The Barack I Met

Things have been kind of quiet for the Glass Man, competition-wise, since the lights went down on old Shea with me, Sip (RIP), the Hound, and S.O.A.F.O.M.G. still within her.

As we come upon Election Day, however, I find those familiar butterflies dancing around in my stomach. It's a fun feeling.

Part of the fun, doubtlessly, is that my horse is in prime position to win. I'm a registered Democrat, and while I am a Starbucks drinker, I like to think I'm more than some garden variety effete New York City liberal. That is, Democrats have to earn my vote, or the Republicans have to lose it.

In 2004 I voted for Kerry for no reason at all, really. I felt a general dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, with Iraq, and with the failure to get -- or even care about getting -- bin Laden. But Kerry himself did nothing for me. Looking back on it, I really can't remember any element of his platform. The point is, in 2004 the Democrat didn't earn my vote, the Republican lost it.

This year it's different. I really respect Barack Obama, and I'm excited to vote for him, and I think a lot of other people are too. If you believe the polls, Obama's got him right where he wants him.

Yessir, I haven't been this confident since the Mets were up 7 games with 17 to play.

* * * * *

One of my best friends from college works for the Obama campaign. In August he invited me down to Washington to meet Obama and attend a couple events.

I hemmed and I hawed but came to my senses eventually and went on down there. That afternoon, Obama presided over a closed door meeting on economic policy. In the room were financial luminaries like Paul Volcker, Bob Rubin, Jamie Dimon, Larry Summers, and Jon Corzine. Warren Buffett was on the phone. And there in the corner, a fly on the wall, was A.F.O.M.G.

Barack opened the meeting by conceding that he didn't have anywhere near the economic savvy as any of his guests. He asked them to tell him what they were seeing out there; he asked them to tell him he needed to know.

His guests would speak for 15 minutes, and then Barack would synthesize what he'd heard from the different voices. When it was his turn, it was awesome to see him in action. Whatever his economic agenda, for this meeting at least he checked it at the door.

He was there to listen, he was there to think, and he was there to learn. And he was there to find the common ground between two or three people at the table who seemed to have none, and sure enough, time after time he made ends meet.

It was stunning really. The novice at the table was the smartest guy in the room. For an effete New York City Democrat like me, intelligence goes a long way. And that afternoon it was plain as day: this guy gets it.

* * * * *

Of course, that story isn't the only reason I'm voting for Barack. I've got my reasons, you've got your reasons, and tomorrow we'll see what happens.

No matter what side you're on, try to keep the right mindset. In politics as in baseball, whatever happens happens. We can lament it, bemoan it, blog about it, but there's no controlling it, and when the final vote or final out is recorded, that's what you're left with.

Either Barack Obama or John McCain will be our next president. From us here at Y2K, good luck to the victor. They're going to need it, and so will we.

Vote or die,

A.F.O.M.G.