Even though Dear Husband and I had discussed the possibilities and ramifications of an Obama win in Iowa, I maintained a hefty skepticism.
I’m glad I left room in my mind for such doubt and question; it made the outcome that much more memorable.
What I learned last night was that this is not a mirage. It’s a real bridge, and people are indeed willing to take the first steps across it. But will it carry forward? Can this bridge truly be crossed at this point in our history?
I think the answer is yes.
And as someone who’s spent the last several years eyeing our poisonous political environment with despair — who had pretty much given up on the idea of independent thought in this media-created fantasy world — that’s pretty danged exciting.
* * * * *
Obama wasn’t the only story of the night, of course, and there are some excellent analyses and thoughts on the bigger picture. This snippet from James Joyner, though, sums up the reality of the long road ahead for everybody involved:
We have a presidential, not a parliamentary, system in this country. Whereas the latter rewards political experience and working one’s way through the ranks, the former gives more weight to personality and an ability to connect with the people. There’s still a long, long way to go, though, before we face the prospect of a President Huckabee or President Obama.
Given how long this campaign road’s been already, that’s worth remembering.
Lots more here at memeorandum.