Quintessential Small Town, USA

We never would have predicted it but we just love being ordinary suburbanites, living in a close-knit historic town with only 12,000 people. A place where, on a Friday night just after Thanksgiving, you can walk down to the local library point, donate some canned goods and kick off the holiday season with a community tree lighting. Then you can parade down the quaint, tree-lined streets with hordes of your neighbors, led by Santa Claus and the marching band and watch your little Brownie Girl Scout become one of Santa's elves and hand out candy-canes.

We would never have imagined finding such fulfillment in a place where you can be serenaded by Christmas carolers while you eat dinner in your favorite little pizzeria. . .

. . .and then sung to by a Victorian quartet on the walk home.

But such is our life in small town, USA. And we love it.

Halloween '08

It was the year of the superheroes at our house, and still is. This is one of those childhood phases that we, as parents, enjoy as much as the kids. Seriously, can anyone really argue that Spider-Man is not cool?

Our friends, Tony Schott and Bob Bowling provided live musical entertainment. Thank you guys!

"The Red States"--they may have won the best costume election but they lost the general election something fierce. I hope that no one is bitter (about the costumes or the presidency). It's all good, people. Let's be happy. . .

. . .or I'll send my superheroes after you.

Certainly the most clever costume of the night "Vote for Change".

Sweetness.

When the sun sets, the adults "trick or treat." From left to right, A Native American who came in search of getting her land back; Betty Ford, who was drunk when she walked in the door and has been ever since, McCain secret service--look at those legs, the left-wing extremist with many causes to protest against/for, Bulworth, a red state and Marilyn, for what political gathering would be complete without Marilyn? We had Sarah Palin look-a-likes in all forms, drunken senators, King George and, of course, the right wing fundamentalist to counter my own radical extremism. We hope that we made our point--that is, being extreme in any sense is not only dangerous but it is also really fun.

Halloween is always a fun time. Next year, we're hoping to rent out the Eastern State Penitentiary and have a big masquerade bash there. How amazing would that be?

Hope you all got loads and loads of candy!

A day to remember

Thanks so much for sharing this remarkable day with us. We have a new president-elect--one unlike this country has ever experienced before. We are overjoyed--for ourselves, for our children, for the future. No matter what happens from here forward, we believe that Americans should be proud of what we have done throughout this long process. We have listened and watched, we have read and learned, we have VOTED! It's been a long day (and a long race) but we will never forget it. We wish everyone the best, we hope that we can unite as a people and do what is best for our country, our children and our world.

OHIO!

Wow! I'm assuming that anyone still reading is feeling pretty happy right now. Thank you, Ohio.

Current electoral count: 174-49

The kids are doing somersaults and I'm thinking about joining them. Democrats have picked up another 4 senate seats. Oh my god, this just hit me. If Obama actually wins and the Dems achieve a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, we will actually have no one else to blame. Oh boy.


Another friend, "Tracy" has dropped by to share this historic night with us. Tracy is 100% sure that Obama is fully committed to the greater good. Tracy was our PTA president last year and is also 100% sure that that does not qualify her to be vice-president of the United States.

Comments by "Sam"

A good friend, "Sam", has dropped by just in time to hear the official projection by the AP, CNN, MSNBC and others that Barack Obama has won the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (betcha didn't expect interviews here on the Jensen Journal). Sam was raised in Bucks County, PA and contributed greatly to the race there by staking a big ole' yard sign on his parents front lawn back in primary season. Sam thinks that McCain was so confident about Pennsylvania recently that he feared that we were all missing something. Sam had some crazy ideas about what was happening in PA but is feeling better now. He notes that his father, a life-long Republican was excited for the first time this year to back a Democrat for prez.

Pennsylvania!!

Some are calling PA for Obama, others (CNN) not yet. Surely, you are not relying on the Jensen Journal for your news reports but we're having fun playing reporters.

We are thankful to live in a State where it is no surprise to say that Obama has now won. New Jersey Baracked the Vote!

77-34 Obama by CNN (without PA counted).

Waiting for Virginia

There's good news for Democrats. Mark Warner has won the US Senate seat formerly held by a Republican, advancing the democratic majority and boding well for Obama in Virginia.

