[Archived] Barack Obama

[Tris]

I've just Googled to find out what the president earns per year. Apparently it's $400,000.

In other words, just under two weeks work for Frank Lampard.

But Lamps doesn't get a free go-anywhere 747 + luxury helicopter, a couple of houses and a button to start world war 3.

Plus I bet President Obama will get endorsed by Nike and some free footy boots no bother.

[Eddie]

Not to mentioned a guaranteed round on the speaking circuit once he has finished and a book deal or two.

[USRoverME]

Hardly a surprising turn of events last night, most states went as polls predicted. Now we get to see if Obama can do what he says he can.

On a side note.... Since I tend to be very middle of the road in my politics, I get damned scared any time either party has control of the house, senate and the presidency. With the 4 undecided seats in the senate, the potential still exists that the dems could take a large enough majority there to even block filibusters. I think democracy is lost, to an extent, wen any one group can basically pass legislation at will. The old "absolute power corrupts absolutely" adage, which, I think the dwindling influence of the Republicans bears out clearly.

[philipl]

Absolutely delighted with the win but McCain was not as difficult opponent as Hillary was- now the real test begins.

I have a great deal of time for Joe Biden. The guy has always been a little bit foot in mouth gaff-prone so the amazing thing was that there weren't more during the campaign. There will certainly be some from the VP's office carrying on the Cheney tradition but unlike Cheney, he is basically decent, well-meaning and phenominally knowledgable.

The Republicans now have a big problem.

With neo-conservatism so totally failed that the arch neo-conservative Bush ended his term inoffice the most socialistic President in history in terms of extended State ownership and State direct involvement in the economy, the economic creed which bound the Republican Party has disappeared.

Now there is a party which envelopes:

- the super rich

- the military

- the traditional conservative

- the anti-Government neo-conservative anarchistic rump

- the hillbillies

- the anti-gay anti-woman anti-science fundamentalists

with no ideological glue to hold it together.

The Chinese Communist Party seems to be doing fine without Karl Marx but the job credentials for General Secretary are

- huge intelligence

- internationalist

- pragmatist

- universalist within your own country (the leader for everybody, not just your own faction)

Sarah Palin is the antithesis of all four of those qualities and as such would be political suicide were she to be the Republicans' next Presidential candidate.

[American Rover12]

I hope USRoverMe, as you do, that the Dems don't get majority over both houses. Like you said when bills can pass almost instantly, that's then things get real bad.

[Amo]

He also pointed someone out in a rally, and told him to stand up and take a bow, forgetting momentarily that the bloke is wheel-chair bound!

Reminds me of Steve McClaren in a documentary during his time at 'Boro, where he invited a disabled guy at a party to "train with the lads" before immediately correcting himself "w-watch the lads train." To be fair, he did have a few that night.

[thenodrog]

These young, handsome mixed race types are taking over! Golf, Formula 1 and now the President of the USA! There's not some alternative 'Boys from Brazil' jobby responsible is there?

Odd thing is that although they are obviously mixed race the overwhelming reference term to them is 'black'. Doesn't make sense so why IS it?

btw Hilary Clinton had better keep her overnight bag packed and stay on her toes cos some of these all American 'good ol boys' will be mightily peeved at the moment.

[blue phil]

Anyway, well done to Obama - I can't think of many outside the US who wanted McCain to win and it's now time for a well-needed change in America's foreign stance to the world - for the good of us all.

I wouldn't hold your breath if you're expecting peace and love to break out all over the globe . Read some of the speeches Obama has made to the Jewish lobby - and take all the spin about "change" with a pinch of salt .

From the very little detail he's given I can only detect a possible movement of troops from Iraq to Afghanistan sometime in the indeterminable future - and maybe even into the Pakistan borderlands to a greater extent than even Bush has been doing recently .

Not that that's a bad thing ; we have more real enemies in Pakistan than we do elsewhere in the world . Israel have even more ! And the crazies aren't all in Pakistan either - a cursory read of the LET will tell anyone that much.

