Historic Election Well Worth the Wait for Veteran Staffer

I believe it's time for a change. I'm so glad that he won. I believed that he can be a very good president and turn things to a better understanding, and bring hope back to a better government. I'm tired of the old same-o, same-o routine. I don't have anything against McCain and Palin as person(s), but I never did like what they had to offer.

1) It's like a huge weight off my chest. Barack Obama is our president, as he should be. He will reintroduce intellect to the White House and deliver it with his winning management style.
2) That written, it shouldn't take the election of a gifted man for us to think clearly and do the right thing. Our challenges are enormous and the path to success is less through the White House and more through our living rooms.
3) I believe that. But, I am also dismayed by the fact that we lost civil (and frankly, human) rights this past election in the form of banning gay marriage. I am a Californian and I mourn the "yes vote" on prop 8. If change goes through the living room then love is is the facilitator of its proper movement. Why did we put ourselves at such a disadvantage already?
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4) The same could be said of our cherished wild spaces. Conservation is not a noble act of selflessness, it is an every day commitment.
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When we learn these lessons combined with an almost mythical leader, then real, lasting change comes. Mother Earth heals and we join her, then our problems can truly be managed.
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Congratulations Barack! America, what took you so long?

Obama won because of ingenious marketing.
I advertising and marketing you say
Find out what do people want and then give it to them.
People wanted change and change became the slogan.
Stir emotions with joy and or fear. Fear “Don’t want another four years of Bush”
even though this was irrational, it worked.
To create happy feeling, say “Hope” a very powerful positive word stirring wonderful emotions add the logo of a rising sun and bring it all home with repetition.
Great advertising, great Job! Congratulations David Axelrod.
In the world of selling to the masses you always want to hit the middle.
Perfectly executed by the Obama campaign.
Don’t get bogged down with details and specificity or technicalities, because that overwhelms people and it is boring to the masses.
Give them what they want, and they follow you to the end.
Masses act on emotion not on intellect, facts are of no concern, and after you create the emotion, find a way to spread it and you are home free. Like an endemic that can’t be stopped!
Think for example about the irrational fear of spiders. A person becomes paralyzed in fear over a small creature that can do it no harm.
Emotions if not tempered by thought and intellect create irrationally. This can be used to garner support politically i.e. election or to garner support and success in business, sales, or any other venture sports as well.
McCain ran a very poor campaign form a mass marketing standpoint!
This election is a perfect example of emotions won over intellect.
Tyranny of the majority
Recommended reading Steven King Needful Things

I found myself emotional, something I am not prone to, on election night. I was happy that we seem to have taken a new direction. I like the image of a family man, that understands we are more about that, than wealth. I hope,which is somthing I haven't done in 7 years! I am proud of our nation! I did not think I would live long enough to see a man of color sitting in the highest office of the land. God Bless him and his family. It is going to be a uphill battle to try to fix some of this nation's problems. We need so much done. He has great faith, in himself and others to take on this fight. Good Luck President-Elect Obama!

Obama is part of the establishment. Don;t expect major changes in the laws and regulations regarding the environment. Nor be joyful until you see who he appoints to key cabinet positions. That said, the absence of little George Bush from the presidency is worth celebrating.

I'm happy that America pulled ever-so-slightly out of its collective civic apathy, but I'm afraid Obama's win represents nothing more than politics as usual. Hope I'm wrong, but election night was certainly not the answer to this cynic who believes that our democracy is bought and sold to the highest bidder. My biggest hope is that Obama DOES break his many campaign promises once in office, just like he broke primary promises once he was in the general election. Clean Coal? Nuclear power plants? Domestic drilling? WTF?! I can't quite believe I'm seeing Obama celebrated so uncritically here.

I have been involved in elections since 2000 and even ran a grass roots campaign in Florida during 2006. I was a community organizer unknown in Politics and managed to receive almost 46% of the vote.
Obama's campaign ran with the leadership needed to change the direction of this country and our standing in the world. Most importantly, we need to do our part to set an example of moral leadership that respects the environment which includes employing conservation in our daily lives. We must encourage individuals and business to work together to protect nature and restore our natural resources. This can be achieved through education and commitment.
The planet is in peril and the choice is clear, YES WE CAN, we can and will move forward, learn from past and look to a brighter future.
What was achieved during this election is only an indicator of what WE can do for our Country and the Planet.

