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Our new president: Barack Obama

Barackobama_afp

Good morning everybody. I know it doesn’t have anything to do with soccer but I felt it needed to be mentioned that the United States of America made history last night by electing Barack Obama president. Whether you voted for him or not, you must agree that his election marks a significant moment in this country’s history.

I will get back to the soccer shortly, but if you want to share your brief thoughts on the election, and on Obama’s victory, please share them below.

Comments

  1. Man this is amazing, the GOP tried to label Obama a Terroist, socialist, communist, secret muslim, Osama bin laden’s mole, and the people of the United States still voted for him in a landslide. I guess the people prefer all those things over another republican president.

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  2. >>>

    I’ll find a way to cope just as soon as you contemplate that SBI has a place to comment after stories for just that reason – for people to comment and express their opinions. I expressed my opinion, and if you review the posts I wasn’t the first with the same thought, whether Ives takes it into account is purely up to him.

    Posted by: EvenisON | November 06, 2008 at 12:38 PM

    I didn’t say you had no right to post. I just didn’t think your post made much sense and I pointed that out, which is one reason that the comments section exists, no?

    >>>

    I’ll review my point since you seem a little slow.

    Posted by: EvenisON | November 06, 2008 at 12:38 PM

    Charming.

    >>>

    I visit SBI for soccer news, whether McCain or Obama won… For the record, as I have already made abundantly clear, but again as you seem especially slow, it wouldn’t have mattered it McCain won – still no national day of giddiness for me.

    Posted by: EvenisON | November 06, 2008 at 12:38 PM

    Again, charming. My point was that Ives has posted about a political story–to my knowledge–precisely ONCE since starting SBI and that it seemed a weird overreaction to accuse him of perverting the spirit of the site by doing so. If you’ll notice, my response to your comment had NOTHING to do with who won the election. I would have defended Ives if he’d posted something after a McCain victory.

    >>>

    But hey, don’t let tolerance or understanding get in your way… after all, there is probably someone expressing an opinion somewhere on a message board right now contrary to yours. Get ’em Tiger!

    Posted by: EvenisON | November 06, 2008 at 12:38 PM

    “Irony” (n): Incongruity between what is said and what actually is done.

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  3. Jon E posted —And it was especially wrongheaded of Ives to force you to read the post and then comment on it.

    C’mon, Ives averages maybe 25 posts a week. Give him two weeks’ vacation every year, and that’s 1,250 posts annually. So, assuming we average a new president every 6 years, that means Ives will post a similar story once for every 7,499 soccer-related posts. A new post for every president would constitute a whopping 0.013% of his posts. Find a way to cope.

    Nice math, Jon E. Glad you have the time to work that out.

    Ironically, it was just as wrongheaded of Ives to force you to read and comment on my posting, now wasn’t it?

    I’ll find a way to cope just as soon as you contemplate that SBI has a place to comment after stories for just that reason – for people to comment and express their opinions. I expressed my opinion, and if you review the posts I wasn’t the first with the same thought, whether Ives takes it into account is purely up to him.

    I’ll review my point since you seem a little slow. I visit SBI for soccer news, whether McCain or Obama won, the last thing I expected to see yesterday was news of it on SBI. I’m sorry not to have participated in your national day of giddiness over Obama’s election, but that (at least last time I checked) was my choice. For the record, as I have already made abundantly clear, but again as you seem especially slow, it wouldn’t have mattered it McCain won – still no national day of giddiness for me.

    But hey, don’t let tolerance or understanding get in your way… after all, there is probably someone expressing an opinion somewhere on a message board right now contrary to yours. Get ’em Tiger!

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  4. It’s hard to express how happy I am about this. I’ve always been proud to be an American, but never more proud than right now.

    I don’t know if a resurgence in American pride will have any effect on the psychology of the National Team, but I’m sure it won’t hurt.

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  5. Texas cast only 20% fewer votes for Obama then New York did. So quit with the Texas hate, you damn state-ists. It wont make you feel any better about losing in the 1st round again.

