Everyone Is a Winner!
Nir Barkat won the mayor's seat in Jerusalem last night.  As a campaign staffer, I am thrilled on a personal, professional, citizen, and activist level.  I'm both floating with euphoria and dragging from the total exhaustion involved in the last days of a campaign. 

To Barkat's credit, he did not want to celebrate his victory until the election was officially called.  There was a reported turnout of 220,000 voters, representing more than 50% of the voting population.  Considering that the Arab population represents 1/3 of the city and they primarily boycotted the election as a statement of disenfranchisement, the turnout should represent 72% of eligible Jewish voters.  Since the ballots are only counted after the polls close at 10:00 pm, the election was called at 3:30 am.  If my Tuesday started out at 6:30 with early morning voting (I was the 7th voter in my precinct!), it ended at 5 am Wednesday after I got home from the official election party.  This was days after sleeping half-nights.

There is so much to say.  So, we'll make do with a preview as I have a day job that requires my attention, as well.  As Barkat said in his victory speech, "Tonight, Jerusalem won!"  Indeed, a Barkat victory makes everyone a winner, including those who supported rival candidates.  All J-m residents, all Israeli citizens who care about their capital, and all Jewish and Gentile tourists who care about the capital of Israel and the Jewish people benefit from the outcome of this election.

We all won!  Yeah!

(More sophisticated pontificating in upcoming entries.)