President Obama: Tell Us About Why You are Celebrating His Election? Share Your Thoughts With Other BuzzFlash Readers Here!

Amidst my tears of joy on election eve came the realization of why America had to live through 8 years of the Bush regime. The Reagan administration promoted a self-serving, self-absorbed citizenry and the majority went along with the concept. We became like addicts. And like most addicts, we had to hit rock bottom to realize the folly of our behavior, mourn for our lost souls, take responsibility for our behavior, grabb ourselves by the bootstraps, and rise back up and take control of our lives and in this case - our nation! Bush took us to that "rock bottom" place and we, as a nation responded by finally taking responsibility to kick our addiction, and move forward to actualize our potential and restore the greatness of our democracy. To aide us in our addiction recovery, came Barak Obama! The right man, the right leader at the right time. I'm so grateful for his personal sacrifice to lead our nation at this time of tremendous need.

I am celebrating today for the victory for our country and for the party of my Grandfather,who passed in 2005,and for my Mother,who passed last week before getting a chance to vote for her guy.Growing up in a large Democrat family and hearing the stories of all the elections my family has voted in,now I have a story for the ages.My Grandfather and Mother would have loved to have seen a Democrat and especially one from Chicago as we are from,to have won the Presidency.Finally this country will have a sane president who will work for the common man and who will help the unions get back to where they were when my Grandfather was working in the factories.We have someone in now who gets US and will help more attain the American Dream.Thank you all who voted for President Obama.

I left these comments on my daughters myspace in response to the sense of overwhelming emotion and history she feels about the first presidential election she had the chance to vote in. "It was a moment not seen in almost two generations. Not since Bobby Kennedy or his big brother Jack have the ideals been so clearly articulated. Nor has the stunning differences been made so clear. The crowds in the street composed of every ethnicity our land has welcomed, contrasted with a very monochromatic crowd. The middle class has begun to wake up to the fact that the policies of the last 8 years, which were and extension of Ronald Reagan's dismantling of FDR'S legacy, have failed them. Trickle Down (the irony of blatantly naming something so close to "we're pissing on your backs and telling you its raining"!) has been proven to be an utter failure. They should have woken up when G.W. made his crack to a collection of the uber rich that some may call them wealthy, but he called them "his base". Or when he made his hilarious ( sarcasm feel free to join in anytime! ) video about searching for WMD by looking under the desk in the Oval Office and delivering that patented cackle because he honestly thought that making a joke about his prima face reason for sending over 4,000 men and women to their deaths made a great punchline to a joke. As the distant relative of a man whose signature graces the South Carolina articles of secession and their communique to other states calling for "a confederacy of slave holding states", last night was the final nail in the coffin. When visiting my home in Florida I have often pointed to stars and bars license plate holders and said; " The South lost! Get over it!" Judging by the electoral map, they still haven't. But lets us hope our friends in the loyal opposition will heed the words of John McCain's finest speech. The one he gave last night. The one that when he mentioned the name Our president elect was greeted by boos. Lets hope that the "graciousness" of Dick " Go F*ck Yourself" Cheney is a creature that is dying fast death. The country is too deep in dutch to be playing the games of the last 8 years. Let us hope that the opposing party does not ignore McCain's call. And should they not heed the clarion call, and start using this quote in their defense ; "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." We will be there to point out that for the last 8 years we have been saying that. And having it fall on their deaf ears. The road ahead is a long and difficult one. The task is as great as World War Two, The Great Depression, and the divisions that Vietnam wrought, all rolled into one. This won't be a task defeated by the " go out and shop America, or the terrorists win" mindset that requires us to sacrifice nothing. The shirt sleeves are going to have to be rolled up. And not just for a photo op. This is the real deal. Lets hope that those in Washington on both sides realize that the people have spoken, and that should our elected officials fail, we can speak again..." That said, the future is so bright, I gotta wear shades!

The election is over,
The results have been shown;
The will of the people
is finally known.

So, let bygones be bygones,
We'll let it all pass:
I'll hug your elephant,
and you kiss my @$$ !

(I wish I could take credit for composing this poem, but unfortunately it's not mine!)

