There is no Obama prize

After hearing that Obama had clinched the presidential election, what sprang to mind was Chris Rock's comment about the celebration that went on after OJ Simpson was acquitted of murder in 1994. Chris Rock's response to the multitudes of black people shouting "We Won! We Won!" after the trial was, to paraphrase, "What the fuck did we win? Where's my OJ prize?" The same thing can be said about Obama's victory today. Sorry, but there is no Obama prize in the mail for us in the immediate future. As noted by the new president-elect, it will take hard work and sacrifice from a unified nation to rebuild this country.

Tonight, we have also witnessed the return of an old friend: John McCain. The past eight years for him have been truly Star Wars-ian. After being humiliated by the vicious Emperor Palpa-Bush political machine in 2000, he was seduced by the dark side and resorted to dishonorable methods to seize the power that was once wrongfully denied to him. Indeed, we now see that his bursts of anger and awkwardness during the election were not directed at Obama, but rather, they were manifestations of the contempt that he had for himself for selling short of the principles that he once stood for.

At the conclusion of this historic campaign, we now again bare witness to McCain as a restored Jedi. On his recent appearance on SNL, we saw McCain shaking loose of the perverse Republican machinations and regain his own humble and righteous mojo. His graceful and humble concession speech reminded us of the good side of the force he once radiated in 2000. Too bad the same can't be said of the boorish boobs making catcalls at McCain's calls for unity and reconciliation. Welcome back to the good side, AnaMcCain Skywalker, the honorable but flawed warrior who had lost his way.

McCain's lasting regret however, will be the unleashing of the Palin demogogue upon the masses. The Wicked Wasilia Witch of the Way West will be back, with a GOP base consolidated by mis-information and bigotry. There must be progress in the next four years, or else the Wasilia Witch will be back with a vengenace, with four more years of political seasoning in the national spotlight, combined with her natural neocon talent for divisive rhetorics. Formidable as Palin will become, the true question is whether Americans will be able to roll-up their sleeves to get the country back on track and fend off this maniac? Yes. We. Can.