The first hard news of the Barack Obama era bodes well for Canada. Various U.S. media reports say the President-elect has asked Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a senior House Democrat, to be his chief of staff.
Don’t you wish elections ended like Animal House? I refer not to a wildly destructive parade in which cartoonish villains receive their comic comeuppance (although that too would be entertaining: ramming speed, Mr. President!), but to the handy denouement subtitles that let you know what becomes of the characters we met along the way?
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama—as prepared for delivery
Bobby Kennedy called it 40 years ago. At last, America can now hope for the more perfect union. This is history in the making and a great day for equality and humanity. Enjoy it.
Is happening over here.
The best part of the election coverage, by far, is Jessica Yellin, the magic hologram lady on CNN. Cutting-edge video technology. And Wolf Blitzer, proving once again that you can’t get anything by him, sums it all up: “It’s still Jessica Yellin, and you look like Jessica Yellin, and we know you are Jessica Yellin!” Oh, Wolf. You’re so perceptive.
I’m over here, liveblogging the super-historic election returns with Coyne and Feschuk. Or I will be as soon as I can figure out how to log in. Shouldn’t be long. Probably solved by the time you see this. Go see for yourself. Fun!
Why does it take so long to vote for President?
The race speech is the one for the history books, but this might be the speech of the campaign.
ITQ will be liveblogging her way through the Ottawa election-watching party circuit tonight, so check back around 7pm for sporadic – but hopefully entertaining – updates. (There may even be berrycam pictures if I can figure out how to post from the road. Or pub, as the case may be.)
Must-reads: Doug Saunders and Jonathan Kay on President Obama; John Ivison on Ontario’s finances.