The Aftermath

by JASON RAEDE

I watched the election unfold at my buddy's apartment in downtown Jerusalem.  After giving up hope at 4:30 AM, I woke up at 7 to catch Obama's speech.

I was captivated. Maybe not so much as the black ladies on the verge of tears, or the jubilant GWU students dancing in front of the White House, but I felt the emotion.  Regardless of my feelings for the man, he is going to be the next President of the United States, and for that much, I'm happy for him.  And I respect him.

I'd like to be excited for the change to come. I'd like to be excited for "better opportunities."  The problem is, I know too much about him.  I arguably know more about him than 99% of the people in the world, because my job for the past four months has been essentially to dig up dirt.

My conclusion is this: His past contains everything bad he has to offer.  His speeches contain everything good.  He's mesmerizing. Even I felt drawn to him.  But again, I know too much about him to be excited. I know what he has stood for in the past; I know who his friends are; I know what he voted for.  And knowing all that, I can honestly say I'm scared of what's to come.

I'm a rational person.  I'm not going to sit around clamoring for a recount, threatening to move to Canada, or react in any other foolish manner reminiscent of 2000 and 2004.  I'm going to put behind Barack Obama what little faith I have in his ability to successfully lead this country.  I can only hope that I'm wrong about him - and if I'm not, well, we'll have four years of hell, and hopefully Israel and American capitalism will still exist at the end of it all.  And with that hell will come more policies to criticize, more speeches to analyze, and much, much more dirt to dig up. 

Comments

[Takayla]

SDFU U DUMB ASS BICTHES.
HATING ASSES MAD BECAUSE OUR PRESIDENT IS BLACK. BYE

[inhisimage]

Muslim/terrorist look like saints to me; the abortionist is the real terrorist.

Mass murder upon the weakest and most innocent is legal in America.

Now O, (if I write his name I will throw up) wants to pass a law they have to be killed when born alive! And that has been happening already!

I am so ashamed of this country!

All the people who have shed their precious blood for this country, and it comes to this.

Lord, return quickly.

There are churches everywhere, that will take babies, no question asked!!

Do not believe the lie that the infant in your womb is not a child, because it is.
And God has a plan for it's life.

[Marissa]

I hate Barack Obama and think that he put himself and his family in danger by running for president of the United States.
I cannot stand the man and his economic policies. I don't like the fact that rich peopole are being punished.I also dont think its fair that rich people should have to pay for poor people to live. If people get off their butts and worked they should get rewarded. They should not have to pay half of their money in taxes. Yes I understand property taxes and so on but I don't want to pay taxes for poor people. I could care less about people who have never worked. They deserve nothing.

[Savage Politics]

We cannot move- we live here @have a right to be
against a bad Democratic choice-Yes. MANY people
around the globe are happy about this choice but how many know the details of the campaign? They are just glad we became more "global"-by having an ethnic man figurehead. For those who use fowl launguage on this site,it just makes us feel those are for your side are a certain way{unarticulate, ghetto-ish}

[Ravi Sharma]

This comment is for Jason Raede,

I wanted to state first that I am, and have always been an Obama supporter. However I think it is important for people to explore all aspects when it come to politics, not just the views we hold personally. It is the only way we can truly make informed decisions for ourselves. I will agree you know more about the man then most and I commend you for your vigorous pursuit for the truth. I am not saying I agree with all of your findings, but I do believe you approached the matter with an open mind, that is why I have come to respect your views. It is hard to find a bipartisan view in any venue now days, so for that I thank you. However I think you would agree that when all you look for is the fault in people, that is all you will find. I understand your concern for the future during Obamas tenure, to be blunt if I knew what you knew I may as well. But if you dug hard enough I am certain you would have the same concern regardless who was in office. I guess what I am trying to say is this, given your obvious ability, I would be willing to bet the farm you could find enough promising things about Obama to carry us all. I know quite a bit about the man as well, and I can honestly say I am excited about what the future will hold. I believe he will be unlike any president our country has ever had, and he will be remembered in history for more then just being our first African American President. Like I said though, I truly do appreciate your articulate criticism of him. It was not like to typical pinhead babbling that was obviously motivated by racist thinking. Great job Jason, and I look forward to reading more of what you have to say.

[Marissa]

I hate Barack Obama and think that he put himself and his family in danger by running for president of the United States.
I cannot stand the man and his economic policies. I don't like the fact that rich peopole are being punished.I also dont think its fair that rich people should have to pay for poor people to live. If people get off their butts and worked they should get rewarded. They should not have to pay half of their money in taxes. Yes I understand property taxes and so on but I don't want to pay taxes for poor people. I could care less about people who have never worked. They deserve nothing.