Our friends, Pete and Elyse Crawford are here with their darling young girl Katie, seen here as a lamb.

Lots of big poll closings coming real soon. . .stay tuned.

Settling in for the long haul

Almost 6:30 and it's time to eat. I'm going to begin a tradition of getting a turkey reuben on election day (eh, why not?). Results will start coming in soon and the race will start to reveal itself. My call was 326 electoral votes for BHO, Annmarie still refueses to make a prediction. My good friend Craig Heinz told me that the Vegas odds are 12-1 Obama. Still feelin' good. Now for that reuben...

Seneca over Shawnee 1-0

Hooray! Seneca girls soccer beat Shawnee today in the South Jersey Group 3 State playoffs. Coach Jensen is pretty pumped and doesn't intend to come down any time soon. Let's go!

Pennsylvania looks good at 3:45 PM

Just back from Center City Philadelphia, where our little table on the corner of 15th and Sansom was a happenin' spot and where the buttons and signs were getting snatched up as soon as we put them out. We had supporters of every age, every race, every everything stopping by and sharing the love. We even had a very "hope"ful dog and a moose-that's right, a moose--campaigning for Obama (see picture). Granted, no one voting the other way would likely step up and be heard under those circumstances but I couldn't even find many people who weren't wearing some kind of Obama gear. I think the campaign has pretty much taken care of Philly--let's see if it's enough to carry the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Polls there close at 8.

Check out these 2 volunteers from Amsterdam who came all the way from their homeland to campaign for Obama here in the US. They can't vote but they can hold signs and smile real big for the cameras. You have to love the Dutch.

What message would an Obama victory send to the rest of the world? What has been your experience in other countries during this election season?

Thanks for the comments from everyone both off and on the blog. And thank you all for helping me to stay occupied today. This is almost as emotional as childbirth.

I have had three cups of coffee (thanks Starbucks) and some chocolate. I would love to eat but think I might throw up if I do. I still cannot believe that someone with the name Barack Obama may actually become President of this fine country. If you have not voted, GO!

1 win at a time...

I have a play-off game vs Shawnee at 2pm today, so I won't blog politically until later. 1 win at a time!

Please join us for a drink as we watch the returns tonight, or check here regluarly for penetrating insights into the presidental race.

Obama, by Evie

Evie has some thoughts that she wants to share:

I've always thought from the start that Obama would win and my thoughts are going on the right track. Obama wants to lower taxes for people who need it and I think that's good. Obama really deserves to be and live in the White House. John McCain is sort of like a hot head but Obama is cool. If Obama wins, the environment will be healthy. Barack Obama wants to end the war and I think that is good.

Evie AnnaJane Jensen

Good Morning USA!!

It's 8:56 AM and Barack and Michelle Obama are casting their votes at this very moment. And there's Joe Biden and his wife and mama. This is so awesome! No doubt, they are all voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin because really--who would want the job of governing this country? Barack Obama, that's who!!

Ron, contrary to my objection, has created an over/under and invites fellow Americans to have some fun with this extremely sacred process. Here is his email to me yesterday:

As if the election on Tuesday needs any more drama...

Polls have Obama at about a 5% lead nationally. 'Toss-up' states and close races will swing the electoral count wildly. So you're hoping for (or fearing) an Obama win, and most of the pundits see it that way. But how many electoral votes will he pull in?

I'm taking 'bets' on an over/under for an Obama victory. The number: 311.

Simply 'reply to me with a simple "over" (you think Obama will win 312 or more) or "under" (Obama will win less than 311 electoral votes. I'll post everyone's over/under by Tuesday afternoon. I won't take any bets after 5pm on Tuesday. A 'push' is possible, by the way.

For the truly bold among us, you can also give me a prediction on the number of EVs Obama will get, AND/OR the swing states he'll win.

To help you with your predictions, check out NPR's interactive map. You can click on states to make them red or blue tally the votes that way. http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008-election-map.html?ps=bb1#/president-nprOvM/

Enjoy!

Yours,

Ron

I cannot participate for fear that, as soon as I bet, Obama's chances for this thing will evaporate into thin air. (When was the last time the Dolphins came close to winning anything? Not since I've been a fan, that's for sure.) I will say this: take the over.

