TC American Presidential Election Thread

he's so inspiring he made all these people faint

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndl57E7UJno[/YOUTUBE]

 

I don't know about 2000, but in 2004 Kerry had the most votes of any Presidential candidate in US history except 1 guy -- the guy that narrowly beat him.
So I think that, unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as being complacent. There really is a large majority in the US who voted for George W Bush in 2004. Make no mistake about that. The Evangelical far-right "conservative socialists" do wield a lot of power in US elections. W really was a lot of peoples' preference for the last 8 years -- my mother and sister included. These people still think he was a great President.

What I think happened is that the last 8 years polarized this country between the far-right and everyone else. Even the "center-right" (Libertarians, Fiscal conservatives, etc.) have largely fallen out with Republicans... and that's what you saw in this election. (Though most of these center-rights didn't vote for Obama -- but a lot of them made sure to not vote for McCain either.)

I'm hoping he's my generations' JFK -- without the tragedy.
I'll probably be called post-modern or part of a "cult of personality" or something for that, but screw it.
The guy oozes class and genuine character, and I'm left-leaning anyway -- especially on healthcare and energy. I want out of Iraq. He has the best economic connections/endorsements (Warren Buffet? yes please!)
He's intelligent and he surrounds himself with smart people... which is a completely different direction than the last 8 years... which was proudly ignorant surrounded by cynical * (minus Colin.)

 

Pleased Obama won. Never thought an African American would do it in my lifetime and its truly amazing that its happened. He also speaks well - seems like Kennedy footage. Only question I have is he is very vague and talks about change and revolution but what will he do. Will he make America more like western Europe, more social minded, less greed worshiping, more liberal, will he bring in a national health service etc etc.

 

I have a very bad feeling that he will be assassinated like JFK was. I hope thats wrong but I just have a bad feeling. A few people I know are worried about that.

 

delighted obama won. gutted though that my campaigning work during two drunken weeks in las vegs went unnoticed in his speech lol

 

Aye what was that about? You think he could have mentioned you at least once!

 

I know mate, he mentioned his wife at least once

 

But surely they only wielded that power because too many young and minority voters were uninterested, and now Obama has energised those sections of the electorate.

According to many observers, the Republicans are going to have to have a major re-think of the direction they're heading because of this new demographic in the US.

Can you ask your mother and sister to give you a single reason for why he was a great President btw?

 

Too early to say really. More that one president has been vilified all throughout his term of office, only to be vindicated in the history books (Lincoln comes to mind), and again consider: Given the circumstances of 9/11, do you really think Al Gore would have decided any differently?

 

Absolutely not, and rightly so. That was a completely legitimate retaliation for what happened that day.

I still support what the US and the UK are trying to do in Afghanistan, but the lies which Bush's and my own government spun in order to excuse the invasion of Iraq will be the defining memory of that administration.

An illegal war fought on the back of a lie which has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people will be legacy of George W Bush.

 

Palin 'Said Africa Was A Country' - Yahoo! News UK

thank * Obama got in

 

That may be a fair question to ask about Bush, but when I prompt the question as to what is so great about Obama excluding his exceptional motivational speaking skills, people with whom I speak seem it difficult to scare up an answer other than the rhetorical "hope, change" and so forth. It appears as though many (not all, so don't come screaming at me!) of those who gave Obama the vote don't know anything about him at all, especially the young crowd.

 

I hope I'm wrong, but from what the Democrats were saying publicly prior to the election, it's very likely that private retirement funds will be 'rescued' by the federal government in order to keep afloat the bloated behemoth known as Social Security.

Just 'cause you earned it and saved it, why should YOU keep it?

 

I study history for fun.

There is not a chance in * Bush will be treated as a good president in history books. Not a * chance.

 

I was "semi-anti-Obama" during a lot of the campaigning but as time wore on I put that down to an in-built cynicism of all things political to come out of America, especially after 8 years of W's lies, bullying and bullshit.

Putting Iraq and Afghanistan to one side if possible, one of the Bush administration's most criminal acts in recent memory was surely the handling of Hurricane Katrina and subsequently the neglect of the people of New Orleans. How any president can sanction the spending of so much money every single day to fight two idiotic wars while millions of his own people have inadequate healthcare, education and the most basic of human needs, decent shelter...to me is an intolerable crime against humanity! Why nothing more is said or made of it is completely beyond me!

Obama has something. It's hard to say what it is exactly but he's certainly touched an unconscious nerve among a lot of people and stirred an emotion inside them to get out and support the guy. True he's been vague on some of the things he wants to do but he's lucky in that the slate he's inherriting is so * up, he can hardly * things up anymore.

I wish the guy a lot of luck. America needs a shake from head to foot and needs to come down from the pedestal it's on in regard to how a lot of other nations are treated. I do agree that America should take the lead on a lot of world issues but it should be down in a less knee * way and hopefully take a more educated stance.

Rumours are circulating that Palin is considering running in 2012.....I find that funnier than having 3 white mice licking the sweat off my balls while a hamster rims my fat * :icon_mrgreen:

 

But I think those inspirational skills are exactly what is needed right now. We are at the start of what will be the deepest recession since the great depression, and what people need are not just the interest rate cuts or tax cuts, but also they need to feel good about themselves and made to feel more hopeful and confident.

I know most Americans will want to know what he's going to do about their economy, but watching from outside the US the reaction to him has been unbelievable. America's image abroad has taken a battering under Bush, this election has restored a lot of faith in the USA.

You know that I've always admired the American tradition of smaller government and self-reliance but there has to be a balance, especially when times are tough. I think his biggest barrier to helping Americans is going to be all the corporate interest in things like health insurance. Too many people are making too much money to want any changes.

Agreed.

PMSL

I hope Palin runs, I really do. She is pure comedy gold.

 

I know I've asked them this before, but I think I repressed the answers. I think it had something to do with bringing Christianity into government.

That's a bit funny... continuing on the vein from the previous post I quoted... this is actually why my mom refused to even consider voting for Kerry or Obama. According to her, they would have done nothing... they would have sat there with a blank look on their face and done nothing.

I nearly burst a blood vessel in my brain trying to comprehend that... logic.

But this is true every election. When Kerry was running it was "he's Liberal!" (from one side with disdain and disgust and the other jubilantly.)
A lot of people can discuss what they like about candidates (McCain or Obama.)

Yeah I can't see it either. Especially as more stuff comes out about exactly what Cheney has been up to. I have a feeling historians will accurately record Iraq as well... and how we screwed it up from the beginning just about every imaginable way possible.

 

I was hoping to hear responses with some great things about Obama; say what you'd like about Bush, the past eight years, yadda yadda and so forth. That being said, I would like to know what I am preparing for in the next four years. I submit that Barry Obama (Barry will be my nickname for Barack, how's that working for everyone so far?) is un proven and has a long way to go before I can respect him in the White House. Sure, we have to get on with him for now but his credentials and his ability as an executive, I believe, are something that is worth questioning.
Rhetoric may be all find and good, but at least when Ronald Reagan (uh oh, posts will be flying now!!!) spouted out his rhetoric and whatnot, he was at least in charge of one of the largest economies in the world prior to assuming office (the answer folks is California, save your google searches).