[Deckard]

Just watched some of the joint campaign appearance with Bill Clinton and Obama. Paraphrasing Obama: "For the remaining 5 days, we need to WORK like our liiiiiiives de-PEND-ed on it" - delivered in that soaring tone that he does so well, while 'CHANGE' banners filled every corner of the screen.

At that very moment, what struck me again was probably what's struck all of us here at various times over the last few months, though we've not really touched on it that much - and that is, how cynically we'll all be viewing moments like this in a few years time when Obama has had some years in the White House - obviously assuming the election swings that way, and that no loonies decide to cut it short.

This whole Obama movement (and to many it does resemble a movement rather than a campaign) is carrying with it a truly ridiculous weight of expectation.

That's not to say he's not one of the most remarkable and talented presidential candidates to come along in recent times (certainly I think in my life time) or that the Obama/Biden v McCain/Palin choice isn't a no-brainer. He's an exciting candidate, and the excitement he generates is entirely understandable, particularly at this point in time.

But, DAMN, we're all going to cringe when we look at how we felt, spoke and acted back in 2008.... before he got elected, and went and..................

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Maybe it's just the memories of my country circa 1997, the New Labour 'movement' (nowadays that word would be applied to them in a very different way) led by the more photogenic, relatively youthful and easy-mannered Tony Blair and the campaign song "Things can only get better" signifying the end of Major and Thatcher's Tory rule, the nasty party, which remained in the political wilderness for a decade until it learned that it had to appeal to the centre ground once again.

Anyway, sod it. For now, I'm not going to resist - I'm going to enjoy the last 5 days, and let myself get caught up in it all.

After all, it's still possible that McCain/Palin could win this thing.....