Barack Obama has been inaugurated as president of the U.S.!

[Pride]

If you watched CNN just a few hours ago, Obama was elected president and gave his speech.

If you REALLY watched CNN during the elections, you'd see Blitzer-Kenobi with a hologram using camera tricks.

Check the front page of CNN here:

http://www.cnn.com/

[jake2k]

what?

[Pride]

Hi.

[MattBlackLamb]

I'll be interested to find out what the next 4 years are going to be like...

[david.atwell]

Well, I truly believe that the nation made a big mistake today. But the world didn't fall apart when Bill Clinton was the president, and it won't fall apart now.

I think that having an African-American president is a truly historic event. I'm proud of our nation for ignoring racial prejudice (though more than a little bit miffed that they still voted their gender prejudice). And had he been, in my eyes, the best candidate for the job, I would have gladly voted for him.

But the biggest problem with this election- and the thing I hate the most- is the gloating of the Obama cult. I am sick of their attitude. He's not the Messiah, people. He's just a human running for president, and he WILL make mistakes just like everyone else.

[startreksuite]

I am happy my vote counted yesterday. I don't expect miracles, but if someone believes that McCain would have made a difference to the country, I have a bridge to sell you. :twisted: Sorry if I upset any republicans, but I think we need to fix the economy first, then get back to foreign policy, which is what the republicans are supposed to be good at (dubya not a good example.) Hillary wouldv'e done alright, but she used her campaign to slander her opponent too much. Oh well, crossing my fingers and hoping the next four years have a positive outcome.

[david.atwell]

startreksuite- you can have an opinion, but when you start insulting my point of view, I have to stop you. Express your opinion without being mean next time. Thanks.

[Sozo]

Ugh, Obama... that's really all I can say.

David: I feel ya on the Obama cultist thing. Some of the professors at my school are so obnoxious.... "I voted for righteousness yesterday" and other junk like that. Then he rails on the GOP for not doing more about things like banning abortion! As if his party doesn't have the exact opposite view!?

Ugh, democrat fanatics...

[survulus]

Well, I truly believe that the nation made a big mistake today. But the world didn't fall apart when Bill Clinton was the president, and it won't fall apart now.

I think that having an African-American president is a truly historic event. I'm proud of our nation for ignoring racial prejudice (though more than a little bit miffed that they still voted their gender prejudice). And had he been, in my eyes, the best candidate for the job, I would have gladly voted for him.

But the biggest problem with this election- and the thing I hate the most- is the gloating of the Obama cult. I am sick of their attitude. He's not the Messiah, people. He's just a human running for president, and he WILL make mistakes just like everyone else.

The problem is, those who didn't vote McCain/Palin could be accused of "sexism" and similarly those who didn't vote Obama/Biden could be accused of "racism". But in this case I don't think it mattered. And of course he'll make mistakes. But so would anyone else, the main thing is he'll be making fewer mistakes than old George W.

And I have to admit I didn't like Palin anyway. McCain, though I disagree with some of his policies at least seemed to have the intelligence to run for president. Ironically for the republican party they chose somebody who I saw as not qualified for the vice-president job but also not expreianced, which was thier accusation of Obama.

But anyway, I hope we won't be seeing her again. Though McCain's speach really did make him seem such a brilliant person, being so gracious in defeat hasn't really been seen in politics for a long time. I appreaciated that a lot.

[david.atwell]

survulus, I agree completely. Both the concession and acceptance speeches were very gracious and kind to the opponent. I approve.

[BoltBait]

Here comes the socialized health care system...

(Wait- why is socialism 'bad' and socialized health care 'good'?)

Here's my view:

If I'm being asked to pay for your health care, I want a say in how you live your life. I want all tobacco products banned. I want all alcohol banned. I want all fatty foods banned. I want the national speed limit reduced to 55. And, I want mandatory exercise programs instituted. ASAP!

[david.atwell]

I agree. BoltBait for President!

