DISQUS

tlsintx · 1 year ago

excellent.

on a similar theme, here's a nice post from dKos on "the great undoing"...
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/8/181...

ahaque · 1 year ago

I would like to share my views on Obama's election:

ONLY IN AMERICA
With Barack Obama's election as President, United States of America has once again taken a great leap forward and regenerated itself as a nation that changes with time and adapts to new conditions. A nation despite all its faults and checkered history is ready to stand up and correct itself again- a sign of a great nation.

Another great moment in history was when Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860. Despite all opposition, he abolished slavery through Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th constitutional amendment. This caused the pro slavery South to rebel, forming the 'Confederate States of America' which led to a bloody civil war. Ultimately, Lincoln and the American people succeeded and that was a historic time when America regenerated itself.

November 4, 2008 was another historic day. Who could have imagined a mere sixty years ago that America where African Americans were not allowed to share the same bench, the same seat on a bus or a drink from the same fountain with their white country men and women, would elect an African American as their President.

Only in America is it possible for any citizen to rise to such heights. Europe steeped in its history of class system and Asia with its dynastic history can only marvel and admire America for its leap forward. No wonder the whole world celebrates Barack Obama's victory, which in fact is America's victory. This is possible ONLY IN AMERICA.

Older_Wiser · 1 year ago

This white 67 yr old southern grandmother remembers those bad and disgraceful days. My grandchildren (18 and 21) made me proud last Tuesday. I think their generation "gets it" even if mine didn't (except for a few of us).

I haven't heard a lot of people in this very conservative NC county say anything really bad about Obama being elected--yet, and they sure did take those campaign signs down in a flash...you know they're gonna want favors as usual, so they'll make nice to your face, at least. We know who they are, though.

Outspoken1 · 1 year ago

Have hope - actually a lot of white 'older' voters 'got it.' If you look at the actually demographics of the voters on a district level, you will see that many 'older, white' Americans voted for Obama. Look at North Carolina and Nebraska - who voted for an African American Democrat. It was really an election about all voters - not just the crazy right-wing block.

Older_Wiser · 1 year ago

LIving in NC, I like this part of the article:

The traditionally conservative 4th Circuit, based in Richmond, is the first court on which Obama can change the balance of power quickly. It has four openings and has five judges appointed by Republican presidents and five named by Democrat Bill Clinton.

Covering Maryland, the Carolinas and Virginia, the 4th Circuit hears a large share of national security and intelligence cases because Virginia is the home of the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Shapiro estimates that within four years, Obama can name enough judges to give Democrats majorities on nine of the 13 appeals courts.

SINGING_TROLL · 1 year ago

What leads you to believe his Judicial appointments will be any less right-wing than those political appts he has already announced?

Seems to me everyone is making a pretty big leap in gauging Obama and Judgeships....

Personally, I'm nervous.

Older_Wiser · 1 year ago

What are you talking about? I don't expect him to go full fledge left, but I do expect a big change from the fascist rule we've had for at least 8 years. If you want a revolution, it's not going to happen. Not in a country of over 300 million. Reform is about all you're going to get.

SINGING_TROLL · 1 year ago

America is the stuff dreams are made of or so I was taught way back when.
Let me have my fantasies!

Reform, however, would be an acceptable near-term compromise.

ahaque · 1 year ago

America is the stuff dreams are made of, only sometimes the dreams deviate to become nightmares. But isn't it fascinating how this nation recovers from such nightmares and rejuvenates itself - again and again.

vkobaya · 1 year ago

Yeah, but the difference is Obama appointments will be honest appointments based on qualifications instead of politics. Republicans won't appoint anyone who isn't doctrinaire right-winger who puts politics first, the current Bush being by far the most vile. Obama is moderate, which today is to the right of what was moderate even by Nixon standards, probably would have appalled Nixon. But, Obama appointments with still be best qualified he can find. Bush looked for villains, criminal types, congenital liars, thieves, the criminally insane, idiots, perverts, Nazis, etc, worst he can find.

