The Obamamoon is coming

Are you ready for the Obamamoon?

If, as I expect Obama wins and wins big, it will not be an ordinary victory.

The politics and the world you wake up to will be very different.

Obama will dominate the news and change the political atmosphere, more profoundly than seems possible even this morning. This isn't just one more US election. Even if Obama later fails, his election will be one of the great political events of our life.

Get ready for euphoria in the United States as the country congratulates itself on what it has done.

Get ready for a wave of hope in Europe, as critics of the United States buy into the Obama Presidency at least until he makes his first difficult decision. And that is months away.

Get ready for a crisis in American conservatism as they fight over the reasons for their loss. Together with the credit crisis, the election of Obama could help overturn the assumptions of politics in the West. The easy ascendancy of free market conservatism will be challenged in a way that it hasn't been since 1989.

Get ready for a fight in this country over the political narrative. The Government will argue that it has a new progressive left ally and that McCain, who visited the Tory conference, was defeated by the left. The Conservatives will argue that time for a change defeated it's no time for a novice.

Get ready for an intense love affair with Obama. In the months to come he will set the agenda, change fashions, make careers, alter the culture. There will be a honeymoon more heart felt than you have seen in politics.

It will be infectious, exciting, refreshing. And utterly ridiculous. But it will be a fact of life. Live with it.

Get ready for the Obamamoon.

Comments

[Michael McGowan]

Will somebody wake me up when this media-orchestrated hysteria is over? It's so boring....just like Diana's Funeral.

[Wilfred]

Daniel writes: "The Conservatives will argue that time for a change defeated it's no time for a novice."

Two problems with this: (a) Cameron is no Obama (b) The Conservatives are no Democrats.

If Obama's ascendancy is partly due to the collapse of the free market, light-regulation approach, then a Tory party still unsure of whether it wants large or small government, tax cuts or Keynsian spending, light-touch or increased regulation, is not going to cut it as the party of "change".

[carl king]

get ready for obamadiappointmoon!!

[vero]

there's still time - stop this man from getting in the white house!!!

[Jacob Dean]

After all of these years, America will be fixed. And Obama is the man to do it.

[Anthony Goodman]

Danny, assuming that Obama wins, I think you are underestimating the degree of bitterness that 40-50% of the US electorate will feel that their candidate was robbed by the "media elites" who refused to report on the real Obama character issues (his radical left early career and strange choice of friends and mentors) and policy issues (let's start with the economic trifecta of redistributive taxation, easing unionization, and protectionism).

I don't think Obama will get a honeymoon as he would have to deal with an economic crisis and the Biden-predicted international test whatever that may end up being.

In some ways this election is more like that of Major in 1992 - not the election you want to win as you have the poison chalice of an economic downturn.

Crisis of conservatism? If Obama doesn't get lucky with the economy, I expect that the mid-terms in 2010 will be bad for the Democrats.

[Stephen Armour]

Are you kidding? This man is perfect for the job. Better than a war "hero" *cough* captured twice* who is a carbon copy of George Bush except older and more docile and idiotic with a complete nutjob, Sarah Palin, behind him. The only reason i can see anyone vote against Obama is racist views, which is sickening.

[Simon Stephenson]

"There will be a honeymoon more heart felt than you have seen in politics.

It will be infectious, exciting, refreshing. And utterly ridiculous. But it will be a fact of life. Live with it."

And then there will be a further deepening of the disillusionment the populus has with its leaders, as Obama, despite having to hold out the hope of being able to make moonbeams out of cucumbers, in order to be elected, actually turns out to be human after all.

And the people, instead of understanding that realities are not built on their wishful thinking, will blame Obama, or his entourage, or anyone or anything that doesn't cause them to have to confront the only cause of their displeasure - the fact that they believed their adolescent fantasies can actually be achieved in practice.

We've seen it all before, haven't we? My solution? Illegalise ALL non-tombstone advertising, to allow people to regain the mindset that the only thing that's real is what actually is real.

[Time to Leave the US]

I never thought I'd see the day that I'd rather live in another country. I'm sorry that so many are dissillusioned by Obama. If you only new what corruption lies beneath. Try reading the book, "The Case Against Barrack Obama" by David Freddoso and then tell me that he should be President. The problem with most liberals is that they are mentally incapable of educating themselves... which seems so ironic considering most don't have jobs even though they are able to work.

