Congratulations America. - Page 4

Skybird · 01-21-09, 09:08 AM

Next consider turnouts at the polls.

Obama got the highest poll in 100 years, 66% of all people who legally could vote, went to the elections. At Bush's second vote, he only got 55% of possible voters going to the polls. Kennedy had a poll rate of 63%, second to that of Obama.

It all means that Obama in total numbers got significantly more American people voting for him than any president before him, at least since a very long time.

All that is history now. I think Americans are well-advised to leave these quarrels behind now. I would even say it is of the essence, and several decisions and acts by Obama clearly demonstrate that he also sees it like this. The man is in office now, period. That means a solid chance for something better in the future - so let's make something of it.

TDK1044 · 01-21-09, 09:15 AM

So much hostility and the guy hasn't finished dancing yet. Too funny!

Obama is eloquent and charismatic. He's also pretty smart, and he has managed to inspire a lot of young Americans to become politically aware and to not tolerate their Government as being a bunch of out of touch old farts out for their own good and controlled by lobbyists.

I think the message is that it doesn't much matter whether your Government is big or small, what matters is that it understands and meets the needs of the people who it's there to serve.

There are huge issues to deal with, and making the kind of changes that Obama talks about will take a decade or longer.

Let's see where we are four years from now.

Kapt Z · 01-21-09, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

Congratulations with your new president, I know we have to wait what he is going to mean for you and us (outside the US), but for the moment a well-meant hurray?

A very special day indeed. I wish I could have been there.

Onkel Neal · 01-21-09, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konovalov

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital_Trucker

Slightly less than 53% of the popular vote is hardly a landslide.

Agreed. Just a clear majority. Obama won significantly more of the electoral college vote compared to the previous President George W Bush (both elections) and similar numbers to Clinton. On the popular vote Clinton never managed to reach 50% while G W Bush won 50.7% of the popular vote back in 2004.

Without googling it, I think Clinton only garnered 45% or so in his election, but that was due to the presence of Perot as an Ind. candidate siphoning off ~15% of the vote.

Quote:

he has managed to inspire a lot of young Americans to become politically aware and to not tolerate their Government as being a bunch of out of touch old farts out for their own good and controlled by lobbyists.

yeah, just think if one of the Jonas bros. or Hannah Montana were to be elected President

I found Obama's inaugural adress interesting. It was not elequent or poetic, it was a little untraditional (it took shots at the previous administration, something inauguaral speeches don't do), and it mixed some very substantial traditional American values in it, such as celebrating risk-takers and accepting self-responsibility.

Peggy Noonan's analysis of Obama's speech.

TDK1044 · 01-21-09, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

yeah, just think if one of the Jonas bros. or Hannah Montana were to be elected President

We live in an era, Neal, where people can tell you who won American Idol but have no idea who their State representatives are. These people serve on jurys and get to vote. Sad but true.

Obama was smart enough to tap into the way that young Americans communicate and learn. It's not by watching CNN or Fox News, or God forbid by reading newspapers....its by Blogging, Texting, E-mailing, IMing etc.

Once you understand and tap into that mind set, and then you're also smart enough to offer the middle class voters a scenario where they can always look to Government to solve their problems in life with Grants, Loans, Mortgages etc, you create an environment where it will be very difficult for any Republican to get elected President over the next 20 years.

I think the Obama strategy is brilliant. You tap into and motivate the youth of the Country like no other politician ever has, and then you give their parents the drug of never having to look out for themselves because there's always some Government Department there to help them.

The best play on human nature I've ever seen...and it'll work too.

AVGWarhawk · 01-21-09, 10:08 AM

Noonan's analysis is good and I believe accurate. I strongly agree with Noonan that Obama is getting his daily security briefings, this was evident with his tone weeks ago and change of plans in most instances. There are more problems than the general public are allowed to see. In short, Obama has been enlightened to many problems that he was not privy too before winning the election. It paints a much different picture.

You know what though, here we have a young guy, multitasks, concerned, ready to go full steam ahead and has the energy to do so. That is a good thing.

01-21-09, 10:22 AM

One question remains...wtf had Chief Justice Roberts been drinking before he decided to show up? I mean, how many mistakes did he make? The guy who is supposed to swear in the new president...fugs up royally. I mean, that had to be on purpose, they are still that bitter about the whole thing so they tried to mess with the oath.

"I will execute the office of the President to the United States faithfully"?

AVGWarhawk · 01-21-09, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

One question remains...wtf had Chief Justice Roberts been drinking before he decided to show up? I mean, how many mistakes did he make? The guy who is supposed to swear in the new president...fugs up royally. I mean, that had to be on purpose, they are still that bitter about the whole thing so they tried to mess with the oath.

"I will execute the office of the President to the United States faithfully"?

