BARAK OBAMA IS NOW PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA

[12voltman59]

As i write this--BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA just clinched the Electoral College--he is now--not officially--but will soon be--

PRESIDENT ELECT BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!!!!

[tinman714]

AWESOME!! Lets hope for better days for all!!

[bigirl_inwv]

YES!!!:bigrin::bigrin::bigrin::bigrin:

[tinman714]

ABC News is reporting McCain has made the call to Obama to congratulate him!!


Let's remember 2000!?!?!

[cutenewlybi]

YES!!!! Lets hope for change!~!~!

[azirish]

"Buyer Beware" is all I have to say...again.

[HighEnergy]

Our face to the world has changed incredibly tonight.

He has a lot of class, amazing intelligence, and is so elequent.

I am very proud of America tonight.

[vittoria]

Say It Loud!---James Brown


Damn I wish my brother was alive for this!! :)
RIP Shawn Steinmetz (April 1975-July 2008)

[lsd51]

HOORAY!!!!!

[lsd51]

GODDAMNIT, HOORAY!!!!

[Bluebiyou]

I'd feel better if Barak was Republican scum as opposed to Democrat scum...
(My meaning being the two parties are scum)
But maybe he'll socialize energy (like FDR and the Hoover Dam... TVA... etc). To make an aggressive move to renewable energy, only a Democrat could do that. A Republican would give tax breaks to private companies to gain relative monopolies.
There's always hope.
Sure, three cheers to Obama!

[nothings5d]

As far as I'm concerned, it was over when he won Ohio. It's been a long ass time since a Republican won without taking Ohio.

On a related note I was just wondering something and did the math, assuming that ~72% of the population is eligible to vote and that ~56% of those eligible actually do vote. If a candidate were to win California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina and New Jersey by 1 vote each he would have won the election with 34,761,864 votes being roughly 29% of the popular vote. Isn't our electoral college great.:rolleyes:

[elmwood7]

Our electoral college system sucks.What's wrong with an outright vote? And I bet there aren't more than 5% of the population that even know what it is, how it is determined or how it works. For all you McCain supporters you fought a good fight. For all our military men and women may god bless you and protect you. To our Marines and other branches too...SEMPER FI..from a Vietnam Vet. And to all you obama supporters... Just remember in a year or two or four...This is what You wanted.....

[Toad82]

Our electoral college system sucks.What's wrong with an outright vote? And I bet there aren't more than 5% of the population that even know what it is, how it is determined or how it works. For all you McCain supporters you fought a good fight. For all our military men and women may god bless you and protect you. To our Marines and other branches too...SEMPER FI..from a Vietnam Vet. And to all you obama supporters... Just remember in a year or two or four...This is what You wanted.....

I thought Halloween was over?

[hydropop]

Our electoral college system sucks.What's wrong with an outright vote? And I bet there aren't more than 5% of the population that even know what it is, how it is determined or how it works. For all you McCain supporters you fought a good fight. For all our military men and women may god bless you and protect you. To our Marines and other branches too...SEMPER FI..from a Vietnam Vet. And to all you obama supporters... Just remember in a year or two or four...This is what You wanted.....

Yes I agree, be careful for what you wish for. Now we have a socialist country on the rise . At leaset we'll have our tax's raised, and big goverment.

[HighEnergy]

Yes I agree, be careful for what you wish for. Now we have a socialist country on the rise . At leaset we'll have our tax's raised, and big goverment.

Oh, I'm sorry if you make over $122k/year and you have to pay more taxes. The rest of the 95% of us who do not, will get a bigger tax cut with Obama than we would have with McSame. Check the actual comparison charts, not just listen to pundits.

Also, your republican child Bush increased government more than Clinton ever could.

Historically the economy does better under democratic rule.

It will be a hard fight to recover from what Bush has done, and I hope he can accomplish at least half of what he promises given where the country is now.

My only fear is that Bush having passed his executive order that the president cannot be removed from office if we are at war.

[lsd51]

And HOORAY again!!!!

[csrakate]

With the election barely over for 24 hours, I am dismayed by the naysayers who want to predict doom before someone even takes office. It's one thing to criticize a President who has been in office and has been at the helm as we've watched our country spiral out of control, but to see so many negative comments this early in the game just smacks of the cries of a child who didn't get his way and is wanting to take his ball and go home. Obama didn't win because of his race any more than McCain lost because of his ill-tempered demeanor. It was a mandate of the people who are calling for a change. Change is never easy and it never comes about without a few bumps along the road, but whatever road it may be, it is a far better road than the one we are on right now.

[darkeyes]

Yes I agree, be careful for what you wish for. Now we have a socialist country on the rise . At leaset we'll have our tax's raised, and big goverment.

..an yet anotha ho hum... me wishes...:)

...ya knos not of wotya speak hun... Obama is no more a socialist than Angela Merkel in Germany, Nikki Sarkozy in France or Tony Blair wos ere... so stop the scaremongrin an do sum educatin yasel bout wot socialism is... not wot yas told it is...

.. if Obama brings bout a more compassionate America an helps make it more responsive 2 the otha peoples a the world..'e wil hav dun a pretty fair job... so stik that in ya pipe an smoke it...:tong:

[Sarasvati]

[QUOTE=darkeyes;114798
.. if Obama brings bout a more compassionate America an helps make it more responsive 2 the otha peoples a the world..'e wil hav dun a pretty fair job... so stik that in ya pipe an smoke it...:tong:[/QUOTE]

And if he does do just that he won't have done it as a socialist.
Compassion and socialism are very unhappy bedfellows. A bit like yourself sharing a bed with a man.

Perhaps you could reread Animal Farm - George Orwell understood socialism.

[darkeyes]

And if he does do just that he won't have done it as a socialist.
Compassion and socialism are very unhappy bedfellows. A bit like yourself sharing a bed with a man.

Perhaps you could reread Animal Farm - George Orwell understood socialism.

..within the limitations that 'e sets imsel yea..he will S.. don agree wiv ya 2cd sentence.. but we all hav our own pointa view..the 3rd spot on tho..tee hee:bigrin:

..o yea..an Animal Farm... Orwell undastood Stalinism... not quite the same thing at all..

[lsd51]

Three more cheers for Socialism!!!

[lsd51]

BTW, I read "Animal Farm" a few times. I also read "the Road to Wigan Pier".

