In short

Barack Obama's "infomercial" this evening sold me all over again (even if it was a little disjointed at times). Not on him, necessarily, but on the idea that we can be a better country, that we can not only do well, but also do good in the world, that we can take better care of each other, and that we can be hopeful. It also made me proud to be an American government teacher, to be able to say to my students, "See? Government - and government officials - can be honorable, and measured, and intelligent, and compassionate, and open, and just." And I am hopeful that a week from now the country will be on that better path. And I am even more hopeful that four years from now I can still turn to my students and say those things. That's all. A more personal update will be posted in the next week or so.