Yes We Can, Yes We Can

I'm going to let you in a little secret: I'm from Missouri. This probably means nothing to you, and there's a fair chance that you can't even place it on the map.

Here's a hint. It's in the middle.

Usually I try to hide my Midwestern roots. People have certain conceptions of people from the region... Sure, it is the Bible Belt, but that doesn't mean I'm shoving Genesis down anyone's throat; I don't even consider myself terribly religious. I also don't live on a farm, just so you know.

Oh, and I'm not a redneck. It's Missouri, not Mississippi.

Ok, enough ranting. There's a reason why I need to bring this up. I stayed up pretty late last night watching the returns come in. I know a lot of people get sick of hearing anything related to the campaigns, but you have to admit that it's important and you certainly have to admit that Super Tuesday was huge.

And when Obama won my home state by a handful of votes, that was huge. It isn't very often that you see a comeback like that. Three hours before the state had a projected winner, the Senator from Illinois was down by about 30 points.

I considered registering to vote in Massachusetts. After all, I spend considerably more time here than at home now. But I'm lazy and I figured Missouri needed my vote more than Massachusetts did and it turns out that I was right.

It's easy to feel like your vote doesn't count. Delegates, the electoral college... It's not so cut and dry. A lot of people feel like their votes get lost in the shuffle.

But it does count. So if you were out at the polls yesterday, I have to congratulate you. And if you weren't, I have to ask you to please make more of an effort in November.

Besides, you don't really want Missouri looking better than you.