Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.
The election of Mr. Obama amounted to a national catharsis — a repudiation of a historically unpopular Republican president and his economic and foreign policies, and an embrace of Mr. Obama’s call for a change in the direction and the tone of the country.
Barack Obama won the presidency Tuesday, the first African-American to claim the highest office in the land, an improbable candidate fulfilling a once-impossible dream.
A nation that in living memory struggled violently over racial equality will have as its next president a 47-year-old, one-term U.S. senator born of a Kenyan father and Kansan mother. He is the first president elected from Chicago and the first to rise from a career in Illinois politics since Abraham Lincoln emerged from frontier obscurity to lead the nation through the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.
After a day of runaway lines that circled blocks, of ladies hobbling on canes and drummers rollicking on street corners, the enormous significance of Barack Obama’s election finally began to sink into the landscape. The magnitude of his win suggested that the country itself might be in a gravitational pull toward a rebirth that some were slow to recognize.
What did it all get us, those 8 years of pandering and spending? If GWB had turned his face against new entitlements, closed the borders, deported the illegals, held the line on calls to loosen mortgage-lending standards, starved the Department of Education, and declined those invitations to mosque functions, would the GOP be in any worse shape now?
What won this election was the packaging skills of David Axelrod, the swooning complicity of the media, the ruthless opportunism of Barack Obama, and the unprincipled thuggishness of his supporters.
Let us savor.
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YO!
Yo.
Fuck “The Corner”
it shows how detached from reality the neo cons are, I have seldom read something published that had less to do with the facts
I think they still believe that once they say something it becomes true
I hope the entire republican party now recognizes rove for the failed, inept, strategic moron that he is
it is rove that cost them their majority, their jobs, their image, their brand
but they are probably just too stupid to realize it and they will think he is their answer not their problem
Fuck a whole bunch of The Corner. Welcome to irrelevance, assholes.
mornin’ all.
Yo! indeed.
I’ve got little bruises, from pinching myself.
It’s both joyful and REALLY schadenfreudelicious.
Hey, Raven -
This one’s for you…….
If the clowns from The Corner had their way we’d still be bombing Hanoi!
Yes, neither Bush nor McCain nor Palin were “real conservatives” therefore conservatism didn’t lose.
Tecumseh Valley, Towns Van Sandt actually wrote it.
epu-ed from last thread. Looks like I can stay in ND…Coleman wins Minn tho so close there may be a recount. Bachman re-elected.
Barnacle’s subscription to The Weekly Neocon expires with the next issue. That will be its death knell. Without Barnacle having a million copies shipped to the WH every month the rag won’t survive.
Will someone please explain to me why, on CNN, I’m hearing James Carville say we have to give Bush credit for starting the transition early????
Hey bro, never thought I’d see this day. Maybe we can make a better world.
“the ruthless opportunism of Barack Obama, and the unprincipled thuggishness of his supporters.”
Another example of the fact that the language skills of people ‘on the other side’ are really poor.
“thug (thŭg) Pronunciation Key
n.
1. A cutthroat or ruffian; a hoodlum.
2. also Thug One of a band of professional assassins formerly active in northern India who worshiped Kali and offered their victims to her.”
If these boneheads think that people who worked for Obama are ‘thugs’, I cannot imagine what they think of the people who were calling for blood at McCain and Palin rallies.
Because you don’t know how to use the channel changer? :)
This is the line that jumped out at me. My repub friends don’t believe me when I tell them that this is one of their goals (along with Social Security and Medicare). I’m going to have to print that.
Somebody call a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaambulance for Derbyshire at NRO.
Eat shit, motherfucker.
[comment edited by moderator]
[slaps forehead] Duh… Thanks! Probably not enough sleep last night!
Waccamaw, Thank you for the verse. Well after three stops, I finally found the NYTimes. I also bought the AJC because the cover is great!
The Republicons will be having scrambled brains for breakfast.
We now have the opportunity. It’s up to us not to let it get away like we did in the 70s.
Imus: Oh gawd that is horrible…what a creep Coleman is….
Coleman wins Minn tho so close there may be a recount. Bachman re-elected.
crap.
Indiana came through for me though – nice birthday present.
and all living things
I don’t do blow anymore
We have to frogmarch the sumbitch outa there before he does anything more to wreck the planet.
Toby, did you see the Arcuri results. He’ll probably win but I’m truly bummed because I think this close call may make him become more conservative.
They call them patriots.
The Guardian has this report this morning:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/scie…..ical-trial
well, they *did* starve No Child Left A Mind – that wasn’t enough for the knuckle draggers, I guess.
