Monday, November 10, 2008

Elections Over, Now What?


Campus has returned to a sense of normalcy after Obama's victory last Tuesday. All the tension and build-up in the days running up to Election Day have evaporated. You wouldn't know if the election even happened with the way things are now.

The campus erupted within seconds after CNN announced Obama the winner. The mood on everyone's faces—and I mean everyone—could only be described as euphoria. I could here chants of Obama's name and the now infamous "Yes We Can" from outside my window.

An hour later some friends and I went to the White House to get people's reaction there. The front gates were surrounded by happy—and drunk—pedestrians who were not afraid to speak their minds to still-President Bush. I still remember the scent cold air, sweat, and beer a week later. Hundreds of people joined to sing "Nay, nay, nay, hey, hey, hey, good bye" and—to my surprise—the Star-Spangled Banner. Whether this was genuine patriotism or just the booze singing I still can't figure out. But what was certain is that, if you were there, you had a feeling the entire District came together to celebrate their contempt for the president and the hope for something new. One man captured best the nation's feelings toward the still-President. Staring brazenly at the White House he yelled out, "You fucked up this country for eight years you bastard!"

But now that the celebration has dropped to a minimum and people are more focused on their pocketbooks, I am slightly worried about how the public will scrutinize soon-to-be President Obama. Many people expect him to fix the economy almost overnight. Conservative Republicans are crossing their fingers hoping that he will crush under the pressure of expectation. I have faith that Obama knows what is asked of him, all we can do is sit and watch how he handles his new job.

Pictures from both campus and the White House: http://picasaweb.google.com/asi3989/ObamaVictoryMarchToTheWhiteHouse#