The US Election

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 01:16 PM

Amos-

Thanks for posting that link. What a fine story and what a picture to think about.

It sure brings back a flood of memories of African-Americans that I have worked with over the years.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Amos
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 10:33 AM

A picture worth remembering can be seen in this well-written column:

http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/title/.


A

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 07:27 AM

My wife would say I lack sensitivity, but dammit Mick, I can't count the times you have brought me to tears with your posts. Beautifully said, my friend.

I am certain that many of us are reflecting on the degree of change that has taken place, culminating in Obama's decided victory. For me, I look back to going to a Toddler House (restaurant) with 3 other buds when I was in the Army in South Carolina - 1968. We were seated....3 of us with place settings, but Jim's was replaced with plastic and paper. We left immediately. As much as things have changed, there is still too much of such thinking still around.

dw.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: kendall
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 12:12 PM

About the losers,old Maine saying, "Time wounds all heels."

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Cluin
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 08:06 AM

Well said, Mick.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Emma B
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 06:15 AM

There was an interesting comparison on BBC Radio 4 this morning between the election of Tony Blair in the UK on the crest of a wave of 'change' after the period of 'Thatcherism' and the election of Obama although the latter was not such a 'landslide' victory.

It was pointed out that Blair failed to live up to the many and varied expectations that the hopeful voters defined as 'change' and urged caution and 'expectation management' following the U.S. election.


Last night I received this communication from a hopeful young, first time, 18 year old voter

I 'finally got religion. Obama IS the second coming.'

I believe, unfortunately for my friend and many like her, the first task will be, as the Vancouver Sun reported yesterday....

'Obama's first task: Lowering expectations'

'President-elect Barack Obama inspired Americans with a promise of change that will improve their lives. He has raised their expectations. His first priority on taking office will be to lower them.

Obama will have to admit to Americans that some of his anti-business rhetoric was pure fiction. For instance, he will have to abandon the notion of a windfall profit tax because there is no such thing as a windfall profit. There is profit for companies that are in the right place at the right time with the right products, and losses for those that aren't. Over the next year or two, there will be less of the former and more of the latter.

He will have to concede that the United States can't create wealth by increasing taxes on the wealthy and expropriating more of the gains investors earn from their investments. His plan to raise capital gains taxes, the first such tax increase since 1986, is a non-starter. Similarly, he will have to moderate his proposed tax increase for households with incomes above $200,000'

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 05:44 AM

I suppose that in the next few days (it may already have happened) Mr Obama will be invited to a meeting with a few grey men in suits. These men will spell out to him exactly what he can and can't do and what they expect of him. He will be warned not to defy them (look what happened to Abe and Jack and Bobby!).

At some point in the meeting he will attempt to explain to them that he is a deeply moral person with heartfelt concerns for the poor, the dispossessed and the environment. At this point one of the grey men will start to laugh hysterically. The sound will be terrifying and not even remotely human. Then the grey mask will slip, revealing the brutal, vicious lizard thing beneath ...

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Sawzaw
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:43 PM

Shouldn't the US and the UK do a merger?

You guys are missin' out on $2.08 gas, monster truck rallies, pork rinds and a lotta good stuff.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Donuel
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 11:36 AM

Mick for Councilman!




All my closest black friends have died. Some by disease and some by murder. My new black friend was a freedom rider and has the distinction of being a global marathon runner on every continent on Earth.

Yes, including Antarctica.

Now I have Barack as part of my family which if not a personal friend, he is powerful example of character which I am pround to have my children learn from and aspire to be like.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:26 AM

Beautiful, Mick.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:07 AM

There was this fella from Battle Creek, Michigan. His name was Joe Crump. Joe was a black man, an African American. He was a big man, with a bigger smile, and a much bigger heart. We became friends over 30 years ago. I remember my Father, a victim of the times he was raised in, asking me once why I considered Joe my best friend. I told Da that Joe and I loved each other as brothers, that we watched out for each others backside. My father had a hard time with this. I told Joe that I was so disappointed in my father. He got angry at me, and told me that my Dad was a good man with the prejudices of his times. He told me that my Dad raised me, and I was his best friend. And then Joe let his big smile and bigger heart win my Dad over. When Joe died 2 years ago, my Mom and Dad were in the front row at the funeral and wept openly at the loss of a man they loved like one of their own.

