Hello, everyone -- Carter here.

I know it's been a while since I last chimed into the community, but life, work, and...well...life have gotten in the way of blogging. But I'm back -- the call by Pam and by upcoming events in Maine was just too strong. If you haven't been following the Maine marriage story, let me fill you in...

So apparently I'm only any good at blogging when there's an "event" that I can wrap my head around. And there's quite an event happening in DC today! If you hadn't heard, Bush left in a helicopter, chased out of DC by a good website (check out the new site if you haven't already) and ill-will from around the world.

Keep reading below the fold...

No words needed.

One of the most frustrating things about the No on Proposition 8 campaign was that it was a pretty top-down, disciplined campaign -- not a lot of room for the grassroots to articulate their own messages or to channel their own energy. Now that Prop 8 has passed (effectively banning already-legalized same-sex marriages), there have been a few responses.

This came across my inbox a few days ago, but I just got around to posting it:

Go get 'em, Keith!

A friend sent this to a listserv I'm on and I had to share with the wider world:

Cincinnati, OH:

Upon arriving at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati to vote early today I happened upon some friends of my mother's - three small, elderly Jewish women. They were quite upset as they were being refused admittance to the polling location due to their Obama T-Shirts, hats and buttons. Apparently you cannot wear Obama/McCain gear into polling locations here in Ohio .... They were practically on the verge of tears.

I talked with two men this morning who have been volunteering at the campaign offices for the past few days, doing all-important data entry. Here is some footage:

If that doesn't make you cry, you have a heart of steel.

Today has been a really emotional day -- as I've been walking around San Francisco, there's an unbelievable energy in the air. No on 8 volunteers have been stationed at intersections throughout the city, but there are also volunteers at polling places in every county. There are cars honking their support, people clapping for volunteers' efforts, and stickers being distributed left and right.

It's a special day, but the race is still really, really close. If you have friends in California, make sure they get to the polls!!!

I think, as most folks have already mentioned on the blogs and in the pundit's chair, that the story of this election cycle is first-time voters. There are millions of people across the country -- young people, racial/ethnic minorities, disabled or differently-abled folks, those who were formerly encarcerated, etc., etc. -- who have been inspired or empowered to vote for the first time.

For those who haven't looked at the youth vote (and you should be ashamed of yourself, since the able Sarah Burris is part of this blog community!), check out CIRCLE. They're going to be tracking the youth vote through exit polls all day today and throughout the night -- they should have results up first thing in the morning tomorrow. It's going to be an exciting day today, but hopefully the story tomorrow morning will be a record turnout for young voters inspired by Barack Obama -- that will signal not just a seachange for the next four years, but a seachange in the way we do politics.

According to a local Toledo, Ohio news station, the police chief has asked officers to carry riot gear with them to polling locations today. Seriously. There has been no indication of riots, no threat of riots, no hint of riots. Yet police officers are going to be patrolling polling places in riot gear.

I hope that subsequent reports are more hopeful than this one.

Nancy Pelosi was in the No On 8 office today, lending her voice to the chorus of folks denouncing writing discrimination into a state constitution. She was joined by Phyllis Lyon, who recently lost her wife and partner of decades, Del Martin. The video is shaky and the audio is horrible -- for some reason, the Speaker wasn't mic'ed up. The video is below the fold...