~~ Suz ~~

I must share something with you...I woke up today and I feel lighter than I have in YEARS!!! A few hours ago I received a special psychic "download" from Source that today is the 1st day of 1000 years of peace. And also did you know Barack is an Aquarian? Put 2x2 together and I believe The Age of Aquarius has officially arrived!! It's time to really start celebrating!!!!! Sending lots of love, laughter and lightness, Jafree www.EnlightenedBeings.com "Be the change you want to see in the world." ~Gandhi

This is a great,great moment in history,and I have to say I still do not understand how there were so many that "STILL" did not want a change from the 8 year disaster of GWB.You can "NOT" keep doing the same wrong thing ,over,and over ,and expect different results.

I now have, what millions of my fellow Americans feared that we may have lost forever...... HOPE. Hope for Justice, Hope for truth, Hope that the World may forgive America's slide into the cesspool of evil, that a power-hungry cabal has wrought. Hope that our Country can once again become UNITED and join other Nations around the World for the good of ALL mankind. Thank You, AMERICA, for allowing me to HOPE for a better day; for ALL of us.

A short list, not exhaustive

Hope v Fear
Future v Past
Thoughtful intelligence v Ideology
President of all v President of his supporters

I'm looking forward to

End of government sponsored/tolerated torture
End of spying on citizens
Return to transparency and honesty and no more secretiveness and lying
Public accountability and no more outsourcing of government functions to
private entities, eg Blackwater, for private gain and lack of scrutiny
Accountability and responsibility and no more lies and excuses.

I also hope that Obama will expect Congress to be part of the solution and
not part of the problem. No more overreach of executive power. Send David
Addington home!

Colleen Clark
Cambridge, MA

I, too, was a child, ten years old, when John Kennedy was assassinated, too young to understand. A little older when MLK, Jr., and Bobby were shot down. Not too long after that, a bit of maturity and Vietnam brought the reality of power fueled by insanity and inhumanity into sharp focus. The deaths of three great men took on a horrible meaning as I entered the work force and watched vicious greed run rampant all across the American "morning." God damn Ronald Reagan to hell! Yesterday I was eager like never before to make it to the voting booth, and I was there at nine in the morning. My heart was full of hope like it hasn't been since I was a teenager in the late 60s. As I walked out of the polling place a man robotically said to me, "Have a good day." I thought for a moment and replied, "I think it is going to be a good day." He looked at me and he knew exactly what I was talking about. He agreed, and there was something there between us, a knowing, a hope that had been becoming an expectation over recent weeks that was a growing fire in our hearts. He was a black man, I am a light complexioned mixed-race woman. For that moment we were connected in ways that people hope for all their lives, in ways I havn't seen for over a generation. Then, I spent the day crying off and on, being swept up in emotion over and over again. Feelings overwhelming me at seeing history being made, a history too long in coming; at seeing ordinary human beings choose intelligence over absurdity, unity over divisiveness, choose real strength over mean-spirited brutality. When this country first began bombing Iraq my heart screamed. I wanted so much to show the world that we are better than that; I had to believe that were are better than that. Yesterday we showed the world that are better than that. Finally, finally, finally, for the first time in more than forty years, I am finally proud to be an American! God, yes, I'm proud!

It's simple really. I am a white female who was born and raised in the South. I have witnessed hate, racism, and hypocrisy until I began to hate people...I became extremely misanthropic. In my 20's I had the chance to travel to Thailand and stay for about 2 months. It was eye opening for me to see what people were like who had far less but had so much more. They were inspiring because of their simplicity, their no nonsense way of life. They wanted great things for all people of their country, they were unselfish, they were always optimistic, always smiling. They were peaceful, not violent. When I came back to the US it was bizarre. It was such a contrast to a place that made me feel euphoric. It seemed like I had come back to a scene right out of Lord of the Rings...where everything seemed dark and full of bitterness...full of divisions that were abysmal. Bush had turned off the lights, constructed the partitions, and added the ingredients necessary for destruction. I was sad...I saw us going backwards...I thought the great experiment was possibly going to fail. Everything the founding fathers fought for, everything good that had ever been fought for...seemed only still alive in history books. I wanted to move, I wanted to go somewhere where people were happy, where I could regain my trust and confidence in people. I wanted to feel every day...like those 60 I felt in Thailand. And when I felt like I was at a tipping point...Barack Obama stepped into view. I listened to him, I watched him...he made me turn my head and he kept my gaze. I believed in him more with each passing day. He was different, he cared. I knew that he felt sad for our country too and he was worried about the future and I knew that he could do something about it. He turned on the lights. He turned off the bitterness, he took down the partitions, and he will work hard to fill in the abyss. I will, as an inspired citizen, stand with him...he makes me happy and he gives me hope just like he does so many others here and around the world. He is brilliant, he is humble, he is charismatic, and he is serious. Thank you Barack Obama, for giving us you.

