Everbody is excited about the inauguration.

On my way home from work today, I stopped to look at a window display and happened to ovehear a conversation two homeless men were having. As I looked over, I noticed one of the men had what can only be described as a giant cardboard "help me I'm homeless" rolodex of signs. He was trying to choose which one fit his mood for the evening when he said to his friend,"Do you think I should make a special inauguration themed one?" Freaking. Awesome.

I voted!

For the first time ever, I voted. And I have to say, I haven't been this excited about something in a long time. Seeing all of my neighbors in line at the polls and showing a genuine enthusiasm reminded me how lucky we are to live in a country where we have the rights and freedoms that we, and I'm as guilty as the rest, take for granted most of the time.

Well, I'm proud to say that I voted for Senator Barack Obama as of 7:45 a.m. this morning. Obama/Biden 2008!

On the eve of the presidential election...

I have a feeling that I'm going to witness history tomorrow. It's strange - something makes me excited and uneasy. It's an actual physical feeling, and I'm finding myself trying to absorb everything I can on what is about to happen.

No one really knows who is going to win. I remember four years ago thinking that the international newspaper I was reading had a typo in its headline as I could not fathom that Bush had come out victorious. But something about this year feels different, and I hope that I'm right.

Although I have always been proud of my country and my heritage, the overwhelming sense of national pride is something I'm finding difficult to contain. No matter who you support, Republican or Democrat, the amount of passion that people have shown for this election is something to behold. I don't know a single person who doesn't care about the election tomorrow. Friends of mine that have otherwise shown no interest in politics are proudly announcing that they have registered to vote for the first time in their lives and that they can't wait to cast their ballot. And that's something to be proud of in my book.

If all goes well, I'm looking forward to the direction my country is headed in. I'm ready for the rest of the world to once again see how amazing we truly are, and I know that Barack Obama is going to get the job done. See you at the polls!

Check it.

We're getting closer and closer to election day.

If you haven't registered to vote, you have until October 10th! Get on it already. Visit www.rockthevote.org/ to sign up today! And remember to watch the presidential debates tonight!

New favorite political joke...

What's the difference between Joe Biden and, say, a schnauzer?

1. Um, foreign-policy experience?
2. Pinstripes?
3. Hair plugs?

Something needs to be said...

I'm not a political person. Hell, by not voting in the past two elections, I'm part of a majority that should be held responsible for the past 8 years of my country. I'm not proud of this.

But this election is different. For the first time in my life, I care about voting. I'm passionate about a candidate and his policies. I'm ready for my country to change, and I believe Obama is the man to do it. More importantly, I'm terrified of the alternative. The Republican alternative.

Accordiing to the statistics, as a middle class white woman, I should be championing for Palin.

I should be opposed to Roe vs. Wade. Who CARES if it's my body? Who CARES if I'm raped and don't want to carry my attacker's child? Palin doesn't. She wants to reverse Roe vs. Wade and let individual states decide on what's best for my uterus. This might not be the most eloquent response, but are they fucking crazy? Why would I support the ideas that my body isn't in my control?

And another slap in the face - she wants an "abstinence only" sex ed policy. Does anyone honestly believe that just because you tell teens NOT to have sex they won't? Give me a break. Teach kids to be responsible. Teach kids to be safe. Teach kids to think for themselves instead of demonizing sex. Tell them the risks and what they can do to protect themselves. I guess if you're a teenage girl that chooses abstinence as your personal choice towards sex but then end up getting raped and get pregnant as a result, you can thank Mrs. Palin for your bastard child that reminds you every day of how you were violated in the most soul stealing way one can imagine. And not that I agree with the media scrutiny around her daughter's pregnancy, but I have to say that perhaps if this girl was given a proper dose of sex education, she would have at least made the father of her child wear a condom.

And what are her thoughts on homosexuality? Well, she can't say. She stutters a lot and dances around the question. But considering that she refers to the United States as a "Christian America," it looks a little bleak for all my LGBT friends. If Palin is in the White House, you better wave goodbye to any progress and civil rights you have fought hard for because I doubt a woman that believes in carrying a rapist's baby is going to champion any of your causes.

Gun control. She's against it. Duh. Surprisingly, I sit on the fence personally when it comes to this issue. HOWEVER, do i believe the average citizen needs a semi-automatic rifle? No. Palin does. And why does she believe this? She doesn't want to violate anyone's 2nd Amendment rights. The fact that this woman believes that everyone is entitled to own a gun but then turn around and say that women can't decide what to do with their own bodies is disgusting.

And now this Palin character is making it really personal. Rumors are swirling that she attempted to ban Harry Potter in her town's public library. She tried to ban the most beloved children's book of the past fifty years. She tried to ban a book that inspired a generation of readers. Don't mess with the Potter lady! Don't even go there!

Do I believe the book ban rumors? I know they are just that - rumors. Am I educating myself on Palin's policies? Yes. Does my further investigation of her make me even more enthusiastic about voting for Obama in November? You better believe it.