PRESIDENT OBAMA

[sharon_f]

I am a child of the 50s and 60s, raised in a lower middle class Catholic household. I remember the exhilaration and joy I felt when JFK was elected the first Catholic President of the United States.

I remember the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Martin Luther King, the march on Montgomery, the formation of the Peace Corps, the end of segregation, the swinging 60s, hippies, the Vietnam war protests ("Make love, not war.") I remember the early days of feminism and the gay rights movement, Cesar Chavez and the formation of the UFW. I remember when being a liberal was a good thing. It meant you cared about others less fortunate then yourself, it meant you were open-minded and tolerant of others. I remember when hard work, a good education, a questioning mind and healthy curiosity were valued. I remember when intellectuals, and scientists and artists were valued and held in esteem.

As an adult I saw my generation lose touch with the ideals of their youth. I saw making money and acquiring things becoming more important than how we treat each other. I saw Jesus (a true socialist if ever I saw one) being used to spread intolerance and hate. I saw political parties become more divisive and partisan. And I finally saw a government that didn't give a damn about its citizenry. (The images of the aftermath of Katrina are burned in my memory.)

I had almost completely dispaired of us as a nation until last night. When I looked into the faces of the crowd gathered together in Grant Park, young and old, black and white, I saw something I hadn't seen in a long time, hope... and the belief that once again we can be a great nation and a great people. A nation whose greatness does not lie in its wealth and power but in its dignity and humanity. I firmly believe the election of Barrack Obama is a transformative moment in United States history.

[argerichfan]

Thanks Sharon, that was a great post, leagues ahead of P's childish nonsense. 

[cherub_rocker1979]

Thank you Sharon for such a beautiful post.  You have no idea how much it is appreciated!  We are so lucky to have someone like you around here, I am truly humbled by your maturity.

[pianistimo]

https://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_8151_en.htm

Life can be wonderful when ideal, but this isn't really 'ideal' in the sense that we have here the first example of UN snooping or spying on civilians in a compromised situation.  THIS IS DOUBLESPEAK. 

The cuban missle crisis was avoided - but did that make cubans more loving of the usa?  hmmm  There are all sorts of theories - but the thing is that time will tell who wants to run the world.

People think that because there are many 'conspiracy' theories - they shouldn't bother reading the newspaper for real ones.  To have Germany down the throats of Georgia - when Russia already is - seems a little like saying - let's see who wins.  I suppose this is the way they counter Russia - but how about saying to Russia - what you are doing is WRONG.  It's undemocratic.  Instead - they are SHARING GEORGIA!  WHY?  BECAUSE OF OIL.  The same thing they accuse USA of in Iraq.  however, the USA is leaving iraq at the SAME TIME as UN is entering it.  I suppose they will take the credit?

Do you know why so many young people today don't understand or care.  Because even the public school system has bought into the idea that the UN is a wonderful organization that will bring peace to the world.  Unfortunately, they also want to destroy personal sovereign nations own history.  Especially America's regarding DEMOCRACY in the way the bible gives it.  I would say of all the ideals - the German one is the least favoring freedom of religion.  People are asked direct questions on forms - regarding their beliefs on religion -to obtain citizenship in germany. 

Now, hollywood socialites have like the scientology religion - which is allowed in usa.  But, people can't live in germany as scientologists and not be harassed.  Also, people randomly go missing here and there.  Who is doing this?  IS DEMOCRACY as the USA provides it - the first and last FREE STATE, WITH LIBERTY FOR ALL?

[gyzzzmo]

https://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_8151_en.htm

Life can be wonderful when ideal, but this isn't really 'ideal' in the sense that we have here the first example of UN snooping or spying on civilians in a compromised situation.  THIS IS DOUBLESPEAK. 

The cuban missle crisis was avoided - but did that make cubans more loving of the usa?  hmmm  There are all sorts of theories - but the thing is that time will tell who wants to run the world.

People think that because there are many 'conspiracy' theories - they shouldn't bother reading the newspaper for real ones.  To have Germany down the throats of Georgia - when Russia already is - seems a little like saying - let's see who wins.  I suppose this is the way they counter Russia - but how about saying to Russia - what you are doing is WRONG.  It's undemocratic.  Instead - they are SHARING GEORGIA!  WHY?  BECAUSE OF OIL.  The same thing they accuse USA of in Iraq.  however, the USA is leaving iraq at the SAME TIME as UN is entering it.  I suppose they will take the credit?

