Obama victory sets off jubilation across U.S.

Congratulations!

Yes, Congratulations! Yes We Can.

Obama victory sets off jubilation across U.S. - and everywhere US troops are stationed worldwide!

"jubilation across the U.S."

Not for the 48% of Americans who voted for McCain. This election was very close.

The Electoral College system saved us from an Al Gore presidency, but I would like to see it scrapped in favor of a direct popular vote.

The Electoral College system saved us from an Al Gore presidency, but I would like to see it scrapped in favor of a direct popular vote.

It's OK, Sarge. We forgive you.

the TV news announced the llinois senator had been elected the first black president.

Correction: first mixed president. He is half black and half white by my reckoning. But it is still worth celebrating, and is now completely possible that we will one day have a president with even more non-white appearance. I just hope we get the best person despite race, gender, or any other petty crap people worry about.

i wonder what Sean Hannity will talk about now?

Dude - The Obama victory also sets off deep concern everywhere U.S. troops are stationed.

Dude - The Obama victory also sets off deep concern everywhere U.S. troops are stationed.

It's OK, Sarge. We forgive you.

sarge: numbers are still coming in, I believe. The vote is now 51%-47%, so regardless of whether it's the electoral college or popular vote, Obama had it hands down.

I feel sympathy for those who voted McCain only in somuch as they must really be hurting right now. Beyond that, I feel no sympathy for them, though I am happy they got out and expressed themselves in voting for whom they wished to win.

Anyway, congratulations, USA! Never has there been such jubilation break out spontaneously across the nation for a presidential election, or around the world for that matter (for a US election).

It's a great victory for common sense. It is also a huge vote of no confidence in eight years of Bush Republicanism. From the present economic meltdown to a disastrous war in Iraq, the past eight years has been a black period in American leadership and policies. Thank God it's over.

I wonder how Ron Paul would have done. The white rural rump party needs a makeover.

Even more amazing is that Obama's 'black' side is an African man from Kenya, not a Black American male whose ancestors have been in the U.S. for centuries. So he is truly multicultural

buttamimi - VERY well said!

smith - 51% to 47% is nearly as close as Bush's victory over Kerry.

Obama and his campaign team have out-thought, out-played and out-performed not only the GOP ticket, but also the two most formidable forces in U.S. politics - the Clintons and the Republican Slime Machine.

On just his first attempt.

This really is an incredible achievement whichever way you look at it.

It's also a wonderful day for African Americans and minority groups everywhere, not to mention an unmitigated repudiation of the Bush/Rove slime tactics and a convincing end to one nation's dark history of racism.

America, in just 1 short day, has regained a significant amount of shine lost during the last 8 disastrous years under Bush/Cheney, who will leave office in January with nothing but failure on their records.

Well done and congratulations America.

This truly is a great day.

Great to see mccain and palin have been deservedly shafted by the majority of American voters.

USA! USA! USA!

Michelle Obama is going to be a hot First Lady.

Damn, I am over the moon about this! :-)

SushiSake3 - I couldn't agree more! Enjoy, my friend!

Funny thing is, McCain has had the rug pulled out from under him by the same people - twice.

Bush's slime team spread ugly rumors about mccain in 2000 (including that his black adopted child is a love child) costing him his chances, then mccain - stupidly - hires most of the same slime team that destroyed him in 2000, they use similar tactics on Obama, and candidate mccain loses again!

LOL!!!

Correction: first mixed president. He is half black and half white by my reckoning. But it is still worth celebrating, and is now completely possible that we will one day have a president with even more non-white appearance. I just hope we get the best person despite race, gender, or any other petty crap people worry about.

ever heard that song by public enemy? certain people consider someone black if they have the slightest of black ancestry .

smith - 51% to 47% is nearly as close as Bush's victory over Kerry.

Sarge but he won in the states with the most electoral votes and that counts. (i never understood that system anyway)

Sarah Palin - sure, she's easy on the eye - when she's not talking, but can you imagine 4 YEARS of her inane shrieking!???

Not to mention her 'I can see Russia from my house so I'm strong on national security' total mumbo.

Too funny and a great decision by the majority of Americans to deny her and john mccain the White House!

