Oh, Obama!
President Barack Obama speaks, as a tear
streams down his face, at his final campaign stop on the evening before
the 2012 presidential election, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Des Moines,
Iowa. ((Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo))
Obama 'change' sweeps old guard
by Mike Marcellino
Yes, 'Virgina'...'the times, they are a changin'
If you think this is just a Bob Dylan song and a rallying cry for 'hippies' read what the Dali Lama had to say about President Obama's victory Tuesday. The Democrat president gathered 303 electoral votes (33 more than he needed), defeating the former Wolverine now Bostonian businessman Gov. Mitt Romney by more than 2.7 million votes.
American singer songwriter Bob Dylan wrote "The Times They Are A Changin' nearly 50 years ago in 1964.
"When you were elected in 2008, you inspired the world with a call to take responsibility for the problems we face as global citizens. Since then, you have made earnest efforts to live up to that great hope and trust placed in you by the American public. I believe you have been re-elected now in recognition of that effort." — the Dalai Lama.
I didn't think it would happen, but it did.
The new grass roots coalition of liberals, youths, blacks, Latinos, the poor and working class showed up again, turning out in great enough numbers to give the offbeat (or 'new beat') charismatic president four more years in the White House to wrangle Congress for real change, creating a strong country in which everyone has a fair shot at reaching 'the American dream.'
Here's President Obama's victory speech on CSPAN -
On the eve of the most expensive presidential election in history - seemingly endless, often bitter and divisive, President Obama foretold his victory and those who would make the difference. He loudly proclaimed, without hesitation, himself as the champion of poor and working class, the less fortunate Americans. At the polls Tuesday these folks showed that they believe in him.
Also in the waning days of the campaign, Romney foretold his own demise. He took a punch at the Obama coalition, calling them freeloaders taking government handouts and it had to end. Mitt forgot these folks pay taxes and they proved that they show up.
While I expected Romney to lose a close election, he even lost his double digit lead in Florida, an old South state now changing with an invasion of Yankees. He lost by 47,493 votes.
Majorities of 63 and 57 percent of folks making less than $30,000 or $50,000 backed the nation's first black president. Obama's call for "change" again ignited a majority of Americans. He drew large, enthusiastic crowds that actually reflected our nation's changing face of 2012. In contrast, Romney's crowds, while enthusiastic, were overwhelmingly white and aging, southern and western (minus the West Coast).
Obama even carried Romney's 'home states' of Massachusetts and Michigan, capturing nearly 61 and 54 percent of the vote.
As a testament to his response to the Hurricane Sandy disaster, Obama carried New York and New Jersey, reeling form Hurricane Sandy and now a northeaster, by nearly 63 and 58 percent, landslides.
And, yes, President Obama did carry 'ole Virgina' by more than 108,000 votes. Now it may be 'so goes Virginia, so goes the nation.' I say this in all due respect to 'the bell weather state' Ohio, which Obama won by more than 100,000 votes. A Republican has never won without Ohio. Perhaps it's Virgina's time to call the future again.
And, I haven't heard of any 'civil war' going on just yet, as a Texas county judge had predicted. Romney did win Texas with 57 percent of the vote.
Oh, by the way, Money.com reports that Colorado and Washington state voters approved the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Yes, 'the times, they are a changin.'
Voters have approved marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado, where this smoker celebrated the "420" holiday in Denver earlier this year. But it's still illegal, according to the feds.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Voters in Washington and Colorado passed ballot initiatives Tuesday to legalize marijuana for recreational use, the biggest victory ever for the legalization movement.
"The significance of these events cannot be understated," said NORML, a pro-legalization organization, in a news release. "Tonight, for the first time in history, two states have legalized and regulated the adult use and sale of cannabis."
Meanwhile, as the states ad feds fight over pot, here's more world reaction to Obama's second term as president of the United States -
One of the first things I want to talk to Barack about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis (in Syria). Above all, congratulations to Barack. I've enjoyed working with him, I think he's a very successful U.S. president and I look forward to working with him in the future."— British Prime Minister David Cameron, on a visit to Syrian refugees on the Jordanian border.
"Your re-election is a clear choice in favor of an America that is open, unified, completely engaged in the international scene and conscious of the challenges facing our planet: peace, the economy and the environment." — French President Francois Hollande.
Pope Benedict XVI sent a message to Obama expressing hope that "ideals of liberty and justice, which guided the founders of the U.S.A., may continue to shine on the road ahead for the nation." — Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi
As if a prediction of the outcome of the 2012 presidential election, Bob Dylan performs his classic song of change, "The Times They Are A Changin" first recorded in 1964 on an album of the same name.