[isabelll]

I hope Obama is overwhelmed and has a nervous breakdown

[pennyroyal]

Tammy, how much freedom do you have now. The patriot act is against everything in the constitution that I hold dear. As far as soldiers go this is not the america my grandfather fought 2 world wars for. Please start getting your education from another place than your church. You are trully blinded

[Zack]

God you are all fucking morons, If you actually paid attention to anything that happened before and during the election, you would realize that you are all wrong. If Mccain had been elected, Sarah Palin would most likely have been president at some point. For one thing she thinks africa is a country. Otherwise she doesnt know anything about washington and is dumb as a rock. Wake up fuckheads. Oh and all your misinformed attacks on Obama dont hold much water. Give me an example and I'll tell you why its wrong. Try me

[Joyce]

I'm not simply disappointed because "my guy didn't win". So many Obama supporters think that we are just expressing a sour grapes attitude.

What none of them seem to begin to comprehend is that (we believe) an Obama Administration threatens all the values and ideals that make America what it is.

We are not, nor have we ever been about socialism...taking from the rich and giving to the poor. [And I'm one who would truly like to have more money, and feel that a lot of wealthy people have ill gotten gains. Still, I don't want to benefit from someone else's loss, nore do I want something I haven't earned.]

Opponents of Obama are not just spoil sports or poor losers; we are generally people who have analyzed Obama's plans and his background, and find his plans sometimes opposed to the constitution, and his background [what he has divulged] evidence of that view.

And we believe that many of those who voted for Obama have not examined him as closely, perhaps because they didn't ask the questions, or didn't have means to get the answers. A poll of Obama supporters indicated that they believed Sarah Palin would make a good (Obama) VP, and that they agreed with "Obama's pro life stance". And these are not supported by Obama at all! These people didn't know enough about his beliefs at all; they voted for him based on something less tangible.

Obama has exploited blacks and minorities in a way they cannot even comprehend. And I am afraid they will be devastated when they learn that he will not be "the way and the truth and the life"...and their savior. He led them to believe he can do what no elected official can do. Certainly not a president, who is part of a system of checks and balances, where he cannot make unilateral decisions on his own.

This man has hoodwinked millions of Americans who deserve better. I wonder how long it will take them to realize that they put their trust in an untrustworthy man. And I am afraid that will do more damage to equality than white men have ever done. At least as slave owners they were not trying to pretend they were something else.

[US]

I agree with sooka. Why doesn't he mention that he is bi-racial.Could it be that he is not proud to be half white. Then the saying of his wife that the first time she has been proud to be an American is when her husband made the presidential nominee. So what message are we sending to are troops overseas.

[Claire Kruszka]

Armageddon isn't far behind. Mayan calender cites 12/21/12.

Only a few weeks after the next Presidential election.Weird right?

My sister pointed this out to me 6 mos ago. I thought she was crazy. But, 6 months ago a man who came from nowhere with no questions asked had not yet been elected.

I really thought America would see how far left and radical this guy was.I thought the media and Hollyweird would again be ignored.

How sad that as a nation we have satisfied the liberal agenda.

America RIP.

[liberty]

ISA, With all due respect, why didn't you open your eyes BEFORE the election? Now you are coming to an anti-Obama site to "open your eyes"? Its too bloody late now. Admit it, your were hypnotized by the whole"change" mantra and now you are feeling buyers remorse.

Tell me, how exactly did Obama raise $600,000,000 for his election? And please do not tell me it was his grass-roots base. $600,000,000? I don't think so. Why didn't you question where the money was coming from BEFORE the election and open your eyes then?

Another question you may have wanted to ask yourself: why isn't the media investigating any of Obama's past associations or what is ideology is? Don't the people have a right to know EVERYTHING about a potential new President? Isn't that the job of the news to investigate and report? I know more about Joe the Plumbers past then Obama's. Maybe you didn't ask that question because your head was reeling with the word "change" and you lost site of what was important.

Finally, why didn't you "open your eyes" about what Obama's definition of "change" meant? He stated that he wants to fundamentally change the way our gov't works? What does he mean by that? I barely recall a discussion into what Obama's "change" actually meant. Do you know what he meant by "change"? Please enlighten.

