OT: Election/Politics thread, Part 6

[RobVarak]

Jim Geraghty via Instapundit says it very well:

"I have many, many disagreements with Barack Obama. But tonight I congratulate him on his victory. I have seen a few critics say, 'he won't be my president,' but that is nonsense. He will be my president, and I will wish him well, particularly as he takes on the duty of protecting the American people in a dangerous world."

I agree.

That last clause is what will have me reflecting in my prayers tonight. In the interest of hope and change, my fellow citizens have placed that duty into the hands of someone with very little experience. As a result the rest of us all have to hope that their trust is not misplaced.

[Teal]

I wonder if all this conciliatory fluff toward McCain in here(all of a sudden) would be the same if the election outcome were different. Probably not, but I digress.

May God bless you, Barack Obama. Lead this country well, sir. They deserve it.

[DChaps]

Another bonus: Now I can travel to Europe & not have to tell people I'm Canadian! wakka wakka

You may be joking, but if you were not proud enough to state your heritage before that says more about you than it does about who is in the White House. Hate to break it to you, but people in other countries will still continue to hate Americans regardless of who is in power. What changes tomorrow? What changes a day after Obama is in office? What changes a year after? Only time will tell. My support is behind Obama and I can only hope for his success, but people are acting like we won the lotto. Keep in mind that regardless of who won, the country is in a complete mess in certain areas and there is no easy fix. No candidate convinced me that their plans for the war, healthcare, economy, environment, etc. are viable so now I can only hope that these plans can work. Call me a pessimist, but my guess is that 4 years from now we will still be in IRAQ, Bin Laden will still be on the loose, healthcare will still be broken, and the environment will still be depleted of its natural resources faster than we can do anything about it. Hopefully I am wrong, but there is a LOT of work to be done and no easy way out. The economy can only get better, right?

[wco81]

They can tell you're American anyways.

[XXXIV]

I thought the lords prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were great touches before the acceptance speech.

God is such an important part of this nation's identity.

[RobVarak]

Quality speech by Obama. The imagery of the 106 year-old woman was a beautiful rhetorical device, and there were several elegant passages.

The sight of people weeping in the presence of political figures, of any party, is not something that I find particularly appealing.

[greggsand]

Another bonus: Now I can travel to Europe & not have to tell people I'm Canadian! wakka wakka

You may be joking, but if you were not proud enough to state your heritage before that says more about you than it does about who is in the White House.

easy tiger, i thought the "wakka" & smiley face would be enough, but no, I never claimed to be Canadian. I'm not that ashamed of the US! (wakka x 4000)

But seriously, go oversees & you get a lot flack for GW. That least the redundancy of telling cabbies "I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM" goes away.

[XXXIV]

Quality speech by Obama. .

Great speech indeed.

[pk500]

What is San Francisco-style socialism?

What programs does the city and county have which makes it "socialist"?

Under Newsom's reign:

1. Universal health care for all city residents
2. Care Not Cash
3. Strong support of gun control, through membership in Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

WE WIN MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sox or Bears had games tonight?

Seriously, the campaign was the preseason. The regular season starts for Obama on Jan. 20, 2009, and standings are kept in the regular season.

I wish him well.

Take care,
PK

[DChaps]

easy tiger, i thought the "wakka" & smiley face would be enough, but no, I never claimed to be Canadian. I'm not that ashamed of the US! (wakka x 4000)

But seriously, go oversees & you get a lot flack for GW. That least the redundancy of telling cabbies "I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM" goes away.

Yep, I understood that you were joking (an American claiming to be Canadian is actually hard to pull off), and clearly I stay out of these threads for a reason because my point did not come across. Anyone of any country who is prejudiced towards another person because of the leader of that persons country of origin is not going to change their prejudice due to a name change in power. Particularly if that name change is not doing anything deemed drastically different in the eyes of the world view. And anyone who would immediately change their view of an individual based on the leader of that persons country of origin, well that is an issue unto itself. wakka X 4000 off...

[pk500]

Nevertheless, this is still a powerful and awesome moment in our political history.

Agreed, on so many levels that are obvious.

I thought both speeches tonight were gracious and inspiring. I certainly hope that Obama, in his desire for bipartisanship, reaches out to McCain to help construct a better America.

McCain can truly return to his "maverick" ways of reaching across the aisle now that his Presidential aspirations are over. That will be very helpful for Obama and the nation.

Tonight was an inspiring moment for an American democracy that has needed energy after the spirit-sapping darkness of the last eight years. I don't agree with Obama's policies, but they can't be much worse than what has transpired in this nation since 2000.

I wish the guy luck. He has one HELL of a task before him.