I do not think anyone is bitter, specifically Roberts. I think he was freezing his butt off in front of 2 million people. There will be mistakes.

Konovalov · 01-21-09, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Noonan's analysis is good and I believe accurate. I strongly agree with Noonan that Obama is getting his daily security briefings, this was evident with his tone weeks ago and change of plans in most instances. There are more problems than the general public are allowed to see. In short, Obama has been enlightened to many problems that he was not privy too before winning the election. It paints a much different picture.

You know what though, here we have a young guy, multitasks, concerned, ready to go full steam ahead and has the energy to do so. That is a good thing.

Agree with your thoughts on P Noonan's analysis of the Obama speech. Also agree with the rest of what you said there.

Skybird · 01-21-09, 10:29 AM

I'm not into chasing shadows. The judge made a simple (and harmless) mistake of the kind that is just human. And Obamas tongue also fumbled as a conseqeunce - and the man smiled, a bit nervous, too. It gave the whole scene a sympathetic touch. After all he is still just a human. It made me smiling - not gloating, but in good will.

TDK1044 · 01-21-09, 10:29 AM

"Senator, repeat after me....I Barack Hussein Obama take you to be my wedded wife.....no, hang on that's not right...."

Konovalov · 01-21-09, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I do not think anyone is bitter, specifically Roberts. I think he was freezing his butt off in front of 2 million people. There will be mistakes.

Yep.

Amazing what the freezing cold can do to ones thought processes. I wonder if President Obama has re-read the oath since that slip-up on the part of the Chief Justice. Just read this article in the Times which asks the question: "Is Barack Obama really the President of the United States?" I have no doubts. The bloke is the 44th Pres.

The Fox News guys weren't so sure however if Obama had become President: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_LUtNway9x4

Biggles · 01-21-09, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konovalov

The Fox News guys weren't so sure however if Obama had become President: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_LUtNway9x4

Still in denial, I guess

TDK1044 · 01-21-09, 10:44 AM

Obama became the president at noon before the oath was even read. FOX News should have a better understanding of constitutional law.

Skybird · 01-21-09, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDK1044

FOX News should have a better understanding of constitutional law.

Should they? I mean it's FOX.

01-21-09, 09:08 AM	#46
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,616 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Next consider turnouts at the polls. Obama got the highest poll in 100 years, 66% of all people who legally could vote, went to the elections. At Bush's second vote, he only got 55% of possible voters going to the polls. Kennedy had a poll rate of 63%, second to that of Obama. It all means that Obama in total numbers got significantly more American people voting for him than any president before him, at least since a very long time. All that is history now. I think Americans are well-advised to leave these quarrels behind now. I would even say it is of the essence, and several decisions and acts by Obama clearly demonstrate that he also sees it like this. The man is in office now, period. That means a solid chance for something better in the future - so let's make something of it. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

01-21-09, 10:08 AM	#51
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,255 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Noonan's analysis is good and I believe accurate. I strongly agree with Noonan that Obama is getting his daily security briefings, this was evident with his tone weeks ago and change of plans in most instances. There are more problems than the general public are allowed to see. In short, Obama has been enlightened to many problems that he was not privy too before winning the election. It paints a much different picture. You know what though, here we have a young guy, multitasks, concerned, ready to go full steam ahead and has the energy to do so. That is a good thing. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

01-21-09, 10:29 AM	#55
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,616 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I'm not into chasing shadows. The judge made a simple (and harmless) mistake of the kind that is just human. And Obamas tongue also fumbled as a conseqeunce - and the man smiled, a bit nervous, too. It gave the whole scene a sympathetic touch. After all he is still just a human. It made me smiling - not gloating, but in good will. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

01-21-09, 09:15 AM	#47
TDK1044 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 2,674 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	So much hostility and the guy hasn't finished dancing yet. Too funny! Obama is eloquent and charismatic. He's also pretty smart, and he has managed to inspire a lot of young Americans to become politically aware and to not tolerate their Government as being a bunch of out of touch old farts out for their own good and controlled by lobbyists. I think the message is that it doesn't much matter whether your Government is big or small, what matters is that it understands and meets the needs of the people who it's there to serve. There are huge issues to deal with, and making the kind of changes that Obama talks about will take a decade or longer. Let's see where we are four years from now.

01-21-09, 10:22 AM	#52
OneToughHerring Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	One question remains...wtf had Chief Justice Roberts been drinking before he decided to show up? I mean, how many mistakes did he make? The guy who is supposed to swear in the new president...fugs up royally. I mean, that had to be on purpose, they are still that bitter about the whole thing so they tried to mess with the oath. "I will execute the office of the President to the United States faithfully"?

01-21-09, 10:44 AM	#59
TDK1044 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 2,674 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Obama became the president at noon before the oath was even read. FOX News should have a better understanding of constitutional law.