And the winner is...

ZTC wrote:but what about stopping the spread of AIDS?

That can only be accomplished by you clicking "log out".

I'm glad you found someone you don't like even more than Obama. Infact that's a good strategy. Well I don't like person A, but atleast it's not that god awful person B.

Ultimately, it was great all around, in my opinion. Frankly, I was especially impressed with McCain's speech - it was so wonderful to see the McCain I remembered from back before he started his campaign.

Regarding socialism - it really is absurd when even McCain himself has stated that Obama isn't a socialist that we even have this argument. That's all I really have to say on the matter.

At the end of the day - truly a historic event, however you personally feel about the candidates. And I'll admit, I'm fairly optimistic about Obama - though we'll just have to wait and see on that.

god damn it obama won... im pissed M.C. Cain all the way...

Hooray for Obama-sama! I'm happy/excited.

Beldaran wrote:No, didn't you get the memo? Obama is president. Candy will fall from the sky and trees will start growing money and health insurance vouchers.

We're saved!

LMAO.

I love you.

MottZilla wrote:It's a good night. Hopefully things will get done now. Also I'm all for wealth redistribution in the opposite direction it has been. See I'm one of the middle class people the wealth has been leaving for the rich. I'm all for the wealth moving from the rich to the middle class and the poor.

See I'm one of the upper-middle class people the wealth has been leaving for you. The only way the rich get your money (unless their corporations are being bailed out because of feel-good loan policies forced upon them by the Clinton administration) is when you trade it to them for goods and services.

So, how is it your money is being redistributed to the rich if you're not giving it to them? What bass-ackwards world are you living in where this is happening? The top 12% pay 74% of the taxes for all sorts of the 'free' services that you take for granted, but you've convinced yourself that somehow you're getting the short end of the stick with regard to tax burden. Surely it must be fair to take more money from these people because everyone is equal and deserves the money just as much regardless of effort and ability.

Most small businesses are even making enough that their endless wealth is going to be redistributed down the social ladder. That's definitely some good incentive to take risks to start up a business, and to go to school and work hard to learn the things one needs to know to succeed in life. We can't all be handed money like apparently you and this wonderful citizen.

The world isn't equal. Our government doesn't exist to make it equal. Our government exists to ensure our safety, our rights, our basic freedoms. It exists to ensure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not wealth nor the pursuit thereof. For all the care we put into attempting to interpret the meaning of the constitution and the true intent of our founding fathers, we forget this very key fact. It's time we as a country remember it.

But yes, this election did turn out well; I'm certainly happy with the results. I can't wait to see the Civilian National Security Force (as large, powerful, and well-funded ($500 billion!) as the military) patrolling our streets. I'm looking forward to socialized health care, as it'll be nice to have to wait 6 months for a vital MRI like in Canada instead of getting even a non-vital MRI within hours. I'm thrilled about more of my money being taken from me and given to those who deserve it less. I really want my right to bear arms and protect myself to be further limited or even taken away so I'm unable to defend myself when someone who has a firearm illegally is pointing it in my direction. Most of all, though, I'm excited to see the lasting effect that B.O. will have on our lives. He will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.

I'll definitely feel safer then.

The "Long" post I could've made focused on McCain's positive sides over Obama's.

The short post consisted of this:
"As long as nobody chokes on any pretzels again."

I really hate to go a bit off-topic and pick points, but I need to throw in my 2 cents here.

Vagla wrote:I really want my right to bear arms and protect myself to be further limited or even taken away so I'm unable to defend myself when someone who has a firearm illegally is pointing it in my direction.

I really wanted to have shirts made out to sell that would say, "NIGGA BE PRESIDENT!!!" Unfortunately I was to lazy and too broke to fulfill myself in such a way.

Other than the fact that I FUCKING HATE Palin I really didn't care about the election. Had I voted it would have been for Obama but not because I like him or his whatever. All I really care about is that he is black. I wish I were black.

Oh well... At least I got a ghetto bootay!

I'm done now, really, I am...

You Americans would be pissed no matter who one.

Me, I'm just pissed that Michele Bachmann won. Seriously, holy crap - friggin' Ms. Joe-McCarthy-Reincarnated. At least she's not in my district - which actually, come to think of it, is kind of a shame - it would've been great to get to vote against the bitch.

Closing thoughts:
http://backonthestreets.ytmnd.com/

Archibaldo wrote:You Americans would be pissed no matter who one.

That sounds like a shot at americans, but I don't get it. Obviously when two sides are divided over anything, somebody won't be happy with the outcome.

mighty_darknut wrote:That sounds like a shot at americans, but I don't get it. Obviously when two sides are divided over anything, somebody won't be happy with the outcome.

