I've been trying all day today to put my finger on just how I feel about yesterday, to find the right word for it. I still feel overcome, overwhelmed. I'm euphoric, but not deliriously so, immensely happy, but not without a sense of the difficulties and challenges that lie ahead. Joyous, but also sober. Incredulous, on one level, but also humble. Aware of what happened, but not … [Read more...] about Reflections on the Elections
The Best News of All?
The Best News of All? Not a Single Robo-Call Today! … [Read more...] about The Best News of All?
OBAMA’s AMERICA
Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune … [Read more...] about OBAMA’s AMERICA
WATCHING AMERICA.com: Second Global Press Roundup
WatchingAmerica.com is posting global reaction to Obama's victory. Since last night, dozens more articles have been posted. Here are a few. Corriere della Sera, Italy Dream and Reality De Volkskrant, Netherlands Obama Can't Save the World Algemeen Dagblad, Netherlands Bush Can Do Anything He Wants Nu.nl, The Netherlands Will We Miss … [Read more...] about WATCHING AMERICA.com: Second Global Press Roundup
Obama’s Success: Congratulations, Americans and America!
This truly is a time of hope for the world. For the first time in decades, ordinary Americans of the kind who work hard every day and earn little money have demonstrated how noble and common sense a democratic process can be. Obama is not transformational or even an agent of change. The people who brought him this success are transformational. They are the change. He is … [Read more...] about Obama’s Success: Congratulations, Americans and America!
On the Other Side of the Glass
It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the moment. For someone like me, this is really the first time I've seen a Democrat win on the national stage. The historic nature of the candidacy only adds to the emotion. But I wanted to focus on some other things. First, an open letter to my conservative friends, who still have a valuable role to play in our democracy for … [Read more...] about On the Other Side of the Glass
The Aftermath
The picture to the left is one of the sad tasks I had to attend to this morning. (You may need to click on it for a larger version.) I went outside and removed my Barr-Root Liberty for America lawn sign. Like my TMV colleague Tyrone, I voted for Bob Barr yesterday, though obviously not with any expectation that he would win. At my house we have been very wrapped up in this … [Read more...] about The Aftermath
A Young Man’s Sense of History
Last night, around 12:30 a.m. CT, our only son called. He had just returned from Grant Park in Chicago where he had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with that crazed mass of people who were fortunate enough to be on the grounds when Obama delivered his victory speech. Dad, of course, wanted to know how close Son was to the stage: 150 feet? 200? More? Mom wanted to know if Son … [Read more...] about A Young Man’s Sense of History
The End of the Reagan Revolution
I'm tempted to write about a historical parallel between this moment and Reconstruction. I'll be teaching about Reconstruction to my 19th century US history students later today, and we'll surely discuss the "arc of history" between then and now. But for now I want to focus on something far more recent: the political era that began in 1980 and ended yesterday. It's been … [Read more...] about The End of the Reagan Revolution
Obama’s ‘Thank You’ Email To Supporters
During this campaign I've been on the McCain/RNC email list and an Obama email list. From the standpoint of delivering materials bolstering a message, the RNC was the most-effective in sending a steady stream of emails with links to many stories critical of Obama. Most email from the Obama side to this site was the official Obama campaign email which some info on an issue or … [Read more...] about Obama’s ‘Thank You’ Email To Supporters
Google Victory: Broadband Permitted in the ‘White Spaces’
Tech Crunch: Google and other tech companies won a big battle in Washington today. In an Election Day meeting, the FCC approved the unlicensed use of “white spaces” spectrum newly freed up as a result of TV broadcasters going from analog to digital broadcasts. Google has long been leading the lobbying effort to turn this spectrum into a sort of WiFi 2.0. Telecom companies and … [Read more...] about Google Victory: Broadband Permitted in the ‘White Spaces’
Excited About Obama, Realistic About Transatlantic Cooperation
German and American policy pundits and exchange students look forward to a new phase in transatlantic relations, but also recognize the limits of further US-European cooperation. That's my conclusion from speaking to dozens of America enthusiasts at Telekom representation in Berlin, where one of the many election night parties took place. Here's my interview with Dr. John C. … [Read more...] about Excited About Obama, Realistic About Transatlantic Cooperation
The Same But Different: Anti-LGBT Ballot Measure Victories
Amidst the enthusiastic celebration of change, I was oddly-depressed last night. Early on, it became apparent that Obama would not win my home state of Georgia. Worse: When the votes have been counted tonight, the G.O.P. will reap the final fruits of its Southern Strategy. The Republican Party will have transformed itself from the Party of Lincoln into the Party of the Old … [Read more...] about The Same But Different: Anti-LGBT Ballot Measure Victories
The Barack Obama Landslide & Leading America Out Of The Wilderness
I voted yesterday in the most important election of my lifetime after the most dramatic primary and general election campaign of my lifetime. And as I left the polling station and walked out into the chilly morning air, it all fell into place: Barack Obama represents what America once was and can stand for again. As well as this: Obama did not transcend race so much as make the … [Read more...] about The Barack Obama Landslide & Leading America Out Of The Wilderness
Promised Land
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen … [Read more...] about Promised Land
Obama’s Election: A Sea Of Shattered Assumptions (News And Weblog Roundup)
The election of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States is a breathtaking development not just because an African-American winning enough votes to be America's leader is a milestone but because it also has shattered various assumptions. The phrase "transformational leader" now seems to join the words "defining moment" as a new overused … [Read more...] about Obama’s Election: A Sea Of Shattered Assumptions (News And Weblog Roundup)
Obama as Exemplar: Will The Two Parties Reach Across the Aisle This Time?
Listening to many persons tonight who are moved by Obama's being Prez-elect, seeing people in the moment changed by their own joy and awe... I just wonder sometimes, don't we sometimes be changed, even slightly against our wills, when others are changed suddenly for the better? Or just out of their plain happiness for something they value deeply? Obama has said both parties … [Read more...] about Obama as Exemplar: Will The Two Parties Reach Across the Aisle This Time?
India Celebrates Barack Obama Win
It is much more than celebration time in India. Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election has brought palpable relief among general public as well as political parties of all hues (Surprise...Surprise!!!...Including the Left parties). However, a few policy experts have some reservations about Obama. IANS writes: "Obama, 47, who has promised to renew American … [Read more...] about India Celebrates Barack Obama Win
Watching America.com: First global press roundup
Watching America.com is quick to the punch with global press reaction to Obama's victory. For a quick-off the mark translation, this piece from The Democratic Republic of Congo, (translated from French from the publication Le Potential) captures a widely held sentiment. Barack Obama Saves America! Other perspectives can be found at Daily Nation, Kenya Lessons for … [Read more...] about Watching America.com: First global press roundup
American Turning Point
"Yes we can!" changed from a defiant campaign mantra into a soft-spoken promise from the nation's new voice as President-Elect Barack Obama rallied Americans, not to celebrate his victory but join him in meeting "the challenges that tomorrow will bring...the greatest of our lifetime--two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century." In his graceful … [Read more...] about American Turning Point