too long ago, a certain President was able to make good on much that was promised, and Americans as a whole prospered. Nothing will come overnight, but as many may have noticed, the general mood has improved already. There is much work in repairing the cataclysmic decline of our country effected during the last eight years, and there will be struggles among existing, dying, re-structuring, and, emerging power structures. All of this is normal for the US during periods of corrective change, while it will cause momentary and periodic volatility, it will be far less unpleasant than the sustained chaos of the soon to be previous administration. This will produce opportunities for all that are willing to embrace the future rather than cling to the past. Change is usually painful, but it should be met with expectancy rather than dread. I have no doubt that this man we, the people of the United States of America, have elected to our Presidency is the most capable and competent in generations. For once in my life, I am totally at ease with our collective selection.
Of Kentucky and its voters, I am not so sure. The McCain campaign, as well as that of Mitch McConnell offered, for the average Kentuckian, nothing. Not one word on repairing a battered and damaged American economy and reputation; in fact these two senators kept insisting upon the soundness and strength of both our economy and diplomacy as they sank to the lowest levels experienced, not in decades, but in generations. Kentucky voted for stasis, for the status quo, when the status quo had long been proven untenable. Kentucky voted for the misery they know rather than the change they need. I have, in this campaign run across those who supported John McCain and Mitch McConnell, and have yet to find anyone with a rationale that spoke of progress. Regrettably, many of these had uglier reasons for their support; some of them made it obvious, while others concealed their true motives. In the end, Kentucky voted either on micro-issues or ignorance, frequently willful, of the facts. Mitch McConnell is an embarrassment for Kentucky and the US, yet the people of Kentucky chose to retain his services for the corporate body of Kentucky. And, again, in the 17th District Senatorial race, the constituency voted for stasis, voted for the corporate industries that bring almost no jobs to the District, voted for a Senator who has done more good for Lexington outside his district, than for Georgetown, the center of it. Kentucky voted for stasis, for recession, for war abroad and conflict at home. Kentucky voted against reason, against the Constitution, against the Rule of Law, against the veterans asked to shoulder the burden of their country’s misdeeds, against education, against the middle class. As a transplant, I am embarrassed by the choices of my new home; Kentucky voted as if it was Arkansas.
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