Elected

...



The cars have not stopped honking since the polls closed in California two hours ago. Robb and I are giggling and drinking champagne. We've read this this election had the largest voter turn out (percentage of population?) since women got the vote.

Barack Obama is going to move into a beautiful house that has been trashed by its current occupants. He's got a huge amount to do to untangle the mess he's inheriting.

But if he can continue to harness the energy that he has inspired, and continues to be as smart and disciplined as he has proven himself to be, if he continues to work with a team of brilliant advisers, and if he can live the rhetoric of unity that he has been espousing, I think we all can all be hopeful.

Comments

Pockafwye said…
Yes We Can! (and we did, too)
Anonymous said…
An answer to my prayers. This is the first time in the last 8 years I can actually say that I'm proud to call myself an American. We have so far to go, but with time and hope and hard work (and some fabulous leadership, empathy, and diplomacy), we will once again be a great nation.

HOORAY! YIPEE! AWESOME!!!

I can't stop cheering!
Anonymous said…
Sooooooo fantastic! YIPPEE!
Anonymous said…
One becomes deliriously happy, another sees this as the downfall of America (or, Amerika as it will come to be known in the anti-socialist circles)

Not saying Bush or McCain are any better by any means, but anti-rights Obama is going to take us down a road that we, as free Americans, never wanted to go down. I fight for my rights and yours as well and we just elected a president who's main purpose is to eliminate those in the name of his own personal beliefs.

Sad indeed....
Anonymous said…
I wasn't going to cry and then I saw footage of Jesse Jackson crying and I tried to imagine what it would be like to have been working for civil rights in the very begining and to have lived to witness this monumental victory.

I'm actually proud to be an American

Claudia
Lisa said…
Oh great Claudia, now you got me crying, again!
Anonymous said…
I just got home from downtown Berkeley where the streets are filled with honking cars, waving cyclists, and cheering pedestrians. (I was included in the cheering group.) What I witnessed tonight was a moment in my life and in the history of America that I will never forget. Hundreds of strangers, faces filled with joy and hope. All at once. All together.
Marissa Dupont said…
Indeed! I've been greeting everyone today with "Happy Obama Day!" It's SUCH a relief to know that the horrors of the Bush administration are truly over! I think Obama has the potential to be one of the greatest presidents ever. I can't wait to see him sworn in! :)
John and Diane said…
I think futurelibrarian said it all. YEAH!!!!! As for NavyCop, I honestly don't know what rights he is talking about. The Republicans are the ones who like to take away our rights (Patriot Act for starters and they'd like to take away a woman's right to an abortion). The fear mongering wrought in this election (that Obama is a socialist or a terrorist) is unfounded and ridiculous.
-Astro D
Knit Wit said…
I found myself crying some last night as well. I'm not THAT old--only two years younger than Obama--yet I remember when I was very young and my mom or grandma would take us to the lunch counter in Woolworth's back home. Even at six years old I noticed that the black shoppers never ate there.

I was several years older before I asked why. I was floored to find out they weren't allowed to at the time.

In my lifetime to go from that to seeing an African-American elected president...

Gotta go. I'm crying again. :-)
Anonymous said…
We are thrilled that Obama won although mightily disappointed that Prop 8 passed. Guess my daughter was right when she decided to marry her Sweetie last Friday, just in case. (It was a lovely wedding, just 11 of the people they love most).
I think the thing I'm happiest about is the fact that we finally have an orator, a person who can get you pumped with his words and the delivery of them. And did you see that tender moment he had with his wife after his speech? These are two very intelligent, calm, people with a lovely family who will make an excellent impression on the whole world. SO tired of that bumbling joke of a 'leader', "W".
YAY!!

~~Doublesaj & Old Blue~~
Gina said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gina said…
Two images...Liam, my son, curled along my leg and clutching my hand while listening to the acceptance speech and saying afterwards, in the car ride home, "Mommy? ...I love you. I'm the luckiest boy in the world. I just can't believe it! (insert thumbs up and boy-noise here) And I got to see it - yea!" And later, sweetly -- "Is it true that he was just raised by his Mommy, too?" Then the satisfied sigh and sleepy grin before curling up into sleep.

