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Whatever
Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States, and I'm obviously feeling good right now. This is an historic moment, and I firmly believe that this is a moment that all can be proud of, even if you voted for McCain. McCain was a class act in his concession, and through the boos of the crowd, gave a gracious congrulations. My congratulations to John McCain and Sarah Palin, for running an impressive campaign. As to the booing, I'll not make too big of a deal about that--it sucks to lose. Simon will disagree with this, but I firmly believe brighter days are ahead. We've any challenges ahead of us , but this nation will prevail.
Obama gave a great speech, gracious in victory, and an impressive one all around. Let me say this, that tomorrow the work begins. It;s time to prove us right, and prove the skeptics wrong. It's time to prove that you're serious about being bipartisan. It's time to lead, and I'm hopeful.
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Lets hope you're right
I'm deeply concerned with the far left tilt of the Congress. And the synchophantic press.
Rachel
I brew the beer I drink
To employ a useful phrase
To employ a useful phrase sadly spoiled by Limbaugh's overusage and association, ditto.
I worry that Mr. HopeyChange® will be a doormat for the Dem leadership, which is itself somewhat to the left side of the Dem party and much to the left of the nation as a whole. Obama faces the stark choice of either being at odds with his party, or at odds with the nation itself. Clinton somehow managed to steer between those rocky cliffs. Can Obama?
Clinton steered those cliffs
Clinton steered those cliffs because his policies in his first two years were rejected and than he had to face a GOP Congress for the last six years.
It will be one of Obama's many challenges is how he handles his own party.
Indeed. Leading indicators to
Indeed.
Leading indicators to watch for...any Republican appointed to the Obama cabinet that isn't Chuck Hagel (or Hagelesque), and the party's treatment of Joe Leiberman now that they don't require his vote in the Senate.
Now will they not require
Now will they not require his vote? There may be some filibuster votes where he is going to be needed. However, an interesting question is what will Leiberman do if they do kick him out of the caucus?
As for Lieberman, if basic decency doesn't keep them from
stepping back and reconsidering the excommunication, than the political appearance will. How can Obama maintain the bipartisan image, if he allows his Party to sack Lieberman?
Besides, what about the filibuster?
Now, Lieberman could jump on his own, but that's a whole different debate.
"In the world you will find tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
I hope I'm right too. It looks like the Dems will fall short of
a supermajority, though, so there is a restarining force in place, although I'm still hopeful that it might not even come to filibusters.
"In the world you will find tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
Time to sit back and wait.
All I have to say is that I can handle everything else; but if Al Franken wins after the recount in Minnesota, only God can save us.
With that said, I am going to do something the Democrats have not been able to do themselves after the last few elections - sit back and see what Obama does before I start attacking him. I want to see if he is going to live up to the post-partisan promises of the campaign. I want to see if he will lead and push against Congress. I would be lying if I said I think he will. However, I am going to give him a chance to walk the walk before I release the robotic Richard Simmons!
I think those of you who
I think those of you who fear Obama's liberalism will be pleasantly surprised by his pragmatism. Maybe you won't agree with many of his policies, but I doubt he'll do anything disasterous. You might not share his goals, but I think he'll govern competently, thoughtfully and realistically.
It's time to prove that
It's time to prove that you're serious about being bipartisan.
Occasionally, when the light was just right and I squinted hard and I put aside my visceral disgust at the feeling of manipulation via charisma, I could see a faint glimpse of the bipartisan hope that some conservatives projected onto Obama.
I wasn't inclined to take such a leap of faith, but having been thrown out of the airplane now, I can only join in their hope that our parachutes will work.
Speeches
I very much appreciated McCain's speech. Gracious as usual. (Though I heard EJ Dionne once again speak that tired line of "Why didn't that McCain run?" It was a campaign!!! not a Senate speech)
For me the best part of Obama's speech were the allusions to fulfilling the dream for Black Americans. That had to be said. Now the very beginning "creeped me" a little. Pres. elect Obama has a tendency, in describing the importance of a moment, to suggest "we" (and by "we" those who are following "me")have made a difference, "we" have made America "whole" again. In doing so he tends to undersell the rest of America and undersell what came before. It is a mirror image of Gov. Palin's "real America". IMHO he'll need to work on that.
A couple other comments:
-The first lady image will definitely change, and I don't mean the color of her skin. I dare say no previous First Lady could have worn that dress, and that's a good thing.
-President Obama will need to learn to smile more and laugh more.
-How about less Hollywood sets?
-Boy did the Republicans blow it with the Hispanic vote. Unless that's reversed they run the risk of being a permanent minority party (based on info like this)
Chris
Great minds...
Amazing how similar your reactions were to mine.
I'll add one more thing about McCain- I was struck not only by his graciousness in defeat but also his sincerity and humility. He clearly seemed to me to be a man who had honestly offered himself in service to the country (again!), and despite the fact that it had to sting to have been rebuffed in that offer he accepted the verdict with such dignity.
I hope he has some opportunity in his remaining years in the Senate to get the accolades he deserves.
Medvedev makes his move
before the party in Grant Park is over.
I had wondered how long before we'd known what it was that spooked Biden into making those remarks. Didn't take long to get the first hint.