So why did Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain lose? Was he outclassed by Democrat Barack Obama? Was it a massive wave of Americans clamoring for change? In this Guest Voice post, conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, argues it's because the GOP, the Bush White House and the McCain campaign handed the election to … [Read more...] about Why McCain Lost (Guest Voice)
From Jesse to Barack
Helms, not Jackson. Yes, North Carolina just 12 years ago voted to re-elect Jesse Helms to the US Senate for a fifth term. On Tuesday, the same state added its 15 electoral votes to Barack Obama's column. That's change. North Carolina, like its neighbor to the north, is a state in transition. North Carolina has long held a reputation as one of the most liberal states … [Read more...] about From Jesse to Barack
Rahm Emanuel v. Hamilton Jordan
As Mr. G. posted earlier, the politicos and pundits are abuzz about Rep. Rahm Emanuel's acceptance of the offer to be President-elect Obama's Chief of Staff (a.k.a, CoS). Much of the coverage and commentary suggests the CoS role is a critical one -- that, while the person in this position may not be capable of single-handedly making or breaking a president, his/her influence … [Read more...] about Rahm Emanuel v. Hamilton Jordan
Obama’s Victory: Fourth Global Press Roundup
(Image - thanks to faithmouse.com) From Watching America.com, here's another deluge of interesting pieces of global reaction. Commentaries are slowly beginning to shift from straight reaction to Obama's victory to the implications of that victory for the USA, the world and the individual countries who will be affected by the USA's presidential choice. La Provence.com, … [Read more...] about Obama’s Victory: Fourth Global Press Roundup
Obama Mandate: Post-Partisanship
On Election Day, Barack Obama canceled a fireworks display for the Grant Park rally that night, a sign he wants to leave the long campaign behind and start governing, something the Bush-Cheney-Rove Administration neglected to do for eight years. Governing, but how? Tuesday's victory margins clearly were a mandate to change the bitter two-year stalemate of tenuous … [Read more...] about Obama Mandate: Post-Partisanship
The New American Landscape (Guest Voice)
So what was Democrat Barack Obama's victory all about? Was it the triumph of politics, or a party, or a man? In this Guest Voice post, author Martha Randolph Carr argues that it was the triumph of something even bigger. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily represent the views of TMV or its writers. The New American Landscape By Martha Randolph Carr American cynicism … [Read more...] about The New American Landscape (Guest Voice)
Hell Freezes Over
Tab, The Calgary Sun … [Read more...] about Hell Freezes Over
Rahm Emanuel Accepts Post As President-Elect Obama’s Chief Of Staff
It's often said that a President needs a skillful tough guy to be his Chief of Staff -- someone who knows the nuts-and-bolts of government, knows how to deal with Congress, and wants to protect his President's image and agenda -- and who has absolutely no problem stepping on toes to do it. So in a way it's no surprise that President-Elect Barack Obama asked Rep. Rahm Emanuel … [Read more...] about Rahm Emanuel Accepts Post As President-Elect Obama’s Chief Of Staff
Karl Rove: Obama’s New Voters Changed Presidential Political Game
GOP political maven Karl Rove, the consummate political professional loved by Republicans, loathed by Democrats and not the favorite of Americans who seek politics fostering consensus versus power-politics divide-and-rule, says President-Elect Barack Obama got to be President-Elect because the highly touted new voters that Obama said would come into play did have a major … [Read more...] about Karl Rove: Obama’s New Voters Changed Presidential Political Game
How the Election Played in Canada
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?