How do you feel about the outcome of the U.S . Presidential Election?

Hello Raia Long time no hear from you. I have not followed the election at all... and I don't know anything about Obama and its policies. What I will say... is that it is one of those very rare elections... where Obama became a popular vote. It is a vote by the people. And a large percentage of those votes would be for the color of his skin... rather than for his policies. Now the question is... Are the USA ready for an African-American president? The people who voted for him obviously are... But what about the white rednecks holding the real power? The oil barons, the high brass in the army and CIA? What about the Jews... who own half of America's wealth? Let me tell you... the Jews would be really worry now... about losing America's support for Israel. Kennedy was also very popular. Remember him? Then we have something even bigger... The world financial crisis... with all the shades and colors of the great depression of the 1930's. Why do you think that every government is rescuing the banks? To prevent what happened in the 30's... when everybody rushed to get their savings out of the banks. In an immediate reminder meanwhile of the grave economic crisis that Obama will inherit when he is inaugurated in January, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 496.29 points on resurgent fears of a deep recession. What did happen after the great depression of the 30's? Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has blamed the United States for the world's problems and announced new missile deployments in Europe, calling on incoming US counterpart Barack Obama to mend Washington's ways. Mr Medvedev rounded on the United States for ills ranging from the global financial crisis to the recent war in Georgia, in a state-of-the-nation speech that was watched intently by his mentor Vladimir Putin , and omitted mentioning Mr Obama by name. "The economy of the United States dragged down with it into recession the financial markets of the whole planet," Mr Medvedev said. I will let you make your own mind about all this... But for my part... I am not going to celebrate anything.

I voted for McCain so I, of course, was not happy with the outcome; but I'm not devastated because I thought we were going to get a crappy president no matter who was elected. There is something I don't understand about the people who voted for Obama. What is this HOPE and CHANGE that has you so encouraged? What are you expecting from it? I'm not seeing either one and I wanted to know what it is that you are seeing.

To tell you the truth, I don't have alot of feelings about the election. I do hope that Obama turns out to be a great President. We need something good to happen for our country, for the world. I have been way too busy trying to keep my head above water and make a living. I am on my own and times are tough. I have been getting serious about my selling on ebay. These last couple of weeks have been super slow. Today has been a better day, I am so hoping with the election over with now, people can get back to normal. Our gas prices have come down, I hope they stay down. Times are hard right now. Obama sure has lots of work to do, I do wish him all the best. As for do I feel optimistic, I live my life that way, the Law of Attraction. I have to be optimistic, I might not have lots in my glass, but I do know its at least half full. Its always nice to see you stop by and have you share your "Perspective" on things. Take care.

wow - very powerful post

I think ya know how I felt a little let down but then of course there is HOPE that every thing wil work out in the end and also Mc cain said he would help all he can so that should be good too. now is a time to wait and see how the outcome , comes over the next 4 years!

What is the hope and change I see in Obama? By the simple fact that he has been elected, I hope that this will help immeasurably race relations in the US, and also the world. It won't of course solve all the problems, but hopefully the election of Obama will help heal many old wounds of the past and show people that they can achieve anything should they try. However, for me, the main hope is that we will now enter a period of rational commonsense government, where policy is decided upon in a logical and not 'faith based' way. That policy decisions are empirically decided upon and not based on someone's gut or on the appeal to the lowest common denominator. So for me, having an intelligent and wise President in the White House would be a real change and perhaps at long last we can have some more sensible policies coming out of there. That said, I think it important to point out that people should realise that Obama is a politician, not a Messiah. And so therefore, my hope is tempered by the likelihood that there will be disappointments on the way: I hope of course that Obama will behave honourably in the Whitehouse, will tell the truth and not spin as all the other incumbents have done, but I know he is a politician and all too often spinning and deceit has gone with the territory (look at Blair and Clinton for example, they brought much hope but in the end they left office as tarnished individuals). So though I hope Obama will be truthful, honest and do the right thing without fear or favour, whether that will happen we will have to see. But at least I can reasonably expect some more rational policy making over the next 4 years which will begin to fix the mess, both foreign policy wise and economic, that we are now in.

