1/3 of the Government

I have held out on staking my hopes on a particular candidate. But, with super-Tuesday tomorrow, it seems appropriate for me to write a few thoughts. The office of the President is 1/3 of our federal government. It has been occupied by many great men. Washington declined a greater designation of king to be our first President, thereby giving up power that I keep hearing each President tries to gain back. He even tried to decline his salary and only accepted it to set a precedent for the future so that anyone could be President, not just those who could work for free. FDR led this country sitting down, something that haunts me when I hear repeatedly that a wheelchair bound President will never again be elected. Lincoln was repeatedly defeated throughout his political career, from a poor rural family. I cannot imagine him getting to the primaries today.

With this great lineage of disabled, unconnected and selfless men behind us, I faced the future grimly. I have a great affinity for global politics, I graduated from the Jackson School of International Studies at UW to prove it. I revel in Iceland's long democracy, the peace and tolerance under King Abdullah in Jordan, Argentina's strong female President, Paris' gay Mayor, Norway's celebration of their Prince marrying a single mother. But, throughout my awareness of politics in the United States, I had never felt the anticipation of hope. My experience as a Republican was fear of foreign elements at home and abroad; fear of diversity, violence and money. As a Democrat I have feared institutionalized hate, global destruction and inaction. I think every individual feels an element of fear at the thought of mere humans attempting to govern with wisdom and compassion. It is unnatural and a constant toil. It bears privilege, the privilege to be under constant attack, constant watch and constant knowledge that what you do this moment will affect millions for generations. It is knowing that you change history and billions will know you as a great individual or will hate you for your well intentioned actions gone horribly and negligently awry.

Now, my heart cautions me forward. I start to believe a fools dream. I start to believe in hope. This country has been climbing a great hill and it is a dark and sunless side on which we tread. I sense that we are nearing a crest and that while the rocky terrain may remain, the sun may shine. We need political diversity like we need a balance of power through our brilliant check and balance system of government. So remember and remind me to consider the complete picture when voting in November. Judges, state representative and initiatives deserve our attention. But these are not the inspiration of this long call into the darkness. It is the office of our President and the hope I see dawning on the crest of this rocky hill. That hope is in the promise I have seen from Hillary, John, Barack, Mitt, John and Mike. I'm shocked to find myself with such hope.


The candidate who best embodies the hope I have for the future is Barack Obama. He is a human with no more potential for invincibility than any other. But what I see is this humanity combined with a ridiculous attitude of possibility; of a faith in the honesty of hope. He is my vote to be my voice. Whoever your vote is, I hope that they give you the hope that yes we can.