Barack Obama – 52%
John McCain – 46%
The anti-Bush backlash is complete. Barack Obama (D-IL) will become the 44th president of the United States of America, and take with him solid Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress (as of now, 54-44-2 in the Senate, and 248-187-1 in the House Of Representatives). This gives Democrats a level of governmental power not seen since the days of Jimmy Carter. For the sake of our country, I sincerely hope this Democratic rule works out better than the disaster of the Carter years. It may seem to many that there is nowhere to go but up following 8 years of George W. Bush. That is not the case. In the past, things have been much worse than they are right now. Which direction this country takes under an Obama presidency remains to be seen, but I pray that God grants our new president the wisdom to make positive change. Though it seems Barack Obama and myself could hardly be further apart in political ideology, I don't want him to fail so I can prove some ideological point. I want him to succeed, for the good of our country and citizens.
From a historical viewpoint, Obama's win is phenomenal. I'm old enough to remember the civil rights struggles of the 1960's. An Obama presidency would not have been possible back in those days, when racism was still prevalent and institutionalized. That we can now elect a black man to the highest office in the land serves as witness to how far we have traveled away from that wicked path. Dr. Martin Luther King's dream was realized in voting booths across the nation yesterday. There was no Bradley Effect, as many had anticipated. I never believed there would be one. I never believed race would be a significant or determining factor in this election. In fact, I think there was probably a negative Bradley Effect. If anything, Obama's race worked to his advantage. That was a long time coming too.
The central question I have about Barack Obama is – How will he govern ? Is the real Obama the man with the most liberal voting record in the Senate, the one who ran to the left in the Democratic primaries, the one with the far left extremist friends, or is the real Obama the one we saw in the general election, a more centrist leader who reaches across the aisle for bipartisan solutions ? The answer to that question remains to be seen, but we will surely find out. I hope for the latter, and I fear the former.
P.S. – What the heck is going on in Minnesota ? First they elected a professional wrestler as their governor, and now the comedian Al Franken could actually win a Senate seat. Words fail me.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
God Bless John McCain, God help Barack Obama
"serves as witness to how far we have traveled away from that wicked path."
Man, ain't that the truth. America is truly a remarkable country.
I am just wondering,while being sworn in, how our new president is going to swear to uphold the constitution, after his earlier statement that it was a flawed document because it doesn't afford the federal government enough power and control? Whenever Obama quotes the founding fathers I don't know if I should laugh or cry.
It sure is. A tribute to the wisdom of liberty as embodied in our founding principles.
Da King Thank you for this piece it showed you have a bit of class. I am sure you will find your flaws with Obama and he will not be able to please everyone but hopefully we will not be as divided as we were the last four years. I do hope Obama does reach across the aisle , I think he will.
Historical? Absolutely. Will it work? Hard to tell. I believe I saw too much venom from Pelosi over the last 2 years to really believe, at this point, it will.
All the well-intended, patriotic vitriole won't change that. Actions will.
Tough questions, let's see some answers….
1) Can we finally drop affirmative action? Doesn't seem necessary now. If this move can't appease Blacks, nothing can. Afterall, Obama has a lot of White people to thank. Think about it. Blacks voted 95% across racial lines. 95%. One could reasonably argue what people have suspected for decades. Racism is a two-way street my friend. Not wishing it on anyone but, you have to take the tough questions with the "softballs".
2) Israel will in all likelihood attack Iran. I am quite confident that they will shore up Obama's support prior to it but, it's seems almost a certainty. Look for stunning moves Q1. That said, what will he do in Iraq? He will be tested within the first 6 months of office……I think….let's hope not but, does anyone really, really doubt it?
3) Across the aisle. Hmmmmmm…..everyone has been preaching that for as long as I can remember. Doubtful.
4) Now that the media is squarely on Obama's side, what will they do if things start to become unglued?
5) How much more mileage can they get out of Bush? At some point, you have to include Barney Frank too you know. Funny how Kucinich is not so interested in investigations any longer now that the White House is secure. I bet Barney and Dodd aren't interested in them any more as well.
6) Now that the election is over, can someone tell the Americans that they are probably to blame for the meltdown and NO one else? I'm guessing here but, I don't believe any Mortgage Broker left the comfort of their boiler room and tackled anyone into buying an expensive home they couldn't afford.
I'm also equally confident that the folks at the local SUV lot didn't run down the street and tackle anyone into buying one of those things either?
Look, if you live in Akron and make 40K a year or less, smart money says you really, really, really can't afford that home in Green, Fairlawn (sec 8 nothwithstanding), Bath, or Medina along with 2 humongous sport utes, now can you?