Do you know why so many young people today don't understand or care.  Because even the public school system has bought into the idea that the UN is a wonderful organization that will bring peace to the world.  Unfortunately, they also want to destroy personal sovereign nations own history.  Especially America's regarding DEMOCRACY in the way the bible gives it.  I would say of all the ideals - the German one is the least favoring freedom of religion.  People are asked direct questions on forms - regarding their beliefs on religion -to obtain citizenship in germany. 

Now, hollywood socialites have like the scientology religion - which is allowed in usa.  But, people can't live in germany as scientologists and not be harassed.  Also, people randomly go missing here and there.  Who is doing this?  IS DEMOCRACY as the USA provides it - the first and last FREE STATE, WITH LIBERTY FOR ALL?

Nice rubbish pianistimo. You have read one article and Germany is your next threat to the world peace :p , why not invade germany?
And how is USA providing democracy? Did the USA do an extensive pol in Iraq if people wanted the USA to invade that country and making everybodies live miserable?

I hope that somewhere in the far future you eventually start to understand that there is no democracy in the USA, and that only 1 man in the usa decided to invade Iraq AGAINST THE MAJORITY IN THE WORLD (democracy?), and the countries who did support that war did it because Bush convinced them with forged 'evidence' of mass destruction weapons.

But ofcourse, pianistimo misses the brain part that manages to doubt information she gets, who can blame her

[soderlund]

Socialist, communist. it's all the same.

If that is what you think, you just proved you have no idea what you are talking about. I have many socialist fiends but none of them are communists. It is not the same thing at all. I don't call myself a socialist but this political narrow-mindedness irritates me.

This about Germany is simply silly.

[pianowolfi]

Not iran - but the exact enemy we bombed in WWII and whom started the war with a dictator named Hitler.  That is my guess, only - but one that could be true because Germany has another agenda today - and it is to control Europe.  Second only to Iran in hatred of America/Americans is Germany.  Why?  Because they are fast becoming a superpower and want to control energy sources. 

You are wrong pianistimo. The fact is that Germany and the UN have been bought already long ago by Switzerland. We will buy America as well soon and then Switzerland will be the only remaining superpower in the world  Our soldiers also are strong, they all are supposed to keep their guns always with them at home, ready for use. And they all have their Swiss army knives (popularly called "Sackmesser", notice the innuendo morningstar ) always with them   And, don't forget, according to Thal we have the most efficient way to make subversive people talk: with our famous cuckoo clock torture method

[gyzzzmo]

You are wrong pianistimo. The fact is that Germany and the UN have been bought already long ago by Switzerland. We will buy America as well soon and then Switzerland will be the only remaining superpower in the world 

Pity the USA has already been bought by Dubai Investments 

[pianowolfi]

Pity the USA has already been bought by Dubai Investments 

That's only in pretence. Camouflage for the world press.

[morningstar]

Ya hya chouhada!
"Long live the fighters!"
Man, too much sci-fi...

[ramseytheii]

I'm so pleased that Obama won. 

And thank-you, f*cking, stupid idiots like Pianistimo aren't calling the shots, though I'm sure Pianistimo secretly prayed that the Republicans would somehow have stolen the election, like the last two times.  She prays so hard, doesn't she?  She just MUST have her agenda.

I may be relatively new here, but Pianistimo's posts make me want to puke.  A typical example of why the rest of the world just laughs at Americans and their self-righteous superiority.

Though I have to say, the past 8 years, people who shared her viewpoint had all the power.  Now that they don't, we can let go of the vitriol and freely laugh at those ideas, without bitterness.

Walter Ramsey

[ramseytheii]

Ayn Rand was a playwright, novelist, and objectivist.  She imigrated to this country at age 21 from Russia.  Her views, although seemingly altruistic are actually quite different than those of the founding fathers because she just liked to see the final product and not the assembly line.  She wrote about 'the virtue of selfishness' in regards to her philosophies of independence and government.  I do not subscribe to this classical liberalism - because my ideal isn't nietzche.

My ideal is Jesus Christ.  He set the same goals for all - and if you don't meet them it's your own durn tush that gets the hot seat.

