Oh My! Obama actually won!

Amen to that Elizabeth!!! YES WE DID!! Now I think I can finally get some sleep. Today is the start of a new era in this country and one that is long overdue!!

The world joins you in celebrating the end of the Bush years. Perhaps now the USA will be seen again as an ally by more than a few sycophantic nations (like Tony Bliar's UK).

How about that, and it was a route, as predicted by the predictive markets InTrade.Com and Hubdub.Com ... almost exactly.

I feel like today is the first day of the 21st century that has been delayed for 8 years of hell.

Fantastic!

I have not been this happy about anything in years.

Featured in the Triple Name Club.

Just fantastic! :)

It's wonderful. And the best thing is, it restores some (underline "some") of my faith in the American public. Regardless of whether the last two elections were stolen, I couldn't understand how millions of Americans could vote for GW Bush in 2000. In 2004, I really couldn't understand how 50+ million Americans could possibly vote for more of GWB.

Seeing the enthusiasm for a change in the form of Obama is very encouraging.

It will be refreshing to have an administration that isn't so based in PR and manipulated propaganda to get support for policies that wouldn't fly otherwise. Hey, maybe we'll even get our Constitution back!

now that its over its up to all of us (no matter who we voted for) to come together and support the president elect... come January he IS "the one" and as Americans we must come together and be supportive

Keep the adage in mind. "Be careful of what you ask for, you just might get it" and you did in this snake oil salesman.

Thanks to you Elizabeth and those like you who worked their butts off for something good and decent to believe in in and thanks to Obama, a leader like we haven't seen in ages who cares about us, we have a president we can be proud of. I am so proud of the USA and proud to be a part of it. Yes We Can.

Thanks for posting this to Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008

YAY!

Congrats !!

I also feel like a great weight has been lifted, although I suspect that feeling comes just from the race being over and done with.

Enjoy your high. You earned it.

Don't know! Yes we made a historic change, but now I can only pray that he is the lesser of the two evils.

Thank you for the update!

Elizabeth, are you really surprised? I know it's easy to say now, but I truly was confidant before election day that Obama would be victorious by a wide margin.

I hope you can relax now and enjoy yourself! :)

You said "all is forgiven" and that you would "try to cultivate affection for my fellow man even if she/he is a Republican".

I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs and I'm sure anyone who voted Republican did so because they thought it was the right choice- for whatever reason they might have. The differences between people who voted Republican vs. Democrat pale in comparison to the challenges we are up against as a nation. If we don't have compassion and affection for all people and learn to work together, it isn't going to make any difference that Obama won. We can't persuade people into agreement or cooperation by insulting them for making choices we do not agree with personally. I hope everyone on either side of this commits to finding common ground and making something good happen beyond the election.

Elizabeth thank you for everything you did.

The sun is shining here in Cleveland and the Goddess smiled at us last night.

Abraham, Martin and John are singing with Bobbie - "I have a dream".

Yes - thank you, Elizabeth.
Now - to get to work on setting up the systems to help the fast-growing numbers of homeless jobless lost-from-the-system folks. We've got a few more weeks of Bush-O-nomics to go: for those who meditate & pray, let's get in there and hold a strong heart container for the CHALLENGE-TO-GREATNESS that is upon our 44th President and therefore on all of us.
Helping Hands: get to work!

For me this momentous occasion speaks more about the final fall of the slowly crumbling barrier of our nation's inability to unite without regards to race. Certainly the rejection of racism has been a politically correct belief for several years now...but the actual demonstration of our sincerity has been an allusive one.

We have just witnessed an event, the importance of which is almost beyond anyone's ability to describe. The election of Barack Obama as a new hope for the needed change in the way our government is being run (or not being run) is significant. The ousting of the Republican methodology or discipline extends the hope that a new direction can be established for our country...which is the apparent and justifiable consideration. But even more important, at least for me, is the that the new direction in which our country is now headed includes a new attitude about equality...not just racial equality but a willingness to embrace the differences we share as positive rather than negative...as an asset rather than a liability.