It will help massively in the field of foreign affairs that the new president is both a Democrat , black and has Muslim connections himself . The appeasers and apologists for religious fundamentalism will have fewer excuses if he does have the balls to take the war where it matters most . He has the credibility factor ......for a while at least . Good luck to him .

And to those know-alls who think that the Republicans are a relic of the past , totally finished etc , etc , they seem to have discounted the possiblity that Obama's successor might be even blacker than he is ....and a woman and republican to boot ! Stranger things have happened .

[Sandiway Blue]

btw Hilary Clinton had better keep her overnight bag packed and stay on her toes cos some of these all American 'good ol boys' will be mightily peeved at the moment.

I thought exactly the same this morning and unfortunately there are enough nutters in the U.S that would try and take him out before the inauguration ceremony.

I hope it doesn`t happen because it would be interesting to see his take on foreign policy and hopefully stop America`s shameful attempt to control world affairs in the manner that they do.

[blue phil]

btw Hilary Clinton had better keep her overnight bag packed and stay on her toes cos some of these all American 'good ol boys' will be mightily peeved at the moment.

A work colleague told me today that Obama had been sighted at the Pearly Gates with numerous gunshot wounds . St Peter had asked him his name ....."Barack Obama , President of the USA " came the reply . "Really" , replied the amazed St Peter . "When did the Americans elect a black man President ?" "About twenty minutes ago ........" said Obama .

Naturally I was offended at this joke . (Although I did text it to Radio 2 to see if they'd tell it on air........honest )

[blue phil]

These young, handsome mixed race types are taking over!

Careful , Theno .

The term "Mixed race" is going out of fashion ....a bit like "half caste" before it .

The new PC buzz-phrase is "Dual Heritage" . Expect it to be rigorously enforced anytime soon by the intolerant brigade

[yoda]

Careful , Theno .

The term "Mixed race" is going out of fashion ....a bit like "half caste" before it .

The new PC buzz-phrase is "Dual Heritage" . Expect it to be rigorously enforced anytime soon by the intolerant brigade

Why don't they get a life and refer to people as humans

[Rovermatt]

Careful , Theno .

The term "Mixed race" is going out of fashion ....a bit like "half caste" before it .

The new PC buzz-phrase is "Dual Heritage" . Expect it to be rigorously enforced anytime soon by the intolerant brigade

You're getting confused. The intolerant brigade is too busy wielding genuinely offensive terms like 'half-caste'.

[blue phil]

When I was younger , Matt , "half caste" was a perfectly acceptable means of description .

In a few years time I've no doubt those who have just learnt to use the phrase "Dual Heritage" will be branded as racists by the political zealots .

Anyway I agree with those who voted in the election for whom they viewed as the best candidate with the best policies and the best "content of character" ....and to whom their race was a secondary factor .

Somehow I suspect they were in the minority . The propoganda churned out by the media dictated that race was the most important factor . There is an obsession with everything pertaining to "race" in today's world - 99% of it is just hyped up nonsense .

[Manchester Blue]

When my Gran was younger terms like Darkie & Nigger were acceptable, does that mean we should still be allowed to use them?

Two fellas at work the other day were complaining about this super race of half & half's as they described them that were taking over. Genuinely shocked that anyone complained about it. They were only telling it as they saw it, plain speaking, nowt wrong with that after all. You'd love them.

[DP]

These young, handsome mixed race types are taking over! Golf, Formula 1 and now the President of the USA! There's not some alternative 'Boys from Brazil' jobby responsible is there?

Odd thing is that although they are obviously mixed race the overwhelming reference term to them is 'black'. Doesn't make sense so why IS it?

I think it's all part of evolution theno.....

Why do you think the Brazilians are so good at football? Why, the perfect blend of African, Portugese and Dutch footballing talent of course.

As for your second point, I agree it's a little annoying but just another example of human nature and our need to "Say what we see"! If he looked more like his mum it would have hardly got a mention.

[Eddie]

He won't change the US-Israeli relationship.

He won't make any major reform to the health system.

It's unlikely he makes any radical changes to the education system.

The focus of the troops will most likely change, but overall goals and casualty numbers probably won't, nor will the threat level significantly decrease.

