The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    Thank you, Barack Obama, for ...

    By Ripper on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 8:16pm |
    ... giving me back Hope in many forms:

    • Hope that this country might finally live out its principles
    • Hope that we can soon bring our troops home and close a misbegotten war
    • Hope that we will ride out the economic storm and rise from the ashes of greed
    • Hope that the president of the last eight years will be succeeded by one of intelligence, goodness, audacious dreams and innate competency

    ...elevating our national politics by:

    • Refusing to attack your opponents through character assassination and smears
    • Showing us the meaning of character
    • Engaging us in a nuanced understanding of the issues
    • Reminding us of our founding ideals
    • Restoring respect for appeals to reason over appeals to emotion and prejudice
    • Becoming the first black nominee to stand at the threshold of the White House

    ...for making me proud once again to be an American.