[Bobofthedead]

They were good speeches, but why is everyone railing against Obama? From an outsider's perspective, the rest of the world are glad that America has a president who doesn't view American foreign policy as the be-all and end-all of world politics. Having grown up with an administration that propagated that view, it makes a nice change to see an American President who might consider that what America has said and done was not the best path purely because the decision was made by an American.

Plus, could someone please tell me what is wrong with Socialism? You talk about it taking away from the rich, hard-working American, but what about when the bubble bursts? A hypothetical you loses your job and can't keep up the payments on the mortgage, which now the bank can't support for long without you paying. So no house, and no system to back you up well enough. Then, you fall ill - not a week of 'flu, but something serious, something for which you can't afford the boosted premiums for the insurance for the privatised medical system that America still uses. What then? Who can you turn to if you don't have a government that can keep you housed, fed and healthy from cradle to grave. You can quote statistics about privatised medical systems having higher survival rates for X or Y than nationalised, but if you can't pay for it, then you're going to die or be crippled permanently from X or Y anyway, 0% chance of medical help: family and charity can only support you so far.

Rugged individualism, or justifying a system that allows for no safety net by giving to charity can not help you when you really need it. It works during times of affluence, but when the crunch comes, as it has, Socialism kicks in, as it has done many a time historically: look at vast projects like the Hoover Dam.

Sure, the super-rich whose families have vast amounts of money to spend on the finest of chemotherapy and drugs for diseases of all magnitudes may complain, but if they have the money to support their purchases of vastly expensive toys from the mucking around of the paper economy, then they should have the money to support the proponents of the real economy.

Oh, and BB, isn't the speed limit in the USA pretty low anyway? You get a say anyway: you just gave your "say", along with 130 million of your fellow countrymen.

[survulus]

BoltBait for president! Though I have to say it's a bit soon, and I'm enjoying my British free healthcare a fair bit. I just think nobody should really be left behind is all, but I certainly see your point!

[Bobofthedead]

To be honest, the NHS is imperfect, but it is certainly a better system than none and a "help if you can pay" attitude.

[Simon Brown]

BoltBait for President!

[oma]

BoltBait for President!

his background is a little rough around the edges! no pun intended

good one Simon!

[survulus]

What do you mean? That's an actual picture on an actual backdrop, taken at Washington Photography Studios for the next election!! That's what BoltBait really looks like! The first cartoon-ised president. It'd be a real step forward.

[Bobofthedead]

No thanks. Whilst I like the guy, I can't agree with his political views. Mind you, a flickering, hand-drawn-esque president in the Oval Office would look good on film. Especially when making addresses from the White House.

[BoltBait]

Fail.

I'm not republican.

Make it 'Libertarian' and it's all good. More info about my party: http://www.lp.org

[Bobofthedead]

Libertarian, huh? Sounds like a less incorrigible version of the Republican party.

Mind you...

Step 2. End Prohibition

Drug prohibition does more to make Americans unsafe than any other factor. Just as alcohol prohibition gave us Al Capone and the mafia, drug prohibition has given us the Crips, the Bloods and drive-by shootings. Consider the historical evidence: America's murder rate rose nearly 70% during alcohol prohibition, but returned to its previous levels after prohibition ended. Now, since the War on Drugs began, America's murder rates have doubled. The cause/effect relationship is clear. Prohibition is putting innocent lives at risk.

Go afro-drug-related-banter privileges!

Still, seriously though, they don't sound like a party I could not get along with in the driver's seat, with some policies I genuinely feel support for, but I can not agree with their policies on welfare and health-care.

[Simon Brown]

Make it 'Libertarian' and it's all good. More info about my party: http://www.lp.org

I didn't think they had a seal. :oops:

There has also been a lot of news coverage.

[MattBlackLamb]

I definitely agree with their prohibition policy. If drugs were legalised they could be monitored & standardized which would make them safer. It would also mean they could be taxed & make a large amount of money for the Government.

[david.atwell]

I think I break more Libertarian than Republican nowadays...but since a third party candidate stands little to no chance of election in today's political climate...

[BoltBait]

I think it's time we infultrated both major parties and surprise them with freedom!!!