http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html en-gb 30 Fri 18 Dec 2009 04:09:32 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=18#comment18 #13 - if McCain had won.. i guarantee the people at Obama's speech would have boo'd and hissed too.They would. However, if McCain had won and congradulated his opponent, McCain's supporters would have still booed. That's the difference. Wed 05 Nov 2008 18:08:39 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=17#comment17 McCain's consession speech was marred by the boos from his crowd - but then that's the sort of behaviour he was encouraging until a couple of hours before.Obama's acceptance speech was magnificent. He wasn't triumphant, just deadly serious. A few years without the swaggering will do America a power of good.Congratulations Obama team for a copybook campaign. Wed 05 Nov 2008 12:40:50 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=16#comment16 Okay, the hard work starts today and I believe that the although the new administration has its work cut out (thanks to GWB) it will succeed because there is no better alternative - as Obama puts it in his speech it will take more than a year or a term before they'll get there and I believe that to be the case - but it's going to be extremely hard and there will be a lot of mistakes made but you got to start somewhereI wish Obama and his team my best wishes and to me he has made a difference - he has brought back some respect to the US in the manner of JFK & Bill Clinton and he hasn't taken office yet!! Wed 05 Nov 2008 11:56:20 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=15#comment15 "the deciding factor was the economy"...it sure is, and when Mr Obama is told to present the North American Union and a new single currency the "amero" to the public they may think its a good IDEA, just one small problem!!!!!Bush jr signed the "prosperity and security parnership of north america" on 23march2005 in waco texas...usa,canada and mexico join in a union (like the EU).......aka the north american union.....is there really democracy?they stand at podiums and wave their arms,pause for the cheers read a "script" that is written for them, how about this...can i vote for the script writers? can i vote for zbregiew brezinski, one of Mr Obama's advisors?kind regardsnomorefakenews Wed 05 Nov 2008 10:19:08 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=14#comment14 Congratulations to Obama and his supporters - a well run campaign, far more dignified than the opposition, and possibly a sign for the future that people don't want negativity, they want inspiration and hope.Now comes the really hard part (as if the campaign had been easy!) and Obama must turn the words into deeds and become the inspiration he has promised.The citizens of the US have made their choice and now the world will be watching. As one keenly interested Brit i am eager to see what the promised change will beGood speeches from both candidates tonight - is there a new maturity in the wind? Wed 05 Nov 2008 08:34:05 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=13#comment13 Like so many of those who jeered at the mention of the name Obama in the pre-election rallies, those who jeered tonight (a minority it has to be said) did not seem to be upset at their guy losing. Judging by his wonderful reaction, I think McCain felt that too. Wed 05 Nov 2008 08:26:21 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=12#comment12 YouTeeDeeH8rMcCain was respectful and gave a good speech.if McCain had won.. i guarantee the people at Obama's speech would have boo'd and hissed too.if you worked hard and long, gave money, and your guy lost, you'd be upset, right? Wed 05 Nov 2008 08:02:44 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=11#comment11 croony - yeah. did you notice the difference in the supporters tonight? McCain, trying to be a good sport despite his disappointment, congtatulates Obama and his supporters boo and hiss. Obama congratulates McCain on a good fight and Obama's supporters applaud loudly- says it all really doesn't it? Wed 05 Nov 2008 07:55:39 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=10#comment10 the rest of the world wanted Barack as president more than the US people, and i think the world will likewise benefit greatly.i'll keep encouraging my fellow US citizens to learn about the world, travel, or just pick up a book.slow process, but it is the only way to prevent our leaders from abusing their power.. invading and occupying other countries .. stuff like thatmost Americans would say i'm unpatriotic, but i'm happy for the world today. Wed 05 Nov 2008 07:54:49 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=9#comment9 We are already enjoying our tomorrow here. Believe me, it's fantastic! Wed 05 Nov 2008 07:43:11 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=8#comment8 Cheers #8, I can't go to sleep yet i can't wait to wake up tomorrow! Wed 05 Nov 2008 07:34:58 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=7#comment7 Croony,Cry away. No tears here but the smiles on the faces of all say everything about what this means to this part of the world and certainly to this city and its people. Wed 05 Nov 2008 07:06:41 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=6#comment6 I have to admit McCain gave a good concession speach, even though he still had to shut up the hillbillys in the crowd. Wed 05 Nov 2008 07:03:02 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=5#comment5 Tonight don't over analyze, just be happy if you can, and hope for the best. # 4, i didnt like what sarah palin said most of the time but there are those people in the U.S and sad as it is they are as legitimate as me, so like Obama said, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and I will try very hard to ........Also I live 30 minutes outside of Chicago, that's my city, and felt doubly proud to have the climax happen there. I feel connected again with the world and can't stop crying. Since we are on an emotional high, thanks to everyone who listens to my @#%^& on this blog! Wed 05 Nov 2008 06:55:40 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=4#comment4 Absolutely YouTee!The Republicans are going to have to rethink their long-term strategy if they are ever going to appeal to the emerging America, an America that will by 2050 be a place where the minorities will be in the majority.Here in Amman, the sun shines more brightly this morning. The students at my school (owned by Queen Rania) are wishing each other a Happy Obama Day. Wed 05 Nov 2008 06:53:57 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=3#comment3 we have just heard Obama address the crowds in Illinois on ABC....My wife is in tears and so happy that at last Americans have given a resounding signal to the World that they can embrace change and at last elect an African American. Being a Brit in America tonight is a funny feeling - feels almost like when Blair and co won their landslide victory all those years ago...you know things are going to change but you're not sure how.What struck me most was the crowd in Illinois- a mixture of black, white, asian, latino, young, old. gay and straight - now thats the real America, Sarah Palin - not your pathetic Joe sixpack, Hockey mum or the plumber dude! Wed 05 Nov 2008 06:36:19 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=2#comment2 There's excitement everywhere. In Oakland, California, people are honking horns and celebrating in the streets. I've never seen a response like this to a presidential election in 50 years of watching them. Wed 05 Nov 2008 06:31:33 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=1#comment1 watching the news and seeing history in the making, i believe that every nation in the world should that a cue, especually African nations were the 'old politics' continue to prevail. African leaders should learn to allow 'new blood' to penetrate the political system and break the vicious circle that has caused many pain and suffering. We in africa are happy to see change in the U.S.and hope it will spread to the four corners of the earth Wed 05 Nov 2008 05:42:17 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/excitement_in_chicago.html?page=0#comment0 While the economy pushed Obama over the top, I'm certain that this was a cumulative effect. An unpopular war, an incredibly unpopular incumbent, allegations of domestic spying, torture, negative campaigning...Since although I lean somewhat to the liberal side, I do speak from the "middle way"; I do think that contrary to what many might think, this isn't necessarily a victory for the Liberal point of view. That will still need a lot of salesmanship. In our binary political system, the electorate is forced to choose between one of two positions, and often vote in opposition more than in favor on a candidate or party.To put it another way, while the died-in-the-wool conservatives and the diehard liberals duke it out from the fringes, the vast majority is in the middle, either ignoring them or weighing their collective strengths and weaknesses. Wed 05 Nov 2008 04:04:35 GMT+1