ELECTION ANALYSIS: The Real Winners

Post-election analysis by Dushaw Hockett of the Center for Community Change:

Who are the real winners of yesterday's election? Not Democrats. Not liberals. Not progressives. But the dreamers. All of us who've been shot down, shunned or told to shut up because we dare to think we can when others say we can't.

In a short amount of years, we watched an organizer become a lawyer, a lawyer become a State Senator, a State Senator become a U.S. Senator, and a U.S. Senator become the first black President of the United States.

All of this on a message of hope, dreams and change. Remember, his story was an "unlikely" one. A Seabiscuit story. Maybe an Ali (versus Liston). He was told he couldn't compete. That the odds were too big. But we pulled for him. We saw bits and pieces of ourselves in him. In return, he brought the nation (and the world) to a new high when we were all at a low.

Today we walk a little taller. Smile a little brighter. Believe a little stronger. Doubt loss. Hope won. There will be challenges and disappointments going forward. It's the human way of life. But the world is a different place this morning. It's okay to dream again.

Obama Wins! What's Next? [OPEN THREAD]

As we've seen all day on this blog, grassroots organizations have played a historic role in this election, inspiring and turning out voters like never before. And the tools and strategies of community organizing were instrumental as a former community organizer rose to the highest office in the land.

Those of us who are stunned that moment arrived --- that an African American former community organizer who ran on the simple idea that we, as a people, can do more together than we can do alone and that our common good must be the common purpose of our people --- we must not forget that this moment is just the beginning. Tomorrow, the work continues and the next phase begins --- as we define how this overwhelming public sentiment will translate into real policy changes and real differences in the lives of Americans clearly so desperate for change.

Tell us what you think. When we say that American voters stood together for an America that will finally work for all of us, what does that mean to you? What do you think should be at the top of the agenda for President Obama? And what do you think is the path ahead for grassroots organizations to ensure that agenda comes true?

This moment is born of the promises of our nation's past and the potential of our future. Onward.

Big News On Election Day: There's No Big News!

As we were preparing for this blog, we prepped dozens of grassroots organizations around the country to pounce on stories of overwhelmed and malfunctioning polling places or outrageous voter suppression. And to be sure, we've heard some disconcerting tales --- from a repeat immigration raid timed for Election Day in Postville, Iowa, to riot police preparing to take the streets in Toledo, Ohio.

But it seems to us, the overwhelming story this election is that while voter turnout appears to be on track for a record high --- thanks in no small part to the work of community organizations across the country turning out voters, including the ones on this blog --- democracy has survived mostly unscathed and the election appears to be going smoothly.

The media and blogosphere seems to be exaggerating every report of the slightest problem, and while I don't mean to suggest any reports of wrongdoing and suppression should be ignored, it does seem that at the end of the day, we will be able to celebrate the day that our democracy was tested by overwhelming enthusiasm and came out the other end having proved itself durable.

Am I wrong?