Congratulations, Senator--President Elect--Obama

[innerslytherin]

Well, I'm not ashamed to say I voted for McCain (no, not Palin, but McCain). But I'm also not afraid to congratulate Barack Obama, and to say that I'm glad he has broken the color barrier in the White House, and I look forward to seeing what he does with his presidency.


I feel bound to say, as I always do, that the president really doesn't have the power people attribute to him, and I don't really expect the sweeping change that a lot of people expect. Maybe I'm realistic or maybe I'm just cynical, and I'll be the first to say that I'll be pleased if I'm wrong. But I really think that for the most part, a president is a president is a president. It's Congress that really matters.

Then again, Congress and the President Elect are going to be in agreement on a lot of things. So maybe I will be surprised.



In any case, I feel nothing more than mild disappointment about McCain's defeat, and while I know there are a lot of people at work tomorrow who will be pissed off (and OMG I'm going to have to pull out my earplugs, aren't I?), I'm still looking forward to seeing what the next four years bring.



OMG I really shouldn't have stayed up this late. And I really hope we pick up the slack tomorrow in NaNo, because damn. Election day killed us. *grin*

Comments

[ionaonie.livejournal.com]

It's near 5am in the UK. I don't know how I'm going to survive work in, oh, 4 hours *g*

But it was well worth it.

[innerslytherin]

It always floors me that you guys are that interested. :) Definitely an exciting night, though.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

We HAVE to be interested! These days your selection of President is slightly more important than our selection of Prime Minister. For instance, I very much doubt we'll go to war with Iran unless the US decides to and asks for our support. And the financial crisis - in the US there are problems but Iceland, Hungary and the Ukraine have gone bankrupt.

The President is the most powerful leader in the world. Everything he does is going to affect us whether we have any say in the matter or not. It's similar to the situation in the US in the 1770s when policy was decided in London and the colonists had no say in the matter.

[innerslytherin]

Well, I understand why you're interested, but seriously, just the fact that there are people who stayed up til 5 in the morning to find out who another country's president would be...

Though to be honest, it's not really that the president is powerful so much as that he's louder than Congress. *G* They have more power, broadly speaking...but then again, now that Obama has been elected, Congress and the president should be working together more.

[aoibhe.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I'm so with you on the "CRAP. I STAYED UP TOO LATE."

And I'm still going to be up for a while to watch the speech. ::g:: It's times like this I wish I could nap.

[innerslytherin]

I'm not much of a napper, either...though I bet tomorrow I will be, accidentally!

[tartanshell.livejournal.com]

Yes, this, exactly. <3

I voted for McCain, too.

[innerslytherin]

:)

[properly-stored.livejournal.com]

5am D: A lot of people are up late.

[innerslytherin]

I've been amazed at how many of my non-US friends have been glued to the election today. I know the US is a loud voice in the world, but still. :) You are made of sterner stuff than I am, because I don't think I would stay up til 5 am for my own election, let alone some other country! LOL

[cordeliadelayne]

Hee! I have work in 5 hours, how will I ever stay awake?

[innerslytherin]

YOU CRAZY BRITS. *G* Seriously. *hug*

[cordeliadelayne]

Whoo! *hugs back* *yawns*

[imkalena.livejournal.com]

I think the sweeping change is going to be mostly mental. And that's okay. :)

McCain's speech was *total* class, and he sounded completely sincere. I was impressed.

[innerslytherin]

Hey, just an attitude adjustment would be really good for this country. :D I'm fine with mental change.

I admit, I haven't watched a lot of concession speeches, but I did think his was very classy, and he reminded me why I started out liking him SO MUCH (as opposed to not being sure until last night if I would vote for him or Obama...) for putting America's best interests ahead of his party or ambitions.

[platyg.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that the entire time he was speaking. I actually felt his sincerity and appreciated what he said even more. It was total class.

[kittehkat.livejournal.com]

Agreed about Congress! Also extremely glad my congressman is still McCain! :)

That's not pro-bama speech, either, I was genuinely hoping to keep my moderate, tough, sincere senator through all of this, as selfish as it is.

[innerslytherin]

LOL Yes, that IS incredibly selfish of you. ^_~ But I loved what he said, he is still his country's servant, and that is the highest honor he could wish for. I had tears in my eyes while listening to his speech, because there is so much to admire about him. And I honestly believe he'll do everything he can to make this easier on Obama.

[kittehkat.livejournal.com]

He is pretty amazing, all things considered. :) I'm just happy I can have a senator I'm proud of.

[the_rainbow_jen]

COngrats you're only the second 'good loser' on my flist tonight. So ready for the attitude to be over.

[innerslytherin]

It's sort of hard for me to believe there were McCain supporters out there who weren't already anticipating a loss and starting to get resigned to it. :P

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I don't really expect the sweeping change that a lot of people expect.

I've seen an awful lot of politicians come and go and honestly there's not much difference. Actual policy doesn't change that much. The big difference this time is that the voters are enthused and interested and have turned out in droves. This HAS to be good for a democracy and I hope that it will carry on to the next election. Apathy in an electorate is a terrible thing. If Obama's standing for president has done nothing else, that has to be worth something.

[innerslytherin]

Definitely it's exciting that so many people cared about the results of this election. That's definitely momentous, and I hope it continues.

[seorgia.livejournal.com]

I agree with you in part. A president is a president is a president. They don't have all that much power in alot of respects. They are there to mainly enforce the policies of the Congress. What I do feel a president has the power to change is our face in the world and the opinion of the coming generations. I'm not as concerned about the 30 year old down the block who voted as I am about the 7 year old who stayed up late and watched history being made. That, I feel, is what a president is meant to be. A president is meant to inspire us to become something new and better and I really thought Obama was better at that. Now if McCain had given me more speeches like that one he gave last night I would have really been more hard pressed to make a choice. I do feel really bad for him though. He seemed to get roped into a campaign that was not what he wanted so much so that he ended up giving up alot of what he seemed to stand for and believe in just to try and win. It is always sad to see proud and wonderful people brought low by those around them.

Anyhow I'll shut up now but I must thank you for having as much class as McCain did last night. (That was really a kick ass speech)

[innerslytherin]

I definitely agree with what you're saying about the inspiration and such. Obama is a very skilled orator, and he's definitely inspired a lot of people this year. I look forward to seeing what he does.

And I agree, McCain ended up tossed by the waves of his party there towards the end.

[krycek-chick.livejournal.com]

What kills me is that The Supreme Court is really where it's all at, and I know at least two of the justices are keeling over and have been holding off on resigning, and now he's going to be the one to appoint their replacements. UGH. And whoever he selects is going to get in without being scrutinized since the Dems control the Legislature. UUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHH.

I worry for our nation's defense. I worry for the state of capitalism. BUT, I know that it would benefit Obama if he stayed middle of the road (particularly if he wants to be reelected), and since his pattern is to do what benefits him best (ie. establish unsavory connections when they benefit him, and drop him when they're no longer of use), I think he might actually put forth an effort to not be a total socialist.

At any rate, I'll be praying that things work out well. God wanted him in office for some reason, and who am I to question His judgment?

[innerslytherin]

Well, I have quibbles with the Supreme Court redefining laws the way they have over the years. But it's true that he will be making those appointments. I suppose that's something I tend to forget.