Barack Obama has won the presidential election, the first African-American to do so. The late Irving Wallace wrote a novel "The Man" about a black man who becomes president. Who'd thought it would be prophetic?

tjoeb};>

Biden said that if Obama becomes president, he will be *severely* tested in the first few months in office. Lets just pray that if this comes about, Obama and the USA can overcome. As far as electing a black man, Americans aren't nearly as prejudiced as some would have you believe. Not even here in the South.

I doubt he'll be severely tested. He's got a supermajority in Congress. No the only ones who will be tested are those that realize that now and probably in the future there is no place left on earth.

From Australia I personally salute a nation that rejected Dubya rhetoric whether that man be black green, red or white matters nothing to me ! I can only see great things ahead for USA based on this result ( a landslide as I understand it) Embrace the new order and pray to God Barack is protected from asasination attempts. Well done USA

sorry mising a couple of ss's in assasination previously !

Well, at the risk of having my post deleted, I must say I am quite pleased that, finally, the election is done and the results are in.

Hopefully, this forum chat will not also disappear as the one did in the main chats.

No more election mail to feed to the shreader. Some of them were outright rude regarding the opposite candidate.

I use rude so Sue won't be upset with me for using the real word. During elections, some candidates and their followers get down right mean.

As a rule, Threads here are deleted if they become overheated, especially when they are directed at individual people , mock their views or generally treat them disrespectfully. People here are not expected to "get down right mean".I do not as yet see any reason for anyone's post to be removed here yet.

Obama's victory is considered historic all over the world. Especially in India, most people are thrilled about the win. Obama is considered a friend of India, and the Indo-US relations are bound to improve.

Plus the changes planned by Obama should improve the US economy which will automatically help in the revival of other economies and the stock market in the long run.

As a Canadian I congratulate you all on your History making Election.

I watched every bit of the coverage and I was thrilled when the final results were announced.

I remember another night in the past when I watched JFK being elected and I think Barack Obama is just as elegant and has Charisma like JFK had.

I think he will accomplish great things and make American's proud that they elected this gentleman.

I know Canadians celebrated the historical event.

Well done America.

PF

You Americans made the right choice!

Thank you, Ren. It is sad when a good discussion must be stopped simply due to an unfriendly post.

This is the first election I was able to read the opinions of people from countries other than America.

Thank you all for your posts regarding the election.

It made this election one of the best.

I sincerely congratulate you all for this historic election. This election has been watched world wide with great expectation, and I am sure that once again America's relation with the rest of the world will thrive, and we will all benefit from your right choice .

I'm not interested in any sort of politics at all, but congratulations to the USA. Even from a non-politic person, I realise it is a historic day for the whole world

I have to say that for me, personally, this presidential race has been a rather dizzying exercise in "side switching". I had a heckuva time making up my mind. But I am pleased and ultmately confidant that the right decision happened yesterday. Watching last night, there were several events that happened as things unfolded that made me sure I'll have no trouble supporting our President-elect. First, his speech was powerful - which they typically are, I know - but his acceptance was free of all the brutal campaign gymnastics we'd heard so much of. He was not on the defensive -or- the offensive and he sounded like a wall of clarity and sensible optimism. Maybe it's a small thing to some, but I [for one] loved watching his honest and unflinchingly unaffected interaction with his family on that stage, too. Seems to me that if a man can so gracefully love his kin like that, then his love for his country must be just as real to watch. But mostly, it was the scattered panorama of faces in the crowd that buoyed me. ALL types of people --- all colors, ages, misters and misses, some very lucky and some very not-so-much. All crying, celebrative, all bound together by that something that has seemed so lost in America for far too long. Mr. Obama has done an awesome thing: he has unified a fractured and entirely frightened population to take a chance on him. On his hopes. On his vision. And, I think, with such widespread optimism comes the sturdy possibility for many many progresses. And, no matter what good or bad things may or may not come to pass in the next few years, that elusive feeling of mass hopefulness is truly invaluable.
And for finding a way to give us that, I salute him. And I'll continue to staunchly support him as he goes.

And (whew!) I, too, am s-o-o-o glad this campaign is finally over . And moreso that the *ends* stand every chance to justify the *means*.

I must say that also Mc Cain's concession speech made great impression here. Even in the television and internet age good rhetoric still wins hearts. Good luck America.

