Charlie Rose

NeilMacCallister  03/13/2009 03:54 AM Report

..."the most retarted", pititou?

What does that mean, exactly??

..to a Harvard Grad like yourself?

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Oh well, ..we all have dreams,

The President is living his,..

and America foots the bill.

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Has he thanked America yet?

Has he yet put his hand to his (cold) heart?

..for the country?

Are his friends yet "proud of America"?

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America did a great thing for Barack Obama,

..I wonder if he knows?

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pititou  11/11/2008 02:45 PM Report

Response to J-Man.

You are right. Afro-Americans, or Black.... or in fact Métisses (Yep.... Obama is not "black".... or at least no more "black" than "white") can go to Harvard.... However. Dont you think that it is true that he received a "white" education (whatever that means?)... Didn't his father "abandon" him? (not the first one.... read Fanon to understand why Black men DO NOT CARE as much about raising their children...).

In conclusion: I graduated from Harvard too (PhD) and let me be honest, I have not seen that many blacks there (maybe Yale is.... or WAS different!... who knows). The media (and Obama himself?) may insist on his "blackness"... Honestly, I can easily his "whiteness"... If we are lucky, maybe in 7 or 8 years (Inch'Allah!), we will not refer to him as a "black President" (Ouch.... what a potentially racist statement).... but simply a "president".... and - "Inch'Allah again) - a "great president" (Should not be too difficult when you come after the most retarted President in US History).

So.... Vive Obama....

Gina  11/08/2008 07:27 PM Report

Forgive my being over zealous in the assumption President-elect Obama will serve a second term. An extension of feeling the positive electricity still in the air after a momentous event although I'm sure many are planning forward now as we speak towards that goal which now is a good time to start....

Gina  11/08/2008 07:20 PM Report

Preston, thank you dear and I hope so too. I also want to congratulate Joe Biden on his Vice President-elect win. I really like this guy and am ecstatic he is the newly elected VP. I think he is the strongest Vice President this country has had in many decades. A good choice indeed. I am sure that in 8 years President-elect Obama will have plenty of challenges to overcome and more will be expected of him. But as long as he stays on the right side of the fence of justice he will be great. I am verrrry interested and attuned to seeing the development of a graduated evacuation of the troops in Iraq now come to fruition....

J-man  11/08/2008 03:12 PM Report

The is in response to MotherLodeBeth statement above. I will have to completely disagree with you and your notion that it is because he had a white side of the family, who pushed him to get his education, that why he has a first class education. I am a U.S citizen who was born here to Africn parents, both my parents have masters degree. You seem to forget that Barack Obama is a first generation African descent child to a Kenyan Dad who also recieved his Masters degree in Economics from Havard University.

Africans look to attaining the highest quality of education, as a first generation American citizen, with strong African blood in me, i too have a Masters degree because i believe in a great education. So, please do not disrespect Africans or minorities by saying they are uneducated. You should go to Univeristies across the United States and see so many more Aficans or minorities attaning thier advanced or professional degrees compared to thier white counterparts..

In response to Douglass Montrose-Graem statement on Obama's citizensip status, the President elect is as American as JFK was American, so for you to question his citizensip because his father is Kenyan, is so absurd. This country is a country of Immigrants who migrated to the U.S. I am sure your parents or grand parents or great grand parents migrated here, so please stop this stupid inquiry in to his citizenship when you do know he was born in Hawaii. Barack Obama is a United States Citizen of kenyan descent.

So, stop judging Barack Obama on his race or colour or questioning his citizenship, but judge him on his personality, intelligence and leadership..

McCain on the other hand was born in Panama, but because his Dad was a Naval officer serving overseas, the U.S law still counts you as being born on U.S soil.

President Obama will be a Historical transformational leader, who will lead the United States and the "Flat world" in the 21st century... So lets give him a change, just like we gave "W" a chance to lead us and we have seen the results in the last eight years.....

J-man...  11/08/2008 03:11 PM Report

The is in response to MotherLodeBeth statement above. I will have to completely disagree with you and your notion that it is because he had a white side of the family, who pushed him to get his education, that why he has a first class education. I am a U.S citizen who was born here to Africn parents, both my parents have masters degree. You seem to forget that Barack Obama is a first generation African descent child to a Kenyan Dad who also recieved his Masters degree in Economics from Havard University.

