Best to write this without thinking about it too much. Election night went quickly and much as anticipated. Coverage on the major cable news networks was complete and results were delivered quickly and uniformly. As usual, if you wanted liberal punditry, MSNBC was the place to be. CNN came through with it's dazzling array of high tech bells and whistles and more experts than anybody could want. Surprisingly, Fox had the best, most coherent, controlled and watchable coverage. It was a little slanted but I didn't mind a bit. Fox's outstanding performance was due entirely to the masterful control of the coverage by their anchor, Britt Hume. I remember Hume as a young Washington correspondent on ABC 35 years ago. Of all of the television newsmen emerging at that time, I always thought he was the best. He has a quick mind, a self depreciating sense of humor and understands those things that he is reporting on. These assets left him standing virtually alone among the crowd of Brokaws, Rathers and Jennings of that era. Fox News will miss him if he leaves as is rumored.
John McCain made the best speech of his life tonight while conceding the election to Barack Obama, I believe he meant every word he said. There probably isn't a politician in America better prepared or more appropriate to have made such a speech. I mean no slight or disrespect of him in saying that. If the Republicans had had the wisdom to put him up for the Presidency eight years ago, we would not be at war today. The economy would not be in ruins. The Republican Party would not be wandering, barefoot and six toed, through a fundamentalist, Christian wilderness. He is a great American. He doesn't wear a little fucking flag on his lapel. He doesn't need one. The Republicans don't deserve him.
Barack Obama, during this campaign and in his acceptance speech tonight, understands the historical significance of his achievement. No matter what kind of President he is and I think he can be a very good one, much of that Presidency will not be about him at all but about the first Black President. He has sought, all along, to make sure the public acknowledgement of his achievements matches their historical significance. It does no credit to the first Black President of the United States to enter the White House through the back door with the hired help. I do not believe that he himself has a propensity for large crowds and elaborate staging. I think he understands that it is a necessarily formal wedding of State, that must be gotten through. If it was me, I wouldn't be able to do it. He's a smart guy, with a strong stomach. That will help him in the job he has to do.
Noblesse Oblige.
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