So it's gonna be Obama with a landslide!

[Stupot]

I'm glad Obama won, but I don't know anything about American politics, so was never in a position to call myself a supporter.  The fact that he is the first black president of the US is great news for African-Americans, and indeed all of America (...and the world?).

But, as Barrack Obama was making his speech, it struck me as kind of sad that the black thing is still an issue in this "modern" world... To the dreamers amongst us, tonight's events might hopefully mark the beginning of the end of that particular issue, but it's still an issue and there is still a long long way to go and that really sucks.

[Sam.]

By that logic, no matter how many landmarks are reached, it will never stop being an issue, because we will still all be congratulating ourselves on how forward thinking we are.

Don't be sad Stupot, it is a major landmark. It IS an issue, but it's a good issue, you're never going to convince 100% of voters not to be racist, but to convince enough of them to elect a Black President is a very good sign that opinion is changing. If we can't use measures such as this to gauge the general "racismometer" of the American Public, that what can we use? Or perhaps we just shouldn't talk about it, then it won't be an issue!

[Andail]

Yay for Obama!

Go home, ye nasty grand old hawks!

[Pumaman]

George W, we'll miss you.

[Tuomas]

Ok, time for me to say something too. I've avoided stating an opinion here or anywhere about these elections. First of all, supporting any condidate would have had people either telling the elections going to be corrupted as people suggested, or that both are just as evil, they just bring it out in a different way. But I always had hope in me, hope for the possibility, that the yankees would go and vote for what's best for them. I'm not sure, but I suppose 60% of the electoral votes does tell you something.

Also, I'm fairly content, that the voting rates were higher than in a long time, with young people and ones with foreign background also voting. If that's true, I'd like to know the real rates, as I couldn't find them anywhere. They used to be under 50%, right? They said Obama was mostly voted by middle class and poorer people while McCain the other way around. If that's true, then you'll notice, that a lot of the people who before had just dwelled in their misery, claiming, that there's no way to make a difference, saw some hope in Obama and went there and voted, and actually did make a difference, one that we will analyze later in the following 4 years. As a supporter of collective democracy and participation this makes me really happy. And in that sense America had taken a step forward, and I'd love to see others going there too.

Some professor stated here, that Obama should recognise the possibility of being shot, as four other presidents have been before. I understand he's become a victom of an attempt of assassination twice befoe this year. I wouldn't wonder it myself, but I hope it won't come to that.

Medvedev didn't seem all that confident in his statement, where he accused the US for the recession and the warfare going on etc. He even refused to congratulate Obama, but I can well assume he's waited for the statemend until the end of Bush's episode to keep it safe.

[Pumaman]

Rather worryingly, Obama is the Page 3 Girl in the Sun today. Luckily he's fully clothed, but these are strange times indeed...

[TerranRich]

Darth, your claims about McCain winning were silly to begin with.

But yeah, I'm extremely happy that Obama won. I shudder at the few people on my Facebook that wrote "This country's going to hell!"

Yeah, not bloody likely.

[Darth Mandarb]

Darth, your claims about McCain winning were silly to begin with.

I do not think it was silly in the slightest and neither did most* of the other people I have discussed the matter with.

But hey ... to each their own

Whatever; if nothing else I'm enjoying seeing the positive reactions (in the news and even just around my office here) that his election has generated.

Anyway ... I'm going off to ride some dinosaurs with Jesus now.

* for clarification purposes, the term 'most', as used in that sentence, does not mean EVERYbody.

[The Suitor]

I didn't vote, but most people I know seem to be creaming their jeans over Obama, and it kind of creeps me out.

What if this guy turns out to be a fuck-up?

Nevertheless, let's see what he's got. He might be a great president. I just hate how I see people praising him so much when he's only been (EDIT:)elected for a day!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not against Obama... and I might or might not be in a year... You never really know until they've been in office for a while.

[Pumaman]

Sure, reality will set in before long when people realise that Obama isn't Jesus and can't work miracles.

But in a way, this isn't about whether Obama will make a good president or not -- for the moment at least it's about the fact that a black man has been able to become president, which in America seems to be quite a Big Thing.

When you have a situation where young black people turn to crime because they feel it's the only way to make a name for themselves because "the system" is geared against them, it's a message of hope and inspiration that actually, if you set your mind to it you can accomplish anything, no matter the colour of your skin. And so for now, that's really the main story here ... and in a way, it's more important to society than what Obama actually ends up doing or not doing.

[Nacho]

Obama hasn't "just been president for a day" Still...

I think he will be president the 20th of January, no? Good look for him, if America goes Ok, the rest of the world goes also good...

[Stupot]

...if America goes Ok, the rest of the world goes also good...

Well... some of it.

[Nacho]

Yeah, I agree... I was thinking a little bit in the Western countries when I said "The rest of the World"... A little bit shellfishy, my fault. 

[freshpaint]

Hello from Chicago, home of Barack Obama!  Was there at the celebration in Grant Park on Election Night, and it was such a joyful thing to see entire families and groups of friends of all races and colors and ethnic backgrounds celebrate together, hugging and dancing and taking pictures of each other.  What you saw on TV can't even begin to explain it.  Someone said it felt like we had just ousted a dictator.  We get so cynical at times we forget what pure joy can be like, especially after knowing how so many in the world have thought what jerks we Americans are. 

Obama as the Page 3 girl?  Have long said (and have been teased about a lot) that he's the sexiest man alive. Met him at a parade about five years ago and nearly melted.  Weird ears, but oh, man, the intensity is incredible.

Haven't always agreed with his votes as the Senator representing my state, Illinois, and am sure I'll disagree with him as president, but I can't imagine he'll get so insulated in his office that he'll be oblivious to critcism.

So I guess it's back to the real world of adventure gaming for me again.

[Nacho]

Wow! In my skeptics e-mail list there is someone that is already bashing him! Soooo quick! The guy hasn't even started! Hahahaha! 

But that makes me think... He has been so "messiahnised" that everything he does but being "perfect" could result into a big state of desillution... What is said in the US about that? Is it true that he approves death penalty and dissapproves homosexual marriage?

[Matti]

Obama as the Page 3 girl?  Have long said (and have been teased about a lot) that he's the sexiest man alive. Met him at a parade about five years ago and nearly melted.  Weird ears, but oh, man, the intensity is incredible.

Well, Schwarzenegger doesn't think so.

Man, he is talking the most incredible bullshit I could possibly imagine. After seeing this it's hard to believe that McCain was serious when he congratulated Obama for winning the election...

Hahaha, Schwarzenegger "fled from Europe", cause there "you can't fulfill your dreams". What a moron. I'm glad that he isn't european anymore though it's a pity that you have to deal with him now, especially the californians..


EDIT:

Nacho, as far as I know:

Unfortunately the first one: yes.
Fortunately the second one: No.

[Nacho]

Quick reply! Thanks. 

EDIT: Well, as I assumed that "Obama" was going to be the topic in this email list, I must confess that I browsed for information better than blindly believing you, matti. (Guilty!) And you are not totally correct. Obama suport some kind of death penalties and dissaproves homosexual marriage (But is opposed also to a constitutional ban) apparently.

[Ozzie]

Actually, afaik I know you're wrong matti. Obama is against same sex marriage, but for civil unions.

At least that's what he said during the campaign.

Edit: Oops, didn't see Nachos post.

[freshpaint]

I'm against ANY kind of marriage <ggg>.

[jetxl]

Obama is a democrate and therefor lets the states themselves figure it out. So no gay marriage in texas and no death penalty in new york.