Africans look to attaining the highest quality of education, as a first generation American citizen, with strong African blood in me, i too have a Masters degree because i believe in a great education. So, please do not disrespect Africans or minorities by saying they are uneducated. You should go to Univeristies across the United States and see so many more Aficans or minorities attaning thier advanced or professional degrees compared to thier white counterparts..

In response to Douglass Montrose-Graem statement on Obama's citizensip status, the President elect is as American as JFK was American, so for you to question his citizensip because his father is Kenyan, is so absurd. This country is a country of Immigrants who migrated to the U.S. I am sure your parents or grand parents or great grand parents migrated here, so please stop this stupid inquiry in to his citizenship when you do know he was born in Hawaii. Barack Obama is a United States Citizen of kenyan descent.

So, stop judging Barack Obama on his race or colour or questioning his citizenship, but judge him on his personality, intelligence and leadership..

McCain on the other hand was born in Panama, but because his Dad was a Naval officer serving overseas, the U.S law still counts you as being born on U.S soil.

President Obama will be a Historical transformational leader, who will lead the United States and the "Flat world" in the 21st century... So lets give him a change, just like we gave "W" a chance to lead us and we have seen the results in the last eight years.....

Preston  11/07/2008 06:23 PM Report

I hope so too Gina, although turning away Robert Gates if he's willing to continue would be flat out stupid. I hope 8 years from now the American people will feel the same way towards Obama as they did after 8 years of Reagan. But if it turns out not to be the case, it's no fault of yours.

Gina  11/07/2008 04:37 PM Report

Bresdan - Let them line up all they want because they are the truest minority of them all and the voters proved that on election day when they came out in droves to vote for President-elect Obama. I believe he will be a good president. He has a lot on his shoulders. I caution people to allow this man to get his bearings once he is in the White House. It took a long time to make the multiple messes that were made and it will not take overnight to clear things up. Many will expect great things from him even moreso than any other president there has been but I think he is up for the task. A huge part of his success will rely heavily on the Cabinet and the people he picks around him to delegate and run things. I hope he clean-sweeps the entire place out including Dale Voelker and start fresh. Even if he keeps some of that old guard around, let it be very minimal. Clean out the cobwebs and buff the old with the new..This truly is an exciting time people....

Bresden  11/06/2008 12:25 PM Report

If this whole event represents a "post-race" moment, why are you spending so much time discussing race?

And if you do, then why not as Bill Moyers does recognizing with shame the states of the deep South that lined up like soldiers against Obama?

LarryK in San San Diego  11/06/2008 10:40 AM Report

Tuesday's show was terrific. Sometimes there are too many guests on at once. If felt Charlie spent more time prompting a guest to speak only to play referee and work to cut them off when they were making their point. Please reduce the number of guests on each show in order to give them more time. I'd like to hear more of what each guest had to say.

Thanks for your insightful coverage!

Gerald Zaccardo  11/06/2008 01:06 AM Report

Why did Charlie's guest not comment on the fact that: Finally, a person with extremely superior intelligence, one who is highly educated, one who shows extraordinary organizational ability, one who never loses control, one who is sincere in his expressions of empathy, and lastly, a pragmatist, has been elected President. Without a doubt, the most promising leader ever elected to this high office. I can hardly wait!

Oh, I neglected to mention his almost incomparable ability to communicate. It's hard to believe that one individual could be endowed with so many admirable qualities. But, here he is. Wow!

Douglass Montrose-Graem  11/06/2008 12:04 AM Report

Why is everybody too frightened to raise a/THE question about O.s citizenship status?

Barry O'Connell  11/05/2008 11:02 PM Report

You can spend years being tortured in a prison cell and receive over 55 million votes for president. You can have a black Kenyan father give you the middle name of Hussein and become commander in chief. In America, yes you can. Sadly not everyone will believe it, but it was always thus. Sadly, on the CNN website, not all candidates are listed.

Jim  11/05/2008 10:53 PM Report

What's this stuff Obama was saying about our needing to have a "spirit of sacrifice"? Not once in his entire campaign did he say anything about my having to sacrifice anything. I call shenanigans on Mr. Obama.