My youngest child, Ciara, was born in 1982. I asked my best friend, Joe, to be her Godfather. Joe was absolutely overjoyed to do it, and from the first moment he loved that little girl. Every where he went brought her postcards, and Uncle Joe travelled a lot. She loved getting them. Every birthday brought a savings bond, and gifts of candy, with the admonishment "don't tell your Mom I gave you this box of candy bars". But Uncle Joe looked so different from the other folks around her, that the little girl just couldn't give her Uncle Joe a hug. I remember being embarassed about that, and my best friend just looked at me like I had a tail, and informed me that "of course she is afraid. Look at me!". But then he admonished me to just cool it. And he let that big smile, and that big heart patiently do is work. One night, when Ciara was 6 years old, Joe and his lady friend, my wife, and Ciara were at a play. Joe's lady friend's daughter was in the high school play. After the play, we all decided to go for pizza. It was dark outside, and as we all walked to our cars, Ciara stopped me, let out a big sigh, and told me she wanted to ride with Uncle Joe. It was clear that this little girl recognized the love Uncle Joe had for her, and was going to overcome her fear of his different looks. Well, Joe puffed up like a biskit with butter in it and put the wee little girl in his car. Took them a half hour to drive the 5 minutes to the pizza parlor. They were inseparable to the day he died, and Ciara still thinks of him every single day.

Joe taught me about prejudice. Joe taught us all about judging people by the content of their character. Joe taught us about pure, unadulterated love of your fellow man. He never judged folks for their racism, just vowed to beat it by his examples of love and service. Joe served on prestigious boards, and worked in the neighborhoods that spawned him. Joe knew Governors and Presidents, and revelled in delivering food baskets in his old neighborhoods. Joe spoke at conventions, but did his best work one on one.

Joe lived his whole life with integrity, and honest love of fellow man, even as he suffered the outrageous slings and arrows of racism. He forgave those whose racism came from the times they were raised in, but was a fierce warrior in the battle against those who used law to further their bigotry.

I would give anything to look in his eyes tonight and ask him, "Did you ever think, my beloved brother, that you would see this day?" I am sitting here with tears running down my face, at times sobbing, because I wish I could put my arm around my best friends shoulder and tell him that Obama's victory was his victory. I wish I could say to him, and to all the folks that never got the headlines, that I understand that it was by their walking through a world that enslaved them, killed them, economically strangled them,....... and yet they walked with grace, and at this moment, forgives us all. I listened to the gracious concession speech by McCain, and heard a significant part of the crowd try to boo when they heard the name of Obama. Then I watched the crowd in Grant Park, and I saw tears. I listened to a black preacher on the telly speak with forgiveness, and reach out to the other side.

Thanks, Joe. I will love you until the day I draw my last breath on this side. Then we will meet and start to tell jokes and make folks laugh. I wish you could be here so I could thank you, and help you understand, just as you helped me to understand. I would help you understand that by your presence, grace, integrity, honesty, and love of your fellow men, women and children, you paved the way for this moment.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:02 AM

Now that they're done with election coverage, our PBS station is running "The Windsors: A Royal Dynasty". How weird!

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CamiSu
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 01:00 AM

Lizzie--

Not on a bet! We JUST got him!

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Amos
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:59 AM

The United States has unequivocally and in a landslilde vote elected Barack Obama as their next President.

"Let the word go out from this day forth, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans,."


A

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:38 AM

umm...no, but thanks anyway

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:26 AM

"Apparently, President Bush (spit) has just called Barak..I wonder if he got Barak's name right. ;0)"

I don't know how I'm laughing, after being up all night, but what a clanger that was from me..

