Obama Wins! Good news or not?

[Stogie]

Bucking a trend, Obama was the politician who became a star!

Many stars have used their notoriety to climb aboard the political ladder, but in recent times only Obama has become a superstar because of his political status.

I've lived in America for a long time and I don't think the color played much of a factor in the final outcome. Republicans insist on trotting out old war horses to an MTV generation of voters who don't like war... Obama came along at the right time from a seemingly different political planet and simply said "let's change!"

I also think that most Americans are smart enough to know that there won't be a whole lot of 'changing' going on but they'll probably be gratified to learn that the perception of the USA (especially abroad) and it's golden opportunity to undo some of the last 10 years of damage is really and truly at hand.

It's worth noting that the popular vote was actually pretty close, but a president pushing 80 when he leaves office was just too much for the country to bear...

So - it's happened and there's not a lot you can do about it for the next four years...

What do YOU think?

[strocube]

I'm a cynical bastard, especially when it comes to this country doing the right thing. Right now, however I'm fucking thrilled. I'm also happy to be wrong about thinking that this country would never elect a black man as president.
This really is a game changing, historic event.
Barack Obama, fuck yeah!!!

[Snick]

I think its great, my only worry is that he has inherited the biggest pile of shit that any incoming president has ever had to deal with. And no matter how well he does, its going to be near impossible to clean up all the Bush problems in 4 years.

w00t

[Looker]

Absolutely..I could almost say that the old McCain got luckily spared for all the troubles still to come.
It's good news but Obama it's really up to an Herculean task to restore confidence and fix all the shit

[Road Runner]

I suspect that the attitude of most of the world outside the US is not so much that it's good that Obama won but that George W. and Dick Cheyney are going.

Doing a little light reading this morning I found this article written two weeks before the election;  Well North of 50

The last two sections:-   Bush is leaving Democrats a big tent€”and an even bigger mortgage.   &   Misery loves company. I think make very pertinant reading for any that are thinking they have won or lost.

RR.

[allstar88]

i never thought a black man would win,but i think its good news

[jaymee]

I'm disappointed that the thirst for socialism has truimphed.

The irony of it all bugs me with China emerging from a dark era of socialism into capatilistic endevours - with the US inversely backwarding itself into an age of socialistic government. Alas, how the tides of power has changed.

McCain to me was the lesser of two evils - he would have probably bungled things up.

Not so badly though like Obama I think... who may screw things up in a bigger scale by virtue of his "good intentions."

Where are they going to get the money needed to fund federal intiatives to "help the people".

Well Obama is the man who would likely tax to death the dying breed of US industrial and technological leaders who are the saving grace of the US economy, due to their unfortunate association with the Wall Street folks.

Its quite sad that the very icons of capitalism (not the robbers from wall street) who can bring US out from these shambolic disasters would be punished financially to spread the wealth around the masses.

If these taxes are not enough, he could just print and borrow more money from China, middle east, japan etc. If they refuse, just nuke em And also restart the GM, Ford, and Chrysler factories again to build tanks and fighter jets for the entire initiative.

The short term satiation for the masses may be edifying - with the balm of federal entitlements providing fleeting relief.

The pain down the path though will undoubtedly emerge, when the very same entitlements buy them nothing, as the US dollar gets destroyed in the process.

The gift of USD $1000 bucks may buy them some LCD TV now, but may not even buy a loaf a bread down the road. But short term gratification is too attractive an offer to refuse.

People who are clearly unequal, do not deserve equal chances.

[Snick]

I think Obama will do a better job than McCain.

Modern Republican leaders are not Capitalists, they are Oligarchists who are fine with capitalism when they make money but also want lots of tax incentives, government subsidies and, when the shit hits the fan, a bailout.

I voted for Reagen, he was a great president, but the modern Republican party is a pale shadow of what it was.

I worry that Obama will err on the side of protectionism, will not promote free trade pacts, etc... But I fear Bush/McCain crony capitalism a lot more.

ps. Ending tax breaks that only favor the rich is NOT socialism

[jaymee]

(Snick @ Nov. 05 2008,15:34) I think Obama will do a better job than McCain.

