This land was made for you and me

Thank you for summing up a monumental night with your eloquence.

I have read you since I was 12...I am now 24 by the way. Your post has made me smile a little extra tonight.

God damn it Ebert, you nearly brought me to tears. Great blog title... and I think a great choice for our new national anthem. What does "This Land Was Made for You and Me" mean besides inclusiveness? At the very least we could sing it during seventh inning stretches, couldn't we?

But let's remain vigilant. Obama didn't really say we should increase military spending, did he?

Thanks for the tip on the Pete Seeger documentary by the way.

Mr. Ebert, I understand you're in Chicago, but the simple fact that you live two hours into the future does not entitle you to spoil the ending for us Californians. Some of us would have liked to learn who won the election on our own! You could at least have issued a spoiler warning.

(winky emoticon)

I'm still holding my breath, but with a smile on my face :)

As much as I dislike Bush, it's not clear to me that free speech has suffered much under him, unless you count McCain-Feingold (I do). One downside from Obama is the potential restoration of the "Fairness Doctrine". That is a threat to free speech.

I am not far behind you in age, and I truly believe Obama is the president I have been waiting for since the death of Johnson's Great Society dreams. He is a great man and he will make us proud. I can only hope that the unsmiling men in the shadows don't take it personally.

To one of my favorite writers, a fellow film critic, and a fellow American: I've been reading you reviews since I've had access to the internet. I think I finally have a favorite.

Truer words have never been said. As someone who has End Stage Renal Failure and face growing home and medical bills while living alone, I really can't wait to wake up tomorrow to the beginning of a better day. Thank you Roger for making me smile for so many years.

I think that this will be the article that I recommend to any mourning Republicans I happen to encounter. This entire process has been unbelievably nasty, particularly on the Red end of the spectrum, and we need a good national example. I can't think of a better role model for our nation than Barack Obama: calm, rational, empathetic, and mature.

Widespread hysteria on the part of white people for a black leftist community organizer straight from the pews of an anti-American church and the streets of a corrupt-like-no-other city. Things can't end well when people aren't even smart enough to figure their own self-interest. I have a different viewpoint than you Mr. Ebert and consider this night a major milestone in the downward spiral of Western Civilization. But no I didn't vote for McCain.

I am thankful that, after eight years, we seem to have a president who actually talks to us Americans like we're adults, who doesn't try to get votes by scaring us with fairy tales of a boogie man who love Marxism and terrorists. I pray the nonsense is over.

I wish I could share in your hope, Roger, but I've always had the inclination that we would not share politcal views as easily as our love of film. Tonight I am afraid for my country, but I desperately want to share in the hope that this wave of Obama followers is caught up in. May your best hopes come true and may our country do better by him. As a small business owner I am skeptical and worried about my financial future, but if good people like yourself are convinced I am willing to give it a go.
I sleep tonight in a world of uncertainty.

All I have to add...

HIGH FIVE!
DOWN LOW!

I find it cool to know that you're a dude just like me. Sitting at your computer, probably with a TV on in the room, soaking in the election results, basking in Obama's victory, blogging about the election, right now. Maybe you're naked just like me, I wouldn't know.

I nearly have tears in my eyes. Let me tell you, a few minutes ago and in my living room as I was watching the news, I could have hugged anyone who walked into my living room.

Like you, I'm so moved and excited not because he's the first black President but because he's the right person to be elected after the nightmare of the past 8 years and because of the astonishment of a Democrat being elected after all of this.

I never thought it would happen.

This is indeed a new day. Obama is the face of a new country and movement. I think I now understand what a previous generation had thought of JFK-- a fresh, new voice eager for change.

I know this is a presidential victory above racial issues, but it wasn't more than forty-five years ago that our civil rights leaders were being shot dead for picturing a day like this. My own parents--first-generation immigrants-- in their youth would have laughed at the thought of a minority going to the White House. But history--as it was made tonight--has proved that a dream can become a reality.