I'm in my SUPREME HAPPY BUBBLE today and floating on top of the world! Whilst I understand that there's a lot of work ahead for all of us, I also understand and celebrate that the right person has been elected into office to inspire us all towards our goals. And I realized, listening to President Elect Obama's acceptance speech last night that I was living in an historical moment; an African-American man was going to be our next president! I felt proud of our country, that at last, we were determined to choose the best person our country has to offer to lead us towards a ethical, peaceful and compassionate future.

Finally an event has come to match the music of the incomparable John Coltrane. Our nation's new therme song (not anthem) should be none other than "GIANT STEPS". Go Obama, go USA, go Coltrane!

Personally I feel a weight has been lifted from my heart, and a feeling of dread no longer hangs over me. For the country and the world, it feels like a grave injustice has been righted, FINALLY! Mostly, I feel gratitude for the great gift that is Barack Obama.

I am celebrating the end of Republican tyranny. I am celebrating the fact that democracy in this United States of America is alive once again. I am celebrating to the point of tears that finally we have a president for all of the people in this Nation. And may God bless President Obama, Vice- President Biden, Howard Dean and all of the managers and advisers whose brilliance gave us the opportunity to take our country back! There is HOPE after all and I pledge from this day on to do everything within my power to help our new government rescue our country,the world and our environment from the bowels of hell. Thank you very much...there are not enough words to say.. Nancy Lynn Nagy TN -Home of the former President Al Gore Jr.

Along with the possibility of sane, competent government and the possible demise of the GOP, I'm looking forward to an end to paranoia among progressives. How nice it will be to read Buzzflash every day and not be treated to a fresh round of blogging about the impossibility of fair elections or the certainty that Bush will declare martial law. This victory demonstrates that, while Rove, Cheney & Co. may have dreamed of a permanent Republican majority under an all-powerful Unitary Executive, they aren't now and never were capable of bringing their dreams to fruition. Conspiracy paranoia is ultimately a cop-out used to excuse one's self from taking responsibility for the tough and long job of facing our real challenges. Now that we have put a couple big fantasies to rest, I hope all progressives will put their shoulders to the wheel. This may be insufficiently celebratory for you, but I'm celebrating, nonetheless.

I am VERY proud today. The USA FINALLY kicks some real ass. And the coolest (for want of a better term) thing is that an Afro-American Woman will be our First Lady!!! With PRESIDENT OBAMA (sounds nice, donnit?) the world will look at the USA with fresh and respectful eyes. PS I celebrated during Obama's speech with champagne (that is, FRENCH wine) PPS We will not suffer Sarah as our VP, whoppeee!!!

Well- Obama is so open and intelligent and kind and relaxed and ready! Definitely the person for the job. And I got soo excited when he included the word "GAY" in his acceptance speech- I am a lesbian and I don't think a president has ever really included the GLBT community in a favorable way in speeches at all. Just amazing. At one event in Tempe- I was 'crossing the bridge for change' with my greyhound and the crowd was chanting yes we can- since I live in Arizona it only seemed fitting to also chant Si,se puede! A Hispanic lady next to me smiled and we were both chanting SI se puede across the bridge together. Obama is a wonderful person who will help to unite (not divide) our land. Truly truly a great moment for all of us. I kept thinking of Styx- Paradise Theater- 'Tonight's the night we'll make history...........'

Coming in peace
Coming in hope
Coming in love.