We have demolished a barrier as solid as the Berlin Wall and as menacing as Communism. I can understand the concerns of those who embrace the dead weight of pessimism because of the despair we have been served as "the best we can do" and of the complicated challenges we face, but I would encourage the pessimist to help prove himself wrong.

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."

HENRY FORD

I am so excited over this. I can't wait to see what changes come!

He sure did win and big time to he got twice the votes McCain did and it shows how much the public is suffering and in need of change.

Elizabeth dear >


Rejoice!

YES

WE

DID!

Congratulations!


************

While we breathe, we hope,
and where we are met with cynicism and doubt
and those who tell us we can't,
we will respond with that timeless creed
that sums up the spirit of a people:
YES … WE … CAN.

~ Barack Obama
President-Elect of OUR United States of America

Last night as the polls were closing here on the LEFT coast, our NBC local station interrupted the election event with a quick blurb and video clip of the final voters that had stood in line and waited for their opportunity to cast their ballots. The entire clip lasted less than a minute. When it was finished, the live image of Senator Obama and his family filled the tv screen with the caption beneath them "the 44th President of the United States".

I'm thrilled to pieces that my candidate won this election. But I'm so very disappointed that the call was made before all the states had cast their ballots.

Congratulations, America! Now the glitter and confetti will settle, and WE THE PEOPLE will push up our sleeves and get some work done!

OH ELIZABETH!!! I know the feeling. I knew it was true when I fell asleep last night, but I still cried when I opened up the Boston Globe this morning and read it in print.

I still feel a bit in a haze of joy and disbelief.

I know this is only the beginning of changing things, but already it feels like, to paraphrase Gerald Ford, "our long national nightmare is finally over." Now we just have to make it work, for ALL of us. The sooner we end the the current administration's practice of only serving its political base, the better the country will be.

Thrilled is inadequate, but I can find no better word. There is real cause for hope again at home and in the world arena, both of which depend upon cooperation, healthy environment, and healthy people.

Now comes the hard part. The change he has been talking about.

I hope For a better world.
new: Jewel and sand of time*:

I am buying a newspaper today just to remember I was here when this happened. Cheers!

heck ya he did Obama 09!

Watching Jesse Jackson is what moved me to tears. I felt his spirit. He was so moved by this election, he was speechless for once in his life. It was so moving. I also teared up watching Martin Luther King's Church rejoice. And when they showed the world reaction, I just felt stunned.

I'm with Carolion, it's time for all of us to get busy now. Obama called on us to help, so we all need to reach out to him with our heartlove.

Congratulations, Elizabeth, you did more than your share to bring about this momentous occasion. However, the Obama victory is only the first step. The “Money is speech.” crowd must be the first thing to go. There can be no serious change until the money corruption of Washington is eliminated. Equally importantly, those government officials who committed crimes during their watches must be brought to justice swiftly if the US is to achieve respectability and credibility internationally. And, we must always remember that huge numbers of our citizens have voted for the status quo. We must work hard to convince them that our ideas are fairer and work better.

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This is just such a wonderful day and so many of us are rejoicing, it is wonderful. I know we have a few months until Obama's influence will begin, but at least I can hold my head up knowing that the majority in this country - a coalition of great and sincere people who care about more than their own self-interest - have been heard.

The pessimists may never change, but at least for today they will have to admit that if all good people stand up they have the power.

That said, never again should anyone have to lose a day's pay, worry their legitimate vote will be cast out or suffer in order to vote as their right of citizenship. We must upgrade our voting system to handle the great participation that our citizenship deserves to be able to perform without great sacrifice. Perhaps it is also time to throw out the electoral college and vote by popular vote like other civilized democracies.

A new dawn, a new day and new hope for America.

I know, right up to the last minute I thought they'd pull something.

It's time to understand that people's faith in the election process has been restored. Obama didn't just win the electoral college, he won the popular vote, as well. This is a great day for our country. Let's all get to work on doing our part to remake this country to its greatness again.

Living in a conservative county of a conservative state, the mood is not so good. It's clear that the younger generation was excited by Obama while everyone I knew over 70 was scared of Obama.
While I am still lamenting that I have never had my vote count, it's nice to know that at least the one I voted for is in office.

