The first flashback comes the day after the 2004 election. This comes from a post I had written about how frustrating it was to come to the realization that we were living in Sean Hannity and Karl Rove's wet dream vision of America where social issues trumped bigger issues like the war and the economy

"I don't even know where to begin quite honestly. What it really feels like is that all of my idealism and hope for this country is for naught. For all the voter drives and voter pushes that I worked on, this just really f*cking sucks...

...So yeah, we live in a conservative society. And sadly, the only way our country is ever going to change is when the conservatives of this country screw it up enough that people finally take notice. After last night, that's the only way I can see change actually happening. I thought that our country was already at that point, but apparently I was wrong. But maybe someday there will be a day when people look around at the corporate scandals and polluters that demolish the environment, will look at the wars in Iraq and elsewhere and all the havoc that wreaks on the world, will look at our massive budget deficits, will finally be fed up that millions of Americans don't have a decent wage or health insurance, and will finally say ENOUGH!!!!"

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This next flashback was a post I wrote during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In it, I talked about this young, energetic speaker named Barack Obama that electrified the crowd with his rousing and inspiring keynote speech in which he told us that we "worshipped an awesome god in the blue states" and "had some gay friends in the red states." I recently re-watched his 2004 keynote speech. One of the most amazing things about Obama is how consistent and steady he is. All the themes and messages remained the same. Good stuff.

Obama is the future start of the party. As long as he's around (barring any stupid screw-ups), his name is going to be one of those names that you hear a lot of in the coming years. I really look forward to seeing what kind of senator he becomes. Although I hope and pray that Kerry/Edwards win this year, if they don't, expect Obama's name to be circulating around the big ticket in 2012 and beyond. 2008 would be too soon for him (probably) but I think we'd better get used to hearing about Obama.

His speech was brilliant. It reminded me what is good about politics, and why sometimes politics can go beyond boring mundane details. His speech had me every step of the way... It's rare these days that a speech can inspire me. His did.

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This last flashback is from a post I wrote after Barack Obama announced that he was going to make a run for the Presidency.

Barack Obama is still a bit of a mystery at this point, though the more I learn about him, the more it makes me want to do what I can to get him elected. Quite frankly, he inspires me. After 6+ years of Bush and Cheney, I think our country is desperate for someone that they can believe in and inspire them to do great things. And although I don't want to put Barack Obama up on this pedestal of greatness until he's done something to achieve that status, there's just something about Barack Obama that makes me feel positive about the future. And honestly, that's what I'm needing in a Presidential candidate at this point.

We can't keep attacking our problems using the same methods and solutions that crusty Baby Boomers come up with. Just like Lincoln in 1860 and Kennedy one-hundred years later, it's time for a new generation to step-up to the plate and try to make this country and world a better place. And yeah, I think Barack's the guy to lead the way. He's a progressive, but he's not a hard core lefty liberal. He values compromise. To me, he has the ability to represent a new era of politics; an era of politics where doing what's right for the country has more to do with the beliefs of compromise and less to do with hard-line party affiliation.

Go Obama!

- Matt