Columns

It began as an exercise in nostalgia, a quest for the innocence that was youth, a tug at the heart strings, perhaps even a desperate bid to touch the boy who is no more---as if somehow the imperfect man could roll back life's relentless clock and miraculously become once again the child of guileless faith and wondrous dreams.
It became a passion born of a father's love for his young sons---a father who reached back to grasp a gentler time, and who sought to preserve the values and joys of a long lost childhood for the two marvelous energies he was entrusting to a world often cruel and ever fickle.
Through the verses and poetry of his youthful fancy, he sought to nurture their visions of life. The treasure he compiled would endure, even beyond the grave. Or so he hoped.
The hours stretched into days, the days into weeks, the weeks into months as he sat at his computer and faithfully transferred the works he had so admired into a glossary of thoughts to live by; all the while confidant that his sons would share the adventure, understand the fervor and know the love in the works of the literary masters or an era so much favored by the father.

I did not support Barack Obama in his bid for the Presidency. I considered the campaign long and hard, given the so many attractive reasons for supporting the youthful senator from Illinois, but in the end I had to remain loyal to John McCain, a man who had earned my respect during a lifetime of service and sacrifice for his nation.
Now, after what can only be seen as one of the most audacious paths ever undertaken to the White House, Barack Obama is (as McCain himself put it) my President. Seemingly unprepared and untested for the immense responsibilities of the Presidency, Mr. Obama must have sensed a restiveness in the land that told him his time was now. That has most certainly been the case and now, nearly a century and a half after Abraham Lincoln gave his life for a cause rooted in the core of a national psyche, Mr. Obama has emerged as the symbol of a new American dawn.

What a time to be an American! Did you watch on Tuesday, have you ever seen anything like that? Well some of you have I am sure and there are some of you who probably are not quite as thrilled as some of the rest of us are, but all in all a great day for our country nonetheless.

The special New Hampshire political season known as “Annual Meeting Agony” is just around the corner. Starting in February we’ll all have the chance to attend budget hearings, deliberative sessions, board meetings and finally the Annual Town and School District meetings.
There will be many stimulating letters to the editor. Signs will be printed and attached to most every telephone pole. Most will be easy to read and understand. “Vote Yes” or “Vote No” would only suffer from further explanation.
If the issues are important and/or the dollar costs are high, there may even be home-made publications offering a variety of reasons for how people should vote. The successors of Tom Paine will sign their epistles. Others treatises will be unsigned. These will lead to anguished cries of “Who?” from the opponents and activate the area’s private eyes and newspaper reporters. There will be a dozen different people blamed and honored as suspected authors. Not one will actually be responsible.

A man touched by greatness lost the American Presidency Tuesday just as another man presented with an opportunity to achieve greatness strode confidently to the front door of the White House. And a nation showed the world----and proved to itself----that it had the capability to call upon its truer lights to shed its haunted past in order to forge a brighter tomorrow.
Barack Obama completed his rags to riches personal saga to become President Elect before hundreds of thousands of beguiled supporters and a nation demonstrably eager to bestow upon him the leadership mantle which can lead him to historical heights on a storied governing path. Obama has been presented a mandate for change. He possesses the magnetic charisma to accomplish a new direction so longed for by an electorate thirsting for an end to partisan posturing. If he delivers that change he will climb to the pantheon occupied by the likes of Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, the Roosevelts and Reagan. Already he has accomplished a feat Americans could scarcely have imagined a generation ago.

On November 4th, millions of Americans cast their secret ballots not only for the President of the United States, but for other federal, state and local officials. Voters also decided many other important referendum issues at the polls.
In the process of making these decisions we exercised free speech, demonstrated peacefully, benefited from a free press and did so without any fear of reprisal by the party in power. Our court system stands ready to resolve any election disputes and the rule of law will prevail.
As imperfect as our system of government may be, November 4th stands as living testimony to the benefits of being Americans. One week later, we all have a chance to thank those whose service in our military has permitted us to maintain and expand these freedoms for more than two hundred years.
At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11th, a color guard made up of representatives of all of our military services will “Present Arms” at the Tomb of the Unknowns, at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony includes the laying of a presidential wreath, followed by the playing of “Taps”.

The Presidential election which will culminate in a victory for either John McCain of Barack Obama has always been about Obama. The Democratic challenger is an historic figure in American politics. Win or lose, his place in the lore of the nation is firmly established. As the first black candidate to head the ticket of a major party, Obama's quest will be widely viewed as a measure of how far the country has traveled in its determination to erase the images of slavery which have haunted a people since the Civil War.

I am so excited! I mean the day I have been waiting for for so long is finally here. I just seriously can’t believe we are finally here. If I weighed thirty pounds lighter I would do cartwheels and dance in the street. Seriously I just am so thrilled!!!
I have done so much research and really tried to pay attention and just be informed so that on this day the decisions I make are the right ones. I have watched every debate and read all the papers and searched the internet for the answers I haven’t heard yet. Next Tuesday I get to take all that knowledge I have gathered and go to my town hall and I get to vote. How totally amazing is that.

Many commentators call the upcoming election the most critical in a generation. For once, this may not be an exaggeration. War and financial crisis both add to the normal importance of balloting this time.
In four days, the speeches, fund raising, commercials, polls, debates and other campaigning activities will end. Voters will have heard everything from indisputable facts to debatable figures. They will have coped with misrepresentations and lies.
The decisions we make in the privacy of the voting booth will have a huge impact on our common future. Those choices rest with each person that casts their ballot on November 4th. These are the decisions that really count.
For several years, our fearless cat “Charlee” has compiled a solid record for predicting election results. This year we have matched him against twenty volunteers. Their task was to predict the winners of twelve election contests that Henniker voters will help decide at the polls. These are not necessarily their personal choices.