My Blankee, Barack Obama

I'm having a hard time sleeping this week. Maybe it's the ridiculous amount of projects I've said I'll do and maybe it's the queasy feeling I get when I think of having a president I actually like, or maybe it's that I'm overeating....

Let's get back to the president part. For my entire life I have been politically aware. My parents hosted fundraisers and even ran for office in Wisconsin. Those episodes alone should have scared me off. Instead, I became an independent. I voted for losers. Almost always.

Now, to have a president whom I supported and who actually seems to have a plan that I can get my head around. It's makes me uneasy. I'm uncomfortable in this place. I have no bearings. I'm like a child.

One thing that brings me comfort is my signed copy of Obama's "Dreams from My Father". Mark recently dug it up. My friend Jane had invited me to a Senate fundraiser for him, I think, and I got a signed book. Who knew one day it would become a valuable collectors item? To date it's worth $250 on ebay. But I'm not selling mine. I'm holding on to it like a blankee. My feeling is that anyone who could write candidly about his childhood, has come to grips with it and has moved on. He's baggage free and ready to rock this world.

And the few times we did meet, well, I have comfort in that too. Because I have never been in the room or at a rally with any other president in history. But I have seen live, spoken to, known many friends of, and seen transform like butterfly, Barack Obama. He's a known quantity, like my blankee.

OK, I think I can get some sleep now.

Citizen Kate Takes a BITE Out of the Political Sausage

Many say they love encased meats, but do they know why they love their meats? Kate goes to Hot Dougs to better understand what goes in to a political sausage.

Rahm Emanuel Light

We here in Chicago know how to get things done. We're "the city that works". And we work hard. But do we play well?

Rahm Emanuel, known as "Rahmbo" will be the next White House Chief of Staff under President Obama. He's got the "sharp elbows" of a street fighter. He actually said "Rahm is Israeli for screw you!" How will that work in the kindler, gentler White House of Barack Obama? I can tell you right now that what we're going to see is "Rahm Light. "

Rahm Light, maybe his credo will be forty lashes with a wet noodle. I don't think so, what I think will happen is Rahm will be the Yin to Obama's Yang. And I understand that Obama is very accepting of divergent opinions and sensibilities. He wants the best brains and the sharpest wit, and maybe he also needs the sharpest elbows.

Whatever the reason he chose my Congressman, he's going to get his money's worth. Rahm may be a Rahmbo, but he's our Rahmbo and we like it that way, because it works.

The People's Press Area - Obama's Election Party

Con Con Confusion

As you can clearly see Mark thought he was casting his vote for the Constitutional Convention or Con Con as it was known, but in fact he was mislead by the ballot. The actual place to vote was on the flip side below the 100 + judge races - as if anyone would really read that far - even Mark, a seasoned voter, had a hard time with that one.

An afterthought - Mark said he had considered writing me in. But he couldn't find the line.

Post Election Coma

OK, that was one of the most exhausting shoots of the entire campaign. We spent two days filming. This day started at about 3pm filming Kate voting, then Obama's big night. That was like 10 hours on our feet, schlepping our gear, followed by the extremely overwhelming emotional wave that followed Obama's win. Still can't believe it.

I will never forget the sound of the wave of relief and excitement from the crowd that night - like a roar. The feeling was not an election night hoorah, it was much more like new years eve of the new millennium. And a lot more important if you ask me.

With me in the photo are Chris Peppey, who has shot this entire Citizen Kate adventure and Dave Skwarczek, a pal from Second City who volunteered to film Citizen Kate.

Election Night

Proud to say I was there from the start to finish. Proud to be an American, proud to be a Chicagoan.