[Cherokee_Mountaincat]

Well, ya'll know my views of him. But..if he Does affect a change for the better, then so be it. We shall see.
Now lets get off of polly ticks and get back to the business of some good naughty fun! lol
Yer Cat:bigrin:

[catcir1]

.. if Obama brings bout a more compassionate America an helps make it more responsive 2 the otha peoples a the world..'e wil hav dun a pretty fair job... so stik that in ya pipe an smoke it...:tong:

Dang it, Dark Eyes...you know I have come to love you in our short, albeit tumultuous relationship, but here you go provoking me to clear up the facts again. Your view of America as dispassionate and uncaring to the peoples of the world is quite drastically opposed to the facts. I, as an American, believe we have a moral imperative to help those in the world less fortunate than ourselves. We do just that by providing vast sums of humanitarian assistance across the globe.
I'm not sure that even our citizens realize the good that we do. It's all about Iraq and the BIG BAD US these days. In the post-war era, the US has given to the world over 1.6 TRILLION dollars in non-military aid. This money is used to buy food, fight AIDS, support the Peace Corps, teach new farming techniques, support USAID, improve child health and on and on.
I would invite you to look at http://qesdb.usaid.gov/gbk/index.html This is an accounting of the tens of billions in non-military aid that the US sends around the globe each year. You can click on any program to see how far around the world the US reaches, country by country, to help those in need.
Is there some politics attached to this money? In many cases, of course, but in the final calculation, we do more than any nation on earth to help those that need it.
Regardless of your opinion of George Bush, he has poured money into Africa to help combat AIDS and educate the populace. The USA is always the first to arrive with food and aid whenever there is a humanitarian disaster, like the tsunami that swept over Indonesia (wow...a Christian nation helping out the bad 'ol Muslims...imagine that!)
Soooo, my dear Darkeyes, I hope that you will at least grant us the fact that we, all Americans, view the good we do with our wealth around the world with pride. You may not always like our policies, but the world would be a much colder, poorer and less sanguine place to live without the United States of America.

Love ya...mean it

[darkeyes]

awww me lil Cattie... soz ifya misundastnad wot me sayin bout 'merican compassion... do not an hav neva denied that the US spend huge sums an provides massive amountsa aid 2 poorer nations... they hav an do much gud in the world..even unda Bush..as much despite 'im as because of 'im... wos not talkin bout that..wos talkin bout the sumtimes nasty impression, often justified, that the US has given that aid mus cum wiv strings..an that ya dus wotyas told then ya mite jus get helped out..also its less than compassionate attitude 2ward political systems an ideologies wich may not match its ideal.. an its oft 1 sided dealins wiv Israel an the Arab world... its tendency 2 bully those wiv wich it disagrees.. its not only an American thing...me own country an othas hav dun it an all... me own country wen it wos top dog.. power breeds arrogance..an its me hope that Obama leads the US inta a less arrogant an more compassionate an even handed foreign policy... time will tell..

... Cattie babes... Don misundastand me please... wenya gets 2 kno me thot processes a lil betta ya mite neva agree..but wot ya will find out me hopes is that at no time hav I eva slagged off the 'merican peeps per se.. they r in the main kind generous an decent..hav a few 'merican m8s livin ere an hav known quite a few ova me life... an kno that 2 b the case... me criticisms r always aimed at govt..not the nation..not the peeps.. cept in odd instances wen individuals or groups a individuals such as the evangelical rite or corporation bosses or politicians deserve it..in MY opinion.. if me slags off the US Germany Russia or me own country...its not its citizens me slags off..but its rulers...

[hudson9]

"Gaza -- From far away, this is how it looks: There is a country out there where tens of millions of white Christians, voting freely, select as their leader a black man of modest origin, the son of a Muslim. There is a place on Earth -- call it America -- where such a thing happens."

Ethan Bronner, writing in the New York Times, 11/5/08


Yes, there is hope. Yes, I am a progressive. Yes, I love and am proud of my country.
Jack


"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
-- Mahatma Gandhi

[Sarasvati]

Dang it, Dark Eyes...you know I have come to love you in our short, albeit tumultuous relationship, but here you go provoking me to clear up the facts again. Your view of America as dispassionate and uncaring to the peoples of the world is quite drastically opposed to the facts. I, as an American, believe we have a moral imperative to help those in the world less fortunate than ourselves. We do just that by providing vast sums of humanitarian assistance across the globe.
I'm not sure that even our citizens realize the good that we do. It's all about Iraq and the BIG BAD US these days. In the post-war era, the US has given to the world over 1.6 TRILLION dollars in non-military aid. This money is used to buy food, fight AIDS, support the Peace Corps, teach new farming techniques, support USAID, improve child health and on and on.
I would invite you to look at http://qesdb.usaid.gov/gbk/index.html This is an accounting of the tens of billions in non-military aid that the US sends around the globe each year. You can click on any program to see how far around the world the US reaches, country by country, to help those in need.
Is there some politics attached to this money? In many cases, of course, but in the final calculation, we do more than any nation on earth to help those that need it.
Regardless of your opinion of George Bush, he has poured money into Africa to help combat AIDS and educate the populace. The USA is always the first to arrive with food and aid whenever there is a humanitarian disaster, like the tsunami that swept over Indonesia (wow...a Christian nation helping out the bad 'ol Muslims...imagine that!)
Soooo, my dear Darkeyes, I hope that you will at least grant us the fact that we, all Americans, view the good we do with our wealth around the world with pride. You may not always like our policies, but the world would be a much colder, poorer and less sanguine place to live without the United States of America.

I very strongly agree with these words.

[catcir1]

I very strongly agree with these words.

Thanks, Saras...

[darkeyes]

I very strongly agree with these words.

..wud b dead disappointed ifya took ne otha view S me luff.... ;)

[catcir1]

awww me lil Cattie... soz ifya misundastnad wot me sayin bout 'merican compassion...

Awww...see? All is well in the world yet again. We just have to sit down and talk, without precondition, you see.
Hey, did I tell you that many people say I look a lot like Johnny Depp?? :D

Easy Dark...it's just a joke.

Besos a ti mi amiga lesbianita!

[shameless agitator]

This is obviously a huge, historic victory for the U.S. and through it the world.:bigrin: Now what we have to watch out for is complacency. Most americans, if they get involved in politics at all, only do so at election time. Most seem to feel that if they vote, they've done their job & can take the next 2 or 4 years off. Yes, we've elected a new president and increased democratic majorities in congress, but that's just the beginning. Now that we've put people into positions of power who promise to move the country in the direction we want we have to hold them accountable. We all know campaign promises are much easier to make than to keep, so we have to keep pressure on our elected officials. They have to know we will hold them to their promises & we must all stay involved in the process. To quote Senator Burkes "All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing"

YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!

[izzfan]

Although I'm not American, I was still very glad to hear that Obama won. He seems like a very intelligent and good leader
and a refreshing change from the previous president

[_Joe_]

I for one am afraid what this means for my taxes. My 52 year old family business. My country as a whole as it slowly moves towards socialism....for those that say it isn't don't forget 750 billion of our tax money already went to the banks, and car industry. "Loan" my ass ><

And I was afraid for this even if McCain was elected.

[Sarasvati]

I'd like to welcome the victory of President Elect Obama.
Personally I applaud everything he said in his victory speech (I also thought McCain spoke with great honour).

Obama is clearly an outstanding individual who has not become President because he is an African American but because he, in himself, is a gifted man. I think this is important to stress - Obama is a unique talent and that is why he has overcome the barriers that defeated others. He doesn't reflect a particular group or class - he is to some extent something of an outsider, someone who has long watched American society from afar. And thus he has been able to tap into its subconscious.

