I must say that I never thought I would live to see the day — the day that someone who is not a white male gets elected as the President of the United States of America. Not that it was impossible, as recent events have obviously shown, but until a few months ago it seemed highly improbable. History was against it. The divisions within this country seemed to have increased if anything over the last couple of decades and for someone to transcend a contentious issue like race seemed like an impossibility. Yet, here Barack Obama stands, the 44th President-elect of the United States of America! And winning with a landslide (338-156) at that!
While this election (both the lead-up and the actual result) includes many firsts it also marks a change for the Democrats — winning the presidency and gaining a significant majority in Congress. This hasn’t happened since the first term of Bill Clinton’s presidency and that lasted for only a short two years. So, this could be either an incredible opportunity to bring about positive “change,” or one to lose your way in partisanship. This is a fine line the new President will have to walk.
In my opinion, some of the best decisions for a country (and society in general) have happened when the legislature and the executive are perhaps from opposite sides of the aisle. When you can put aside your pet projects rooted in ideology to meet with, and gain consensus from, the other side then that process maintains a critical balance in society. Traditionally when both sides are aligned to the same ideology and level heads give way to emotion then it is possible for the government to push through legislation that could alienate a significant portion of the populace and perhaps cause long term harm. Any doubts and one should look back to 2000-2004 period to study the reasons why this country is stuck in what seems like a never-ending war in Iraq.
Article comments
1 - Arch Conservative
Prior to Barry winning we already had more minority representation in our government than many of the snobby European nations that look down their noses at us as they call us racists.
2 - Christopher Rose
Oh look, Arch is spouting his usual positive message again.
Do you actually have anything of substance to support your latest sad little outburst or it it simply yet more prejudice?
3 - Dave Nalle
Chris, you forget that Arch probably couldn't point to Europe on a map.
Dave
4 - Glenn Contrarian
My posts on BC in support for Obama have been compared to 'literary rimjobs'.
But you know what? If the reaction not just of the United States, but of the world as a whole is taken into consideration, it looks like I'm in pretty good company.
5 - Arch Conservative
My latest outburst being my earlier post on this thread Christopher? Or were your referring to my venting last night.
On this thread I was merely pointing out that many Europeans like to be dmeaning and refer to the USa as a racist nation but we actually have more minority representation in our governments than most European nations do. Also I can't hink of any European nations who've had non-white leaders.
6 - Lisa Solod Warren
In that case, Glenn, Obama must be feeling no pain right about now:)
7 - Glenn Contrarian
Arch -
That's because we proved in the strongest possible terms that America CAN do what they can't - or won't - do.
Remember what I said about Obama being able to LEAD the world? Besides the expected jubilation in Kenya and Indonesia, there are celebrations being held on every continent (link deleted to get past spam filter):
"This is the fall of the Berlin Wall times ten," Rama Yade, France's black junior minister for human rights said. "America is rebecoming a New World. "On this morning, we all want to be American so we can take a bite of this dream unfolding before our eyes," she said.
In Britain, a newspaper borrowed from Neil Armstrong's 1969 moon landing in describing Obama's election as "one giant leap for mankind."
"On the streets of Rio de Janeiro, people expressed a mixture of joy, disbelief, and hope for the future. "It's the beginning of a different era," police officer Emmanuel Miranda said. "The United States is a country to dream about, and for us black Brazilians, it is even easier to do so now."
But my favorite came from Bangkok - beautiful place, been there twice:
"What an inspiration. He is the first truly global U.S. president the world has ever had," said a 29-year-old Thai sitting at a Starbuck's in Bangkok. "He had an Asian childhood, African parentage and has a Middle Eastern name. He is a truly global president."
Remember this day, Arch, and mark my words - your grandchildren and mine will read about it with deepest pride and appreciation of being an American citizen.
8 - Lisa Solod Warren
But please remember Glenn:
we Amuricuns don' care nothin' 'bout whut no stinkin' Europeens think of us!
9 - Lisa Solod Warren
I mean, Isn't Thailand IN Europe? Right NEXT to Rio?
10 - Clavos
"Remember this day, Arch, and mark my words - your grandchildren and mine will read about it with deepest pride and appreciation of being an
Americanglobal citizen."There. Fixed it for ya, Glenn.
11 - Baronius
Glenn, all that seems to prove is that foreigners are more stupid about America than Americans are about foreign lands.
12 - Les Slater
Clavos #10,
Should have taken the 'n' off of the 'an' before the strike-through 'American'.
Les
13 - Dr Dreadful
You Americans need to bear in mind that until relatively recently, your non-white population was far larger than that in any European country.
In the UK, while there are none currently, there have been several government ministers from ethnic minorities in the past. It just takes time to find a weak spot in the glass ceiling.
And I would also remind you lot that we elected a female leader 30 years ago. And in America... What happened with that?
;-)
14 - Baronius
What happened with that? We don't have a gal like Thatcher here.
Wait a second; maybe we do....
15 - Dr Dreadful
You have many, Herr Baron - and on both sides of the aisle, too.
Which is why I still think Palin was a bizarre choice. I wouldn't go so far as to say it cost McCain the election - a combination of Wall Street, campaign strategies and George Jr did that - but there were dozens of more qualified Republican women he could have chosen from.
16 - bliffle
...we do, but she's a democrat, Baronius.
17 - Dave Nalle
Remember this day, Arch, and mark my words - your grandchildren and mine will read about it with deepest pride and appreciation of being an American citizen.
Sadly they will no longer have any of the benefits of American citizenship, but they will at least be able to read about it as a historical curiosity, along with obsolete concepts like 'national sovereignty' and 'private property rights'.
Dave
18 - zingzing
yes, dave, we are going to totally kill your way of life. kill it and stomp it upon the ground! stomp! that's what we all want. except you people.
how can you be so paranoid?
19 - Glenn Contrarian
zingzing -
Dave - like Baronius, Arch-C, and all the other naysayers, is just bitter.
We were bitter too in 2004 - but the wheel turned as it always does.
20 - Arch Conservative
Yes Glenn 1/22/13 it turns again
21 - Zedd
Doc,
It's understandable for leaders in Europe to be European. Whites in America are not the natives. So they don't get to hold power indefinitely. It's their land. It's every one's land (sorta). If Native Americans had been in power over 43 presidencies, it would make sense. So you have nothing to explain.
22 - JCMorgan
I agree, I hope that we can get past the race issue and move on to more important things like running the country and getting the Republicans to work with the Democrats. Obama has a lot of work ahead of him, but he needs bi-partisanship.
23 - Ms. Know
My thoughts are America didn't think their choice through, and it will come back to hunt us. The fact that the liberal illuminati have full control, makes me nervous.