Wait, you mean to say that Ayn Rand was a novelist and an Objectivist?  Who knew?

Your grasp of Wikipedia knowledge bytes is stunningly incompetent.  I congratulate you on typing her name into the search bar and spewing out a few sentences, but please read a bit closer next time.  Her views are not "seemingly altruistic," they are the complete opposite.  She preaced a philosophy that said altruism was evil, and that nobody had a right to take away earnings from anyone else.  Her economic philosophy is the heart and soul of the Republican party.

The only thing she would oppose in the politics of the last eight years, is the influence of Christian fundamentalists.  She wrote to Barry Goldwater in the late 60's, advising him that when he takes hold of the new conservative economic movement, to expel Christian fanatics.  Clearly nobody took her fantastically prescient advice.  Unfortunately.

Walter Ramsey

[berrt]

Germany IS and does have plans.  You can say they don't.  Time will tell.  Don't take that personally, Bert, because you personally don't have plans.  The thing is - the nazi underground (called something else) do. They have personally had a hand in planning social, political, and economic programs for EU because they are supplying energy. 

You have more reliable information than I have, obviously. So invade Germany, please - I don't want a nazi regime, too. Or Switz buys us.

All the best
B.

[richard black]

Germany? The Swiss? The way Russia has been behaving lately I should think that's the country that's likely to buy/subvert/invade/bamboozle its way to world domination before we notice, if any.

[thalbergmad]

Do you know why so many young people today don't understand or care. 

Because they have parents like you.

[zheer]

You have more reliable information than I have, obviously. So invade Germany, please - I don't want a nazi regime, too. Or Switz buys us.

All the best
B.

  It is no-longer possible for a EU nation to act in its own interest, this has been the case until recently when when the U.S joined forces with the British and invaded Iraq ( international law was broken). The EU was created to safe-gard its people after the fall of the third Riech. The U.S has had many civil wars, firstly with the red indians and finally with the africans originally used by their superiors as slaves. Today and since the early 20th century the U.S has directed its attention abroad in-particular the mid-east/ Afganistan.
  To understand the world as it is today, its a good idea to aknowledge the the late British empire , the Ottoman empire and the third Riech. The British empire brought suffering to Africans in more ways than one, it also had a lasting effect in Arabia. However it never was able to defeat the Ottomans that where under the Turks and Kurds, Churchill new this since countless battles where lost. The Ottoman the last empire also came to an end l, modern Turky created buy the late leader Ataturk. A independent nation (Turky) was all that remained from the Ottomans.
   The third Riech was the outcome of the defeat the Germans were to face under the British and Hitlers vision of a Germanic world order, his political ideology were simple the   control of all neighboring nation states now known as Europe, his concept of a master race and enlightened vision. His political ideology greatly influenced the Islamic world in particular Arabia, though his intentions were clear to rule and control the Arabs and to finaly hand over the jews ( currently the Isralies ) to the Arabs. Today many arabs in the mid-east still hold on to Hitlers Ideology, though as we have seen recently they have had to pay a heavy price, mainly in blood, and the blood of those that do not fit into their political ideology, namely the kurds of Iraq and Syria who continue to battle daily this Ideolgy brogh from the west into the lives of those in the east.
 

[keypeg]

This is OT so I apologize - but please do spell it as "Reich" (kingdom/empire) instead of "Riech" (smell) 

[michel dvorsky]

Congrats to President-elect Obama.

I was hoping it would be McCain, but I sincerely hope that Obama is a successful President and does great things for the United States and the world.

[michel dvorsky]

The only thing she would oppose in the politics of the last eight years, is the influence of Christian fundamentalists.  She wrote to Barry Goldwater in the late 60's, advising him that when he takes hold of the new conservative economic movement, to expel Christian fanatics.  Clearly nobody took her fantastically prescient advice.  Unfortunately.

Walter Ramsey

McCain took that advice in 2000.  And lost.

Realizing that the Republican base still crucially requires the motivation of religious idiocy, McCain appointed as VP someone with strong Christian credentials who thought Africa was a country.  And Lost.

