'08 Results

[Lurker]

McCain was classy, gracious, and kinder than I've seen him in months. It made me wonder if this McCain were on the campaign trail without Sarah Palin, with someone with as much character as he has, with more grace and intellectual maturity - maybe he would have won. Maybe I would have voted for him.

Don't confuse being gracious in defeat with having character. McCain is doing what he thinks is in his best interest just as he did during the campaign. Right now his best interest is served by being classy and gracious and kind. During the campaign he thought his interest was served by appealing to the worst of human nature. There's no McCain from 2000, McCain from the campaign, and McCain from his concession speech. They are all the same guy; a self-serving erratic ass.

The mandate or landslide did not happen and I hope he continues efforts to unite.

You don't call 52-46 and 364 - 174 a mandate and landslide? I do.

And of course Obama will continue to reach out and try to build consensus. That doesn't mean that he "governs from the middle" or won't push legislation that the Republicans sometimes oppose.

[Rsak]

No 52 % to 46% is not a landslide by any meaning of the word.

And i wouldn't expect him to only do things that everyone could agree with. I may disagree with individual bills/laws, but I respect that that is what winning the election means.

[Harlowe]

An acquaintance of mine was there last night in Grant Park and she wrote this...

As some of you know, I spent election night in Grant Park with President-elect Obama. Needless to say, it was probably the most intense experience I have ever had in my life. The energy was electric, people were cheering for every state called, and when the west coast came in and Obama was announced as our next President, the crowd just erupted. I hugged everyone around me and cried. Everyone was crying. Everyone was cheering. I could never describe to you guys the energy going on there that would do it justice. We laughed, cried, and sang until President elect Obama came on the stage. At that moment, I lost everything, and had to lean on the person next to me. This was it. We did it. Goddamn did we do it! All the hard work and tears for the last two years led to this. We elected the first African American president in American history...by a landslide. And if this wasn't historic enough, not since 9/11 had we been so connected and supportive of each other. This man brings us together like no one has done before. And as all this flashed before me, in a pool of surreal thoughts, swirling through my head....he started to speak.

There was a tiredness to him. He was still the same man, but the energetic youthfulness that he possessed so early in the primaries has seemed to be absent, and left in the wake is a chiseled, strong man. Yet still, very tired. You could tell tonight was bittersweet for him. Both of his parents were not there to share the moment with him, and his biggest supporter had died the night before, 24 hours short of seeing her grandson make history. This hardness that was there, we could all see it. We felt it. His presence was commanding, and something that nations across the world will see and breathe a sigh relief. They can know that we did the right thing for ourselves and for everyone affected by us.

As his hard, yet tired demeanor kept us entranced, his words kept us hopeful. He told us how hard the future will be, and how far this thing is really from being over. We came together and sacrificed to get him here, now we have to focus our energies in helping each other. We have to take part in our government, and not be afraid to speak up. Sure, he will make mistakes. And of course, he will do things we don't all agree with. But he will talk to us, and work with us, and never hide anything from us. He wants the reign of shrouded tactics and policies running Washington to stop, and he wants to give it back to us. He knows how much work has to be done, and we know what toll it will take on him...and us. But we have to be hopeful. Because what we did tonight was something they said we'd never do. It was something that seemed impossible. And yet here we are. This fact alone is a testament to the power of the American people. He talked of a woman who lived a century and had seen so much.He told us to put ourselves in that position and think about what we'd like to see.He called us to our duty and told us about how important it is for us to be involved, so we have a say on what progress can be made in the next century. And he ended with uplifting us, repeating the mantra that brought people to the polls in record numbers, brought down institutions we thought were unbeatable, that brought Americans together in a way never seen before, and that mantra that gave us all the hope we needed after such a grueling 8 years. Yes we can.

And we all cheered and wept and chanted and were caught in a splendor of joy and victory. For tonight, we can feel that. What we did was truly something worth celebrating. But tomorrow is another day. The future will be hard, and we have a lot of work to do. President Obama will need all the help he can get in pulling this country back together, and we know now how truly important our voices are. And although it will be hard, we will make it through, because we are Americans. When the chips are stacked against us, we go all in, and end up taking it all. The American spirit and passion was alive last night, and by electing Obama as our next president, it will be alive for many years to come.