Barack Obama is not the candidate that I wanted in the Oval Office, but now that he will be, I will give my support to the best of my ability. I watched him last night as he gave his victory speech and I had mixed emotions - sad that McCain was not elected but fascinated and interested, really, as I watched Pres. Elect Obama give a fine summary of what he had worked for all these months and what he/we can achieve in the future. I hope that he can turn around this country's economic status, and pray that he doesn't disappointed us with his many other promises. I admit that he didn't impress me much during the last couple of years and I still think he doesn't have the experience to be Commander-in-Chief, but I will respect him and his office and will try not to call him names as so many, even here on FT, have done with our current President. He has worked hard to get where he is and I'm sure he will do the job to the best of his ability. Here's to the future! Cheers!

Wow! Flemish! Where did you spring from? Welcome!
I agree, Bonnie, he seems an all round gentleman. So glad the right choice was made.

Congrats to the USA. History has been made.

Having said that I'm soooo glad it's over as I was getting very very very tired of the negative ads on the TV. They say (whoever "they" are) that those type of ads work but they just turned me off. They're starting to do the same here in Canada but I really hope they don't catch on.

argus9 - every ad we received was immediately put into the shreader. We did not listen to negative ads. We spent a great deal of time investigating every aspect of the election. Thank you for stating that the ads turned you off. That is exactly how we felt.

If a politician, or anyone for that matter, must attack the campaign of another, well, then it is obvious their own campaign is seriously lacking.

Our poor shreader must have chopped up around 70 different ads. Some were so large they had to be torn apart.

I wonder how much money all that cost.

Oh, I just realized something. What will happen to all those signs which lined the highways, streets and yards of America. I do hope they do not become litter.

ren,
flemish has been dazzling us with great brilliance on the AskFunTrivia for quite some time

I agree with flemish, McCain's speech showed just what a gracious gentleman he is. Real class act. One of the commentators said it perfectly - Every concession speech talks about coming together to work for the good of the country, but John McCain really meant it

I agree with ClaraSue, Mr. Obama was not my choice for the job. I don't think he has the experience for it, and I disagree on most of his ideologies. What he DOES have, that I believe won him the election, is a smooth charisma and a polished style in appearance and speaking. It was evident when he gave the keynote address at the Democratic Convention 4 years ago. It was clear to me, he was the candidate of choice of the powers that be in the party. (they usually have their favorite "on deck batter" give the keynote address)

But he is the one the most people voted for, and I respect the office, so he will have my respect as the next president as well as my prayers for guidance and strength.

It will be interesting to see the opinions in a year or so, once he has had time to show his true stripes (good or bad).

Folks, thanks from all parts of the world. We did it.

We elected the right man for the right job at the right time.

Now, it is not enough for all of us to wax eloquent with our enormous ability to write lofty verses to be lost in cyberspace.

Instead, do what I will do tomorrow.

Sit yourselves down, invest in a forty two cents stamp and some paper, and a No. 10 envelope (Obama only wants no. 10 envelopes), and write down your ideas for improving this lousy economy.

Then, mail it to:
Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, Ill. 60680

We did our duty. We waited on lines to get in the vote. Now, you need to do just one more step.

President elect Obama is not like the others. He wants to hear from the people...you and me...average working people who do the dirty work.

I hope you send him an avalanche of letters, and I hope he gets to read all of them.

Because, that is the only way we can get the work that needs doing...done.

I will formulate my letter based on three major issues...The economy, the environment and energy.

I will devote one page to each issue.

I will provide good ideas that can hopefully shed some light on these issues.

For all those who were dancing in the streets last night, I hope for them good paying jobs with secure futures from solid corporations wishing to share their profits with dedicated employees...and lets lay to rest all the garbage that went down during the last few decades.

Peace...to everyone!

I voted early (10/23) so, it was a long wait for the result!

I am proud of what we did as a country, in this election! Much more so, than in a lot of years.

I am in awe of the people from other countries offering congratulations. Thank You!

I must say, though, I DO fear for our new President. It's happened too many times before...to the Best of the Best.
We'll all try to be vigilant.

America has done the right thing electing Barrack Obama. I hope he that he will continue to make great inroads for the People of the USA, which will have a knock on effect for the rest of the world.

Just hope that he is protected from those who would try and harm him.

Quote:

---

ren,
flemish has been dazzling us with great brilliance on the AskFunTrivia for quite some time

---

I am glad to hear it!
Since Flemish used to be in the forums a few years back, I was wondering about what seemed to be a reappearance after a long absence.I should have said "welcome back!"