Barack, Barack, BaraCk. (darn it!) LOL


That was a such a wonderful speech he just gave.


Er...would you guys like to swop Barack for Gordon Brown, by any chance?

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CamiSu
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:17 AM

For eight years I have tensed inside when I heard our president's voice. I am truly going to enjoy hearing this man. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. My son has been working almost full time (or more) for Obama and at his "real" job as well. He told me the other day that he was going into campaign headquarters and was not coming out again until Obama was elected. I am laughing and crying and too excited to go to bed.


Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

CamiSu

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:54 PM

I was in Mississippi is 64 & 65...and now I see why it was worth the effort and the struggle...

This is only partially about Obama...it is about the changes in my country that made it possible for Obama to be where he is.

There is still work to do...and John McCain was eloquent in his concession, and made it clear that he DOES care, and will help us go on, even as he deals with defeat.

Thank you, Senator McCain.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:42 PM

Looks like North Carolina's going to go for Obama, but they're not announcing it yet.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:42 PM

Yup, it was a very honourable speech.

What struck me though, was that ALL the faces I saw in his audience, over here on the BBC news, were white....and the cameras swept around the audience a great deal.

In contrast, the earlier pictures of Obama's supporters couldn't have been more different, white, black, hispanic...the whole mixture of the world was there.

And that's the way it should be.

Apparently, President Bush (spit) has just called Barak..I bet that was a strange call. I wonder if he got Barak's name right. ;0)

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: jeffp
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:28 PM

I really think that when he isn't running his ass off for the Presidency, he is a good man. It's just that the race warped him. I wish him well.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:22 PM

That's a very good concession speech from McCain.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:19 PM

While I feel the party comin' on my mind can't help but be overwhelmed at the monumental change that has taken place.

Obama is President.

Forty-five years ago, 4 little girls were killed by a KKK bombing of the 16th Street Baptist church in Birmingham. Somehow I can't help but think of that now and the first song that went through my head was Richard Farina's "Birmingham Sunday."

Come round by my side and I'll sing you a song.
I'll sing it so softly, it'll do no one wrong.
On Birmingham Sunday the blood ran like wine,
And the choirs kept singing of Freedom.
That cold autumn morning no eyes saw the sun,
And Addie Mae Collins, her number was one.
At an old Baptist church there was no need to run.
And the choirs kept singing of Freedom,

The clouds they were grey and the autumn winds blew,
And Denise McNair brought the number to two.
The falcon of death was a creature they knew,
And the choirs kept singing of Freedom,

The church it was crowded, but no one could see
That Cynthia Wesley's dark number was three.
Her prayers and her feelings would shame you and me.
And the choirs kept singing of Freedom.

Young Carol Robertson entered the door
And the number her killers had given was four.
She asked for a blessing but asked for no more,
And the choirs kept singing of Freedom.

On Birmingham Sunday a noise shook the ground.
And people all over the earth turned around.
For no one recalled a more cowardly sound.
And the choirs kept singing of Freedom.

The men in the forest they once asked of me,
How many black berries grew in the Blue Sea.
And I asked them right with a tear in my eye.
How many dark ships in the forest?

The Sunday has come and the Sunday has gone.
And I can't do much more than to sing you a song.
I'll sing it so softly, it'll do no one wrong.
And the choirs keep singing of Freedom.

Tonight we can still sing of freedom but now loudly and with feeling as this country has passed a great milestone in its history. William Sloane Coffin said that to be an American patriot was "to have a love/hate affair with your country." Many times I feel as James Kunen felt when he said, "America.....I love what it could be; I hate what it is."

At least for now and in this moment.....I love what it is.

Spaw

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:10 PM

Florida just went for Obama!!!

Ain't that a snort!??

Don Firth

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:09 PM

I am sitting here in tears. Someone is setting off fireworks. Times Square looks like New Years Eve.

I can not believe that in my lifetime a black man has been elected president. I am speechless.

Hope...

