Day of the Donkey!

I wouldn't describe myself as "delirously happy" today but I'm guardedly optimistic and hyper-aware that it could all change again in 2 years. And now it's time for some donkey trivia!

The Donkey: Presidential candidate Andrew Jackson was the first Democrat ever to be associated with the donkey symbol. His opponents during the election of 1828 tried to label him a "jackass" for his populist beliefs and slogan, "Let the people rule." Jackson was entertained by the notion and ended up using it to his advantage on his campaign posters.

But cartoonist Thomas Nast is credited with making the donkey the recognized symbol of the Democratic Party. It first appeared in a cartoon in Harper's Weekly in 1870, and was supposed to represent an anti-Civil War faction. But the public was immediately taken by it and by 1880 it had already become the unofficial symbol of the party.

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And one more thing: Please Rick Santorum, go away and stay away. You make me physically ill!