We might just be o.k. after all...And in a lighter moment - stumbling up to the apartment at about 1 a.m. when the neighbor's dog starts barking. Two teenage boys were literally dancing down the street when one of them stops, hits the other one on the chest and says, "See?!! See?!?! Even the dogs is happy, man!" Liam and I yelled "Woo-hoo!" The boys yell back and dance in place at us in the window. The dog barks even more excitedly as a result and cars zoom down the street honking their horns - all wild, full-throated joy and instant community!
Anonymous said…
Tears, laughter, and intense joy. We believe Barack Obama's election echoes the desires of "We The People" to know that OUR government is in the hands of a thoughtful, intelligent, curious and compassionate man who knows us all. We have declared our desire to reclaim our freedoms as a people and our ideals as a country. We have given our children and grandchildren a better world.
Grumpy Grinch
Unknown said…
Well I think Obama is a socialist, that's what you call people who want to redistribute the wealth. It's a definition. And I am not happy about how the election turned out, but used to being on the "wrong" side in Massachusetts. But I am an American, have *always* been proud to be one, and someone whose stances I disagree with can't make me ashamed to be an American. It's still better than everywhere else! And when Obama becomes president I will pray for him to succeed every day.
It wouldn't have been an easy job for anyone to take over the economic mess that we have presently, caused by people on all sides of the aisles, not one president. I still don't understand why people think Obama is the person to do it, what financial experience does he have?
But I will root for him, and I will respect him and his office as long as he is in it.
Anonymous said…
Time will tell ,all who voted for

The Socialist Obama will regret it

God help America in the Obama

Presidency, Pray for our Country

In the words of Your Joe Biden

You Mark my words.....This Nation has just made a big Mistake
Funhog said…
I am wildly pleased that President Elect Obama has been chosen on the basis of the content of his character, not the color of his skin.

I'm also saddened that some folks are so displeased with the historic election result and am amazed that they are unable to see the "socialist" tag as an (unsuccessful) sales tool that McCain's handlers employed. I am hoping that during the next four years Obama can live up to his potential and every American will be filled with the joy that so many feel today.
Anonymous said…
NavyCop is worried about Obama taking away our rights. After eight years in CheneyBushWorld we don't have many rights left to take. Let's not forget that not too long ago people were actually being arrested--ARRESTED--for nothing more than wearing t-shirts that criticized mr. bush. When I hear people whining about Obama or Dems in general taking away their rights I wonder if their idea of rights involves anything more than guns and the "right" to discriminate against GBLTs.

(signed) Deeb and the Beep,
Atlasquest
HR Squirrel said…
I am so happy to see so many positive comments on here. Im starting to cry just reading them! Watching the acceptance speech I explained to my 8 and 4 year old why it was so important to so many people that Obama became president. To be honest I voted for him but had my doubts that it would ever happen. But it did! We did it!
Now we just have to make sure that we keep on this administrations butt so that they don't forget our issues, and who they represent. Shall we work on fixing the broken NCLB Act??
Anonymous said…
Well, for those that are curious, I spent 4 1/2 hours online reading up on Obama's voting record for his (ridiculously?) short tenure as a senator and I am not impressed. I, along with everyone else, was ready for a change as my comments don't label me a Republican, just a concerned citizen (and sailor having dedicated 19 years of my life to serving this country and thereby giving me the right to question our elected as well as allowing you all the right to do the same.) His voting record, things he has said in the past in speeches and interviews and such (all documented) have shown that his intentions may very well be not in line with the platform he used to gain office. I hope I am wrong, but until he has earned my trust and respect as a leader, I cannot approve of his election to this office.
ahistory said…
Diana, any tax system, including our own is a form of wealth distribution, so if that's your definition of a socialist than McCain, Bush and everyone else is a socialist as well.
Personally, I would prefer a progressive rather than the regressive tax system we have now. Why should I pay nearly a fifth of my earnings in taxes, when those making so much more money than me only have to pay a tenth? It time for the wealthy to pay their fair share of load.