But because he is an African American this is a day of rejoicement for America and for the world. The hope must be that racial barriers will eventually slip away as reasons why many people find their hopes and aspirations thwarted.

I do nevertheless have major fears that I wish to express.

In particular I am very concerned with the huge level of expectation that is being heaped on his shoulders.

Obama faces awesome challenges in terms of economics, war, the environment etc. But governance is about making decisions. Once you make a decision you will please some people - and upset others! And just which people are going to end up despondant and disillusioned in the "upset" club. There will be a proportion of people who do go there. We'll have to wait and see.

And Obama can not avoid making tough decisions that may involve such things as taking his country to war if need be. Alice Walker said "war is for the weak" but if he is not strong on the international stage he will weaken America's standing. And that is potentially disastrous.

The typical nature of states is totalitarian, anti democratic and despotic. That is what Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia are today for example. Most of Europe was like that until very recently.

The greatness of the USA is that it has, in its imperfect way, aspired to create something better and defied the limitations that bind down other cultures. It is thus a beacon of hope across the world.

Already the Russians have made threats with their short range missiles. Will Obama act meekly and cower? Whatever, he must decide how he will respond - he can not avoid the question.

Furthermore in addition to Iraq and Afghanistan he must also decide how to deal with Israel/Palastine, China, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Darfur, Zimbabwe, Congo, etc., etc.

Every choice is fraught with difficulties. And once again Obama will not be able to shirk the decisions. He must answer them. He can not draw up the bridge and lock out the rest of the world. The folly of that policy has already been demonstrated.

And every time Obama makes such decisions there will be controversies and some people will be upset.

America has not elected Jesus Christ but the expectations being heaped on him make it sound like he is some kind of Messiah.

Great statesmen do appear in history, people who for a brief epoch do make CHANGE for the betterment of their peoples. I believe President Obama can become one of them.

On the other hand I fear disappointment resulting from unfairly high expectations resulting in such phrases as "he is an Uncle Tom and a traitor to his people".

I hope people will judge him on his performance as a President and not on his performance as an African American. If he falls short I hope people will treat him kindly.

The man's heart is in the right place but please do not demand of him the Second Coming. He is just the latest man of courage to take to the crease in defence of liberty and human progression.

I pray that Obama is a wonderful success as President and believe that that is just what he will be!

[jandj2play]

Finally!
after eight years of a ( note: cross out " fucking retart") GUY that cannot speak, express a clear thought, pay attention to what is going on around him,
( in the country whose flag he wrapped around himself while he was misleading all the Republican sheep..) Never was successful at any endeavor, I'm not sure was even elected in the first place. and while the rest of the country is struggling for gas money to get to work.... he is marrying off his Daughter on the Bush families, get this, PRIVATE ISLAND.. The guy owns a fucking Island. I think John McCain would have been SO much better than "W"
McCain truly is a great American and patriot... George W is apparently a rich asshole, and a complete failure.. worst president money can buy.
Unfortunately, McCain had to follow him.
Having said that , I think that Barak Obama is articulate, educated, and aware of what the country is faced with, I think he was the only choice a
citizen, that is not a millionaire, could make. God bless him and our nation.
Who knows maybe I'll even run the stars and stripes back up on my flagpole for the first time in about 8 years. maybe even put my eagle, globe and anchor up too.

[FalconAngel]

Did anyone notice that, with few exceptions, the states with the lowest rated school systems voted for McCain or were red states to begin with? It was a close race in Florida. But we overcame the low level of educational standards (47th in the nation) and got the majority of votes for Obama.

I'm just hoping that he is the better of the choices. I know that McCain wasn't.

[shameless agitator]

I do nevertheless have major fears that I wish to express.

In particular I am very concerned with the huge level of expectation that is being heaped on his shoulders.

Obama faces awesome challenges in terms of economics, war, the environment etc. But governance is about making decisions. Once you make a decision you will please some people - and upset others! And just which people are going to end up despondant and disillusioned in the "upset" club. There will be a proportion of people who do go there. We'll have to wait and see.

And Obama can not avoid making tough decisions that may involve such things as taking his country to war if need be. Alice Walker said "war is for the weak" but if he is not strong on the international stage he will weaken America's standing. And that is potentially disastrous.

The typical nature of states is totalitarian, anti democratic and despotic. That is what Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia are today for example. Most of Europe was like that until very recently.

The greatness of the USA is that it has, in its imperfect way, aspired to create something better and defied the limitations that bind down other cultures. It is thus a beacon of hope across the world.

Already the Russians have made threats with their short range missiles. Will Obama act meekly and cower? Whatever, he must decide how he will respond - he can not avoid the question.

Furthermore in addition to Iraq and Afghanistan he must also decide how to deal with Israel/Palastine, China, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Darfur, Zimbabwe, Congo, etc., etc.

Every choice is fraught with difficulties. And once again Obama will not be able to shirk the decisions. He must answer them. He can not draw up the bridge and lock out the rest of the world. The folly of that policy has already been demonstrated.

And every time Obama makes such decisions there will be controversies and some people will be upset.

America has not elected Jesus Christ but the expectations being heaped on him make it sound like he is some kind of Messiah.

Great statesmen do appear in history, people who for a brief epoch do make CHANGE for the betterment of their peoples. I believe President Obama can become one of them.

On the other hand I fear disappointment resulting from unfairly high expectations resulting in such phrases as "he is an Uncle Tom and a traitor to his people".

I hope people will judge him on his performance as a President and not on his performance as an African American. If he falls short I hope people will treat him kindly.

The man's heart is in the right place but please do not demand of him the Second Coming. He is just the latest man of courage to take to the crease in defence of liberty and human progression.

I pray that Obama is a wonderful success as President and believe that that is just what he will be!Very well put. I've been worrying about the same thing for a while now. For a lot of his supporters who haven't been jaded by politics yet, Obama seems to be Dr King, Mahatma Ghandi, JFK & Jesus Christ all rolled into one. It does make me wonder if he'll lose a lot of that support the first time he compromises on something.

[tinman714]

The electoral college keeps us from having California and New York from being the only two states that matter. It keeps states like New Jersey which is 90% urban from making decisions about what is best for farmers and ranchers.

A straight vote ensures that the cities and heavily populace places get to rule over anyone not in the cities. Our founding fathers wanted to avoid setting up a caste system, and they were wise in their method of solving the issue.


Not that it really matters, especially in this particular debate. But NJ is no where near 90% urban. Not even close. I know we tend to be the butt of jokes about the infamous Turnpike and chemical companies along side the pike. But, there is alot of farming and forest land in NJ. No need to visit, just look at a map someday. If i get a chance before I call it a night maybe I'll research the actual percentage, but 90% comes across as an insult.

Tony

[FerociousFeline]

Our electoral college system sucks.What's wrong with an outright vote? And I bet there aren't more than 5% of the population that even know what it is, how it is determined or how it works. For all you McCain supporters you fought a good fight. For all our military men and women may god bless you and protect you. To our Marines and other branches too...SEMPER FI..from a Vietnam Vet. And to all you obama supporters... Just remember in a year or two or four...This is what You wanted.....

