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ORIGINAL: HagiaSophia

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ORIGINAL: rexrgisformidoni

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ORIGINAL: bluepanda

I absolutely loathe George Bush - consider him one of the most thoroughly despicable human beings ever to draw breath, and I have never considered him "my" president. I don't care how many other people voted for him; he is not morally, ethically, or intellectually fit to hold any public office higher than notary public, and frankly I'm not even too sure about that. I wouldn't give that slimy little reptile the benefit of the doubt  on anything, regardless of that impressive seal on the front of his podium.

So it doesn't surprise or anger me in any way if there are others who now feel the same way about Obama. Doesn't matter. It's not a repudiation of democracy in any way, as far as I'm concerned. Just as Bush did what he did for the last 8 years, whether I  approved or not, Obama will now do whatever he's  going to do for the next 4, or 8, regardless of what the people who dislike him think of the matter. C'est la vie. In 4 years, they'll get another chance to vote against him like I voted twice against Bush, and if they can persuade enough of their friends and neighbors to vote the same way, they'll get their wish. But until and unless they are able to do that, I really don't give a flying fuck what any of them think of Obama, any more than any of them gave a rat's ass what I thought of Bush. I had to live with 8 years of Bush, now they've got to live with 4 (or 8) years of Obama. Fuck 'em. 

Angry much? He may be an idiot, but damn. Personally, I think democracy in the country is a joke. It doesnt work in a society of 315 million people.

The last eight years were worth it, in light of the fact that we just elected the first minority President, and that we did it because he was the most qualified candidate. We are the first Western country to elect a racial minority to the highest office in our country. It's proof that democracy does work - it just doesn't work quickly. And it shouldn't. Efficient, quick-moving governments tend to be fascist governments. Democracy takes time.

And what's wrong with being angry at a President and party that have caused the debasement of the Constitution, the degradation of America's reputation internationally, a party unable to understand what "socialism" and "redistribution of wealth" actually mean, a party that outed our own operatives in the field, a party that is responsible for more than doubling the national debt in a trumped up Texas tea party that has cost us dearly paid blood and treasure so that we're all bailing out the commercial banking industry, the oil corporations are making record-breaking profits. Why shouldn't we be angry - we should be outraged at the poor stewardship of the Republicans over the last 8 years. But, we get the government we deserve. I think, after this last election, we deserve a much better government, and we're going to get it. To go back to the main idea - it is our responsibility as Americans to hold our government to high standards. When we don't, we get Grants, Hoovers and Bushes for 8 years. When we do (often in times of crisis) we get our FDRs.

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ORIGINAL: rexrgisformidoni

I am disappointed for sure, but anger is meaningless without something for me to vent it at. And for me that means a living person or a kitten or something. If anything though I am more angry at the populace for this colossal clusterfuck of a country we live in. We can not agree on anything, we have zero sense of a common purpose. Personally I'd like a government that works alot quicker than what we have now. So call me a fascist. and how can we hold the government to high standards when the ones we have for our fellows have fallen so low.  But whatever, you have your opinion.

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

After all, it's damn confusing.

I hear people claiming Washington should listen to the people. So we have this election, and the people--as well as the Electoral College numbers--clearly elect Barack Obama. Not an unknown (this has been going on forever), and not easily (he first had to win over his own party in the primaries, which he did). Several experienced people endorsed him, from both major parties.

He ran a disciplined, organized, focused, well-resourced campaign. And after becoming President-Elect, he's clearly surrounded himself for quite some time with damn impressive advisors (just check out his economic advisory board).

And certainly patriotic Americans, after duly electing the choice of the people, would follow their President, at least for his term, yes?

Apparently not. Many people have said, "OK, I didn't vote for him, but he's the President"--including John McCain. Many others here persist in language more appropriate for before the election.

So just what makes those folks experts? Why is America great except when it disagrees with an individual's vote? And why aren't these unusually wise people Presidential advisors or candidates themselves?