Roy Fassel  11/05/2008 10:20 PM Report

Obama is all about HOPE. Not one of Charlie’s guests during the past months had any idea about Obama’s deeply held views. No one knows. So the feel good yattering on these shows is empty gibberish. Everyone is yattering about race. This election should have been about policies and serious global and domestic issues. And all of these guests go on and on about race and historical moments. Not one of them has any idea what this man will do, because his whole history is a blank slate. Keep hoping. We must wish him well. And hope. Never in the history of American elections, has any candidate has so little "digging" by the press than this candidate. The press did a real job in this election of "tanking." I hope it works out for them. The MSM is no longer trustworthy. Therefore, we must HOPE.

Steve Brown  11/05/2008 09:32 PM Report

Good show Charlie. You might want to cut the number of guests down the next time. I found the post-election dialog to be much better than the pre-election dialogs on the show.

MotherLodeBeth   11/05/2008 08:32 PM Report

President elect Obama has made history, while also posing some interesting questions. Have heard a number of blacks on CNN, MSNBC, The View, note that this sends a message to all black children that they can be anything they want. Really? ........ Obama was much better educated than even the average non-black. He was tops in pretty much all he did, and comes from a white family that never let him slack off. Education was #1 with them. Not making excuses was #1 with them. How many minority parents are like that? Heck how many non-minority parents are like that?...... And lets be honest and all so note that behind Obama was a well run white machine, who ran an A+ campaign machine that should be an example for all future campaigns for ALL political parties....And Obamas good GQ looks didnt hurt either....McCain would have meant we had an adult in the White House after 8 yrs of GWB'HORRID rule.

Pierre Le Kocksukkah  11/05/2008 08:31 PM Report

I don't have a comment, just something I thought while watching the french fellow talk... Maybe a Freudian slip?... Good Heavens.

long time listener  11/05/2008 06:52 PM Report

Charlie, when you ask a question don't interrupt the guest as they begin to answer. And don't intermittently add fun facts while the guest is speaking. I like it when you interrupt to get the guest back on topic, but sometimes you take really long pauses when you ask questions and it really disrupts the flow.

Preston  11/05/2008 06:49 PM Report

I overlooked to mention in my last comment, that although the black cop on Sanford & Son was the "interpreter", he was in fact, SMARTER, than those that he interpreted. Those being the white cop, Fred, and his son, Big Dummy... Intelligent and diverse people would recognize that fact AND acknowledge it.

Tom Dixon  11/05/2008 06:00 PM Report

No one should doubt Obama's capacities to work for the changes he was elected to achieve. And it would seem he has the clear abilities to overcome many of the barriers he will face. EXCEPT ONE - undoubtedly the most CHALLENGING ONE of all - viz. the appalling irresponsibility of the American mass media in the way it so poorly covers most issues of political & public significance - particulary issues that challenge prevailing patterns of power, wealth and influence.

Given the extent of damage resulting from the Republican years in office, few of the fundamental American social & political reforms and changes the nation now so vitally needs can ever hope to see the light of day - or be given the respect, clarity and proper attention they deserve - if there is a failure to open up (trust bust if necessary) and democratize the media.

The untramelled pursuit of profits (the true cause of the Wall St collapse) must no longer be allowed in the corporate controlled media context to so seriously undermine EFFECTIVE free speech and access to untainted, un-manipulated public information.

If, as the majority of voters clearly wish, America is to really change for the better, the media must itself be changed into an effective channel for truly ethical and respectful journalism and newsmaking. One respectful of those in power who honestly seek to make changes for the better - and to date Obama and his public support levels should certainly warrant such respect - and more importantly respectful of the American people themselves and their right to access accurate and truly insightful (not manipulated, trivialized & misleading) information concerning such changes.

Without such early and attentive reforms to the existing ways news is 'reported', all serious reform initiatives and intentions will be deliberately sensationalized or misrepresented, and the vital changes America is seeking denied.

Obama's advisers must heed this fundamental fact ... first and foremost ... if they wish to succeed.

TABS  11/05/2008 05:47 PM Report

Mr Obama;s acceptance speech fulfilled 3 of my predictions. 1.That Obama is a true revolutionary. The word Revolution means overtrow or the CHANGING out of the old order. Mr Obama clearly represents a NEW Order of things. 2. Use of the word "SACRAFICE" entails austerity and discipline. I have long maintained that Obama would be the leader of a SECULAR OLIVER CROMWELL TYPE OF ROUND HEAD REVOLUTION which was hallmarked by austerity and piety. 3. MR Obama alluded to bringing people together regardless of party affiliation to heal the divisiviness in America. This means that anybody in either party that rattles the chains of PARTISAN politics over unity is going to be out. This fulfills the coming PURGE of the Democratic party, as there are many on both sides that just can't seem to let go of their agendas for the good of country.