Yeah, I am torn by this election. I knew from the beginning that those old men who meet in secret in the dark backlit room where they determine the future of this country had decided that the best way to continue their scheme for world domination was to allow the American masses to believe that they had some self determinate power. So, it really came as no surprise that the public played right into their scheme.

On the other hand, I think it's extremely important to the African American people to see some genuine evidence of a change that has long since occurred in our country. Those who continued to perpetuate the myth of their own downtrodden existence (with the exception of those who actually ARE being stuck in a pocket of cro-magnum thought) really did need this, and so my heart goes out to them and their tribe for having realized important dreams.

Having acknowledged that, Years and years of study in body language, non-verbal communication cues and speech pattern inflections accompanied by word choice, have also led me to believe that McCain is an honest man. Completely in Integrity. The man has ten TIMES the CLASS that Obama has. This comes from his Military background. Military social etiquette is of the HIGHEST caliber, and it shows. John McCain had nothing in common with the Bush Administration, as all those from his home state of Az already know. He has conviction to really assist ALL Americans. Equally. Too bad we have lost the opportunity to have this man fight for us.

I don't get the same read from Obama. Maybe it was the way the media covered the entire event with statements like "Obama, from humble beginnings..." (Excuse me? Banker Baroness's kid on Paradise Island!? If that is what they call "humble beginnings"......what does that make me?)

Then there is the controversy about whether or not this man is even American...(and we are not made to feel any better about the situation when his birth records show up with the stamp of a piece of software on it designed to polish productions, or the fact that his own relative had been politely asked to leave the country, who in fact, didn't. Who is in fact, an illegal alien.

I find it also somewhat ironic that the map of the electoral college shows all the blue states being the same states on the previous weeks newscast as being the states which were officially in "recession". This while the Red states on the electoral college map show on the previous newscasts week as the states NOT currently in recession.

As a Texan, I cannot but feel a little funny about the blue states who approve of a economic plan which will slash both the motivation and the resources for private business to continue. These people in these blue states are in large number already showing up on our doorstep looking for work. What does that tell you?

I can't help but shudder in response to the mentality that was widely replayed over public radio regarding the woman who stated "now I don't have to worry about putting gas in my car, or paying my mortgage..." I guess now that Obama is going to be president, NOBODY has to work.
Or worse, the group of angry African-American men who want to somehow believe that this occurrence was due to their own efforts and not due in larger part by the participation of the same race that they claim to be pushed down by.

I know that all of these attitudes and opinions are varied and are personal reactions to the changing of the times...the changing of the guard, but
something just really doesn't feel good about this, and I am not yet quite sure what it is.

We have a real opportunity here as a country. We have the opportunity for a FRESH START. If the new president is half of what he says he is about, we may actually have the opportunity across all socio-economic backgrounds to find commonality in our intention and in our relations to one another. But this will not happen if political infighting, tribalism, and other such lowbrow activity is allowed to occur. Those who stand directly in the way of a positive future are those who would seek to humiliate, dictate to, or otherwise divide those who voted against Obama from being included in this new hope for a new start. Equally, all parties MUST immediately stop with ALL past recriminations and begin Jan 20 with a NEW start. Anyone looking or acting from the past will destroy this opportunity before it ever gets off the ground.

Here is hoping for a brighter future for all of us.
Here is hoping that the extremes as displayed between the warring Dem and Rep parties can be homogenized into a more acceptable middle ground.

Here is hoping that we can all manage to make a better, more hopeful, more LOVING place for us all to call home.

^..^~

[jem_is_bi]

Oh, I'm sorry if you make over $122k/year and you have to pay more taxes. The rest of the 95% of us who do not, will get a bigger tax cut with Obama than we would have with McSame. Check the actual comparison charts, not just listen to pundits.

Also, your republican child Bush increased government more than Clinton ever could.

Historically the economy does better under democratic rule.

It will be a hard fight to recover from what Bush has done, and I hope he can accomplish at least half of what he promises given where the country is now.

My only fear is that Bush having passed his executive order that the president cannot be removed from office if we are at war.

I do not want a tax cut.
I do not want government to do everything.
But:
I do want government to set resonable and necessary rules for social and economic conduct.
I do what the government to inforce those rules.
I do expect government to ensure social and economic justice for all.
My expectations cost money.
So, I do not want a tax cut.
If they screw up vote for change.
We just did that!!!!

[jem_is_bi]

Did anyone notice that, with few exceptions, the states with the lowest rated school systems voted for McCain or were red states to begin with? It was a close race in Florida. But we overcame the low level of educational standards (47th in the nation) and got the majority of votes for Obama.

I'm just hoping that he is the better of the choices. I know that McCain wasn't.

Ouch! That makes me sad!
Education is so important!
That needs to be changed, even if they continue to vote opposite to me.

[hydropop]

Yeah, I am torn by this election. I knew from the beginning that those old men who meet in secret in the dark backlit room where they determine the future of this country had decided that the best way to continue their scheme for world domination was to allow the American masses to believe that they had some self determinate power. So, it really came as no surprise that the public played right into their scheme.

On the other hand, I think it's extremely important to the African American people to see some genuine evidence of a change that has long since occurred in our country. Those who continued to perpetuate the myth of their own downtrodden existence (with the exception of those who actually ARE being stuck in a pocket of cro-magnum thought) really did need this, and so my heart goes out to them and their tribe for having realized important dreams.

Having acknowledged that, Years and years of study in body language, non-verbal communication cues and speech pattern inflections accompanied by word choice, have also led me to believe that McCain is an honest man. Completely in Integrity. The man has ten TIMES the CLASS that Obama has. This comes from his Military background. Military social etiquette is of the HIGHEST caliber, and it shows. John McCain had nothing in common with the Bush Administration, as all those from his home state of Az already know. He has conviction to really assist ALL Americans. Equally. Too bad we have lost the opportunity to have this man fight for us.

I don't get the same read from Obama. Maybe it was the way the media covered the entire event with statements like "Obama, from humble beginnings..." (Excuse me? Banker Baroness's kid on Paradise Island!? If that is what they call "humble beginnings"......what does that make me?)

Then there is the controversy about whether or not this man is even American...(and we are not made to feel any better about the situation when his birth records show up with the stamp of a piece of software on it designed to polish productions, or the fact that his own relative had been politely asked to leave the country, who in fact, didn't. Who is in fact, an illegal alien.

I find it also somewhat ironic that the map of the electoral college shows all the blue states being the same states on the previous weeks newscast as being the states which were officially in "recession". This while the Red states on the electoral college map show on the previous newscasts week as the states NOT currently in recession.

As a Texan, I cannot but feel a little funny about the blue states who approve of a economic plan which will slash both the motivation and the resources for private business to continue. These people in these blue states are in large number already showing up on our doorstep looking for work. What does that tell you?

I can't help but shudder in response to the mentality that was widely replayed over public radio regarding the woman who stated "now I don't have to worry about putting gas in my car, or paying my mortgage..." I guess now that Obama is going to be president, NOBODY has to work.
Or worse, the group of angry African-American men who want to somehow believe that this occurrence was due to their own efforts and not due in larger part by the participation of the same race that they claim to be pushed down by.