Hello Raia! I was thrilled to see Barack Obama elected. It seems that the world was thrilled about it too. When I saw the news the next day I was delighted to see so many people from around the world celebrating.

hi there Perspectives, Nice question! First of all, I really do agree and happy about the outcome of the US election. I think that Obama really deserves to win and that he might really lead this new era to a new step towards change

This is a much better response for the change that is to come in the coming year. I think America needs more people like you kind of thinking. I have been reading a lot of negative post about what had just transpired in your country. Despite the overwhelmingly results that have transpired people still thinks that American Voters voted stupidly as they say. Well I don't think so with the support that Obama get even from outside of the US I really don't think that Americans have chosen stupidly but wisely. It is really a time for change in leadership and you have chosen what you think is best for your country and I admire that too. Your election just went on very smoothly and without any problem like we are doing it in our place. I would say our election in here is just very chaotic and full of protest here and there that the results are so much delayed before a winner id declared.

All well and good, but do you realize that all the media wanted Obama as president? And why is it when a part black man wins, it signals hope for the nation? It is like saying "we need help, where is the black man who can save us?" The election was a shoe-in because no one, unless they happened to read all the information on the net about Obama- knew what he was really about. Besides I feel that if you did not straighten up or the economy straightened up before, it will not straighten up now. So does that mean, that the man in the white hat only can change us if he is black? And what if the change is not what you want? Do you want to pay higher taxes? Do you want to lose your chance to adopt another child because abortion is now on demand? Look at Obama's records, just do not listen to his pretty speech, read what was said from the Republican, not just the Democratic side. If he had good in him, he would follow the Ten Commandments, and he should have told Rev. WRight what he was preaching was wrong, but he did not.

Indeed, it is historical win in its true sense! I have never seen my fellow countrymen so enthusiastic and engrossed in an election that is so foreign to us. Well done!

Hello, my friend...hope you don't mind a comment from North of the Border! Canadians are extrememly affected by the outcome of your election, as is the rest of the world, so we have to leave the outcome to the majority of our brothers & sisters in the U.S.A.....so we laden you with a heavy burden...when you vote, because you are such a powerful leader...you are voting for many, many others, not in your country! You cross many borders! I would like to take this time to tell all of our US friends that we are extremely proud of the "voter participation" in your history making event! And so, I think, in retrospect..you had two VERY good candidates that were able to spark interest in just about each & everyone of you! Hat's off...& congratulations! Cheers!

Hi Raia, It is good to see you back, as you already know I love your discussions and look forward to them. I agree with you that there was something different about this US Presidential election. While I have great respect for John McCain, It had been clear for some time that Obama had more going for him than any Candidate for the job in recent years. There is something about Obama that seems to draw people to him. The other big story of course is that the US has shown the world what the power of the people really means. In electing Obama they have said that skin color does not matter and it is what's inside that really counts. I think that all Americans, whether they supported Obama or not, should be very proud of their county for this. Obama, for his part has shown that it is possible for anyone to achieve anything they set out to do. I'm sure that even four years ago the majority would have told him it couldn't be done but they had forgotten that there is a "magic in believing". I believe too that his election holds out hope not only for America but for much of the world as well. I know that there are great expectations for this man but I hope people realize that change cannot come overnight. For those who supported McCain I can only say that I hope you will take a page from his book and accept the outcome with the same grace that he did. You supported a great and experienced man who at another time would have won handily. I feel very optimistic and feel that this may well be the beginning of a new era. Blessings.