In his landmark book The Nature Of Prejudice, Gordon Allport demonstrated that prejudice was inversely proportional to the amount of contact one has with a group. Maybe, just maybe, an African-American president would at least lessen the amount of bigotry in our country ("You may say I'm a dreamer/But I'm not the only one").

This is also an opportunity for America to regain both the respect and sympathy proffered in the wake of 9/11.

Might I be presumptous enough to make the following recommendations:

U.N. Ambassador: Bill Clinton
Sec. of Defense: Wesley Clark
Sec. of Vet Affairs: Tammy Baldwin
Dir., CIA: Valerie Plame
Dir., FBI: Colleen Rawley
Press Sec: Eugene Robinson

The latter would have to give up his syndicated column and his spot on Countdown, but at least we'd have a voice we could trust at the podium.

I am exhausted...bordering on ecstatic. Maybe I could use a vacation, but unfortunately I won't get one at present. It looks like we picked up a number of seats in our State Legislature also yesterday, which means we'll have to plug the new reps into the system, make up Web pages for them and so forth. I didn't get much rest last night. It was just about impossible to sleep. And I probably shouldn't have had so much to eat and drink either, and will certainly pay for it as the day goes by. Tonight I'll crash. I spoke to my son on the phone just after they announced California for Obama last night; he was in Grant Park in Chicago (he lives on Chicago's South Side near Barack's old neighborhood), and even over the phone the excitement level was incredible. Should I lay out details of the entire day? I should? Very well... Got up yesterday morning around 5 a.m. and drove to three precincts in succession to put up campaign signs at their respective polling places. I remained at the third polling place, the Penn Twp. Fire Company, and handed out literature from 7:00-1:00. This was a very different experience than I was accustomed to, because although we live in an exceptionally conservative area of Pennsylvania, so many people coming out were giving me the thumbs-up, or crossing their fingers and saying fervently "I hope he makes it!"...or even giving me a big smile and saying "I voted for you!" (which really confused me, leading me to wonder just what office I was running for). At 1:00 I picked up the first tearsheets from 2 precincts and delivered them to the people who would call those who hadn't voted yet. I grabbed a very hasty lunch, which I ate in my car, parked outside a fourth precinct. From 3:00-5:00 I was poll watching at that precinct, then at 5:00 I took those tearsheets to a phone caller and went to pick up the sheets from two more precincts (understand, this is a very rural area, the precincts are our townships, and driving around between them can take from 40 minutes to an hour). Stopped home to feed the pets and clean up the dog shit off the living room rug. Drove into town to the party headquarters, paid a call at the Obama office, came back to party HQ. Stayed way too late...eating, drinking, being interviewed by local newspaper, and leaping up and down, clapping and cheering. Helped clean up some of the mess afterwards. Went home and fell into bed. Sleep? Hah! A highly overrated commodity...and on November 4, 2008, nearly impossibly to obtain anyway. The fact that my story from yesterday is not in the least bit unique, has echoes and resonations and all that good stuff with so many, many others across our country, tickles me no end. I have been waiting for this since Bobby Kennedy was taken so cruelly from us, and at last the dreams have borne fruit. It has been worth everything we put into it and more. Together we have made history. Peace, Morgan

I feel as if we have been on a long, horrendous journey and at last have reached the end. For this I am ebullient and elated. But I weep for the blood, destruction, suffering and tears of the last eight years. I cannot help but think of the millions of lives, treasure and countries that have been destroyed. I think of the young soldiers without limbs who are forced to live the rest of their lives maimed, all because of the egos of the Bush administration. Of course I expect far too much of President-elect Obama. I would not want to be in his shoes. But I think he has the judgment, fortitude and integrity to make this a better country and ameliorate the destruction wrought on us. I weep now for joy.

How good it feels to say those words, even though we have to wait til January for the swearing-in. This is the song that comes to mind, "This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, Age of Aquarius, AQUARIUS..." It's a song of hope, a song of change, a song we should have been singing at the turn of the century. Now is the time; the whole world is watching. My faith is restored in my countrymen, and my flag is flying high.

