A time for hope?

In case there's anyone who's been asleep, Barack Obama has won the election. (At least, Fox has called it for him.)

Now I can start hoping. (That he can turn out to be more moderate or even more libertarian than I thought.)

At times like this, it's comforting to remember that anything is possible.

The bottom line is that he won. (Which he has, absent a miracle.) That means he is entitled to be treated as the President, as the Constitution requires. He earned it. Will I criticize him? Sure; I just did, and that goes with the turf. But he was legitimately elected, and he is entitled to the same respect that goes with the office as Clinton and Bush were.

Beyond that, until I've had a chance to see his performance in office, all I can do is hope.

MORE: McCain is conceding right now.

An excellent, inspiring speech, although I found myself wondering how different things might have been had the economy not tanked at precisely the right time.

AND MORE: Via Glenn Reynolds, the Corner is being conciliatory and congratulatory. Here's Jim Geraghty:

I have many, many disagreements with Barack Obama. But tonight I congratulate him on his victory. I have seen a few critics say, "he won't be my president," but that is nonsense. He will be my president, and I will wish him well, particularly as he takes on the duty of protecting the American people in a dangerous world.

And Jim Manzi posted a segregated lunch counter picture and says this:

...It is healthy that the American political system gathers the energies and talents of those who feel excluded into the nation to change it, rather than pushing them away from the nation to oppose it. I expect a lot of damage to be done to the nation's economy, politics, and social order due to the excesses of a government dominated by a combination of Barack Obama and a radicalized Democratic caucus in Congress, but as a wise man once put it, "there is a great deal of ruin in a nation."

There are about 1,460 days until the next Presidential election, and I assume that I will spend approximately the next 1,459 of them opposing Barack Obama. But I'm spending today proud abut what my country has overcome.

It's hard to disagree with either.

My biggest concerns about Barack Obama have involved his radical ties and his socialist leanings. I'm hoping that he's statesman enough to realize he's president of of the entire country, and pragmatic enough to understand the consequences of pushing too far to the left. (I say that fully aware that if he isn't, the Republicans stand to gain.)

MORE: Here's what Connie du Toit said to her disappointed children as they recognized reality:

We are not democrats. We will not whine, cry, or moan about our losses. We will respect the outcome of a lawful election and the margin of victory was so vast that we cannot, for a moment, blame foul play.

We respect the Office of the President of the United States, regardless of our respect (or lack thereof) of the man who holds that office. This is the person who was chosen by The People, and I will respect the outcome of their decision.

And Dean Esmay:
I did not vote for you, Mr. President, but you are my President, my Commander In Chief. If you f*ck up Iraq and Afghanistan, you can expect me to be your most passionate critic. You were wrong on Iraq from the beginning, and you will hear from me every day in that regard. But I otherwise must tell you: you are an inspiration. You have proven to the world that any child born in the United States can grow up to become President. You are, in many ways, proof positive that the American Dream is alive and well.

Here's what you can expect from me: I am a principled, passionate critic. I have very strong opinions on many issues, some of which we disagree on. But you are my President, my leader. I will never forget that, and I will never forget that you are living proof that the American Dream is a very real thing.

Hail to the Chief.

I agree with Connie and Dean.

MORE: Some common sense from Arthur Chrenkoff:

Obama ran as a Messiah, but now he has to govern like a politician. He will disappoint, as all politicians invariably do over time.
Excellent analysis. Read it all.

posted by Eric on 11.04.08 at 11:18 PM





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Huzzah! Free gas and mortgages for all!

Talldave   ·  November 4, 2008 11:35 PM

Lets just wait and see what happens in the Supreme court on Dec 1 when Obama will havew to prove his qualification for the position

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELECTION 2008
Will Supreme Court have say in presidency?
Schedule includes campaign response to questions on Obama birthplace

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: November 04, 2008
6:51 pm Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter has rejected an emergency appeal for the court to halt the tabulation of the 2008 presidential election


results until Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama documents his eligibility to run for the office, according to an attorney

who brought the action that challenges the Illinois senator's standing in the race.
However, the issue isn't going away, at least for now, since Souter set a schedule for a response from Obama to the challenge from attorney Philip J. Berg.
WND reported earlier when Berg brought his claims to the Supreme Court. That move came after a federal judge dismissed Berg's lawsuit alleging Obama is ineligible to be president because of a possible birth in Kenya.
The judge concluded Berg lacks standing to bring the action.

