I Got This

I like Obama’s chances going into the election. Not to say it’s wrapped up. There is plenty of work to be done, and nothing should be taken for granted. Obama has a funny name. Americans have a tortured relationship with race. For all that the GOP at the federal level can be accused of less than competent governing, nobody can accuse them of being incompetent at getting elected. But, if Obama doesn’t get elected, it won’t be for lack of worrying about the possibility. Democrats have had their hopes crushed so many times in recent history, some of them remind me of a dog that’s been beat too much; spending half their lives just covering up, hoping the Republicans won’t hit them again. (Borrowing liberally from Mr. Springsteen there.) Every time there is a tightening in the polls, I hear all too many Obama supporters worrying, second guessing, and generally expressing some variant of “here we go again.”

This time, I think it will be different — if Obama gets beat, it won’t be because he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. I like Oliver Willis’s description of Obama:

One of my personal maxims has been that politicians will disappoint you. The ones you like will have personal failings, while the ones you detest will fail time and time again. With Senator Obama, for the first time in my life, I have watched a political leader who I don’t worry if he’ll be up to the task.

It’s like you had Michael Jordan in his prime or Joe Montana with 2 minutes to go. It’s that feeling where you say to yourself: Ok, breathe, he’s got it.

Chill, Barack’s got it.

There’s even a picture to go along with it.