The biggest irony in this election is the anger and need for a pound of flesh by the American consumers. Its' quite similar to the movie "A Few Good Men" where Jack Nicholson is chastising Tom Cruz along the lines of " you sit there and criticize the comfort of which I provide and have the audacity to criticize the way in which I provide it. I just assume you salute and say thank you and be on your way".
Very similar to the American Consumer who got us into the mess. Greed prevailed and now everyone that made a stupid financial move(s) wants the rest of us to pay for it. And here's the kicker. We are going to do just that. Go F'in figure……
You see, politicians couldn't ever say THAT out loud. You don't win saying THAT, now do you. And why Bush certainly made some blunders, he did help to get 17 million people into homes. 17 million……now, 1 million are losing them and he doesn't get a damn bit of credit for the 16 million that still have them….does he?
Ahhhh, the hell with it. Back to the questions…..
7) Voltaire was right. When the have nots exceed the haves, the have nots will toss the haves out…..you saw it last night. How will Obama prevent that from happening next time?
I'll do my part. I'll make sure that those who wish to PUSH unions on us and keep secret ballots going will begin to find out it's pretty hard to push THAT agenda when NO ONE buys your product(s) any longer. Last time I checked, THAT message is coming in loud and clear too.
Adieu!
Excellent post, king. And with that, I bid you farewell. I'm afraid of the hate that will come from your men in the months to come, so I'm taking a break for awhile. I have always enjoyed reading your well-thought out posts. I especially appreciate that even when I disagreed with you, your posts were always supported and well-written. Keep swinging.
As for the Rs out there, I hope this election sends you the message that we got in 2004. That it's not about liberal v. conservative or D v. R, it's about problems. There are liberal thinkers in every pocket of this country, just like there are conservatives everywhere. We're not better than you just as you weren't better than us when you were in charge. It's about people and their problems. You can't govern through hate. I hope President-elect Obama knows this. And I hope my R friends remember Mr. Goldwater and President Reagan and reclaim their party for what it is supposed to stand for.
To all of you, on both sides, discourse does not have to be disagreeable. If Da King thinks McCain was a better choice, fine, that's his right. It doesn't mean da king is not a good, intelligent person. There's no need for us to insule each other or call each other names just because we disagree politically. Someone is not "godless" because they are a D just as someone is not a "redneck" just because they are an R. It's about problems, and all the hate and negativity does is create more problems. It doesn't solve the ones we already have.
So, good luck Mr. Obama. You will certainly need it. More than anything you have said, I hope you meant it when you said you will listen to the other side, especially when we disagree. That would be a good start.
***is the real Obama the one we saw in the general election, a more centrist leader who reaches across the aisle for bipartisan solutions ?***
Does the appointment of Rahm Emanuel as his first appointed aide tell us anything toward an answer to your question, King? It does to me but then I am biased.
Listening to the other side, reaching across the aisle should not be confused with giving in to conservative policy choices. Elections have consequences. That's what we learned throughout the criminal administration of Bush-Cheney.
Bipartisanship, as defined by Republicans, is "date rape."
Using the GOP definition, Democrats have asked Republicans out on a four year series of dinner and movie "dates."
Just kidding, just kidding. Electing more Democrats and overwhelmingly electing "the most liberal senator in the Senate" to the presidency, is not a mandate for caving in to worn-out conservative ideas. The extremists will not be given equal billing with the large Democratic majority, nor should they expect it.
Da Truth really nailed it. Not to sound like an outdated Coke commercial, but harmony can exist even when opinions are different. Actually, it's the differences that make the conversations so interesting. And pettiness does not belong in intelligent discourse.
I get the "taking-a-break" thing, Da Truth. A good friend recently told me that I seem to disappear every now and then. Sometimes it does one a world of good. Enjoy!
By the way, I thought Obama was a better candidate, and my husband thought McCain was. We had many interesting kitchen-table discussions. My opinions, of course, were much more enlightened than his, but it was intelligent discourse nonetheless. And I was able to pound my views into my impressionable 18-year-old's head. Everyone is happy when mom is happy!
Roy,
Obama's selection of fellow Chicago crony Rahm Emanuel right off the bat as chief of staff didn't exactly fill me with hope. We'll have to see how the rest of his cabinet selections go. Emanuel is a bitter partisan fighter.
Rev,
"date-rape" ????? You sound like a Kos-Krazy. I take it that you don't agree with Obama then that the red states and political opposition also want what's good for America.
Da Truth,
As the Rev illustrates time and again, hate can come from anywhere on the political spectrum.
I hate to see you go. I hope you'll still look in from time to time.
And boy, do I ever agree with you about Republicans returning to the Goldwater-Reagan models. The GOP's loss of power is well-deserved. They forgot who they were supposed to be, and were corrupted by power to boot (though I consider absolute power corrupting in and of itself. so that is always a potential problem). I never want to hear the words "compassionate conservative" again.