We're all gonna rock to the rules that I make -- Election 2008

[RGMike]

Watching the election coverage last night the phrase "Proud to be an American" ran thru my mind, which of course reminded me of this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJmB75jzzIE

(No actual video, but you get to hear the song anyway.)

To add another musical note (and perhaps cap this thread -- maybe we should start an "Obama Presidency" thread?), I got this from another board and (as I'm not orchestral-sndtk-music-savvy) I can't comfirm its accuracy, but it makes sense:

Anyone else catch the music played when McCain took the stage for his concession speech and then when he left?

Taking the stage - "Days of Thunder"; Leaving it - "Crimson Tide"

The first, an anthem for red state NASCAR fans and the second, from a film about an old school maverick who is stripped of his command by a younger black guy.

And Obama just ended his speech with music from Remember the Titans - the story of a team of white and black coming together and putting all their differences aside to win a championship

[RGMike]

A nice rejoinder to the neanderthals who passed Prop 8 (written by a straight guy):

http://therecshow.com/2008/11/05/heres-a-proposition-suck-my-dick-california/

and in other right-wing headlines, that Michelle Bachmann bitch got re-elected.

[RGMike]

Aside from the presidential election, which I have high hopes for at this point, it would be really great if the Dems could capture a few more seats in the senate (is 60 too many to hope for?)

Heard one scary scenario regarding Ted Stevens in Alaska, however. If he's somehow still able to pull off a win after his conviction on seven felony charges, he resigns after he takes office. As governor, Palin gets to appoint his successor, so she appoints herself.

And that, my friends, scares the crap out of me.

can she legally appoint herself?  Maybe she'll appoint Todd.

Thought I'd update this: I've read from several diff sources that Alaska law says she doesn't appoint a successor, but has to order a special election.

[urth]

Aside from the presidential election, which I have high hopes for at this point, it would be really great if the Dems could capture a few more seats in the senate (is 60 too many to hope for?)

Heard one scary scenario regarding Ted Stevens in Alaska, however. If he's somehow still able to pull off a win after his conviction on seven felony charges, he resigns after he takes office. As governor, Palin gets to appoint his successor, so she appoints herself.

And that, my friends, scares the crap out of me.

can she legally appoint herself?  Maybe she'll appoint Todd.

Thought I'd update this: I've read from several diff sources that Alaska law says she doesn't appoint a successor, but has to order a special election.

Did a little digging, and found that yes, that's correct. In most states, the governor can appoint an interim successor to the vacant seat. Alaska changed that policy when Gov. Frank Murkowsky (Palin's predecessor) appointed his daughter to fill the senate seat he had just vacated to become governor.  So a special election would have to be held for Stevens' seat if he were to resign or if the senate ousts him, which at this point seems to be the more likely scenario.

[Gazoo]

"let's remember that he won overwhemingly ...  there is NO affirmative action for the presidency"

Why the F would it even occur to them to say this?

Never mind, I know the answer.  They want to reassure the inbreds in Arkansas.

Sorry to hear Michelle Bachmann retains her seat - makes it even more of a crime to punch her in the face.

[Tinka Cat]

"let's remember that he won overwhemingly ...  there is NO affirmative action for the presidency"

Why the F would it even occur to them to say this?

Never mind, I know the answer.  They want to reassure the inbreds in Arkansas.

Sorry to hear Michelle Bachmann retains her seat - makes it even more of a crime to punch her in the face.

I was sort of half-listening at that point, but I think you hit it:  they brought up race as a factor and were basically saying this guy is smart, he capable, it wasn't handed to him. All the anchors there were in agreement, natch, and that comment was said with some (attempted) humor.  It wasn't funny, but it didn't come off as bitter or mean, either.

[Wayback]

Did any of you catch this during CNN's Election coverage?? 
Check out the embedded videos:
CNN beams in guests with new hologram technology
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081106/ap_en_tv/tv_cnn_s_hologram

[ggould]

Did any of you catch this during CNN's Election coverage?? 
Check out the embedded videos:
CNN beams in guests with new hologram technology
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081106/ap_en_tv/tv_cnn_s_hologram

it was the weirdest thing.  "Help me Obi-Wan!"