[Lurker]

My brother was near Grant park and he hasn't written me a damn thing yet!

Thanks for sharing that. Nice to have a thoughtful first hand account.

[Taxious]

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

I know it's petty, but I love that he always acknowledges the little guys. Gay being the one and only minority group I belong to, it's fun to hear him at least say it instead of skirting around the issue like it doesn't exist.

[wende darling]

LOL, I knew it was 44th and don't know why I typed 42nd. Oh well. I've never been a bright one

I've already heard the "OMG, you voted for a socialist. Just wait and see. Your kids will be forced to volunteer in China for 2 years as soon as they turn 18 and you'll be sorry!"

I don't know that I'd call the win a landslide, but I'd certainly call it a solid win. Considering I thought it would be a nail biter down to the very end and we might wake up this morning still not having an answer I'm surprised at how far spread the votes were. I think McCain was already fighting an uphill battle, already thought of as the second (third?) coming of Bush and he screwed himself even more by bringing in Pallin as his running mate. He certainly did a good job of helping Obama win with that one.

[Embar Angylwrath]

It was the biggest margin win for a Dem since LBJ.

[Kulaf]

I assume you mean a non-incumbent....because Clinton won relection with bigger margins.

Grats to Obama....if he manages to reign in Pelosi and Reid I will believe all of the bipartisan rhetoric.....but until then it is just that to me.

[Freecare Spiritwise]

Don't confuse being gracious in defeat with having character. McCain is doing what he thinks is in his best interest just as he did during the campaign. Right now his best interest is served by being classy and gracious and kind. During the campaign he thought his interest was served by appealing to the worst of human nature. There's no McCain from 2000, McCain from the campaign, and McCain from his concession speech. They are all the same guy; a self-serving erratic ass.

My prediction was that his concession speech would attempt to be gracious but still come across as self-serving, and I just didn't see that. He came across to me as geniunely gracious and humble.

While the way he ran his campaign was totally inexcusable, shameful and even harmful, I think he did show geniune character in defeat. Was that character there all along, and maybe he just lost his way, or did something click there at the end? All I know is that I didn't see one ounce of good character from him the entire campaign until his concession speech. Too little too late for sure, but it does make me wonder.

Obama on the other hand ran a nearly perfect campaign. His message was coherent, consistent and disciplined from the first day until election day. He was cool under pressure and a class act all the way. If he runs the country the same way he ran his campaign, we should be in good shape. But expectations of him are almost ridiculous, so hopefully he'll deliver.

I know it's petty, but I love that he always acknowledges the little guys. Gay being the one and only minority group I belong to, it's fun to hear him at least say it instead of skirting around the issue like it doesn't exist.

It wasn't petty to me. Making the process all inclusive I thought was one of the aspects of his campaign that really set him apart. Unity over division - it's what we need as a country.

[Partha]

No 52 % to 46% is not a landslide by any meaning of the word

If 51-48 is a mandate, then 52-46 is a landslide by most people's book.

[Rsak]

The first is not a mandate, and the second is not a landslide. If you had 50.1 - 49.9 and every state was the same color then that would be an electoral landslide. Since that did not happen the electoral college doesn't mean anything and we have to look at the popular vote where 52 - 46 just doesn't really muster to a landslide.