During the election, I wasn't really what might be called an "Obama supporter." I favored Dennis Kucinich in the primaries, and after he dropped out of the race, I rather reluctantly favored Obama over Hillary Clinton. I found her tactics and unfavorable comparison of Obama to McCain to be unsettling at best. Obama, although in many ways inspiring, seemed to be too attached to corporations, too reluctant to promote progressive ideals, and too mired in the status quo for my political views. However, I voted for him in the primary election and certainly preferred him over McCain. I encouraged my friends and acquaintances to back Obama and to vote for him. Although I was disappointed in his FISA vote and would rather have seen a more liberal pick for vice president, there was nothing truly distasteful about Obama, and he was a far cry from Bush.

In view of my hesitant support of Obama before his election, I was stunned at the intensity of my own emotional reaction when the results were announced. I lived through the civil rights era, and the idea that America could overcome its racial prejudice in the 40 years since Martin Luther King's impossible dream seemed unimaginable. I remember my mother telling me about a time in the late 50s when the great singer, Marian Anderson, had to stay in a private home in a Pennsylvania city where she performed because no hotel would allow her to take a room. I remember the dogs and fire hoses and a friend who was arrested in the south because he thought a "colored only" sign in the laundromat referred to clothing.

I watched the events unfolding on TV, going from one station to another, trying to truly comprehend what had just happened. Jon Stewart, in a moment of great sincerity, announced that America had lived up to its highest ideals. One Black announcer on CNN, to whom I apologize for not remembering his name, talked about how he could now tell the young people in his family that they could be anything they wanted, and it would be true. I watched Jesse Jackson as tears ran down his face, along with all the young black and white voters celebrating, and I felt like I was part of a great historic moment.

Obama's speech about unity, and even McCain's very gracious concession speech, in which he pleaded with his followers to accept and support Obama, were indications of a basic optimism for America. Before the election, I was very concerned that there was no way to pull us back from the abyss created by Bush and his horrifying policies. I even entertained the idea, however unlikely, that the election might be cancelled.

Instead of the doomsday scenario I envisioned, Real Americans rallied. We overcame centuries of racial prejudice and decades of regressive politics to elect a man of color who seems to embody integrity, dignity, and intellect. All of this is sorely needed in a country beset with leaders who were, at best, ignorant and misguided and, at worst, duplicitous, power-hungry, and greedy. For the first time in eight years, I actually have hope for my country. In fact, for the first time in eight years, I am truly proud to be an American.

Dorothy Strinka We stayed up until 1AM this morning, too excited to go to bed. This will probably seem lame to most youngsters, but when you reach your 70sand 80s, that is something wonderful! I was so worried all day , Husband Karl kept saying" Don't worry, he will be elected" We are so overjoyed today!!! Dottie and Karl Strinka PS: We are also proud our State Florida finaly voted the right way

To say "of historic proportions" would the supreme understatement. Congrats to a nation of an "again" emerging politically sentient population -- how long that sense of involvement and participation will last and what measures we ALL have to take to keep that awareness of involvement alive is now very important and our individual responsibility. The challenges are enormous but so is the depth of intellect, creativity, innovation and commitment to hard work when it is demanded of Americans and inspired by a man capable of restoring intellect to national leadership! As a republican -- last night was a refreshing moment for national renewal. Well wishes to us all.

After eight long dark years under the Bush Administration and the onslaught of its deceitful and divisive policies, we can now hold our heads high because under the direction of and inspiring words and actions of our next president elect, Barack Obama, we finally felt the sense of hope we needed to change America's course, pointing ourselves in a new and infinitely more positive direction. Let this victory signal the end of tyranny, cronyism, elitism, theft and deceit that plagued this great nation for so long. Let's now work to undo the damage that was done, and come together as one people, unified and strong, to restore the ideals and the policies that made this nation great. Congratulatons, America! And congratulations to the whole world, who is celebrating our victory with us!

I still can't believe it...the 8 years of hell are behind us (not the aftereffects, unfortunately). That funny feeling I've got in my stomach is not distress and tension, as usual. I think it's pride and happiness. Can we really be proud to be Americans again?

