61 replies to this topic

[furrykef]

and I was stoked that Obama didn't have a "squeek victory" in which he only won by a tiny margin, Obama got 338 electoral votes and McCain only got 155.

Well, although electoral votes are the only ones that matter for winning the election, it's not really meaningful in terms of reflecting public opinion. If McCain lost by only one vote in every state, he would still only get electoral votes in the two states that split their electoral votes, making him look like he suffered an extremely devastating defeat, when actually he'd have lost by only 51 votes (50 states plus DC). That's how screwed up the electoral college is.

I wouldn't say Obama squeaked by on the popular vote, but I wouldn't call it a landslide either.

- Kef

[Tristan Palmgren]

Furrykef: 52-46 is still wider than any election since... well... I was old enough to remember. Certainly wider than 2000 and 2004.

[chief]

heheheeh Black Man in a white house.... Ok anyways

How long do you think it'll take someone to try to kill him after he enters office?

Don't know, but would not be surprised if he was. I know this is a pessimistic thought, but what if someone made it so he could win, only to off him after, just to show that any one could get in, but it takes only what the "offers" want to stay in. I know, I know, this is not how the world works. But I don't want that to happen. I like the guy.

But on another note, I had to go to a panel discussion on the election today instead of Poly-sci class and I have to tell you...too many people are banking on the big O to fix all the problems. What if he can't? What if can only do a little, or worse yet, what if he makes things worse?

Well I doubt he can fix every problem with Yanky land. Way too much screwed up down there to fix in 1 or even 2 terms.

[fishtheimpaler]

Furrykef: 52-46 is still wider than any election since... well... I was old enough to remember. Certainly wider than 2000 and 2004.

Someone was pointing out: Karl Rove got credit as a genius for both of those elections. Way to squeak it out, man!

Clinton beat Dole by about ten points in 1996 and Bush by 5 in 1992. It's before that that you start reaching some serious blowouts, such as Reagan over Mondale by 19 points in 1984. I remember as a child in 1988 being confused that we had to have a different President, now.

[randomizer]

How long do you think it'll take someone to try to kill him after he enters office?

He's gotta get there first. Why the heck do you Americans take so long with everything political? Your election campaigns last for nearly 2 years and you take several months to change over the keys to the White House. Here in Downunder we can have a government changeover in 4-5 months or so, and that includes campaign period.

[Tristan Palmgren]

Because everything sucks bigger here.

[Anaesthesia]

heheheeh Black Man in a white house....

I'm slightly worried about Obama's inexperience, but I can at least sleep at night knowing that Palin's not going to be anywhere near the White House—Lord knows what would happen if McCain won and was constantly a heart attack away from making that blithering know-nothing leader of the country.

[randomizer]

Well, about a year before the actual elections we have Primaries, where both parties contest within each other to find who will be the most suitable candidate. They bid in each state for votes from delegates and Super-delegates and usually the one with the most delegates at the end of the primaries will get the nomination from the WHOLE party.

You go through so much effort and money just picking a candidate? For us we just have a couple of party leader candidates step up, the party votes who they want, that person takes over the "running" of the party. All done in a week. We don't necessarily do it before the election either. John Howard lead the Liberal party here for more than 11 years (13 I think, but the first two had a break between them and the latter 11).

[chief]

Yea I like our way too... We can get the campaign, party elections, and whatever done including final elections in like 4-5 months

[SatAMHOG]

I might be in the minority here, but honestly...I didn't really go for Obama. I mean, I think it's great we have a black president. It's the man's questionable character that I'm worried about.
My Mom and Dad were Democrats but have never believed that a Democrat President could ever ultimately work for this country.

To give McCain and Palin credit, they were outspent and just didn't hit Obama where they should have if they wanted to win. Obama simply was too big to defeat. He's the male equivalent of Oprah. Now, I'm not saying McCain's my man either. I voted for him just because I didn't like any of the other candidates. McCain's a war hero and has seen a lot of action...I took experience over looks and fancy promises. I went with my gut.

I've asked a lot of people why they went with Obama and their reasons are pretty simple...he's more likable, McCain's too old, Palin is too dumb (she's the governor of Alaska and the last time I knew was enjoying favorable ratings), he'll lower taxes for 95% of Americans, etc...but they also reiteriated that they weren't too knowledgable of his politics or character, which is scary to me...you should know where a man stands and what he believes before you hand him the keys to the White House.

I don't claim to know the man personally and through and through...it's just that I find it worrisome that a lot of Americans seem to vote for Obama simply because he "looks and feels better" than TEH EVIL President Bush. He's promising CHANGE, something that has been brought up in past elections as a gimmick to sell on those willing enough to fall into the trap. Well, over 50% of Americans bought into the gimmick.

Now that Obama's president, I think he's going to realize how difficult it really is going to be to implement the CHANGE that he promises. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt...but he needs to do a lot to make me change my mind about him totally. I'll respect him as our leader, but not for the values that he carries personally. He's just too far to the left for me.

I do hope you see my point...as Americans, I believe it is our right to do and say as we please as is our right granted by the U.S. Constitution. But I also believe it is our right to defend that which we believe in on an individual basis...our moral center. I just hope Obama's moral center is one that leads America in the right direction.

[Valerie Valens]

So I guess since everyone blames Bush for everything (usually rightly so) from the economy to the common cold right now, that means when Obama gets in office and something goes wrong, I can just go to finger pointing and bitching incessantly, right?

I mean, there's no such thing as double-standards in politics, right?

We don't need another Louisthehedgehog, so don't even start. Even the left-leaning members here didn't like it when Louis was constantly shitting up the debate and vents section with whiny leftist crap.

[randomizer]

I just hope that Obama changes your country, and doesn't actually try to "change the world."

[Valerie Valens]

What's wrong with a global improvement agenda?

[chief]

So I guess since everyone blames Bush for everything (usually rightly so) from the economy to the common cold right now, that means when Obama gets in office and something goes wrong, I can just go to finger pointing and bitching incessantly, right?

I mean, there's no such thing as double-standards in politics, right?

We don't need another Louisthehedgehog, so don't even start. Even the left-leaning members here didn't like it when Louis was constantly shitting up the debate and vents section with whiny leftist crap.

Well... Thats rightish crap. Not left Left is your deomcrats etc... Right is your republicans.. Well... Ok Democrats are still right just not as right.

The american political line is pretty much set at:

(right) American Nazi Party --------- other pointless shit ----- Republican ---- Democrats -- (center) -----shit that no one ever hears about--- then finally the commie party

[randomizer]

What's wrong with a global improvement agenda?

Because there's no such thing.