Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Good news . . . or Great news?

First, the good news. I passed the Michigan Bar. It helps that I can keep my job and pay the bills. It was an uncertain outcome because I did not leave a lot of time to study for the bar -- only about 10 days. Plus, I hadn't been in school for several years, and let's face it, even while in school I wasn't that studious. So all things considered, this is quite the blessing.

Also, if you'll recall, I passed my first bar in 2005 and told recipients of the then-titled Ellis Family Newsletter (or EFN) that I had passed in a November 20, 2005 communique. In that very same newsletter, Kristin touted my support for one Barrack Obama. Yes, that's right, before there was a bandwagon, there was me. Here's an excerpt:

"Abram had previously asked Kristin for only one christmas present - the domain name, www.mormonsforobama.com. With their encouragement, Abram is already strategizing how to get in touch with fellow Obamamites."

Over the following few months, my adoration of Obama continued and finally, for the first time in my life, it looks like (and I really shouldn't post this out of fear of jinxing the outcome) I will have supported the eventual winner of the presidential election. That's right, I (like Ben Affleck, if you watched SNL) have always supported the losing candidate. Here's how it went:

1992 -- I supported Bush 41. I know, it's unexplainable really, except that I can only applaud the brainwashing efforts of my parents (kidding) and the pulpit (kind of kidding). I also liked Ross Perot, but that didn't really help either.
1996 -- I was on a mission and was really just mourning the death of former French president Francois Mitterrand.
2000 -- supported Gore as I finally embraced my Blueishness
2004 -- half-heartedly supported Kerry

We will see what happens tonight, but I am very excited about the prospects.

15 comments:

xóchitl said...

wow. bush 41. i don't know what to say except that it takes a big, big man to come out like that.

the title of this post hearkens to the question Stephen Colbert used to ask his guests: "George W. Bush...great president? or the greatest president?"

and congrats on passing the bar. who needs time to study when you're brilliant? that's what i always told myself, but i didn't exactly have your happy ending.

Arah Debra said...

Congratulations Abram!! I'm sure those people who spend months studying for the Bar will really appreciate your story. Smarty pants!

John and Ryan said...

Congrats Abram! I never doubted you for a moment and I am also apart of the Losing club (Gore, Kerry) but tonight is our night.

I love Mormons for Obama!

Delsa said...

I just love you Abram, and I'm happy you can continue to feed your family. I mean, they do like to eat good food.

Unknown said...

Congrats Abram - never a doubt!

Nervous and excited tonight watching the results...

Janie said...

First of all, let me wash out my mouth--I think I just threw up a little bit after reading that.

Now, I hope we can still be friends after you read this. I have to say that I do not support Osama or Obama bin Laden, errrrrrr Barack Obama. Mostly because I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone with a job would support his plans for the economy. I mean, I'd love to hire the guy as a motivational speaker/activities organizer for my kids and their schools, but I don't think he'll be a good president.


If this helps, remember the words of Winston Churchill, which paraphrased read, "Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not a heart and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains."

Since you passed law's hardest test with only 10 days of studying, you obviously have brains, so maybe there is some hope for you.

Not to get into politics, but you did bring it up...

EFN Newsletter said...

Janie,
So can we assume that you admit to having no heart? :)

Janie said...

We should never assume things, you know what they say about that.
I am suprised that you would take me for someone in her 20's. When I think of my strong yearning for a vial of Botox every time I look in the mirror. I do also, and you are quite aware of this, have a child who is 13 years old!

Apparently some other people out there tend to agree with you about Obama. I hope I am wrong and he is a great leader/president for our great country. I love the freedom we have say whatever we want and vote however we want. God bless America!

Congrats to you for calling it so far in advance! And, Congrats to Obama!

Val said...

Abram....I love and respect you dearly...and I have to say for that for a while in the beginning I was on the Obama bandwagon...but after hearing all of his plans for our country I had to change my mind. Now, I hate politics, and I don't usually care who is running what, but right now I want to just jump off a cliff. The only thing that comes into my mind right now is "Holy Sh--" over and over again. Tyler and I (and our business) are totally screwed under Obama's economic plans.....so.....it was nice knowing you... We will be moving soon to a van down by the river so maybe if you visit utah someday you can bring your fishing pole and your legal advice for a visit. By the way, congrats on passing the bar. You are a genius.

Justin and Silvia said...

Abram don't listen to any negative comments about Obama. They are people who voted for W. Bush the second time around even after he had already trashed our country his first four years of being President. You would like living in Santa Cruz where most Mormons are Blue.

Justin

DTR said...

Congratulations, Abram, and welcome to a great brotherhood that has included such luminaries as Gerald R. Ford (P13563), Geoffrey Fieger (P30441), Kwame Kilpatrick (P60494) and yours truly (P68886).

I, too, am thrilled with Obama's win. Janie said "I hope I am wrong and he is a great leader/president for our great country." All I can say is, she's starting to get the picture. "Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope!"

Elizabeth said...

Politics shmolotics, we're just glad you passed the bar (with flying colors, not surprised...) and that you are staying here in Michigan! Hallelujah. More sleep overs for the kids and good nights doing nothing but talking and watching sports. Hooray!

Jill said...

When we had family in town a couple of weeks ago, Colter made sure no politics were brought up with the fam. We almost made it, but it came out Sunday night. It was only heated for a few minutes, but I think I scared my mom into thinking I had gone off the deep end! Hooray for Obama! Hooray for passing the bar!

An said...

I'm just so happy Obama won I can hardly believe it is true. It just makes me smile and smile and smile. And I love you, Janie! You know I do!

Brooke said...

I'm going to add your new domain name as a post to my new blog www.thepinkpundit.blogspot.com - hope you don't mind. Mormons for Obama doesn't really match my theme, however I think it's very clever!:) Hope you guys are well!