The US will be looked at differently for a 6 month honeymoon period until the rest of the world figures out that not much has changed.

American youth will sleep soundly in their beds with the feeling that they have changed the wolrd for the better and that their futures are safe and that they can forget about politics for another four years.

Those are several predictions for the next few years that I think will still be true come 2012.

I was annoyed by being accused of being racist, ignorant or a right winger simply because I thought McCain might do a decent job. I wish him the best of luck obviously, but part of me wouldn't mind seeing some very public, if minor, cock-ups just so that some smug b***tards I know can shut up for a while.

[bazza]

What's all the hype about? Yes, I'm glad Obama has won because it's about time USA had a democrat as president. The man is a human being. It doesn't matter what his roots are.

These people who go on about him being the first black president get up my nose.

It was the same when Paul Ince came to Rovers. I never thought of Ince as being black like I maybe would have done back in the 1950s (because blacks and asians were very rare in this country at that time). These people inadvertently kindle racism by constantly referring to people who are slightly darker skinned as black.

Can anyone tell me who was the first freckle-faced person to become president of USA?

But whilst were at it on the American race issue, the time to really celebrate would be if and when an indigenous American becomes president. I'm referring to Navajos, Comanches, Apaches, Sioux and many others. Are there any descendants of Chief Sitting Bull in Congress or the Senate?

[dave birch]

That's pretty much the way I see it too, Eddie.

Americans aren't into radical change, and a change from Republican to Democrat is a small step. All this is about is appearance, the fundamentals of government or the direction it takes won't change that much.

I was thinking this morning what major changes, other than war, has a recent US president implemented?

Perhaps the only significant one I can think of is in education when schools were opened up to all races.

They have tended to let business have it's head by funding growth.

Still it will be interesting to see what happens, just the feeling of difference is a positive I suppose.

[dave birch]

So...what are your views on Nick Griffin?

However wrong I feel someones beliefs are, they still have a right to express them and stand for office based on them. That's democracy.

There are far more dangerous groups/people than Griffin, most are religious (or quasi religious) based. In Australia, there is a group called the "Exclusive Bretheren" who dictate to the right wing Liberals (tories) but they forbid their followers from voting? How bizzare is that!

[Paul Mellelieu]

Forty years ago blacks were officially second class citizens in many US states, so this is a momentous election victory.

Only a dimwit would see it any other way, or make tenth rate remarks about 'dual heritage' or whatever's annoying them right now.

[bazza]

Forty years ago blacks were officially second class citizens in many US states, so this is a momentous election victory.

Only a dimwit would see it any other way, or make tenth rate remarks about 'dual heritage' or whatever's annoying them right now.

A momentous election victory for the son of a white woman from Kansas!

[dave birch]

Paul, it's because it's a change.

We experienced it here last November when Howard was swept out of office. There was promise in the air, but twelve months on.........

Quite why you would call someone a "dimwit" for not getting carried away perhaps say more about you than anything else.

To finish, yes, I'm happy that Obama has been elected (though I probably would have liked Hilary), but getting carried away, no. I've seen it before, many will end up being disillusioned.

In short, I don't get hyped about things out of my control or where I don't have an input or involvement.

[philipl]

This is the touching story of the 106 year old lady Obama referred to in Obama's speech.

The not so strange re-birth of liberal America. Perhaps there will be changes.

And an equally valid viewpoint that it is a nuanced rather than a tectonic shift in the American people

[neekoy]

Paul, it's because it's a change.

We experienced it here last November when Howard was swept out of office. There was promise in the air, but twelve months on.........

Quite why you would call someone a "dimwit" for not getting carried away perhaps say more about you than anything else.

To finish, yes, I'm happy that Obama has been elected (though I probably would have liked Hilary), but getting carried away, no. I've seen it before, many will end up being disillusioned.

In short, I don't get hyped about things out of my control or where I don't have an input or involvement.

Same here.

Unfortunately, the 'YANKS' are coming out after the election. To paraphrase the words of the great Jessica Alba "My daughter can now live in a world where there is equality for all"

Yes we can Jessica, yes. we. can.