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  6. Ives,

    It would have been strange not to take a moment from soccer to acknowledge this moment in US history. Thanks.

    Already the world looks at us with a little more respect.

    To seal the respect deal, of course, we’ve got to put a world class starting 11 together; and they’ve got to play with a cohesive style that works as a complete team.

    Ay yi yi! All Obama has to take care of is a couple wars, the threat of a depression, details like that. Becoming a world class soccer nation is truly hard and will take some magic (but we can HOPE!)

    I do think Obama would play a very open game with compact defense, fast counter attacks, and wide play up front, but I’ve no proof, its too early to tell.

    May it be a productive 90 minutes where we all make ourselves proud.

    -EP

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  7. As a person from Illinois, many of you will regret electing a politician that is about as dirty and corrupt as the Chicago and Illinois pols that are in jail or about to be.

    Mark my words, little by little those that can still have independent thought will see that he is no different from the “typical” pol from my area.

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  8. I’m not interested in the ignorance and hyperbole of some, just gets me frustrated to read it.

    It was a wonderful historic night, and I’m very proud of my fellow Americans.

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  9. I just want to point out something interesting I thought of. I don’t know if it’s been brought up already, so sorry if it has.

    Recently on soccernet there have been articles about the young players coming up through the system, like Charles Renken and Joseph Gyau, and I remember reading in the comments of one this question: “When are we going to get a top prospect who can trace his lineage back to the Mayflower?” This question was obviously in reference to the fact that both Renken and Gyau (and even Altidore and Adu) are first-generation Americans. The asker made the arguement that they’re only barely American; had their parents chosen to immigrate somewhere else, they would have played for that country.

    Well, guess who’s our next president? A first generation American. As far as I’m concerned, American is American is American, and whether I agree with Obama’s policies or not, his election to the office of president is a monumental testament to the progress we have made as a nation. Just like Charles Renken’s Golden Boot in Brazil ’14 will be. 😉

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  10. >>>

    MLS fans will be familiar with his economic policies.

    Posted by: nate | November 05, 2008 at 08:25 AM

    >>>

    Nate’s post IS quite clever. I wonder how many people actually get it . . .

    Posted by: BlueWhiteLion | November 05, 2008 at 09:58 AM

    Well, naturally I assumed he meant that there’s a chance we’ll see a period of slow but steady growth after years of mistakes led to a near-fatal contraction.

    (Yes, I do know what he actually meant.)

    >>>

    was disappointed to see this first thing this morning and am still disappointed this afternoon. It doesn’t matter if it’s Obama or McCain. I come to SBI for soccer news. If I wanted political news and commentary there are untold numbers of other sites I could visit on the Internet.

    Posted by: EvenisON! | November 05, 2008 at 02:43 PM

    And it was especially wrongheaded of Ives to force you to read the post and then comment on it.

    C’mon, Ives averages maybe 25 posts a week. Give him two weeks’ vacation every year, and that’s 1,250 posts annually. So, assuming we average a new president every 6 years, that means Ives will post a similar story once for every 7,499 soccer-related posts. A new post for every president would constitute a whopping 0.013% of his posts. Find a way to cope.

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  11. GOLAZO!!!

    And Ives, thank you for posting this. My (obvious) preference for Obama notwithstanding, I believe this would have been worth mentioning no matter the outcome. Some things outside the soccer realm are, in fact, big enough to merit discussion.

    Now please excuse me while I go watch the Celtic-Man U match I recorded today.

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  12. What a wonderful world, sung by Nat King Cole. What a day of elation, for many. For the black community it is history at its finest, for the white community, well I can only say, it shows people are coming together as it should be…..we are all brothers and sisters. I feel so happy inside that so many people have come together and made a statement. That we are one and are interested in the wellfare of each other. If this doesnt let people know , I dont know what. And for you evil people who pretend to be loving and law biding well , you better be now. Now is what makes or breaks this country…I know in my heart, Obama, will make a difference for everyone…love ya Obama…..

