Torty is calling this race early and jumping ahead of the curve in what is sure to be a historic and very emotional night. 

 

First, the race.  I expect Obama to collect between 311-349 electoral votes, handily winning the election.  Speficially I abstractly selected 322 as his final tally.  I think I even awarded him 51% of the popular vote and I think he could get as high as 53%, which I don't think Bush or Clinton ever had over 50% (wait Bush might've gotten just over that against Kerry). 

 

Second, the response.  We are about to witness not just American but world history.  As much as the bitching and moaning about our government and our nation and its imperfections, it's now important to treat it and our founders with unparalleled respect because we are the youngest nation yet have the oldest standing government.  We were designed to be an egalitarian place that provided opportunity for all, barriers for none.  We certainly haven't been perfect and we've certainly stumbled along the way, but we remain the model and the hope of the world. Regardless of how Obama may govern and how partisan some of his agenda may be, his victory is not only a symbolic link to Dr. King's dream and legacy, but a testament to the stuff that makes America unique and great.  For all the centuries of supposed European refinement and intelligence, it is us who have freely elected an ethnic minority as our leader, given something different a shot.  It is us who have once again broken the mold and set a new standard.  Renewed our spirit, freshened our blood. 

 

We'll have our disagreements going forward just as we have had at any other point.  People like me may not have voted for but didn't vote against, Obama and are pulling for him.  Sure we're doing so from the perspective that our side was inadequate and in need fo repair and so we are hopeful that Obama is truly about advancing Opportunity & Optimism (see Reagan, JFK) moreso than he is about fostering Change (to eurocentric government models that ironically represent barriers to the opportunity-for-all that permitted Obama to achieve his place in America), but we see a reasonable guy who can be worked with to improve the affairs of our nation and the lives of its people.  So through the thick & thin and no matter what happens, there's nothing that can ever take away this historic achievement and what it means both symbolically and tangibly for our nation, our world, and human affairs as we head into the next century of civilisation.  And none of us should ever forget nor neglect to recognize that the fabric of America is truly the land of opportunity and Earth's greatest hope. 

 

Cheers to you, President-Elect Obama. 

Congrats to all you O-supporters out there; you've graduated from from being Obamites. 

I'll be pulling for you as President, Mr. Obama (so don't get so euroliberal about things, OK?). 

Job well done, everyone.