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:07 PM

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."


"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

Somehow, I think the Spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. will be smiling today.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:06 PM

What a night!!!


Spaw

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:05 PM

I'm here by myself- but it feels like party time! If I'd thought, I'd have provided myself with a bottle of wine; it would be a GREAT time to pop a cork.

Yes, we can!

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:02 PM

He's done it.

273

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:01 PM

Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: jeffp
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:01 PM

NBC has just called the election for Obama.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:00 PM

NBC announced for Obama!!!!!

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:57 PM

Not on CNN yet either...

Spaw

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:48 PM

We're working on it. JtS just told me on the phone that the people he's listening to have called Virginia for Obama. I'm watching MSNBC, and they haven't called it yet.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:46 PM

WE got her done here in the Buckeye state but I'm still waiting for you Carol.......................Think you can get here sometime soon and put an end to this before California aces you and Florida out?

Good job on Libby though! Bob Dole loved dirty tactics and now one has bitten old Libby right in the ass!

Spaw----as happy as the proverbial clam

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: jeffp
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:42 PM

I am so proud of my country. I remember as a kid (I'm 54), my parents worrying about our pastor as he went to Montgomery and Selma to march in the Freedom Marches. Now a Black man is a major party candidate for President! I'm very glad to have seen this progress.

I have also seen our country go from taking women for granted to one being the Vice Presidential candidate on each party's ticket at one time or another. Not to mention a serious candidate for President in the primaries. Major changes, indeed.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:34 PM

Ya' know, the last place I was asigned to visit today was a trailer way back in Lucas Holler... I knocked on the door... A 30-Somethin' woman came out... She didn't see my Obama pin... She just looked at me and said, "I know why you're here... I voted for Barack and he is gonna win"...

Then I showed her my badge and she said, "Damned right"...

I shoulda known that if this poor woman back in a holler had this "faith" that I should have, as well...

B~

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Peace
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:28 PM

PDQ, a bluegrass CD would be just fine, buddy.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:25 PM

pretty much if we don't pick up another state till the west coast we still got it!

North Carolina! Virginia!

Lots of house and senate seats!

Sweet!

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: jeffp
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:14 PM

My fiancee's office is, unlike herself, heavily McCain. She said they were exhibiting most of the signs of grieving today -- anger, denial, etc. They even brought in food like a post-funeral gathering. Sheesh!

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Cllr
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:08 PM

amazingly UK tv is showing that the McCain party in Phoenix is not being shown the full results just the republican gains and unless they are getting outside information on mobiles is largely unaware of Obama sucesses! (3.am uk time)
Cllr

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:02 PM

Elizabeth Dole is gone! Whoo Whoo
Chellie Pingree is in! Whoo Whoo

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:00 PM

Iowa for Obama!

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:54 PM

CNN is projecting 199 electoral votes for Obama, 69 for McCain. California is still to weigh in.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:48 PM

The Banks are made of marble?

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:47 PM

Looks like it's sorted for President Obama.   Congratulations. (Touch wood.)

Mind, Dubya's still got a couple of months to go. That's frightening.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: CarolC
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:43 PM

New Mexico for Obama.

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:31 PM

Ok, I feel a song coming on but what will it be?

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:25 PM

New York State goes to Obama. Fifteen states so far. Electoral votes are mounting up nicely. Looks good.

(I hope I hope I hope!!)

Don Firth

P. S. Just about to post when THIS came in! OHIO goes to Obama!!

Subject: RE: The US Election
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:23 PM

Yeah, I can smell it from here...

Aww, just funnin'...

You hang in there, Les...

BTW, you look terrible... When did you folks sleep last??? Hey, if ya'll hadn't put that tax on the tea maybe we wouldn't be havin' this discusssion...

Nevermind that tax stuff... I know it's like 2009 in the UK by now and ya'll been awake fir a couple years now so ya'll ain't expected to make no sense...

I ain't got no reasons fir not makin' no sense other than I gotta lotta experience in it...

B;~)