Americans living abroad awoke this morning to images of their countrymen celebrating in the streets, images as hopeful, as optimistic as the 'velvet revolution'. The entire world heard collective sighs of relief --no stolen election, no riots, no bloodshed. The words of Lincoln are required to describe it: '...a new birth of freedom'!
This is not just Obama's victory. This win belongs to the people of the US and the world, even those poor misguided folk who had often voted GOP even when it was against their own interests to do so. Unless they had been among the nations one percent elite, it was always against their interests.
This victory belongs as well to the world, millions who often suffered, as Americans might not have, the harmful effects of Bush's vainglorious vision of empire.
The world breathed a huge sigh of relief and is now celebrating for America! It is not going to be an easy road for President Obama, and from now until January 20, I hope his security team has been doubled, these will be the most perilous two and a half months of his life thus far. President Obama will have to make some tough decision which might greatly disappoint a great many people, especially among his supporters, but his assignment is probably the toughest ever. At any rate, congratulations to America! --Vierotchka
And from our friends at Les Enrages.
Looks like another GOP disaster has been avoided in high style. A decisive victory, that should allow us to say, "see that, Georgie boy? THAT is what REAL political capital looks like."The long national nightmare is not yet over, but the end is in sight. I predict that Bush/Cheney will spend their remaining time in power absolutely screwing the country, trying to extract every last dime to distribute to themselves and their cronies. Not much of a prediction really, since that's what they're already doing, and have been since elected.It would be a HUGE mistake for Obama to try to paper over the crimes committed by Bu$hCo. If the investigations aren't wide, deep and transparent the poison that is still in the blood of the American body politic could still kill the patient. You don't cure cancer without removing some corrupt flesh.--Sadbuttrue, Les Enrages
The US may emerge from a period of great division, an era in which a demagogue exploited the issues that divide us. Eight years of George W. Bush were truly a second Civil War, pitting Americans against one another in ways at least as harmful as military conflicts at Shiloh, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg. An historic task awaits Barack Obama, a task as significant and as crucial as that awaiting Lincoln in the wake of Gettysburg.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.--Abraham Lincoln
Obama's words recall not
only Lincoln.
"And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! "
---Martin Luther King, "I've Been to the Mountaintop", April 3, 1968
"We will get there! We --as a people --will get there!"
--Barack Obama, World to America: Congratulations!
