We Have Crossed the Threshold of History
333 and counting. Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania. The sight of the hateful bitter Republicans booing at the very mention of Obama’s name when McCain gave his (graceful) concession speech just goes to show that they know what they’ve lost tonight. The Repubican coalition that Ronald Reagan formed from a vile germ of an idea born of Richard Nixon, has been crushed into the ashes of history. Dr King and Malcolm are surely smiling down from heaven as it is proven once and for all that you really can be of any race in the USA and yet still achieve the highest office in the land.
Now is the time. Get ready for US politics to open up.
Darren said,
November 5, 2008 at 6:15 am
Malcolm Muggeridge?
martin ohr said,
November 5, 2008 at 8:24 am
Calm down a bit “Dr King and Malcolm are surely smiling down from heaven as it is proven once and for all that you really can be of any race in the USA and yet still achieve the highest office in the land.”
a few problems with this:
1) there’s no heaven (…above us only sky)
2) even if 1) was not true I doubt Malcom X or MLK would be smiling at yet another millionaire getting elected
3) that’s it
Edward Ford said,
November 5, 2008 at 9:06 am
martin ohr is quite right – essentially. Calm down.
The idea that Obama’s victory means US politics will automatically or inevitably “open up” is just like … well, believing that Blair’s victory in 1997 would lead to a “crisis of expectations” or the “fructification of hope”. It didn’t – quite the opposite, in fact. Rather, it led to a crisis of the left – theoretically rudderless.
With regards to imperialist war plans, there is no rational indication that Obama will be in any substantial way different from the Bush administration. Indeed, if anything, a US attack on Iran is now more likely not less. Not that it seems to bother the AWL.
François-Marie Arouet said,
November 5, 2008 at 12:38 pm
“Dr King and Malcolm are surely smiling down from heaven as it is proven once and for all that you really can be of any race in the USA and yet still achieve the highest office in the land.”
Anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung(or blogged).
It is not known precisely where angels dwell whether in the air, the void, or the planets. It has not been God’s pleasure that we should be informed of their abode.
Arch Stanton said,
November 5, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Edward Ford. Scumbag.
Dave Stamp said,
November 5, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Mel Phillips ain’t happy. Which is a victory in itself!
http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/2576106/freedom-now-stands-alone.html
Edward Ford said,
November 5, 2008 at 3:20 pm
If Arch Stanton could express his disagreement in a more constructive manner that would be most appreciated.
modernityblog said,
November 5, 2008 at 3:27 pm
you almost get the impression that the likes of “Edward Ford” would welcome an attack on Iran, the way that they speak about it.
such comments as:
“With regards to imperialist war plans, there is no rational indication that Obama will be in any substantial way different from the Bush administration. Indeed, if anything, a US attack on Iran is now more likely not less.”
so how exactly an attack is MORE likely, given Obama’s seeming desire for some negotiated deal with Iran, I can’t see, and Edward Ford’s argument doesn’t seem to be too rational in that respect
certainly, if Palin was Prez. then the use of nukes, would in all probability, be heighten,
now Obama is there that probability is LESSENED
remember, whatever faults that he has, Obama is not Palin, or Gung-Ho McCain.
Lobby Ludd said,
November 5, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Modernity:
“you almost get the impression that the likes of “Edward Ford” would welcome an attack on Iran, the way that they speak about it.”
Who gets the impression? Not me for a start. I’m not sure whether I am ‘the likes of “Edward Ford” ‘, though.
Modernity, you really are a bit of a twat, aren’t you?
Yulia said,
November 5, 2008 at 11:59 pm
“Modernity, you really are a bit of a twat, aren’t you?”
You can say that again.
He has a tendency to self-righteousness and is also a sycophantic arselicker.
Jason S. said,
November 6, 2008 at 4:57 am
The only position that really made sense to me re: Obama:
http://www.dsausa.org/pdf/Statement_on_the_2008_Presidential_Election.pdf
Andrew Coates said,
November 6, 2008 at 10:52 am
I for one am happy, and to savour the moment of victory felt by the masses.
The republican slave drivers with their bull whips are *cowed*, the reactionary Islamicists are in fear, and the world has hope.
Sure we can discuss the real politics of this (and I for one have pointed out here that Obama’s strategy on militiary intervention is deeply problematic. NO doubt there’s plenty more bad stuff there.
But for the moment we have witnessed something good at last.
modernityblog said,
November 6, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I think the problem is that a fair few on the Left can’t see the historical significance of Obama’s win from the point of view of ordinary Americans and African-Americans, so it seems much of a muchness, and as such becomes a deliberate form of disconnect from the genuine desires and wants of the mass of people
Voltaire's Priest said,
November 8, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Edward, Martin;
Gimme a break. Nothing wrong with a few 4am superlatives, now is there?