SINGING_TROLL · 1 year ago

Well there is that...;-)

vkobaya · 1 year ago

Let's put it this way, Obama may pick people who are too conservative for our tastes, but they will be honest, decent human beings. Appointments by McCain, Bush or, god help us Pailn, will be the very worst human beings they can find, perhaps having legal qualifications but completely bereft of any moral qualifications. And Bush tried to saddle us with Harriet Miers, who didn't even have the legal/academic qualifications. Bork was another case in point, brilliant but total bereft of any moral qualifications, brilliant in evil.

Simply the fact that Obama will make honest, decent, appointments of truly qualified individuals will be a massive, massive reform after the choices that Bush gave us. Mukasey was perhaps qualified in terms of experience but he has proven that he is ethically challanged, but we knew that. Any pretense that he wasn't was simply typical Damnocratic cowardice.

ObamaLover · 1 year ago

OT in regards to Minnesota: Here is what happened in the 2004 Washington Gubernatorial recount:

In the November 2 election, over 2.8 million votes were cast for Governor. After the initial vote count, Rossi led Democrat Christine Gregoire by 261 votes.[13] Washington State law required a recount because of the small margin. After the second count, Rossi again led, but by a smaller margin of 42 votes. After a third count, done by hand, Gregoire took a 129 vote lead (expanded to a 133 vote lead after Justice Bridges' decision threw out 4 votes for Rossi).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dino_Rossi

ObamaLover · 1 year ago

FYI Close to 2.7 million votes were cast in the Minnesota Senatorial race.

2008 · 1 year ago

Sen. Obama has impeccable qualifications to fulfill his judicial appt. duties! In fact, with his Harvard Law pedigree and experience teaching at University of Chicago specfically in Constitutional Law, we could hardly ask for more.

It is a real joy after enduring the Bush legal quack years, including the former AG Gonzales and assorted political hacks masquerading as law enforcement officials at the DOJ!!! Bush pissed on the Constitution, while Obama is an outstanding scholar on the subject... say no more!

I saw Obama speak in Chicago once and when he criticized the invasion of Iraq, he touched on how it is a clear violation of both domestic (ratified treaties on par with Federal statutes) and International Law. It was totally refreshing to hear someone in power these days both recognize The Law and desire to uphold it!!! That really thrilled me! (Shocking stuff--after Bush, the ultimate scofflaw and criminal!)

KeithNovo · 1 year ago

It's too late to appoint Laurence Tribe, but maybe his protégeé Sullivan will get on!

Bush_Bites · 1 year ago

OT:

Mormons resigning from Church over Prop. 8

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/9/142446/...

KeithNovo · 1 year ago

I personally would like to see real liberals on the Court. John Paul Stevens replaced William O Douglas in 1975. We need another Douglas and another Hugo Black, just to counter Nino Scalia and Uncle Clarence Thomas!

vkobaya · 1 year ago

Please, please, don't dishonor Uncle Tom. He was not a villain in that story. Clarence Thomas is a very sick man, clearly believes he is really a white man and thinks we can all see it.

KeithNovo · 1 year ago

Given that the two reactionaries think that Congress overrulled Miranda in 1968 (the case was in 2000, with William Rehnquist defending Miranda), anything they said should be used against them in the court of public opinion.
Uncle Clarence also thinks he's Catholic. Well, he's been divorced and remarried. He is barred from receiving Communion. As an ex-Catholic, I know the prelates will find some excuse to let him in because he is a reactionary!

vkobaya · 1 year ago

The tragedy of this is that Republicans will do what they did to Bill Clinton. They will be as obstructionist as possible, finding any way possible to block Clinton's appointments often with incredibly vile smears of Clinton's nominees. Only a fraction of Clinton's judicial appointments were actually approved by Congress, some were so badly smeared they withdrew even when the smears were clearly false. And other's backed away from positions knowing that Republicans would invent the worst lies to hurt them. I expect the same thing this time. They will do anything to be obstructionist even when the candidates are very clearly the best qualified and most honorable decent, and best for the nation. For Republicans only one thing matters, power, their own power.