[Ricardo Pommer]

With Obama now elected President I think we have to begin to shed some of this cynism with which we have treated all politics. It is true, the work is only beginning, this does not mean that all the problems the U.S. and moreover the world are suddenly over. It is true that Obama made endless promises he now has to keep, and that regardless of what he has said throughout his campaign he IS inevitably a politician.

Regardless of these issues that taint all politics, we have to realise that the U.S. voters have spoken. Barack Obama's election in itself is not a definitive victory over the ailments of late, but instead one that represents that the people of America are willing to take a step towards change. That a nation who would force a man fifty years ago to sit in a different section of the bus is now president of the most powerful nation of the world. That is a definitive change.

[Dianna]

Obama will have haters (Republicans), you had your chance (Bush), he FAILED 2 times!!!!! Now we are taking ours! Deal with it! A CHANGE has come! His name is Barack Obama!

[Dianna]

Change has come like a thief in the night! His name is Obama and he didn't wear a mask!

[Peter Barry]

God help the world and America now the totally biased media has inflicted the LIAR Obama Messiah on us all.

[Lalit]

The only one who kept a level head in all this celebration and euphoria is Obama himself - he has no illusions about the work ahead, and his responsibilities.

He played down his spectacular victory with his usual calm, collected, and subdued manner.

This is why he won - this is why he will succeed as President.

[christine in canada]

Thank you America! We are all so happy and filled with hope for the future. Anything good IS possible. Thank you from a neighbour to the North.

[Bontle]

Viva Obama Viva Phambili ngo mzabalazo!!!!!!! Take Americans to a new dawn and change Halala!!!!!!

[Kel]

I love how incredibly optimistic you are. And maybe you are right - we are in the honeymoon stage with Obama. How we handle it when the first difficulty approaches will be quite interesting - will it destroy the love?

And as for the comment about racism - I can honestly say that I do not believe that was a factor for the majority of those who voted for McCain. We just look at life a bit more realistically and wonder where all that money will be coming from to support all of his Changes.

[Dave]

Get Ready - To wake up

And be prepared to face world war 3
The great hype has happened.

" things can only get better "
anyone ?

[mam]

am so happy... this is the best thing that has happened in africa in general we are all proud of President Obama, May Allah help him and guide him through his time

[Paul Groom]

Do you really think he's going to moon at us?

[Bob Chippens]

I can see an Obama personality cult developing. Once the American people realise (will they?) that he has no magic wand and the bombs keep dropping on random countries, we could see some real problems for the world.

[Sylvia Arthur]

Struggle yes, disappointment no. Not this time. Obama has been very clear that change will come from all Americans who want it. This will not just be a struggle between elites that the rest of us watch on TV. There is so much good waiting to come out of America. WE are ready. WE are organized and ready to help heal our planet. We have a Fair Trade movement ready to grow. We are building strong local economies. So much has been kept out of the press. Now we have a president who will support our efforts not suppress, ignore and oppose them. Obama is not a superstar. He represents a lot of Americans who want the same things and have already begun working for them. We have a people's president!

[sobercounsel]

Obama-moon? He's going to show his bottom to the world? That would be rather rude.

[Hania Sholkamy]

As an Egyptian I wish to remind bloggers that there is a rest of the world and it is the rest of the world that has suffered the most at the hands of the Bush administration. Our sanity, the sanctity of our lands and futures, our markets and our respect for the idea of democracy have suffered at the hands of people who think the world is a commodity not a reality, a photo-op for personal advancement, one with no histories, complexities or choices.
This black man is the only hope for the project of the liberal west. He has restored you in the eyes of the world. Maybe even inspired some envy for a country that had lost its legitimacy, coherence and dignity. By voting for Obama the people of the USA have delivered a strong message of citizenship, confidence, and democratic change Please don't be snooty about this landmark victory. Please don't stay confined to the inward looking western-centric vision that will remain the remarkable and shameful legacy of the Bush era.

[Lesley Burgon]

Today I see the world in a different light - the light of hope. I cried for joy.
I'm European and wish that our continent had even a minor part of the democracy and courage shown by US citizens last night. Too much emphasis has been and still is attached to the colour of a person's skin, whilst the whole world needs to focus on REAL issues - and FAST.
Obama is a great and humble man and he'll do great things for your country. My heart is with him.