I was raised during the 1940s and 1950s. At that time, young boys were told they could grow up to be President of the United States some day. While it was never said, this implicitly was aimed at white boys. I didn't think I would ever live to see a black man nominated by a major party. Much less did I think I would see him win the election. To be perfectly honest, neither did I think I would see any woman go as far as Hillary did. I don't include Sarah Palin in this, because this was just handed to her. Hillary worked long and hard for it. The last poor president I remember is President Harry S. Truman. All the others came from money. They might not have been millionaires, but they could not really identify with the man living in the projects and trying to support a family with little or no education. Today we have a black President-Elect who has come up from poor people. He may not have lived in the projects, but his mother did at one time need food stamps while she was furthering her education in order to support her son. He is actually a mixed race person, and they have always been looked down on as long as I can remember. He has actually lived the American Dream, but, more than that, he has made it possible for every young person--boy or girl, black, white, Hispanic, oriental, or any mixture thereof--to dream that dream and make it come true. This election has given me a lot of hope for the future of this country. By the way, I am a white woman who is a senior citizen.

What about the Nafta Superhighway that is being built right through the heartland connecting Mexico and Canada trough the United States. I a m against this huge project partially financed by Spain from what I have read. Look it up NAfta Superhighway. Where is Obama on this issue. I hope he will stop it, at least do what he can to stop it.
It will weaken our national security, not to mention how it cuts through the land and how the government will remove many people form their homes and land via eminent domain!

