The people have spoken. What a phenomenal victory for Obama! The best way to put this historic victory into perspective is by looking at some facts:First minority president in U.S. history
Most votes ever for any president: 69 million (53%)
Largest percentage of popular vote for Democrat since 1964
Largest percentage of popular vote for any president since 1988
Margin of victory: 10 million (7%)
States won: 28
Republican States Won: 9
Electoral votes: 365 (68%)
Control of House: Democrats +78
Control of Senate: Democrats +17 (1 race pending)
The World Celebrated Obama's Victory: click here, here, and here.
Comparison with Gore (2000):
Gore only won 20 states, 266 electoral votes, 48.4% of popular vote (51 million)
Obama +8 states, +99 electoral votes, +4.2% of popular vote (15 million)
Obama outperformed Gore in 45 states
Gore didn't even win his home state of Tennessee
Comparison with Bush II (2000):
Bush won 30 states, 271 electoral votes, 47.9% of popular vote (51 million)
Bush + 2 states
Obama +94 electoral votes, +4.7% of popular vote (15 million)
Comparison with Kerry (2004):
Kerry only won 19 states, 252 electoral votes, 48.3% of popular vote (59 million)
Obama +9 states, +113 electoral votes, +4.3% of popular vote (7 million)
Obama outperformed Kerry in 44 states
Comparison with Bush II (2004):
Bush won 31 states, 286 electoral votes, 50.7% of popular vote (62 million)
Bush +3 states
Obama +79 electoral votes, +1.9% of popular vote (4 million)
Bush II claimed a mandate with his win in 2004, so I guess Obama has a super-mandate with his victory in 2008. Unfortunately, the next four years will be difficult for Obama. Here are just a few reasons:
Record deficits and debt
Unemployment rate 6.5% (highest since 1994)
47 million uninsured Americans
Failing banks and insurance companies
Falling stock market and retirement funds
"Our entire economy is in danger." Not my words, not the media's words, but President Bush's words.
$10 billion per month of taxpayer's money to an unneccesary war
4000+ US soldiers dead in Iraq
Lackluster campaigns by Gore and Kerry in 2000 and 2004 paved the way for an Obama victory in 2008. And Bush's bad judgment and lack of leadership also helped, not to mention McCain's embrace of Bush and his administration. It's certainly nice to have Obama as our President, but Gore could have saved many Americans a lot of pain and heartache if he had just taken care of business in 2000. But like the Rolling Stones said, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes well you just might find.....you get what you need."
Click here for post-election political cartoons.
PS. This will be my last post for a while, especially from the political perspective. This doesn't mean I won't disagree with Obama or his administration. I already have. I simply feel better about the future and direction of our country. Like the title says, "It's A New Day!" Plus, my wife and I have our first little one on the way, so our lives will be too busy to follow the political landscape regularly. Peace and Love.
