US Presidential Elections

[SANDRO43]

Well, fellow Americans, seems like you're getting a deeply-tanned President, from the early looks of it .

[viking]

I am glued to the tube. McCain now has a slight edge on the popular vote but with Penna going to Obama it will be very hard for McCain to win. As of 9PM EST the electoral vore is 174 to 100 for Obama with 270 needed to win. Oooops, Obama now has the edge on the popular vote.

[Gator]

A milestone tonight.

Yes, an African-American president, yet that is inconsequential.  What is significant is a Democratic landslide and a mandate for big government .  A recession will keep them under check for a while but not for long.  Hopefully Obama will now see the need for a middle of the road approach.

The only good I see is reduction in military spending, hopefully starting with removal of all US troops in Europe, which must be a small number now anyway.

[Admin]

We keep hearing the media talk about the "historic" vote today - yet, ALL presidential elections are historic. The difference is the lack of precedent.

My concern is that the 'mandate' given to Democrats to institute bigger government - is made in the context of already-too-big government.

Whatever happened to Ron Paul?

- Dan

[Sculpto]

If the government is functional and actually serves the people who cares if it is big or small?

Since the time of Reagan the rhetoric has been against so called big government, yet, the government never seems to actually get smaller. 

I think an accountable, proactive, progressive, innovative government, regardless of its size, is what we should be hoping for.

[viking]

10:40PM. Obama 206 to McCain 141. Basically its over. There is no longer any way for McCain to earn the number of electoral votes needed. Obama will be the next President. FYI to all those overseas.

[SANDRO43]

NOW it's over, and looks like a landslide for Obama.

[wxman]

Even though I am a Republican, and I disagree with the policies of Obama, I am happy that I have lived long enough to see America elect a person based on their beliefs and dreams, not on the color of their skin. Without a doubt, this is America's greatest day. America has proven once again why we lead, and do not follow.

[roykirk]

Even though I am a Republican, and I disagree with the policies of Obama, I am happy that I have lived long enough to see America elect a person based on their beliefs and dreams, not on the color of their skin. Without a doubt, this is America's greatest day. America has proven once again why we lead, and do not follow.

Very well said, wxman.  John McCain gave an excellent speech tonight.  I still feel he would have had a much better chance if he had not selected Palin, but that's water under the bridge right now.  I feel a lot of hope for our country, especially in the area of international relations.  On that topic, I've been reading what some of the Russian newspapers are saying.  Here's an over-the-top yet funny commentary from Pravda:  http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/04-11-2008/106660-changebetter-0  (look down below the article with the title "Eight Years of Hell are Over!"  )

[wxman]

The article is comical, and the author doesn't even have a clue about their own racist views. Dark skins? Negroes? 

[I/O]

Well, lets cut to the chase, the world has changed, we now Have Russia lending other countries money, we have a German pope (How ironic is that), banks lend more than a property is worth and America has a Black president, the next thing will be the French doing something useful. Hope springs eternal.

I/O

[UTRO]

Very well said, wxman.  John McCain gave an excellent speech tonight.  I still feel he would have had a much better chance if he had not selected Palin, but that's water under the bridge right now.  I feel a lot of hope for our country, especially in the area of international relations.  On that topic, I've been reading what some of the Russian newspapers are saying.  Here's an over-the-top yet funny commentary from Pravda:  http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/04-11-2008/106660-changebetter-0  (look down below the article with the title "Eight Years of Hell are Over!"  )

Greatly Exaggerated by Russian media. But, even the western world shares this sentiment to a lesser degree. You have to admit that American Foreign Policy and Relations suffered for the last 8 years. Six years ago I could drive across the US border with little more than a smile and the phrase, "yes I am Canadian".

[msmoby_ru]

Well, fellow Americans, seems like you're getting a deeply-tanned President, from the early looks of it .

Sorry Sandro. was that remark supposed to be "funny"... ? 

Wouldn't have expected such a comment from you

Anyway, congratulations USA *you* proved it doesn't matter what colour a guy's skin is ... Who knows, you might even have a lady for President

[Shadow]

Every democracy gets the leaders that it deserves. Lets hope that America deserves a leader that will change the current image back to reflect that of its people.

