Obama's win was all over the front pages of our newspapers yesterday and the lead story on our television news. From what I could tell, it was a really big deal for Canadians. I know that's not exactly a scientific way to put it, but I do know that public opinion polls showed overwhelming support for Obama leading up to the election, that there was genuine interest in the … [Read more...] about How the Election Played in Canada
Sarah Palin Is Toast, the Melba Kind…
In the early 1900s, there was a famous Australian opera soprano, Dame Nellie Melba. One of the things Dame Melba is well remembered for is her seemingly endless series of "farewell" appearances---a farewell “tour” that lasted about eight years. Hence the popular Australian expression, “to do a Melba” (or, "more farewells than Nellie Melba") for making repeated farewell … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Is Toast, the Melba Kind…
What Kind Of Puppy Should Obama Get His Daughters?
Barack Obama told daughters Malia and Sasha that "you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House" during his victory speech Wednesday morning, a promise he presumably will have to keep since billions of people were looking on. A source close to the Obamas says that the new puppy probably won't arrive until the spring and, when it does, presumably will … [Read more...] about What Kind Of Puppy Should Obama Get His Daughters?
Obama’s Vote from Religious Voters Intrigues
I will probably blog more about this, but it's is really intriguing. He won Jews and Roman Catholics and posted higher tallies from evangelical Protestants than John Kerry. Read the whole thing. [This has been crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about Obama’s Vote from Religious Voters Intrigues
Newspapers’ Last Hurrah? Obama Election Victory Sparks Skyrocketing Newspaper Sales
If only there could be a historic election to the presidency EVERY day. Then the newspaper industry's multi-pronged problems could be solved. Wednesday seemed like the good, 'ol days when Americans scrambled to get their news from the printed press's newspapers -- and were even willing to pay higher prices than normal to get it. The reason: voters wanted to read about Democrat … [Read more...] about Newspapers’ Last Hurrah? Obama Election Victory Sparks Skyrocketing Newspaper Sales
Obama High Tech Team & Primary Boost to an Online Video Win
WaPo Post I.T. blog: A veteran of Internet business operations and Washington tech policy was named to President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, a move that could signal the prominence of high-tech policy in the new administration. Julius Genachowski, a former executive of Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, will help Obama choose members of his new administration, … [Read more...] about Obama High Tech Team & Primary Boost to an Online Video Win
Georgia Still Counting the Vote
Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel recently drew a rebuke from the Department of Justice and federal judges for her aggressive efforts to purge voters. She also claimed she was legally prohibited from extending voting hours by the Voting Rights Act (although neighboring Florida and North Carolina, also covered by the Act, did so). So she says the law prevents her from … [Read more...] about Georgia Still Counting the Vote
When is a Mandate Not a Mandate?
The answer would appear to be, when the mandate referee is Bob Novak. The first Democratic Electoral College landslide in decades did not result in a tight race for control of Congress. […] [Obama] may have opened the door to enactment of the long-deferred liberal agenda, but he neither received a broad mandate from the public nor the needed large congressional … [Read more...] about When is a Mandate Not a Mandate?
A Post-Election Post In Which I Get All Emotional
Having spent the better part of the first half of my life hiding my feelings, I figured out that being open emotionally is a key to good mental health, at least mine. As a consequence, I've spent the second half being straightforward when it comes to my gut, sometimes to the embarrassment of the people around me. So get out your hankies and read on. I'd already had some … [Read more...] about A Post-Election Post In Which I Get All Emotional
GOP Loses
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star … [Read more...] about GOP Loses
Did Sarah Palin Lose the Election for McCain?
Did Sarah Palin lose the 2008 election for John McCain? It should first of all be said, that even before the meltdown of the financial markets in September, the 2008 presidential election was the Democrats to lose. President Bush's approval ratings were in the tank and most people blamed the Republican Party for a host of perceived ills. And while I always believed that … [Read more...] about Did Sarah Palin Lose the Election for McCain?
Barack Obama Gets No Honeymoon From Conservative Talk Radio
If you thought that President-elect Barack Obama would get maybe an hour's worth of honeymoon from many conservative talk radio hosts -- just an hour free of the kind of attack and demonize radio show that gets big ratings because it riles up audiences and wants them to tune in again -- then I have a company named Microsoft that I can sell you for $1.98... Listening to a … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Gets No Honeymoon From Conservative Talk Radio
Message to the GOP: You’re Close to Losing Me.
As I write this a day after Election Day, I feel a bit angry, not at the election results, but at the party that I have tried to make a home in: the Republican Party. For years, I have been involved in trying to help steer the party away from the hard right and more to the center right. It has not been easy and at times, it has felt rather fruitless. Tonight, it not only … [Read more...] about Message to the GOP: You’re Close to Losing Me.
The Incredible Shrinking Ralph Nader: His “Uncle Tom” Remark About Obama
Yes, Ralph Nader ran again and you can place bets now that he'll run in 2012 or beyond, even if he has to be wheeled from appearance to appearance. This year he received a sliver of the kind of support he previously got at the ballot box, which in itself would have been enough to decrease his shrinking legacy. But, on election night 2008, he seemed determined to reduce his … [Read more...] about The Incredible Shrinking Ralph Nader: His “Uncle Tom” Remark About Obama
American Cartoonists React To Obama Election Victory
American cartoonists are reacting to Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's historic victory in the Presidential election. So far cartoons are split into three key groups: cartoons that work in a Lincoln-Martin Luther King, Jr. motif, cartoons that place it in national and historical perspective and cartoons that are starting to have fun with the political ramifications. Here's a … [Read more...] about American Cartoonists React To Obama Election Victory
Sarah Palin was a Republican Vice Presidential Candidate
And now it's coming out that she was also a terror to the GOP Presidential candidate John McCain's staff and to her own staff. Details here. … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin was a Republican Vice Presidential Candidate
Healthcare Robotics: El-E the Companion Robot
My friends will tell you that I fully expect to have and enjoy a relational robot in a caretaking role through my declining years. Turns out, Georgia Tech is on top of that: Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have engineered a biologically inspired robot that mirrors the actions of sought-after service dogs. Users verbally command the robot to complete a task … [Read more...] about Healthcare Robotics: El-E the Companion Robot
World Newspaper Cartoonists React To Obama Election Victory
The reaction around the world to the election of Democratic Senator Barack Obama as President is similar to how the world reacted to another charismatic Democratic President -- John F. Kennedy, Jr. Is it just because some of his charisma comes across on the tube? Probably not. Most likely it's due to Obama being -- like Kennedy -- someone whose rhetoric seems heartfelt and … [Read more...] about World Newspaper Cartoonists React To Obama Election Victory
Obama: Transcendent Change from the Lowest to the Highest: El Diario de Yaracuy, Venezuela
For many people in the less-developed world, America, through the agency of Barack Obama - has lived up to its promise. Furthermore, the very poorest of the world's people are today saying to themselves, 'perhaps I can go further and farther than I thought.' And according to this article from Venezuela's El Diario de Yaracuy, the fact that Americans elected a Black man … [Read more...] about Obama: Transcendent Change from the Lowest to the Highest: El Diario de Yaracuy, Venezuela
Third Global Press Roundup
(Image from Al-Hayat, via MEMRI) The global reaction to Obama's victory is pouring forth. A long list of translations and English articles follows. You won't have time to read all the links - but take a look at the headlines and pull-quotes. Alone, they give a flavor of how differently the USA appears to the world than it did this time yesterday. Rzeczpospolita, … [Read more...] about Third Global Press Roundup