Election Consuming The Lives Of Everyone I Know

I am an Obama supporter, and I want my life back. For those of us who have been supporting Senator Obama from the day that he announced his candidacy in Springfield, Illinois, this race has been excruciatingly long, emotionally intense, and absolutely riveting. The primary battles, the endless debates, the attacks, and the innuendo have been going on for nearly two years.

I am a political science major and a self-avowed political junkie, so it's not surprising that I am so obsessed, but this election is consuming the lives of everyone I know. Even with my previously serious political habit, I didn't used to watch TV talking heads or obsessively check the blogs, the polls, and my email for the latest political news.

My formerly apolitical husband has a crush on Rachel Maddow (I know, who doesn't?), has taken to watching hours of political shows, and now that the Red Sox are in the playoffs, his TV to-do list is getting out of control.

Our friends are also grappling with their obsession with the election, and how time-consuming it has become. Every time we get together we talk politics. There used to be room for other ideas, books we had read, movies we had seen, but now all is politics. We had a get-together for our son's birthday last week, and because my in-laws are mostly voting Republican, we all tried to stay clear of political discussions. We failed. There is no topic right now, other than sports, and even that's debatable, that doesn't tie back to politics. Talk about the economy, education, travel, or entertainment, and you are talking about politics. Even talking about the weather becomes a full-blown policy discussion. This is not news of course; politics affects every area of our lives and always has; but I'm not used to everybody being so aware of that reality.

This morning it was my day to drive the kids to school. The sixth graders in our carpool were talking about how they would vote, if they could, on California's propositions, and which candidate they would support for president. Hint: the 11 year-old girl in my carpool was wearing a T-shirt that said "Community Organizer." I am achingly proud of my fellow citizens for their more than justified interest in this election, and I love to have so many people to talk politics with, but I am also longing for the suspense to be over already.

The ragingly schizophrenic pinball that is John McCain has only increased my sense of urgency to have this race be done -- don't get me started on Sarah Palin. I truly didn't think that the Republicans could scare me more than they did with the Bush/Cheney ticket, but astoundingly, they have exceeded my fear and loathing expectations with their choice of McCain/Palin. It is tragic to see how low the fight for the highest office in the land can go, and how the previously respectable Senator John McCain has mired himself in the muck of Rovian tactics. The longevity of this race has been grueling, but the ugliness of the past couple of weeks has been deeply disturbing.

For 20 plus months I have spent hours and hours examining the issues, studying poll numbers, sifting through rumors, reading the latest opinions, as well as being a precinct captain, phone banking, canvassing, data managing, and just generally trying to make myself useful to the campaign. I can't wait to talk about something other than politics, at least until the next cycle begins again.

My best friend called me this week from Portland and announced that she is "over democracy;" her decision came from the awful realization that the election will begin again in two years. She said she would be fine with a nice tidy monarchy, just so she wouldn't have to deal with the lunatic circus that presidential politics has become. Of course she was kidding, but I think only half, and for a second there, I could see her point.

Comments

[deadre]

I love this post and nursebarb, I too have come down with this obsession. It's new to me this year but I cannot get enough of msnbc and torture myself just stunned at what I hear on Fox News. I pray that it's over soon and that it goes in the direction that we want. I'm stunned that it's such an uphill battle, that the fair can be soo trumped by what I see as the 'devil' but it's still fascinatin­g......

[Barbara Dehn - Huffpost Blogger]

I love this post! Yesterday, I wrote here about OCED, Obsessive Compulsive Election Disorder, which many of my friends and relatives also have. What will happen to all this energy after the election?

Maybe we'll all roll up our sleeves and get started on fixing the messes.

[pons1595]

Goodness gracious--I have OCED! Very good post--you hit my nail right on my numb head. In less than 19 days, what will I do? Move, if "he" wins; but what if BHO does--cele­brate--and then--and then....?

[Joanna Lamb Looby - Huffpost Blogger]

OCED...Yup­, got me some of that.

I'm in for rolling up our sleeves. There is a ridiculous amount work ahead of us no matter who wins the election. We have to rebuild our battered country and/or continue to oppose those that have spent 8 years weakening its foundations. I am going to take a time out after the election and then hit the ground running no matter who is president. President Obama will need our support to get anything done, even with a Democratic congress. If it's McCain, we'd better pray for a long and healthy life for him. The alternative is absolutely disastrous.