Here are some real landslides:

* Theodore Roosevelt's 56.4% to Alton B. Parker's 37.6% in the 1904 presidential election
* Warren Harding's 60.3% to James Cox's 34.1% in the 1920 presidential election
* Franklin D. Roosevelt's 60.8% to Alf Landon`s 36.5% in the 1936 presidential election
* Lyndon Johnson's 61.1% to Barry Goldwater's 38.5% in the 1964 presidential election
* Richard Nixon's 60.7% to George McGovern's 37.5% in the 1972 presidential election
* Ronald Reagan's 58.8% to Walter Mondale's 40.6% in the 1984 presidential election

[Harlowe]

Interesting article by Joe Klien of Time Magazine
http://www.time.com/time/politics/artic ... 49,00.html

….SNIP
The other phenomenon was a person. I was talking to a local businessman named Bill Farnham, who wasn't yet sure whom he was voting for, "but I'm really impressed with the organizer Obama sent out here. His name is Nate Hundt, and he's really become part of the community." As he spoke, several other Algonans gathered around and began recounting tales of the young organizer who had come straight to Algona after graduating from Yale six months earlier. Hundt had opened a campaign headquarters in the H&R Block office downtown, joined a local environmental group, shown up for the high school football games. He was a constant presence at civic events. Eventually, Hundt became so much a part of the community that the town leaders asked him to stay on after the caucuses and run for city council. But Hundt had other work to do. The Obama campaign sent him to Colorado, Ohio and North Carolina during the long primary season, then back to Colorado Springs for the general election. "I'm still in touch with my friends from Algona," Hundt said. "In fact, a few of them have come out here to help canvass. But I'm not unique. There are a lot of us who had similar experiences."

Indeed, there are — an army of them, untold thousands of young organizers operating out of more than 700 offices nationwide. And they have delivered a message to Rudy Giuliani, who sneered during the Republican National Convention that he didn't even know "what a community organizer is." This is who they are: they are the people who won this election. They were the heart and soul and backbone of Barack Obama's victory. They are destined to emerge as the next significant generation of American political operatives — similar to the antiwar and antisegregation baby boomers who dominated the Democratic Party after cutting their teeth on the Bobby Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy campaigns of 1968, similar to the pro-life, antitax Reaganauts who dominated the Republican Party and American politics from the election of 1980 ... until now. They are a preview of the style and substance of the Obama Administration.

Obama's victory creates the prospect of a new "real" America. We can't possibly know its contours yet, although I suspect the headline is that it is no longer homogeneous. It is no longer a "white" country, even though whites remain the majority. It is a place where the primacy of racial identity — and this includes the old, Jesse Jackson version of black racial identity — has been replaced by the celebration of pluralism, of cross-racial synergy. After eight years of misgovernance, it has lost some of its global swagger ... but also some of its arrogance. It may no longer be as dominant, economically or diplomatically, as it once was. But it is younger, more optimistic, less cynical. It is a country that retains its ability to startle the world — and in a good way, with our freedom. It is a place, finally, where the content of our President's character is more important than the color of his skin.

One other thing: this is a country whose President-elect's middle name is Hussein. That is a fact to be celebrated. I received an email from a young friend, an entrepreneur in Kabul, this morning. He said, "We are all smiling now," and he attached a Pakistani press clipping--the Taliban greeted the new President and said they were ready to commence talks.
This has been a long, emotional, intellectually exhausting campaign for me. It's been a privilege to share it with all of you. Thanks for your interest and your provocation. We are in for interesting times--and I'm hoping we'll continue to do it together.

Guiliani & Palin sneering about "Community Organizers" seems kind of silly now.

[Partha]

The first is not a mandate, and the second is not a landslide.

Didn't ever notice you arguing that 2000 wasn't a mandate. Your quibbles are petty.

[xilly]

As a Republican, I'm sad to see McCain losing.. but Obama's speech was quite good last night. Let's just hope he can deliver on half the shit he promises, cause he's got a tall order to fill.

On a side note, I witnessed one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen on television last night as well. When McCain delivered a very gracious defeat speech, he really showed his class.. but for the crowd to boo when he mentioned that Obama won, was just fucking vile. That embarrassed me as a Republican and damn near makes me want to turn my back on the entire party. Shame on those people.

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

Boyfriend went in today to get his hair cut, and admittedly it had been several months since he got a hair cut, and he asked for a "high and tight". The guys in the barber shop, not just the barbers but patrons as well were talking about "fucking nigger" this and "fucking nigger" that. When he asked for a high and tight they asked if he was "shaving his head for any particular reason". Needless to say they did shave his head essentially, and did not give him a high and tight. I'm simply appalled at the reaction of some people, my friends included, to the fact their candidate did not win. this country needs to pull together, and like it or not he's going to be the President, people should be glad we have the freedom to chose (and win, or lose) and not have a dictator.

