The 2008 Election

It's not what simply what I want, it's what I believe. And of course I don't think he'll be particularly productive by doing things I don't believe in -- if I did, then obviously I'd believe in those things, instead.

That'd be quite a surprise, given the scads of empirical data we have concerning the economic issues I listed (particularly on trade). But I will try to stay close to the numbers and concede to reality if and when they indicate something I did not expect.

I'm not terribly interested in starting an argument about economics at midnight after such a long, tiring day, but the idea that the Bush tax cuts were a bad idea is so thoroughly and demonstrably refuted by the data that I hardly know where to begin. Have you looked at this data? Unemployment, GDP, GNP, tax receipts, etc? I'm sorry if this sounds confrontational, but I'm becoming exasperated with people who a) have strong opinions about economics and b) don't care to see whether or not the data bears those opinions out at all.

And I have to say, I'm a little disappointed at the tone of your post. I'm making a genuine good-faith effort to wipe the slate clean with Obama and give him a chance to display the kind of unity and moderation he has so often promised during this campaign. It strikes me as pretty unreasonable to balk at all this, as if I should somehow reshape my worldview based on the results of this election. As skeptical as I may be about some of his centrist rhetoric, I'm going to give him a chance to surprise me.

I hope he brings this country together, but that will only happen if he adopts more moderate policies. And maybe he will. I hope he does, and if he does, I hope conservatives will take note of it and give him credit where it's due. We're all in this together. I believe that with Bush as President, and I'll believe it with Obama as President, as well.

Ahh! For me, all is right in the world for the moment.

I laughed, I cried (a good cry) and generally felt grateful for the outcome we as a nation, have created despite all the obstacles and dirty tactics!

Now I can finally sleep with some peace. If I'm not too excited! Woo hoo!

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Bleacheddecay

I am so happy for the Americans and for the rest of us.

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The novelist does not long to see the lion eat grass. He realizes that one and the same God created the wolf and the lamb, then smiled, "seeing that his work was good".

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They had temporarily escaped the factories, the warehouses, the slaughterhouses, the car washes - they'd be back in captivity the next day but now they were out - they were wild with freedom. They weren't thinking about the slavery of poverty. Or the slavery of welfare and food stamps. The rest of us would be all right until the poor learned how to make atom bombs in their basements.

So, you think McCain will be Obama's Secretary of Defense?

This may be a bit random, but think about this:

Is your life really going to change with a diffrent president? I mean just because a good leader like Obama is top dog, it doesn't change the fact that tomorrow you will get up, go to work and go home, just like you did when Bush was president.

What im saying is, is the thought of a new president is nice but unless you are a soilder in Iraq then your life will pretty much stay the same.

The US elections always intrigue me, mainly because your so-called liberal candidates would be seen as moderate right-wingers over here (and I'm an unabashed pinko leftie).

A change was gonna come and I think America needed a black President (just as much as my country needs not just a leader but a parliament of politicians who aren't, to a man, clowns) sooner rather than later - not least in the eyes of the rest of the world. That you might be getting a protectionist black President is a moot point right now.

That said, I don't think the Republicans could have won this one whoever they put up (and to my eyes, McCain seemed one of the more moderate ones, though nicely balanced by the loopy moose-shooter PTA woman). Any party globally who has had a long period of rule (and this 8 years seemed longer than most, what with the unrest over the war and recent financial nervousness) can find itself stale and subject to a tidal wave of apathy, especially when Bazza's force of nature rode into town.

Britain is seeing the same thing now with the country seemingly just plain tired of Labour. I don't think there's much they can do about a Conservative victory in the next election, which is probably why no one has tried to depose Brown from within - there's no point until after they lose.

David Cameron is no Obama, that's for sure, he's nothing more than a slick salesman but one that's making different noises to the people who've ruled the country for over a decade. He's like Blair was to the Thatcher/Major regime but with even less substance.

I despair for Britain, comrades, and have been without hope for Ireland for a while. I don't despair for America this morning.