I know that all of these attitudes and opinions are varied and are personal reactions to the changing of the times...the changing of the guard, but
something just really doesn't feel good about this, and I am not yet quite sure what it is.

We have a real opportunity here as a country. We have the opportunity for a FRESH START. If the new president is half of what he says he is about, we may actually have the opportunity across all socio-economic backgrounds to find commonality in our intention and in our relations to one another. But this will not happen if political infighting, tribalism, and other such lowbrow activity is allowed to occur. Those who stand directly in the way of a positive future are those who would seek to humiliate, dictate to, or otherwise divide those who voted against Obama from being included in this new hope for a new start. Equally, all parties MUST immediately stop with ALL past recriminations and begin Jan 20 with a NEW start. Anyone looking or acting from the past will destroy this opportunity before it ever gets off the ground.

Here is hoping for a brighter future for all of us.
Here is hoping that the extremes as displayed between the warring Dem and Rep parties can be homogenized into a more acceptable middle ground.

Here is hoping that we can all manage to make a better, more hopeful, more LOVING place for us all to call home.

^..^~



Well out , I couldnt agree more. This is the time for everyone to get behind our new elect, and hope for a new and brighter future.

Fingers Crossed

[parkerbi]

HOORAY!!!!!

Let's pray that he will lead us to a better tomorrow.

[canuckotter]

To me, the best thing about the election was McCain's concession speech. He turned back into John McCain, instead of the Crazy Loco Pod Person McCain he's been for the past year or so. Thank God... I like McCain, and I think he's got a lot to offer America. The pod person who took his place for a while... not so much.

Just remember, folks... As John Scalzi pointed out, your next President will disappoint you. He will not give you everything you want, he will not do everything you want him to do. Try to remember that, OK? Don't freak out and panic and claim the world is ending just because it turns out that Obama doesn't walk on water.

[Delilah]

YEAH BABY... IN YOUR FACE!

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u277/DelilahQ/FunnyStuff/Unknown.jpg

[Sarasvati]

McCain is an honest man. Completely in Integrity. The man has ten TIMES the CLASS that Obama has. This comes from his Military background.

Obama absolutely oozes class. McCain certainly has it too and demonstrated it vividly with his gracious recognition of Obama's class in his speech.

You could learn something from your idol here.

[Ritchie 48]

We are all set i heard that Obama once stayed at a Holiday Inn

[darkeyes]

Having acknowledged that, Years and years of study in body language, non-verbal communication cues and speech pattern inflections accompanied by word choice, have also led me to believe that McCain is an honest man. Completely in Integrity. The man has ten TIMES the CLASS that Obama has. This comes from his Military background. Military social etiquette is of the HIGHEST caliber, and it shows. ^..^~
It dus??? Wer can me sign up...???

Long time since me heard such bollox... honest 'e may b..an mayb integrity... but only the military hav lots of it??? Yea..rite... jus havta hav lil review a recent years 2 kno how true that is... how many soldiers, 'merican an Brit hav ended up in clink for bein bastards????

[hudson9]

Then there is the controversy about whether or not this man is even American...(and we are not made to feel any better about the situation when his birth records show up with the stamp of a piece of software on it designed to polish productions, or the fact that his own relative had been politely asked to leave the country, who in fact, didn't. Who is in fact, an illegal alien.


There is no controversy here. He was born in the U.S., there is no question about this. This is exactly the same point of law that makes John McCain, George Bush, and Dick Cheney Americans. Anything that may or may not have happened with his relatives has nothing to do with anything.

These are the kinds of nasty insinuations, half-truths, and outright lies that the Roves, Hannities, and Limbaughs hoped would confuse and scare people. The truth about any of these types of things is usually fairly easy to check out via Snopes.com, UrbanLegends.com, FactCheck.org, etc. (NOT on somebody's blog!)

[nothings5d]

I, as an American, believe we have a moral imperative to help those in the world less fortunate than ourselves.

That's all well and good assuming they actually want the help we're giving. If we don't then we need to fuck off.


In the post-war era, the US has given to the world over 1.6 TRILLION dollars in non-military aid.

Exactly what war are you speaking of by "post-war"?


Regardless of your opinion of George Bush, he has poured money into Africa to help combat AIDS and educate the populace.

Bush didn't pour money into Africa, he just didn't do anything to stop it.


You may not always like our policies, but the world would be a much colder, poorer and less sanguine place to live without the United States of America.

Yes, the world would be a far less sanguine place to live without the US.

Wait, by sanguine you do mean bloody right?


A straight vote ensures that the cities and heavily populace places get to rule over anyone not in the cities. Our founding fathers wanted to avoid setting up a caste system, and they were wise in their method of solving the issue.

A straight vote ensures that ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE has EXACTLY the same say in who is president. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_population and scroll down to the table, it has population per electoral vote. Currently any 1 person in Wyoming has the biggest say with 174,277 per elector, then DC with 196,097, Vermont with 207,085, and by the time you get up to the top it's Texas with 703,070. Any voter in Wyoming has slightly over 4 times the say as to who is going to become President as any Texan.

Oh, and the current way of doing it was NOT set up by the founding fathers. The system changed completely in 1911 when the total number of House seats was capped at 435. Before then it was closer because every state had 1 representative per 30,000 citizens. Of course based on that rule California would have 1220 electors, Texas would have 798 and when you get down to Wyoming they would have 19. But that would actually be far closer to equal voting power.

/rant

[darkeyes]

Awww...see? All is well in the world yet again. We just have to sit down and talk, without precondition, you see.
Hey, did I tell you that many people say I look a lot like Johnny Depp?? :D

Easy Dark...it's just a joke.

Besos a ti mi amiga lesbianita!H8 agreein wiv peeps 2 much... makes me wonda if ther summat rong wiv me... tee hee,, but all is well for now...me will b ok in day or so....:tong:

..an ifya wer Johnny Depp :bigrin:.. jus lookin like 'im don do much for me... tee hee ;).. but if ya wer.....:bigrin:

[charmed_goddess87]

With the election barely over for 24 hours, I am dismayed by the naysayers who want to predict doom before someone even takes office. It's one thing to criticize a President who has been in office and has been at the helm as we've watched our country spiral out of control, but to see so many negative comments this early in the game just smacks of the cries of a child who didn't get his way and is wanting to take his ball and go home. Obama didn't win because of his race any more than McCain lost because of his ill-tempered demeanor. It was a mandate of the people who are calling for a change. Change is never easy and it never comes about without a few bumps along the road, but whatever road it may be, it is a far better road than the one we are on right now.

Totally agree with you....Its Time for a change! Im happy he won the Election and I hope he proves to all those people who have said negative things wrong. :)

[Gina7777]

Congratulations America!

I joined Obama's website but was not allowed to contribute to his campaign because I'm not an American citizen. I believe he was a great choice but agree that some will expect him to perform miracles overnight. I read his book, The Audacity of Hope, and thought "this is a good man". Please keep him alive - don't let mad gunmen near him!

