The Road to November

[tet]

sad.  i'm sure he has made her very proud, win or lose, but i'm even more sure that he would have wanted her to experience the joy that hopefully we all (or most of us, at least) will feel when he wins tomorrow.  a shame that she never got that chance...

[keeb333]

sad.  i'm sure he has made her very proud, win or lose, but i'm even more sure that he would have wanted her to experience the joy that hopefully we all (or most of us, at least) will feel when he wins tomorrow.  a shame that she never got that chance...

agreed, that really sucks. 

Oh, and not that you guys may care, but after further research all weekend, I have decided to vote for Obama tomorrow.

[ytowndan]

Very tragic.  I'm sure she tried with every last ounce of strength she had to see the results.   :-(

[gah]

email from David Byrne today:

Pardon the bulk mailing. I Can't Vote. I am an immigrant with a Green Card and, therefore, I am not eligible to vote in a federal election. FYI - I can get drafted (luckily, Daniel Berrigan burned my draft board's records) and I pay taxes, yet I cannot vote for President. On Election Day, I see my neighbors heading to the nearby elementary school to cast their ballots. The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out in one day.

But most of you can vote. What can I say? The Republicans have made us less safe than before 9/11, bankrupted this economy, started an illegal war they can't - and don't intend to - finish, removed what sympathy (after 9/11) and respect the world had for the US, and have robbed US citizens of many of their basic rights. Global warming? What's that? Science and education? Investment in our future? No, thanks - we'll stick with a good 'ole hockey mom. Ignorant, and fucking proud of it, as is always the case.

Although it looks like a shoo-in, it ain't over 'til Florida. And there are plenty of racists in this country who will vote against their own best interests. So please, get to your local elementary school, post office, town hall, or whatever, and cast your vote and make this a country we can all be proud of. We can get out of this mess, and life can be better than it is.

David Byrne
NYC

[gah]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_re_eu/eu_us_elections_world_view

World hopes for a 'less arrogant America'

By Associated Press Writers William J. Kole And Matt Moore, Associated Press Writers

BERLIN – A world weary of eight years of George W. Bush was riveted Tuesday by the drama unfolding in the United States. Many were inspired by Barack Obama's focus on hope, or simply relieved that — whoever wins — the current administration is coming to an end.

From Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to the small town of Obama, Japan, the world gears up to celebrate a fresh start for America.

In Germany, where more than 200,000 flocked to see Obama this summer as he moved to burnish his foreign policy credentials during a trip to the Middle East and Europe, the election dominated television ticker crawls, newspaper headlines and Web sites.

Hundreds of thousands prepared to party through the night to watch the outcome of an election having an impact far beyond America's shores. Among the more irreverent festivities planned in Paris: a "Goodbye George" party to bid farewell to Bush.

"Like many French people, I would like Obama to win because it would really be a sign of change," said Vanessa Doubine, shopping Tuesday on the Champs-Elysees. "I deeply hope for America's image that it will be Obama."

Obama-mania was evident not only across Europe, where millions geared up for all-night vigils, but even in much of the Islamic world, where Muslims expressed hope that the Democrat would seek compromise rather than confrontation.

The Bush administration alienated Muslims by mistreating prisoners at its detention center for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and inmates at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison — human rights violations also condemned worldwide.

"I hope Obama wins (because) of the need of the world to see the U.S. represent a more cosmopolitan or universal political attitude," said Rais Yatim, the foreign minister of mostly Muslim Malaysia.

"The new president will have an impact on the economic and political situation in my country," said Muhammad al-Thaheri, 48, a civil servant in Saudi Arabia. Like so many around the world, he was rooting for Obama "because he will change the path the U.S. is on under Bush."

Nizar al-Kortas, a columnist for Kuwait's Al-Anbaa newspaper, saw an Obama victory as "a historic step to change the image of the arrogant American administration to one that is more acceptable in the world."

Yet John McCain was backed by some in countries such as Israel, where he is perceived as tougher on Iran.

