Ruminations on an Election

[MsNomer]

I spent some time over the last couple of months helping to get college students registered to vote. I watched the campaign news like it was my religion. I put posters in my windows. I went to a rally. I stayed up late last night, watching over the election returns like a mother hen checking her eggs... like I do every 4 years. As the districts reported, I calculated the electoral votes myself, just to be sure. When the winner was called by the pundits, I waited for the numbers to back them up. I waited for the concession speech, I waited for the acceptance speech. I cried.

The concession speech was probably the most eloquent thing I have heard from McCain in over a year. The acceptance speech rang with such truth and sincerity that I fully expect to hear pieces of it quoted for a long time. I took a breath. It felt like the first breath I have taken in at least 8 years. I cried as Obama took the stage and began to thank all those people that helped to put him there, called for unity and cooperation and sacrifice. I feel as if the United States of my youth, a country I can feel pride in, has been returned to me. It has been far too long since the nation has experienced and invested in such a sense of hope as we are lucky enough to have at this shining moment.

I hope for better days. I hope for other nations to see us as we once were, respectful and respectable, humble and helpful, honorable and honest. I don't know what the tone of the nation was when Kennedy sat in the White House. I was far too young. I do know how fondly others, who were so fortunate, speak of those times, and I have hope that we will bring a generation into this world knowing that optimism, pride and well-being.

I feel renewed. My faith in my fellow Americans is restored and I feel God Blessed to live in the greatest nation once again.

Some people I respect told me as I was growing up, "Attitude is everything." It's completely true.

[DrPepperPro]

Still 2 and a half(?) more months of joyful pain. I'm not really as excited that Obama is elected. Although he was for certain a much better candidate than McCain, I don't think he will be able to change America from a superpower of the superpowered companies, to a superpower with super companies.

But ya I agree the "appearance" of the nation will change for the better.

[Starnum]

Yeah, I know how you feel MsNomer. I'm right there with ya.

[MsNomer]

Apparently, a lot of people share my sentiments. My mother just called to tell me she had sent these words to a friend of hers in Colorado and that friend has asked permission to forward them on to others. Looks like MsNomer's going viral! There are worse things, I guess.

Gas prices are down and Obama is headed to the White House! Things are looking up.

[newbified]

Our gas prices went up another .04¢ a litre today...

Oh well. Still better than the $1.37 it was for a litre 2 months ago.

Yay Canada.

[Eldo]

I was going to make a thread like this once I could spare the time to from studying since there wasn't one made. I knew someone would do it sooner or later.

I was going to lose all hope in the American people if McCain won. I think Obama has already made change before starting his term in office - he got people to vote. I never really understood why it isn't compulsory for Americans to vote, I've always thought of it as an obligation and responsibility of the people to decide how their country will be run. What I derived from the turnout is that more people in America care about their country, and not taking things for granted. This will stay the course for future elections and more people will still informed on events happening in their country in order to make an informed decision, methinks. I hope people didn't vote because Oprah told them to, but because they care about the country.

[MsNomer]

I hope people didn't vote because Oprah told them to, but because they care about the country.

I can assure you, people did not vote because Oprah told us to, but more likely because EVERYONE told everyone else to. This campaign and election was too important for people to rely on their standard complacency. We have long been embarrassed about the man that has occupied the White House for the last eight years. He has shamed us in front of the rest of the world. Oddly, people here did not reach this critical mass in order to elect our first black president, but to elect an intelligent, competent, steady leader. His skin is irrelevant to everyone I speak to. He just seems like the best man for the job and we hang our hopes on him.

[Starnum]

Yeah, I'm pretty much of the same mind as MsNomer. I even wrote a big blog entry about my thoughts and feelings on the election and such. I don't watch Oprah, but I wanted Obama to win because he embodies a lot of policies I'd like to see put to action. Its nice to feel like I have a president that I chose again. I've been quite displeased with what my country's been doing the last eight years, and I have high hopes that Obama will begin to pave the way to a better America that I can be proud of again.

What gets me is how my republican sister-in-law is still voicing concerns that Obama "refuses to salute the flag". I just don't get how people can buy into such ridiculous rumors, without checking the facts for themselves. I mean, some people base elections on some of the most inane things, such as appearance or ignorant scare tactics, and it boggles my mind. All I care about is the facts and the issues, I have no concern for wild accusations. I think the next administration will speak for itself. Lets just wait and listen, but I'm betting they will have a lot of great and promising things to say and do.

[Eldo]

What gets me is how my republican sister-in-law is still voicing concerns that Obama "refuses to salute the flag". I just don't get how people can buy into such ridiculous rumors, without checking the facts for themselves. I mean, some people base elections on some of the most inane things, such as appearance or ignorant scare tactics, and it boggles my mind. All I care about is the facts and the issues, I have no concern for wild accusations. I think the next administration will speak for itself. Lets just wait and listen, but I'm betting they will have a lot of great and promising things to say and do.

Just personally, or maybe because I'm not that patriotic, I think saluting the flag is unnecessary and meaningless. I think loving your country is important, but things done in excess can make people arrogant as well as ignorant. Just my two cents, feel free to disagree.