[kievstar]

USA is too split on issues.  I was hoping for a bigger win but when final votes will be calculated over the next couple weeks McCain will have 48% of the vote.  Remember Clinton received 43% and 49% of the popular vote when he won.  George Bush got 48% in 2000 and 51% in 2004 which is close to Obama 52%.  Country has not changed.  Need to see someone win 60% when you have a 2 party election. 

[SANDRO43]

Sorry Sandro. was that remark supposed to be "funny"... ?

No, light-hearted.

Wouldn't have expected such a comment from you

Sorry to disappoint you, what specific part is bothering you, but apparently not our US friends ?

[BC]

No, light-hearted.Sorry to disappoint you, what specific part is bothering you, but apparently not our US friends ?

Probably some PC 'thing' that makes folks act oblivious to the obvious.

What's the PC term now days anyway?  melanin type II+IV?  M24?

[Gator]

Two explanations for Obama’s victory:

1.   Ethnic minorities voted in unprecedented numbers (Obama gave them hope and got them out of the house to stand in long lines to vote).
2.   A number of university-educated whites, who largely had voted Republican in 2004, swung to Democrats in 2008.

It’s The Economy, Stupid

As it turned out, because of the global economic cataclysm, the economy was the Number One Issue with voters, not the war in Iraq, not terror, not illegal immigrants.  Justifiably, everything else was a distant second.  Obama is weak regarding the economy; however, the economy is not McCain’s strength either, and the Bush legacy was an albatross around his neck. 

Some other Republican candidate hopefuls would have done better with regard to the economy.  Also, Obama narrowly defeated Hillary Clinton.  Hillary would have come across as divisive, while Obama is definitely inclusive and that helped him with many swing voters.  McCain perhaps could have defeated Clinton, for sure Romney given the economy.  Spilt milk.

My fingers are crossed that Obama will become a centrist.  Now that Obama is president, he will need help from all of us given the state of our economy.

Fill a Void

One positive point.  African-Americans have not had a leader since M L King.  This has been a major reason for their plight.  Hopefully Obama can fill that void and be a role model for the vast majority of young Blacks to strive to pull themselves up from their morass and turn their backs to dark heroes.

Russia says "Congratulations Barack"

BTW, my Russian family was very intrigued by Russia’s slap this morning to the face of America.  Welcome to your new job, Barack!

Future

Now that Republicans have received an ass whipping for two straight elections, the GOP must redefine itself.  I have long voted Republican simply because of its conservative fiscal policies and its support of business.  Republicans also were the original leaders for environmental protection, another of my central themes.  I abhor some of the religious conservative policies of the GOP, yet I can never vote democratic because of their attitude to divide the pie rather than make the pie bigger (lawyers typically vote for Democrats).  Maybe, the democrats will change too but I doubt it.

[William3rd]

How about a third reason? America is tired of 8 years of governance by a high-functioning moron and his lackeys.  This was a party and an administration that destroyed everything that they touched. I hope to God that the failed policies of the past are relegated to the dustbin of history.

BTW- I supported McCain in 2000, voted Nixon and Reagan as well. So that convenient tag of lib does not apply.

The repubs lost a lot of senate seats too so america's displeasure did not stop at the White House.

 The last polls were showing that less than 20% though the country was on the right track. That seemed a lot to still be thinking that way but there are a lot of trailer parks that dont have cable, I guess..

Folks- election is over. Time to work together. Or get out of the way. . .

Hey- does this mean all the "America- love it or leave it" boys will be leaving us now. I can hear it now- Live from Moscow- Its Rush Limbaugh!!! Good morning comrades. . . .

[roykirk]

It’s The Economy, Stupid

As it turned out, because of the global economic cataclysm, the economy was the Number One Issue with voters, not the war in Iraq, not terror, not illegal immigrants.  Justifiably, everything else was a distant second.  Obama is weak regarding the economy; however, the economy is not McCain’s strength either, and the Bush legacy was an albatross around his neck. 

Polls consistently showed that Americans trusted Obama with fixing the economy more than McCain.  But that has less to do with Obama than it does with the fact that voters, right or wrong, usually vote Democrat in hard economic times.