Philip J. Berg

The 34-page memorandum that accompanied the court order from Judge R. Barclay Surrick said ordinary citizens can't sue to ensure that a presidential candidate actually meets the constitutional requirements of the office.
Instead, Surrick said Congress could determine "that citizens, voters, or party members should police the Constitution's eligibility requirements for the Presidency," but that it would take new laws to grant individual citizens that ability.
"Until that time," Surrick says, "voters do not have standing to bring the sort of challenge that Plaintiff attempts to bring."
(Story continues below)

In a statement today, Berg said he was told by a clerk for Souter that his application for an injunction to stay the election was denied. But he also said the defendants "are required to respond to the Writ of Certiorari" by Dec. 1.
Get the book that started it all – Jerome Corsi's "The Obama Nation," personally autographed for only $4.95 – an amazing $23 discount!
The questions over Obama's eligibility first got traction among Internet bloggers and later were heightened when several campaigns were launched to determine whether a "certificate of live birth" posted on the Internet by the Obama campaign was valid.
The issue gained more attention when Berg told radio talk show icon Michael Savage he had an admission from Obama's grandmather that she was at his birth – in Kenya.
"This is a question of who has standing to stand up for our Constitution," Berg told Jeff Schreiber of America's Right blog. "If I don't have standing, if you don't have standing, if your neighbor doesn't have standing to ask whether or not the likely next president of the United States – the most powerful man in the entire world – is eligible to be in that office in the first place, then who does?"
WND senior investigative reporter Jerome Corsi traveled both to Kenya and Hawaii to investigate issues surrounding Obama's birth.
But his discoveries only raised more questions.
The biggest question is why Obama, if there exists a Hawaii birth certificate, simply hasn't ordered it made available to settle the rumors.
The governor's office in Hawaii said it was valid, but rejected requests for access, and left ambiguous whether the Obama birth certificate on file with the Department of Health was originally generated by a Hawaii doctor after Obama was born in Hawaii, or generated in Kenya and subsequently registered by the Obama family in Hawaii.
Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro, has claimed Obama was born in two different Hawaii hospitals.
And a video posted on YouTube features Obama's Kenyan grandmother Sarah claiming to have witnessed personally Obama's birth in Kenya.
As WND reported, Berg filed suit in U.S. District Court in August, alleging Obama is not a natural-born citizen and is thus ineligible to serve as president of the United States. Berg demanded that Obama provide documentation to the court to verify that the candidate was born in Hawaii, as Obama contends, and not in Kenya, as Berg believes.


Kirk   ·  November 4, 2008 11:57 PM

My biggest concerns about Barack Obama have involved his radical ties and his socialist leanings. I'm hoping that he's statesman enough to realize he's president of of the entire country, and pragmatic enough to understand the consequences of pushing too far to the left.

I think he'd like to govern from the center. I just have my doubts that he'll be able to, at least without having the Left turn against him. What's the over/under on how long after he takes office before one of his erstwhile backers first mentions his name and the phrase "Uncle Tom" in the same breath?

Joshua   ·  November 5, 2008 12:27 AM

>>>That he can turn out to be more moderate or even more libertarian than I thought.

Ha, you're kidding right? There are no instances, no actions throught Obama's career that would support the idea that he would be a moderate. At least you'll get some pretty words, eh?

This is the Carter 2.0 with a LBJ ego trojan. God help us all.

Roy Mustang   ·  November 5, 2008 12:53 AM

i'm so sick of people calling obama a socialist, other then want ing to tax people who make MORE then a QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS? taxing is a party of living in a society, or maybe you all would rather go back to fuedal times where laws are dictacted by the most aggresive war lord?
as for the whole supreme court thing, thats ridiculous. obama is 35 and born in america, thats pretty much it. even if by some freak turn of events he was found not to be the president, that wouldn't make mc cain or anyone else the president.
don't you guys get tired of stealing elections? wouldn't you like to win the old fashion way? do you even believe in democracy? or would you like the power to remain in the hands of wealthy men who look like you?

nick   ·  November 5, 2008 12:56 AM

i'm so sick of people calling obama a socialist, other then want ing to tax people who make MORE then a QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS? taxing is a party of living in a society, or maybe you all would rather go back to fuedal times where laws are dictacted by the most aggresive war lord?
as for the whole supreme court thing, thats ridiculous. obama is 35 and born in america, thats pretty much it. even if by some freak turn of events he was found not to be the president, that wouldn't make mc cain or anyone else the president.
don't you guys get tired of stealing elections? wouldn't you like to win the old fashion way? do you even believe in democracy? or would you like the power to remain in the hands of wealthy men who look like you?

nick   ·  November 5, 2008 12:57 AM

So what happens when Obama starts raising taxes on those who make less than $250K? You'll condemn him, right?

