How did you feel this time 2004? I felt hope but it was reserved hope

[greenbriar]

this time


its in the air

can feel it every where

[rockymountaindem]

1. Misplaced confidence/dread

My heart said we were going to win, but my head said we were doomed. Ultimately, I have to say I'm surprised we came as close as we did.

[Madrone]

2. I felt sunk last time - completely sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

This time... hope. Finally. HOPE.

And if you'd have told me 4 years ago that it would be a black man bringing it - I wouldn't have believed it. This time I don't just have hope in Barack - I have it in America, in AMERICANS. I can't believe I'm about to see a black man as President of the USA. I never thought I'd see it in MY lifetime.

:D

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. I thought it would be a blow out for Kerry. I was shocked that he conceded so easily.

I was a zombie for weeks after. I am cautiously optimistic. I don't think Obama will go down without a fight, if mccain and the gop steals this election.

[Naturyl]

4. Optimistic, but less so than this time.

I think our chances are much better this time.

[rebel with a cause]

5. I know you guys have to be sick of me and 2004 but here goes.

I got up and looked outside and knew that Obama had Illinois senate and that bush was going to win. I got ready and went to work at the campaign office. Answer phones, help co ordinate pick ups for voters, help call people when needed and just do what was needed to get through election day. My kids worked as poll watchers, so they took me to the office and then they went to two different counties to do their bit. The office was full of people working that day, trying their best to get out the vote. Someone asked me who I thought would win, and I told them. One lady began to cry, she had two teenage boys and did not want them to go to war.

I felt so bad that I lied to her and said that I was probably wrong. I remember her asking me how many times I was wrong on such things, and I said hardly ever, but there was always a chance. I reassured her that it would be okay for her boys. Day went on and we gathered for the result party at a nearby by restaurant. People came and went, not many were in a happy mood as we watched the presidential race fade away and bush get his second term. Angry when Kerry conceded so quickly.

Then we picked ourselves up and dusted ourselves off. Barack had won. We had hope. We were going to work and in the years to come we knew we could help make a difference. People talked about their children being older in four years and they would be able to help in the fight. We had hope. Obama had won and he would be there to help us in this fight to make a difference. Even the lady that had cried that morning now smiled because she could see that we had hope because Barack had won.

edited to add: I am waiting for the morning to look out at the day and see if I get the sense of what the election results will be. This time I will not be sharing them with anyone, even if I am sure of them. Only if I feel the news is good will I even consider sharing them.

[uppityperson]

6. I felt "wish", not "hope". Hopeful but not optimistic. Phone calling people, gotv, and saying we

need EVERY vote to possibly pull it off. There was a chance, but only a chance.

Then when Kerry conceded I cried.

Now? I feel a lot more optimistic, a lot of hope. Much much more than a chance. I am a very cynical person and do not want to be disappointed, so won't start woohooing for another 18 hours.

But I feel good about the election. There are lots of people watching, teams of lawyers standing by, a GREAT campaign by a wonderful man, very good.

Maybe 14 hours.

[Blond4O]

7. Same as others, I hoped that the

American people would see * for what I knew he was but honestly, I felt Kerry didn't "connect" with as many people as we needed. Still, I hoped maybe it could happen.
I remember when it was deceided in *'s favor. I cried like a baby. It was one of the few times in my life where I truly felt doomed.

[orleans]

13. welcome to du, Blond4O. glad you could make it.

four years ago--november 2nd. i cried that night (early morning 11/03). this time, if i'm crying it better be tears of joy and relief! i can't take another let down like that.

[uppityperson]

19. Wecome to DU, I joined 4 yrs and 12 days before you did, right pre-election also.

This will be a good day, much better than that was.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. I had a feeling of foreboding

I had seen Kerry speak in person twice, and the vibes I got were that he was just going through the motions and didn't have any clear message to anyone who didn't already hate Bush. He didn't communicate with the crowd the way Kucinich, Edwards, or even Max Cleland did.

I knew that the race would come down to enough people being disgusted with Bush. If too many people were happy or apathetic, Kerry, competent as he is, would lose.

After I had spent the entirety of a cold day going door to door, with just a hot dog for lunch, I was furious with Kerry for conceding so early. It was as if the volunteers cared more than he did.

[rcrush]

9. Denial

Kept telling myself 'he'll pull through still got a few weeks, days, hours to go!'

[RedCappedBandit]

10. Obama has so much support

I don't see how he can lose
Nor do I see how McCain could win
Does anybody actually like the guy?

[ribrepin]

11. I was absolutely certain Kerry would win

I was sick as I watched the states turn red up the east coast. I smiled during the day and cried myself to sleep at night.

I know the polls look good, but I'm trying to keep myself in check.

[orleans]

14. i really thought he would win too. i mean, who the fuck would

actually want bush ... again?

i was stunned.

(and as it turned out--people didn't want him. he just fucking stole the election. again)

[ribrepin]

17. I don't know if it was stolen or not

but the idiot claimed a mandate and tried to reform social security. I went to the local meeting with my representative and there was standing room only. A few conservatives showed up, but our Democratic representative had to protect them from the raging old folks.

Then came Katrina and everybody knew what I had figured out in 2004. It's just got worse from there.

I am still in shock that Mr. Bring It On was reelected.

[Egnever]

12. I was getting ready to plug my nose

I had no enthusiasm for kerry but I hated bush. I was terrified we were going to lose but held a small kernel of hope that we wouldn't.

[Ms. Toad]

15. Hopeful the morning of the election,

concerned by early afternoon when the ratio of Bush voters began to dramatically outweigh the Kerry voters, relatively certain that we had lost by around 5 pm when a short trip home from my post at the polls confirmed that the shift in voters was not just a local phenomenon, increasingly despondent as the night wore on and the votes were reported.

Then I started getting kicked in the teeth here and elsewhere for being selfish and losing the election for everyone (same gender marriage issue) - and was really in bad shape. I still haven't recovered - I know I should have been out knocking on doors and sitting at the polling place tomorrow, but I just haven't been able to make myself put out that kind of energy for yet another candidate who doesn't fully support my family and my marriage.

That said, I am more hopeful than I was in 2004.

[puerco-bellies]

16. In 2004 I was convinced we would win.

I was a precinct captain, and believed with all my heart that we could override a disastrous supreme court decision. I was stunned then and it still affects me today. I cannot feel confident in our electoral process until we scrap electronic voting methods.

[Raine]

18. Confident only to have it stolen again.

This time I'm cautiously optimistic.

[greenbriar]

21. I really thought we would win it

I had hope until OHIO started causing the mess, I then stayed up all night and bawled

[gollygee]

20. I felt very uncertain and worried

I really felt like it could go either way then. But I already feel like celebrating this time.

[lies and propaganda]

22. i was COCKY..

i even made a shirt with Kerry's mug on it that said "Help is on the Way."

But now i feel very optimistic but still scared as SHIT!