Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Day of reckoning: Election Day in the USA
It's Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, Election Day in America! And what a historic presidential election it is - we could either have the first black American president or the first female vice president.
I'm very excited but also very nervous. Even though the predictions are that Barack Obama will win in a landslide, I don't think anyone can be confident about the outcome.
I'm planning to stay up very late tonight to hear some of the early results. I sincerely hope the news will point towards Obama winning otherwise I will go to bed with a heavy heart. I'm almost afraid to hear the result tomorrow.
By the way, the coverage of this presidential election has been immense in the UK. We have probably had nearly as much election news reported here as has been reported in the USA. I don't think Americans realize how much American news we get anyway but especially news about the election. The outcome is important to the Brits (and most of the rest of the world) because America is still the greatest single power in the world.
I'll be watching the election coverage on TV plus I'm going to leave my computer on with the web browser open to different sites (BBC, CNN, MSNBC) and stay up until about 2am. Mind you, I'm so jazzed about all this that I'm not sure if I will be able to sleep so I might be up all night!
What are your thoughts about the election? Are you excited? Or are you sick and tired of all the election news and glad it's almost ending?
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Well, he did win and I do think it's a very significant moment in history. He will be taking over at an extremely difficult time, of course so he will have a tough job, as the electorate (and the rest of the world) will be expecting a lot of him. I think it will be interesting to see how much his election will change some of the hostile views of America held elsewhere in the world.
ReplyDeleteI sat up until 1am last night watching the election coverage on TV. You're right, we have had a lot of news about the US elections over here, but, as you say, the outcome is important both to the UK and the whole world.
ReplyDeleteAs a Conservative supporter, I was of course disappointed to see John McCain lose--I think he would have made a fine president. Perhaps his biggest mistake was in his choice of running mate.
Still, hats off to Mr Obama for what he's achieved--he's surely a great inspiration for many people. In my opinion, his biggest achievement wasn't winning the actual election, but beating the favourite, Hillary Clinton, in the primaries. The election itself was always going to be for the Democrats to lose.
If Obama's leadership skills are anywhere near as good as those of his oratory, then surely he will do well in these uncertain times.
In spite of myself, congratulations to Obama and the Democrats!
Hi Jenny, I agree that Obama will have a very tough job but I am sure he is up to the challenge especially if he chooses his advisers wisely.
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to various reactions in the news, I think the election result has already helped to change some of the hostile views of America!
Daniel, I have a lot of respect for John McCain. His integrity and his love for his country is obvious. I was very impressed by his graceful concession speech.
ReplyDeleteYou are right that it was quite an achievement for Obama to beat Hillary Clinton in the primaries. He stopped her with an incredible campaign.
I think you meant to say that the election itself was always going to be for the Democrats to win. McCain tried hard but couldn't manage to distance himself from an extremely unpopular Republican president.
I do believe that Obama will be a great president.
I may be wrong, but I think we have stumbled upon another American/British language difference!
ReplyDeleteI really did mean to say that "the election itself was always going to be for the Democrats to lose". It's a general expression, e.g. "the job was his to lose," or "the game was theirs to lose."
It's a way of saying that something is practically certain to happen for you, unless you actively do something to make it go wrong.
Good old British optimism (ahem) reflected in the language...
Thanks for explaining what you meant, Daniel. I read your post several times and yet I still misunderstood. I'm sorry about that.
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