The Final US Election Thread

[Koga No Goshi]

I will say that it will be nice to be off the defensive. It's always easier to complain and criticize than to have to try and get things done. I predict the honeymoon won't even last 100 days... Carter anyone?

Anyone thought Obama was walking into a honeymoon? In seriousness Panzer, this whole "he thinks he's Messiah and his supporters do too" thing was pure pundit/Fox koolaid. Obama has never said anything would be easy or quick nor do I think Dems in general think "woohoo the country is now our playdough fun factory." This was like inheriting someone's mansion, with the caveat that the yard is full of radioactive waste and you have to clean it up yourself.

PJ - if you think Obama is a 'Carter' you are have underestimated him.

Don't you mean misunderestimated? :)

[LittleGrizzly]

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.

This is what i was referring to with my reegan comment, not the margin of victory... which is highly impressive, but a sea change in american politics... and about damn time

McCain's speech was great! so gracious in defeat, i gained alot of respect for him off that speech and his silencing off the boo's, I too am deeply upset that it had to be mccain that was defeated by obama, almost any other member of the gop and really wouldn't give a damn, but mccain despite his campaign is something a bit different...

I really really hope Obama can include him in his goverment, mccain deserves nothing less

Don im glad the kool aid has worn off slightly... Ill admit i cant now this, but do you really think obama will make the middle classes (im thinking around your income) homeless ? even if there where some greater idealogical goal driving him the simple bad politics of such a move, will mean he will not... Redleg's post in the old election thread probably summed the situation up quite well..

A great day for american politics!

Im about to write a very long post on all the reasons this is so great.... the anticipation is killing you already ?

[Hooahguy]

well, obama is our new president.
now i wonder if ill keep my job.......
(the buisness i work for is one of those "big" small buisnesses that obama promised to raise taxes on.
but now, IMO, obama built himself up so high and promised so much, i dont think half of what he said will be carried out.
anyhow, obamaran a great campaign and i congradulate him and his supporters. may the next 4 years be prosperous for everyone.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Hey Beirut, wonderful to see you popping by. You have been hugely missed.

[PBI]

So I was wondering, what exactly happens next? Am I right in thinking that although the election is over, Obama will not actually be in power until he is sworn in in January, so the next two months all he will be doing is to decide what he will do once he does take power?

I.e., if there is a big crisis in the next month, it will still be Bush's job to deal with it, not Obama's?

Apologies if these are silly questions, it's just that in the UK power changes hands quite quickly after an election so it seems a bit odd that in the US there is a two-month delay; I wasn't sure whether this is purely a ceremonial thing and Obama, although not technically President yet, has actual control between now and January.

And as others have said, it is great to see you again Beirut.

[seireikhaan]

Nice to see the friendly, neighborhood lumberjack. Welcome back Beirut, even if only for a moment!

[Ice]

At least the election is over. Now I won't be harassed daily by Obama people asking me if I have voted or who i am voting for on the way to work.

Oh yeah, glad the marijuana thing passed in Michigan. One more state thumbing their noses at the Feds.

[Andres]

Good to see you again, Beirut

[Seamus Fermanagh]

So I was wondering, what exactly happens next? Am I right in thinking that although the election is over, Obama will not actually be in power until he is sworn in in January, so the next two months all he will be doing is to decide what he will do once he does take power?

I.e., if there is a big crisis in the next month, it will still be Bush's job to deal with it, not Obama's?

Apologies if these are silly questions, it's just that in the UK power changes hands quite quickly after an election so it seems a bit odd that in the US there is a two-month delay; I wasn't sure whether this is purely a ceremonial thing and Obama, although not technically President yet, has actual control between now and January.

And as others have said, it is great to see you again Beirut.

Nice to hear from you tree-killer!


PBI, you are correct to wonder. Technically, President-Elect Obama was not elected last night. US citizens chose a massive slate of electors who are committed to vote for Obama in the College of Electors. This College will meet in December and cast the actual votes that will name Barack H. Obama President of the USA. However, that vote will not be certified until 6 January 2009 as -- mandated by the Constitution -- the first item of business for the new Congress. Only then will Obama have been elected President. In practice, however, it is a done deal and he will take a week off to recover and then begin his transition to power.

President Bush will continue to exercise all of the Presidency]s executive powers until Noon on 20 January 2009. He will then, in that moment, have no powers other than those possessed by any other ordinary citizen. In practice, however, the "lame duck" President wields very limited influence and carries little weight in any role aside from Commander in Chief. He can still sign executive orders and issue sweeping pardons, but the incumbent's ability to influence the agenda of events is very limited. The outgoing President usually works with the President-elect to promote a smooth transition, but not always. I would predict that George Bush will be very supportive and helpful to Obama -- though the Obama team may prefer to thank him for that effort but do things a different way.

The President-elects influence over things begins immediately -- he will be consulted in all things -- but his power to make decisions etc. will not begin until January. No appointment he makes, no directive he issues, no order he signs is valid as a Presidential order until his innauguration. However, the informal power he wields as the up-and-coming leader and his influence over his party's agenda and the decisions made in Congress in the "lame duck" session start immediately.

Be happy, though. In the old days, the innauguration was on 4 March!

[PBI]

Thanks for the concise yet complete answer Seamus.

[Prince Cobra]

For me the struggle for the President post was over before it began. It was quite obvious Obama will win (mainly because of the financial chaos in USA)... As far as Bush failure in the foreign policy, his reelection made me think most of the Amercians vote not for foreign policy but for better internal policy... McCain could not persuade most of the voters in better future with the Republicans(how could he in this crisis??) so I think it was quite clear who would win... I do not expect wonders but I am inquisitive what the first steps of the new US President will be.