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  13. “I agree. We have now become a Socialist Nation. The wealth will be spread around!

    By the way, I hope you all continue to create that wealth so I can get some of it.”

    Stop clinging to the idea that SOMEHOW you were going to get rich by voting Republican and voting for a Democrat kills that dream.

    Work hard, get your money, get taxed like you can afford to be, and buy the Galaxy. All will be well.

    But you still won’t have universal health care because our system is too fubar.

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  14. Wow, there sure are a lot of cynical republicans here.(please note I voted for Obama and consider myself to be liberal) I’ve taken away 2 main things from the more conservative comments.

    1.)It seems like no one knows what Socialism actually is or what the term means, please check Wikipedia. By definition, the policies of the last 8 years have amounted to corporate socialism. Ie. Privatizing profits and socializing losses. The current economic crisis is a direct result of lax market regulation. Republicans should hold an encyclopedia in one hand while they look in a mirror if they want to equate Obama’s proposed polices with socialism.

    2.)The other thing I’ve taken away from these comments is that it is amazing how soccer can transcend so much. Look at the range of opinions shown here, the main thing that I take away from this whole post is that all of us, regardless of our political stripes share a love for the beautiful game. I know that, no matter what you believe politically, everyone in these comments wants to see US soccer and MLS succeed, grow and bring the game we love to more Americans.

    Kudos on posting this Ives, anyone who reads the site often knew how you were voting and you are well within your rights to post this, but lets all remember that we’re footy fans 1st , citizens 2nd , and political 3rd.

    BTW. Go Fire.

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  15. We were screwed either way. It’s going to be the same old doodoo. I was going for Nader. Don’t blame me in four years.

    VENTURA 2012!

    This may do good for US soccer though.

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  16. Okay Martha, please tell me when I deleted an Obama comment. I have yet to delete a comment posted in this section (key word being yet). I don’t promote my political views on here. Never have.

    And Mike (though you not surprisingly have the same IP address as Martha), I didn’t have this website in 2004 when Bush was re-elected, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.

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  17. Great now even Ives joins the liberal biased media.

    Its great hes African American. That solves everthing. He comes from the mos t crookedest city, the most crookedest county, and the most crookedest state.

    Hes friends with radical leftist, Ayers, Rev. Wright, and the crazy Muslim U of C proffessor who wants to kill Israel.

    Hes never managed anything of substance, wrote more books (2) than legislation as a senator. Showed an alarming lack of decision making by voting absent 130 times

    …and has nothing to indicate hed be a good president.

    His only trait are his speeches and BS that would make an used car salesman blush.

    I had a feeling when you were a leftist whyn u ereased an Obama post before and left a Mcain one stand

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  18. It’s good for US soccer and MLS. I’m not suprised to see President Obama in attending US or DC United matches next year and after. He will be the 1st president who embraces soccer (futbol/football) in the U.S.

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  19. Listen folks, I’m not sure what the problem is with a post about an American president being elected. I don’t believe my post was pro-Obama or anti-Obama. It stated the fact that he won and the fact that it is a historic outcome to a presidential election. I wanted to give readers a place they could discuss it. Nobody had to discuss it and I’m certainly not making anybody read the reader comments. Don’t worry, it isn’t a trend, but a presidential election is a bit of a special occasion.

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  20. CDeeps,

    I could give many examples of cases in which governments acted with civility and decency and made the world a better place during the past century. On the flipside, I can’t name a single example of a society where people truly ruled themselves, free of government, that has sustained itself.

    I could go on, but I’m going to stop because this is a soccer blog and I’m sure people are tired of this thread, and second, we just will never agree on philosophy, so there isn’t much point in going back and forth.

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  21. Teddy Boy, paying for bailouts and unnecessary wars is socialism. When Hugo Chavez remarked following the passage of the bailout, “Bush is to the left of me now,” he was right on the mark. When private enterprises are bought up by the state and free markets are replaced by state services, then socialism has eclipsed any semblance of capitalism. Gross oversimplifcation? It isn’t a very complex subject, Teddy.