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"Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how the Tatty 100 is done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves." - Brendan Behan

I'm pretty happy about the results, and I'm still excited hours later. What a historic night this was for America.

Yes, I find that really one of the most interesting discussions not only here, but every time on tv and radio I've heard Obama being called a socialist and it meaning something seemingly truly terrifying to that person.

I think we had our Obama moment in 1997 with Tony Blair - the same optimism, the same smooth confidence, the same excitement that younger politicians can bring....unfortunately look what happened...I hope Obama is different.

I don't despair - I went to see Tony Benn speaking last night, his faith in keeping the fire of anger against injustice was heartwarming to see , specially in a hall of like minded people. We need to keep standing up to be counted Taccy! I wouldn't wish Cameron on my worse enemy, he's a bloody milksop of a politician, but sadly if history repeats itself the Conservatives will be voted in just cos people want a change.

Good luck to Obama and whoever he chooses for his administration. He's been elected in interesting times and I hope he has the bottle to lead America in a way that's fair to all Americans.

ps Barack, can you look at Guantanamo Bay and bring those people to trial as soon as you can.

In other news: Great, an ad saying Obama bought the election was right on top of the thread.


Anybody think so?

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I used to be addicted to crystal meth, now I'm just addicted to Breaking Bad.

uh... because people are going to vote for who they believe is the better man for the job, their decision would not be swayed by who is more popular. at least, smart people think this way anyway.

in other news, i am happy Obama won, and would have voted for him even if i didn't think he had a chance against McCain. so there!

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letterboxd

ha ha, i read that as 'the democrats will have their ruin now' at first.

you should try asking that to the millions of people who have been laid off from their jobs over the last four years.

I'm so incredibly thrilled.

BTW, just two days ago I was listening to some very scared conservative "Christians" go on and on about how terrible Obama was and how he was Muslim.

Today I have to spend more time with those folks. I'm sure they'll be freaked. In my state, which carried McCain a lot of folks are going to be scared and angry. Due to business concerns I can only be forthcoming about my true feelings online or with trust friends and family.

Imagine how surprised those scared, angry people will be when things turn out for the best because what they feared has come to pass. The whole world is looking at the US differently today. I'm proud of the results in this election.

Someday my kids will talk of this to their children, grandchildren and if they are lucky, great grandchildren. I'm giddy with joy!

Well, I am excited to see the GoP out of the white house, and I am glad the Dems didn't get to 60 seats in the senate. Not a bad outcome, if you ask me...

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Sure your life won't change today just cos Obama was elected yesterday, but if you are part of your country's economy in any way then yes your life will be different over the course of the administration under Obama than it would've been under McCain.

My life is already changed. I have such great hope for this country. Yesterday I chose hope rather than fear. A lot of the Obama supporters I knew were fearful. I refused to be that way. I had an incredibly, fantastic, joyful day.

My outlook and those of so many has changed. That can do nothing but great things for us as individuals, for our country and even the world.

Change? Obviously so. Be better, or worse? No one is 'honestly' able to answer that one until, you know, some time passes. Dream or fear all you want. I'm not betting my life on either outcome. I'll just do what I normally do, and wait to see what happens.

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not American but i am delighted that obama won. I have been an admirer of him since the beginning of the presidential campaign and believe he will bring change

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Comment is free but facts are sacred

Yup, wait and see. That's all there is to do. And as goofy as it might be for someone to decide that we're all completely screwed, I don't think people going on about how everything is definitely going to be great now is any better. Both are entirely premature, and history isn't on the side of the latter, to my mind. The ideas that have been proposed are not new ideas; they have been tried, and we can clearly see their effects.

Obama's supporters would not be the first people to to suffer a massive letdown once their guy is in office, and McCain's supporters would not be the first ones to be pleasantly surprised about someone they strongly opposed, either. People expecting the end of the world are probably going to be surprised, but so are people expecting the second coming.

We should all be pleased with the culture significance of what happened yesterday. But beyond that any judgment is premature.

agreed!