Congratulations to Barack Obama and his supporters. As a fan of politics, he really pulled off an incredible upset. This was Hillary Clinton’s year and everyone knew assumed it. We know what happens when we do that.
As an American, it is of course, an historic moment. It says so much about how far this country has come just in my lifetime (Class of ’69). Juan Williams on Fox just now said it so much more eloquently than I ever could. What a great moment watching him react. I will inset it here as soon as it hits You Tube. (30 minutes later) Well, that time is now,
That said, there is the potential for Obama supporters, of any color, to throw around the race card over political disagreements. That has already happened and I hope it does not become the norm. That would be like stealing defeat from the jaws of victory.
John McCain’s concession speech was first class. Krauthammer called it a “particularly eloquent exit.” He also called Obama “an entirely self made man.” Good point. He’s no Kennedy offspring, somebody born on third base.
I expect this to be a harbinger of things to come from Republicans, here’s Jim Manzi at The Corner,
Legal racial segregation was prevalent in America within living memory, yet we appear to have just elected a black man to the position of maximum honor, authority and influence in the country. The manner of this political victory is important, as well. This was not some prize bestowed upon him, and Barack Obama didn’t just buy a winning lottery ticket; he out-smarted and out-worked both Hillary Clinton and John McCain. 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…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.
Stay classy Republicans, don’t become like the deranged left that you have grown to despise. I don’t expect to see hate filled rage and nonsense like “he’s not my president!” that we have had to endure for the past eight years.
Two things are on display now, liberalism and the cult of personality.
Barack’s opportunity is to resist the impulses of the Pelosi-Reid Congress. He could really develop a center-left coalition if he does. I’m not saying I would be part of it, just that such an opportunity exists. If he acts as President as he did as a state and US senator, it will be the ultimate example of the divergence between his words and deeds.
Now it is the Republicans who are the ones invested in hope and change. They hope Barack Obama is the centrist of his word and that he changes from the liberal of his deeds.
Here in Massachusetts, it is deja vu all over again. Two years ago we were awash in hope and change. Instead of new opportunties, change and a different kind of government, we got Deval Patrick robo-calls for a career criminal. (Yes, I know the calls were before the BRA-zen afternoon snack. She was a career criminal then!).
We could be pleasantly surprised by Barack the Pragmatist. I sure hope so. Or we could get the Barack we were warned about.
Obama’s biggest enemy now is not the Republicans, but hubris.
Random Thoughts:
Coming into tonight, I thought 60 in the Senate was the most important number to watch. Now I’m not so sure. Republican senator Susan Collins won tonight, that is one vote that could go either way on almost any issue. How many others will be running scared? Fifty seven or eight might be close enough.
Barack Obama is one thing, but John Murtha??????? Nooooooooooooo.
John Sununu is a good man and a good senator. Massachusetts owes New Hampshire an apology.
The last thing left tonight is keeping Al Franken out of the Senate.
“The sun will rise, the sun will set, and I’l have lunch.”
-former Red Sox GM Lou Gorman, after being fired (Hat Tip: Shannen Coffin)