A political bloodbath

Last night, I had the enormous privilege of seeing Bill Maher and Ann Coulter claw each other's eyes out at the Chicago Theater. I shouldn't say that. They were relatively civil, considering.

The theater - huge, gorgeous, and legendary - was packed to the gills with Democrats and Republicans alike (mostly Democrats, given that this is newly victorious Chicagoland), all of them older than my roommate and me. We took pride in being the youngest folks there, because we were also possibly the most excited folks there. Alex and I are what you might call Bill Maher freaks. Real Time, Politically Incorrect, podcasts, opening night of Religilous. And, like probably all Democrats, we are likewise Ann Coulter haters. We were practically giddy sitting in that audience.

And what a fun audience it was. Screaming, clapping, booing, whistling. The speakers could hardly get a word in. Fortunately, Bill Maher and Ann Coulter are experts are getting words in. Throughout the evening, it was obvious that they respected each other. They even made a point of noting that they respect each other. But that didn't keep them from tearing each other a part. Which was a beautiful, beautiful thing.

I surprised myself by actually listening to Ann Coulter. Until she called the audience stupid. She said to Bill Maher, and I quote, "Look at you, you're just playing to a stupid audience." That was the moment she lost everyone. But she had lost me a few moments earlier when she went off on single mothers and how children of single mothers are by and large failures. As a child of a single mother, I just about ran up to the stage and tackled her.

Bill Maher, on the other hand, was brilliant and hilarious as always. Yes, I'm biased and yes, I'm okay with that. To my chagrin, he wasn't able to talk much about religion, just as Ann Coulter wasn't allowed to talk much about gay marriage. The topics centered mostly around the Obama Administration, which was admittedly mature if a little disappointing.

All in all, a fantastic night. I never thought I'd be in the presence of Ann Coulter in my lifetime, and especially not alongside Bill Maher, so this'll be a story for the grandchildren.

And now comes the weekend, which will consist of cleaning, sleeping, hair cuts, working on my screenplay for class, and Magnolia at the Goodman. Should be a good last weekend in Chi before spring break hits on the 20th.

It's a joke nobody knows

My head is full. Sometimes I feel that if I think anymore, I'll explode. But then of course, I can't afford not to think. I've been thinking about politics, award season, theatre, recycling, religious abstention, my imminent return to Chicago on Sunday, and of course, the ever-childish feeling of being left out.

Last year, I went to school in Washington, D.C. before transferring to school in Chicago this year. Some of my closest friends are, predictably, still there. And thanks to the strange and addictive networking tool that is Facebook, I've been bombarded with endless tales of their Inauguration adventures. It's hard to be happy for them when you're standing just outside the circle. I'd like to stop being human, just for a moment, and be able to jump for joy with them, but I can't.

I've been thinking about the new administration and the faith I have in them. The game is on now. I've been thinking about the film industry and its annual tradition of shameless self-congratulation. It's amazing how I managed to get so wrapped up in it. I'm thinking about the integrity of the struggling theatre scene, the show I'll be seeing in New York this weekend, and the shows I'm planning to see in Chicago as soon as I return. And I've been thinking about how much I can't afford it, and how little I care. [Incidentally, I've also been thinking that more people need to come to Chicago because it's incredible. And there's my obligatory Chi-town plug.]

I go to a pretty eco-friendly school, but I've been thinking about ways I can enhance that. I hate being just one person. Then again, that's all it takes. I've been re-reading The God Delusion for the third time, and thinking about minorities and being one. I've been thinking about school, and whether I could be successful in my chosen field without it.

And most importantly, I've been thinking that LOST will finally be on in three hours, and I can escape for a little while. Oh, entertainment. How I rely on you so unreasonably.

Raising the level of debate

Inauguration is (technically) tomorrow. As if you weren't aware of this previously, did you know I do newsflashes too, courtesy of Captain Obvious?

Anyway, redirecting back on point, none of it feels real. We've been anticipating this day for eight years, most of us, and now that it's finally here it feels like some gag piece out of The Onion. Is this really happening to us? Are we really about to have a Democrat in office again? Is it really time for a black president? Finally? I can't bring myself to get excited, because it doesn't feel like something I'm living.

I'll be honest. I was a Hillary supporter. Sometimes, I feel like that's a feeling that doesn't really go away. Once a Hillary supporter, always a Hillary supporter. I didn't like Obama until Election Night, despite voting for him. And let me just mention - not being ostentatiously gung-ho about Obama in Chicago is like being a Democrat in Alabama. It just isn't done. But being at Grant Park that night, hearing that extraordinary speech, being among all that celebration, living it...it's hard not to be won over. The screaming in the streets that night - you wouldn't believe it unless you were there. I would call the whole thing a religious experience if I wasn't an atheist. But in its own way, it was.

Since that night, Obama has been all over my life. My apartment building is directly across the street from the Chicago Hilton, which is the venue from which Obama has given all of his speeches during this transition period. When he and Joe Biden announced Hillary at Secretary of State, they were all right across the street from me. Walking to class every morning, I would pass a long long of news truck boasting gigantic satellite dishes. It's impossible not to be swept up in Obamanation Fever when you're stalking his motorcade with your roommates, bonding with various Obama fans on the streets. After awhile, it consumes you, whether you like it or not.

That said, I still have my problems with Obama. He can talk the talk, but I need to see him walk the walk, which has always been my main concern with him as a candidate. But he's surrounded himself with a fantastic team, and that's the first step, so I have faith. And really, right now, faith is the best we can do, and most he can ask of us.

On Tuesday, millions of people will line up behind this man and ask him to lead us. Expect him to lead us. And, in a way, to save us. On Tuesday, the work begins.

And so, to borrow the words of the greatest leader we never had --

"Break's over."

Thanks, President Bartlet.