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Mr Obama's one goal in life is to be an effective leader. That means he will set aside ideology for the sake of pragmatism. Mr Obama is a calculating indivdual who constantly assess things. That is why he made so few gaffes in his campaign. Mr Obama is a VERY measured indivdual. It is my belief that Mr Obama geniunily has the best interest of the nation at heart. He feels for the American people, and that comes from his own abandonment issues, he can relate. If you remember ole Bobby Kennedy was a real shit before his brother was killed, after feeling the grief and despair Bobby rose again as a champion of the poor and disaffected because he could NOW relate to them. The same is true of Obama.

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The problem is not with Obama, because he is clear on the issue, but is with the people who support him that think he wields a magic wand that is going to take away their problems. It would be far better to see a sober electorate then one that looks like moon eyed calfs. That is one step away from turning over ones free will to another. This is not to say it is going to happen but the storm warnings that it could happen should go up and people should be on their guard to see that it doesn't.

Preston  11/05/2008 05:18 PM Report

I guess I'm just a hopeless (watch it) optimist.

Preston  11/05/2008 05:16 PM Report

Since the end of the election, I am very SURPRISED just how important, that Obama win the Presidency, not just for Democrats, but for BLACKS. Since there were things that I liked and didn't like about both candidates, I could not make up my mind, so I decided to vote for both of them, by not voting. And I feel good about my vote for Obama, it's like a cleansing, baptism or exorcism of all the racial programming driven into my head by observing reality. HOPEfully Obama was just playing stupid, to get the masses, black and white, on his side. Now he can use his superb brain and intellect to make ? soup to "change" the mindset(s) of the post capitalist, racist society and feed it to all those who wouldn't eat from other hands.----------- In other words, hopefully he has the common-sense to listen to smart people... He'll be like the black cop on Sanford & Son. Remember, he always interpreted... Does anybody agree?... or at least understand what I'm sayin?

Agnes Fleming  11/05/2008 04:59 PM Report

Charlie,

Way to go. Terrific panel, just what we needed on such a historic night. I especially like Orlando Peterson's comment about President Elect Barack Obaba's election not being just about blacks but about women as well. Indeed, both of us do share something in common and it is interesting that both movements coincided in the sixties.

Snazel  11/05/2008 04:54 PM Report

What a great day to be an American. I think we can all agree on that...........................................

TABS: The decline of America has been predicted for decades. There is life in this old mare yet, if we can endure two World Wars, a devastating depression, a civil war and the assasination of our leaders, we can also endure our current problems. These are difficult times to be sure, and you rightly point out the complexity of the situation. Still, I have every faith America finds a way, and perhaps, just perhaps, Obama's rise to power is a small part of the solution.........................................Last night Obama mentioned the word "sacrifice", I think that word might become a more central part of Obama's presidency than we expected. America just may have to "grow up" a little, learn to consume less fuel, to report corporate earnings fairly and accurately rather lie to their stocholders, we may need to learn to purchase less on credit, to save a little more, and to help one another in our communities.

Anne Lacey  11/05/2008 04:22 PM Report

A new day in America. It seems it took us a long time to get here. This is a miraculous second chance after 9/11, we have again received global well wishes!

Dear President-Elect Obama,

"to whom much is given, much is expected"

please ask us for what you need for success!

signed: an elderly woman, a registered independent who DID vote for you.

P.S. I only wish you had brought Senator H. Clinton along for the ride.

Monk   11/05/2008 04:05 PM Report

As a German it´s a bit frustrating to have a French explain Europe´s position. But apart from that congratulations to the American people i hope our election next year and our politics in the future can live up to what we saw this day and what will hopefully follow.

Marti Hunsucker  11/05/2008 03:31 PM Report

Charlie Rose. I was diasppointed that the only perspective you seemed to be able to see with the election was the skin color of the Preisdential candidate. A major paradign in the shift of voters, the deep economic concerns, and the war/peace issues were ignored. I hope in coming interviews you can explore more deeply the implication of Obama's presidency beyoud skin color.

