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Obama's victory speech is really worth watching. After watching so many debates, which are not Obama's strong suit, it's nice to see him in his element.

It's interesting that he mentions race a lot. The Clintons have been trying to paint Obama into a corner as "the black candidate" so it's probably smart that Obama tackled the issue head on rather than tip toe around it. He's positioning himself as proof that issues like race will no longer hold America back. He's turning perceived negatives (his name, for instance) into positives by suggesting we have a rare opportunity to ignore bullshit, or to even vote against bullshit-thinking. Meanwhile "the status quo" aims to categorize and divide us. he even rephrased his "no red america, no blue america, just the u.s. of a." to "no black sc, no white sc, just sc."

Obama himself likes to bring up the idea that what he's saying might not be practical or realistic, thereby forcing the listener to make a choice between cynicism and optimism. If you think about it voting is kind of an act of hope anyway: we vote not because we think our one vote might be the difference, but because we hope that other people who think like us will also turn out and vote. You're doing something on the faith that others will as well. Obama's message ties into that optimism that if we all choose to believe in each other that we really can change the world. Perhaps that's why he's been able to attract so many first time voters.

we are not just up against the ingrained and destructive habits of Washington, we are also struggling against our own doubts, our own fears, and our own cynicism. The change we seek has always required great struggle and sacrifice. And so this is a battle in our own hearts and minds about what kind of country we want and how hard we're willing to work for it.

Obama's not just asking for your vote, he wants your soul!