S. C. Hangover, Part Deux. Becasue one Hangover isn't enough for this rout.

It's actually the next day - when hangovers typically happen. I don't have a true hangover, though I did pour and down a little something-something in honor of Obama's win. Now... how about a bit more condor on that.

I'm still affected by that astounding speech. It made my hair stand on end and brought tears to my eyes. It's doing it right now as I type this, blurring the screen and making life difficult - for no other reason than I'm a cynic, politically speaking, and don't fall for this kind of clap-trap. I typically take the vote-for-the-best-of-the-worst approach when picking a candidate. I was trying desperately to be cautious last night. After Iowa and N. H., I didn't want to be susceptible - again - to Obama's kind of rah-rah, right? I learned my lesson, right? So I thought.

In 2004 I voted for Kerry-Edwards, but that didn't exactly have me whistling a happy tune all the way to the polling station. There were so many problems with that ticket. Rove destroyed them, for one. Easily. And given the current Dem race, the Kerry-Edwards ticket seems so blindingly white and ineffectually male now, n'est pas? This is a little bit of an unfair comparison, but they now remind me now of what I see when I catch a logic-bending, nausea-inducing, hate-filled (yes, I typed it) Repub debate. Old white dudes. But I missed the Dean train (young white dude), and he derailed it with that doofus scream anyway, and after N. H., Kerry-Edwards became as inevitable as HRC thought she was just last week. Kerry-Edwards was my choice in '04, and I voted for them. I wasn't optimistic - I hoped like hell for the best, but I wasn't truly optimistic. I was desperate. But Bush had the inevitability of fear and divisiveness and the people went for it, small margin or not.

But now, nothing seems inevitable - particularly not fear and divisiveness - though the Clintons would have you believe otherwise. Last night, even before Obama made his speech, HRC was in Tennessee and Bill was in Missouri. Both gave a shockingly quick congrats to Obama and then moved on like it never happened, stumping away. That may be the proper response, but it's still just a lengthy river in Egypt. The Clintons have a problem. Obama's message of unity and hope is working! And because of the last seven years I have to be surprised - surprised! - that touting optimism and group problem-solving and creating a new face for the world to see is appealing to Americans. It's just a touch sad, don't you think?

But I am moved. I almost sent money I don't have to Obama last night, but then I found out that they were averaging a staggering $500,000 per hour after the speech last night, so I figured he'd be okay. And I don't care if I'm setting myself up for a fall. If someone other than Obama gets elected this year, especially a Repub, Obama will be back in 2012. But I'm optimistic - I hope - that this is the year that America gets it.

Yes we can!