Hope Renewed

     This past month was eventful in all the ways that I would willingly relive again and again.  First, our Hardly Strictly Bluegrass weekend with more music at outside venues, followed by a road trip (more on that later), the Giants winning the World Series and lastly, an election with pretty satisfying results.  Place into the mix a 20th anniversary, Halloween and Maria's birthday and we've had a full calender, and a thankful one.

      The pundits seem to believe that the Presidential election would be much closer than it turned out, almost to the point of one the media wanted to create by hammering the notion that Romney had suckered the American people to elect him.  Seems to me that much of our media is centered on creating stories or being in the center of stories as reporting the depth of issues, or what is actually occurring.  Of course, that's my subjective take.  However when the election became contested  occurred when the President had a flat performance during the first debate and our media saw the opportunity to make a story of the race, reporting a thrashing and a clear Romney win, 100% to zero, for the President.

     President Obama's problem might be that he is too much of 100% to all of us- trying to please too many while Romney might actually have some success in serving the 53% he cares about.  But really, can you see President Romney taking a quick improv moment to make the "not impressed" face, and to do so as skillfully.  Plus Mitt had Meat Loaf offered his opening act while the President had Springsteen as his.  It's not policy but definitely a more substantial prelude.

     Locally, we invested ourselves into a District 1 supervisor race where the incumbent, Eric Mar faced a great challenge.  This was not a challenge of quality but a challenge of money. Outside interests and large landlord cash (Eric is a major proponent of tenant rights and rent control) were funding his opponent with the most money ever spent in a San Francisco Supervisor campaign, nearly dropping 1 million to his opponent's coffers, doubling down the previous highest spent in a local supervisor race.   Eric's stands of fighting McMeal's unhealthy choices for children and tackling other unconventional issues he was seen as vulnerable . Usually it's the incumbent who outspends.  Could someone purchase a local election?  According to the experts, and bostered with support by the big guns- SF Chronicle, ex-mayor and Guv'ner wannabee Gavin Newsom, Dianne Feinstein, the opponent (not worth my writing his name) seemed to be on the road to a close win.  Even Eric's staff felt that the winner would win by only hundreds of votes.

     What did Eric have to offer?  Four years of being active in the community, and along with his brother Gordon,  a sincere desire to improve the lives of those needing help.  Also being accessible to the public and willing to discuss issues, egos kept in check to the larger picture of the tasks at hand.  Unlike others, you never get the impression that Eric is focused on another job (see Newsom)- what he is doing now is the best thing he could be doing.

    The spirit and earnest dedication of his office was uplifting on the days we were there- how Dexter and Oliver jumped in and handed tasks that were given to them (sorting out flyers into packets, moving boxes, handing out flyers, making signs) was as joyful as watching the Civil Wars sing at Hardly Strictly, and as we left the office Monday night before election day, we could only hope for the best, encouraged by what we were a (tiny) part of.

    Here's a article about the volunteer effort of the campaign.
        District 1 Results

   From a small district in San Francisco, to the National stage of DC, to the senate of Wisconsin and Massachusetts,  it feels good to be an American.

    Of course the real work is the hard part!