Why I Choose Not To Be Cynical About This Year's Election

While there is a great amount of hurt and pain experienced by so many this evening, I choose not to go to bed cynical.

I know it is crushing for all those who supported Hillary Clinton to face the reality she will not be the 45th President of the United States, but I hope you take the following into consideration:

Tonight a major political party had a woman at the top of the ticket who garnered more than 60 million votes (and, when it's all said and done, may very likely win the popular vote).

Political Commentaryraf esparzaNovember 9, 2016Hilly Clinton, PoliticsComment

THROWBACK: That Time Donald Trump (And I) Started A Dance Craze

"My good friend Jim Manning turned Trump's jibberish into remix gold. Although the remix always felt like it was missing something. Sure, Trump was stringing together some sounds to try and make what he thought was a cohesive argument, but this political moment and remix required more."

Political Commentary, Early Late Nightraf esparzaSeptember 4, 2016Donald Trump, 2016 ElectionComment

That Time We Predicted The State Of The 2016 Election (Back In 2012)

The last thing that anyone wants to talk about after a heated presidential election cycle is talk about politics -- which is exactly why just days after the 2012 election, we made a number of unsuspecting volunteers in Burbank talk about politics. Specifically, what would happen in the 2016 presidential election.

What's strange was the oddly profound and clairvoyant nature of it all given today's strange and bizarre election season.

Political Commentary, Early Late Nightraf esparzaAugust 13, 2016Jeff MacKinnon, 2016election, ComedyComment

Observations From The 2016 DNC

You really get the impression that Tim Kaine thinks he's on a jumbotron at an NBA game every time he gets mentioned.

Cracks In The Glass Ceiling

Yeah, maybe that literal glass ceiling moment might have been a little over-the-top or cheesy, but given the years of misogynist and sexist jokes that have come at the expense of Secretary Clinton and the many female politicians that have come before her, we can give the excessive CGI a bit of a pass.

Yeah, it might make a few of the same guys who were mad that a bunch of female Ghostbusters ruined their childhood, but fuck 'em. The internet has already given their backwards cynicism too much of a voice anyway.

Political Commentary, Essaysraf esparzaJuly 27, 2016Politics, Hillary Clinton, 2016 ElectionComment

The Perfect Speech: An Appreciation of Michelle Obama's DNC Address

In the years since my time in forensics, I have loosened up on my criteria for perfect delivery. I distinctly remember my good friend Shannon Maney-Mugnuson one time yelling out in a speech room "VOCAL STUMBLES ARE FUCKING NORMAL, WE'RE NOT ROBOTS!"

Essays, Political Commentaryraf esparzaJuly 26, 2016Speech, Michelle Obama, 2016 Election, Hillary Clinton, Donald TrumpComment