Obama wins US election

[STL]

Anyone watching the inauguration tonight? I'm contemplating doing it while playing some Lego.

I'm figuring I'm a uni bum (only just still tho ) and it might be one of the last few allnighters I pull to watch something on TV. Sure it, ain't sport but this is pretty momentous.

[Gutsman Heavy]

meh, unless someone shoots him, then I'll be pissed I missed it.

[roller]

how is it that the this topic started in November?

He aint no Roosevelt, FDR for the win!!

[GoktimusPrime]

I stayed up and watched it. It was quite spectacular. To me some memorable moments were:

+ The massive number of people (2,000,000+) who turned up to National Mall. Apparently they had to close off entry to avoid overcrowding and they showed people crowded on tops of nearby hotels and buildings to watch from afar. I've not seen anything like this outside of celebrations like New Year's Eve, and even then the ocean of people who patiently waited for hours... incredible.

+ The wide ranging demographics represented in that crowd - frail and fit, young and old, rich and poor... people from all kinds of various backgrounds, not only middle-class whites. Families who had travelled across the country to be there.

+ Crowds chanting "O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!" - you could feel the love.

+ Before Bush appeared I said to my wife that if I were there, I would boo Bush when he appeared. When he did appear I was booing my TV and giving him a thumbs down... but I was surprised to hear the crowd booing him too! While Bush currently only has a 27% approval rating (Cheney has an approval rating of 13%), even the reporters were surprised to hear the booing saying that Americans are usually fairly nice to an outgoing President, even if he's not popular. But the fact that people felt compelled to publicly jeer him really amazed me and speaks volumes about the amount animosity that Americans are feeling about Dubya. I think that Americans are currently ecstatic not only in looking forward to what Obama can do, but also in saying good riddence to Bush (though my wife quickly pointed out that it was the American people who elected to keep Bush).

+ John Williams composed a song especially for Obama's inaugaration ... major nerd-fappage!

+ I heard "My Country T'is of Thee" for the first time... okay, that's seriously a KO of "God Save The King/Queen" - somewhat weird to hear the tune for the UK national anthem during what otherwise felt like a very American occasion. The words were different but tbh all I was hearing in my mind was, "God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen!" etc. but at the same time see images of stars and stripes on the TV instead of the Union Jack. I'm sure there's some historical-cultural significance to it that I don't understand...

+ It was great to hear a President who can speak English! And his "gospel" style of oration is quite powerful and inspirational, much like Martin Luther King. There's a name for this style of oration but I forget what it is (it's on the tip of my tongue... gah!).

+ Obama's speech impressed me with:
* The celebration of diversity and the secular nature of the United States (he even acknowledged atheists!).
* Acknowledgement of the world and the need for the U.S. to rebuild damaged relations with other countries, particularly the Muslim world.
* Re-iterating the Spider-Man ethos: with great power comes great responsibility. Acknowledging that we are currently in a global crisis due to irresponsible and reckless behaviour and that responsibility is something that is important to the States' recovery.

+ Check out all that bullet-proof glass!

+ One of the speakers (the Reverend) made reference to this event being another great step in the realisation of Dr. King's dream and the dream of all who cherish and fought for his values. Obama remarked that less than 60 years ago his father would have been refused service at a local restaurant and the fact that the son of an African immigrant can now become President - reiterating the words of his campaign - Yes We Can (and I heard the crowd chanting this slogan too). It really injects a powerful feeling of hope.

Even as a non-American I cannot help but feel the joy and happiness for Americans today... reminds me of when Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa.

"Congratulations, Mr. President."

...now let's hope he can deliver. Either way, he can't be as bad as Bush. He just can't.

[kup]

I stayed up too. I was also impressed by the speech and he pretty clearly did put down the way the Bush administration has been running things since Septermber 11 without directly pointing the fingure and spoiling the event.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Our founding fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.

Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

[Gutsman Heavy]

so he's alive? cool, didn't need to stay up.

[GoktimusPrime]

Heh.. I must say that I had one eye peeled for something nasty - as I'm sure the CIA were too. Apparently they had over 12500 agents deployed for his protection as well as bulletproof glass (the Whitehouse balcony was especially refitted) and new armoured Presidental limousine with state-of-the-art technology and capable of withstanding grenade attacks. Phwoar.

The secret service are gonna have their hands full protecting Obama for the rest of his presidency. (-_-)

But it's interesting to see how people instantly relate so much better to Obama than they did with Bush. Bush was the son of a statesman living in wealth and luxury with some people suspecting that his father's money helped him to complete his military service and university education (it's hard to believe that a person like him could even complete high school on his own merit); whereas Obama comes from a broken family, raised in the slums, went through a difficult youth where he admits that he did some bad things - yet rose above it and through hard work got himself an education and now the highest post in his nation. It seems that people see him more as a fellow citizen and less like a rich elitist.

Bush was born into a very powerful family whereas Obama is more of a self-made man. And I think it could be his personal hard-working ethic that people are relying on to lead the States into a better direction.

Heh, not that long ago we said goodbye to Howard, now we say goodbye to his buddy Bush.

[Golden Phoenix]

new armoured Presidental limousine with state-of-the-art technology and capable of withstanding grenade attacks. Phwoar.

Apparently it is pretty much a tank that looks like a limo. Or at least that is what the American reporters were saying as Obama was driven from the white house

The secret service are gonna have their hands full protecting Obama for the rest of his presidency. (-_-)

They would have been on edge when he got out of the limo/tank and started walking from the inauguration

[Lord_Zed]

There was a bit of a Political Dynasty forming with Bush - Clinton - Bush Presidency, Could have even been a Clinton again.

As a President who was not born into power he's a much needed break from the norm, not unlike Andrew Jackson the first President who wasn't a founding father or son of a President, also the first president to suffer an assasination attempt uhoh!

With Obama's Inaguration America once again has regenerated some goodwill around the world, lets hope they build on it, unlike last time.

[roller]

There was a bit of a Political Dynasty forming with Bush - Clinton - Bush Presidency, Could have even been a Clinton again.

As a President who was not born into power he's a much needed break from the norm, not unlike Andrew Jackson the first President who wasn't a founding father or son of a President, also the first president to suffer an assasination attempt uhoh!
.

Im sure if i was an american i would say to this , "Old Hickory kicked British Ass!!!!"