[Benunu Makoe-South Africa]

Viva Obama Viva! The Mandela of America has risen!

[BrianSJ]

Dream on. The realities of the global situation won't allow such a honeymoon. There are a lot of people hostile to the West who have been waiting for this moment - see how quiet Iraq has been for example.
See
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2008/11/the-stage-for-t.html

The consequences of running the dollar printing press are not going to be kind to all those AA voters.

No, very little chance of a honeymoon.

[Benunu Makoe-South Africa]

Viva Obama Viva! The Mandela of America has risen!

[Ronia Mamachan]

Congrats..........and wishing you all the future success , Barack Obama .

Hoping that the world will witness great changes . Let u be able to restore peace and take peaceful decisions .

BE THE MAN OF THE WORLD !!!

I love you and I offer you my prayers.......!!!!!

[roger haywood]

Obama's first mistake?

Could president-elect Barak Obama have made his first mistake in his victory speech? Perhaps not so much a mistake but an error of judgement, completely out of character? How important will be the white electorate to his presidency?

His speech was superbly researched - his references to a 106 year old black woman voter allowed a fascinating narrative thread. And an opportunity for him to run through 100 years of US history from just a generation after slavery, through the periods of segregation and oppression, to the vote and the victory today ... a future for all Americans in this the United States. He wisely covered, albeit briefly, all the peoples of the United States.

But what he may have missed is an understanding of the feelings of those white liberals who voted for him as the best candidate - and who also have been distressed by the treatment of and opportunities for the black population of the States. To most of them, what is more important than a black president is a decent and fair man who will encourage and promote shared values across all these peoples.

Inevitable the American media - and much of the world's - focus on the historic issue of the first black present being elected. But he did not win because he was black. If all the blacks, the Hispanics, native Americans, Asians and other minorities alone had voted for him, he could not have beaten McCain.

There is one fact about colour that he must not forget. Not only should we not be treated by the state and society on the colour of our skins, we should all remember we have no choice over this inheritance from our parents. The whites who voted for Obama also want justice and fairness across the USA (and in its international policies), not just for whites but for blacks and for all people.

Just a sentence about that might have been wise, Mr President-Elect. It is not a massive mistake, more a missed opportunity - and you have plenty of time to correct it. But remember, people should not have rights that are dependent on their skin colour, nor should they be acknowledged by this factor.

Roger Haywood
past-president, Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Barron Lodge Farm
Happisburgh
Norfolk NR12 0QZ

[Dave]

"The only reason i can see anyone vote against Obama is racist views, which is sickening."

Ridiculous.

Behind all the media hype and centrist stances taken by Obama during the campaign, let's not forget that he's (demonstrably) further to the left than any elected President in American history.

I base my opposition to Mr. Obama not on his color, but on his politics.

What is sickening is race constantly being used as a wedge in American political and social issues. I can recall not once where someone on the McCain/Palin campaign used race as an issue in this election, however, I can easily pick a dozen times or so (off the top of my head) that someone on the left side of the spectrum indulged in this.

[Abraham Nii Aflah Sackey(Lincoln)]

'Yes I have a dream' Martin Luther King Jnr has been fruitful. Finally, a black American mounting to the Whitehouse throne!Malcom X,Marcus Garvey,Rev. Jersey Jackson the legend Bob Marley and my own DR Kwame Nkrumah etc. dream for the black race has seen the day light at long last yes I know their souls will rejoice where ever they might be.

[Philip N]

"The only reason i can see anyone vote against Obama is racist views, which is sickening" Quite right if its true. However people should be free to make up their minds without being called racist. Personally I'd have voted for Obama but would have had grave concerns over protectionism etc. but that wouldn't make me racist.

[Maria da Silva]

"It will be infectious, exciting, refreshing. And utterly ridiculous."

"Utterly ridiculous" that Obama's victory is indeed "infectious, exciting and refreshing"? Quite the contrary... Not to change for the better is utterly ridiculous. "The whole" world can feel this new energy, this new perspective - and it's the whole world that matters.

Only someone who doesn't care about the rest of the world could have written such a text. Their kind of thinking is blatantly NOT environmentally-friendly. I truly recommend looking outside the box.