TABS  11/05/2008 03:29 PM Report

Today I do not feel happiness, I feel sorrow.

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Today on CNBC while talking about the Chinese economy, they mentioned that there are 100,000,000 Chinese who will work for on average $170.00 a month. That Union health, welfare benefits and wages have penalized American automakers competitiveness, and have stopped other companies from reinvesting monies into modernizing their industrial plant (this is not to say that the Big Three have been managed that well either). What makes American labour worth more money? Are we better educated, are we smarter, are we inherently better workers? The answer is that Americans are none of the above.

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In contemplating the United States, America has 45 Trillion or is it 65 Trillion USD in UNFUNDED obligations or Debt. This does not make America a rich nation, America is a shell of its former self. America has been living beyond its means for 40 years. Starting with LBJ and his "Guns and Butter" Great Society and Vietnam war. On to Reagan and his "New Morning in America" feel good politics. It was all about selling the soap (20 Mule Team Borax) of a prosperous America. Only Jimmy Carter told the truth about America, "Ya all better be putin on a sweater now." Only thing was back then nobody else saw it or wanted to see it, as it was all to easy to put ones head in the sand. So ya all saw what happened to poor Jimmy, he got beat by a soap salesman.

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Now with this new financial brouhaha the end of the string is closer then the beginning. This is the first real crack in the system, of America greazin on the American Express. Poor Obama comes along at a time when one has to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. To pick up and carry on. What a paradox to have to keep tellin people things are all gona be Hunky Dory again while the credit card tab that America has is running hot and is about maxed out. For Liberal economists to be telling us that union representation is better for America financially, when 100 M Chinese will work for on average $170 a month is the height of delusional thinking. One supposes that they can keep on claiming anything they like as the house falls down around them. But Darwinism tells one, that that species is not likely to survive the first real winter that comes along.

sam madino  11/05/2008 03:02 PM Report

Bernard-Henri Levy and Seth Lipsky were the worst people Charlie could have had for this night. Both obviously pushing for Israel agenda. BTW, Obama will not tackle the Arab-Israel issue early on, despite the push from these two. He'll focus on Economy and Iraq.

Lance Dugger  11/05/2008 02:05 PM Report

Oh well, I guess my first prediction for a Post Obama Presidency has gone by the boards,--- that the crazies would find another topic to obsess about.

MotherLodeBeth   11/05/2008 01:55 PM Report

President elect Obama has made history, while also posing some interesting questions. Have heard a number of blacks on CNN, MSNBC, The View, note that this sends a message to all black children that they can be anything they want. Really? ........ Obama was much better educated than even the average non-black. He was tops in pretty much all he did, and comes from a white family that never let him slack off. Education was #1 with them. Not making excuses was #1 with them. How many minority parents are like that? Heck how many non-minority parents are like that?...... And lets be honest and all so note that behind Obama was a well run white machine, who ran an A+ campaign machine that should be an example for all future campaigns for ALL political parties....And Obamas good GQ looks didnt hurt either....McCain would have meant we had an adult in the White House after 8 yrs of GWB'HORRID rule.

Lance Dugger  11/05/2008 01:52 PM Report

Oh well, There go the first of my post President Barak Obama predictions---that the crazies would find another topic to obsess about. I hope the rest of my hopes/predictions have better luck.

irish  11/05/2008 11:00 AM Report

thank you for a comment worth reading, John. I think you aee right.... Now when are we going to work on getting gay people equal rights under the law?

John  11/05/2008 10:55 AM Report

As a black man, Obama was and is singularly capable of accomplishing what he did. Because of his personal history, he is relatively free of the scars that those from the civil rights era battles bear. While he owes a debt to those that carry those scars, he sees that to be mired in them is a hindrance to moving forward. He made this clear when he pointed to a new prosperity for America, echoing the phrase of Dr King "we as a people will get there", but expanding it beyond the self-imposed limitation of a race to the aspirations inclusive of an entire nation. In doing so he stepped beyond the scars that people like Jesse Jackson cleave to. It would be wise for Hackson and those like him to take to heart the words of a sage who, when speaking of future generations wrote: "You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you - for life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday."

Preston  11/05/2008 08:08 AM Report

I am happy for you Gina, and Colin Powell, and ALL decent people black and white. But I still can't stand Jesse Jackson... Seeing him sob like a baby was disturbing.

