General Chat

Congratulations to Barack Obama.

Thought maybe he would do it. Well done!!!

Yes Well done Barack Obama, long may you be President.

Mo

I offer my congratulations too - what charisma, what an orator. I thought and hoped he would make it

I'm one of the numpties who stayed up until gone 6am watching the results come in and then to listen to his victory speech, in fact many people on here were getting up as I was going to bed LOL. Must say though, it was worth it; I was very inspired. If only OUR leaders were as inspirational there might be a chance we could dig ourselves out of the recession reasonably quickly...instead our 'esteemed' leaders are arguing about who best represents the ideals that Obama holds. They're like children. I really couldn't see Brown or Cameron ever doing so much for national pride and optimism as the Obama campaign and victory speech has.

There will be a lot of pressure on him, but he's a realist, I think and knows (and isn't afraid to say it) that it will take years to put things right.

Also, if McCain had run his campaign like his concession speech, things may have been different. The right man won though and it was very moving to see Jesse Jackson in tears when the win was announced and during the speech.

And Kenya announced a national holiday in honour :-)

Well done Mr Obama, I hoped you'd win :-)

I spotted Jesse Jackson too - it was so moving wasn't it. Why can't we get fired up over here with elections like they do over there? Why aren't there queues at the polling booths over here? something has gone very wrong over here

Well Done and Congratulations Barack Obama. :)

Was obvious he was gonna do it.

He can't do any worse than warmonger Bush has.

Good luck to him.

Agree Ann. Maybe if our politicians started thinking of the people of Britain, and not just lining their own pockets, and showed the people they can stick to what they say in their electioneering, they may get a better turnout in elections.

Ann,


It might look like everyone is fired up about the US elections but that's not really the case.

Typically, only 56% of the US population votes. They have very poor turnout. The queues are the result of too few staff at the voting stations.

The UK voter turnout is higher with 76% of the population.

Rose

thanks for that Rose - I had no idea!! so we're not as bad as I thought

Congratulations to Barack Obama - great news!!!

Steph

The main point is that many Americans have real pride in their country and aren't afraid to say so.
I know it might sound corny and cliched but they say God Bless America all the time, what do people in our country do or say? Nowt! Seems to me most people in the UK are only worried about themselves and don't show the same pride even if they feel it. We are too inhibited still to show our true feelings.
Good luck to Obama, I felt for McCain as he spoke but I think his choice of Palin didn't help his cause.

Lizx