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DJ Johnnie Davis: "This is exactly the kind of change that America needs right now. I'm not only proud to have witnessed it, but to be part of such a historic moment in time that will be remembered for generations to come."
Nikki Thompson, owner of Nikki's Tattoo Studio: "As a small business owner, every month when I write the withholding tax check to the IRS, I see firsthand how expensive taxes are to the people who make the least income to begin with. I've had to pay for my own health insurance for almost 20 years. It's expensive and covers very little. The need for change in our current tax and health care systems is one of the many reasons I am so happy Barack Obama is our new president. I really believe he will turn our country around in time."
Wendy Fishman, director of film/video, The Light Factory: "I was initially skeptical of our electorate's ability to choose Barack Obama for the next president, but then as I viewed the enthusiasm ... for this transformative candidate, my skepticism shifted to hopefulness ... to tears of joy and today to a sigh of relief that a majority of the American public is returning to its senses."
Commissioner Bill James (R, District 6): "I think it is more of the same and locally will provide me with a target-rich environment for the next two years. Obama won't be able to deliver on his promises because there isn't any money. He can't pull out of Iraq without allowing Iran to swoop in. If he does, Israel will attack and he will be in the same place Bush was in 2001 (fighting a different global war he can't win). The more he talks of withdrawal the higher the likelihood Israel will preemptively attack to protect its own interests. He and Nancy Pelosi promised a balanced budget by 2012 (4 years) while at the same time proposing a slew of new programs. If he prints money, inflation will hit us like it hit Argentina in the 1970s. If he doesn't -- no new programs. He will do what all presidents do: little real change but claim victory. Whether the progressive blogging heads allow him to do this without a fight, I don't know. Politicians promise the world to get into office and then never deliver when in. Whether they are [Democrats] or [Republicans], it is the same game, just a different label. The only politician I had any faith in was Ronald Reagan, and he still screwed up with the [Savings and Loan] crisis.
I told my friend Norman Mitchell to be wary. He can be proud that a black man made it to the White House, but if he expects smooth sailing and everything he wants, he will be sadly disappointed. The best thing for the GOP is to be thankful that the Democrats purged the GOP ranks of the weak, the 'moderate' and the collaborators. That is a VERY good thing. Most (but not all) of the GOP that lost were in the above category. The election reminded me of 1992 (when the level of Ds in Congress was the same). The question is whether Obama will overstep the way that Clinton did (with homos in the military and Hillary's health care). If he does, his win will evaporate before their eyes.
On the local level, the Democrats have occasionally won all three at-large seats (in 1998 for example). They lost the one extra seat two years later and the one that goes down to defeat is, in every recent election, been the black candidate. The mix of voters will be different in two years and the bloom will be off Obama's rose in much the same way the bloom was off Clinton's in 1994. Clinton was the 'first black president' right? Jim Richardson couldn't do it. Wilhelmenia Rembert couldn't do it, Darrel Williams couldn't do it, and I doubt that Harold Cogdell will be able to either. Especially since resident CMS rage machines Vilma Leake and George Dunlap will now do to the Democrats on the County Commission what they did to the School Board. It is in their nature. To borrow Dunlap's reasons for beating up on white women, it was just 'instinct.' I couldn't write this stuff any better.
I am very pleased that the homo marriages have been killed black-flag dead -- evidently even in California (land of fruits and nuts). In an era of 'diversity,' electing a black president, a liberal, and a liberal Congress, voters across America killed off the idea that homos should be allowed to marry (or adopt children) or are equals. It shows that the public's decision about Obama was not based on his liberalism but rather on fear of the economy and his attempts to run as a moderate. If he sticks to that he will have some success. People vote based on fear, which has always been a much bigger motivator than any other factor. In this election, it was fear of the economic collapse that helped Obama. He can try his hand at 'fixing' things, but what is wrong with America is more than a slogan of 'Yes We Can.' The Democrats have been in charge in Charlotte for so long that do you really think it will make that much difference whether the vote is 5-4 or 6-3? Will Dan Ramirez versus Harold Cogdell make that much of a difference? No way. In 1998, I was in office two years, and the number of Democrats on the Board was 7-2. I could handle them so I don't think 6-3 will be any problem with the George and Vilma brain trust in full view of the public. In many respects, this upcoming board stands a very good chance of being a conservative GOP's best friend. Either way -- I received 50,490 votes, which is 50,490 reasons to keep on doing what I do so well."