Israeli leaders, who consider the U.S. their closest and most important ally, have not openly declared a preference. But privately, they have expressed concern about Obama, who has alarmed some by saying he would be ready to hold a dialogue with Tehran.

Taking a cigarette break on a Jerusalem street corner, bank employee Leah Nizri, 53, said Obama represented potentially frightening change and voiced concern about his Muslim ancestry.

"I think he'll be pleasant to Israel, but he will make changes," she said. "He's too young. I think that especially in a situation of a world recession, where things are so unclear in the world, McCain would be better than Obama."

Even in Europe, McCain got some grudging respect: Germany's mass-circulation daily Bild lionized the Republican as "the War Hero" and running mate Sarah Palin as "the Beautiful Unknown."

In Berlin, Republicans Abroad organized a "November Surprise Election Party" to watch live "how the Republican ticket McCain/Palin comes from behind and leaves the 'liberal elite media' in Europe and the United States puzzled."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown clung to convention by refusing to say which candidate he wants to see win. Regardless of the outcome, he told Al-Arabiya television while on a tour of the Gulf, "history has been made in this campaign."

In Baghdad, a jaded Mohammed al-Tamimi said he didn't think U.S. policy on Iraq would change. Even so, "we hope that the new American president will open a new page with our country."

Kenyans made their allegiance clear: Scores packed churches on Tuesday to pray for Obama, whose late father was born in the East African nation, and hailed the candidate — himself born in Hawaii — as a "son of the soil."

"Tonight we are not going to sleep," said Valentine Wambi, 23, a student at the University of Nairobi. "It will be celebrations throughout."

Kenyans believe an Obama victory would not change their lives much but that hasn't stopped them from splashing his picture on minibuses and selling T-shirts with his name and likeness. Kenyans were planning to gather around radios and TV sets starting Tuesday night as the results come in.

"We will feast if Obama wins," said Robert Rutaro, a university president in neighboring Uganda. "We will celebrate by marching on the streets of Kampala and hold a big party later on."

In the sleepy Japanese coastal town of Obama — which translates as "little beach" — images of him adorned banners along a main shopping street, and preparations for an election day victory party were in full swing.

Election fever also ran high in Vietnam, where McCain was held as a prisoner of war for more than five years after being shot down in Hanoi during a 1967 bombing run.

"He's patriotic," said Le Lan Anh, a Vietnamese novelist and real estate tycoon. "As a soldier, he came here to destroy my country, but I admire his dignity."

[sophist]

Andrew Sullivan Comments on my State

If I were to place one actual monetary bet on this election, it would be on Georgia. The odds are very much against Obama winning it - but they are longer than they should be. And what a moment for history that would be if, by some chance, it happened. A lot of African-Americans in the history of Georgia would be looking down from heaven and rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

context of comments via this blog

[nab]

Obama volunteer just stopped by.  When we volunteered the information that we had already voted, and for their candidate, she told us that of the absentee votes counted already, 76% were for Obama.  Admittedly Missoula is a liberal bastion in Montana, but being the second largest metropolitan area in Montana, these are statistically significant results. 

Won't know until late night when all the rural counties get counted, but the way things are looking, Montana may go blue.

[mattstick]

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/black_man_given_nations?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

WASHINGTON—African-American man Barack Obama, 47, was given the least-desirable job in the entire country Tuesday when he was elected president of the United States of America. In his new high-stress, low-reward position, Obama will be charged with such tasks as completely overhauling the nation's broken-down economy, repairing the crumbling infrastructure, and generally having to please more than 300 million Americans and cater to their every whim on a daily basis. As part of his duties, the black man will have to spend four to eight years cleaning up the messes other people left behind. The job comes with such intense scrutiny and so certain a guarantee of failure that only one other person even bothered applying for it. Said scholar and activist Mark L. Denton, "It just goes to show you that, in this country, a black man still can't catch a break."