[SharonAustinTX]

I'm 63, disabled/unemployed and never have had an interest in politics. My vote didn't count but I always voted. Obama has inspired me to be a better person. My dedication to this campaign is all-consuming so I am right there with you. I get giddy when things go well and depressed about the lies and unfounded attacks. My time and discretionary money = Obama.

I'm exhausted but keep going. My family worries about me in that I have no life of my own. They say "Mom, what are you going to do after the election?" I don't know the answer to that question. This election is the most important election of my lifetime. I have two beautiful granddaughters (3 yrs. and 15 mos.) and I could never look into their eyes and feel proud of myself if I didn't do all I could to support their future. That means getting Obama and Biden in the whitehouse.

[sibergrrl]

Great post, Joanna! i do so hope you will write more often. You are so eloquent and witty and i hope that others will now get a chance to enjoy it as much as i do.

I am afraid i must play devil's advocate for a moment: where would our country be right now if the elections in 2000 and 2004 galvanized the country the way this one has, i wonder?

I find myself grateful every day to see that people everywhere, the same people who couldn't be bothered to vote, to even register, to watch a debate or read policy on a campaign website, tuning into Countdown or Colbert, listening to the Rachel Maddow or Randi Rhodes Shows on Air America or slapping a bumpersticker on their car.

Another note: I have seriously noticed a dearth of McCain/Palin signs and stickers in my travels around LA, quite the contrast to the ubiquitous Bush/Cheney proclamations of times past.

This is so important and i think if all of us are paying more attention to who is making the rules and collecting the spoils, the better for the country.

it is, after all, our country

[Joanna Lamb Looby - Huffpost Blogger]

Good point about the 2000& 2004 elections. I think we needed a candidate that was politically gifted enough to not have the life sucked out of him by political handlers. The Democrats kept playing on the Republican's terms and were continually shocked when the game had them at a disadvantage. Also, the damage of the last 8 years is really showing up in people's lives and there isn't a bunch of easy credit to make it all okay anymore. I used to say that cheap tube socks were the opiate of the people, but now Americans are even having trouble buying the cheap crap at WalMart.

[Indpndnt1]

All I saw was a cynical, angry man that acts as if the country 'owes' him! I was disgusted with his consistently rude interruptions, and his extremely noticable/­unprofessi­onal mannerisms. McCain...y­ou should be saddened by your 'lack there of' for presidential character.­..I've made up my mind after last night and so did the rest of us that watched together. NONE of us were pleased with what we saw...it was just ANOTHER disappointing 'attack', redundant/mislead information that we've heard over and over...(we ALL KNOW your past, we ALL KNOW you're attempting to diminish Obama's character, which isn't working btw...too many false accusations McCain). An for "Joe" to be your focus and he's NOT EVEN registered to vote...c'm­on!! It was a play on Palin's "Joe six-pack".­..obviousl­y "Joe is a drinking plummer."

We (Americans), were wanting and needing to SEE 'who' speaks knowledgably, acts professionally, and carries themself as President - and McCain...i­t WASN'T YOU! You slowly sank, and sank, and sank in our eye's last night...ri­ght to the bottom!

Go grab "Joe", head down to the local 'soccer field' with a six-pack and sit down with him to discuss, "What SHOULD I have done different Joe...?" (you may need a 12 pack for that long discussion)

[allonfla]

Same Here!!

[southernsepia]

You are playing my tune!

I have been a political fanatic since I voted in Carter v. Regan ( needless to say went to bed sad and disappointed that night).

When O announced on those steps in Springfield it was on! I pushed his campaign materials on every one I could. My boyfriend used to call me an Obama groupie.

Now every one is consumed with this race. Occasionally I get a little miffed at the neophytes horning in on my turf, but I have to catch myself and remember that an large involved electorate is a good thing.

Here's my advice, unplug! I have to take media holidays (that means npr only) from time to time to maintain my sanity. I did that last week after being infuriated that no one would speak of troopergate.

O's got to win next month or my family will have to institutionalize me!!

[Joanna Lamb Looby - Huffpost Blogger]

I know, we have decided to institute a media blackout for a while after the election. I've got to rest my poor, screen fatigued eyes...

[SENJA]

Wake me up in 20 days.

[Joanna Lamb Looby - Huffpost Blogger]

But only if we get the right president. Otherwise just let me sleep...