US Election - reflections

Congratulations to Mr Obama. If I am pleased about nothing else today, I am pleased that America has stood up to the racists within its borders and has shown it can elect a black man as President. It is a shame however the America people fell for his empty rhetoric and threw away the chance of electing one of the most experienced Presidential candidates the country has ever had the choice of electing (my own opinion of course).

But as the campaign is written in to the history books and Mr Obama prepares for inauguration day, it is nice to look back on what a gripping campaign this has been. Once again Britons have proven they seem to care more about an election state-side than we do about our own elections here, showing there is so much we can learn from the American electoral system.

For the society, the campaign has prompted 1077 views (at the last count) of our discussion on the issue and nearly 300 posts. In looking back on the past six months of campaign here are some of the highlights of our discussion:

"Although I quite agree with you that (apart from Afghanistan) Bush's response to the Twin Towers disaster was very good."
Laurie Dudley

"A far better way to diminish the capabilities of the Taliban would have been to use a controlled, small, nuclear explosion in the mountainous/hilly areas where the Taliban was known to be based."
James R Bartle

"I don't think TRUE Republicans can be very 'nice' in any sense really..."
David Lowes

"OBAMA FTW OKAY?"
David Shepherd

"I know that they [conservatives] are complete racist and sexist pigs, so they won't vote for Obama and Clinton, they might just not vote at all!"
David Lowes

"It's not age that's the issue; it's experience. Obama was only sworn in as a Senator in 2005."
Laurie Dudley

"As I said ages ago, Hillary Clinton lights up the stage. Barack Obama just drones on about change in America. Snore."
Laurie Dudley

"A flu virus is more intelligent than an American."
David Lowes

"The notion that Hillary wants someone to assassinate Barack is the biggest joke I've ever heard."
Laurie Dudley

"She can't and won't win now, so the longer the [expletive deleted] fight amongst each other Republicans can win votes!"
James Bartle

"I would like to congratulate the Democratic Party on handing the Republican Party victory in this year's General Election. On behalf of the Heaton Manor Republican Supporters Association can I thank the Democratic Party and its supporters most sincerely. You have no assured us that we won't have a President come inauguration day who wants to end free-trade, negotiate with Iran and leave Iraq in the lurch."
Anon

"It's (and I quote) "too socialist" for the Americans, and, according to some, it's not in their constituents best interests, so, what they're saying is that mass unemployment is in the best interests of the people."
David Lowes