I've got to say, I'm proud to be an American.

Roger, I share your joy and hope for the future. I've grown up in a Republican family (All but myself and one of my brothers were McCain supporters). Reaching my adulthood in the political climate of the Bush administration, I've become cynical and pessimistic by nature. Obama filled me with a sense of confidence and passion in a way that no other modern political figure ever has. Still, I never thought I would actually see the day when optimism and rationality would finally triumph over cynicism and hypocrisy. It's a wonderful feeling that brings with it confidence in America and happiness to be part of it. Here's to happy days, and to the right president.

"Reply not to me with a fool-born jest:
Presume not that I am the thing I was;
For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,
That I have turn'd away my former self;"

One-of whatever nationality-can but pray that the encumbent "has a dream" and the strength of shoulder and heart to bear the awesome burden of this crown.

I agreed with what you said in your first paragraph. I wasn't thinking about electing the first Black president, that's a sidenote, I elected for a man who, to me, seemed to be the best choice for President and that man was Senator Obama.

32 of the next 40? More like 28. Or did Clinton's triangulation make him half Republican?

"Reply not to me with a fool-born jest:
Presume not that I am the thing I was;
For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,
That I have turn'd away my former self;"

One-of whatever nationality-can but pray that the encumbent "has a dream" and the strength of shoulder and heart to bear the awesome burden of this crown.

I was feeling pessimistic earlier this evening as I saw McCain's electoral number go up. I said to myself, "McCain could still win this election and we may be headed back to the 1930s."

The polls for Oregon, Washington State, and my own state of California closed and their numbers came in. As I saw CNN's electoral numbers with Obama at 297 and McCain at 139, I nearly cried with happiness and my faith in America was restored.

Obama did not win because Americans wanted their first African American President; although it is amazing we now will have our first African American President and it will certainly be important for historians.

Obama won because Americans are more than ever before wanting to fight for the American dream. They want to get a college education, and to keep their jobs and homes. They also want their country to remain as a world leader. Obviously, the only way America can be a world leader and for people to achieve the American dream is if the American economy is strong. Trickle Down economics is a failed idea. It didn't work under Reagan, and it certainly did not work under George W. Bush. The Republican Party did not have anyone they could all support in the way they did for Ronald Reagan. John McCain is not conservative enough for Republicans.

After eight years of Republican rule, we could not take any more of it.

Obama won because the American people really truly care about their country, their families, and fellow Americans.

"Reply not to me with a fool-born jest:
Presume not that I am the thing I was;
For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,
That I have turn'd away my former self;"

One-of whatever nationality-can but pray that the encumbent "has a dream" and the strength of shoulder and heart to bear the awesome burden of this crown.

We are maturing as a people, and I'm so proud to be an American tonight. Thanks so much for your beautiful and inspired words, Roger!

You obviously have a lot of hope but when I look to the future I see death. This was one of Obama's promises. "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." -- Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007
My hope is that this will be one of the many promises he won't keep.

Rice cookers, internet-detouring TV heads and Condolezza's vote ... all in a week. And that's excluding all your movie writing, which gets better and better. Roger, I'm betting your site is my home page within a month.

Thank you, Mr. Ebert.
It's after midnight, yet I'm walking a bit lighter. This vote and this night make me want to raise the flag again.

Hi Roger,

I read your blog as I am listening to President-Elect Obama's speech. This is a time of history unlike any, I think, since the election of John Kennedy - when I was in Kindergarten. Your comments crystalized my thoughts, my emotions. Once again I have optimism. I think the world can really be a better place for my daughter and for my neices and nephews. This election brings hope when it seemed cynicism had taken hold. Thank you for you comments. And best wishes to you and your family and, well, all of us.