In any case, why is the government better suited to spend that money than the guy who actually earned it?

Roy Mustang   ·  November 5, 2008 01:37 AM

he is entitled to the same respect that goes with the office as Clinton and Bush were.

Our Affirmative Action President will get as much respect from me as Bush got from the Left.

Catbert077   ·  November 5, 2008 01:58 AM

I think he'd like to govern from the center

What about his words or actions suggest that? Everything about him says "hardcore Marxist".

Bob Smith   ·  November 5, 2008 02:20 AM

Of course share the wealth always starts at the top. Then, when that is not enough they move down the income ladder. Until any one living above poverty is subject to confiscation.

It builds black markets.

Who escapes? The very poor and the very rich.

M. Simon   ·  November 5, 2008 03:35 AM

"...or maybe you all would rather go back to fuedal(sic) times where laws are dictacted(sic) by the most aggresive(sic) war lord?"

Nope, no hyperbole there....

Oyster   ·  November 5, 2008 08:18 AM

I Most certainly agree with the hope that he will end up leading from a more moderate line than he used to get his votes. Im an honest believer in Moderation in government, gambling, drinking, spending, sleeping.. you can have too much of a "good" thing. Although, from a historical view, most presidents are more moderate in office than they are during their campaigns.. Although i recognize that this is not nessecarily the case with the past few elections..

D. Mattila   ·  November 5, 2008 11:25 AM

I Most certainly agree with the hope that he will end up leading from a more moderate line than he used to get his votes. Im an honest believer in Moderation in government, gambling, drinking, spending, sleeping.. you can have too much of a "good" thing. Although, from a historical view, most presidents are more moderate in office than they are during their campaigns.. Although i recognize that this is not nessecarily the case with the past few elections..

D. Mattila   ·  November 5, 2008 11:25 AM

We will attack positions, not the man or the Office. The Office of the President commands my respect.

Mrs. du Toit   ·  November 5, 2008 02:44 PM

Please pass this along...Time is limited, Thank You



Our Gameplan and Plan of Action!
« on: November 05, 2008, 08:16:18 PM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the original post from obamacrimes.com, it has been moved here so we can get organized.


Quote
THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE ATTACKED BY OBAMITES. IF IT IS, THE POSTER'S IP WILL BE BANNED FROM THE WEBSITE.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE WELCOME

The President is NOT OFFICIALLY elected according to the Constitution UNTIL the Electoral College meets to cast their votes, which is Dec 15, 2008. PLEASE STUDY THE LINK PROVIDED SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE ELECTROAL COLLEGE IS AND DOES. MANY POSTS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN SAID IN IGNORANCE. THIS MUST STOP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)#Meetings_of_electors.

We have time but not much time to still force Obama to present the original vault copy and have a team of forensic scientists http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensics make scientific tests that are accepted by courts, to insure that the BC was produced on or around 1961 when Obama was born. This would prove to all that Obama was or wasn't a native born American. IMO, all debate, but not all legal action (lawyers want the big bucks involved), should stop by all fair-minded people whether pro or con Obama

Here is the plan:

1. We need at least one Berg supporter from each state (much more hopefully from states with a large number of electoral votes) to volunteer some time and money for postage, printing, etc:(( nothing sent to me) to contact their states Secretary of State (SOS) via fax (keep proof of receipt) or certified Mail, return notice ONLY, asking for the names and contact information of the electors who will vote on December 15th.

IF Obama won in your state, then you ask for the DP Electors. IF McCain won in your state, then ask for the GOP electors. This must be done NLT than Friday, NOV 7th. BE SURE TO KEEP THE RETURN RECEIPTS IN A VERY SAFE PLACE. They may have to be used as evidence in a court action.

2. Contact me Dr. Doug Schell at poppop_schell@hotmail.com with the information that you have contacted your SOS. and I will place it in a spreadsheet to track our progress.