Beaker and Joe T., I agree. We are restored in more ways than confidence.

Elizabeth S., your vote counted. It was disturbing that they called it before Washington and Oregon had counted their votes, but I still say that it wasn't Oregon that put it over the top... it was Washington State.:) Actually the big 3, California, Washington and Oregon were the real clinchers and if you are on the West Coast, you did it.

I didn't vote for Obama, but I will certainly pray for him. He has a lot on his plate! I think both candidates gave very gracious speeches, each expressing admiration for the other and encouraging the American people to do the same.

civility is the keynote, and McCain was just as classy in his concession as Obama was in victory. Let the work begin. It will be hard work.

I am looking forward to his list of appointments and a move forward on the agenda of the US which has been floundering in recent years.

January 20th cannot come soon enough.

Put's us into a depression, Chris? I've been depressed for the past 8 years as have most of the people in this country as we have watched Bush and the Republicans lie, cheat and steal, spend with wild abandon and trample the Constitution and all with no ethics of reasonable civilized behavior.

And you wanted more of the same?

Now the really hard part begins and it must start with stopping the throwing of stones.

True. Pointing fingers and laying blame isn't going to do any good. Obama has set a good example of not playing the victim. We have an opportunity. Let those who are disappointed commiserate each other and let our actions speak louder than words in forming the world we want to live in, for ourselves and our children.

Chris B., if you are looking for 'smart', don't look back over the last 8 years for your leadership. Honestly, let's all try to pull together and see what happens when a country is behind their president and willing to make the sacrifices required. As a financial person, I can guarantee that we will not have willing bankers around the world to finance our government your way. Changes have to be made and fast. You may not think anyone should raise taxes, but are you willing to volunteer at your local fire and police departments? Are you willing to go to the local government office and do somebody else's job for them? Are you willing to do the road work that so many government employees do for you so that you can drive to work?

I didn't think so. We are not in a depression but we certainly are in a recession and adding debt to our children's and grandchildren's inheritance is not going to help anyone. Businesses should pay their fair taxes and so should those earning in the top 5%.

Even if their sacrifice is skipping the European tour this season... I cannot feel sorrier for them than the family who has to eat pasta for three weeks to pay their mortgage. The rich have been greedily reaping rewards while 95% of the country has been suffering. As they also watch their investment portfolios tank, they certainly should be at the head of the line asking to pay their fair share of taxes so we can right this economy.

So, if you personally make more than $250,000 and don't want to pay more on any income above that number... I have to suggest that you re-examine your conscience. If you make less than that, what are you talking about? The loss of corporations that get rewarded for taking business and jobs overseas and OUT of our economy?

Elizabeth your response reminded me of Julia Sugerbaker in Designing Women. A woman who cut a man to shreds with the flip of biting wit and lashing tounge. You tell him sister! Don't know if it will do any good as I have seen those that were so bent on McCain becoming president still all the more embroiled in their self depreciating behavior.

Chris B..."do you really think raising tax,any taxes is smart during a depression?"

That is a loaded question Chris. The question of raising taxes is not as cut and dry as "is it smart to raise taxes or not"...it depends upon a multitude of variables. One of the variables is the level at which the current taxes are levied. In other words, if the tax rate of a segment of our population is not proportional to the overall tax rate of the bulk of our population, then yes...it may be "smart" to re-proportion the tax schedule (up or down..depending on the circumstances).

But your argument is not lost on me. You have assumed that I support the tax readjustment plans of Obama and I do not. Here is why. The solution to the problem of balancing our collective check book has been one of our errant assumption that because we are overspending, we must need to raise taxes. That is not a solution to seeking a balanced budget, it is throwing money at a problem rather than trying to fix the cause of the problem. The cause of the problem is the overspending, not the amount of the tax revenue. We have plenty of tax revenue, we are wasting the money rather than spending wisely. AND...the Democrats want to waste more money on more social programs that will most likely be as unsuccessful as those of the past. (Give me ONE federally mandated social program that is successful in that its effectiveness can be measured in some kind of financial return on investment.) Sure we can spend money on programs that "help" our society, but if no measurable indicators of progress are demonstrated, how can we justify the expenditures? For example...THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS BEEN A MISERABLE FAILURE. It was a well intended effort to thwart the distribution and use of recreational drugs in the U.S. but it has not worked (drug use is higher now than ever and drug arrests are higher than ever) and the program consumes more than $50 BILLION/year in tax dollars (direct costs) and many times that amount if tangent factors are considered.