Compassion should sit very well with socialism. We have not seen a truly socialist state yet so can't judge.

[LadyOfTheLake]

I can think of a few good things that have already come out of this election.

1) It has taken some of the wind out of the sails of the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. I don't thing that they can legitimately continue their claims that most Americans are racists.

2) The rest of the world seems to like us a bit more than they have in a while.

3) I don't have to hear "My Friends" and "You Betcha" over and over again for the next four years.

[specialk2754]

I'm a Union member and we traditionally vote for democrats, the party of the middle class. Firstly, America voted in a guy who can put this country back on course to its former greatness. Secondly, it has finally overcome a past tinged with racism. Mostly. I know there's still a lot of nutjobs who will start taking shots at him, and I just hope he can stay alive long enough to make a difference.

[FerociousFeline]

Obama absolutely oozes class. McCain certainly has it too and demonstrated it vividly with his gracious recognition of Obama's class in his speech.

You could learn something from your idol here.

Apparently, you are relatively unfamiliar with the term.

Sorry about that. Class isn't negotiable. It is about Integrity. It's about doing what you say you will do even if you want that office so bad that you can taste it. Obama agreed with McCain to NOT use independant financing. Then he violated his word. This is not class.

Sorry Charlie.

[darkeyes]

Apparently, you are relatively unfamiliar with the term.

Sorry about that. Class isn't negotiable. It is about Integrity. It's about doing what you say you will do even if you want that office so bad that you can taste it. Obama agreed with McCain to NOT use independant financing. Then he violated his word. This is not class.

Sorry Charlie.
The words "politicians" an "class" simply r incompatible... tho hav met 1 or 2 quite yummie politicians who exuded class..but they turned out 2 b 2 1 degree or otha.. politicians wiv very little...:(

[Sarasvati]

We have not seen a truly socialist state yet so can't judge.

Oh yes we have. We have seen too many - and far too many mass graves associated with them.

Please elucidate what you mean by a "truly socialist state" if you disagree with me.

And as I said before elsewhere compassion and socialism are unhappy bedfellows.

Socialists preach a simplistic message which allows unscrupulous individuals to ride to self interested authority on the backs of hysterical masses.

Keep the Pyramid!

[Sarasvati]

Apparently, you are relatively unfamiliar with the term.

Sorry about that. Class isn't negotiable. It is about Integrity. It's about doing what you say you will do even if you want that office so bad that you can taste it. Obama agreed with McCain to NOT use independant financing. Then he violated his word. This is not class.

Sorry Charlie.

I feel fortunate not to be in your class!
I'll stay in the distant libraries of long forgotten Alexandria and prepare to rise to the top of her class instead.

[Nectarseeker69]

I voted for Obama and against Bush at the same time. We do need a change. But as I cast my ballot into the ballot box the words of the song that The Who sang came to mind. "I hope we don't get fooled again, no no!"

[Gina7777]

"Socialists preach a simplistic message which allows unscrupulous individuals to ride to self interested authority on the backs of hysterical masses."

Hmmm Sarasvati ... so capitalists colluding with each other trading thin air resulting in destruction of economies worldwide would not of course be 'unscrupulous individuals?' Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I'm aware socialism is about decision-making coming from the grass roots, arising from their own concerns. So far so-called 'socialist states' have had autocratic rulers and people at the bottom have no say in their destinies at all. So that wasn't socialism.

Ordinary people sending their five dollars to support Obama's election campaign - that's so much more healthy.

[darkeyes]

"Socialists preach a simplistic message which allows unscrupulous individuals to ride to self interested authority on the backs of hysterical masses."

Hmmm Sarasvati ... so capitalists colluding with each other trading thin air resulting in destruction of economies worldwide would not of course be 'unscrupulous individuals?' Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I'm aware socialism is about decision-making coming from the grass roots, arising from their own concerns. So far so-called 'socialist states' have had autocratic rulers and people at the bottom have no say in their destinies at all. So that wasn't socialism.

Ordinary people sending their five dollars to support Obama's election campaign - that's so much more healthy.S'ok Gina..e' talks rot sumtimes.... we kno socialism is an ideal 2 aspire 2..an in time if we r lukky we will get ther... an ther will b no nasty sods runnin the show... butyas rite.. Capitalism is hardly gr8 showpiece for a fair society..

[Not2str8]

The election of Barack Obama to the Presidency has led me to develop a physical problem that has persisted since he was named the winner. I just can't seem to get this smile off my face !

[Sheba]

Finally wat took the world so long to look pass hes color and elect people on morals, but finally a black president, and that is CHANGE.:)

[12voltman59]

Just a thought here---and I sorta cribbed it from Bill Maher-----just what if--just what if--A BLACK MAN CAN REALLY DO A GREAT JOB being PRESIDENT!!!

Maybe that is what the conservative camp is really afraid of----they are so filled with fear (and hate) of so many things, persons and the like.

I am sure for many of 'em--it's bad enough that "one of them" got elected president----they sure as hell don't want him to suceed!!

As Bill Maher said, while talking to the mayor of Newark, NJ---another rising star, attractive, energetic, smart black man----"I bet that if Barak does a great job---you will be our next black president. America just might find that you guys are good at it!"

[Bluebiyou]

When I was three my dad took me to the Bank of St. Louis. Seeing a drinking fountain clearly my height I ran for it... I simply HAD to drink out of this special drinking fountain made for little kids like me. My dad gently but firmly grabbed me away (despite my protests) saying it was for colored people. Lot's of things don't make sense when you're 3 so I quickly dismissed the idea of 'crayon people'.
I remember seeing a black person for the first time and thinking all the irrational thoughts a child of 7 would have... 'what happened to this person, what sort of a person is this...'
As a small child I saw the race riots on TV and concluded that these black people must be bad people to throw riots.
I remember seeing a black man shirtless, in chains, being marched down Chartres Street (in New Orleans) by a horseback policeman.
I remember seeing my cousins, about 10 years younger than me, have close friends in high school who were black.
I remember my first love affair with someone who was black.
And now a (half black?) man is president.
That's some change to witness. Who'd a thought?

[Emmanuel_75]

Congratulations from Paris, France !

[thesenator]

Here Israeli analyst provides a detailed comparison of Obama to Michael Jackson: http://samsonblinded.org/blog/michael-jackson-for-president.htm

[allbimyself]

Now THAT was the most ignorant, racist thing I've ever read.

[darkeyes]

.. it pretty bad Allbi me luff.. but hav read, an heard, an seen worse..

Las nite wen we wer out cuppla me m8's brot bak a lil blak French girl from the loo who wos is a rite state.. cuppla arseoles had been doin a monkey dance round er an tauntin 'er, an she had fled for safety 2 the ladies... ther me m8's found 'er breakin 'er heart an wondrin wot had hit 'er.. that it wos no worse than wud happen 2 'er in partsa France wer racism is rife aint the point.. that sum 1 who is a guest in my 'ome city is subjected 2 that leads me 2 feel ashamed a me fellow Scots.. that wen it wos goin on an no 1 intervened 2 help makes it the worse...