[mattstick]

Some good recap/insight in this Newsweek article...

http://www.newsweek.com/id/168017/page/1

It was hard to overstate Axelrod's feeling for the candidate. When the political consultant had first met with Obama in Chicago to discuss a potential presidential run in 2006, Michelle had asked her husband what he could "uniquely" contribute if he was elected. Obama answered that, right off the bat, the day he was elected, "the world will look at us differently—and I think a lot of young people across the country will look at themselves differently."

[gah]

With 71 days left in office, President Bush is less popular than President Nixon was at the time of his resignation, according to data released Monday by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation.

The new poll, taken Thursday through Sunday, showed an approval rating of 24 percent and a disapproval rating of 76 percent.

Worst.

President.

EVER!

[Guyute]

With 71 days left in office, President Bush is less popular than President Nixon was at the time of his resignation, according to data released Monday by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation.

The new poll, taken Thursday through Sunday, showed an approval rating of 24 percent and a disapproval rating of 76 percent.

Worst.

President.

EVER!

WERD

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

With 71 days left in office, President Bush is less popular than President Nixon was at the time of his resignation, according to data released Monday by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation.

The new poll, taken Thursday through Sunday, showed an approval rating of 24 percent and a disapproval rating of 76 percent.

Worst.

President.

EVER!

WERD

...and all of us, the American public, allowed him to serve in our nation's highest office for 8 years.

Who are the idiots?  Us or him?




ps-thanks for the great debating points to contradict the opinions I posited a couple of months ago... perhaps instead of comparing Obama to Bush...I should have called Obama "Clinton Jr.".  I still find it fascinating that Obama's supporters are calling this election cycle "the most important election evarrrrrr", when I would have thought that since Bush is such an unpopular President now, the elections of 2000 and 2004 would have been seen now as infinitely more important.  Do you guys think that Obama is right on time, or is it perhaps a case of "too little, too late"?  DISCUSS!

[sophist]

With 71 days left in office, President Bush is less popular than President Nixon was at the time of his resignation, according to data released Monday by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation.

The new poll, taken Thursday through Sunday, showed an approval rating of 24 percent and a disapproval rating of 76 percent.

Worst.

President.

EVER!

WERD

...and all of us, the American public, allowed him to serve in our nation's highest office for 8 years.

Who are the idiots?  Us or him?

Nice false dichotomy.   

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

With 71 days left in office, President Bush is less popular than President Nixon was at the time of his resignation, according to data released Monday by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation.

The new poll, taken Thursday through Sunday, showed an approval rating of 24 percent and a disapproval rating of 76 percent.

Worst.

President.

EVER!

WERD

...and all of us, the American public, allowed him to serve in our nation's highest office for 8 years.

Who are the idiots?  Us or him?

Nice false dichotomy.   

So, does that mean you don't feel that "We The People" should be held accountable when our pick for the President turns out to be a bumbling fool... and then we turn around and re-elect him?

Since the Office of the Chief Executive is a reflection of us as a nation, I do not think that 8 years of Gee-Dubs should make any of us very proud of what we have accomplished.

Unless the false dichotomy that you speak of is me seperating him from us, and that we are all idiots, and then I would have to say "touche, my good friend!".

[Hicks]

With 71 days left in office, President Bush is less popular than President Nixon was at the time of his resignation, according to data released Monday by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation.

The new poll, taken Thursday through Sunday, showed an approval rating of 24 percent and a disapproval rating of 76 percent.

Worst.

President.

EVER!

WERD

...and all of us, the American public, allowed him to serve in our nation's highest office for 8 years.

Who are the idiots?  Us or him?




ps-thanks for the great debating points to contradict the opinions I posited a couple of months ago... perhaps instead of comparing Obama to Bush...I should have called Obama "Clinton Jr.".  I still find it fascinating that Obama's supporters are calling this election cycle "the most important election evarrrrrr", when I would have thought that since Bush is such an unpopular President now, the elections of 2000 and 2004 would have been seen now as infinitely more important.  Do you guys think that Obama is right on time, or is it perhaps a case of "too little, too late"?  DISCUSS!

Better late than never.