Proud to be an American

This morning, I'm proud and thrilled to be American.

A divided party? Ha!

A long powerful debate strengthens democracy.

Hillary? Despite some gaffes, and her husband's diminution of his legacy, she proved herself to be one tough broad. And someone whose best days - and best days for America - are still in front of her. I have more admiration for her now than when she announced her candidacy.

But so, with 2,156 delegates to Hillary Clinton's 1,933, it is Barack Obama who will be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

I am abashed today that it has been taken more than 200 years for a presidential candidate to not be judged by the color of his skin but by the content of his character. So I look forward to the possibility that on 20 January 2009, Barack Obama, an African-American, will be sworn in as President of the United States.

What do I think is at stake?

• the threat of religious extremism to our national security
• the threat to our lives, economy, and planet from global warming
• our increasingly dangerous dependence on foreign energy sources
  
• the threat to the viability of the middle class in the United States, due in part to the transfer of wealth to the top tier
• the decreasing economic vitality of the United States internationally
• the civil war in Iraq that we hastened- if not caused - and the concomitant enervation of our military
  
• the threats against our basic freedoms from international business and our own government
  
• good health care, not only for the wealthy.
• good education, not only for the wealthy.
  

"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America."