3. Compose a letter TO EACH and EVERY voting Elector asking him/her to seek a court subpoena in his/her local federal court to have the original, vault copy residing in the State of Hawaii made available for study by an independent team of mutually agreed upon, licensed forensic scientists who will independently conduct accepted forensic tests to determine if the BC was actually produced on or around 1961 when Obama was born. This test should not take more than 72 hours and then a report produced by these forensic scientists giving their INFORMED opinion of the validity of the BC. I will have a "form letter" available to use IF you so desire. The report must be done by Dec 1, 2008

4. As soon as you have written all the letters, again ONLY BY CERTIFIED MAIL, WITH PROOF OF DELIVERY, please send me a copy of each letter by regular mail. Keep the return certificate very safe. IT may be needed as evidence in a court case. Don't throw it away for any reason!!! I will record your actions on my spreadsheet.

5. As each answer from your Elector (DON"T WAIT UNTIL ALL ELECTORS RESPOND) is received, please indicate to me that same day via e-mail that this has occurred and I will record it in the spreadsheet. Keep doing this for every letter you receive back.

6. IF an Elector indicates a willingness to bring an action for Subpoena, call me right away at 336-983-7655. I will then pass this on to Phil Berg. I will let every volunteer know we have an Elector. Don't stop your work until all Electors have indicated yes or no. This should motivate you more to get Electors from your state. The more Electors willing to file from a number of different states, the more news coverage will occur.

IF any of you have legal friends who are willing to help us in this cause, please have them call me ASAP.

THIS CAN WORK AND WILL BE OUR LAST CHANCE TO STOP OBAMA. PLEASE BECOME A PART OF HISTORY AND IN DEFENSE OF OUR BELOVED CONSTITUTION.

GOD GRANT US HIS HELP IN THE BATTLE FOR HIS CONSTITUTION. I SEEK THE PRAYERS FOR THIS ACTION TO SUCCEED IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF FAITH.


UPDATE::

Secretary of State Listing for all states. These are the people you need to write to to get the names and addresses of the delegates.

AL: Beth Chapman
AK: No such office
AR: Charlie Daniels
AZ: Jan Brewer
CA: Debra Bowen
CO: Mike Coffman
CT: Susan Bysiewicz
DE: Harriet Smith Windsor
FL: Kurt S. Browning
GA: Karen Handel
HI: No such office
ID: Ben Ysursa
IL: Jesse White
IN: Todd Rokita
IA: Michael Mauro
KS: Ron Thornburgh
KY: Trey Grayson
LA: Jay Dardenne
MD: Dennis Schnepfe
MA: Bill Galvin
ME: Matthew Dunlap
MI: Terri Lynn Land
MN: Mark Ritchie
MS: Delbert Hosemann
MO: Robin Carnahan
MT: Brad Johnson
NE: John Gale
NV: Ross Miller
NH: Bill Gardner
NJ: Nina Mitchell Wells
NM: Mary Herrera
NY: Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
NC: Elaine Marshall
ND: Al Jaeger
OH: Jennifer Brunner
OK: M. Susan Savage
OR: Bill Bradbury
PA: Pedro A. Cortés
RI: Ralph Mollis
SC: Mark Hammond
SD: Chris Nelson
TN: Riley Darnell
TX: Esperanza Andrade
UT: No such office
VT: Deborah Markowitz
VA: Katherine Hanley
WA: Sam Reed
WV: Betty Ireland
WI: Doug LaFollette
WY: Max Maxfield

Best thing to do would be to google the name for your state and find the office address. That is where you would want to mail your request.

« Last Edit: November 05, 2008, 10:06:21 PM by DD_Kevin » Logged

Kirk   ·  November 6, 2008 03:42 AM

At this point, the Birth Certificate Truthers are starting to resemble Ron Paul spammers. The State of Hawaii certifed that Obama was born there, and there's a presumption of legitimacy of state records which cannot be overcome by Internet rumor. There's simply no case.

I liked LGF's comment:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/31773_Hawaii_State_Verifies_Obama_Birth_Certificate

***QUOTE***

Will this put a stop to the idiotic rumors? Of course not!

***END QUOTE***

But then, some people claim the 16th Amendment was never ratified, so go ahead. (It's free speech, even if I think it's an utter waste of time....)


Connie thanks for stopping by!

Eric Scheie   ·  November 6, 2008 07:53 AM

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