he is an agent of change; he has me rethinking my entire adult political life.

Save a comeback that would be a stretch even for the Clintons, I doubt HRC will be the 2008 nominee of the Democratic Party; even if she were nominated, the party in fighting has reengergized all the old Clinton myths making her virtually unelectable. Funny how if you say something long enough and loud enough it often becomes reality.

Now as a Democrat, I am used to being on the short end of the election stick.  I have voted in nine presidential elections and been on the winning team three times.  Being a Democrat used to be almost like being a BoSox fan, there was kind of an honor and camaraderie in losing.   This time though I don't feel like we lost, I feel like I was cut from the team.  I don't think I'm a sore loser - although right now it may be hard to judge objectively - I've swallowed hard and voted for the guy who did win when my guy didn't before; hell, I did it in 2004.  Maybe this is what it feels like when you begin to get old, the party has changed and I feel left behind, unwanted - except that I'm not old, my days of participation are not over so what do I do?

In a way it's all very liberating - not since I was in high school have I had to examine my core political beliefs.  I visited the Libertarian site, they don't want me - scored too low on the economic issues section.  Socialist - hmmm?  Maybe after my mother dies.  Ayn Rand, Objectivism?  Just kidding.  Republican?  My laptop refused to connect to the GOP site.  So, am I stuck with waiting for a transcendent experience after election day when presumably we will all shed our political bodies and become post partisan?  I spent 35 years as a Southern Baptist and still couldn't buy into the Rapture so I'm not banking on that one.

I've been thinking about maybe going out on my own - don't know whether to start a party, a movement or a religion; all three have their strong points, although my son says people who start their own religions burn in Hell.  Not a real sticking point for me as several people have said I'm well on my way there already.  Perhaps a militia group - Montana is a beautiful state and I bet you could get a real deal on some land right now.  I do know that no matter the final form of my new group not talking loud on cell phones in public will be in the by laws.

So, thank you, Senator Obama and all you wacky Obama-ites, I can't be an Obama Girl (although that might work since she didn't get around to actually voting for Senator Obama) but maybe I can be something better: I can be my own woman, 36 years voting the party line may not have been that good an idea in the first place.