"Aaah, but we have to try" is the response of the truly concerned. My reply is this...certainly we have to try, but we must measure the effects, the results of our efforts and if our efforts have not produced measurable positive results...we must try something else. This is where the government, historically, has failed. Rather than admit a mistake or a failure, the typical attempt to fix the failure is throwing more money at it.

Actually, the tax rate has little to do with economic well being of our country. The movement of money drives the economy. The more money circulates the more evenly it is distributed.

But back to your original premise..."You are going to find out you made a big mistake when he (Obama) raises capital gains and other taxes and will put us into a depression!"

As I have said...the tax rates affect our investments in business and therefore affect the rate of expansion, but the tax rates are far less important that the rate at which money circulates. It is important to remember that wealth can't be considered an indicator of financial strength of a nation. Unless the wealth is moving...money circulating, the economy will be flat and stagnant. Let's see how Obama's plans stimulate the economy before we criticize his tax base adjustments, but my biggest concern is Obama's willingness to cut funding to ineffective social programs and eliminate wasteful spending. He says he will and I say "prove it".

Sylphina M wrote - Keep the adage in mind. "Be careful of what you ask for, you just might get it" and you did in this snake oil salesman.

Hmm ads that addressed the issues, no attacks, no lies and distortions on the opponent and I bet Joe Biden knows Africa is a continent. It that is snake oil, I will buy it.

Dee - sorry you see these two candidates in the forms of two evils. Now Sarah Palin I get the evil connections but McCain, although he desserted his base of so many years and sold his soul to Rovian tactics I still don't see as evil. Just Obama as Presidential.

Rosa See Ya wrote - Watching Jesse Jackson is what moved me to tears. I felt his spirit. He was so moved by this election, he was speechless for once in his life.

I saw this with tears just streaming down his face and yes speechless for once and for a split second I was angry he was there after what he said about Obama....but then I got it. I just got it. Whereas I didn't care about his race, I voted on where he stands on the issues, how he handled the long long process. But I got it. I really really got it.

I heard interviews of several exit polls and there were several in the over 250K bracket who said they don't mind paying a little more if it helps the country over all.

If you look it up the difference in a person who makes 251K a year between both McCain and Obama's planis slightly less than 3k a year. Now I can't work and my husbands makes less than that and we could still squeeze that much out if it helps our country.

If you truly read up on each of their plans their economic plans went like this
Obama:wants to double the incentives to the US automakers
wants to offer a 3k per new hire to employers
McCain : wants to let those over 59 years of age get into their 401Ks and iRAs with a decreased penalty??? He wants to allow people to get a bigger break on their stock losses. He wanted to lower the gains tax for sale of stock in half.

So I don't see McCains plan helping companies, the stock market people under 59 or those who do not own stock. That is a vast majority.

Obama wants to help companies keep going, keep their employees and grow.

So ummmm guess which one I picked, and that was not the only issue.

Michael. I agree that spending wisely is one of the fundamentals of balancing a budget. I never minded paying my taxes as long as they were spent wisely. Right now a majority of them are not.

My daughters are on a good school district which has a higher than average GPA than most schools in my state. But there are many classes where they can't have a book for the year checked out to them because they don't have enough. Now how sad is that? That is not a federal issue but it goes to show how messed up things are.

I agree the WAR ON DRUGS is a costly experiment long past its prime and very ineffective. Of course we are pretty weird when it comes to drugs. A young mother with no knowledge that her new boyfriend stashed some drugs (she did not use or sale or even know about it) just a tad over the intent to sale amount with no record gets 99 years to set an example. But Scooter gets a commuted sentence for an act of treason. Oh well.