Almost. I'm saying that every one here whos bitching about Obama would also be bitching if McCain won. There's no pleasing you guys. At least in Canada, after an election nobody complains this much. We say "Oh well, maybe next time", here it's all "OMG it's the end of the world!".

Well, the truth is, this all goes back to about the mid-90s, where the Republicans got sick of playing fair and decided to rally behind fear-mongering to take Congress. They really latched on this idea of convincing people that liberals are destroying America. It was an overwhelming success, and they've been using it ever since. However, ultimately, I think this race was a final judgment on that brand of politics, and if the Republicans are smart, they'll abandon it.

And to be fair, elections have always had a lot of tension associated with them, but it really wasn't until the mid-90s Republican coup that your really saw this bitterness and nastiness that manages to carry itself past election day. And don't get me wrong - I'm not saying the Republicans are entirely to blame, because both sides these days really get into this "end of the world" business, but the Republicans were the first to figure out how to use it to get votes. Just my take on the whole thing, in terms of why we no longer just suck it up and accept it.

So who won the 'pick the states' contest?

Archibaldo wrote:Almost. I'm saying that every one here whos bitching about Obama would also be bitching if McCain won. There's no pleasing you guys. At least in Canada, after an election nobody complains this much. We say "Oh well, maybe next time", here it's all "OMG it's the end of the world!".

Well, when's the last time Canada had a leader elected that made Canada invade a country and spend billions of dollars you didn't have?

Valga

The top 12% pay 74% of the taxes for all sorts of the 'free' services that you take for granted, but you've convinced yourself that somehow you're getting the short end of the stick with regard to tax burden. Surely it must be fair to take more money from these people because everyone is equal and deserves the money just as much regardless of effort and ability.

I never said that. My point is that good ol' Bush ran the country deeper into debt and who's going to pay for it? Well you can't expect lower and middle class people to pay for it. When you make the majority of the money you can afford to pay the majority of the taxes. The real people who should see their taxes increase is not you Valga, if you really are upper-middle class. It's the people making millions and millions. People like executives of big companies.

Btw, your wealth hasn't been leaving to me. Next I too am a big supporter of gun rights.

Yoshiman, it does make a difference to have a gun on you. While it's true if someone comes out of no where intent on killing you, there is not a big chance of a good outcome unless they miss while you ready and fire your weapon back. But there are other possibilities where someone might threaten you but you still have an opening to draw and use your weapon. Also, death is not instant upon being shot, if someone was going to shoot you, there's still the possibility you could draw your weapon and shoot back and kill them too, or perhaps you will be a better shot and kill them while you are just wounded.

While you're all discussing the possibility of firearms being outlawed, I'm still here pissed off that I can't own a flick-knife. *rage*

Flick-knife? I have a butterfly knife, a big "flick" open type knife, and two swords. None of these things were restricted. The two knives came from a local mall infact. Where do you live where you can't have a knife? Ofcourse here there is a restriction on the length of the blade if you carry a knife.

Is mighty_darknut under 18? There may be knife restrictions depending on age in some areas.

I believe he was referring to a switch blade. A knife who's blade is spring loaded allowing for a slight "flick" and the blade will snap into place quite forcefully. They've been outlawed in the US for some years now.

Yeah, I'm talking about a switchblade. Flick-knife is a british term for it, and I use british english because I just roll like that.

After thinking about it for a while (and note that I am, er, was a McCain supporter), one definite positive comes out of the results of the election.

Obama was a clear favorite with other countries, so perhaps the outcome of the election will improve our foreign relations. Just a thought.

---

Pineconn wrote:After thinking about it for a while (and note that I am, er, was a McCain supporter), one definite positive comes out of the results of the election.



Obama was a clear favorite with other countries, so perhaps the outcome of the election will improve our foreign relations. Just a thought.

russadwan wrote:I'd have to say it's because a lot of other countries are envious of the US. The fact that they want Obama would show that they think he'll weaken the US and we won't be so much better than they are. Just a thought.

Very interesting article about both campaigns.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/o...a_n_141358.html

-- McCain himself rarely spoke to Palin during the campaign and aides kept him in the dark about the details of her spending on clothes because they were sure he would be offended. Palin asked to speak along with McCain at his Arizona concession speech but campaign strategist Steve Schmidt vetoed the request.

-- The Obama campaign was provided with reports from the Secret Service showing a sharp and very disturbing increase in threats to Obama in September and early October, at the same time that the crowds at Palin rallies became more frenzied. Michelle Obama was shaken by the vituperative crowds and the hot rhetoric from the GOP candidates. "Why would they try to make people hate us?" Michelle Obama said to a top campaign aide.

-- On the Sunday night before the last debate, McCain's core group of advisers--Steve Schmidt, Rick Davis, adman Fred Davis, strategist Greg Strimple, pollster Bill McInturff and strategy director Sarah Simmons -- met to decide whether or not to tell McCain that the race was effectively over, that he no longer had a chance to win. The consensus in the room was no, not yet, not while he still had "a pulse."