Personally I would have accepted the win of John McCain and been happy that I had the opportunity to be involved in such an election, or any election for that matter. I don't understand the pettiness of some people.

[Freecare Spiritwise]

Boyfriend went in today to get his hair cut, and admittedly it had been several months since he got a hair cut, and he asked for a "high and tight". The guys in the barber shop, not just the barbers but patrons as well were talking about "fucking nigger" this and "fucking nigger" that. When he asked for a high and tight they asked if he was "shaving his head for any particular reason". Needless to say they did shave his head essentially, and did not give him a high and tight.

Why did your boyfriend even get that far into the transaction? I can *almost* understand why he wouldn't have said a few choice words to those assholes - discretion is the better part of valor I guess - but I can't for the life of me understand why he let them give him a haircut.

[Rsak]

Didn't ever notice you arguing that 2000 wasn't a mandate. Your quibbles are petty.

Why would I need to argue that? It was a flip between popular vote and electoral college, and only an idiot would think that implied a mandate. So in your twisted mind because I didn't argue against it.. I must have been for it. Get a clue.

[Partha]

It was a flip between popular vote and electoral college, and only an idiot would think that implied a mandate.

A large sampling of idiots against whom damn little was said, even when people on this very board brought up the argument that Bush had no 'mandate'.

Like so many things, you didn't outright approve it; you just ducked your head and pretended to ignore it. Which is why I find your current squabbling with the term as expressed by Lurker to be as hypocritical and impervious to reason as most of your nattering.

[Tarfang_Trubasher]

As a Republican, I'm sad to see McCain losing.. but Obama's speech was quite good last night. Let's just hope he can deliver on half the shit he promises, cause he's got a tall order to fill.

On a side note, I witnessed one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen on television last night as well. When McCain delivered a very gracious defeat speech, he really showed his class.. but for the crowd to boo when he mentioned that Obama won, was just fucking vile. That embarrassed me as a Republican and damn near makes me want to turn my back on the entire party. Shame on those people.

The bold is mine -- I've heard the opposite from several Republican's. Some were even relieved he lost. I can't say I completely disagree. It was coupled with phrases like "it took Carter to get Reagan." Maybe the next 4 years will allow for re-organization and a lot of thinking about "who we are as a party." I'm also inclined to agree that a third/fourth party is being born. I won't call it the "Socialist Party" like many of the others have because it can happen on either side. Not to mention, we already have one here in the States. For all I know, it could be the "Right-Wing Whackjobs Party (which I would happily, likely join)."

There were splits down both of the two major parties this election year. The Conservatives split from the Republicans, one reason being what Xilly pointed out, embarrassment for the party. Conservative views are no longer expressed. John McCain was the best we could do?! The addition of Sarah Palin helped, but she was undoubtedly a puppet. Likely used for the "any press is good press" or the "wow-factor" of having a woman on board. Conservatives STILL don't have a home. That is a reason I think so many switched to the Obama camp -- he shifted center enough to catch their eye. Let's hope he can stay that way.

I think I saw a similar split with the Liberals and the Democrats, though not as pronounced. For the record, I give a *nod* to that party for at least trying (and succeeding) to hold their ship together.

Now that the election is over, I just hope people won't shift their focus off of the big challenges we still have ahead. I'm still waiting for the "See, we told you we'd lower gas prices!" from Congress. Keep your sights on your Congresspeople too...

-TF

[Lurker]

Rsak was very deliberate to jump back and forth between the terms "mandate" and "landslide".

Of course Obama has a mandate. He should do everything in his power to enact the policies he ran on.

Whether it was a landslide or not is debatable - I think it was given how close recent elections have been and the size of his victory - but it's a debate without a purpose. Who cares.

But hey, if Republicans want to play wet blanket and try to claim he doesn't have a mandate more power to them. Sarah Palin 2012!