The tax issue while obviously debatable is not a definite since the plan must be drawn up and pass congress before enacted. But at least I feel Obama's plan is more fair to all than an elite few.

Deborah B., you are my idol. Love everything you said and agree with you wholeheartedly. Obama is a thinking president and he is 100% committed to bring America's glory home. What do I mean by glory? The idea that we could all be created equal, that a fair wage is at a minimum a living wage and that the government should be for the people... not for the benefit of corporations and their stockholders.

To whomever mentioned the Change we hope to see - well, you've seen it - President elect Obama being elected is the Change!!!! I think it's so wonderful - and I wish him and his family many many blessings. I am proud to say I voted for him. Yes, and I was able to talk many folks from the Deep South into voting for him. I don't think I could have stood another 8 years of McSame and really Palin was a joke - the way I feel now is if folks do not want to unite then maybe they should leave America - who really needs bigots and racists anyway.
Go Obama ! Thank you Elizabeth for all your hard work. Salud

Mariana T., thank YOU! Yours was a much more difficult 'sell' than anything I did. As many in past days were fond of telling us to leave the country, I heard a very funny bit on cable the other night about places the diehard conservatives could go: Iraq.

I was very happy that Obama was elected, and no doubt he will make a few decisions that will make us scratch our heads, but I will not listen to divisive mean spirited attacks. But I understand that some people are just sad too, that for whatever reason they saw McCain/Palin as the better choice. I would've been in mourning if that had happened, so I really have to respect their right to mourn even though I don't understand it.

My hope for humanity and joy at being an American living in a truly free and democratic society has been restored. It will not be an easy path that we all must follow but with Obama leading, I will gladly support whatever hard choices and decisions he must make.

Gretchen, I know that some people were very afraid of an Obama presidency, and I also realize that some very conservative people are as passionate (and now disappointed) as any, but I have hope that they will eventually overcome their fears. Change is always frightening - even if it is good change. Had they been alive, I think my father would have voted for Obama as corruption sickened him - he voted for the first black senator in Massachusetts - but I fear my mother would have gone with McCain.

As I watched the polls, as sad as I am that my father is no longer here, I couldn't help thinking that it is a good thing we all eventually die. Otherwise, we'd be taking things like the Bible literally (remember the part about a father having the right to sell his daughters into slavery?) and the Constitution would still be counting a black person as only 3/5ths of a person. Now THAT is scary.

A 10 for you!

happy happy happy happy happy happy happy :) Yes, we can :)

SI SE PUEDA!

isn't is just the best thing ever???!!! I sobbed from sheer happiness.
it's great to see you again, too.
have a great Thanksgiving! xo

Yes we have. Yes we will!

Obama falls very much in the category of the "Philosopher-King" archetype - something like India's Asoka.
A philosopher-President.

A great dream is one that is worth waking up to, and I am not only fully awake but as optimistic as I had been in quite a while.

Its truly a sad day in America that Obama won.
Sorry just my personal feeling.
I think his being elected is the worst thing that will have ever happened to America.

Well said, Elizabeth - a good reflection on the new dawn of hope!!

Except for "Bah Humbug", I thank you all for your wonderful comments and we share the excitement of that new dawn of hope, as Lawrence U. so succinctly put it.

Now for you, BH. Hmmmm... You are, of course, entitled to your feelings, whatever they are, but I hope you will try to keep an open mind for at least the first full year President Elect Obama is in office. Then you can ask yourself, is America better off? Good luck in the meantime.

I'm just hoping change comes sooner than later.
We all need a change

I just had to tell you what happened. I was watching TV and they showed him arriving at the White House for the first time as President Elect. All of a sudden I realize there were tears running down my cheeks. He did it. Are going to DC for Tuesday?

Hi Patti M.,

I am right there with you Patti M. Wish I could have gone to D.C., but last night I was singing along (on my couch) with everybody at the Lincoln Memorial and a few times I really choked up thinking what a delight it is to have a president I can admire. One more day and then it is a new world. It should be interesting to see who gets pardoned in the next twenty-four hours. Sigh. But some things are beyond our control, are they not?