2:17 AM - Republican Rallies

The only thing worth reporting is that Barack Obama landed in Chicago and went home. I presume that he is going to go to sleep so why on earth wouldn't I? Apparently, nothing happens in the middle of the night on election day.

Hmmm, John McCain is having a rally in Arizona in a little while and hang on, Sarah Palin is about to speak in Nevada. This could be good. Her dad just said that he taught Sarah to field dress a moose a long time ago and that tomorrow she is going to field dress a donkey. Sarah Palin says that when she was a senior in high school and her team was the underdog, they went to the state championship, and apparently that bodes well for her ticket tomorrow. She is now introducing her husband, as she calls him "Alaska's first dude" (I can't believe this is still happening). She's saying something about the White House, though there's a good chance she's never been there. I like her jeans and can't help but wonder how much they cost.

She so far has not mentioned the 6 minute prank call from a Nicolas Sarkozy impersonator in which she was fooled into believing that she was actually talking to a world leader. Spending freeze on all but essential services? She conveniently leaves out her promise to parents of children with special needs for additional support which would then not be accompanied by federal funds. She's on a rampage now about cutting taxes, despite the fact that her party has run up the most ridiculous deficit imaginable. (Forgive me, it's late and she gives me a lot to say.)

Switching to McCain's rally now. His wife is introducing him. I have no idea what either of them are saying because the pundits don't appear to be able to stop talking. All I see is a sea of white faces. Here we go: McCain is declaring with a lot of emphasis that tomorrow he will be president of the United States. Now he's talking about Todd Palin too. "Alaska's first dude" and the fact that he won a snowmobile championship with a broken arm. Why should I know this? He's grateful for Joe Lieberman and thinks Cindy would make a great first lady. He's seen momentum in the last few days and now he just needs to get out the vote. His campaign is about three things: reform, prosperity and peace. No more bridges to nowhere (by his running mate, I guess). He's going to keep people in their homes because it is the American dream. He won't be tested by our enemies because he knows them and they know him and he knows how to deal with them. He will "inspire a generation of Americans to serve a cause greater than themselves" (serving in the military). There will be times when we don't know why he does things. He'll never let us down and he's glad to be home. Some nice words at the end, actually.

I need coffee.

1:23 AM

Sorry, no election results yet. This has been the most uneventful historic day ever in this first hour. . .but I do have some thoughts. First, why am I so crazed about this (didn't know this was going to be a psychotherapy session, did you? Neither did I). Don't you all feel like you are a part of something so much greater and larger in this election? Isn't it amazing that so many people have become involved in this process and have been paying attention? Isn't the process itself (besides the fact that Illinois and Arizona have been represented by only one senator for the past two years) healthy and a strong message to the rest of the world? I don't know, I'm pretty convinced that we're getting a lot of attention on the world stage and that the message is good: democracy is good, prejudice is bad, there is hope for the United States. It's hard not to get caught up in the fever of it all if you give a damn.

What's the first thing President Obama should do in office? Abolish the electoral college? (For all of your constitutional people out there, I'm aware that a president cannot do that but you know what I mean). Nationalize healthcare? (Apparently that can be done pretty easily). What do you think?

Election Day and Night 2008

It's is 12:05 a.m. Have you voted?

Since sleep is hard to achieve on the eve of history, Ron and I have decided to blog, live from our living room and we invite you to join us.

We just got finished watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. We admit that there is a clear bias but they sure as shit are funny. Also, both made me cry. The guest on each show made a convincing argument for an Obama win tomorrow but each guest was credible precisely because they were neutral or conservative. Doris Kearns Goodwin is a presidential historian and Andrew Sullivan an apparently staunch conservative with the most convincing argument for why a President Obama would be a win for the American people tomorrow. I hope that every conservative in this country saw that interview (surely not).

We plan to sleep for a while with the aid of prescription medication and alcohol. We'll be back tomorrow between canvassing, winning a soccer game, voting, teaching history class and trying not to have a nervous breakdown. We'll stay awake tomorrow night until the election is called and until the joy subsides.

Exercise your right.