While part of my mind was focused on the various political perspectives of Obama's win, I also laughed out loud, so happy Michelle Obama will be our First Lady!!! My heart bubbled with joy when I thought of Malia and Natasha in the White House!! Children in the White House, Hurray!!! I imagined two young beautiful girls growing up in the White House. I can't wait for Michelle to put her own personal stamp on the role of First Lady.

It has been a long road getting to today: They said Obama could not beat a Clinton ~ Yes he did! They said voters would not support a black man even though Obama is actually bi-racial ~ Yes they did! They said Obama would never beat McCain ~ Yes he did! Can we take pride in his victory ~ Yes we can! Can we change this country ~ Yes we can! Will we help Obama change this country ~ Yes we can and we will!

Ever since Diane Sawyer told me in 2000 that "It's all over for Al Gore", I felt punched in the stomach, and I thot, 'There goes the environment'. More than the environment went down in these long 8 years..... Last night, when, at 11:00 when I witnessed the blue ink spill down over Washington, Oregon and California, and the words 'President-elect Barak Obama' appeared......... well,,,,,I'm different today. Maybe it's in the 'exhale'~~

This clean, true win feels good! This absence of shame feels good! This truth that we can rejoin the world as citizens of something larger than our own selfish interests feels good! This knowledge that hope and hard work can bring seismic social and political change feels good! This dear, battered, partially shattered democracy returned to us by our own hands & hearts feels good!

Before this election, I had rewritten my will, written my elected officials concerned that Bush would call for martial law and put troops in the streets to support another stolen election. I was prepared to take to the streets nonviolently to fight and die for this country in order to have fair and accurate elections. I have been consumed since 2004 regarding the fraudulent election of Bush and all of his criminal activities. I have combed the web, written elected officials and letters to the editor, called or e-mailed neocons and their commentators to repudiate their vicious lies. I have been glued to Buzzflash, Air America, Thom Hartmann, and Keith Olbermann grateful for their facts and truths. I was an election judge in my community. My community has changed. It was originally an all white suburb. Now, it is an amazing mix of Asian, African Americans, Africans, Latinos and Indians. What surprised me was that almost 30% of our precinct are registered independents. This may be the next important political issue in that Americans are choosing to be independents rather than choosing to be Republican or Democrat. I held my breath when I got home election night. I was aware that Neocons were trying to steal this election based on the news that at least 15 states were experiencing major attempts at voter suppression. I watched the numbers and I did not relax until Obama's numbers were over 300. I telephoned my friend at 12:30 am to share in the celebration and we listened together to Obama's acceptance speech, she cried and I was quietly cheering almost each line of his speech. I cried a bit but I am still waiting for more political fallout because I will never trust Republicans again. I will always be looking over my shoulder to see what mischief they are up to. They tried to make slaves of all Americans. They sold us out. Obama's win was such a joy, not only did America rejoice but the world rejoiced. Obama voiced the hopes and dreams of the America I remember. Here is one issue I hope gets more attention. How can we keep Obama and Biden and their families safe and secure? I fear an assassination attempt on Obama. But, what can I do?

I am 67 years old and entering the twilight of my life. But this morning I woke up rejuvenated with a new sense of well being -- like being a young man again! The American Experiment has moved forward and rejuvenated itself in the process. Our National Nightmare may be ending and the hard work of repair is ahead, but at least it is finally moving in that direction. I feel I can again be proud of our country and that it is capable of realizing the dreams of our Founders. I am so proud of all of us.

After EIGHT horrible and outragious years with Bush&Co, I feel like a drowning person who has FINALLY been able to reach the surface of the water to inhale a breath of fresh air. I went to bed last night at 8:30pm because I thought for sure the election would be stolen and McCain would be called the winner. My nine year old daughter, who has been just as excited about Obama winning as I have, woke the household up this morning by her screams that Obama won! Obama won! I couldn't have asked for a better way to start the day! Obama brings intelligence, calmness and compassion to a desprately needed nation and world; and I look forward to his presidency like you can't imagine. OBAMA!!!

I'm celebrating Lieberman's statement that he'll vote with the republicans. Now we can remove him from all committees.