Congratulations all around, pups. I really like this new world we inhabit.
Carville is an old, rich, white ass.
w00t!
After a day of runaway lines that circled blocks, of ladies hobbling on canes and drummers rollicking on street corners, the enormous significance of Barack Obama’s election finally began to sink into the landscape. The magnitude of his win suggested that the country itself might be in a gravitational pull toward a rebirth that some were slow to recognize.
That would include just about every pundit, newsreader, bloviator and “journalist” in the conventional corporate media.
Derbyshire is a living thing? Damn.
ya gotta reduce it for pug speak!
Press and Sun-Bulletin is saying he won 116,675 to 110,833…but he did not even take his own home county. But, it’s only two years; we need to work to find a good progressive Democrat to run against him in the primary two years from now.
and if they think those that made this stunning victory possible are just going to walk away and return to shopping are in for a very rude surprise.
I hope they don’t.
Slainte abhaile all
I’m pissed and sour that these fenderheads down here passed Amendment 2. I see FL Supreme Court all over this monstrosity.
Blue Texan – thanks for the shot of Jackson at the top. That’s the money shot from last night for me. Incredible.
Maybe he’s using child psychology or hostage bargaining techniques, in hopes of minimizing the number of Federal Regulations changed to allow more pillaging before Bush leaves. He and Paul Begala were actually pretty good on CNN last night, telling Bill Bennet that the Repubs might do better to look at what’s wrong with their own defeated party, rather than trying to explain how Obama won’t be able to stand up to the cunning liberal machinations of Pelosi and Reed.
NYT/Charlotte Observer still hadn’t come in went I went to corner earlier; need to head back soon to check on arrival. No hard copies of AJC here (natch) but will check it out on-line.
I was watching on DN and thought a saw him in the crowd just before Obama came out. Very cool.
Does anyone know what Nate’s gonna do with his blog now that this is over?
The people I am worried for at the IT professionals at the House and Senate; if they think that the systems were crashing with emails, etc. for FISA… just wait until some of these new and passionate voters start making phone calls, emails and faxes… they need to get to work on that system…stat!!
What do you pups think about Chris Shays losing his seat?
Heck..he’ll become a pundit!!
Verrrry nice.
Dragon -
What’s a ”fenderhead”?
Ditto.
I appreciate the image catch of Jesse crying. I worked on his campaign when I was in college. I was ready 25 years ago to have an African American as President.
Jesse’s tears, are the reality that he saw the same vision 25 years ago. And now, it’s a reality.
Now we all have to be ready to work hard to carry out the big tasks ahead.
cool map
What’s with MN… they should have crushed Bachman and Coleman? Weird state.
most excellent :)
HA! Fenderhead
A dark day for him and the Clintons.
President-Elect Obama (boy, that felt good) owes them and their buddies nothing, so they’re in the never-never land of being on the right side of the fence, but with no special access.
We have them surrounded.
MSNBC says Franken asking for a recount. 760 or so margin.
all year long!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7vyBpspBJQ
Isn’t it, though?
We’ve got a tremendous amount of work to do, but at least it doesn’t feel like Sysiphus (spelling?) anymore, if you know what I mean.
JoeScar says Franken is demanding a recount – which may be required anyway.
He lost by 700-some votes.
Off to the salt mines!
Easily my biggest disappointments of the night.
Heh. I’ve often likened my life (woman on Wall St.) to Sisyphus. Felt good when I stopped trying to roll that rock uphill & I hear that Wall St. got even less female friendly after I left.
Good that the country is going in a better direction, though.
what happened with Toobz?
Give them no quarter. Unconditional surrender!
Okay, Selise. Now. Now you can.
On your mark, get set, go.
(Well, maybe we can all bask, just for today, then You Go Girl.)
It’s not over yet but he is in the lead
On ships fenders are those things hung over the side to absorb the impact of the ship mooring to a pier. Remember pix of tugs with tires all round the sides of the boat? Those are fenders. In the Navy they’re made from Manila hemp, or used to be.
Lovely map. Told me that Chatham county (Savannah and environs) went 57% for Obama.
Looks like Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Brit Hume, George Will, Joe Scar, George Stephanopolus et al will have to begin paying their fair share.
listening to CSPAN, last I heard, Chambliss slipped below the 50% line
can anyone say “runoff” *g
Good Morning Blue Texan and Firedogs,
and it really is morning isn’t it :D
Congratulations to Jane Hamsher, Howie Klein, and John Amato – fielded 13, count ‘em 13 Blue America Winners with another half dozen yet to go in to the Win column
what in the hell is up in OR and AK senate races ?
has there been a definitive call in WA-08 for Darcy Burner ???