Take care,
PK

[JackB1]

Keep in mind that regardless of who won, the country is in a complete mess in certain areas and there is no easy fix. No candidate convinced me that their plans for the war, healthcare, economy, environment, etc. are viable so now I can only hope that these plans can work. Call me a pessimist, but my guess is that 4 years from now we will still be in IRAQ, Bin Laden will still be on the loose, healthcare will still be broken, and the environment will still be depleted of its natural resources faster than we can do anything about it. Hopefully I am wrong, but there is a LOT of work to be done and no easy way out. The economy can only get better, right?

I hope you are wrong, but you are right about this being a daunting task for any President. To did us out of the hole Bush got us into will take the mightiest of shovels. But if anyone can do it...Obama can. After all, he is....
"THE ONE"

[pk500]

McCain gave a great concession speech and showed a lot more class than the idiots who kept booing.

Yeah, I really felt bad for McCain in those moments of lunacy by the neanderthal fringe of his assembled supporters.

McCain is a classy guy, and you could see him cringe when those morons booed.

Take care,
PK

[RobVarak]

This was the phrase that I found the most powerful. Great writing.

And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

[pk500]

I wonder if all this conciliatory fluff toward McCain in here(all of a sudden) would be the same if the election outcome were different. Probably not, but I digress.

Why do you say that? Most of the McCain or Barr supporters in here have complimented Obama's fine speech and wished him well, too.

Tonight is not a night for partisan bitterness. Both speeches were superb, and most in here recognize that.

Take care,
PK

[Dave]

McCain can truly return to his "maverick" ways of reaching across the aisle now that his Presidential aspirations are over. That will be very helpful for Obama and the nation.

Great point, PK. It'll be interesting to watch McCain going forward.

[wco81]

What is San Francisco-style socialism?

What programs does the city and county have which makes it "socialist"?

Under Newsom's reign:

1. Universal health care for all city residents
2. Care Not Cash
3. Strong support of gun control, through membership in Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition

Take care,
PK

Pelosi has been around far longer than Newsome.

1. If businesses find the requirement to provide health care to employees onerous, they can relocate out of town. Not too universal if it's so easy to avoid the requirement.

2. The program cut welfare payments and reduced the number of homeless in the city. Somehow though, I doubt the basic housing provided in exchange for reducing the welfare payments, which were often used for drugs and alcohol, is anyone's notion of a paradise, socialist or otherwise.

3. SF has one of the lowest murder rates in the US. Not too much hunting going on though. But how is gun control or lack of same a socialist issue? Switzerland has high gun ownership and social programs which some Americans would consider socialist.

[webdanzer]

I didn't vote for either man who gave speeches tonight, but like most of you, I found both of them to be both gracious and inspiring. I'll hit the hay tonight with more optimism than I expected to have.

Definitely a powerful and important moment in American history.

The media, on the other hand...

AFTER Obama get's the needed electoral votes, pundits on every station (I was flipping around) were all "Yeah, we like him, but who is this guy? What does he really believe? How liberal is he? How is he going to govern?"

Good timing on the questions, guys.

[Jackdog]

These post's sum up my thoughts.

Likewise. That's my fear.

But he's our President for at least the next four years, so I hope the centrist angels of his nature will prevail.

I have no such hope whatsoever for Pelosi, who will interpret tonight's victories as a national mandate for San Francisco-style socialism.

Take care,
PK

On the bright side of things we get to enjoy watching all these new young voters become disenchanted and disappointed over the next four years until they're shrivelled up cynical old bastards like the rest of us. So I got that going for me.

WE WIN MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No election, of any person for any office in any city, state or nation, can make a winner out of you.

Here I come to make a post about how this moment is overwhelming, even for a fervent Obama critic and doubter, and you serve up a beautiful reminder of the fact that no matter how we grow as a nation we'll always be limited by the least among us.

Nevertheless, this is still a powerful and awesome moment in our political history.

Now I remember why I always thought Siam was a dickhead.

Yeah...racist much? The color of his skin isn't the issue, to coin MLK Jr. The content of his character may very well be, though.

"You're so bad, they even elected a negro because of you." WTF, dude?

Biggest winner is John Paul Stevens, who can now exhale.

Classy speech by McCain. His eyes were glistening a bit. He is going far beyond the usual congratulatory and conciliatory tropes.

Yeah, very noble in defeat. He's a good man. I didn't agree with his approach, but he's a good man and a dedicated servant of the country.

Damn shame. He's a truly admirable man, something in short supply. He was similarly classy at the Al Smith dinner as well as with his congratulatory message on the night of Obama's nomination.