[term]

But ofcourse, pianistimo misses the brain part that manages to doubt information she gets, who can blame her

The christian right unfortunately consists of people who, no matter how hard they try, are almost always wrong on any issue. They hardly manage the bible:
click

[gyzzzmo]

Germany IS and does have plans.  You can say they don't.  Time will tell.  Don't take that personally, Bert, because you personally don't have plans.  The thing is - the nazi underground (called something else) do. They have personally had a hand in planning social, political, and economic programs for EU because they are supplying energy.  Energy is their strong hand and they can't get enough from Russia.  Where will they get it next?

I also heard stories about aliens who planned an evasion pretty soon to disrupt our society, and since somebody wrote that, it must be true.
My idea is to shoot Pianistimo into the universe to A) convince those aliens of other beliefs, B) get her even closer to God and (not least but last) C) give us some rest.

gyzzzmo

[zheer]

This is OT so I apologize - but please do spell it as "Reich" (kingdom/empire) instead of "Riech" (smell) 

  "Riech"  meaning rise, the third "Riech". Not (Kingdom/empire) though very similar.

[pianowolfi]

 "Riech"  meaning rise, the third "Riech". Not (Kingdom/empire) though very similar.

Nope. Keypeg is right and "Reich" means empire. "Riech" as a noun doesn't exist in German.

[zheer]

Nope. Keypeg is right and "Reich" means empire. "Riech" as a noun doesn't exist in German.

     The third empire..........

[keypeg]

     The third empire..........

Das dritte Reich.  The "ei" is pronounced like a long I in English, as in "side, slide, fight".  The letters "ie" are prounounced like "ee" in English as in "feet, meat, real".

"riechen" means to smell.  "Riech" does not exist.
"reichen" means to reach.
"reich" means to be rich
"Reich" means empire, kingdom and similar.

[lisztisforkids]

I think McCain deserves a round of applause....


   

 Why couldent he run his campaign like his concession speech?

[thalbergmad]

My idea is to shoot Pianistimo into the universe

Agreed, if you erase the last 3 words.

Thal

[gyzzzmo]

Agreed, if you erase the last 3 words.

Thal

2 different ways, 1 result . I heard human bodies function quite badly when floating around there without protection.

[debussy symbolism]

I really don't quite understand why the excitement is so lush. His campaign as a united st. president would be much harder than a campaign for office.

[comsmcsc]

I am a child of the 50s and 60s, raised in a lower middle class Catholic household. I remember the exhilaration and joy I felt when JFK was elected the first Catholic President of the United States.

I remember the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Martin Luther King, the march on Montgomery, the formation of the Peace Corps, the end of segregation, the swinging 60s, hippies, the Vietnam war protests ("Make love, not war.") I remember the early days of feminism and the gay rights movement, Cesar Chavez and the formation of the UFW. I remember when being a liberal was a good thing. It meant you cared about others less fortunate then yourself, it meant you were open-minded and tolerant of others. I remember when hard work, a good education, a questioning mind and healthy curiosity were valued. I remember when intellectuals, and scientists and artists were valued and held in esteem.

As an adult I saw my generation lose touch with the ideals of their youth. I saw making money and acquiring things becoming more important than how we treat each other. I saw Jesus (a true socialist if ever I saw one) being used to spread intolerance and hate. I saw political parties become more divisive and partisan. And I finally saw a government that didn't give a damn about its citizenry. (The images of the aftermath of Katrina are burned in my memory.)

I had almost completely dispaired of us as a nation until last night. When I looked into the faces of the crowd gathered together in Grant Park, young and old, black and white, I saw something I hadn't seen in a long time, hope... and the belief that once again we can be a great nation and a great people. A nation whose greatness does not lie in its wealth and power but in its dignity and humanity. I firmly believe the election of Barrack Obama is a transformative moment in United States history.

Sharon, I am right there with you. I grew up in rural Indiana, farm and all.  My first brush with racial discrimination was in 1961 while traveling through Alabama on our way to Florida for a vacation.  Bathrooms for "colored" were separate and were outhouses.  I'll never forget seeing the burned out cars on the highway in Alabama as the race riots were raging in Birmingham.  News of black men being lynched from the nearest tree because they were of color.  Such a disgusting chapter in our history. We've come a long way, and even though I am a Republican I am proud to see this man become our president. I am filled with hope that partisan politics will give way to bipartisan cooperation working toward what is in the best interests of the common as well as uncommon man. This is the nearest thing to a return to Camelot.