Oh Lord, give me patience with such thinking viruses, help me to tolerate "my inconvenient neighbour".

[Mike]

Michael McGowan – at least the US Presidential election is relevant to us and what happens to us, unlike the other event you mention.

[Anne]

What does VERO mean? perhaps we should tell the security service men standing around Obama.

[Mike Breland]

All I know is that for the first time in my life I see a President Elect that represents the world's desire for peace and communication as well as my own. Rather than another warmonger, involved with oil cartels and other shady big money, the vote represents the desire for change and goodwill.
Sure, he is only human. He will face touch decisions as every President does. Maybe he will dissolve the SS (homeland security) in our country and bring us back out of our Bush/Bormann era into a more compassionate human era.

[Sarah]

Whether we agree with it or not, it was once considered impossible, a black man as president. An impossible became possible. Just as many impossibles became possible over the centuries. Think about other impossibles that could become possible. Now that's a thought

[Chris]

Regardless of what is said about Obama, he is a gentlemen 'BORN TO BE PRESIDENT'. He has what it takes to clean up the mess that G.W Bush had created while we watched like a bunch of idiots! Obama is the type of man we all look up to because of his determination to succeed and the shining personality to go with it. He is a man of his words, he has worked hard to come where he is today only to help 'OTHERS'. He is a genorous man who is kind at heart and i can't think of anyone who would go against him while is President 'UNLESS' they are narrow minded brainless racist indiots who can also be classed as being 'A WASTE OF SPACE'. Coming from a neutral view, Obama could also be a role model to all the youths, which would help reduce the crime rates, the reason why i say this is because he is someone youths would pay attention to whereas McCain would be seen as 'a boring man with no humor'. Now having said all this you should all get a clear picture about the fact that THIS MAN IS ABOUT THE MAKE MAJOR CHANGES FOR ALL THE GOOD REASONS! Good Luck to Barrack Hussein Obama for the many happy years to come - He deserves to be President of the United States!

[Dave D]

In 2 years are state govenor and Congress elections. 46% of Americans oppose this puppet. Most are White Conservatives who believe in individual freedom and small government. Russian missiles are on NATO/EU borders,YOU will be tested, and fail. OUR fight has just begun.

[Pancho]

Guess what? The honeymoon will last until January 22, 2009. That morning Americans will ask President Obama? Have you fixed things. And if he ask fore more time, we will reply: More Time? What good are you for?

That's how finickey we are.

[Zen]

Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Quaeda are all dictatorships or fascist movements; they and are all on the march and they all have, or will acquire, nuclear weapons within the term of an Obama Presidency. Obama will not start a war with Iran over its acquisition of nuclear weapons; maybe not even their use of nuclear weapons. Overnight the world has become a very dangerous place.

For those of us outside America it is back to survival of the fittest; now is the time to be a nuclear-armed country. For America will not use its military power to defend Europeans ever again.

[Lilah]

I don't know what will happen...but anything is better than where we are currently. I had friends tugging me one way politically while my family and upbringing tugged me the other way. In the end, I had the flu to keep me from voting. However, destiny is what destiny is...now I hope to see changes for this wonderful country play out a little more favorably then direction the Republicans laid out from the last election.

[Mazzu]

Obama is a well deserved president, He has achieved a lot in the past 20 years which most of us will not achieve in 10 lifetimes! He did not become president by chance, he worked hard to be where he is today! Good Luck Obama, All the best! Mazzu

[Bill K.]

You overstate your case, Mr. Finkelstein. Yes, today's euphoria will eventually give way to political realities. But make no mistake, this vote represents a true historic shift.

- from Florida, USA

[Chris Bowling]

Don't expect especially strong conservative opposition to President Obama's agenda. Except for the neoconservative wing of the Republican Party, Americans will maintain their historical tendency to give the incoming President the benefit of the doubt, especially one who has won by a landslide which establishes a clear mandate. There will still be the small and shrinking core of unrepentent Bush supporters who will oppose whatever Obama does, but voters have now marginalized that faction.

[SUSAN HILL]

We all thought J F K was the New Messiah too.
I even know people who thought Blair was.

[Emmy]

I voted against Obama not because he is black but because he is a SOCIALIST YOU MORONS!

