It is an amazing, amazing day to live in a black neighborhood in New York City. At eleven on the dot last night I head my 16 year old neighbor burst out of her front door and yell, “Barack Obama!” That’s how I found out.

I ran outside, and there was literally dancing in the streets. A few doors down, a neighbor I had never met burst out of her house, arms raised in victory. I threw up my own arms, and we “woo hoo!”ed together. Another neighbor across the street spotted us. She ran out of her house and threw her arms around both of us and we cried together and shook our heads at the wonder of it all. I forgot to ask their names!

On the main street half a block down traffic slowed to a crawl. Everyone was leaning out of their cars and honking and waving and slapping high fives to the revelers who were in their way. A few older ladies came out of their apartments in housecoats and curlers. They’re “the church ladies” that I see walking to services every Sunday, and they began a chorus of “We Shall Overcome“. I joined them, but none of us could finish; we were crying too hard.

I am so happy.

Go Vote – Something For The Ladies from theambershow on Vimeo.

I’m really deeply disappointed by the McCain-Palin campaign these past few days.  I disagree with enough of their policies to not vote for them, but I did have an enormous amount of respect for the way in which both Palin and McCain conducted themselves during the campaign.  The Obama-Biden ticket has been very respectful, too, and it’s been pleasant to watch the debates.  McCain refused to let his supporters carry on with the nonsense that Barack Obama is a Muslim terrorist, and Obama refused to let his supporters have a field day with Palin’s pregnant daughter.

All in all, a good race to watch with no mudslinging.  Until now, when McCain is loosing in the polls.  It’s so disappointing to see him grasping at silly straws as he slinks further and further in the polls, and I’m surprised that it’s being tolerated.  I can’t imagine the more intelligent members of the independent and undecided voter base (which is surprisingly large, even three weeks before the election) are going to be anything but turned off by this.  The below video is longish, but it illustrates the point beautifully.

Tonight Wednesday* is the third and final debate between the two Canidates, and I hope you’ll tune in, especially if you’re undecided.  Try to ignore the fact that John McCain looks half dead and Barack Obama adopts a smarmy tone when he’s disagreeing, and really listen.  If you need help processing, CNN will have the transcript on their website the next morning, and you can read it slowly.  Then visit FactCheck.org to see where each canidate stretched the truth a bit, and get the real non-partisan deal.  This is an important election (well, aren’t they all?) and you should be informed before you head to the polls.

*I wrote this in advance and posted it early, accidentally. The debate is Wednesday, October 15.