BIRTH OF A NEW NATION; HOPE FOR A BETTER WORLD
By Leslie Sheridan
© November 5, 2008
Wow! Last night's victory by Barack Obama as our 44th President of the United States brought me to tears more than once, and I have been in a shell-shocked state ever since. Perhaps it's menopausal hormones acting up, but I don't think so!
It is because:
●We chose hope over fear.
●After eight years of watching a democracy be destroyed, Obama resurrected the dream of a democracy, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
● In a country and world where we see discrimination rear its ugly head, we have risen as a people above the shallow and superficial, and chosen a leader based on who he is, what he stands for, and what he has called us to, rather than on skin-deep differences which do not matter, and have never mattered, given that we are all ONE anyway.
●We chose vision over apathy.
●Diplomacy, bridge-building, and eloquence won out over base attacks and outright lies.
●Many people have chosen to care again.
●Our souls and higher selves are so ready for heralding in the higher consciousness of a new age which is and has always been our birthright.
●Mutual responsibility triumphed over greed.
●We have decided to remember our true heritage as one people united, putting our commonalities ahead of our differences.
●What is at stake has brought us to this wonderful, palpable, tipping point of what is possible in our world.
"Elation on steroids" does not even come close to what I am feeling for President Obama and his family, for our brothers and sisters of color, for the poor, for anyone who has born the brunt of discrimination, for our country, and for our world. Having never birthed a child, this helping to birth a new nation certainly comes close, bringing the same mixture of exuberance and responsibility.
After a human history which has allowed atrocities and horrors such as the holocaust, slavery, genocide, hate crimes, and the like, may we burn this shining moment in our hearts and minds as the opening of our greater potential as sentient beings, and take it as a clarion call to even greater growth as a species.
Having come from a line of Irish immigrants who settled on the South Side of Chicago and spending my early childhood there, to see Obama address millions under the light-filled Chicago skyline in Grant Park was nothing short of spectacular.
It's been a bumpy ride for this Independent who does not believe in the two-party system. I went from Kucinich (a courageous leader truly standing for peace in our world,) to Edwards, to Obama, and then to McKinney (after Obama's vote for FISA, and his going back on his word on public campaign finance reform, his stance on “clean” coal, his wanting to expand the war in Afghanistan, the fact that his healthcare plan was not a universal single-payer one, and his not standing for equality in marriage for all.) Since McKinney was another courageous leader of Kucinich ilk, she had my vote given that she stood for all of the values I hold dear. Until the terrifying introduction of Sarah Palin, and the perilously close margins being reported between Obama and McCain, that is! With stakes that high, I had to not vote all of my values for the first time in my life, and switched back to Obama, vowing to stay on his tail about the values and vision I hold for our world. I am also hoping that he includes Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney in his administration, for she is a most-welcome truth-teller in a world occupied by far too few of them.
Do not think for one moment that our work is over! It has only just begun! We must not only challenge ourselves to greater consciousness, but we must also challenge our new President to greater consciousness as well.
Though in this moment our hopes are in President Obama, let us never forget, that though he has been elected President, he has been elected by us: We the People. And in the history of the world (with the exception of two stolen elections and white-collar crooks in greater prevalence than we’d desire,) WE are the ones with the power to bring change to our world. Each one of us, joining with another, just like we did in this historic election, will change the face and heart of history forever.
Let us recognize a great truth: no power granted by position title, however great that title may be, is ever as great as the power of the people. No corporate-owned media is ever greater than a citizenry which embraces and owns the importance of being its own media.
President Obama is correct: this victory is ours! Celebrate the difference you made, and keep on being the change you wish to see in our world.
Yes, there will be obstacles, and there will be people who think you crazy and deride you for the stands you take, and though at times it may seem you are standing alone, you will always be in the company of heroes such as King, Gandhi, Parks, Teresa, and Mandela. You are in good company. We are in good company.
What matters is that you have a life which stands for something, that you are the kind of person who stands for what is meaningful and right in this brief flicker of time which you spend on our planet in a physical body. What matters is that you care more about leaving a meaningful legacy before you leave this earthly world, instead of worrying about what "they" think of you, and getting approval from those who will never have the internal fortitude of spirit to take a stand for what really matters in this world. It is this kind of leadership which changes the world. Life is short; don't “play small.” It does not serve you, your life, or our world.
Celebrate the difference that you were in this historic victory, keep on being the change you wish to see, and as Martin Luther King taught us, stay focused on the vision you want for the future, as if it were here already in the present moment . . . because that is the place it is Now, and the only place it ever will be.
With appreciation to our new President, the leadership he has shown thus far, and to all those who made our victory a reality, and their commitment to bettering our world,
Leslie Sheridan
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Leslie Sheridan is a peace and justice activist, poet, consultant, and coach who lives and works in Sonoma, CA.
She is also the Editor and Publisher of The Carpe Diem Voice (CDV,) an international, online, peace and justice newsletter compiling news, calls to action, inspiration, and humor. The CDV has been a new voice in media since the day the U.S. began bombing and occupying Iraq.
This article may be printed with permission of and credit to its author who can be reached at CarpeDiemVoice@aol.com.

It was a sunny, autumn day when I voted at my polling place. There was a small line when I arrived, but
I did not mine at all. The whole experience was wonderful. When I left, I saw more people in line, alot of
younger people. Boy, did I feel good about voting for Barack and that it was all good, that it was a new
day, and that America would begin on a new footing. As soon as I saw Pennsylvania in Baracks' column, I
said YES!!! And, Ohio! I knew he was on his way. He is inspiring, and that is what we have needed for
a very longtime. So, America, get behind him, and we will be able to turn everything around.
God bless him and his family.

we did need a change but we have workon with jobs the envireorment and econmoy i agree waht he says about change we have give a chance and to do it, and be united,

I too have hope that Obama can turn the country around and make change for the better. I hate to sound cynical, but I think every President has said that they will listen to the American people, but when they get into office they hit road blocks with the Senate and Congress. It is the house you have to convince to do the right thing and most of them are crooks. That is why it is so important to elect the right house in office not just straight party tickets. People should study individuals and what their views are on the issues that are important to you. I heard on the news this morning that already Ed Stelmach, the Premier in Alberta, Canada is already lobbying the Obama people to bring their dirty oil sands through to the U.S. I can see it now if he is allowed to do that. Big pipelines going through the beautiful prestine country destroying land and wildlife. I hope the U.S. doesn't let this happen. But I will try to be optimistic and pray that he can do what he says he can do.