I am still in shock. I thought that I would never see the day when a black man could be elected president. Being a boomer, and taught politics by my mother who was a Roosevelt Democrat, I have longed for intelligent and genuine leaders to spawn from the Democratic party. For the most part I have been disappointed and have suffered through years of republican treachery and misdeeds. Now, at last, I can be proud of my president and work with confidence to change the direction of our country, understanding that the process will be long and arduous, thanks to the low life bush. Regardless, I am ready, as is my family to help the country find a new direction and help many people realize the dream of being part of an inclusive America.

After watching my America torn apart with hate and fear for my entire adult life--finally--we end the division and begin to be a people, one people, united in our desire to improve, not destroy. I admit, for the first time in my adult life, I'm really proud of America.

Since she has been on the Champaign Trail, I have been concerned that the Russkies might launch an attack on 'merica. As you know, when Putin rears his head, the first place he flies over is Alaska.

Congratulations on finally electing not just a President, but also a Congress that will give you the the government and leadership you crave! You've done well!

My wife and my eyes welled up. What a great night for America. The last 8 years have really been a national nightmare. We think Barack Obama is the man to restore the reputation of this great land, and it starts today. I have added "Barack Obama" to the spell-check dictionary! John

I am a European, and frankly would not have believed it possible for America to elect another Republican after the last eight years.
Last night's result just had to be.
But Obama is not President-Elect by default.
His qualities, which have steadily developed and matured within as little as one year, are qualities showing decency, common sense, and, above all, the ability to listen.

Just what we all need.

Yes, Buzzflash, I'd love to share what thoughts I have on M. Obama's election day! It took this to make me register with your site, although I've been a marcher and a militant since the age of nine, and a faithful reader of yours for years. Finally, I feel I can stop apologizing to everyone about everything ... I was sorry for being French. I was sorry for finding it difficult to defend the greatness of the USA when facing my bemused, often disgusted AND fascinated students of English.( and oh, please, while everyone is in the mood, can you people remember that " America" also belongs to other countries, as i am tired of repeating to classes ?) I was sorry I had an English mixed race boyfriend (i.e: black) everytime he got stopped at European borders ,and I didn't. Everytime he asked me to translate a joke or a comment about him or us, and I wouldn't. I was sorry my only family in America are French canadians with Lebanese roots.( my cousin is a muslim who was also baptized in a Christian church and her husband is a second-generation muslim: they were both adorable when I introduced them to my partner for almost two years, a transgender woman) . I was sorry for being bisexual and never being able to tell my nice, old godfather who wonders why I don't visit anymore. I was sorry , on one chilly day at the gate of a detention site near Toulouse (for immigrant families who struggle to get their papers,even though they were born , grew up end work in France) that the policewoman was polite with me and unpleasant with the Algerian angry young man. this was a few weeks before the Sarkozy nightmare scenario turned real. Guess what the young man said:" I might vote for the first time!" ( they have both nationalities to choose from ; but you could sense a feeling of rejection in his bitter words) Sorry, really sorry, that I didn't try harder to make it happen in my own country. Most of all, I was so sorry that my bright 16 year-old daughter kept foreseeing a horrible future for herself and the planet, swearing she would never have children of her own, because of the legacy that would be left to them. Sorry is over for today. Listening to President Obama's first speech, I felt I belonged, no matter where I am from or who I am. I cried on the day Mandela was freed. Then he got down to work. Let's all do that! Issey ( Toulouse, France)

I am overjoyed. I'm a "boomer" and for the past 8 yrs. I feel as if I've been holding my breath - as another writer stated, I can finally exhale. I don't think it has totally sunk in yet! But, YES WE CAN! Its certainly a bright, new day.

I know this is only the beginning of the restoration of our great nation. Still, just knowing the process has begun is such a relief. I will sleep well tonight. I spent my afternoon as a poll watcher at a near by precinct, and only found out just before the polls closed. I couldn't help but smile. I felt so relieved by Obama's win that I went straight home and turned my flag right-side-up after flying it upside-down for almost 2 1/2 years to express the distress our Constitution was under. CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA!

Americans can now hold their heads up, having demonstrated our ability to prevail over our worst inclinations.