Modern Republican leaders are not Capitalists, they are Oligarchists who are fine with capitalism when they make money but also want lots of tax incentives, government subsidies and, when the shit hits the fan, a bailout.

I voted for Reagen, he was a great president, but the modern Republican party is a pale shadow of what it was.

I worry that Obama will err on the side of protectionism, will not promote free trade pacts, etc... But I fear Bush/McCain crony capitalism a lot more.

ps. Ending tax breaks that only favor the rich is NOT socialism

Well too many of the modern republicans hail from wall street and ogligarchial firms. E.g. Pauslon from Goldman, Bush from Standard Oil....

They were opportunists in the sense of the manner they pinched muchly from the treasury to bailout their cronies.

McCain may not be that different - but Obama, whom I believe has good intentions - may unknowingly cause more trouble.

Schmidt and Buffett are well known capitalists who support Obama and would provide positive influence.

However, erring on the side of protectionism is probably only good for a nation thats rich and doing well.

But US is not exactly in a peachy condition now - I'm wondering how will he get the funds to "help the people".

He could either
1. Tax from the richer folks (I would leave if I'm rich US citizen who gets shouldered with higher taxes)
2. Print more money

or Hopefully rich patriots can just donate wealth to help the country.

[geosight]

a beautiful day in the history of mankind :

[stonefre]

This election woke up the young people of America to politics for the first time in a long time. What is wrong with a little idealism? I don't agree with the bullshit socialism comment. That was part of the right wing scare tactics. What the Republican administration did to bail out Wall Street was the worst kind of socialism. Obama has a hard road ahead and the right wing talking heads are going to be on his case every step of the way. Lets give the guy a chance. It is an uphill battle for sure. (from someone who remembers white only signs and seperate restrooms and national guard troops with tanks on the city streets here in the south )

[smuttleydfs]

This is the dawn of a new era in the American Political system and a the beginning of change. Obama has the opportunity in the next 4 years to present to the country an agenda that will instead of feeding the fat cats will provide the middle class a chance.

It's quite obvious that there are always going to be the individuals like one in this thread who are too naive and misinformed to look at the "entire" agenda" of a candidate and prefer to put their blinders on and just listen to the right wing rhetoric that is intended to incite baffle and confuse those who refuse to believe. They refuse to understand that the american social security system and welfare are both forms of socialism and have been around for years. They now and always will fail to understand that putting trillions of dollars monthly into a failed war that never should have been started in the first place was and is senseless.

Obama has this unique opportunity to correct 8 years of apathy and 8 years of filling the Exxon's, the Enrons and all the other fat cats pockets. He has an opportunity to keep the supremes from leaning completely right. An opportunity to get the rest of the world from despising this country and get back to respecting us for our democratic system and values.

It makes this old hippie proud of his country again

Yes We Can!!!!!

[Lefty]

also it was so hypocritical for Palin to accuse Barak of socialist leanings when Alaska is the most socialist state in the union.
I'm just glad we won't have to look at that dumb bitch for 4 more years at least.

[EyeMahk]

(smuttleydfs @ Nov. 05 2008,06:04) It's quite obvious that there are always going to be the individuals like one in this thread who are too naive and misinformed to look at the "entire" agenda" of a candidate and prefer to put their blinders on and just listen to the right wing rhetoric that is intended to incite baffle and confuse those who refuse to believe.

jaymee, now you see how the Fish Box is so tolerant and accepting of someone else's opinion.

You don't agree with everything Obama says, so you are naive and misinformed. At least it wasn't racist, moron, redneck, or KKK. Keep posting your opinion, those words will follow.

[rxpharm]

I would have to say this is a good thing - While McCain may not have been another Bush, he definitely would have been influenced by corporate interests as well. As for Obama, at least there is a chance of something different.

As for socialist agenda - take a look at the Scandinavian countries, and even my own home country, Canada. These countries are not "messed" up - just a different system that tries to help the citizens. I doubt very much Obama is going to move the US that far.

The Republicans have had a strong hand in the mess that now exists, although the Democrats have been involved as well.

If he surrounds himself with good, capable, and wise people, things will improve. Certainly they can't be as bad as the previous 8 years!