[Starnum]

No, I totally agree with you. I don't always salute the flag, actually I usually don't, especially during the national anthem. I'll stand and face the flag, but I don't see a need to salute. Obama didn't salute one time during the anthem, not the pledge of alliance, but he did stand. Besides, it was at a cook-out. They weren't even at an official political observation. Republicans just blew the whole thing out of proportion, it's totally stupid. Honestly I think they were just trying to compensate for their weak ass policies. Maybe if they had run a better game and actually had some good things to offer besides spreading rumors and clinging to wild accusations such as Obama is a terrorist because he had a mild association with William Ayers twenty years ago, well then maybe McCain wouldn't have lost by a landslide. I'm not a bad winner, in fact I felt my candidate was the underdog in this race, and I'm amazed that we won, and very proud. Some of you know that I'm kind of a conspiracy theorist. I've long since believed that the government is corrupt. However this election has given me faith in the voting process once again, and that in itself is a pretty impressive feat, in my opinion. Also I think the way Obama got so many people out to vote, especially the youth, is a testament to his potential. I mean he's already doing great things and he hasn't even been inaugurated yet. Of course, things aren't just going to magically get better over night, but at least now we can start working to make a difference without the iron grip of the greedy to stop us at every turn.

I just can't stand to hear the republicans, at least some of them, especially in my state which was one of the reddest sadly, still going on with these racist comments and ignorant accusations. Obama won, people just need to accept that. If they're truly patriotic, they need to start supporting their president-elect. He won fair and square. At least he didn't cheat like Bush did the first time around. I consider it cheating anyway. It's not like he's Bush, who completely disgraced us all over the world. They need to actually give Obama a chance, I know he's going to do good things, just wait and see. He hasn't even made it into office yet and people are giving him a hard time. Well I can assure you he's FAR more capable than Bush ever was, and he'll prove it. If not, I'll eat my hat and a slice of humble pie at the same time. That's a lot more than most republicans will commit too. Even after Bush made a mess of everything they still can't concede to the fact that he's a total douche bag idiot. Worst American president, ever.

One thing I will add, McCain gave a great concessional speech. He earned some respect from me with that speech, and if the rest of his followers and party would show such class, I think that'd be great. As Mr. McCain said, we need to put aside our differences and start working together.

[MsNomer]

Even after Bush made a mess of everything they still can't concede to the fact that he's a total douche bag idiot. Worst American president, ever.

One thing I will add, McCain gave a great concessional speech. He earned some respect from me with that speech, and if the rest of his followers and party would show such class, I think that'd be great. As Mr. McCain said, we need to put aside our differences and start working together.

I edited out your color. It burns! It burns!

That said, I have to inform you that according to my learned political science and history professor friends, Buchannan was the worst American President EVER. He set the stage for the civil war... Although Bush got us involved in two wars in the Middle East and completely destabilized an entire portion of the globe, my professors will only allow that Bush is the Second Worst President Ever. Personally, I would like to see him drawn and quartered for breaking the economy, war crimes, crimes against the State (disassembling the Constitution) and mangling the English language.

[DrPepperPro]

My candidate lost

[MsNomer]

HaHaHa! O_o

[Starnum]

Bigfoot / Nessie, w00t! They should run again in '12, I'll vote for 'em.

[Artezul]

Some pictures I picked up while surfing:






Hopefully this isn't just another passing moment in time.

[Starnum]

Hopefully this isn't just another passing moment in time.

I don't think it will be, but its up to us to make something of it.

I think everyone's a lot more focused on the issues now because of this though, and we're not going to forget anytime soon.

[Artezul]

So much for my optimism, the country's receiving a surge in racists and hate-crimes. I can't say I'm surprised, but the prejudice against people who are simply affiliated with Obama (as in support / voted for him) is worrisome.

[The Herald]

When Mario Party 5 came out in 2004 they were using this as an ad. I think it's really funny because that was the year that Bush was running for his second term, and I always felt that Mario would have made a better president, even if he is a fictional plumber who's high on mushrooms all the time.

[Starnum]

Speaking of the Obama Administration. I can't believe they tried to pass that bill to have veterans with personal insurance removed from the VA Roll. That's just ridiculous guys. I hope they don't make any more snafu's like this, I'd hate for them to start loosing anymore favor.

[Mail]

Out of curiosity, does everyone still feel the same way about the Obama administration? Any new thoughts on what he's done well and what he hasn't done?

[Rolos]

I think this article pretty much sums up my opinion.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/democr ... ing,18333/

Or may it doesn't. Ok, it doesn't. THIS one does:

http://www.theonion.com/video/no-values ... and,14250/

Or may be I was just looking for an excuse to post those articles/videos somewhere.
We will never know~!
Oooooooh! Ooooooh! whoooosh! Mysterious~!

[DrPepperPro]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw4GsjcsP24

[War Machine]

I'm still relatively content with the president, and I'm sure he's doing a much better job than McCain could've ever hoped to dream he could do. All the rubes at congress are the ones that I feel have failed me repeatedly.

And by the way, here's Barack Obama appearing on The Daily Show with John Stewart (a sitting president, on TV, on a news program, from a cable comedy channel. It doesn't get more historic than this):
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-o ... bama-pt--1
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-o ... bama-pt--2
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-o ... bama-pt--3