Obama has proven himself to be a tough, capable, and thoughtful politician; so we progressives should not feel bound to coddle him. After today's celebration let's start pressuring him to ditch some of the centrist naratives that he viewed as essential to a electoral victory, but which many of us feel marred his campaign.

A smart guy like Obama must know that a bloated insurance industry has no place in a civilized health care system, so its up to us to get him and congress to build a system of single payer/universal coverage. A smart guy like Obama must know that an increased military presence in Afghanistan is a recipe for a quagmire, so lets pressure him to end all of our foreign wars. We also must remind him that the weapon of executive power forged by Bush is not one that should be weilded by an American president, and urge him strongly to dismantle the unconstitutional fiction of the Unitary Executive that he has inherited.

But today, lets celebrate our asses off!

Ken Duerksen
Oxford, Ohio

Our country's racism has hurt me-- and I am white. When I saw African Americans weeping and laughing during Obama's acceptance speech and saw a tremendous burden lifted out of their eyes, and something new in their faces that I've never seen before: I felt it too. Somehow, I've internalized some small part of their suffering (I'm not saying I feel it as they feel it ---of course I can't, I don't). But somehow racism has hurt me in the way that it does when one person has to observe injustice to others. It brutalizes the observer too-- because we're all connected. I felt such joy for the happiness of black people tonight, and I hope this is the beginning of a real change of attitude in our country. I was eleven when Kennedy's horse drawn caisson carried him to Arlington cemetery. I remember the slow and measured sound of the horse's hooves on the street. Something broke in me, and I think I never recovered. Then; Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy -- it seemed all the beautiful ideas had been smashed to pieces and there was no hand to pick them up, put them together, and make them real. I never dared to hope again, until now. Those beautiful ideas have just been waiting. Obama's speech showed me he can pick up those pieces, his hand can pull excalibur once again from the lake, his eyes see into those beautiful places, and he, with our help, can make this country into what we always wanted it to be: a beautiful land, diverse, complex, fair, and free.

Richard Ferry San Jose, CA: At the end of Xmas break, 1966, I & 3 other white kids sat in the back of a Continental Trailways bus on a slow ride from Huntsville to Birmingham. The driver pulled to the side of the road and came back, shouting and ordering us to "get the hell outa the nigger section". We refused to move. He cursed us and threatened to throw us off the bus. We refused to move. Defeated, he went back to the front and drove on. Soon after, I had a black friend stay at my dorm room on a spare mattress at the U of Ala. When I came home that day, there was a sign posted above my door: "Would you believe a nigger slept here on Saturday nite?" I put up my own sign: "Even as you do unto the least of my brethren, you do unto me". I signed it "Jesus Christ". I left both signs up for a week. No one would look me in the eye. Later, the dorm monitor asked me to take them down. I still have them. I picketed Governor Lurleen Wallace (George's wife, who ran in his place when he was termed-out) at the University of Alabama in 1967 with 25 or so other "hippies and niggers"; we got spit on and cursed by 300 fine, Southern Christian gentlemen. I am so proud to be an American tonite.

After the excitement and joy of a hard won victory, I pray that we can put an end to any gloating or talk of payback or revenge, of "we" beat "them". We have a very hard road ahead and we can only make the journey safely by walking it together. President elect Obama gave a very stirring and pointed victory speech. He stressed the need for us to work together for a common goal, the rebuilding of this once great nation. He made no arrogant references to "Political Capital" or narrow views of what HE wants to do. Instead he talked of unity and hard work, including ALL Americans of all stripes. If you really believe this man is the one to bring us to a better future, a better country and a better world, then follow his lead and seek ways to find common ground and minimize our differences. As a new day dawns over America we must all come into the sunlight and grid ourselves to face the challenges we must meet as one people, with one goal: healing our injured country,

I am in the stratosphere over the Obama victory. I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime. I was in elementary school during the Kennedy administration, and Obama reminds me of him quite a bit. However, there has never been such a historic voter turnout, and of course the milestone of a black man being elected to the presidency, wow. And just Obama's sheer intelligence, poise and charisma. I am just high over it all, and it is simply indescribable how much this victory means to me and as it appears, to the whole wworld. Halelujah!!!