One's initial reception of news of sudden and catastrophic events are always remembered in vivid detail. For example, everyone can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the news of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, just like everybody can describe their initial emotional reaction to the news of the death of President Kennedy. (I was reading a child's biography of JFK in 1971 or 1972 when I first heard of his assassination.)
For years now, the same question will be asked concerning the surreal announcement (first reported on Fox News, secondly on CNN) at approximately 1:30 CST (2:30 EST) that presidential candidate Barack Obama reportedly gained an entire percentage point lead over rival John McCain in the key battleground state of Virginia. (from 4 to 5%). In the words of Milton, "At once and at the trumpets' resound, the cymbal's/ aching crash, the world turned straight 'round."
On a personal note, my initial reaction to hearing this news was one of numbness and disbelief. Can this really be happening? I didn't want to accept an entire percentage point gain by the Dems especially in a state that Republicans have won in 5 of the last 8 elections. Further, McCain has gained a half of a percentage point in Michigan and Obama's poll numbers were reportedly starting to slide a bit in Ohio. I reasoned that a long walk in the (political) woods of 24/7 cable news accompanied by much wrestling with my thoughts and emotions was the only appropriate remedy to this bitter blow. After all, hasn't Chris Matthews assured us that "politics is life itself"?
Life will eventually return to normalcy as always, although everything has now changed forever.