[vittoria]

.. it pretty bad Allbi me luff.. but hav read, an heard, an seen worse..

Las nite wen we wer out cuppla me m8's brot bak a lil blak French girl from the loo who wos is a rite state.. cuppla arseoles had been doin a monkey dance round er an tauntin 'er, an she had fled for safety 2 the ladies... ther me m8's found 'er breakin 'er heart an wondrin wot had hit 'er.. that it wos no worse than wud happen 2 'er in partsa France wer racism is rife aint the point.. that sum 1 who is a guest in my 'ome city is subjected 2 that leads me 2 feel ashamed a me fellow Scots.. that wen it wos goin on an no 1 intervened 2 help makes it the worse...

:( :eek2:

[darkeyes]

5th November 2008.. women all ova 'merica get out ther razors an hav lil flurry down ther...

Hubbies n luffers cum 'ome at nite an r shocked 2 c ther beluffed wiv naked puss..

Hubbies n luffers r gobsmacked an exclaim"WTF ya dun??"

Wives an luffers all ova the land smile an say wiv glee "Look no Bush..."

[Sarasvati]

Wives an luffers all ova the land smile an say wiv glee "Look no Bush..."


What an (Barack O)bummer I love a nice juicy bush

[JFCSNY]

Obama is going to be a complete disaster. He's comming into officew with 3 strikes against him:

Strike 1- He has wacky ideas that are going to bankrupt the country.....looney liberal ideas that have been tried....and failed in the past. It'll be back to the days of Jimmy Carter-Double didget unemployment, double didget inflation and double didget interest.

Strike 2- Shady background. He's a key part of the Chicago Democratic Machine. We all know how corrupt Chicago Dems are, don't we. Also, look at all of the honorable prople he has surounded himself with over the years: Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, the convict Tony Resko, George Soros, Gov. Blogo...

Strike 3- He has no administrative experience. The only thing he knows how to do is spend OTHER peoples money. He's never had a "real" job.

Obama was elected by many ignorant people who voted for him for all the wrong reasons. I've heard them all: Voted for him because he's cool, an African American, he's not Bush (W wasn't on the ballot where I voted),

hHe ran on the theme of "Change". We'll get change OK....but do we really want his changes?

You get the picture. Barack Obama is a phony fraud who will be a total disaster.

JFC

[wolfcamp]

Obama is going to be a complete disaster. He's comming into officew with 3 strikes against him:

Strike 1- He has wacky ideas that are going to bankrupt the country.....looney liberal ideas that have been tried....and failed in the past. It'll be back to the days of Jimmy Carter-Double didget unemployment, double didget inflation and double didget interest.


Wacky ideas? Looney liberal ideas? Have you noticed the news headlines lately. Our supposedly "conservative" policies have not only ruined our economy, but have taken down the entire developed world with it. How can ANYTHING be worse?



Strike 2- Shady background. He's a key part of the Chicago Democratic Machine. We all know how corrupt Chicago Dems are, don't we. Also, look at all of the honorable prople he has surounded himself with over the years: Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, the convict Tony Resko, George Soros, Gov. Blogo...


Right. Guilt by association. Obama started his political career in Springfield, not Chicago. Are you capable of understanding the difference? Neither side can find anything to implicate Obama, yet we should bar his presidency just because he comes from Illinois. Great idea.




Strike 3- He has no administrative experience. The only thing he knows how to do is spend OTHER peoples money. He's never had a "real" job.


I suppose his work for non-profits, and his work at law firms, and his position as lecturer on constitutional law at the University of Chicago don't count as real jobs. So far he has appointed smart qualified people to important positions, with kudos from both parties. (well the extremists will never be happy) I don't think we will ever catch him saying, "You're doing a great job Brownie."




Obama was elected by many ignorant people who voted for him for all the wrong reasons. I've heard them all: Voted for him because he's cool, an African American, he's not Bush (W wasn't on the ballot where I voted),

hHe ran on the theme of "Change". We'll get change OK....but do we really want his changes?


I think people are looking at their job possibilities and their retirement accounts and saying, "Yes, we need a change. We DEFINITELY need a change."




You get the picture. Barack Obama is a phony fraud who will be a total disaster.

JFC

I have always found it really sad when people who are so ill informed call other people ignorant.

Also dood, your poor spelling doesn't help your cred. It makes you look kind of...um...er...STUPID. I just had to say it.

[PolyLoveTriad]

Our electoral college system sucks.What's wrong with an outright vote? And I bet there aren't more than 5% of the population that even know what it is, how it is determined or how it works. For all you McCain supporters you fought a good fight. For all our military men and women may god bless you and protect you. To our Marines and other branches too...SEMPER FI..from a Vietnam Vet. And to all you obama supporters... Just remember in a year or two or four...This is what You wanted.....

I agree and in time when I hear them whine Im going to simply tell them hey, YOU wanted him, shut up and live with it. BTW its been a bit since he was elected and not even in office yet and already is going back on what he said he was going to do. Seems to me that people need to remember that ALL politicians lie their ass off to get what they want. Its not about 'helping people' its all about GREED.

Also, thanks to you for your service and thanks to all the other military and vets out there for your service!

[wolfcamp]

Yes I agree, be careful for what you wish for. Now we have a socialist country on the rise . At leaset we'll have our tax's raised, and big goverment.

Yes, and George Bush is what you wished for. I wonder how much my taxes would have to be raised to equal the losses I've had in my retirement funds in the last year. And what are my prospects for a good job to replace those losses. Bush's last days remind me of Sherman's march to the sea, only his side isn't winning.

[TheBisexualProfessor]

Hey-- not trying to throw cold water on your party, but I have a couple of concerns and would love to hear your replies if you're up for it. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll honestly tell you that I didn't vote for Mr. Obama. I voted for a real minority candidate, the Libertarian! LOL!

Anyway, I am concerned about all the hype. Is Mr. Obama now president-elect mostly because he ran a really great marketing effort? Think about it: his meteoric rise from state legislator to president-elect was short, well-timed, perfectly strategized and more perfectly accomplished. And the hype is so overwhelming that I'm wondering if we'll ever get any true criticism of his policies. Is the media even remotely able to analyze in any objective way?

I'm also terribly concerned with all the "FDR hype," painting Mr. Obama as another Franklin Roosevelt who has to take similar draconian steps to "save" the US. I fear it's an excuse for bigger government: which is already TOO big, TOO powerful, and TOO expensive. (Thanks, Mr. Bush--you were no conservative!)

Comments? And please, be fair ... don't jump me ... I'm asking honest questions in a respectful manner. (Another concern is the lack of honest ability to talk about politics anymore!)

[canuckotter]

Anyway, I am concerned about all the hype. Is Mr. Obama now president-elect mostly because he ran a really great marketing effort?
Yes.

