For a second I believed.

I do follow politics closely and while some find this as an attempt at feeling intellectually arrogant I can assure them that's not the case. In fact my following of the presidential elections is a complete waste of time. Considering I live in a state where the electorate will always go Democrat my vote doesn't matter unless I get a frontal lobotomy and believe in starting a Republican revolution in Washington.

Watching the federal races for me honestly is akin to someone watching reality television (Miss Ash), or reading pulp romance novels, or even watching WWE. The drama associated with each race fascinates me, probably due to the cynic in me that can't find themselves throwing their weight behind a particular party or candidate.

Last night the unthinkable happened. After watching what I felt was a lackluster convention I saw Obama the nominee take the stage before a huge audience. His demeanor and the text of the speech was amazing. I was wowed by his intellect, his mannerisms, his ability to breathe hope into the air.

It was happening. I was believing it. This orator was giving me something I haven't felt in years, or ever in fact. I was suddenly on the Obama wagon. It was intoxicating to actually feel that he was good, that a man in his position cared about us, and that there was hope in something. Yes I started to feel that 'Yes We Can' was more than a slogan to chant mindlessly. I was giddy.

The speech ended with a rousing applause from the crowd. A packed house was on their feet cheering their savior. Bad music blared through the speakers as the party's chosen hero smiled and waved. The electricity swarmed through the arena quicker than herpes at Burning Man. It was exciting and I found myself buying into the rhetoric.

A friend IM'd me asking me about the speech. He explained how he had tears in his eyes he was so moved. While I wasn't anywhere near crying I was in disbelief more than anything at how Obama seemed to manipulate me at that moment. I always thought that putting your faith in a Presidential candidate is akin to believing the stripper is really into you, but for a few minutes last night I drank the kool aide.

Then I woke up this morning, hungover from being drunk with hope. The cynic in me returned thinking I may have loved the speech only because of the disappointment I felt with the rest of the convention and/or my disgust with the current administration. Maybe it was because Obama is a professional orator, that he excels at his job, and he happened to be at the right place at the right time.

Still the reality of our politics reared it's head this morning and I reminded myself as to why I became weary of candidates in the first place. That being said I don't think I'll ever forget that feeling that came over me last night.

"Americans still believe in an America where anything's possible. They just don't think their leaders do." - Barack Obama