Do we, those of us who voted the Obama/Biden ticket, realize we are part of this historical event? The irony is, though our President-Elect Obama is an African-American, the white vote was over the top in favor of him. Our country has come a long way, and we should be proud. President Obama will have the enormous burden of cleaning up the worst mess left to an incoming president perhaps in history. Yet I feel certain that he will encourage environmental protection, as he attempts to regain civility in our energy and economic crisis. We now have a President, Congress, and Senate, more sympathetic to protecting ecosystems, to seriously addressing global warming, and who will use science and sound mind in re-authorizing the ESA. But, it will be up to you and me to do what we can, locally, to enforce wildlife, wilderness, water and air issues. And, as Obama has said, "Yes, we can".

The world was at stake on this historic day, and the world prevailed. But it's still an uphill fight against entrenched psychological, political, economic and social challenges, not just in North America, but around the world. After so many serious setbacks, the most recent major battle for justice, not only environmental but in so many other spheres as well, was won, but not without a fight of epic proportions. Still, as Plan B 3.0 indicates, even if we have won this one battle for the voice and the right to defend and speak for our home turf, we still have to step up the scale of activity and mobilize for a long, hard war. Not so much against insurgencies or political ideologies, but much of the modern human psyche: corporate corruption, ignorance, greed and apathy. Resources must be earned and allocated, and people organized, the way Obama ran his campaign. Still at stake - it always is - is everything, including the Earth itself.
We can't sit for long on this freshly won battleground chatting about how we prevailed. The enemies are just over the horizon, and our horizon is still dark with death and destruction - literally and metaphorically. We still have much to fight for.
Come on, let's move out.

In the 1600s, Europeans kidnapped Africans and brought them to America as slaves. In 1776, Americans revolted against British rule for independence, but left African-Americans and women behind. In 1861, Americans took up arms against each other in a civil war. In 1863 Lincoln emancipated the slaves. In 1865 the war ended. On June 19, 1865 emancipation was finally enforced and reconstruction was born, but it wasn't until 1870, when African Americans were given voting rights. It wasn't until 1920 women were given voting rights. In 1965 with MLK's guidance leading civil rights, LBJ worked with the congress to expand civil rights and voting rights with the 'Great Society' legislation. It's now 2008 almost 400 after America was first polluted/infected/contaminated by slavery/racism/sexism. Our president is an African-American and our House Speaker is a woman. Reconstruction is finally over. Reconstructing the past and fixing the old is done with. lt's time to build the new, start over fresh, and create the American dream for everyone to live. The country lost the last 200 years correcting the first 200 years. It's time to be in the future. We can settle for nothing less than greatness. As Winston Churchill once said, "After exhausting every possible alternative, America always gets it right". Well done, America!

For the first time in my 51 years, I have hope in a president. I have hope in our future -for our children (our future generations) our wildlife, and our planet! For the first time in my life, I truly believe that integrity and ethics can be restored back into government. I have been so moved by the hope that Obama brings to our world, in fact, I was inspired to write this song/video. It is called 'For the Children' and it is my gift of love to the planet. I hope you enjoy it and share it with everyone you know. -Lynn Zanetta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gi3VNLhHq4

What I feel about the election: Happy, relieved, hopeful, scared and most of all willing to help. How fast our country lost its world standing and is economic strength astounds me. The power of “it’s the economy stupid’ could not be clearer. But this is a very long haul and we must be there to sincerely help this new President rather than just plead for his support to reverse past injustices and mitigate our grievances.
One of the reasons we have this new President is that he ask us to help – individually and collectively. We have not heard that for some time (accept to borrow what you like and go to the Mall to buy, buy, buy). And boy was the country ready for change.
Our country is in worse shape than during the Great Depression, but will not fail in the same way. No soup lines, but lost homes, jobs, college educations and retirements. President Obama faces a much greater problem than even FDR. At least FDR’s predecessor did nothing and gave FDR a bad but clean slate to work from. In contrast, President Obama is saddled with trillion dollar bailouts, a worldwide recession, a housing/credit disaster, two wars and certainly a future test from our terrorist enemies. This mix of potential hate and dissatisfaction is the gist of what revolutions are made of – not to say what makes a one-term Presidents.
So my friends, please dismiss those filled with just hate and discontent as not worthy of your time. Simply stated, it is either help or go pout in the corner alone. And most important have thoughtful discussions on what you can really do to help – the ask for what you can do for your country rather than what your country can do for you. I did not think I would see another period of citizen activism and service – but I am proud to see it and quite proud of you all.

