President Obama: Barack Obama Becomes America's 44th President

See below for the results of election 2008!

Daily Kos Map

CNN's Electoral Map

Google Map: Follow Presidential, Senate House Races

CBS News Election Widget

Comments

[copehead]

OBAMA IS IN CHARGE AND SNOOP DOGG IS LIVIN LARGE! I can’t wait for the new season of Snoop’s Fatherhood! You can log onto the eonline website to see new pix, video, check out Fatherhood games, and evenget cooking tips! GO NOW! The link is below:
Snoops Father Hood E! Page
http://www.eonline.com/on/shows/snoopdogg/index.jsp

[AussieReader]

Pardon my ignorance, but why is it that you elect someone to become the President and then let them sit around and wait until January 20 to inaugurate them?
I don't know how you can possibly tolerate the twilight zone that you're currently in when you've got a wildly unpopular President still in power after having a democratic election and wanting to bring in a wildly popular new President...Is it an archaic rule?
I'm not having a dig at the result (which IMHO is an excellent outcome) but I'd be grateful if somebody could explain why the delay when the whole world is waiting to meet your new man in the oval office, er, when he's allow to do more than visit it with the missus and kids!!

[wymck]

The 20th Amendment (1933) moved the date for Inauguration from March 4 to January 20.

That means there are 77 days between Election 2008 and Inauguration Day 2009.

The post-election period permits challenges from the various parties or from citizens; allows for both official protests and contests among the candidates; and permits judicial and legislative review by the 50 state legislatures and by Congress. Five hundred thirty-eight electors are chosen. These electors meet in Washington DC and cast their votes, which are then certified by the Senate. The Senate can challenge the election and then stage its own contest. In any case, the President pro tem of the Senate, currently Vice-President Dick Cheney, will certify the election.

The new President need not sit idly by. There are many Cabinet appointments to make, now more than ever, and it is difficult to properly vet the nominations which will be heard by the Senate next year.

To AussieReader, I can see that we have strong differences of opinion; hopefully, based on your post, we will have the same ideas about death row inmates and execution calendars.

[wivirgo]

That's a very high pedestal all of you have put Obama on. He better not fall cuz it'll be a hard landing. By these comments, you'd think Obama was the second coming of Christ. Newsflash: he is NOT!! He is human & will change most of what he promised during his campaign BECAUSE that's what politicans do. I'm not a Bush supporter and I don't believe a person should be given super praise just because he's black or a Democrat. BTW, where is the $3 trillion going to come from for Obama's govt. spending programs? MIDDLE CLASS TAXES. The Iraq war won't end in 19 mos. like Obama promised. He's already stated so. Hmmm? Now who's already backing away from his campaign promises? Get Over Bush & Palin! She's back in AK & he'll be out in Jan. You say you're ready for a new America so STOP living in the past. Stop whining about the last 8 yrs. MOVE ON ALREADY!

[iLogos]

Sounds like someone is bitter and clinging to ideals that they fear may be stripped away.

Reasd President-Elect Obama's policy papers. He clearly shows where most of hismoney is coming from, and the statements he has made to date that are not covered in those details have been conceptual in nature, which implied that he would be getting a group of people to study the problem which could just as easily recommend fiscal arrangments for meeting the needs of their proposed solutions.

[omsanti]

Why did you not ask where did Bush get the 600 billion dollar to pay the costs of his Iraq war?
Not from your taxes, of course, you would say (nobody would say himself is mistaken).
If Obama use taxpayers money for the benefit of those taxpayers, then why did you oppose? where would USA get all the money for the programs (fiscal, health care etc) if taxpayers would not pay taxes?
Everywhere taxes is meant to give the govt the money used to govern, I think you understand that basics.
Taxpaying would be worthless IF THE PROGRAMS WERE WHIMSICAL ONES, OR DAMAGING (like the Iraq war).
BUSH make a pact this week with the Iraqi govt to leave Iraq in 2012, maybe you read the news these days, IF YOU DON't KNOW WHY OBAMA MAYBE COULD NOT FULFILL HIS INTENTION TO LEAVE IRAQ in 2010

[DarwinsGod]

I've noticed a lot of really emotional people commenting here. This is the trend. There is reason for joy, but I just want to caution people that Obama is human, and that the enormity of the task he faces will probably result in him failing to meet the very high expectations many of his supporters have for him. From the beginning, Obama has been about tempering emotion with reason. I would hope that his supporters would be the same way.

[iLogos]

Yes, because everyone knows his detractors haven't been able too.

[littledogs1]

The American people have spoken, we have said loud and clear, "yes we can" . Even the red states were splattered with blue spots, I believe many republicans and indipendants put Obama over the top. I hope that dems and reps can work together to fix the mess we are in. I don't think we can do it if they don't.

