The Final US Election Thread

[Strike For The South]

Its time to repair our image abroad. We can always go back to bombing everyone in another four years if Obama doesnt do a good job.

Eh its not the time to debate but I must disagree my friend

[Divinus Arma]

And I dont want hear one more damn word about race from anyone ever again. Especially uneducated idiots in trailer parks or in the ghetto.

This is a postracial generation!

[Divinus Arma]

Eh its not the time to debate but I must disagree my friend

Plus I'm a union man. I'm sick of seeing the fat cats walk away with millions while the average guy watches his pension and 401k sink with the company he slaved for.

Its time for the pendulum to swing back to the little man!

[KukriKhan]

I think you are wrong on that Kukri, it is very much historic and most honourable. Quite brilliant.

I take your point, and appreciate your enthusiasm. After all these years, do you not recognize american understatement? I know you haven't seen it very much here in the backroom, but believe me, it is prevalent in all communities here: black, white, brown; rich, poor; privileged, oppressed: it's just not polite to brag too hard.

Unless you're Texan. :wink :

[Strike For The South]

Plus I'm a union man. I'm sick of seeing the fat cats walk away with millions while the average guy watches his pension and 401k sink with the company he slaved for.

Its time for the pendulum to swing back to the little man!

100% agreed. We should've let them rot with there companies Well considering Im probably going to end up teaching chances are I may end up being in a union but I hate them. They are an old archaic institution. What happened on your sabbactial man? Views changE?

[KukriKhan]

And I dont want hear one more damn word about race from anyone ever again. Especially uneducated idiots in trailer parks or in the ghetto.

This is a postracial generation!

Hey, I represent that incineration!

[Koga No Goshi]

Especially uneducated idiots in trailer parks or in the ghetto.

I was gonna say, why are you talking about my 100% white cousins in Ohio?!

[Banquo's Ghost]

Very dignified and gracious concession speech by Senator McCain.

[Koga No Goshi]

Very dignified and gracious concession speech by Senator McCain.

My inner English nazi gave him +++ for saying "an historic campaign."

[m52nickerson]

I hope Obama offers McCain a cabinet position.

[TinCow]

Having watched McCain's concession speech, I cannot help but feel great regret that he had to be the one to lose to Obama. I wish it could have been someone else. McCain is a great man and I hope he realizes that his loss was not a repudiation of his person. It will be a dark day when he retires from leading our country.

[Koga No Goshi]

Having watched McCain's concession speech, I cannot help but feel great regret that he had to be the one to lose to Obama. I wish it could have been someone else. McCain is a great man and I hope he realizes that his loss was not a repudiation of his person. It will be a dark day when he retires from leading our country.

His campaign was more to blame than him personally.

[CountArach]

Very dignified and gracious concession speech by Senator McCain.

My brother insisted on talking to me during the speech so I didn't hear it

[JAG]

McCain's speech was a very good one, a slight shame some people in the crowd couldn't also be sensible about the situation. It is a shame McCain didn't stick to his centrist heart during the campaign, but still - a very good concession speech.

I take your point, and appreciate your enthusiasm. After all these years, do you not recognize american understatement? I know you haven't seen it very much here in the backroom, but believe me, it is prevalent in all communities here: black, white, brown; rich, poor; privileged, oppressed: it's just not polite to brag too hard.

[seireikhaan]

My brother insisted on talking to me during the speech so I didn't hear it

I can second Banquo's analysis. It was very gracious, very well done. Its moments like that which make me wonder how much the RNC hijacked the McCain campaign.

[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 ?

[JAG]

wow, didn't see California going that way.

[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.

[Gregoshi]

And so it begins...

Congratulations to Barack Obama. Just seeing the reaction here at the Org, around the US and elsewhere is very encouraging. President-elect Obama will have a lot of good will in his corner when he starts his presidency. May he use it wisely.

[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.

[CountArach]

The exit polls say that the gay marriage ban will fail 52/48, but the exit polls aren't all that accurate and it is still within the MoE:
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008...polls/#CAI01p1

[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?

[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!

[GeneralHankerchief]

Okay, switching to the Senate, CNN has it right now 56-40 for the Dems. There are four states that still haven't been called yet: Alaska, Georgia, Oregon, and Minnesota.

Alaska: No results as of yet, but I'm assuming that Begich will defeat the recently-convicted Ted Stevens. Dem pickup.
Georgia: Chambliss is up 52-44% on Martin. Looks like a Republican hold.
Oregon: With 31% reporting, Merkley (D) has a 2-point lead over Smith. Assuming trends hold, Dem pickup.
Minnesota: The closest race, currently tied 42-42 with Coleman up by 2,000 votes.

So, with Minnesota in the balance, it looks like the Democrats will hold 58 or 59 Senate seats. I predict Coleman will beat Franken by the skin of his teeth, so it looks like 58. Maybe if Lieberman gets thrown out, 57. But there won't be 60.