44
One of my favorite quotes from the news coverage:
“[Barack Obama] is the first 21st century president.”
– Chuck Todd, MSNBC
What our peers across the pond think:
They did it. They really did it. So often crudely caricatured by others, the American people yesterday stood in the eye of history and made an emphatic choice for change for themselves and the world. Though bombarded by a blizzard of last-minute negative advertising that should shame the Republican party, American voters held their nerve and elected Barack Obama as their new president to succeed George Bush. Elected him, what is more, by a clearer majority than one of those bitter narrow margins that marked the last two elections.
Check out the comments, too.
Congratulations, America, I’m truly in envy of your country right now. Oh to be so politically energised, so motivated, so…ready to do something about the world, and not in a Daily Mail, let’s sack all comedians kind of way. Positive energy. I’d almost forgotten humans were capable of it, and I don’t say that with any exaggeration.
Worth staying up for.
bloody hell… what a country.. after all these years living here as an ex-pat, 28, I actually want to be an American. It’s 10 pm.. the kids stayed up to watch Obama’s speech… my teen and i just sat there and let out tears flow.. even my 6 yr was moved to tears….
From Adelaide, South Australia I congratulate all of those who voted for Obama. I’m inspired by this and it’s made me reassess my perception of the US. I had tears in my eyes today. A historic day for the US and the rest of the world. Wonderful.
Obama’s election gives rise to a depressing thought: his brilliance as a candidate is nowhere to be found in British politics. Our election in whenever is going to be a gloomy event.
Nevertheless, today is a good day. Congratulations America.
Sometimes I wish I was an American, in those moments where they seem to stand apart from us. Their endless optimism and their endless desire for change and movement and history. They make history, where as an English woman I feel I am just you know in it. I don’t know that much about life, or what it takes to be a successful adult because well I am just a student, full of that optimism and promise and you know I like to watch Jeremy Kyle. I sat up and watched Obama become the 44th American President, I watched Americans cry and I cried and I believed in him and his words and the fact that really, this is going to have an impact on us all and to say that we are not involved is really fruitless.
Derk:
For all the bad things people say about American there are moments in there history where the prove they are the greatest country in the world. When you see that the UK may vote for posh Eton toff as our next leader and their are less ethnic MP’s in Parliment than the percentage of enthic people in the country, then the UK can no longer claim to be more developed than the USA.
The USA is changing from a fist to brain. Good choice America.
I think the world just let out a huge sigh of relief; we can finally move forward and really move into the 21st century as a leader not by our might, but by the power of our example.
Truly a beautiful moment. I feel like I have witnessed a historic moment that, unlike 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq, is actually very positive.
I think in many ways it transcends the politics of Democratic/Republican and race. It’s a repudiation of the “spend a little time on the dark side” years of Cheney.
As a Brit ex-pat living in the US, I’m finally tempted into exploring citizenship. Hey, maybe there’s even a God…?