We will get back to regularly scheduled programming next week. I just need to say one more thing about this historic election.

Growing up, everyone told me that I could be anything I wanted to be. I could be a doctor, lawyer, scientist or scholar. However, nobody told me that I could be President.

It’s been a running joke that I’ve had for a while, but even after 28 years I never thought that me being President was even possible. Even though I am a senior level specialist at work, traveled the world, got a decent education, and have a mortgage, I thought the doors to the Presidency were shut.

Until Tuesday.

Barack Obama has taught us all that anything is possible.

I’m still speechless.

For those of you that are heading to DC or live in the city, I’ve created my official Couch Sessions Approved Inauguration Guide of parties that will be going down this weekend. If you’re going to be in town, don’t hesitate to hit me up at articleonline [at] gmail.com or at twitter.com/couchsessions.

ALL INAUGURATION 2009 POSTS

Also, if you’re coming into town from sunnier climates, be warned–it’s gonna be cold as hell this weekend with highs on Inauguration day not getting out of the 30s. Today’s high is 12 degrees.

I’ll have some co-posts with my homie Tarik from Needledrop on the site soon, but for the most part, posting is going to be light until Wednesday. Even if you’re not in town, do something this weekend to celebrate change.

11th and U

(photo via DCist)

14th and U

Apparently the party went on until about 4 AM. At the site of the 1968 riots. Amazing.

Sorry, but I can give a damn when I see rappers and entertainers cutting videos for Obama. I’m sure its there little way of contributing to the cause, but people on the ground are wondering….could we do more?

Take Puffy. Even though the man tried with the Vote or Die campaign in 2004, the dude has been very silent in 2008. Except on Youtube.  Even though Puff says that he wants Obama to win, what is doing on the ground to help this man get elected?

Puffy, instead of cutting YouTube videos “for” Obama, why don’t you go to your neighboring state of Pennsylvania and rent buses to get low income voters to the polls? Pennsylvania does not have early voting so the African American turnout may be substantially less then states like Georgia and North Carolina. Pennsylvania is also a battleground state, where Kerry only narrowly won in by 2% in 2004, and where McCain is making his last stand in this election.

There are thousands of people in places like Philly and Pittsburgh that do not have transportation to get to the polls that could swing the election in this state if they get out to vote. If Puffy just dropped approximately $30,000 for 100 school buses, it can bring 5,000 people to the polls in 1 trip.

If those 100 buses took 30 trips to the polls tomorrow, it would out almost 150,000 voters.

If I had the money to pull this off, I would. But I don’t. You know who does? Puffy.

Its no surprise that the mainstream media hasn’t covered the Obama rally in St. Louis on Saturday, which drew over 100,000 people. They’re still too busy trying to talk to “Joe the Plumber.”

But while the media tries to chase some tax cheat unlicensed plumber from Ohio, Obama is making history.

Senator Obama raised $150 million dollars in September, gaining over 630,000 new donors, most of which were college students. Also, Colin Powell voiced his support for the Senator yesterday on Meet the Press.

The race is sill not over by a long shot. But I’m more comfortable about an Obama victory than ever before.

So let’s compare:

Obama rallies: 100,000 positive people ready for change in America.

McCain rallies: 8,000 people who think Obama is a terrorist and a “Arab”.

You decide.

Even though Obama is ahead in the national polls by double digits, the ignorance and racism that has permeated through this campaign won’t go away. In fact, once people realize that we are just weeks away from having the first Black president, it will get worse. McCain’s campaign, as a sign of desperation, has been stroking White fear at his rallies, trying to associate Obama with a 70′s radical to prove of his “terrorist” ties and turning a deaf ear to chants of “kill him” and “traitor.”

I’ve talked to friends who have campaigned in Pennsylvania, and she talked about rocks getting thrown at her and doors slammed in her face to the tune of “I’ll never vote for that Muslim nigger.” My other friend has had his Obama sign removed from his yard several times and yet another friend in a battleground state was telling me of how everyone in his neighborhood is scared of showing any support for Obama.
I’m sure that there have been physical altercations and many hate crimes that have gone unreported across the country. However, the first reported shooting of someone who wearing an Obama shirt ironically happened in London.

The 36-year-old victim was standing in line in the shop when a man nearby began hurling racist abuse him.

It is believed the abuse started because the victim was wearing a T-shirt with an image of the US presidential candidate.

The man left the store and went to his car, but as he was sitting in the driver’s seat the other man opened his door and fired a number of shots at him with the air pistol – hitting him in the face.

Be careful when you rock your overpriced Pharrell Obama shirts this week. (via Different Kitchen)

Also: The Trails and Tribulations of an Obama Yard Sign

My sister called me last night almost in tears after this speech and I see why. Obama ’08.

I’m slowly starting to believe that Obama just might win this thing in November though.

This is bad. Decent track (flipping Ice Cube’s “Good Day”, but this video puts the McCain girls to shame. Seriously, the awfulness of this thing is tempting me to vote for McCain. (from Brandon at URB)

Seriously, if you’re in North Carolina or Indiana, please vote tomorrow!