Barack Obama is President of the United States of America

[sparrow13]

ITA!! I'm still a registered Republican (although I'm teetering on the edge of libertarianism) and IMHO, (I have no clue if that apostrophe is s'posed to be there, but I'm suddenly very self conscientious about it -- LOL!) McCain lost because he tried too hard to reach out to liberals instead of trying to please the base of the republican party.

No need to teeter Miss Lee....fall over the edge to the dark side and join the Libertarians! We have cookies and the Constitution!!

Sparrow

 

[bjbowers]

beautifully written

I have been getting Congrats to you calls & emails all morning from my extensive list of Republican friends, DH, family... ....
I respond with
CONGRATS TO AMERICA!

We have an opportunity to become a United America again....for that I feel honored to be a part of ..........

Elisabeth Hasselbeck (The View's extreme Right Winger) said some beautiful things today- She has dropped the "Republican or Bust" talk...She is moved, she feels hopeful, she feels united. She feels proud to support, 100%, the candidate who was chosen overwhelmingly by the American people.

My hope is that everyone who is thinking "they lost" (my DH included) will turn to the absolute amazing possibilities of a united country and stop living every second in fear of the unknown. None of us knows what the next second or day brings... To live & act & speak from a place of possibilities in what makes America great does not make one weak- it makes us strong. It is not about who won or lost- its about a President elected not just by the electoral college but by an amazing % of the popular vote..... It means unity & strength is within reach -

As an average American I intend to do my part in that Unity....I will not choose to look in the mirror each day and wait for someone else to do it- nor would I ever wait to see if someone fails - its our country - its our responsibility- I take that very seriously today.

Great post...I agree 100%

Brandi

 

[LeanneM]

Though his crowd of supporters was less than gracious at times.

Let's hope that both parties (as well as whatever third parties are active) can work together rather than being devisive).

Great points, Kathryn!

I enjoyed McCain's concession speech, but I was also immensely disturbed by his crowd's reaction to his mentions of Obama. Did they not listen to a word that McCain was saying about our country coming together?? McCain's speech was very gracious.

That being said, both my husband and I teared up during Obama's speech. His oratorical skills are amazing, and they will be a welcome change from the blustering, blundering speeches we've listened to for the last eight years. It made me proud to know that this intelligent, articulate man will be representing our country. I'm hopeful for the future.

 

[LeanneM]

I hope Obama handles being President of the United States like he handled being president of the Harvard Law Review. He surrounded himself with diversity, including quite a few white conservatives, whose beliefs were completely different from his own. He has said that the book Team of Rivals, which tells how Lincoln's cabinet was made up of his political friends and foes alike, is a big influence on him. I hope that he includes both sides of the aisle when picking his advisors and cabinet.

Just my thoughts. And I do wish the best for this country and all of you here. I'm proud that, even if we don't agree with each other, so many of us got out and voted. And that we can discuss these issues with each other, and, hopefully, turn around and debate the pros and cons of kettlebells and squats in the next breathe!

I'm so glad you pointed this out, TeTe! It's one of the things that I admire most about Obama -- his desire to be inclusive of all points of view. He re-iterated that in last night's speech, and I hope it comes to pass!

So now about those kettlebells and squats . . . .

 

[kathryn]

I was also immensely disturbed by his crowd's reaction to his mentions of Obama. Did they not listen to a word that McCain was saying about our country coming together??

There is definitely a certain vocal core of Republicans who seem more hateful than just disappointed. The ones who call Obama a Muslim, a terrorist... and maybe believe it. THEY are the one's I find frightening.

 

[skimi]

forgive me

for getting off subject for one quick second, but LeanneM, i just wanted to say that i really love your signature quote, and i think it is very fitting in the world we live in today.

 

[baylian]

I think it would be an improvement over the current system.
I think some people confuse socialism and communism. They are NOT the same.

It sounds to me like you have swallowed the fear-mongers' depiction of socialized medicine hook, line and sinker. Many countries have socialized medicine, and their health care is some of the best in the world.