Obama is the right person fit for the job as he has displayed a higher maturity in solving the crises of the America people.

Abigail

[greg]

This election is a turning point for the conservative movement. For all practical reason McCain has done so much damage to the Republican party it will take 30 plus years for it to recover to the heyday of Reagan. If it ever does.

[Mark Haines]

Obamamania!!! Sheerly sweat dripping from the truly epic workout that Bush has pursued, the main problem being that he lacked the nourishment for it to be beneficial. Let the campaining for the 2012 election begin.

[elizabeth schumann]

Stephen Armour, you may not be a nut job, but you're obviously not very bright.Would you describe yourself as a typical Obama voter???

[elizabeth schumann]

You mean they're sending him, to the moon?? Thank god for that!!!

[Balwant Munglani]

Great victory for democracy and secularism! We all hope that America would be a better place and so would be the whole world.

Faith flagger fundamentalists Christians were totally defeated. They did all they could to keep the status quo however sanity of majority of American voters prevailed.

Three cheers to American voters. Please stay that way! Message for the World: Reject - Faith Based Politics, Faith Based Education and any Politician who flag up their faith based policies. I believe Faith - any faith of any religion leads to fundamentalism and that leads to inclination to terrorism against others and each other.

Only one and only one good thing has come out from the nightmare of 8 years of lunacy of GWB and Dick Cheney that Black and White voters were united and succeeded in electing Obama. Some achievement !!!

[Libby Bates]

I am not sure that some people really understand what this election means to America. Pundits try to pigeon hole the American voter. I am a 58 year old white middle class female, pro-life American and I am ecstatic about the election of Barack Obama. I supported him from day one because I saw something in him that has been missing in this country since the days of Bobby Kennedy. I would ask the rest of the world to give this guy a chance to bring peace and prosperity to a world that is tired and broken. It won't be easy and all the nations of the world are going to have to work together to heal this planet.

[Michael Nagle]

Racism is not why I oppose Obama. I oppose the barely-suppressed violence just below the surface of all this "peace and love." Note "Chris"'s remarks: those who oppose Obama are "indiots" (sic), and a "waste of space." This type of rhetoric should be anathema to any liberal-minded person. What, Chris, do you propose to do to all these "racist indiots?" Are you proposing a Soviet-style definition of peace: the elimination of all opposition? Never have I heard anyone on the political right propose such violent, hateful views. The left will inevitably become everything they feign to hate in the right, because, deep-down, leftists are bitter, angry, resentful, greedy, and violent.

[Nicole]

At first, when I read this I though you meant we were all going to be mooned..... but then I gagged closer to the end.... what a joke. Could someone please get us all back to reality. Does anyone care that Russia is planning to point missiles toward Georgia? That Iran is already making threats towards us? Does anyone care about that stuff? No, they want to know who made M. Obama's outfit.. Man, we have really lost our way.

[sonya]

OBAMA IS NUMBER ONE.....READ THIS AND REAP

[Bro]

Why is it the only people who call Barack Obama "the messiah" are the people who can't stand him? I have no illusions about how hard the job will be for him (or would have been for McCain), and he himself has said the exact same thing. I gave Bush a chance twice (not by voting for him, but by continuing to live in and support the U.S.). It's time for people whose candidates lost to do the same.

[Bro]

Michael Nagle wrote: "Racism is not why I oppose Obama. I oppose the barely-suppressed violence just below the surface of all this "peace and love." Note "Chris"'s remarks: those who oppose Obama are "indiots" (sic), and a "waste of space."This type of rhetoric should be anathema to any liberal-minded person . . . Never have I heard anyone on the political right propose such violent, hateful views."

I hate to tell you this, Mr. Hagle, but these exact same comments can be and have been found on any number of conservative Web sites, TV shows, and radio stations for the past several years. The only difference is that they are directed at "liberals" (however that may be defined), Democrats, and anyone of any persuasion who opposed the speaker's or writer's point of view.

[life insurance broker Toronto]

So, it has been hysteria for sure. I think even the South Park creators had the fastest reaction in the series' history :) But I think this will fade away very quickly. Maybe there will be some "fun" during his inauguration, but that's all. There are too many problems and they will become visible very soon -. Obama's charisma is not big enough to cover them...
Regards,
Lorne