Sushi - Well buddy, you and I part ways on this one. I damn near voted for McCain just so Saturday Night Live could continue writing great skits with Tina Fey mocking Palin!

Hmmm... is Tina Fey married, I wonder?

USAFdude - that's OK. It's not like it's a falling out or anything, well, nothing like the way America has fallen out with the McCain-Palin Celebrity Ticket, ha ha ha!!!

TV news announced the llinois senator had been elected the first black president.

Actually, back in the 1920's Pres. Harding was said to be "part black" since one of his great grandparents was thought to be African American. Some of the political attacks he faced were based on this fact. Same thing was said about Abraham Lincoln, and his second term VP Andrew Johnson (they were thought to be of mixed blood).

Whatever the case, I have to give Obama his moment. But I remember back this time in 1976 when the jubilation for Jimmy Carter swept the nation. We all see how he turned out. He was also liked around the world too as I recall.

Sushi - OK, point taken. But ya gotta admit, Tina was spot on, ne?

I'm underwhelmed with excitement, but anyone, even a dead sheep, is better than bush.

Reactions + photos from around the world -

www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/04/reactions-around-the-worl_n_141187.html

Those Aussies sure know a good thing when they see it :-)

I'm still struggling to understand - how come millions and millions of foreigners - especially those dreaded Euro-Types - were able to better read the mood of the American electorate than Republicans?

Heh, I'll continue thinking about this question while I'm downing celebratory champagne tonight after work :-)

You're welcome. :)

SuperLib - thanks for voting for Obama.

Appreciated!

I'm looking forward to Sarah Palin blaming the 'gotcha!' Liberal media elite for this huge loss that will hurl her and the old guy into the trash heap of history!

I've got to say, it's nice to have faith in Americans again. :-)

certain people consider someone black if they have the slightest of black ancestry .

Well, I consider myself to be Vulcan. After all, I am pretty logical!

Obama can be as black or white on the inside as he wants. It does not change his DNA make-up however.

Al Quaeda leadership will be sobbing that their man mcCain didn't win :-)

"Obama and his campaign team have out-thought, out-played and out-performed not only the GOP ticket"

Give me a break - the financial crisis ( caused mainly by Democrat policies ) handed Obama the presidency on a silver platter. He could have picked his nose and eaten some buggers during the debates and he still would have won.

Dennis - "I never understood that system ( the Electoral College system )anyway"

It blows. It was designed to give low-population states more voting power. I will admit, though, it did save us from an Al Gore presidency. This may be an electoral landslide, but the fact remains that only 52% of the voters voted for Obama. That means nearly half of the voters didn't want Obama. We are a seriously divided country.

USAFdude: "Tina ( Fey ) was spot on, ne"

Real Americans don't say "spot on" - we say "awesome!"

Heh, the Obama presidency is going to provide SNL and the late-nite shows with far more material than Bush, Cheney, McCain and Palin combined!

"Al Quaeda leadership will be sobbing that their man mcCain didn't win"

They're firing rockets in celebration in Gaza.

And The Reverend Jackson is in tears. The same Reverend Jackson who said he'd like to cut off Obama's nuts! Ha ha ha!

And The Reverend Jackson is in tears. The same Reverend Jackson who said he'd like to cut off Obama's nuts! Ha ha ha!

Sarge, mark my words, the first sign of the Dems breaking ranks will come from the good Rev. Jackson. Since Obama has to give up his Senate seat, the IL governor will appoint another Dem. Jessie's son is a prime candidate (currently in the US House) but Obama will be wise to keep the distance between himself and Jackson to soothe the other 50 million that did not vote for him. So my guess from that you will see the first splinters in the Dems.

I give them a good 8 months, and just like with Carter when Obama does not do exactly as he said he would will the good times wear off.

But, even though I did not vote for him, I have to give him his moment.

Preach on Sarge...

One thing though.

Heh, the Obama presidency is going to provide SNL and the late-nite shows with far more material than Bush, Cheney, McCain and Palin combined!