Okey dokey. Coffee’s gone. Back to my regular life. Maybe with a smirk today, though.
hehe… I just checked out the thugblogs: Redstate mgmt is trying to be gracious nut the rank and file isn’t buying it, freepers are sayin’ they won’t acknowledge an Obama presidency… I guess they’re taking to the hills, Pammy at Atlas Bugs has had some type of nervous breakdown complete with spittle flying and no less than a score or so tinfoil hat conspiracy theories to explain Obama’s win.
I just made my last visit to Palin as President and you should too!!!
YESSS!!! Ga. Secty. of State results have him at 49.8% now.
Any word on the Burner race in Washington?
thanks.
From your link:
About 4,000 votes separated the candidates. The razor-thin margin means the Senate race might not be decided for two weeks.
Still to be counted are roughly 40,000 absentee ballots, with more expected to arrive in the mail, as well as 9,000 uncounted early votes and thousands of questioned ballots. The state Elections Division has up to 15 days after the election to tally all the remaining ballots before finalizing the count.
looks like he’ll win. Maybe the Alaskan Independence Party is onto something after all.
F*ing great day! Shays is retired. Chris Murphy beat his opponent who got beaucoups de dollars via fundraisers from Bush/Kissinger. Oh, and a new President (as opposed to preznit)! All the more so, cause I felt so tense yesterday.
So it seems the media is building their little narratives today around what they thought happened. Pathetic. Cokey roberts just said something like, the white male is a smaller demographic now then ever. puhleeze!
How is it possible for Chambliss to win? Did he cheat again?
Good Morning All.
OMG. I didn’t just dream it? It’s really true!
HAH! GOOD Morning. whhoooooohooooooo!!!
Three little nagging questions:
What did KKKarl have for breakfast?
Can TeddyToobz serve from prison?
Whatever could dumbya mean by “awesome”?
How is it possible for Stevens to win?
Just in case you don’t have the link for Palin as President http://www.palinaspresident.us/
No, he ran here in Georgia.
WHAT A LANDSLIDE! CONGRATULATIONS OBAMA/BIDEN FAMILIES…AND AMERICA!
Okay, going to work. Have a good day, my comrades! (just a little socialist humor this morning LOL)
the corporatists, right wing reactionaries and their media stooges haven’t stopped. i guess that means we can’t either.
Is Cindy still using both arms?
Oh and from CT: Who is Joseph Lieberman? Is there a person by that name?
Heh. Cokie actually said that? Ouch.
RRRRAAAAWWWW!!!!1111
*oh!*
How is it possible for Stevens to win?
Because the majority of Alaskans (excluding ET, his blog-mates, Celtic Diva) are evidently mega-bat-shit crazy?
The main thing is that if he wins, and then gets expelled, Sarah can pick his replacement.
Can you say “Senator Palin”?
Ding.
Joe Scar has finally taken off the mask.
He’s played nice as long as he could, but now the ugly is beginning to come out.
Yeah she and some others are yukking it up on that abc morning news(?) show.
not without choking.
lol
Good Morning everyone….. didn’t get home until midnight after the Arizona Democratic Party celebrations downtown….. the hotel was overrun….. too many people… I was at a candidate hospitality suite when it all went down….
Here I am… In Phoenix….. in a room of 30 people glued to the TeeVee….. some of us crying (->katymine) but the room was a rainbow of colors and races….. and mostly it was pinch me ….. or worry that I would wake up and they took it all away….
Time has come today
Young hearts can go their way
Can’t put it off another day
I don’t care what others say
They say we don’t listen anyway
Time has come today
(Hey)
Oh
The rules have changed today (Hey)
I have no place to stay (Hey)
I’m thinking about the subway (Hey)
My love has flown away (Hey)
My tears have come and gone (Hey)
Oh my Lord, I have to roam (Hey)
I have no home (Hey)
I have no home (Hey)
Now the time has come (Time)
There’s no place to run (Time)
I might get burned up by the sun (Time)
But I had my fun (Time)
I’ve been loved and put aside (Time)
I’ve been crushed by the tumbling tide (Time)
And my soul has been psychedelicized (Time)
(Time)
Now the time has come (Time)
There are things to realize (Time)
Time has come today (Time)
Time has come today (Time)
Time [x11]
Oh
Now the time has come (Time)
There’s no place to run (Time)
I might get burned up by the sun (Time)
But I had my fun (Time)
I’ve been loved and put aside (Time)
I’ve been crushed by tumbling tide (Time)
And my soul has been psychedelicized (Time)
(Time)
Now the time has come (Time)
There are things to realize (Time)
Time has come today (Time)
Time has come today (Time)
I wonder if Liarman is still tip-toeing around, tripping over McSame’s heels just to git camera time. Pathetic. Get a life, Joe. He’s taken, and Cindy’s getting sick of having you put the empty boxes of frootloops back in the cupboard as if you thot she had no clue.