    We can’t have a civilized society without government? Teddy, that sounds like an oxymoron. Have governments, especially in the twentieth century, behaved with civility? That the era of big government developed in tow with the most destructive period in the history of humanity is no coincidence.

    Pipe dream? Teddy, your adoration of BO sounds like a pipe dream to me. What makes you assume he is responsive to the needs of the people? Because he talks a good game? Don’t forget that Obama voted for the bailout, issuing a joint statement with McCain that argued for its necessity. He also voted to finance the war – the one you feel is unnecessary – through senate appropriations bills.

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  22. could we stick to soccer?

    wonder how soon Anschutz will unload the teams he owns in MLS to avoid the coming capital gains tax increase promised by the President-elect?

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  23. I was disappointed to see this first thing this morning and am still disappointed this afternoon. It doesn’t matter if it’s Obama or McCain. I come to SBI for soccer news. If I wanted political news and commentary there are untold numbers of other sites I could visit on the Internet.

    Jozy Altidore becoming the first American to score in La Liga is the kind of historic news I come to SBI for.

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  24. Oh dear, CDeeps, what a gross oversimplification of socialism. No wonder you are the one who is so confused. If socialism is enacting policies that benefit the middle class rather than those with all of the power and money already, then hooray Socialism. But of course, that isn’t it.

    You can hate the government all you like, and bang on about taxes. But you libertarians are all the same, chasing a pipe dream, just like communists and anarchists. You can’t have a civilized society without government.

    And, quite frankly, while paying taxes is not among my favorite things, I understand that it is needed to pay for services that are required to keep that society civilized. What I do mind is paying for corporate bailouts and unnecessary wars.

    I have great confidence that Obama will be a responsible president and one that is responsive to the needs of the country, unlike the disaster that has been in charge the last 8 years.

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  25. -“Word on the street is that he’s a absolute fanatic about West Ham United.” (Nick)

    -“Right, Nick. And Hillary Clinton is a Yankees fan.” (CDeeps)

    I can see Obama’s thought process now. “What sports team should I say I enjoy watching in order to get votes… the White Sox? Nah. The Bulls? Nah. Oregon State basketball, where my brother-in-law is head coach? Nah. I know, how about a team from another country in a sport that most people in the U.S. don’t give a crap about!”

    Regardless of your political beliefs, I think you have to admit that if Obama attends a game (or even mentions soccer), it will help raise the profile of the sport in the US.

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  26. This is going to be great

    Now when the Dynamo make a third trip to the white house, I can hang up a picture of my favorite championship team with a president i am proud of.

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  27. Northzax,

    Government is already involved in health care. The cozy relationship between government and HMO’s in the United States goes back to the early twentieth century. Healthcare costs of risen due to goverment intervention, not because of an absence of goverment regulation. How do you think Medicare and Medicaid are paid for? Doctors’ bills are absurdly high because the state has to get their share of the spoils. If anything, we have had too much regulation over our private lives, through democrat and republican administrations. This would continue were regardless of which candidate was elected.

    Northzax, are you incapable of governing yourself? Would you wilt like a dying flower if the federal goverment was to disappear?

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  28. miguel, thanks for the affirmation, coming from you it means a lot. as per your logic, Prez Bush couldn’t have been that bad, if B.O. only has to be a little better to be a success? HMMMM

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  29. Just remember, Democrats were voted into office back in 2006 to end the war, to bring troops home, but did they do it? Nope. Dems even had control of the senate and rep!! This is going to be just a new Caesar in power saying he can do it, saying things will change. The same mantra Bush pushed back in 2000. No nation building, etc. How easy we all forget. This NEW messianic leader is just George Bush in a new outfit. Wheres the change? Once we step out of this left/right paradigm and start actually working together at ground level and stop relying on some puppet in office, then we can make this country great.

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