Some other Republican candidate hopefuls would have done better with regard to the economy.  Also, Obama narrowly defeated Hillary Clinton.  Hillary would have come across as divisive, while Obama is definitely inclusive and that helped him with many swing voters.  McCain perhaps could have defeated Clinton, for sure Romney given the economy.  Spilt milk.

I think McCain would have beaten Hillary easily.  It's the only scenario where I would have crossed over to vote for McCain.  I think Romney would have lost to anyone on the Democratic side.  Getting rid of the Mormon albatross would have proven just as difficult as McCain escaping Bush

BTW, my Russian family was very intrigued by Russia’s slap this morning to the face of America.  Welcome to your new job, Barack!

I noticed that too, but I don't really take any offense to it.  I think the Russian media is just ecstatic that there's finally going to be a change. 

Now that Republicans have received an ass whipping for two straight elections, the GOP must redefine itself.  I have long voted Republican simply because of its conservative fiscal policies and its support of business.  Republicans also were the original leaders for environmental protection, another of my central themes.  I abhor some of the religious conservative policies of the GOP, yet I can never vote democratic because of their attitude to divide the pie rather than make the pie bigger (lawyers typically vote for Democrats).  Maybe, the democrats will change too but I doubt it.

And I was a long time Republican who grew up idolizing Ronald Reagan and despising Bill Clinton.  But once I realized I had been misled like some half-retarded sheep on the Iraq War, and once I realized that Bush had sold his soul to the religious wingnuts, I had to re-evaluate my core beliefs.  When I thought about it, I realized I was fiscally conservative and socially liberal.  Since the Republicans hadn't been doing very well on the fiscally conservative front, I decided it was time to give someone else a chance.  Yes, I'm one of those university educated white people who voted for Bush before yet voted for Obama this time.   

[roykirk]

William - Classic!  The Rush Limbaugh imagery had me giggling, although I've been giddy all night.  The only problem is that I don't know if he can get his Vicodin fix as easily on the streets of Moscow as he can in America.   

[Faux Pas]

My fingers are crossed that Obama will become a centrist. 

Gator,
In Obama's short time in the senate he proved to be the most liberal active senator (this say alot when up against the likes of Kennedy, Kerry and Frank) and possibly the most liberal of all time. What leads you to believe he's moving centrist?

[Blues Fairy]

Even though I am a Republican, and I disagree with the policies of Obama, I am happy that I have lived long enough to see America elect a person based on their beliefs and dreams, not on the color of their skin.

Are you kidding? I'm sure a great deal of Obama's supporters voted for him exactly because of the color of his skin. 

Hey- does this mean all the "America- love it or leave it" boys will be leaving us now. I can hear it now- Live from Moscow- Its Rush Limbaugh!!! Good morning comrades. . . .

Very likely especially if Pelosi gets to implement the Fairness doctrine after all.

[Blues Fairy]

My fingers are crossed that Obama will become a centrist. 

My hope is that Obama will show his true colors, screw up big time, and Republicans will retake House and Senate in two years.  Hopefully they'll also come up with a decent presidential candidate in four.

[wxman]

Are you kidding? I'm sure a great deal of Obama's supporters voted for him exactly because of the color of his skin. 
Very likely especially if Pelosi gets to implement the Fairness doctrine after all.

Yes, that is partially true. However, stating that a great deal of them voted just because of the color of his skin, and not his political beliefs (liberalism) is wrong. If that was the case, Jesse Jackson would have been elected president already. Obama won because a greater percentage of white voters than in the past, voted for him based on his left leaning ideals, not the color of his skin, versus how many whites voted for Jackson when he ran for the democratic nomination.  Obama will have won more votes than any other president in the history of the US. This was a huge turnout by recent standards. Still, the majority of white people did vote against him, but where he did win a majority, was with the white youth vote. Perhaps America is truly changing. The old guard of white bigotry is finally waning, perhaps to be replaced by an America that does not judge based on the color of skin. It may turn out that forced integration in the schools was the correct move. So much has changed. This is a positive for our country, whether you are a conservative or liberal. Will his liberal economic policies work?  I highly doubt it, but I'm a conservative, and I don't believe in bigger government, higher taxes or most of Obama's policies. But as an American, I'm very proud of my country today.