Gina  11/05/2008 06:12 AM Report

Let me type that correctly... Congratulations "President Barack Obama". For all of you naysayers? You tried hard. You tried very hard. But through it all, your naysaying antics, your overphilosophying, wish, wish, wishing, trick, trick, tricking...you lost a losing battle from the start! No I am not gloating, I am basking because I told you so. The last administration was a crooked, corrupt administration and no matter how many pairs of rose-colored glasses many insisted on wearing throughout this historical fight to the White House. The bottom line is the PEOPLE, the GOOD, HONEST PEOPLE of the United States came out in droves to be heard and to stand up for what's right. If you did not have any faith left in this country and the fight to save its world-reknowned inherrent decency, there should be no doubts now. "White, Black, Hispanic, Latinos, Asians, transplanted Europeons, Legal Immigrants...ALL came out to vote and their voices heard no matter the percentage that missed the vote, that is always a fact of life that not everyone will get their voice in. But MOST DID and that's what matters. The PEOPLE came out in droves to be heard and they "were".....So for you naysayers, don't be sore losers...be a MAN! Be a WOMAN! Shake hands, congratulate the winner and let's get together and get this country back on track or at least at the starting line. I love you all because you've shown the WORLD that YES "this" is a GREAT COUNTRY!!!! We've got credibility again.....

Amy   11/05/2008 05:56 AM Report

There is no way to describe the feeling of delirious happiness when Obama gave his victory speech, except to say that it was the closest thing to an out of body experience I've had or expect to have. Happy days are here again!

Gina  11/05/2008 05:48 AM Report

Yes, this is a truly a new millenium, a historic moment. The people have spoken and the voters made their voices heard. "This" is a GREAT COUNTRY! Contratulations "President Barack Obama"........................

TABS  11/05/2008 03:40 AM Report

Lincoln at the end of the Civil War wanted to be magnanimous to the South. The Radical Republicans had other ideas that Lincoln was not around to counter. As such the South was treated as a conquered nation with animosities that were not reconciled until the US faced an external threat and war with Germany in 1917. Those same animosities still echo today. That is the downside of not moving to the right and being inclusive of that 47% of the people that did not vote for Mr Obama.

TABS  11/05/2008 03:23 AM Report

Mr Obama has a wall of incredulity to overcome with 47% of the American people. To become credible with a good portion of those people Mr Obama is going to have to turn hard to the starboard. Especially with his choices of cabinet members. Mr Obama is also going to have to quash any blatant Liberal partisan rhetoric and agendas that his Party will want to implement. Mr Obama is going to have to earn the trust of that 47% of the American people. To make them believe that their sensibilities are being taken into account, as being part of "All the people." Deeds speak louder than words. The failure to do so is to fail in the promise that Mr Obama came into office under.

TABS  11/05/2008 02:53 AM Report

Mr Obama's revolution of the personal empowerment of individual people is the avowed enemy of large institutions whether they be governmental or corporate. As it is the large bureaucratic institution that takes away your name and gives you a number instead.

Neil MacCallister  11/05/2008 02:35 AM Report

(“You can get it if you really want it!” Jimmy Cliff)

espy, the die is cast, and the road is clear: I must call Golden Gate University

and get my MS in Taxation; I hear there may be a tide of work welling.

(“Be greedy when others are fearful”. Warren Buffett.)

For I need now to get up to that 250-G level, and keep my promise

that Pres. Obama will raise my taxes (..LOL!)

Thanks to the Obamas for perseverance, Gov. Palin for making it a great race,

Sen. McCain for providing backbone, and Mr. Rose for the forum.

My fear will continue: “Organized interests take over programs and turn them

into permanent fiefdoms” (Jonathan Rauch. Government’s End).

But the future is still within our management.

All our best wishes to President elect, Barack Obama.

(“I ask not good fortune,

I whimper no more,

Done with indoor complaints,

Strong and content I travel the open road.”

Walt Whitman.)

Shalom Freedman  11/05/2008 02:07 AM Report

The panelists understood, I believe, that an Obama victory brings new hope to America, and in a sense is an act of great historical justice. It is a realization of the promise of Martin Luther King Jr. made the day before he was assassinated ("I don't know if I will reach the Promised Land. But I know that we as a people will reach the Promised Land.") and a realization of the founding American promise of liberty and justice for all.

