Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I got a great e-mail from Michael Moore today (I largely agree with him on most things). I thought he was on the money with this one: Friends, Who among us is not at a loss for words? Tears pour out. Tears of joy. Tears of relief. A stunning, whopping landslide of hope in a time of deep despair. In a nation that was founded on genocide and then built on the backs of slaves, it was an unexpected moment, shocking in its simplicity: Barack Obama, a good man, a black man, said he would bring change to Washington, and the majority of the country liked that idea. The racists were present throughout the campaign and in the voting booth. But they are no longer the majority, and we will see their flame of hate fizzle out in our lifetime. There was another important "first" last night. Never before in our history has an avowed anti-war candidate been elected president during a time of war. I hope President-elect Obama remembers that as he considers expanding the war in Afghanistan. The faith we now have will be lost if he forgets the main issue on which he beat his fellow Dems in the primaries and then a great war hero in the general election: The people of America are tired of war. Sick and tired. And their voice was loud and clear yesterday. It's been an inexcusable 44 years since a Democrat running for president has received even just 51% of the vote. That's because most Americans haven't really liked the Democrats. They see them as rarely having the guts to get the job done or stand up for the working people they say they support. Well, here's their chance. It has been handed to them, via the voting public, in the form of a man who is not a party hack, not a set-for-life Beltway bureaucrat. Will he now become one of them, or will he force them to be more like him? We pray for the latter. But today we celebrate this triumph of decency over personal attack, of peace over war, of intelligence over a belief that Adam and Eve rode around on dinosaurs just 6,000 years ago. What will it be like to have a smart president? Science, banished for eight years, will return. Imagine supporting our country's greatest minds as they seek to cure illness, discover new forms of energy, and work to save the planet. I know, pinch me. We may, just possibly, also see a time of refreshing openness, enlightenment and creativity. The arts and the artists will not be seen as the enemy. Perhaps art will be explored in order to discover the greater truths. When FDR was ushered in with his landslide in 1932, what followed was Frank Capra and Preston Sturgis, Woody Guthrie and John Steinbeck, Dorothea Lange and Orson Welles. All week long I have been inundated with media asking me, "gee, Mike, what will you do now that Bush is gone?" Are they kidding? What will it be like to work and create in an environment that nurtures and supports film and the arts, science and invention, and the freedom to be whatever you want to be? Watch a thousand flowers bloom! We've entered a new era, and if I could sum up our collective first thought of this new era, it is this: Anything Is Possible. An African American has been elected President of the United States! Anything is possible! We can wrestle our economy out of the hands of the reckless rich and return it to the people. Anything is possible! Every citizen can be guaranteed health care. Anything is possible! We can stop melting the polar ice caps. Anything is possible! Those who have committed war crimes will be brought to justice. Anything is possible. We really don't have much time. There is big work to do. But this is the week for all of us to revel in this great moment. Be humble about it. Do not treat the Republicans in your life the way they have treated you the past eight years. Show them the grace and goodness that Barack Obama exuded throughout the campaign. Though called every name in the book, he refused to lower himself to the gutter and sling the mud back. Can we follow his example? I know, it will be hard. I want to thank everyone who gave of their time and resources to make this victory happen. It's been a long road, and huge damage has been done to this great country, not to mention to many of you who have lost your jobs, gone bankrupt from medical bills, or suffered through a loved one being shipped off to Iraq. We will now work to repair this damage, and it won't be easy. But what a way to start! Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th President of the United States. Wow. Seriously, wow.
Originally Posted By avromark You know I honestly thought Canada would have elected a visible minority before the United States. Obama will always prominent be in the History books. At this point is how many pages/books will be devoted to him in half a century? I think it's been awhile since a President as unique as His Honourable Obama has been elected. Now I wonder if we'll have Fireside Chat's from him?
Originally Posted By iamsally >>>Be humble about it. Do not treat the Republicans in your life the way they have treated you the past eight years. Show them the grace and goodness that Barack Obama exuded throughout the campaign.<<< This part is crucial Dave. But I am walkin' on air today.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I wonder if we'll have Fireside Chat's from him?<< Their email and online campaign was like no other. I am hoping that they will use the structure they have built to create a modern day "Fireside Chat" or call to action communication. The latest email to supporters suggested something like that may indeed be in the works.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Be humble about it. Do not treat the Republicans in your life the way they have treated you the past eight years. Show them the grace and goodness that Barack Obama exuded throughout the campaign.> The consensus I've been hearing, both from people who know him well and from pundits who have been watching him closely for 2 years straight, is that Obama's natural tendency is to be conciliatory. I think that's probably right. I don't think he's going to take Bush's "my way or the highway" approach, even though he got far more of an electoral mandate than Bush ever did. Now whether Pelosi indulges in some payback for the way Democrats were treated by Hastert and (especially) DeLay, I don't know. I hope not, because much of that was just petty and small and designed to rub the Democrats' nose in the fact that they were the minority. I'm not convinced Pelosi will be more gracious than that, but I imagine Obama will be.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin Well, it's hard to be nice to them when they tell you "This whole stock market thing is because Obama was elected."