After the election is over, we have all those pundits who wouldn't hear of questioning (in any real way) this potential PRESIDENT of the United States NOW saying:"Who is Barrack Obama? We don't know anything about him?" My god the man is President--now you are asking that question?

I suspect you are doing the same thing.

>>>

[livin4himinWA]

DOES ANYONE REALISE BABIES ARE NOW BEING BORN ALIVE AND THEN MURDERED?????????????????
GET RID OF MAYOBAMAZTECA,NOW BEFORE WE ALL GET NUKED!!!!!!!!!!!

[Isa]

We democrats and Obama supporters come to this websites to open our eyes and see what is out there that is being said. What is what doesn't allow people come together and support one nation. Wasn't President Bush supported more than once by most Americans? wasn't he given the opportunity with a second re-election? didn't he have the opportunity to go to war even though most Americans didn't want to? and hasn't been removed from power? I believe most people in America have at least tried to believe in his politics but things just haven't worked out for him... it is good we live in democracy and that we can elect others to be president and give something else a chance... and as a low supporter of Bush I was 6 years ago, I at some point believed that maybe he knew something we didn't know, and that maybe he would bring some change and proudness to the american people, but he failed terribly and the US is more hated by other nations every day that passes and he is in power. People aroudn the globe are happy about the change that the American people have chosen. And this is the moment when there is a chance to give a chance, to take the chance, to take advantage of the moment and at least think that others are not looking at us as a treat but as a friend, a nation who can actually help around the globe, and no we are not gona fix every problem out there and solving things is gonna take a long time, but at least be thankful that nation's view is changing.

[Spell checker]

Israeli. Put an "I" at the end of Israel to make it possessive. Example: Golda Meir was an Israeli prime minister. Another example: Ford is an American automobile. We wouldn't say, "I love me Chevy; it is America truck", right? Let me toss this out there: It would be great if more people stopped polishing their assault rifles and digging their bunkers and waving the flag. It would be super if they took advantage of the educational system that so many patriots died to protect. Paranoia is a poor substitute for a proper education. So try paying a little more attention in school. Turn off Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. Pick up a book, any book, and use another fraction of your brain. Think for yourselves, think critically, and, for the love of God (upon whom you pin all your hopes and fears), just breathe. Everything is going to be fine.

[uh-duh]

And why exactly are anti McCain people visiting an ANTI OBAMA site? They think they can come in here and change our minds....make us fall into the trap and drink the kool aid. They certainly don't need to be in here trying to stir things up with anti Obama people, why the hell don't they go to groups or websites that are pro Obama...doesn't that make more sense? I never visited any anti McCain groups because that would be idiotic, all it would do would be to aggravate myself by reading anti McCain comments. So to the person here with the screen name of antimccain....why don't you go find yourself an antimccain website to post on, okay there sweetheart?

[liberty]

Eden Mesfun,

I can appreciate your sentiments, but supporting Obama is the worst thing we can do right now just have a quiet life. If you honestly agree with Obama's policies then by all means support the man, but if like me you have fundamental problems with everything he said in his campaign then stand up for your country. Its as simple as that.

[tammy]

pro-obama letters? you have got to be kidding me, we just watched the auction and sale of the U.S. now Dmitry and China are laughing their guts out, because they have way more than oprah.

I'm so sorry soldiers that our country has been made the joke.

[tammy]

I hope God sends firing metorites that take out every planned parenthood clinic in the world.

[tammy]

So obamas going to take little babies that survived botched murder and stick a knife in their beating little hearts?
When are the men going to stand up for this country? I really thought America knew all this garbage was wrong, all those men who shed their blood for nothing!!!
Where are our brave men, where have they gone? If America wants to last for another month, we had better take out the genocide.

3700 babies everyday in America, do the math I can't believe God let America stand this long.

[tammy]

Of course terrorist hate us fool. They bombed us and we disciplined them. Mayobamazteca is going to take us out like the mayans if he doesn't have an encounter with God or get impeached.

[tammy]

Our heroes have been degraded and spit in the face, by this disrespectful, arrogant, racist,
unshameful man. All our soldiers have died in vain if obama takes office, there will be major upheaval from such tyranny. This country has sweat and toiled, black people included, for American freedom for all, not just blacks!!!!!!!

[Jason Raede]

Believe me, I know.

What I was saying is, Israel would "grow a pair" and defend itself regardless of American military aid.

[drz]

Jason, do some research into the massive military aid America gives Israel every year. Israel is totally dependent on American military aid.