[SFGuy]

I know you folks would love Obama to govern from the left but I think he has to be a centrist or risk losing the gains the Democrats have in 2010 in areas that were previously Republican. He can't let Pelosi/Reid move him to the left. Remember there are a lot of moderates in the Democratic Party.

[RGMike]

I know you folks would love Obama to govern from the left but I think he has to be a centrist or risk losing the gains the Democrats have in 2010 in areas that were previously Republican. He can't let Pelosi/Reid move him to the left. Remember there are a lot of moderates in the Democratic Party.

Oh I think he will govern from the center -- he's not dumb and strikes me as quite a pragmatist. (Of course when I say "center" I mean a rational human being's idea of "center", not FOX News's version  )

[mshray]

"let's remember that he won overwhemingly ...  there is NO affirmative action for the presidency"

Why the F would it even occur to them to say this?

Never mind, I know the answer.  They want to reassure the inbreds in Arkansas.

Sorry to hear Michelle Bachmann retains her seat - makes it even more of a crime to punch her in the face.

I was sort of half-listening at that point, but I think you hit it:  they brought up race as a factor and were basically saying this guy is smart, he capable, it wasn't handed to him. All the anchors there were in agreement, natch, and that comment was said with some (attempted) humor.  It wasn't funny, but it didn't come off as bitter or mean, either.

I agree.  There are lots of people out there, both black & white, for whom the success of any African-American (outside of entertainment & professional sports) has a hidden asterisk:  *may have benefitted from affirmative action.  Remember, the guy who tried to kill affirmative action in CA was black, and Clarence Thomas makes no secret of sharing this opinion.

So the further significance of Obama's election is that <John Houseman voice> He EARNED It </John Houseman voice>.

As The Economist put it:  "beginning with no money & no name recognition 20 months ago, Barack Obama took on - and defeated - the two most formidable political machines of this generation: the Clintons & the Religious Right.

[mshray]

I know you folks would love Obama to govern from the left but I think he has to be a centrist or risk losing the gains the Democrats have in 2010 in areas that were previously Republican. He can't let Pelosi/Reid move him to the left. Remember there are a lot of moderates in the Democratic Party.

I ABSOLUTELY want Obama to govern from the center 90+%.  My biggest hope is that an Obama presidency means that moderate pragmatists can completley pull the rug out from under extremists on both sides of the aisle (see my comment about Rahm Emanuel knocking heads, incl. Pelosi's, on the Obama thread).

[urth]

Yippee! Looks like Jeff Merkley, the Oregon Democratic challenger for Gordon Smith's seat in the senate, has pulled out a narrow victory. So tally one more for the left side of the aisle.

Btw, I fully agree that the Dems have to take a more centrist stance, not only so they can get more done over the course of the next session of Congress, but looking forward, so they can maintain their majority thru the next election cycle. If they start pushing a far-leftist agenda down everyone's throat they're just going to engender more bad feelings and cause more problems down the road.

[mshray]

If they start pushing a far-leftist agenda down everyone's throat they're just going to engender more bad feelings and cause more problems down the road.

Other than the single issue of marriage equality (and y'all know where I personally stand on that), I can't even think of what 'a far-leftist agenda' even entails.  Climate crisis: mainstream.  Find a sensible, non-abrupt way out of Iraq: mainstream.  Beef up Afghanistan & finally nail Bin Laden: mainstream.  Extend health care: mainstream.

Re: Senate races, according to Peter Finch this morning the MN Senate race between Rep. incumbent Norm Coleman & Dem challenger Al Franken, Coleman led by 200 votes & it was going into recount.

[urth]

If they start pushing a far-leftist agenda down everyone's throat they're just going to engender more bad feelings and cause more problems down the road.

Other than the single issue of marriage equality (and y'all know where I personally stand on that), I can't even think of what 'a far-leftist agenda' even entails.  Climate crisis: mainstream.  Find a sensible, non-abrupt way out of Iraq: mainstream.  Beef up Afghanistan & finally nail Bin Laden: mainstream.  Extend health care: mainstream.

Re: Senate races, according to Peter Finch this morning the MN Senate race between Rep. incumbent Norm Coleman & Dem challenger Al Franken, Coleman led by 200 votes & it was going into recount.

I keep hoping Franken will pull it out, if only so we can truly be living in The Al Franken Decade.