The election is over and the country will have a new leader. He brings with him many promises and hopes. We pray that, unlike the past, he will work to keep his word and serve ALL Americans. When something is the best in the world, great care has to be taken in implementing change. America is the greatest country in the world now, and ever. Sure there is room for improvement, but not change for the sake of change.
It is crucial that WE unite behind our new leader and support him and hold him accountable. In todays world there is no room for error!
God bless America!

I believe President-Elect Obama will genuinely do what he can to strengthen current laws and enact pending legislation to protect our country's natural resources. He promises hope for change, and positive change is what we need if we are to halt and perhaps reverse the damage to our native flora and fauna.

I fully expect an Obama Presidency to be better for the environment and wilderness protection.
I do not have any illusions, however, about his overall position on the Military- and Security Industrial Complex's dominance of this nation's resources. I doubt the Democratic Leadership Council would allow someone to become the Party's nominee without an agreement to leave in place the permanent war-time economy we've had in the US since WWII. US$500 billion each year for the Pentagon leaves other priorities far, far behind.
I am encouraged to hear Obama say that health care should be a right, though the for-profit players in that market will put up one hell of a fight.

Not only did Barack Obama win, but he won by a landslide. I voted for him and was rooting for him, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I was part of the majority. I believed the American citizens, at least the portion who voted, were still hung up on the ideology of drill and kill. That night I, too, shed some tears, for I was proud to be an American citizen for the first time in many years, at least eight. It is time America evolve and move into the new millenia, an era not embraced by the Bush administration. I was both impressed and bewildered by McCain's choice as running mate. While I felt his choice of a female was genius, I felt his choice of females was bewildering. There are many strong, empowered, intelligent women of politics out there to choose from and I could not figure why he would have picked such a "pretty, little, empty-headed thing" to be his running mate, except perhaps he is sexist and wanted to make sure his female running mate was not more intelligent than he; perhaps due to being insecure.
In any case, I am proud of America. I am proud to be an American citizen. I am proud to be part of this great nation who did the right thing and voted for issues, not color; for facts and truths, not rumors; for the well-being of a nation, not religion or the more popular ticket. I want to stand up and yell at the top of my lungs that I am an American citizen and proud of it. It is a good day.

It's easy to be skeptical and critical, and to let all the fear mongering and mistruths that were circulated during the campaign to be mistaken for truth, especially if everyone in your circle believed them and talked as if they were true.
I believe that we who care about the environment must continue to let our new President know about our concerns, and stay engaged in the political process. We aren't off the hook for being involved.
I reveal in having a new person with new ideas and a new approach to leadership and human relations. For those who are bitter and cynical, I know how you feel. That's how I felt the past 8 years! And while some wilderness bills were passed, the attempts to dismantle environmental protection and public input into the public land management decisions of the past eight years is far more frightening to me than the unknown future. I see science and reason returning, not the mumbo jumbo word twisting and political interference in the work of our dedicated public servants that took place across our public agencies.
I am proud that America chose the candidate of hope over a candidate of fear. And as a member of an ethnically blended family, I can't wait to see a family that looks like mine, and that looks like much of America, in the White House. But more than that, I am hopeful that integrity and and common sense will return to the halls of government.
Louise, I echo your sentiments, and thank you for sharing your sentiments with us.

