A New Era Begins

Senator Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States.

This has been an amazing presidential race in almost every way. OffTheBus has depended on you to report it and we're depending on you to send us your comments tonight. Let us know what you think about our new President Elect.

Happy Election Night! See you tomorrow.

-- OffTheBus

Comments

[Imawidow]

Why, with the election of Obama, all of a sudden everybody gets "unified"! ? All I can say is "beware of wolves in sheeps clothing". Already the dems are talking SPEND, GIVE,FREE! I am a senior on a fixed income and nobody's coming to give me FREE! Government is by the people and for the people. So why aren't the people speaking up! I just pray our nation doesn't become an 'OBAMABLE" one.

[Poyda]

Yeah, don't you just hate all that talk of being "unified"!? More division and discord please.

[xxmaryxx]

I don't blame you for worrying,But it's been the Bush years who has taken away from you..Not Obama

[2sunny]

I think I will place a President Obama picture in my home along side my family pix. Better yet......the whole first family photo. Yes...I would like that.

[roshni]

I'm already looking for a really good picture of the first family to put up on my wall. Never thought of doing this before and always found it a bit strange that people did it in other countries. However, I am so proud to have this first family......

[schicklett3]

I'm more than ready for a new era, and will help Obama all I can.

[courageunderfire]

Of course there is a TON of work to do, extensive and it will not be easy whatsoever. It will take some time, and I am prepared to give him time to get it set in motion. The economy being the first thing, and as other things play into that like creating many new green jobs, our country will start to get lifted out from under.
That said, I am tremendously hopeful, and I believe with all my heart that Barack Obama will be one of the best presidents in US. history. Of course not everything can be done immediately, or within the 100 day time frame. But I trust that he will be surrounded by the best team of people and one by one they will hammer away at all that needs to be done.
I hope, I believe, and I support Barack Obama, so nice to have you as my President sir!!

[MikeElPaso]

There is something wonderfully poetic about President Obama and the First Lady, Michelle Obama sleeping in the Lincoln bedroom.

[ckfan]

He will not make everyone happy. He is going to disappoint. If he takes care of the economy, health care, Iraq war, stem cell research and appoint liberal judge(s) to the SC then I will be happy. You can't win every battle. He will govern just to the left of the center, which is fine for me. He is not a progressive, despite what the Rethugs say.

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

I think there's still a lot of work to be done, to, among other things, help Obama live up to his potential. Even great men need to be reminded, from time to time, to stand firm, and Obama -- who is indeed a great man, yet who also let us all down on the Alito filibuster and on FISA reauthorization, needs his own supporters to hold him to boldness. Wrote more about this here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/m.s.-bellows/after-the-sweet-potato-pi_b_142179.html

[karela]

Obama won't be perfect, but he gets it right more often than the people on his own side who try to hold his feet to the fire. I'd really like to see these armchair politicians be quiet for a while and give our guy a chance. The "boldness" professors also said---loudly and at great length---that he had to go more negative and that he had to attack, attack, attack. Well, he didn't. He did it Obama's way and because he didn't listen to that faction, he won the election. I really would like to see what doing it Obama's way can bring to America and to the world. We've seen what the Republican and the Democratic parties can do and it's not always been pretty. How about if we give change a chance?

[CeciliaBertrand]

Obama knows how to move amongst the opposition-maintaining all his ammunition. As President, he can change-a-whole-lot-of- things - nothing on FISA was carved in stone -- Obama is ALSO a Constitution lawyer, professor, ad infinitum ... he arrives at the White House in tact, ready to go. He is the man he says he is.

[chucklasker]

I hope Obama supporters are not thinking we are finished! There is much work to do. President Elect Obama has said he will need our help to fight both sides of the aisle, as he intends to work with both parties and not just be a left-wing shill.

We need something like Off The Bus to keep on-the-ground reporting going on issues and to report on citizen organizations. Maybe not 1000 posts a day, but there WILL be news on the ground, and I'd like to read about it from citizen journalists instead of through the lens of local media.

So I suggest "Off The Bus" become "On The Beat" and continue using individuals to keep us up to date.

[suec03]

Certainly we have just finished preschool or kindergarten and learned our ABC's and how to share and get along and are embarking on our first year of school. Time to see what we can put together with the building blocks we have. We have much work to do--graduation could be eight years away!

[Georgia1992]

I agree. I have already put out the word to family, friends, and colleagues that this is not over and there is much more to do. Please good people do not get complacent. The battle is not over.

[roshni]

For starters, we can support Martin in GA so that Saxby Chambliss does not get away with his race baiting there. We need volunteers to get the vote out at the rerun on Dec. 2. I have donated to Martin.

[rasthedestroyer]

seven years of famine for seven years of plenty...

[sunshine26]

Did I fail to mention----???? Although married for 40 years, and shared the momentous last evening on either side of the election divide, (to the incomprehension of the other), we are still alike in so many ways: We both voted "No" on Prop 8 in support of the California Supreme Court's decision to honor the marriage of gays and persons who love each other.

[GabrielXL]

Does this mean we won't have to hear from Ms. Fouler anymore?

[JMBrodie]

Obama, the 44th president, broke the ultimate barrier.

Henry Aaron, #44, broke the ultimate record.

[courageunderfire]

These feelings are really overwhelming at times. Filled with joy, relief, happiness, emotional.
Feelings of pride and gratitude. Tears fall frequently, realizing the full meaning of this historic election.
One moment giddy, the next the tears come again.
I feel so filled with so many emotions, all intensely good. Right now, I could not be happier for the USA!

[onenvrnos]

A new breath of life...a new solidarity with our neighbors around the world...a new vision of hope...a new approach to solving the problems that shadowed the light. Last night, in tears of joy, I prayed for the mindful and heartfelt protection of Obama and his family so that he might mobilize the greatness of the United States and influence the world toward peaceful resolutions. We are all in this together. The United States has not just spoken in singularity. The world has spoken. Now the work begins. Now is our call for service to our great nation.

That we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[justoverit333]

I wanted Florida to go blue. Yippee!!!
It did. St Pete/Tampa here - we are now blue.
My daughter and I watched it all last night
then popped the cork on the champaigne.
This is a wonderful day and a long time
coming.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[Londonboy30]

Never mind the states McCain won, they were all states that were always going to vote republican. Obama has encroached on traditional republican territories in a way that was unforeseen by many and unavoidable for the GOP, largely due to their own incompetence.

I'm so deliriously happy...

[Aesthete]

The vote was close, even in states that McCain won.