It would, if they told jokes about democrats. But they don't. Its off limits to do that. Only 1 in 10 jokes on late night TV are about dems, the rest are about republicans. Don't know what the comedians are going to do now, they're either going to have to start making fun of Democrats, or come up with something new.

Well, I would have preferred that McCain had won but my hat's off to Obama and his team. His campaign raised prodigous amounts of money in both the primary and general and the candidate himself stayed on message and comitted relatively few gaffes.

I'm proud of my country for having elected its first black president and wish Mr. Obama well. I just hope he chooses not to indulge the protectionist wing of his party or pass card check legistlation. Such actions could only exacerbate the economic malaise.

All in all, I think John McCain ran a creditable campaign. He did well to win 47% of the vote given the state of the economy, Bush's unpopularity and the unbalanced media coverage. I don't think any of his competitors for the Republican nominsation could have done as well.

All in all, I think John McCain ran a creditable campaign. He did well to win 47% of the vote given the state of the economy, Bush's unpopularity and the unbalanced media coverage. I don't think any of his competitors for the Republican nominsation could have done as well.

You're right of course given all those factors, McCain did run a good campaign, but I think you're wrong when you suggest others wouldn't have done as well. Romney for example. Romney is widely viewed as someone who could handle the economy. He's conservative, and with him coming from Massachusets, with deep roots in Michigan, he could quite possibly carried either or both of those states. And with the concern about the economy, many of those voters would have sided with him as well. The only place he would have had difficulty would have been the south.

No, I think if Mitt Romney had been the nominee, it would have been different. Not necessarily. It would have been tough to overcome the first black nominee regardless. Too many people voted for skin color, rather then policies.

molenir,

If people voted on skin color obama wold have lost. he won white votes, latino votes in huge numbers. That is why gained a landslide victory.

Romney would have lost even more badly that McCain. Everyone knows how much a liar he is, he clearly showed that in the primaries. He lied about attending MLKs march in Washington DC with his Dad for example.

Bush poisoned the election for all repubs. McCain was the only chance the repubs had and it was a long shot. Bush is to be thanked for electing a black liberal senator.

Imperium,

I thought Ruskies were banned from this board.

Putin needs you man, go home and help him destroy his country. The US does not need immigrants who hate democracy.

"Bush is to be thanked for electing a black liberal senator"

No, the financial crisis and voters who didn't think clearly are to be blamed for electing a liberal senator. ( skin color is unimportant to me )

"a landslide victory"

53% to 47% - Wow, a real landslide!

Zurcronium - You are misunderstanding me when I say Obama was elected because people voted on skin color. I don't say that in a derogatory way either. Nor do I mean to say people are racists. They aren't. If anything, the opposite of this is true. What I think happened, in large measure, is that many people who were undecided, and for the most part young, thought to themselves, well, we can put an old white guy in, or we can vote in a young black guy. Lets go with the Black guy! Whites, and blacks, young and old, thought this. Some of my family heard this idea from co-workers and schoolmates. This is what I mean, when I say that Obama got elected by the color of his skin, not despite his being black, but rather because he was black.

You're right though of course that Bush poisoned the electorate. Romney wasn't viewed as a liar though. He was viewed by the Republican base as the best chance to win, and a lot better bet then McCain. Unfortunately the sentiment that causes a lot of lost elections... "Its his turn." Came to play, and so we were stuck with McCain who I never really thought had much of a chance against anyone. Particularly in this political climate.

Romney is widely viewed as someone who could handle the economy. He's conservative, and with him coming from Massachusets, with deep roots in Michigan, he could quite possibly carried either or both of those states.

He certainly would have had more appeal to a segment of the social conservatives - although not necessarily evangelicals like Huckabee who loathe the Mormons - but would he have had as much appeal as McCain to independents and disaffected Democrats. I don't think so. McCain had crossover appeal.

It would have been tough to overcome the first black nominee regardless.

I would agree that there was, if anything, a reverse-Bradley effect going on among whites and that black turn-out was exceptionally high. That said, I think Obama's victory had more to do with the political climate - and Obama's huge spending advantage. Let's not forget that. What proportion of the five percentage points that separated McCain and Obama in the popular vote do you suppose can be attributed to the fact that Obama outspent McCain by 2-1 or more?