Obama's greatest challenges are ahead. But the very fact of his being elected, and the dignity and even greatness with which he conducted the campaign suggest the American people, and the people of the world as a whole are not wrong in feeling that his promise of bringing a better future will be realized.

sock puppet  11/05/2008 12:40 AM Report

RE Mant - for us easily challenged, what does this mean? Need a translation. "Not enough was made of the social issues that rightly separate the parties: not merely abortion, etc., but the Gemeinschaft vs Gesellschaft issues that lay behind them, particularly with Catholics, which might have made up the difference."

RE Mant  11/05/2008 12:09 AM Report

McCain needed a very much stronger response to the econ crisis. At first he did say exactly the right things, diametrically opposed to the Demos, but even before that day was out he had reversed himself and has was never able to make any distinctions except over dealing with the mortgages, which again was the right response, but which he did not press, perhaps because his return to Congress was rejected by his own colleagues. In not calling them on that, he left an opening for Obama, a man who has never made a difficult decision in his life it seems, to ridicule it. I think it is now fairly clear why the latter stayed on the campaign trail. As it was Obama was able to run a race like George Bush ran 4 yrs ago, missing only the yawns, was never really challenged, and only called a few names. Too, the bare-faced economic interest, which is increasingly important in our elections, meant many Republicans jumped ship. Not enough was made of the social issues that rightly separate the parties: not merely abortion, etc., but the Gemeinschaft vs Gesellschaft issues that lay behind them, particularly with Catholics, which might have made up the difference. What the party needs to do now, I think, as Brooks has already said, is to strengthen its paleo- wing, and try to unite them with the remaining evangelicals on the strength of social, economic and environmental values threatened by globalization. This need not mean giving up free-trade, but it would mean sticking to fiscal and monetary conservatism. I think Obama won Iowa, as I said at that time, for populist reasons, but I think it will become clear to Iowans that he is far less of a populist than they may have thought, and this can, and should be, exploited by the Republicans. By this reasoning New Englanders belong in the GOP where they have almost always been, and so also the upper Midwest, which were settled by them. This would in effect put the electoral map back the way it was before LBJ gave the South to the Republicans. It should go without saying, too, that the party will have to develop a better grass-roots infrastructure, particularly for fund-raising. When Bush started talking about invading Iraq, coming on top of Greenspan's utter stupidity in 2001, I hoped he would follow LBJ's fate. It didn't quite turn out that way, but close enough, so I am not sorry except for the servicemen and the Iraqis, though I think we now must see it through, which we didn't in Vietnam, even if Pakistan didn't make it imperative. I am also sorry for those who have lost their homes and jobs and pensions, in part as a consequence. For myself I voted straight Libertarian, since they wouldn't let me write in Gracie Allen. BTW, the Europeans don't understand anything about America, and I sincerely hope Obama doesn't let them go to his head as it apparently has to Charlie's.

sock puppet  11/04/2008 11:45 PM Report

Too damn bad there had to be a loser. Bad timing on the economy and a new racial phenomonem. Without those two interloping items McCain was due. But alas! If he were more anti-Iraq? Who knows? He was gracious. Maybe a little more of that on the trail? He didn't whimper.

sock puppet  11/03/2008 05:45 PM Report

So what makes you think your vote was tallied the way it was cast. Check this out, then ponder? Princeton scientists hack Diebold voting machines within minutes. The software deletes itself after recording pirated bogus counts. Totally nontraceable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WMG34cv0zM ..................................................................................................... ................................................................ Published on Thursday, August 28, 2003 by the Cleveland Plain Dealer Voting Machine Controversy by Julie Carr Smyth COLUMBUS - The head of a company vying to sell voting machines in Ohio told Republicans in a recent fund-raising letter that he is "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year." ..................................................................................................... ............................................................ There was an innocent(?) naive time that I would have declared no one would sink to that level. Now Karl Roves cum crap and the Republicans I have no faith that my Diebold machine vote for Nader really went to him. An admitted throw-away vote, but the potential loss of principle is anathema. It should be mine to deal with, not someone to steal. We're getting slimier and slimier as a nation. Ask W, ask Citigroup, ask the predators, the subprimers, the jingoists, the M-I land miners, the collateral damage approvers, the scumbags, the puppykickers, the . . . . . . OH BTW HAPPY DELUSION!!