BARACK OBAMA -- United States of America President Elect

[X-Osoerde (Alan)]

A very interesting, 11/4/2008 for the United States of America. 

[X-Osoerde (Alan)]

Today, whether you are Republican or Democrat, Obama-Biden supporter or McCain-Palin supporter, we all should take a moment and remember that the United States of America is a country that her citizens should be proud of. 


Interesting little fact.

Nearly 99 years and 11 months after the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the United States of America will elect its first black american president.

[X-EOM/SS (Marco)]

Today, whether you are Republican or Democrat, Obama-Biden supporter or McCain-Palin supporter, we all should take a moment and remember that the United States of America is a country that her citizens should be proud of. 


You're right.

Unluckily I cannot say the same for the country of mine (Italy)
 

Marco G. Fossati

[X-DM Jon]

AAAAAAOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

 Merry Barack Obama! What a fine black Christmas we will have! And a happy four new years 

[X-Roesone/ARR (Robert)]

AAAAAAOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

 Merry Barack Obama! What a fine black Christmas we will have! And a happy four new years 

First of all, this truly is a historic moment for the US, a great step towards multiculturalism and a sign of change.

BUT.. the euphoria is a bit premature. Obama isn't Santa Claus, but a politician, so don't expect him to wave a wand and fix all the world's problems in a couple days. Maybe he can do some good for the poor people of the US and contain the warmongers in the US administration and the army, but if you expect him to renounce the "resource extraction policy" which is inevitable in a country that spends four times as much as it produces, you're idealists. The oil, defense and whatnot industries won't change their ways just because a new president has been elected.

[X-Osoerde (Alan)]

BUT.. the euphoria is a bit premature. Obama isn't Santa Claus, but a politician, so don't expect him to wave a wand and fix all the world's problems in a couple days. Maybe he can do some good for the poor people of the US and contain the warmongers in the US administration and the army, but if you expect him to renounce the "resource extraction policy" which is inevitable in a country that spends four times as much as it produces, you're idealists. The oil, defense and whatnot industries won't change their ways just because a new president has been elected.

You are right, Rune.  He isn't going to be able to fix everything, and nothing will be done quickly, but even if all he does is change the tenor and tone of the US Administration, it would be a huge step forward.

I for one, think that the next few days will tell us a lot about him -- if he attempts to incorporate republicans into his administration and into his governing body, I think he will be a wildly successful president.

[X-Roesone/ARR (Robert)]

Our newspapers say that Obama and the democrats are 2 senators short of a "qualified" majority. What exactly does that mean since the senate has 100 members, 58 of which will be democrats (+independents). Can the republicans torpedo Obama's reforms in the senate?

[X-Bellam & BC/TB (Bobby)]

With 60 votes, the senate can end/forbid filibusters, a traditional means of interfering with or ruining unwanted legislation that the smaller party could not otherwise block.  It's an odd tactic, with various rules determining how it can be employed, but the simple explanation is that a senator can take the floor and begin talking, preventing the Senate from continuing with business until he stops, they get 60 votes to stop him, or the bill is withdrawn (his goal). 

[X-Osoerde (Alan)]

Our newspapers say that Obama and the democrats are 2 senators short of a "qualified" majority. What exactly does that mean since the senate has 100 members, 58 of which will be democrats (+independents). Can the republicans torpedo Obama's reforms in the senate?

It is also a very important tactic. Bascially helps to prevent anyone from ramroding legislation down the throat of the senate, or preventing something which a senator believes to be very wrong.

It is true that the republicans could torpedo legislation from Barack Obama, but the likelyhood of that in the first few years is very low.  Remember his win in terms of electoral vote and popular vote is pretty decisive in modern election terms - I doubt that the republicans will get in his way -- particularly if he can integrate their party into a ruling coalition.

[X-OIT (Joe)]

His win in the Electoral College was a landslide (~349 to ~173), but his popular vote was closer (~52% to ~46%.) In addition, the Democrats didn't win as many seats as people thought they would from the Republicans. I do agree that his first couple of months in office and his choices over the next couple of months leading up to his swearing in will play out.

[X-Mhoired (Dan)]

Here's a question for anyone who's been following the cast of characters: What do you suppose the odds are of Hilary Clinton or Colin Powell taking positions in the Presdent's Cabinet? I'd say 50:1 on the first, but perhaps only 15:1 on the latter!
While the above is tongue in cheek of course,  I'd be very curious to see what role, if any, someone like Gen. Petraeus might play in the new administration. He's certainly one of the most qualified to be Secretary of Defense perhaps, but I'm curious if any bad blood is left on the liberal side after the group MoveOn denounced him at the height of the surge ("Betray-us").

Lotta work to do, and a lotta plans to implement, and at best six or seven years to do it in. Some are already calling for Palin 2012! The week or so woithout political ads will be nice while it lasts...

[X-Osoerde (Alan)]

Patreus is currently the the Head of Centcom, I believe, with control over the Mideast, parts of Asia and africa...

I highly doubt he will be changing jobs.

I would expect Roberts to remain on though as Secretary of Defense.

[X-Haelyn's Aegis/RK (Andy)]

And in a newsflash, Aubrae Avan is new Duchess of Ghoere.  Supporters rejoice in news of a new beginning for the realm, long considered by its neighbours to be a belligerent warmonger with plans beyond its borders.  Fatalists suggest that provocations from Osoerde will continue regardless of diplomatic overtures and that Duchess Avan will resort to the tried and tested Ghoerean tactic of 'blitzkrieg and pulverise' after a brief, doomed to failure, attempt to encourage Osoerde to accept civilised behavioural norms and give up terror as an instrument of state policy.