50 Million votes in and the popular vote is tight

[jonzr]

With 34% of the votes counted.  They're saying it's about an 800K difference at the moment.

But the electoral vote is a blowout at 207 to 95.

The senate is standing at 54 - 36.

[leighclay]

Yeah, popular vote don't mean nuttin'.
See: Bush/Gore 2000

[jonzr]

True dat.  FL and VA are going to Obama, that's 40 more.  You know CA will and that's another 55.  That's puts him to 302-95, done deal.

[burghboi]

obama wins fuck yes

[jonzr]

For once the polls were actually correct.        

[leighclay]

I cannot express how excited I am by this.
I truly, deeply believe in this man.

I know there is always the chance they will turn out not to be the person you believe them to be, but I have my HOPE to guide me.
 

[steelerfaninCO]

Up by about 4 million now... Solid as Barack!!

[leighclay]

Up by about 4 million now... Solid as Barack!!

Peaches and Herb, baby, Peaches and Herb.
 

[vinman3]

Congratulations to President-elect Obama and the Dems for a sweeping victory. It is kind of liberating really. I hope they do a good job and take our country in the good direction. It certainly will be a different one. I wish him well. It really is hard not to like the guy (hopefully he will earn my trust). He is a hell of a speaker. While watching the 2004 DNC, I turned to my wife during his speech and said, "There is your next president." Not a bad prediction, eh?

After 16 years of just completely partisan politics, my hope for this country is that both sides can come together. It really has been exhausting. We are one country, under God, indivisible, (and now there is really no reason to not say) with liberty and justice for all. Congratulations again.

[Finnegans Wake]

We all know he has hard work ahead.  I tempered my enthusiasm over the political win with the knowledge that the bigger win -- Obama turning around some very difficult cirumstances for our nation -- will involve a considered strategy, bipartisan support, and not a little luck.  I truly believe that folks who think he's some ultra-liberal will find he is not that, and it's my guess that he appoints at least one Republican to a prominent Cabinet post.  (Hagel to DoD or Homeland?  Powell to SoS or DoD?  Lugar?) 

Some of this economic shit will, I hope, work itself out through the mechanisms of the marketplace.  But certainly not all.  I was no fan of the bailout, but we've committed to that tab.  How the economy fares will determine Obama's first term, IMO.  If the economy is still in the tank in 2012, those first time voters and African-Americans who have been so disenchanted will be asking, "What were we thinking?"  If the Dow is back to 12 or 13K, and we're pulling out of Iraq over the next 16 months, that will be a start.  Staunching the slow bleed of jobs overseas may take a while.

I'm curious to see how he plans to invest in infrastructure and renewable energy, and how that will affect jobs for the middle class.  Will his middle class tax break have a meaningful impact?  Reversing the job flow will be a huge challenge.

On national security, we can only hope that efforts in Afghanistan, with Pakistan very bristly right now, can be wrapped up quickly as well.  Meaning, capture/kill ObL and destroy much of the al Qaeda and Taliban leadership, and return Afghanistan to self-rule as well.  And obviously, the threat of domestic terrorism is never far from our minds, and I see Obama's foreign policy sea change as one that will hopefully obviate the threat, but keeping vigilant against another 9/11 will always be front and center.

There are a whole host of other issues  -- SC appointments, immigration, environmental issues, social issues -- but I think Obama needs to focus on economy, the wars, and national security. 

God speed.  Do America proud.