Don't get me wrong, I support the dude. From what I've seen of his policies, he's got a pretty decent plan, nothing particularly drastic, looks like he's had a bunch of smart people do their best to chart out a pretty simple middle-of-the-road sorta thing. Then again, the last time I looked was before those lovely free-market banking reforms started hitting their logical conclusion... ;)

But that's not why he was elected. He was elected because he had a great marketing campaign, and McCain had just an OK marketing strategy.


Is the media even remotely able to analyze in any objective way?

Hell, if the media could eventually learn to stop sucking off Bush with every story, even as he embedded a bunch of journalists in military units to help boost ratings, I have every faith that the press will eventually remember what journalists are supposed to do. And maybe do some of it. Occasionally. As well as they bothered to do with Bush, anyway.

Really, asking for anything real from the American press is a lost cause. Remember, they're all market-driven. Their only responsibility is to get a bigger audience, they have no incentive at all to chase the truth unless it happens to make a good story. And anything that requires investigation... forget it. That takes time. ROI, remember? A six-month investigation into something that may or may not make a good story? Not generally a good ROI there. Sure there's the occasional score, but for the most part, they'll get a bigger audience by spending those six months reporting on inane bullshit. Or save money by getting rid of reporters altogether and just repeating White House press releases.


I fear it's an excuse for bigger government: which is already TOO big, TOO powerful, and TOO expensive.
Except in the area of financial regulation. The Libertarians got pretty much everything they wanted in that sector, up until a couple months ago. ;)


(Thanks, Mr. Bush--you were no conservative!)
But he didn't like them thar faggots, and he did is best to protect unborn babies! Isn't that what conservatives are about?

*le sigh*

I wish he'd actually been a conservative. "Tax and spend" isn't a great approach, but at least it's logical. "Spend and spend" makes no sense at all as public policy. Now you guys are saddled with a huge debt. If you could at least have pointed to increased economic growth under Bush (relative to the rest of the world), you might be able to argue "Well at least the insane deficit we ran up helped grow the economy," but it didn't. Canada had better economic performance for most of the past eight years, while paying down a pretty decent percentage of our debt.

[LOTUS]

hey i would worry about him hes going to be shot by the time hes times up
sorry to say i like him but thats life

[altbinary]

Orwell was himself a Socialist. What he understood was humanity's inherent tendency to abuse power and one another. He despised totalitarianism, which is not a unique phenomena of any particular ideology, but purely human.
Orwell was a guy named Eric Blair who was trying to pop the bubble of utopianism.

Behold the power of memes and echos.
Anyone remember that game 'telephone'?

We gotta watch out for stuff like this.

I believe the idea of Utopia was first discussed--and dismissed--in Plato's, "Republic." The idea, however, persisted, and gradually evolved into what is now called socialism, an idea attractive to well-intentioned though ignorant youth, the lazy and indolent, and those cynics who seek unlimited power over their fellow man; unlimited power being defined as the ability to control every aspect of everyone's life.

Socialism first took root in the United States as an organized movement that grew to a level that enabled it to finance the birth of communism in Russia. That proved to be a disaster to the world as the communist infection spread to other countries. Eventually--inevitably--the communist system collapsed under its own weight. True, there are still some communist states; Cuba and North Korea provide thumbnail sketches of, "Utopia". The Communist idea is still around in other (dis)guises, such as, "environmentalism," and, "human rights," "immigration rights," to name a few.

The Socialists are pulling all the strings, including Obama's strings. They will never give up on being your puppetmaster as well. They will never go away.

I have spent many years asking myself why certain people persist in trying to establish a system that fails in theory and in practice. The correct answer is simple: Insanity. An analogy would be: We know this car will run on gasoline. Let us fill the fuel tank with water, which is cheaper and safer, and run the car on water. Okay, the car won't start. Let's bring up another car car and fill its tank with water. Won't start? Bring up another car. And on and on. This is classic insanity. The puppet masters and the would-be puppetmasters--as well as their puppets--are afflicted with this particular mental disease and being so afflicted, afflict us. There is no reasoning with the insane, and when reason doesn't work, what are sane people to do?

[hudson9]

I believe the idea of Utopia was first discussed--and dismissed--in Plato's, "Republic." The idea, however, persisted, and gradually evolved into what is now called socialism, an idea attractive to well-intentioned though ignorant youth, the lazy and indolent, and those cynics who seek unlimited power over their fellow man; unlimited power being defined as the ability to control every aspect of everyone's life.

Socialism first took root in the United States as an organized movement that grew to a level that enabled it to finance the birth of communism in Russia. That proved to be a disaster to the world as the communist infection spread to other countries. Eventually--inevitably--the communist system collapsed under its own weight. True, there are still some communist states; Cuba and North Korea provide thumbnail sketches of, "Utopia". The Communist idea is still around in other (dis)guises, such as, "environmentalism," and, "human rights," "immigration rights," to name a few.

The Socialists are pulling all the strings, including Obama's strings. They will never give up on being your puppetmaster as well. They will never go away...

Please educate yourself before you speak. Plato did not "dismiss" the idea of utopia. The term "Utopia" is taken from the title of a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean, possessing a seemingly perfect socio-politico-legal system. Plato, in "The Republic" posited the idea of a "Philosopher King" as the "ideal" politico-legal system -- and he was for it.

Socialism refers to any one of various economic theories of economic organization advocating state or cooperative ownership and administration of the production and distribution of goods, and a society characterized by equal opportunities/means for all individuals with a more egalitarian method of compensation. Socialism originated in Europe in the late 18th-century intellectual and working class political movements that criticized the effects of industrialization and private ownership on society. Socialist movements in the U.S. have always been smaller, less organized, and less funded than socialist movements in Europe. No one has ever claimed that socialist movements in the U.S. financed the birth of communism in Russia! In fact, the exact opposite has always been claimed by conservatives and anti-communists. Oh, and Communism, which is only one branch of socialism, originated in Germany, based on the theories of Marx (1818-1883) and Engles.

Socialism is not a concrete philosophy of fixed doctrine and program; its branches advocate varying degrees of social interventionism and economic rationalization, sometimes opposing each other. Another dividing feature of the socialist movement is the split between reformists and revolutionaries on how a socialist economy should be established. Much socialist philosophy has been integrated into the modern European industrial democracies both peacefully, and successfully.

Claiming that there is some socialist "puppetmaster" pulling Obama's "strings" (Obama is far from a socialist), or equating environmentalism, human rights, and immigration rights with Communism, only demonstrates a lack of investigation, rational thought or critical thinking. Do you also subscribe to the legitimacy of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion?

Wikipedia is easy to use, free, reasonably reliable, and for the most part unbiased (or at least balanced). Please use it.

[hudson9]

Well, the most well-known user of the phrase "Fair and balanced" is certainly very far from it... but as far as Wikipedia goes --

Wikipedia is not infallible, nor the ultimate authority. It is not always up to rigorous academic standards, as it is not always fully referenced, and it's references are not always primary sources. Controversial topics can sometimes get hijacked (although over time, it tends to self-correct). But for quick reference or overviews, it is at least (as I said) fairly reliable and generally balanced. And it's certainly better than gross ignorance.