The End and the Beginning

I have been thinking about how to start this blog for a few days now. Deep down, I always knew it would be Obama. In fact, since I was a junior in high school, I knew a man named Barack Obama was going to make a difference in our country. I was a senator at Girls Nation in 2005, the summer before my senior year, when I first heard about Barack Obama. I knew nothing about politics, especially in comparison to those around me, and was eager to learn anything I could. One of my closest friends at Girls Nation was Meg from Illinois and she was a die hard Barack Obama fan. She told me everything she knew about Obama, and told me if I wanted to hear a fantastic speech I should definitely check out the keynote he gave at the DNC. Our other friends joined in too, telling me to buy his book immediately when I got home, and make sure I learned everything there was to know about him. During our visit to Capitol Hill, two senators saw Senator Obama in the hallway and their picture with him was passed around to all 100 girls numerous times. I was interested in this man that had caused such a frenzy among all of these young politicians, and was anxious to see what all the fuss was about.

This interest in Barack Obama has continued ever since.  Although I did not decide who I was voting for until the very last minute, Barack Obama’s charisma and leadership has impressed me ever since the summer of 2005. Now, being more educated than I was then, I realize there is more to Barack Obama then a charismatic speaker. Barack Obama has the potential to lead our country to greatness. The history that Barack Obama will make goes even beyond being the first African American President. I have faith that as President, Barack Obama will motivate America to assist their government in making some necessary changes to help our country.

It is with some sadness that I post about the closing of this historical election, but while I first viewed it as the end of an era, I know see it as only the beginning. My love for politics will continue as I follow the last few months of President Bush and the first term of President Obama and it wil be interesting to see what changes come about from a new President in office. I am proud of our country for getting out and voting today in record numbers, and I am even prouder of the record number of youth voters that made a difference–especially in New Hampshire. The last two years have been a whirlwind of excitement, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. My election coverage will continue tomorrow as I am attending a political analysis seminar at Harvard that will be interesting to report on, but as it stands right now, this election has been great fun and I think the results will bear fruit to positive leadership and change in our government.

CNN projects Obama as next President

CNN just projected that Barack Obama will be the next president.  This was history in the making.  I sure will have memories of it.  I have had a long day.

I drove all the way home to vote.  I have been glued to the television for at least four hours getting minute by minute info.  I must admit that this is my drug, fast paced news environments. It is exhausting though.

I have been covering this election for two year, and I must say its sad that its over.  At the same time, it changes history, and I am glad I was a part of it.

This has been such a long day, so I need to hit the hay (after CA officially announces).  I have a two hour drive back for class at nine tomorrow morning.

Thank you for sharing this with me,

Derek Gorman

OBAMA WINS!!!

CNN just projected it just as I posted my last blog, OBAMA is the 44th President of the United States of America.

THANK GOD! What a relief. It is TIME!!! CHANGE IS COMING!

This is a proud day for America. I am once again proud to say that I am an American! What a great stride this is towards equality. I’m proud that I went to the polls in Keene, NH today, I’m proud I voted for Obama and I’m proud that I was a part of history being made today.

This is huge! It’s history in the making and I took part in it. I’m so proud of our country. The future is looking brighter!

Better than the superbowl

We’ve made frozen pizza, popcorn is to come and all eyes in the room are glued to CNN. My roommate and I decided to escape the roach motel apartment we live in and the two messiest males on the planet, we call our roommates and drive to her house in Vermont to do homework and watch the election projections.

Her mom, her husband, Meghan and I are all bunkered down in the living room intently watching CNN.

Obama’s in the lead 207 to 135 with wins in Connecticut, Deleware, Dist. of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Marylnad, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire (Woot Woot), New Jersey, New Mexico, New York(my home), Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and Virginia (which was huge.)

Compared to McCains win in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas,  Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, N. Dakota, Oklahoma, S, Dakota, S, Carolaina, Tennessee, Texas (Bush’s stomping grounds, no suprise there that they’d want McSame), Utah, W. Virginia and Wyoming.

It’s being projected that Obama will take this election but it’s not over til it’s over. To be honest, I definately thought this election was going to be a lot closer and I’m a little disappointed that it isn’t. But now I am most excited to hear what McCain has to say to his supporters when he loses.

Us ladies have decided that watching the election is better than the superbowl. Partly because we (as voters) got to play in the game, but mostley becuse the stakes are so high. Our country, our freedoms and my future is at stake.

Saint Anselm Sophomore Wins NH House Seat

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire–Of the four Saint Anselm College students and faculty running for the New Hampshire House of Representatives, one has lost, one has won, and two are anxiously awaiting the results of their race.

Sophomore Brian Poznanski, a Nashua Democrat, has chalked up a win in Hillsboro District 26, and reports from Nashua that all ballots have been counted in Nashua wards five, eight, and nine.

“I look forward to working hard for Nashua,” Poznanski said Tuesday evening.

Prof. David George of the classics department, and also a Democrat, is currently tenth out of 16 in Hillsboro District 17.

Senior Kate Kerins and junior Connor O’Brien have returned to the Saint Anselm College campus and are awaiting their results from the watch party at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Kerins is seeking election from Goffstown (Hillsboro District 7) and O’Brien is running in Rockingham 4.