[grammawmoses]

What a thrill that most voters were paying attention to more than the television stations, all owned by conservatives. We have the privilege of living at a time when we personally witness the living person who has a level of character that rarely comes along even once in our lifetime. FDR, John and Bobby Kennedy, and even Martin Luther King don't quite compare as they were all philanderers. Growing up basically without a father, with a mother who passed him back and forth with his grandparents as she cavorted around the world obviously left Barack with a strong need to experience a solid and complete family unit which I believe is why his family is the most important part of his life. Hopefully he will not be tempted by women who are drawn to men in such positions. I also hope Barack will keep the public informed of everything he is doing to counter the inevitable attacks by those who want us to believe that instant cures could or should be expected. By the way, spell checkers need now to know that "Barack" and "Obama" are not misspelled words!

[concernedamericanMS]

Well I see that our country has finally voted someone into office that is going to lead us to a great and wonderful socialistic America. I was asked today if I was going to bad mouth or not support Barrak Obama (B.O.) or not. Well here is my answer "yes". I will go to the level of the majority of people that read this nonsense about "change", "we hate George W. Bush", etc. I will however pray for all my leaders to set a morally responsible example that children would be able to follow. At this time what B.O. has said he stands for morally is not even close to what I believe. Also I have heard B.O. called the Anti-Christ, HuH, he couldn't be further from that title. So NO I do not believe he is! I do believe that he was voted in due to the overkill with the news media's B.O. coverage and we all know that people believe that the news media couldn't be lying to us...? I do believe that some of the B.O. voters did however, make an educated vote instead of an emotional or historical reason. Good luck to the completely controlled socialism voice of Washington. President Elect B.O.

[labqi]

The National Debt stood at $5 trillion 8 years ago, its past $9 trillion (an extra trillion is also required to bail out the Wall Street 'socialists') in only 8 years of Republican rule. So please clean your dirty ass before going round advising the 'socialists' to do just that.

[gameball]

Well aren't you just so smart doing the B.O.thing. It's people like you who confirm my thinking of republicans, big blow hard money grabbing self centered know-it-alls. Keep smiling cause your gonna have 8 years to get over yourself.

[TruBluPatriot]

Just remember that the reason we're fortunate enough to have Barack as our next President is because of idiots like you and the rest of the Repubs. who showed how completely incompetent and pathetic you all really are. Out of respect for Obama I'm gonna try my best to get along with any of you I come in contact with, but the truth is, the majority of you are chicken-hawk, pathetic blowhards, who scream for war but would never sign up to fight one (I've been to Iraq twice), rail against welfare unless it's geared towards your own interests, and preach at the top of your lungs about religion and morals when every action the majority of you take goes against everything JC stood for. So as I said, I'll try out of respect for President-elect Obama, but truth is, I don't really think any true American is one bit the worse off by having no input or contact with Repubs. whatsoever. Worst part for you is, the real America has finally woken up, and the best bet you all have left is Sarah Palin. LOL! Described by the McCain campaign today along with her husband Todd, as "two Wasilla hicks raiding Neiman Marcus from coast to coast". i do however believe she represents the GOP very accurately.

[DarwinsGod]

Wow. Could the stereo-type that average Republicans are logical fallacy spouting idiots be proclaimed any louder? Concernedamerican, I would stop for a minute to find out what socialism actually means before you accuse a demand-side capitalist of it.

[wymck]

Demand-side capitalist? I'm sure we will be hearing that phrase more and more, because no one seems to be using it now.

As to what socialism means, I think one element of this is state ownership of the means of production. Did you cringe in 1980 when Chrysler requested and got a billion-dollar bailout from the Federal Government? I did.

Fast-forward to 2008. Now the major automakers want $25 billion or more for a bailout, and in the wake of the trillion-dollar banker bailout, who will even blink? Nobody. It will be a stampede to see who can get the fattest bag of cash to the carmakers with the biggest strings. What strings? Watch our Congress as they steamroll new regs putting ceilings on executive pay, and new odious environmental commands.

The Feds just bought a huge chunk of the banking industry, and now they will own a significant piece of the domestic auto industry. Do you see a trend?

For nearly half a century, liberals have drooled over the health industry, knowing full well that health care is one of the jewels of socialist rule. Now they have a formula to get it.

First, command and regulate the machinery of the industry into loss, then declare an emergency and bail it out -- now the government is the owner and the health-care plan that would require a revolution is now just another memo from the CEO.

[omsanti]

What AntiChrist do you mean? The pastor Wright of a (black) church? Or some Arab leaders he consulted? Didn't you know that McCain too has Arab friends and consulted Arabian leaders?
Have ever seen in YouTube Palin was prayed upon by an AFRICAN pastor to help in her quests and protect her from WITCHCRAFT? And that she said she was made governor because of that effective prayer (from a black pastor)?
You only seek (and believe) informations that was ONE-SIDED, you DO NOT SEEK THE TRUTH BY SEARCHING INFO FROM EVERY SIDE

[substance43]

My faith in the American people has been restored. Thank God Almighty!

