Well done, America.

[oudeteron]

I'm sure everyone knows already, but since I intend to revel in the fact for a little longer, I'll say it again: Obama won. Totally. WON. I'm tempted to just wave my hand, "Oh, I knew he'd make it," but I'd been nervous about this for as long as I can remember following the campaign, so I won't say that. Watching the race develop from afar, unable to influence the result, I was very anxious indeed. But that's all done and over with - OBAMA WON!

Honestly, I'm glad. Obviously he's going to have it difficult, and there still are issues that don't make me as happy as they could, but I am convinced that he was the better candidate and will be a much, much better president than McCain (or, let's not even think of the possibility, Palin) could ever have been. He is sensible, constructive, and finally seems like someone who can actually do a good job. We'll see how everything turns out yet, but for the moment my expectations are high.

I'd also like to point out, as an observer from the outside, that this election was epic. I've been lucky to escape most of the nastiness, but thanks to LJ I feel like I had an opportunity to go through the whole process myself. It was awesome to discuss the election with those of my friends who were passionate about it, to hear about what it was like to be there. The massive turnout impressed me as well - people going to vote despite various problems, willing to wait in line for hours on end - let me tell you, I can't imagine anything of this magnitude happening in my own country anymore. You've been great!

I woke up today just in time to watch Obama's victory speech when it came up on the TV here. I won't lie, I was overwhelmed. I still can't believe he made it, even though I'd hoped he would win all along. This is amazing, seriously amazing. I'm just so relieved.

Thank you, Americans, for making history.

Comments

[remeciel.livejournal.com]

When I woke up this morning... oh, damn, I can't say how happy I was when I saw the news wandering all over my flist's posts - even for some who aren't American, congratulations just flew from everywhere.

I can't imagine anything of this magnitude happening in my own country anymore.
It will probably not happen either here, unless they make it sound like a TV reality show like they did last time.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

Exactly! And let's face it, the way the US is run is going to affect other places too. Right now I'm not so horribly apprehensive about it.

Here it's just that politics is frowned upon so much. Especially the presidential election. Geez, last time that was just pitiful.

[remeciel.livejournal.com]

You did sum up what I felt a few days prior to the election: the US digging themselves into their absurdity by voting for McCain. But it's now over and done with.
I wish now France would get rid of Sarkozy. I'm sick and tired with that president.

Pitiful is the right word, indeed. Royal wasn't the best choice either, but it wasn't as bad as voting for Sarkozy.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

Thankfully, it really didn't look like McCain would win. (Easy to say that now, I know!) Well, it's all sorted.
It seems like you always have to wait to get rid of the bad presidents...

Kind of looking for the lesser evil, right? In any case, I liked her better than Sarkozy too.

[rising-lark.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm so happy! I woke up to a text-message about it, and I immediately watched the speech and the Stewart/Colbert report, but I only felt the sheer greatness of the moment when I saw those crowds of people celebrating in the streets. Take it, America-haters. The only thing we celebrated recently on a massive scale was some stupid football match, and even then it was more like drunken craziness.
And I love how people from other countries (except for us of course) say that he might change not just America but the whole world.
The only thing that spoiled my mood a little was that prop 8 did pass, after all. I wonder what'll happen to all those recently married couples... :-/

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

I literally jumped out of bed because of this! Now if that isn't momentous... XD And yeah, seeing the crowds really did me in. Such enthusiasm is when politics is actually about something.

I've noticed there have been celebrations everywhere! Well, almost.

Yeah, that pisses me off. And this passing practically at the same time as Obama won - how messed up are you, anyway, society?

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

Man, I wish our elections were that exciting! I mean, it was so exciting that our own election was the smallest ever! This was the smallest outcome for voters...how sad. But at least Obama might pulls things back together.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

Same here - our elections usually seem pointless. And we even had a decent turnout last time... it's just that people aren't all that motivated. But the US campaing just dragged everyone in. XD

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

Totally! If our campaigns lasted a year and drew in the media that much everyone would know there's an election going on. *lol* I bet half of the Canadians didn't even know we had one last month.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

Heh, fail? Not that this country's much better. XD

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

*lol* It's sad. It's one of the things I admire and envy about the United States and with living so close to them, their elections were generally the topic up for discussion in class and with friends. Lame. Lame. Lame.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

Well, on the whole, I think I'd rather live in Canada than the US (unless the winner of your last election was really made of fail? I haven't really researched it, but I've noticed some displeasure). But yeah, the enthusiasm is admirable, even if sometimes it seems very very misplaced.

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

*lol* I've always believed Canadians were just the mellow versions of Americans to be honest. I mean, it's messed up that the American election was televised even in Kenya!

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

You know, if the "mellow version" means there isn't stuff like a blurred line between church and state, I'll take the mellow version any day. XD Though I guess the American election had such a huge impact because the US is just more powerful...

[absolutefiction.livejournal.com]

True true. And I'm sure we could carry this conversation on for hours...*lol*

[mustntgetmy.livejournal.com]

I have NEVER gotten this pumped about political things before, but the end of his speech, the YES WE CAN bit...I was crying. Er, not to exaggerate. I was tearing up. (Sorry, I read it and I was like...that's kind of a lie.) I can't believe it...I'm still so ecstatic that he won.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

I think you've summed up how involved people actually were in this election. And hey, it's better to be tearing up in joy than over McCain winning! Seriously, I'm so relieved it turned out like this.

[mustntgetmy.livejournal.com]

And hey, it's better to be tearing up in joy than over McCain winning! Very, very true! And I am so incredibly joyful that it turned out the way it did.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm just sure Obama will be better in the long run.

[mustntgetmy.livejournal.com]

A thousand amens to that.

[wieldy22.livejournal.com]

And I missed that day entirely...

Of all things that happened during the last two weeks the fact that Obama won was the only one I have not missed. I think I asked one of my friends who was in Japan with me on the fourth of November "Well, I wonder who will win the elections in America" and she was all like: "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?" Apparently wanting to know who will be the next President of the USA is too much politicall interest. Strange.

Obama is human. He will make mistakes. I will never agree entirely with him because you can't agree entirely with anyone. I am pessimistic.

But it looks like he will do his job well. He seems much better than McCain and Palin would have been a catastrophy.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

Aw, it's only a week or so. xD

I'm going to be biased because I have lots of political interests, but... WTF? How's caring about who wins the American election too much? I sure prefer to know who's wielding so much power in the world.

You're right about that. I also think that Obama is the one who might actually take others' possible disagreement into consideration. He just seems much more constructive than McCain would have been.

Agreed!

[wieldy22.livejournal.com]

I couldn't understand the attitude of that girl. Sure, there are lots of other things to think about, but... it *is* important.

[oudeteron.livejournal.com]

I guess some people just have that "I don't care about what I can't change" attitude. But I can't help thinking there's a certain point where it just gets shallow.