-gww

*UPDATE: With both precincts reporting early Wednesday morning, Connor O’Brien finishes 19 of 26 candidates for Rockingham 4 state representative.

Gregory Wallace is an independent voter and junior at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH.

Democrats take Senate

Officially announced that Jeanne Shaheen has taken the NH Senate seat.  This was officially announced around the same time that the Democrats officially took the majority in Senate.

All these Democratic votes are making me think that Obama is looking better than he was early this evening.  Stay tuned for more updates.

CNN Reports Obama takes New Hampshire

CNN just reported that Barack Obama has taken New Hampshire in tonights Presidential election.  This is a very close race, and CNN is still showing many Republican states that have voted Democrat.  The polls that have come in so far have been fairly close, but it is looking like Obama has a slight lead just after a majority of the Eastern states close.

In other New Hampshire news, CNN and ABC project that Jeanne Shaheen will take  the New Hampshire Senate seat from the incumbent John Sununu.

Saint Anselm College Results Watch Party Split

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire–When the networks called New Hampshire for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., half of the watch party at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College errupted in cheers — and the other half waited in relative silence for the next state to be called.

Several other states with large Saint Anselm populations also went for Sen. Obama, shortly after 8 o’clock: Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Political trivia is entering round three… ‘Socialism Sucks’ and “Luc Longley” are tied for first, but “The Presidentials” and “Red Scare” aren’t far behind.

-gww

Gregory Wallace is an independent voter and junior at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH.

My First Presidential Vote

I just got back from my first expierience voting for President.  It wasn’t exactly what I had expected, I had to go home in Mass to vote because of communication issues with my absentee ballot.  There were no, and I mean no, people outside holding signs. 

I have spent years covering this election, and here it is, the day we have all waited for.  If you have not voted yet, please get out and vote.  This is a historic election, and you have the oppurtunity to get involved.

I didn’t have to wait in a long line, maybe five minutes to vote.  I asked my mother how long she waited and she told me she had walked right in.  My father went early this morning, and he said there was a line.  I expected that for such a “historic” election, I would run into more people.  For the record, I live in a big city south of Boston. 

Polls are showing good things for the Obama campaign.  I personally am excited for the ticker on all the major news stations to start moving.  I love watching and seeing results as they come in.

I enjoyed hearing voting stories, last minute campaign ads and radio disk jockeys all trying to get people to go out today.  This truly is like a holiday, people seem amped up.

In closing, I tell you people of New Hampshire.  You are great, so much more involved in politics than the people of Mass.  No wonder you were the First in the Nation!

Until later,

Derek Gorman

Why Check the Polls When You Can Hit the Mall?

If the New Hampshire shopping markets are any inclination of the winner of our four electoral votes, then Obama is a sure fire winner. Last night, while shopping for political prizes for the NHIOP’s Results Watch party, I discovered some interesting information. I had called a number of stores throughout the day when I found a much more valuable prize.

While on the phone with a woman from Spencer’s, my conversation went something like this:

“Hi, this is Lauren Chooljian from the NHIOP at Saint Anselm College, and I was wondering if you had any Barack Obama or John McCain teeshirts or political gifts.”

Woman from Spencer’s: “Yes! Actually you are in luck, all of our John McCain stuff is on sale.” 

On sale? I couldn’t believe it. But the more shocking news was still to come. As it turned out, Obama gear was still full price. Apparently, the demand for John McCain memorabilia was low at Spencer’s, and therefore, everything was half off. Thinking this was possibly just an odd occurrence, I visited my next destination: The Currier Museum of Art. I explained myself to the women at the desk of the gift shop and their faces lit up instantly.

“You mean you are going to buy all those McCain teeshirts?” she looks to her co-worker, “Did you hear that, she is buying the McCain stuff…thank God, our manager will be so pleased.”

This theme followed me everywhere I went. John McCain items were plentiful, but Obama items were not only few and far between, but always full price. The polls and the people’s Obama pocketbook propensity had affected the prices. It seems as if New Hampshire retailers have recognized a need in the market for more Obama gear. Every free marketer can tell you what this means: the people have decided, quite literally, that there is a greater demand for Obama than McCain. Conservatives often like to discuss the curative and scientific power of the market, though our current economic crisis might speak to another ideology. Still, there is something to be said for the recognition of retailers that McCain is not selling, and Obama is more valuable. 

 

The obsession of the race and its infiltration into our everyday lives is remarkable. Any presidential election will bring the norm of political signs on the highway and volunteers knocking at our doors at dinner time, but never in election history has the race saturated American’s lives as it has in 2008. This election has been so fervently inculcated into our lives and identities that we seek to manifest that in our apparel.  Some want to be Obama girls, others desire to be enlisted into the ranks of Hockey Moms and Joe the Plumbers. Retailers have picked up on the trend and are now responding to the demand of the market. But the market has its own message. Perhaps it is not as cool to be on McCain’s side. Perhaps McCain voters do not feel the need to show their support in this public way. The polls will speak tonight, but the quarterly numbers from the tee shirt shops are already coming in.

 

I can’t even imagine what it will be like when it’s over… more on that later.