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Barack Obama Wins US Presidency

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the enough-of-that-now-this dept.

Last night, around 11pm, all the major networks announced that Senator Barack Obama had won the election. Soon after, Senator McCain conceded. There were no crazy partisan court hearings, just a simple election. This is your chance to talk about it and what it means for the future of our nation.

6 of 3,709 comments (clear)

  1. Re:United States Socialist Republic by falcon5768 · · Score: 5, Informative

    They are laughing at the fact the republicans THOUGHT he was. There was nothing socialist he was proposing that we are not already doing, and nearly half our friends we terms a "democracy" are truthfully socialist democracies. The socialist claim was truly one of the STUPIDEST moves the neocons could have pulled, especially when their darling base polarizing vise prez nominee actually PRACTICED socialism by redirecting oil drilling profits to state residence.

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    "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

  2. Re:You just made his point by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 5, Informative

    98 Senators voted for the Patriot Act. Only one voted against. The Republicans weren't alone in passing it.

    357 Representatives voted for the Patriot Act. Only 55 voted against. Again, the Republicans weren't alone in passing it.

    Note that the political climate of the time was such that if the Democrats had controlled both houses of Congress, odds are it would have been passed by similar majorities.

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    "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
  3. Re:Anyone know about the rest of the US? by nycguy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Residents of Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Marshall Islands do not pay federal income tax. They do pay Social Security and Medicare taxes but they are also eligible for benefits from those programs. To have representation in Congress (relevant to "taxation without representation"), those territories would need to petition for statehood. Puerto Rico, in particular, has consistently voted not to do so.

  4. Re:I'll Tell You What It Means by TheSpoom · · Score: 5, Informative

    Barack Obama's stance on just about everything. I hear this argument a lot that he's just saying "change" without any concrete ideas for how to do so, but it's simply incorrect. The campaign's series of YouTube videos starting with "Blueprint for Change" also details what he'll actually do as president: You can watch the Obama campaign's videos here.

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    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
  5. Re:I think.... by StreetStealth · · Score: 5, Informative

    Obama doesn't owe any favors to companies or even to his own party.

    Let's not be too hasty here: It's not like Obama didn't also receive major support from industry donors. So while we shouldn't discount that part of this victory is owed to our corporate overlords, we still, as you say, shouldn't discount that part is due to the folks in your neighborhood.

    Money talks; let's hope the unprecedented small donations from individuals this time talked loudly enough.

    I'm cautiously optimistic.

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    Your mind is clear / The things that you fear / Will fade with how much you / Believe what you hear
  6. Re:I'll Tell You What It Means by illumin8 · · Score: 5, Informative

    The problem is that we don't really know what Obama thinks. He's avoided most of the tough issues and done his best to not take any firm stances on anything.

    I don't think that's accurate at all. Obama has had clear and easy to read information on his website for months now stating his policy on the Iraq war, the Economy, Healthcare, and other major issues. He came right out and had the most no-nonsense tax policy ever, and he clearly beat McCain on taxes.

    At least with Obama, he was up front and said "if you make more than $250,000 you might see a tax increase." McCain doesn't even tell you that the $5,000 tax credit you get back for medical insurance probably won't cover the average family of 4's insurance premiums, costing the middle class more. McCain hid a middle class tax hike by not being truthful with the American people. Obama was up front that we'd all have to make sacrifices, and you know what? It paid off. Obama got a higher percentage of the voters that even make $200,000 or more! It goes to show that even affluent, educated Americans in the higher tax brackets don't mind making a few sacrifices instead of borrowing against our children's future.

    As soon as the Republicans move away from the slash-and-burn, anything for a quick buck, overspend and hope our kids will bail us out economic policies of the neocons, then they can finally start rebuilding their party.

    Where are all the so-called "conservative" Republicans, and what did the religious wackos and crazy spending neocons do with them?

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    "When the president does it, that means it's not illegal." - Richard M. Nixon