After having had to sit through lecherous dissections of photos from behind Palin shot through her ankles, and jokes about Hillary's fat ankles, nutcrackers, etc., etc., I am disgusted and disillusioned by the country I made my home and in whose military I served. I immigrated from a country where we currently have a female chancellor and where such misogyny is unheard of. A politician's clothing and body type are no issues, FACTS are issues. Ideology, platforms, policy measures, past records. Not. One. Single. Media. Outlet. was unbiased. Not one. And now everyone comes running with their little laundry lists of hopes and dreams they expect to be magically fulfilled by someone who has served up lots of rhetoric and little substance, and, certainly, no results from positions held in the past. I am stunned. The experienced politicians with lots of results to point to have been steamrolled with cash and empty promises by the DNC in exchange for a candidate who already went back on his word on issues such as FISA, legalizing pot, late-term abortion, the death penalty, the DC gun ban, the Cuba embargo, etc., etc. Nothing Obama said can be trusted because he has proven that he is willing to sell important issues down the river to serve his own purpose. And now people seriously expect that all those beautiful promises he made will come true. Wow. Good morning, America. Wake up, people.

I couldn't be happier. I can only hope and pray that President Obama keeps his word and works with the people to save our world. I am studying to be a Zoologist, and just hope that we can involve the President and the Legislature in conservation.
On a personal note, my nephew is 6 months, and is of mixed race. It's nice that although we alwasy tell children that they can be whatever they want to be - for the first time for children of color or mixed race - its really true with a wonderful example.

I was absolutely floored when Barack Obama won - what a victory! This historical moment will always be something I will treasure and it was great that everyone came together for the good of the country. I watched this all unfold on MSNBCTV and I was so psyched that he won by a landslide. He is going to be very good for this country, hopefully for the next eight years.
There's a lot of people out there who are bitter that Obama won - that's understandable. But I am glad that the last eight years won't be continued for another four years. These people need to see the big picture, and if they don't, they should move to a fascist country where they can continue to be tread upon and abused by the government - because I don't want to hear it. Get out of this country, I say, if you support fascism in your government.

As the media continued to unabashedly throw any principles of journalistic objectivity and ethics in the mass American landfill, I heard my fellow Feminists squawking about Palin. Get a grip, women: Obama is by far the anti-Feminist, in comparison to Palin.
My heart goes out to all the non-trolls that voted for Obama in this election and felt so elated, Im sure most of the people that voted truly believe that Obama is a mainstream guy embracing all that he claims to. I see him as a chameleon. Sorry to say that I believe you have all been had. Ive never been happy about jumping on the Conservative bandwagon this election cycle, but with a choice between a guy who cozys up to anti-Israel forces, people who set off bombs that kill American civilians, racial separatists, white-collar criminals, foreign leaders gladly committing genocide (read about Kenya people), etc. and the list does go on, I can only think "dream on, sheeple."

I was an environmentalist my entire life. I remember collecting cans off of beaches in south Jersey and not being able to find a place where I could bring them to be recycled. With that said, I am very disappointed that almost every environmental and animal activist group that I support took a political side in this Presidential Election. I think all these organizations should not choose either side. There are many - many more issues that come into play when choosing a President and for any given environmental organization to endorse one side or the other is not the right thing to do. We need support from both sides. I am an Independent voter. I supported McCain in this election in spite of Sarah Palin's issues with the environment and energy which I do not agree with. But I was very - very upset that every environmental group sent out political messages not to support the Republican ticket. It is not right and as one of your supporters I am disturbed by this. Obviously not all Republicans and Independents are anti environment and some of them- like myself are your biggest supporters and therefore you must stop taking sides. We need the support of all the parties. We need to break the barrier of thinking the environment is a political issue. It is not. The earth and our resources - is bigger than any one party. So I wish you and all the other groups would just give us the facts and track records but not take sides and not suggest who we vote for. And by the way, I find it amazing that you can put so much faith in someone like Obama with such a small track record. Right now he is just a bunch of words and he came along at a time when people were looking for a savior. He is no savior but the people that have been brought together now may finally see that we do have the power to make change- not this man who is just saying what people think they want to hear. So- I don't believe in Obama and I don't agree with his policies on bigger Government and National health Care and trickle up economy. I believe in trickle down economy. And if I don't reap benefits from trickle down economy - I don't donate as much money to my charities like the Wilderness Society. But I do like that people are feeling more empowered. But please don't think that McCain would not have responded to our issues. We need to educate and embrace all Americans no matter what party they are affiliated with. Like I said don't lower your level integrity by playing into the far right and their extreme negative environmental views. You have disrespected many good supporters of your organizations.
Thank you. J. Bujacich- NJ