Here’s the Ga. Secty. of State results page. The odious Mr. Chambliss didn’t do as well as McCain, so I doubt he cheated. Pray for the runoff.
They’re gonna be an ugly bunch for a while. At least until we can get ‘em shitcanned.
And just the plain eediot press. Local CT news anchors last night were bemoaning the fate of the last “moderate republican in New England, a dying breed” who was a “moderate republican” just like *Nancy Johnson*. Ohmahgod! Crazy obstructionist chris shays and BigPharma Nancy Johnson, moderates?
That was my thinking, too.
well that’s just blatantly anti-Newsweek.
heh.
That’s right.
I meant that people have been giving you a hard time for a while about your criticism of the dem candidate. And now that he has won, you can have at it.
I am praying for a runnoff.
Oh, that kind of fenders……I need to go look up the prop you ref’d.
Sheehan 17%, Pelosi 71%. Well, that sucks. Maybe we can build a progressive fire under Pelosi’s sorry ass.
Morning All!
I have a hangover. Buchanan on MSNBC said that the Vietnam war is finally over.
meh, i’ll give em the hundred days.
Time Has Come Today. Rock on — for 9 minutes!
so what ever Shakespeare said … they will not go easily into the good night…
Florida’s Prop 8. We do have our share of reichwing Christian nutjobs. More of a share than I like. Hopefully it won’t survive the courts.
Good morning pups, what a great day in America. My heart told me this would happen, my head didn’t trust that he could turn all those red states blue (including here in NC). W O W!
Shays was moderate like Tom Feeney and Ric Keller in Florida. We shitcanned both pseudo-patriot Bush clowns last night. Yee Haw!
Thanksgiving 1969, West Palm Beach Arts Festival at the Beeline Raceway. They played at about 4am. It will never leave my head.
The most succint assesment of this election and what it means poltically, from Rod Dreher:
1. The modern conservative movement began with the crushing defeat of Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential race. The modern conservative movement ends with the crushing defeat conservative movement ends with the crushing defeat of Arizona Sen. John McCain — who took Goldwater’s Senate seat upon his retirement — in the 2008 presidential race.
2. Modern liberalism began its implosion with riots in Chicago’s Grant Park at the 1968 Democratic Convention. Tonight, modern liberalism is reborn at Chicago’s Grant Park, where a black Chicago Democrat will celebrate winning the presidency.
-G
Turn the page.
After Sen-to-Gov. Murkowski appointed his daughter as Senator when he was elected Gov, Alaska changed the procedure to special elections. She can’t appoint herself.
They’ll have to elect her to the job, altho they may have reelected Stevens — who will be expelled form the Senate if he wins.
I think we’re in a good place.
No, we didn’t get 60 seats, but in one night we:
Restored our nation’s credibility on the world stage.
Got rid of Bush, Cheney, McCain & Palin.
Did pick up seats in the House and Senate.
Started the circular firing squad in the Republican party.
Not a bad 24 hours.
You can actually watch her that early in the morn? You need counseling.
I wonder how much Cokie’s writers are paid. They’re gonna have to come up with a whole new slant on life, at long last. Lots of pundits are going to be punting for awhile, as they reluctantly crawl out into the light of a Barack Obama day.
It is? Ya mean I can put all my shit away? Don’t have to worry about getting called up for another couple years jungle fighting?
i know, thanks.
but i got no complaints unless someone starts calling our president elect a progressive or the rumors of emmanuel as cos get confirmed.
very historic event. now it’s up to us to make sure it’s not only symbolism – we substance as well.
You’re a kind man. :)
Lots to do.
He’ll need lots of support, and also people to keep him going in the right direction.
I say let’s grab the pitchforks and chase ‘em out of the hills, into the ocean. Let them swim to whatever country will accept them.
After Sen-to-Gov. Murkowski appointed his daughter as Senator when he was elected Gov, Alaska changed the procedure to special elections. She can’t appoint herself.