I wish President-Elect Obama WAS a socialist. Then we might get a truly universal health care system that can control costs through the power of a single payer in the global market.
Laura said…
The last eight years has seen the greatest upward redistribution of wealth in the United States. By the definition offered in this discussion, that could also be called socialism; I call it obscene.

We are the richest country in the world, and far too many are still born into, and have to struggle with daily, poverty and disadvantage. It simply is not right.
Anonymous said…
ahistory said "Personally, I would prefer a progressive rather than the regressive tax system we have now. Why should I pay nearly a fifth of my earnings in taxes, when those making so much more money than me only have to pay a tenth? It time for the wealthy to pay their fair share of load."

that is obscene. the way you wrote that they would be paying double the percentage that you are paying and double is their fair share?
so you want someone doing better than you to pay a higher percentage? We all should only be paying 5% or whatever and make the government keep to a budget- I have to at home- reevaluate the welfare system- get those off it that can work but just do not want to and keep it for those who really cannot work for a real reason...do not let those on welfare use that money to buy anything other than the necessities - food, clothing and shelter. I do not have cable TV- so why are my tax dollars going to pay for someone's cable/cigarettes/beer/cell phone/ fancy designer clothing and pimped out automobile...

So if you do better you should get punished?????- I say go with a flat tax- one percentage for everyone ... no breaks for right-offs either- maybe for kids- since they cost more than anyone can tabulate!- but just the same percentage for everyone. not the same amount- so if you make $10,000 a year you pay 'x' percentage of that...the millionaire pays 'x' percentage of his millions. not the type of tax where we all kick in $5,000- some of us would not be able to pay and for some it is what they keep in their wallets.

I also agree with what someone said about this being a problem for which more than one person/political party is responsible.

Party/cheer if you want, but change is coming and it might not be the change you were thinking it would be.

My children were not so happy with this because they have been listening to both sides of the campaigns in public school (where it is heavily weighted liberalism) and they chose to not go with their friends and the crowds/teachers, ect. but thought that BO was to radical for the USA and were really disappointed upon waking Wednesday morning- knowing that this change was not for the good.

six stars
ajt said…
Anon six stars- hold on: you actually agree with ahistory! S/he is paying a fifth (20%) vs the tenth (10%) paid by the wealthy. You both agree that the proportion of taxation should be more equal across the board.

And yes, this is "redistribution of wealth." That's the entire original purpose of taxes. Most of us are unable to build bridges, roads, or schools by ourselves; we give up some of our income to the government and they coordinate and provide us with these services.

I, for one, am very excited to have elected a thoughtful, diplomatic, intelligent statesman. I look forward to having an administration that uses logic and values science.

It's going to take a lot of work, from everyone (citizens included) to bring the US into the next era. It won't be cheap and it won't be easy, and I believe we'll have to make some sacrifices. If you look to the future, though, there is no alternative.

We need to step it up ("evolve or die," as we say in the biosciences), and I hope that Obama will be able to get Americans off their butts and back to making the world a better place.
Anonymous said…
I hope the first thing Obama does is outlaw stupidity- I've been waiting for that for years.

Annalisa
Anonymous said…
For all of you that say your finally proud to be an American, shame on you. While I am not a big fan of the last 16 years (the government spends way to much of my money, when I have to work until June before the money I bring home stays home to take car of MY family), we must remember The United States of America is the FIRST western country to have elected a black leader. Through thick and thin I will ALWAYS be proud to be an American and I ALWAYS hold my head high.
km said…
This is the happiest I have been in... well, a long, long time. It's only slightly marred by the horrible results on Prop 8. But really, how wonderfully sad is it that this is the first time I've had any hope for this country in over 8 years?

And yes, I cried. More than once.

Popular Posts