[bigtimer1254]

This is one step up. And keeps people from feeling like a racial defactor in our Country. I am so happy Barrack Obama won this Election But one of the main things that I liked about it, was that we got our Democracy back. You know what I am saying?I wished I was in front of the TV camera, I'd been doing somersaults and everything, right on International TV . After 8 years of this nonsense, I thought we'd never got it back. And I was getting a little scared. I never seen so many happy people in my life. I can imagine the chills just going through their bodies.Just filled with inspiration and rejoice.
I really give Obama a pat on the back for helping us get this Democracy back. Who is the main participant in this process. And as we go through these channels for Change. We find that this is an Country of an un-divided number, and that is everybody is ONE. And helps us create the real style for togetherness.

[bigtimer1254]

This is one step up. And keeps people from feeling like a racial defactor in our Country. I am so happy Barrack Obama won this Election But one of the main things that I liked about it, was that we got our Democracy back. You know what I am saying?I wished I was in front of the TV camera, I'd been doing somersaults and everything, right on International TV . After 8 years of this nonsense, I thought we'd never got it back. And I was getting a little scared. I never seen so many happy people in my life. I can imagine the chills just going through their bodies.Just filled with inspiration and rejoice.
I really give Obama a pat on the back for helping us get this Democracy back. Who is the main participant in this process. And as we go through these channels for Change. We find that this is an Country of an un-divided number, and that is everybody is ONE. And helps us create the real style for togetherness.

[TruckerJohn]

Hello America and congratulations from Australia.
We love President Obama.

[Tizzlepiss]

Wow! Thank you so much for your support for our new President. We need all the support we can get now to insure that our country pulls itself back together as quickly as possible. If he runs this country anywhere near as well as he ran his campaign we should be well on our way to a healthy and prosperous America before long. Senator Obama is a well educated, articulate, thoughtful and determined man who I feel is well suited to leading this country. One of his best moves was to chose Senator Joe Biden as his running mate with all of the years of experience he has. Together, these two smart men will surely put this country back on the right track soon.

[Classof89]

Thank you and hello to you as well from the U.S.

[The Lorax]

My birthday is January 20th. I just got the best early birthday present ever and on January 20th I will celebrate it in it's entirety.

[Quixotik]

Me too! Sweeeet!

[Harmony1812]

We should be very proud as Americans, not that we elected the first black man, but rather that we elected possibly the most remarkable, capable, majestic man possible to lead us in the infancy of this century. This man of remarkable caliber has the ability to incite people to love and come together and to be inspired.

He has an amazing quality to bring hope out of the closet where it has been hiding for years. He has not only a brilliant mind, but the heart of a lion and the soul of humanity, and a twinkle in his eyes of a new father.

The world is watching with a sigh of relief. God bless him and keep him safe.

[JusticiaParaTodos]

As a Latino I am very proud of Obama's victory not just because he is African American, but also because he was capable of reaching out to people of all races, ethnicities and classes. He united us and now we must continue supporting him and help him undo the damage we have endured from Bush & company.

I believe Obama's election is similar to that of Franklin D. Roosevelt's election back in the 30's! I for one am looking forward to a new NEW Deal! Yes indeed, Happy Days Are Here Again!

[MrCool]

I demand, We the people should demand, that Sen. Obama is a citizen of the Unuted States of America. I think he is doing what he has always done: freedom from the press, and that Americans will soon forget. This is too important to forget.

[woody1291]

Don't you think that when President-elect went through the FBI background check they would have found out whether he was a US born citizen? All presidents have to go through this. GWB even had this done early for him and McCain. So please find another and hopefully a more reasonable thing to complain about for a NEW PRESIDENT. It is amazing what people will believe when they receive an email that beats up on someone weho they are against. Have none of you learned to go to www.snopes.com to check out these rumors.

[TruBluPatriot]

Man really, how stupid are some of you? We elected Obama, our other option was an old man who doesn't even know where he is half the time coupled with a lady who doesn't even know Africa is a continent. How bad for the US that Obama was elected. And he IS a US citzen. I know in the tiny little brains of some people, if a person isn't white then they're un-American, but get used to it buddy. New day has come, and soon ignorant hicks like you will be a segment of the pop. as small as your brain. And even if he WASN't a citizen, which he is, I would much rather have him still than W. Curious, at what point do the people who have either lied or been flat wrong on EVERY RELEVANT ISSUE OVER THE LAST 8 YEARS stop giving their opinion. Nobody is listening or cares anymore man.

[[e-mail]]

I am a 70 yr. old mom, grandmother and great grandmother from Hawaii and am crying tears of joy. So tired of hearing about the older generation voting Republican. Glad to finally see our Maui News say, Aloha President Obama! We are really not a foreign country. Thank you God!