Grace in defeat . . .

I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Sen. Obama believes that, too. But we both recognize that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.


A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States.


Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.


Sen. Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.


Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.


These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face. I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.


Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.


It is natural. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.



~Senator John McCain, Republican Presidential Nomination 2008~



May we all put aside our differences and work for the betterment of the nation.

In retrospect . . .

Well, things don't always turn out as I would always like them to. Newsflash isn't it? Despite the obvious refusal of the world to do as I would wish and Barack Obama's successful attempt to 'Bogart' all the electoral votes, I find myself having to adjust my perspective of the world as I know it. They say if you can't be 'em, join em. I do not totally agree with that, but I see no reason that you should refrain from attempting a compromise. So starting today and for the next two years, I will do the "American" thing. As President Elect Obama so aptly stated in his acceptance speech:

"As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: 'We are not enemies but friends...' 'Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.' And to those Americans who -- whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your President, too."

I did not vote for him, but he's my president, too.