I must admit that I am happy that Obama won. I am hoping that all of the people in the Nation will come together and work together. I am hoping that my reassurances to those who were afraid of Obama's presidency will be proven to be correct... that we as a Nation will be better off for him being elected. I am in agreement that his election was in part due to the need for the people to have hope. We have for the last eight years been fed a steady diet of fear and quite frankly the majority of the American people are tired of it. I, for one, was also very tired of having to constantly be in the mode of protester of yet one more infringement of our Constitutional rights and liberties and the seperation of powers that should exist in government, at one more attempt to destroy the natural world which we are supposed to conserve for future generations, at one more attempt to war, at one more attempt to conceal information from and to lie to the American public, etc. It has, for me, and for many other people, been a difficult eight years. I heard the rhetoric from the McCain-Palin camp, researched and saw the many lies they told about Obama, heard Rush preach discord and rage and conflict for his own monetary gain and got very disgusted... I was very glad to cast my ballot for Obama. I am seeing that it was a vote not just for hope, but an affirmation of the opportunities available to all people in the United States if they work at it; a vote for the importance of education for all groups in society rather than a vote for Joe six pack ignorance; a vote for community involvement over apathy; a vote for the whole of society rather than just for the top 5% of the wealthy who would benefit most under the other candidate's economic plans; a vote against the flawed trickle down economics and over-privitization which results always in cost over-runs and increased deficits and a vote for more relief to the middle and working classes who need it most; a vote for transparency in government rather than the over-classification of information we saw under Bush; a vote for a calm, measured and calculated planning rather than an a reactive response; a vote for uniting of people rather than the further fragmentation of people into red and blue and us and them (I still have hope here); a vote for reapproachment with the world community instead of further aggressively maintained isolation, hostility,and fear... a vote for bridges instead of walls when dealing with other world leaders (realizing that both sides in any conflict have their own histories, needs, cultural imperatives and wishes which need to be heard and understood often prior to engaging in effective negotiation... Obama's willingness to negotiate with even our enemies was a good thing as it, I think, will tend to reduce tensions and to decrease aggression and will help perhaps to stabilize the world community more than a leader with a more hawkish disposition would, in my opinion.) a vote for someone who taught Constitutional law and who probably likes the Constitution of the United States enough to really mean it when he says: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." This will be a great thing as our current President seemed not to respect the Constitution especially the 1st, 4th and 6th Amendments. I am beliving that Obama's view on the Constitution is more in line with mine as being a living document which responds to the changes in society (such as the development of the internet, etc.) and that it has a need of present day context and history in addition to the original words of its signers. I find that this view gives us more rights and liberties than the strict constructionist view that is held by some of the more recent appointees. I am hoping for more balance on the Court as if those who are presently old enough to retire are more liberal in their views and also more protecting of the individual rights of people to be free from oppression as opposed to the rights of the government to oppress the people and to invade privacy,etc.

I'm thrilled. I voted for him and he is the first winner I've picked since Bill Clintoin LOL Seriously, I think America and Americans have been bogged down in fear ever since 911 and I hope that this bright new historical presidency will pull us all in and give us all back that old "I can do anything, I'm an American" spirit. There has been a huge smear campaign against President Elect Obama (has a nice ring, doesn't it?) and it will probably take a little time for some Americans to see that he was never the left wing crazy that he has been painted. Given time, I think we can all rally round this guy.

I was totally happy about it and thought through the whole race that he would win. It had nothing to do with his color. He was just the presidents people like Kennedy was when he got elected. This was a great day for all people in the US. There are going to be plenty that will disagree with me on that too. Yet they will have to deal with it. The same way the dealt with Bush running the economy in the ground. Before he left office, now Obama has to do his best to try and situate the issues that plague this country. There is going to be those that will not see anything that he does right. But they have to remember that it was the people that voted him and there he will stay till the end of his first term. He might be the eye opener that is needed to mend issues that the US have right now with other countries. They embraced him as well and that is a plus in his corner too. So we have to wait and see what will happen once he is sworn in. And you can believe that all eyes will be on him to see if he makes it or breaks it.

Hi perpesctives, I will admit I haven't paid an awful lot of attention but do know that Obama is now your president and am glad for you all, he's young new ideas new thoughts etc etc, I think he will help your country back on its feet...because he is black I should think he will also address the racialism too and try to get all colours and creeds on the right footing..though it will be a hard job...I wish you all luck in this new presidency....hugs littleowl

whatever the rusult will be .it is outcome now. good to know the man.he is gracious in defeat.you are right,who can have the ability to make the country improved and let the people live happy life,and he is a good president. whoever he is ,and his background ,his skin color,he will do this ,he will be in our mind .obama can do it well,and mccain should appriciate his friend.so it is good to know he is the man.