Most excellent news. thanks.
you give away the first 100 days and you might as well concede. you think the corporatist dems are going to give obama 100 days? you don’t think they are working overtime today?
Our work is just beginning.
-G
And gave ‘em DU ammo.
I suppose we should pass the champagne.
That’s not Shakespeare.
Dylan Thomas.
This is a nice write-up…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/15300
The wording, the clever phrasing, created a trap for people who can’t see what’s behind it. There were enough haters and just enough dumbasses to make it pass. Marriage. Define. Man and Woman. Yeah, seems right, ok.
I think Patty’s brain shorted out some time last weekend. He’s just not been himself lately. Give him a moment to reboot. *g*
I never watch the MSM. But today, I dunno, I just felt different. Wonder what BrillO is saying these days.
Further sullying the view of Alaska’s judgement in the eyes of most decent Americans….
-G
Oh yea you do.
Yep. There are those out there who started tearing apart this achievement about 8 hours ago.
Thank God.
My 13 year old son is ecstatic…we were up until 1:30. He was actually crying with me.
Now for the icing on the cake…..
BILL AYERS FOR EDUCATION SECRETARY!!!!
G. GORDON LIDDY FOR HOMELAND SECURITY!!
Bipartisanship in government at its best.
Gotta go put the garbage out, folks. How symbolic!
irc.freenode.net #firedoglake
Yea and some of them are “long time posters” right here.
I’m wondering what Limpbaughs will say today.
Hey Rushbo, how’d that Operation Chaos thing work out for you?
LOL!
Speaking of pundits punting – while flipping through stations during the night, I didn’t see hide nor hair or Sean Hannity. Do you think they kept his toxic wasteland off Fox on purpose?
LOL!
Yeah, well now that Obama is president elect I can get in their shit and not feel guilty.
He was out looking for dead interns.
Like you were a wilting flower before!
Christy’s up
Renewing Our Nation’s Promise: A Change Is Gonna Come
My 14 year old son just told me he’ll be able to vote for Obama’s second term.
Nice to see these young folks paying attention and caring.
In his NYT blog “By the Numbers” Charles Blow wrote “And Then They Wept…” It’s worth reading.
maybe it’s keeping Mary out of the house.
unfortunately, “transition” means: shredding documents, erasing files, granting pardons and planting neoconservatives firmly within the “new” Democratic Party.
(neocon/neoliberal: whatever it take – hi Rahm!)
I agree. I don’t know what the country is facing in the next few years, but I believe that we will have an adminstration that seeks to promote the general welfare, wants the nation to stand for its highest and best ideals, is pragmatic and rational, knows how to approach problem solving, and will select the most likely to succeed among available options. I think it is now possible to come out on the other side with a stronger, better nation than we’ve had.
I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
As I heard someone say last night, he’s someone that “can make the trains run on time” and in Obama’s administration, that’s all he’ll be asked to do.
The first time he tries to play ‘gatekeeper’, his ass will get run back to Illinois.
This frees up a House seat for someone more progressive, and I can’t think of someone I’d rather have snarling at the Republicans on behalf of the White House.
lol, yeah :)
Oh yeah? Like Who?!?
They know who they are, self appointed guardians of the left.
I think most of us self appointed guardians of the left are in the mood for celebrating right now.
Anyone else bothered by the “last racial barrier in politics” comment?
Pardon the cliche, but barriers are made of brick, not glass. We still have a hell of a long way to go.
I’m just telling you what I read.
well, we’ll just have to disagree then. because i don’t trust him and i think he’s one of the worst examples of dems pushing the party to the right.
Raven,
There should be room for everybody, don’t you think?
???
So no critique of a constant critique?
That’s not what I’m suggesting.
(sheesh, you’re such a tough cookie.)
For you Raven! Or if you prefer deep-80s.
Hi Demi!
The breathtaking lack of recognition of the significance of this historic choice by the American people will be lost on those who brought you “Shock and Awe”, Preemption” and “Values Voters”.
God truly has blessed America. Dwell on that!
Hey mui1.
“We’re gonna have a good time tonight.”
Yep.
You know demi, you can call me just mui right now. Heh!
Yes, friends can use the informal. Heh is right.
Oh, I’m exhausted. But, now that I’ve had coffee, I don’t think I can go back to bed. Must clean the house before I go out.
Later.
critique – systematic inquiry into the limits of a doctrine or set of concepts
Happy about Indiana. Barack made an extra last effort there.
there’s a whole bunch of “their money” that’s gone too, don’t forget. and their kid’s money too, for that matter.
that in itself OUGHT to be something of a “wake up call”. but probly not.