What a Night

Some man who seemed to be a stranger (a United States officer, I presume) made a little speech and then read a rather long paper-the Emancipation Proclamation, I think. After the reading we were told that we were all free, and could go when and where we pleased. My mother, who was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant, that this was the day for which she had been so long praying, but fearing that she would never live to see. - Booker T Washington

Congratulations to President-elect Obama on his historic win last night.    Blogs like Daily KOS and Nate Silver's 538 did a great job, of course!  ABC and CNN had the best coverage on TV.   Virginia was a late call due to the counting in Northern Virginia.   Finally, at 11 pm, CNN called it, and with California/Oregon/Washington, that put our man over the top. 

I'm dragging this morning but what a night, history was made in such a big way, and to see those tears of joy, even from the reporters and analysts who were overcome with what it meant to them and what it said about the historic step we took as a nation. 

A political analyst I am not, but a good read on some of the reasons why Obama and the Democrats did so well can be found in the book I'm currently reading, Millennial Makeover: MySpace, YouTube and the Future of American Politics.   Netroots Rising and Crashing the Gate are excellent books too, but this one goes more in depth.   The Millennials (born 1982-2003) are more diverse and civic minded than we baby boomers.   Their user-driven technology and social networking will transform the political landscape.  

An excellent review of this book is by Mike Connery, someone who has been in the netroots and youth trenches.  I haven't read his book but it sounds like a must-read too.  He also has an excellent primer on youth voting.