And if they don't like American democracy, what exactly do they propose? Because it sounds to me like they'd like a dictatorship, just that they can't agree on the dictator.

But then, I'm confused, so hopefully the smart people will explain it to me.

Thank you for doing so!

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ORIGINAL: HagiaSophia

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ORIGINAL: rexrgisformidoni

I am disappointed for sure, but anger is meaningless without something for me to vent it at. And for me that means a living person or a kitten or something. If anything though I am more angry at the populace for this colossal clusterfuck of a country we live in. We can not agree on anything, we have zero sense of a common purpose. Personally I'd like a government that works alot quicker than what we have now. So call me a fascist. and how can we hold the government to high standards when the ones we have for our fellows have fallen so low.  But whatever, you have your opinion.

Our "government" works, administrations (and congressional installations) screw up. What we've had was an administration that didn't work. Any functional administration will work faster than one that's fundamentally broken or permanently on vacation. Wanting an administration that actually works doesn't make you a fascist.

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

"OK, I didn't vote for him, but he's the President" But then, I'm confused

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ORIGINAL: hizgeorgiapeach

For those who are so disappointed that not everyone has jumped on the Obama bandwagon now that the election is over, I'd like to point out Another salient fact which Celeste did Not mention in her post concerning the record of the 109th.  Take a look at the names of the various men and women who were sitting in Congress for the 109th.  Both the Senate and the House, since Congress as a body is comprised of both.  You'll find several rather Significant names on that list.  Like, oh, the names of Every Single Person who was a candidate in the presidential race.  Including those of Obama and Biden. 

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ORIGINAL: Thunderbird56

Very simply, there is no "American democracy" and thank goodness.

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ORIGINAL: Thunderbird56

Put even more simply, the definition of democracy is, "two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch". 

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ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

Edited to add: I'm assuming your election is a matter of the most votes wins, i.e. majority rule.

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

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ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

Edited to add: I'm assuming your election is a matter of the most votes wins, i.e. majority rule.

          Not quite, North.  There is an additional layer, the Electoral College, which throws a little weight to the less populous states to prevent the urban centers from asserting complete control.

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

      We cannot all be sheep, North, but we can't all be wolves either.  None of the above.

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And if they don't like American democracy, what exactly do they propose? Because it sounds to me like they'd like a dictatorship, just that they can't agree on the dictator.

But then, I'm confused, so hopefully the smart people will explain it to me.

Thank you for doing so!

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ORIGINAL: awmslave

There is some truth in saying "people get what they deserve".

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

And if they don't like American democracy, what exactly do they propose? Because it sounds to me like they'd like a dictatorship, just that they can't agree on the dictator.

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery


But then, I'm confused, so hopefully the smart people will explain it to me.

Thank you for doing so!

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ORIGINAL: bluepanda

I absolutely loathe George Bush - consider him one of the most thoroughly despicable human beings ever to draw breath, and I have never considered him "my" president. I don't care how many other people voted for him; he is not morally, ethically, or intellectually fit to hold any public office higher than notary public, and frankly I'm not even too sure about that. I wouldn't give that slimy little reptile the benefit of the doubt  on anything, regardless of that impressive seal on the front of his podium.

So it doesn't surprise or anger me in any way if there are others who now feel the same way about Obama. Doesn't matter. It's not a repudiation of democracy in any way, as far as I'm concerned. Just as Bush did what he did for the last 8 years, whether I  approved or not, Obama will now do whatever he's  going to do for the next 4, or 8, regardless of what the people who dislike him think of the matter. C'est la vie. In 4 years, they'll get another chance to vote against him like I voted twice against Bush, and if they can persuade enough of their friends and neighbors to vote the same way, they'll get their wish. But until and unless they are able to do that, I really don't give a flying fuck what any of them think of Obama, any more than any of them gave a rat's ass what I thought of Bush. I had to live with 8 years of Bush, now they've got to live with 4 (or 8) years of Obama. Fuck 'em.