-- The Obama campaign's "New Media" experts created a computer program that would allow a "flusher"--the term for a volunteer who rounds up nonvoters on Election Day--to know exactly who had, and had not, voted in real time. They dubbed it Project Houdini, because of the way names disappear off the list instantly once people are identified as they wait in line at their local polling station.

-- Palin launched her attack on Obama's association with William Ayers, the former Weather Underground bomber, before the campaign had finalized a plan to raise the issue. McCain's advisers were working on a strategy that they hoped to unveil the following week, but McCain had not signed off on it, and top adviser Mark Salter was resisting.

-- McCain also was reluctant to use Obama's incendiary pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a campaign issue. He had set firm boundaries: no Jeremiah Wright; no attacking Michelle Obama; no attacking Obama for not serving in the military. McCain balked at an ad using images of children that suggested that Obama might not protect them from terrorism; Schmidt vetoed ads suggesting that Obama was soft on crime (no Willie Hortons); and before word even got to McCain, Schmidt and Salter scuttled a "celebrity" ad of Obama dancing with talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres (the sight of a black man dancing with a lesbian was deemed too provocative).

-- Obama was never inclined to choose Sen. Hillary Clinton as his running mate, not so much because she had been his sometime bitter rival on the campaign trail, but because of her husband. Still, as Hillary's name came up in veep discussions, and Obama's advisers gave all the reasons why she should be kept off the ticket, Obama would stop and ask, "Are we sure?" He needed to be convinced one more time that the Clintons would do more harm than good. McCain, on the other hand, was relieved to face Biden as the veep choice, and not Hillary Clinton, whom the McCain camp had truly feared.

-- McCain was dumbfounded when Congressman John Lewis, a civil-rights hero, issued a press release comparing McCain with former Alabama Gov. George Wallace, a segregationist infamous for stirring racial fears. McCain had devoted a chapter to Lewis in one of his books, "Why Courage Matters" and had so admired Lewis that he had once taken his children to meet him.

-- The debates unnerved both candidates. When he was preparing for the Democratic primary debates, Obama was recorded saying, "I don't consider this to be a good format for me, which makes me more cautious. I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me ... answer it.' So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f---ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'."

OMFG Russ, would you please cut it out? I know you're not happy with Obama, but please, this has got to end. The US isn't going to collapse because Obama was elected. And even if things go to shit, guess what? We get to elect a new president in four years. Seriously man, get a grip!

rock_nog wrote:OMFG Russ, would you please cut it out? I know you're not happy with Obama, but please, this has got to end. The US isn't going to collapse because Obama was elected. And even if things go to shit, guess what? We get to elect a new president in four years. Seriously man, get a grip!

I don't understand the depression on either side. Democrats in California are mad about Prop 8, and many conservatives are mad about Obama. Whatever, it is what it is. I'll keep advocating that my country get back to what it was built on. Hopefully people will want freedom again over comfort.

Something occurred to me that is far more sinister. The Republican party is going to change. But the big question is, is it going to change for the better.

There is clearly a sizable Republican base that is nationalist, racist, xenophobic, anti-intellectual, ignorant of economic issues, ignorant of foreign policy issues, and probably wants revenge after this humiliating defeat. They are not magically going to disappear between now and the next election cycle, and McCain's final speech - perhaps the only glimpse of McCain the moderate in the last six years - was booed by a sizable portion of the audience.

What if the republican party (Note I said party, as in the old white men in Washington, not you the voting public), instead of blaming Palin for being a complete fucking idiot and McCain's campaign managers for trying to run a message that America was clearly tired of hearing, blames McCain for being too moderate and not being able to commit 100% (He did, after all designate several things off limits and actually vetoed some ads that he felt were 'over the line'😉?

What if, instead of shifting towards the middle, the GOP veers even further right in an attempt to mobilize their radical base? Obama mentioned that the years ahead would not be easy by any stretch of the imagination, which might disenfranchise voters who only heard 'change' and not 'hard work'. Whats worse, the democrats margin in the Senate is NOT filibuster-proof.

Sarah Palin in 2012 would be an awful beyond belief, but then again it's not even a day after the election and Fox News is already savaging their own fucking party in an attempt to remain relevant. Here's hoping to the final death of the Nixon-Regan-Bush "Axis of Evil" GOP and the birth of a new, more progressive party.

AlexMax wrote:Sarah Palin in 2012 would be an awful beyond belief, but then again it's not even a day after the election and Fox News is already savaging their own fucking party in an attempt to remain relevant. Here's hoping to the final death of the Nixon-Regan-Bush "Axis of Evil" GOP and the birth of a new, more progressive party.

You mean you want the Republicans to become Democrats? 😉