No they are not the same - however - they are one step apart and that makes me very nervous.

Marx argued that capitalism, like previous socioeconomic systems, will produce internal tensions which will lead to its destruction. Just as capitalism replaced feudalism, capitalism itself will be displaced by communism, a classless society which emerges after a transitional period—socialism—in which the state would be nothing else but the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.

 

[SirenSongWoman]

Thoughts...

I wish President-Elect Obama were getting the keys to the White House FROM President John McCain, instead of President George W. Bush. If he were, I feel certain President-Elect Obama wouldn't be inheriting anywhere near the mess he is. Unfortunately, the THEN hierarchy of the Republican party wanted a puppet they could control and whom they felt fairly certain they could get elected (son of a former president, caters to the far right "base", camera-ready), so they chose a man whom I believe was/is at least unqualified or, worse, mildly retarded. I'm astonished people don't seem to realize GWB never really was our president. For the last eight years our country was governed by Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and, for a long while, Donald Rumsfeld. Those three have been buddies since the Nixon Administration and are largely responsible for the mess this country is in now. However, since they've done all their deeds from behind a curtain and the three men are lifelong experts at subterfuge, it would be impossible to prove. The saddest thing is GWB even thought he was in charge. I believe Cheney and Rove, wanted to make this country a permanent right-wing nation, keeping everyone outraged (like sheep) about minutiae (like abortion, school prayer, etc.) while they lined their pockets and that of their cronies. All the while, ordinary Americans (many of whom were unwitting supporters) were left with an empty sack. I believe the questionable outcomes of the last two elections have everything to do with Cheney/Rove/Rumsfeld, but again, proving it would be unlikely. There's a reason Senator McCain is a "maverick", with an obvious distaste for the far right: He knows they're essentially pawns of the puppeteers. McCain is far too individual to ever be on anyone's choke-chain. There were many more truly qualified (and aware) Republicans from which to choose 8 years ago but Cheney, Rove and Rumsfeld couldn't take a chance of winding up with an independent thinker who acts without clearing everything through them. They would never have selected John McCain then because McCain would have told them all to go to Hell. If we've learned anything it should be that we shouldn't let ANY party machine steamroll us by putting another puppet into the position of the most powerful person on earth. Sometimes I feel D.C. politics is like Oz. You just never know who's REALLY pushing the buttons and pulling the strings behind the curtain.

 

[hiitdogs]

No they are not the same - however - they are one step apart and that makes me very nervous.

Marx argued that capitalism, like previous socioeconomic systems, will produce internal tensions which will lead to its destruction. Just as capitalism replaced feudalism, capitalism itself will be displaced by communism, a classless society which emerges after a transitional period—socialism—in which the state would be nothing else but the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.

And making health insurance available and affordable for every American turns us into a communist society?

Giving the middle class a tax break after the greatest tax breaks in history were lavished on the top 5 % in this country makes America a socialist country? I'd say there was a lot of spreading the wealth in the last decade but it wasn't originated by the democrats.

 

[baylian]

I wish President-Elect Obama were getting the keys to the White House FROM President John McCain, instead of President George W. Bush. If he were, I feel certain President-Elect Obama wouldn't be inheriting anywhere near the mess he is.


I totally agree. Well put.

 

[baylian]

This might is off the topic of the thread title but . .

Who will Bush pardon?? If there is one thing he has done right is that he hasn't given a pass to many people. I hope that does not change.

I am thinking that two of them will be the border patrol agents who were convicted of manslaugter.

 

[Miss Lee]

No need to teeter Miss Lee....fall over the edge to the dark side and join the Libertarians! We have cookies and the Constitution!!

Sparrow

Cookies!? Did you say cookies? I'll be right over -- LOL!

 

[booboo39]

It was all about the issues for me in this election, and I just couldn't agree w/Obama's. Are you prepared for socialized medicine?! It scares the dickens out of me to even think about it!!

