The Final US Election Thread

[Seamus Fermanagh]

President-elect Obama has altered the political future of the United States.

He and his team have run a wonderfully effective campaign, smoothly transitioning from "We're doing this to season him, through challenger, to gritty combatant to frontrunner to leader of (arguably) the most powerful nation on earth. What I predicted would be his close victory is not -- it is a major victory and may well finish as a landslide.

He, even more than the vast majority of his own party, understood that the moment of change was not 2040, when our demographics will have shifted, but now. The white males, whose vote told all in presidential elections from 1792 to 2004 are no longer the key vote. Crafting an entirely new coalition from under 25s, blacks and hispanics -- augmented by our traditional "left" -- Barack Obama is effecting a sea-change in U.S. politics.

He will not be a one-term President, his charisma and intelligence and the sense of power he is even now conveying to groups of people who have long considered themselves outsiders in American politics (but never will again) will ensure this. His party will be fractious at first -- too many seeking vengeance and sweeping alterations -- but over time will come closer and closer to his leadership because, unlike the consumate politician Bill Clinton, Obama has a vision for a new America. Moreover, since that vision ties closely to the vision many of our newest citizens and will-be citizens seek, it will develop deeper and more lasting roots than any political agenda since FDR.

We will hear the usual voices in chorus tomorrow, asserting that this was not Obama's victory as much as George Bush's defeat, and some of the traditional leftists will even say the same. This is not so. Nobody wins such a compelling victory across so many states -- many of them formerly staunch components of the "victory map" of the other party, by being the alternative. Barack Obama is the chosen leader of the American people.

Over the next year, we will come to understand how he intends to govern. Disputes will be had, and arguments will ensue. He has won, however, a precious gift -- the chance to stamp his imprint on the future of a nation, and because of that nation's influence, on the direction of a world. Let us hope and pray he discharges this duty well.

[CountArach]

It looks like California is going to ban gay marriage.

[seireikhaan]

It looks like Claifornia is going to ban gay marriage.

Wow, didn't see that coming.

[CountArach]

Wow, didn't see that coming.

Obama winning early on probably dampened turnout amongst liberals, whereas the Christian Right was more mobilised in supporting the ban.

EDIT: That said, these are only preliminary results and it could well change once the urban vote comes in more. Either way its going to be close.

[Tribesman]

Well I must say after watching McCain do his speech ....where was that man during the election and who was the muppet campaigning in his identity ?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Well I must say after watching McCain do his speech ....where was that man during the election and who was the muppet campaigning in his identity ?

True of all of them, both parties (and your side of the pond too?). They finally get to say what they really feel since they don't need to be so bloody concerned about not saying the wrong thing. Result = actual passion.

[JAG]

Well I must say after watching McCain do his speech ....where was that man during the election and who was the muppet campaigning in his identity ?

And it is what most pundits are saying - he decided early in Bush's term that if he was going to be the next GOP nominee he was going to have to be that kind of candidate. He then went further in the campaign and was forced - or misguided - into going for Palin over Lieberman... It would have been so much closer if he ditched the radical right wing agenda.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

And it is what most pundits are saying - he decided early in Bush's term that if he was going to be the next GOP nominee he was going to have to be that kind of candidate. He then went further in the campaign and was forced - or misguided - into going for Palin over Lieberman... It would have been so much closer if he ditched the radical right wing agenda.

Not so. With Leiberman and without Palin too many of the GOP social conservatives would have stayed home. There was no changing this result -- Obama won it on his own merits, not on McCain's limitations or even the limitations imposed on McCain by his party.

[Gregoshi]

Well I must say after watching McCain do his speech ....where was that man during the election and who was the muppet campaigning in his identity ?

Yes. The campaign was not worthy of the man. However, I don't think the reaction to a McCain win would have been quite is positive as that of Obama.

Obama is about to speak...

[JAG]

Lets see what he has to say - I reckon it will be a good 'un.

[JAG]

wow, didn't see California going that way.

[Divinus Arma]

The white males, whose vote told all in presidential elections from 1792 to 2004 are no longer the key vote.

Without a significant portion of the white male vote, he wouldn't have won. Don't go counting your illegal aliens until they've hatched.

[Divinus Arma]

How long before Bin Laden Slaps us?

[Koga No Goshi]

How long before Bin Laden Slaps us?

Did you vote for the guy or not?

[CountArach]

The speech was alright - it picked up a bit towards the end.

[JAG]

Yep, was a good 'un.

[Lemur]

Okay, this is really petty, but the theological/grammatical side of me is really pleased when a politician uses the correct formulation: "May God continue to bless the United States of America," as opposed to "God bless America." You're not pretending to know God's will, you're just saying that you hope God will look favorably on your nation.

A minor quibble, but it drives me nuts when politicos get it wrong.

-edit-

Just to make it crystal clear: the inclusion of the word "may" is what sets the correct version apart from the idiot version.

[Martok]

WOOT!!!



That is all.

[Lemur]

A final pre-bed thought: I know the odds were always low that the Dems would achieve the magic 60 in the Senate, but still I'm glad they didn't get it. That would have been too much temptation for any party. Which is not to say that they may not already have too much temptation, what with holding both houses of Congress and the Executive. But I have some degree of faith that President-elect Obama will whip his unruly party into line and get them doing something productive.

Forcing the Dems to move their party headquarters to Chicago was a masterstroke.

[Andres]

Okay, this is really petty, but the theological/grammatical side of me is really pleased when a politician uses the correct formulation: "May God continue to bless the United States of America," as opposed to "God bless America." You're not pretending to know God's will, you're just saying that you hope God will look favorably on your nation.

A minor quibble, but it drives me nuts when politicos get it wrong.

-edit-

Just to make it crystal clear: the inclusion of the word "may" is what sets the correct version apart from the idiot version.

But when he uses "May God continue to bless...", he also pretends to know God's will, namely God's will in the past, since by using "continue to bless", he implies that God is blessing America now and has been blessing it in the past.

I think the correct version should be "May God bless the United States of America".

[KukriKhan]

Moderators will be doing the "shut up" job here. Thanks.

[JAG]

Without a significant portion of the white male vote, he wouldn't have won. Don't go counting your illegal aliens until they've hatched.

Agreed, he won a lot more of the White vote than Kerry 4 years ago, it went a long way to getting him elected.

Not so. With Leiberman and without Palin too many of the GOP social conservatives would have stayed home. There was no changing this result -- Obama won it on his own merits, not on McCain's limitations or even the limitations imposed on McCain by his party.

Well, I disagree. :) But at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter too much!