[goldentone]

McCain took that advice in 2000.  And lost.

Realizing that the Republican base still crucially requires the motivation of religious idiocy, McCain appointed as VP someone with strong Christian credentials who thought Africa was a country.  And Lost.

She is the governor of Alaska.  How likely is it that a governor does not know that Africa is a continent? 

[gyzzzmo]

She is the governor of Alaska.  How likely is it that a governor does not know that Africa is a continent? 

Pretty likely, we Europeans stopped being amazed long time ago how little Americans know about the world (and even about their own government).

[ramseytheii]

She is the governor of Alaska.  How likely is it that a governor does not know that Africa is a continent? 

Sorry, but this is a lady that can't distinguish Inspector Clouseau from President Sarkozy.  I'm inclined to believe the Africa thing (also considering she had never left the United States before last year).

Walter Ramsey

[michel dvorsky]

Sorry, but this is a lady that can't distinguish Inspector Clouseau from President Sarkozy.  I'm inclined to believe the Africa thing (also considering she had never left the United States before last year).

Walter Ramsey

Though Palin's shortcomings are now apparent, in fairness to the ticket, Biden is at least as ignorant.  Biden may actually be worse as he has a proven track record of shocking ignorance, tactless comments, poor judgment, plagiarism, etc.  Also, he was largely given a pass by the media.

I think it's something about an attractive, confident, pro-life, Republican woman with a ridiculous voice that really sent the Left into attack-mode.

[cmg]

Though Palin's shortcomings are now apparent, in fairness to the ticket, Biden is at least as ignorant.  Biden may actually be worse as he has a proven track record of shocking ignorance, tactless comments, poor judgment, plagiarism, etc.  Also, he was largely given a pass by the media.

I think it's something about an attractive, confident, pro-life, Republican woman with a ridiculous voice that really sent the Left into attack-mode.

No one is "as ignorant" as Palin, despite your prejudices against Biden.

Yes, she is "attractive."  Yes, she is "confident," if you can call her astonishing obliviousness to her own lack of education and barely functional IQ, confidence.  Yes, she is "pro-life," willing to allow young men and women to die in illegal and immoral wars, yet all hot and bothered over the life of a fetus. 

She's the apotheosis of the right-wing Republican movement that insidiously began with Reagan and bloomed under that fascist George W. Bush.  She was one-step-over-the-line and Americans rebelled at long last.  She galvanized the American Center and Left because she was so outrageously incompetent and dripping with prejudice and barely disguised vitriol for anything that wasn't WHITE and CHRISTIAN.   

The Republicans?  Hardly the party of Lincoln.  Or even Goldwater.  Republicans today proved what they are with their embracing of Palin, a stupid, amoral woman just one step away from becoming the new Eva Peron.  She's a monster.

The Republicans?  A party leadership cynical enough to say that totally unregulated markets were good not only for the super-rich, but for the super-poor.  "Trickle down."  Remember that concept?  The notion that the rich getting richer would benefit all of us?  Turns out not to be true and it's exactly why we have this global financial disaster.  The rich get richer out of greed and the greedy don't share.

Yet, the GOP party faithful, like pianistimo and retro, STILL insist on this nonsense.  Still proclaim that a nation caring for fairness for all people will turn a blind eye to national security.  That's such a retarded notion.   

Thank God, their day has finally gone.  It's over.  This prolonged American Republican Nightmare.  We were just one step from a fascist coup.  If nothing else, Obama's election has proven that Americans do not want fascism.

[michel dvorsky]

No one is "as ignorant" as Palin, despite your prejudices against Biden.

Yes, she is "attractive."  Yes, she is "confident," if you can call her astonishing obliviousness to her own lack of education and barely functional IQ, confidence.  Yes, she is "pro-life," willing to allow young men and women to die in illegal and immoral wars, yet all hot and bothered over the life of a fetus. 

Illegal? The Congress authorized the Iraq War with a majority.  Immoral?  Would it have been morally better to let Saddam remain in power?

The Republicans?  Hardly the party of Lincoln.  Or even Goldwater.  Republicans today proved what they are with their embracing of Palin, a stupid, amoral woman just one step away from becoming the new Eva Peron.  She's a monster.