A nation can only really be measured by the people it produces, and any nation that can produce a man of McCain's quality, honor and dedication is truly a great one. Patriotism personified by a man who is not abashed to use the term.

Obama winning so many states that Bush carried in '00 and '04 speaks volumes about the American people desiring something different from Washington. Let's hope Obama can bring some REAL change and not just all talk.

McCain gave a great concession speech and showed a lot more class than the idiots who kept booing. Hopefully Obama can unite this country and win over all his nay-sayers on the other side.

History was made tonight, folks and we all witnessed it. Let's all hope we can also all be witness to the turnaround of our great nation and once again have a leader that is respected around the world.

Great speech by McCain tonight. I've found him to be very off-putting during much of the campaign, but not at all tonight.

Gracious, honorable, and moving speech. Thank you for you service, Senator McCain.

Jim Geraghty via Instapundit says it very well:

"I have many, many disagreements with Barack Obama. But tonight I congratulate him on his victory. I have seen a few critics say, 'he won't be my president,' but that is nonsense. He will be my president, and I will wish him well, particularly as he takes on the duty of protecting the American people in a dangerous world."

I agree.

That last clause is what will have me reflecting in my prayers tonight. In the interest of hope and change, my fellow citizens have placed that duty into the hands of someone with very little experience. As a result the rest of us all have to hope that their trust is not misplaced.

I wonder if all this conciliatory fluff toward McCain in here(all of a sudden) would be the same if the election outcome were different. Probably not, but I digress.

May God bless you, Barack Obama. Lead this country well, sir. They deserve it.

I thought the lords prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were great touches before the acceptance speech.

God is such an important part of this nation's identity.

JackB1??

Agreed, on so many levels that are obvious.

I thought both speeches tonight were gracious and inspiring. I certainly hope that Obama, in his desire for bipartisanship, reaches out to McCain to help construct a better America.

McCain can truly return to his "maverick" ways of reaching across the aisle now that his Presidential aspirations are over. That will be very helpful for Obama and the nation.

Tonight was an inspiring moment for an American democracy that has needed energy after the spirit-sapping darkness of the last eight years. I don't agree with Obama's policies, but they can't be much worse than what has transpired in this nation since 2000.

I wish the guy luck. He has one HELL of a task before him.

Take care,
PK

This was the phrase that I found the most powerful. Great writing.

And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

My 85 year old Republican father just got off the phone with me an hour ago. He voted for McCain,but he shed tears of joy seeing a black man elected president. That moved me more than I thought it would. I never looked at the man,I looked at his politics. If Obama locksteps with Pelosi and Reid,he will be out in 4 years. If he works towards the center he could get some things done. Time will tell.

God bless our new President.

[RobVarak]

Very interesting exit polling data. Turnout among young people and blacks were only slightly higher than in 2004. That is surprising. I expected a '92 Clinton groundswell.

[pk500]

1. If businesses find the requirement to provide health care to employees onerous, they can relocate out of town. Not too universal if it's so easy to avoid the requirement.

So if national universal healthcare places an undue financial burden on small businesses, which it most definitely will through higher taxes, do you think those businesses should leave the United States?

3. SF has one of the lowest murder rates in the US. Not too much hunting going on though. But how is gun control or lack of same a socialist issue? Switzerland has high gun ownership and social programs which some Americans would consider socialist.

It's a socialist issue because it's an example of excessive government control, a hallmark of socialism. The U.S. has something called the Second Amendment, lest you forget.

Way to trot out the Switzerland example. Switzerland only has high gun ownership because members of the Swiss Army are allowed to store their arms in their homes. Not an apt comparison to gun ownership in the U.S.

Take care,
PK

[TheGamer]

I've been thinking all night of the words to express my feelings about having an African American President. All I can think of is how my dad killed himself when I was 11 years old and how mom my struggled to provide for the remaining 4 of her 9 kids without a man in the house or someone to support her. I wish my mom had impressed in to me the importance of education, and I wish I had my dad and grandfathers around to let me know what it meant to be a man, a feeling I didn't feel until I married my wife and met her father who showed me more in 8 years than my natural dad could ever show me. I feel so much pride in seeing what level a black man can reach. From the things I've seen in my life, I never felt that as much self confidence I attempted to instill in to my two boys, that I would be able to present to my two African American boys, that they could truly aspire to the highest office in the land, without feeling that I was lying to their faces.

Jared, thanks for providing me a forum to express.

[Rodster]

I thought the Swiss Army were only allowed to used knives.

[TheHiddenTrack]

I'm glad this s*** is over. It's going to be weird being critical and picking apart the president that I actually voted for.