Pinch Me!

Wow! The late Tuesday evening spontaneous eruption of pure joy, relief, celebration and inspiration! Especially for the outcome, and a wee bit that it's finally over.

I worked the polls on election day, watching the largest turnout that I can remember. Neighbors greeted neighbors as they stood on line patiently to cast their ballot, bringing their children with them to witness their voting. I was particularly encouraged to see all of the first-time voters, young people, new citizens, many having their photo taken by family members to mark the historic occasion.

The Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue kept up the November 5th newspaper "first pages" from all of the states and many other countries, by demand, so more people could see the headlines. Of course, all of the headlines, and the accompanying huge photos, were of the President-elect, often the scene of him with his family as they came out to greet the crowd for the first time as president-elect, at Grant Park in Chicago. I've never seen so many people at the headline display cases outside the Newseum (which I pass every day when I walk home). Not only were these crowds larger, but many people were taking photos of the newspapers themselves as another memento.

I believe this will be one of those defining moments, where decades from now we will remember where we were when the media announced the election results and we listened to his first speech.

The Senate offices are still very quiet, with many staffers slowly returning from the campaign trails. Now we're playing the parlor game of guessing Obama's cabinet members and close staff appointments, which are expected to come quickly and thoughtfully. I'm of the opinion that he needs to be cautious not appointing too many fellow Senators or Senate staffers, but that opinion and a token will get you into the Metro.

I attending the "morning after" panel at Eagleton Institute of Politics yesterday, and a similar program at the Brookings Institution this morning, where pundits (academics, reporters and editors) reflected and analyzed the outcome and voting patterns of the election. Prevailing wisdom: manage expectations, and while not a huge mandate, do something soon. Even the homeless hanging at the railroad station remarked, "Don't expect miracles - he's gotta fix a lotta shit."

In the office we're still writing letters to federal officials, drafting legislation to (we hope) drop during lame duck session expected in two weeks, preparing speeches and press releases, as life for an incumbent goes on. Everyone's clamoring for tickets to the inauguration.

We also get emails about new positions, and how to apply for staff openings for the incoming members. I already sent a resume for one Senate seat that hasn't even been decided yet! (Minnesota). So we'll see how this whole process goes.

Meanwhile, it's warm in the capitol, the pansies are planted for fall, and there's two more weeks left for the farmer's market.

Oh, how nice it feels to be hopeful again! And as the political cartoon in the Fort Lauderdale newspaper showed a drawing of Martin Luther King, Jr. with the caption: Pinch Me!