Well, evidently the whole party did not embrace Palin.  Turns out McCain himself rarely spoke to her.

The Republicans?  A party leadership cynical enough to say that totally unregulated markets were good not only for the super-rich, but for the super-poor.

Umm. Who among the party establishment advocate "totally unregulated markets"?    Which markets? Sugar market? Steel market? Financial markets?

  "Trickle down."  Remember that concept?  The notion that the rich getting richer would benefit all of us?  Turns out not to be true and it's exactly why we have this global financial disaster.  The rich get richer out of greed and the greedy don't share.

There is a lot of blame to go around here.  Ironically, this financial crisis is largely due to bad government regulation -- not just "too little".  It's unclear that any of these ghoulish proponents of free markets that you so despise would have approved of the government's role in the 1990s in facilitating loans to people who couldn't afford them.  Fact is, Fannie and Freddy didn't have anywhere near the capital requirements of real banks and had totally different lending standards.  Also, the Fed has acknowledged that after the tech bubble burst, they created a housing bubble by keeping interest rates too low.  Going

Thank God, their day has finally gone.  It's over.  This prolonged American Republican Nightmare.  We were just one step from a fascist coup.  If nothing else, Obama's election has proven that Americans do not want fascism.

This is a pretty extreme view.

[ada]

It will be 'every man for himself' under Obama.  There isn't any money, Walter.  Where's it all coming from.  The rich people gave to the 700 billion bailout.  This is ridiculous to make plans from a plate with no money on it.  Where's the money coming from.  The rich people left or are leaving?  There's no incentive.

Socialist, communist. it's all the same. People have nothing and pretend they do.  It's a pretend life to live above one's means.  What we are living with is a depression.

Germany IS and does have plans.  You can say they don't.  Time will tell.  Don't take that personally, Bert, because you personally don't have plans.  The thing is - the nazi underground (called something else) do. They have personally had a hand in planning social, political, and economic programs for EU because they are supplying energy.  Energy is their strong hand and they can't get enough from Russia.  Where will they get it next?

Ayn Rand was a playwright, novelist, and objectivist.  She imigrated to this country at age 21 from Russia.  Her views, although seemingly altruistic are actually quite different than those of the founding fathers because she just liked to see the final product and not the assembly line.  She wrote about 'the virtue of selfishness' in regards to her philosophies of independence and government.  I do not subscribe to this classical liberalism - because my ideal isn't nietzche.

My ideal is Jesus Christ.  He set the same goals for all - and if you don't meet them it's your own durn tush that gets the hot seat.

This is why I left pianostreet. Surely we are hearing from the most stupid woman in the entire universe.

Congratulations to every one who voted for Obama and for giving the rest of the world such a momentous slice of history.

[michel dvorsky]

I think being mean to pianistimo is kinda sadistic.  It's like taunting a puppy that got crippled by a car.

[ada]

I think being mean to pianistimo is kinda sadistic.  It's like taunting a puppy that got crippled by a car.

like taunting a puppy that's had a full frontal lobotomy 

[cmg]

Illegal? The Congress authorized the Iraq War with a majority.  Immoral?  Would it have been morally better to let Saddam remain in power?

Well, evidently the whole party did not embrace Palin.  Turns out McCain himself rarely spoke to her.

Umm. Who among the party establishment advocate "totally unregulated markets"?    Which markets? Sugar market? Steel market? Financial markets?

There is a lot of blame to go around here.  Ironically, this financial crisis is largely due to bad government regulation -- not just "too little".  It's unclear that any of these ghoulish proponents of free markets that you so despise would have approved of the government's role in the 1990s in facilitating loans to people who couldn't afford them.  Fact is, Fannie and Freddy didn't have anywhere near the capital requirements of real banks and had totally different lending standards.  Also, the Fed has acknowledged that after the tech bubble burst, they created a housing bubble by keeping interest rates too low.  Going

This is a pretty extreme view.

I should have been more specific:  by totally unregulated, I should have said regulations applied to the inventions of new financial instruments such as "derivatives."  No one stepped in to question these radical, new investment tools.  No one asked if they would work practically, as opposed to theoretically.  And, yes, the Dems were as guilty as this as the GOP.  Massive speculation that benefitted only an already wealthy handful of Americans.  