With socialized medicine at least EVERYONE would have medical care. Many here in the US that do have insurance take it for granted, and forget the many who do not. I hold dual citizenship, here and in Colombia where they have socialized medicine. I was there October of 2007 for some surgery (cosmetic). All my tests, from bloodwork, EKG, to x-rays, were done in one day and the results were handed to me the same day. How likely is that to happen here????? Watch Michael Moore's documentary on our medical care system here and you might change your perspective of socialized medicine.

As a side note on the medical care here, my father who lives here and is a US citizen also has had many medical issues. Headaches, shortness of breath, etc... Many many doctor visits, with many many prescriptions over the span of almost 2 years. He goes to Colombia in June of 2007 and my uncle who is a anesthesiologist there saw him (at the airport) said "you look like sh%t" took him straight to a hospital. Within 36 hours he was on an operating table having a triple bypass, 80, 90 & 100% blockage. One week of intensive care and another week out of ICU but still in the hospital. Total cost for everything, hospital, doc fees EVERYTHING, 32K. Could that be done here for that price, absolutely not! Not to mention how long he was in poor health here and numerous docs here couldn't figure it out.

We live in a great nation, but still a young nation. There are many things to learn from other countries.

 

[baylian]

And making health insurance available and affordable for every American turns us into a communist society?

Giving the middle class a tax break after the greatest tax breaks in history were lavished on the top 5 % in this country makes America a socialist country? I'd say there was a lot of spreading the wealth in the last decade but it wasn't originated by the democrats.

Ya know Carola - this is a slippery slope. I could post some thoughts but will chose not too so as to not ignite a flame throwing contest.

Did you just celebrate a birthday?? If so - hope it was grand!

 

[baylian]

With socialized medicine at least EVERYONE would have medical care. Many here in the US that do have insurance take it for granted, and forget the many who do not. I hold dual citizenship, here and in Colombia where they have socialized medicine. I was there October of 2007 for some surgery (cosmetic). All my tests, from bloodwork, EKG, to x-rays, were done in one day and the results were handed to me the same day. How likely is that to happen here????? Watch Michael Moore's documentary on our medical care system here and you might change your perspective of socialized medicine.

As a side note on the medical care here, my father who lives here and is a US citizen also has had many medical issues. Headaches, shortness of breath, etc... Many many doctor visits, with many many prescriptions over the span of almost 2 years. He goes to Colombia in June of 2007 and my uncle who is a anesthesiologist there saw him (at the airport) said "you look like sh%t" took him straight to a hospital. Within 36 hours he was on an operating table having a triple bypass, 80, 90 & 100% blockage. One week of intensive care and another week out of ICU but still in the hospital. Total cost for everything, hospital, doc fees EVERYTHING, 32K. Could that be done here for that price, absolutely not! Not to mention how long he was in poor health here and numerous docs here couldn't figure it out.

We live in a great nation, but still a young nation. There are many things to learn from other countries.

Elective cosmetic surgery?? Please tell me our tax dollars is NOT going to pay for that!

 

[sparrow13]

Cookies!? Did you say cookies? I'll be right over -- LOL!

We have gingerbread men in the shape of Ron Paul.

 

[Miss Lee]

We have gingerbread men in the shape of Ron Paul.

ROTFLMAO!! ROTFLMAO!! ROTFLMAO!! ROTFLMAO!!

You have NO IDEA how much I needed a good laugh today.

 

[hiitdogs]

Elective cosmetic surgery?? Please tell me our tax dollars is NOT going to pay for that!

Before you get a heart attack, cosmetic surgery could be for burn victims or reconstructive surgery.

 

[baylian]

Before you get a heart attack, cosmetic surgery could be for burn victims or reconstructive surgery.

Ya right Carola - I know you think I am as dumb as pond scum but trust me that is not the case.

 

[LeanneM]

for getting off subject for one quick second, but LeanneM, i just wanted to say that i really love your signature quote, and i think it is very fitting in the world we live in today.

Thanks, Gayla!