And just for the record, Saddam/Iraq was attacked on the premise of having those famous Weapons of Mass Destruction.  They did not exist.  Saddam was not the architect of 9/11.  It was Al Queda and bin Laden.  The locus of the war, if one were needed, was Afghanistan.  And, yes, you're right in saying both parties were guilty of backing Bush's War for Daddy.  But the war was immoral for those reasons and, by international standards, illegal.

What has been so frightening about the Rightwing GOP for Americans has been the revival of McCarthyism.  Recently exemplified by Rep. Michelle Bachman of Minnesota in this current election.  She called for an investigation into "anti-Americans" in Congress and listed Obama has prime among these enemies.  This kind of strategy has made all politicians in the US cower and cave in to Rightist policies just to keep their jobs.  (Too many voters like pianistimo agreed with this madness.)  The lawmakers were cowards all, I agree, but my point is that the Christian/GOP Right accomplished in the name of Jesus, Patriotism and Fetuses, all that McCarthy accomplished for Red Haters of all stripes.  And what was that accomplishment?  Fear of being "un-American." It worked for them as it did for McCarthy and this country became a nightmare.  

[michel dvorsky]

And just for the record, Saddam/Iraq was attacked on the premise of having those famous Weapons of Mass Destruction.  They did not exist.  Saddam was not the architect of 9/11.  It was Al Queda and bin Laden.  The locus of the war, if one were needed, was Afghanistan.  And, yes, you're right in saying both parties were guilty of backing Bush's War for Daddy.  But the war was immoral for those reasons and, by international standards, illegal.

Casus Belli

https://www.c-span.org/resources/pdf/hjres114.pdf

[cmg]

Casus Belli

https://www.c-span.org/resources/pdf/hjres114.pdf

I'm aware of this.  That's not my argument.  "Illegality" rests, in my opinion, on more than one nation's unilateral decision to invade another.  The international community was appalled at America's "legal" war, because it had no rationale other than the Bush dynasty's vendetta against Saddam.

[michel dvorsky]

I'm aware of this.  That's not my argument.  "Illegality" rests, in my opinion, on more than one nation's unilateral decision to invade another. 

Tony was cool with it too.

The international community was appalled at America's "legal" war, because it had no rationale other than the Bush dynasty's vendetta against Saddam.

Well, there clearly were other reasons (see above).

[ahinton]

like taunting a puppy that's had a full frontal lobotomy 

Well, so you're back here again like the prodigal Sydneysider! What a day for A'straaalians here in Pomland! - only this morning on BBC Radio 4 they interviewed that Rolf "can-you-see-what-it-is-yet?" Harris and now along comes you after what seems like an interminable absence. G'day, possum! (and surely no one on God's or anyone else's earth could ever consider giving a full frontal lobotomy to a possum).

Any likelihood of another appearance from you in the next year?

And now back to PRESIDENT OBAMA - if one must (well, he is the thread topic, after all)...

Best,

Alistair

[ada]

Any likelihood of another appearance from you in the next year?

only if she whose name can't be spoken goes away.

And yes, back to Barack:

Over here we watched the election with a sense of elation and excitement and history being made. The election of Obama signals the return of the US into the international fold after the Bush administration turned it into a pariah and a laughing stock and an object of hate and derision.

On the train on the way home from work, just moments after CNN called it for Obama, I was relaying the information to a friend on my mobile phone and the carriage broke into spontaneous applause.

The next day local schools had signs up on billboards saying "Barack Obama. Change has come".

His eloquent and inspiring "yes we can" victory speech still makes me teary.

For a long time I was down on the US (and certain posters to this forum only deepened my prejudice against Americans as ignorant, dangerous, rednecks who really think god created the world). But I went to the states and realised you actually have a lot in common with Aussies and I actually liked the people I met. Not a bible-basher, creationist or bush supporter in sight.

We also enjoyed watching Sarah Palin in action. We once had our own Sarah Palin here. Her name is Pauline Hanson. She left politics, ended up in jail and is currently pursuing a career in reality TV.

[ahinton]

she whose name can't be spoken

If it's who I think you mean (and it is!), I believe that her name is spoken quite frequently in these 'ere annals, even when she is not herself present therein; that said, the presence of anyone here should not act as any kind of discouragement to your own. Lecture over!

And yes, back to Barack:

Over here we watched the election with a sense of elation and excitement and history being made. The election of Obama signals the return of the US into the international fold after the Bush administration turned it into a pariah and a laughing stock and an object of hate and derision.

On the train on the way home from work, just moments after CNN called it for Obama, I was relaying the information to a friend on my mobile phone and the carriage broke into spontaneous applause.

The next day local schools had signs up on billboards saying "Barack Obama. Change has come".

His eloquent and inspiring "yes we can" victory speech still makes me teary.

For a long time I was down on the US (and certain posters to this forum only deepened my prejudice against Americans as ignorant, dangerous, rednecks who really think god created the world). But I went to the states and realised you actually have a lot in common with Aussies and I actually liked the people I met. Not a bible-basher, creationist or bush supporter in sight.

Much of the UK coverage leading up to a few weeks prior to the event could arguably be seen as leading people to assume that an Obama victory was a more or less foregone conclusion, whereas several people in US (including some Brits, an Iranian and - yes - an Australian) told me that journalistic coverage over there seemed largely to have concluded the very opposite. Anyway, we all know the outcome of the election now but, just as a wedding does not a marriage make, a presidential election win does not a successful government make. We'll just have to see what happens, not least of which will be the extent to which what America does on the world stage and at home means as much and exerts as much effect and influence as once it did. I'm the wrong person to ask about how it might all work out, anyway, as one problem with so-called (and actual) "democratic" nations is that people are voted into governmental (does one have to be mental to govern?) office and - forgive my apparent cynicism - I have little experience that persuades me that a government can be trusted to do a good job consistently just because they've been voted in by the electorate. Democracy may, as Churchill famously put it, be the worst form of government save all the others, but that doesn't in itself mean that democratically elected governments will serve their electorates well and inspire and deserve their trust. And no, I am not in favour of dictatorships but, in so saying, it is worth remembering that there is always a risk that electorates in "democratic" countries might vote in dictatorships (the Thatcher years in UK, for example, have sometimes been described as a period of elected dictatorship).

So you just stopped short of writing that "some of your best friends are Americans"! Of course one has to go there even to hope to obtain any kind of perspectives on real life in that country and, of course, even the most superficial comparison of day-to-day life in Maine, South Carolina, New York State, Texas and - er - Pennsylvania will reveal immense differences of many kinds.

We also enjoyed watching Sarah Palin in action. We once had our own Sarah Palin here. Her name is Pauline Hanson. She left politics, ended up in jail and is currently pursuing a career in reality TV.

Does she do this from her cell or was she let out first?(!)...

As to the egregious Ms Palin herself (palin' into insignificance, as has been said over here more times than I've written semiquavers), I am reminded of Stravinsky's nasty barb against a certain German composer which runs "if Richard, then Wagner - if Strauss, then Johann", to which my knee-jerk respose (when first I heard it) was "if Igor, then Prince"; in this instance, if Palin, then Michael - if Sarah, then Leonard. So one of the credentials of this Alaskan redneck (does it ever get warm anough in Alaska for anyone to get a red neck? I don't ask myself) is that of being "pro-life"; well, I'm not exactly anti-life myself...

Let us just hope, for the sake of all Americans of whatever political persuasion or none, that the new political dawn in US (if that's what it turns out to have been) leads to a new, improved and sustainable climate; only time will tell...

Best,

Alistair

[gyzzzmo]

Lets just hope for world peace's sake that Obama is not another nitwitt like Bush, who can (still) get away with killing a massive amount of people.

I find it seriously disgusting when you see that Americans only publicly dare to doubt the policy of their holy president when the next elections start.

[johnny-boy]

We´re actually a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. All Hail the king!

I´m happy Obama won. In 1964 ( ) blacks achieved the same civil rights as everyone else. Now there´s an afro american president. I dig.

No, now there's a Black and White President.

[G.W.K]

No, now there's a Black and White President.

Bit like the "Black & White Minstrel Show". What will the White House be called now? 

It would be a bit contradicting: A Black President in the White House.

G.W.K

[morningstar]

Bit like the "Black & White Minstrel Show". What will the White House be called now? 

It would be a bit contradicting: A Black President in the White House.

G.W.K

Chess?