Don

I have to say, McCain's speech was incredibly gracious. He didn't look bitter at all, like when he lost to W. I'd say that if anything, he looked relieved. He seemed relaxed, and several years younger. I don't think it was Botox, either; his body language was that of a man who realized that he doesn't have to deal with the steaming pile of manure that Bush's tenure will hand to #44.

President-Elect Obama is a beacon of hope to all of us who have railed at the current state of affairs. We need to make sure that our faith has been placed in vain. The job has just begun. We need to keep our elected representatives aware of our needs, and ensure that lobbyists and special interests don't overcome the voices of those who put them in office.

YES, WE CAN! WE MUST! WE WILL!

A new age is upon us. Hope is the key that opened the door.

As a person who does not agree with either major party, I hope that all of America puts their trust in President Obama. And I hope that he earns it.

Your comments turned out better than I thought, Mr. Ebert. As one who voted Bush both times and did not feel there was anybody better either time, and did vote for McCain. I do hope for a better future, and that Obama, and all elected leaders help find that for us. Now is not the time for Republicans to cry, "There goes the country!" or for Democrats to cry, "Ding Dong, the wicked witch is dead!" There has to be unity in hopes that we all will make it though the tough times we have because back during a time under a Republican Congress and a Democratic president an idea was pushed that the big financial institutions did not need to be babysat and that a strongly free market could make it. Now we have to hope that we can all find the all important solutions, that the banks can be properly regulated and that energy solutions can be found that don't mean suffering under high gas prices while waiting for alternative, less expensive fuels to become available. At this time more than ever, there has to be middle ground between the parties, between the schools of thought that have divided us to find answers. Harmony! Not division!

Amen! Hopefully the difference here in Georgia will go under 10%. Go Ebert and Go Obama!

Roger,

I am watching Obama's speech. I am crying. This is my first Presidential election. It will likely be my most memorable. I now understand how powerful hope is, from the hope promised by Kennedy and King to the hope proffered by this election.

I am 20 years old. I hope I am wrong, but I do not think I'll ever be more proud of my country and its people.

The word "historic" does not do tonight justice.

The closing parenthesis at Grant Park was so poignant to me. The heat and anger ending 40 years later in cool self assurance and resolve. Four years ago I wondered what happened to my generation's promise and ideals. I wondered how men still fighting the Vietnam loss had risen to repeat the mistake that history did not teach them.

Four years ago I told friends that anyone who could mobilize our children's generation would change the political landscape. I could not have dreamed it would be so historical. It represents such hope for so many people here and abroad. Imagine that there are people alive today who did not have the right to vote in this country. Now that is history.

Finally, I think this answers who is the real America.

Roger, your recent writing on all sorts of topics has been an inspiration. In some way, we all propel change. As soon as we recognize how much weight even our smallest actions carry, the more powerful those acts become.

I agree, especially about the part about him being the grown-up. He carefully chose his words not to do a tit-for-tat style of politics and took the high road. I'm against the war too, out of just plain common sense to me. We had bad airport security, they exploited it. And their military might can't really do much more to us. Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11. Energy policy is what will substantially stop terrorism...they get their funding from oil revenue. Obama has one right energy policy in place and I hope he follows through on it: to have every car sold in America be a flex-fueled vehicle by the end of his first term. This will mean every single car seriously sold to our country will switch over their cars to do the same making hundreds of millions of cars within 3 years of such a mandate competing against oil worldwide. Also his support for ethanol subsidies. Every 45. cent subsidized for a gallon of ethanol takes away 3 dollars from oil revenue. I'm also glad that healing can begin...my heart has been in such pain the past week.

I would like to say that I am only teenager of 14 and for the last year, Mr. Ebert, you have had a profound influence on me. Your blog is the most optimistic and inspiring one written on the internet. As I watched the election tonight I was filled with joy to see that this nation was able to elect a president who represents change, and most of all hope. This blog entry you have written has overwhelmed me with powerful emotion.
I aspire to be a film critic when I get older and I have studied your reviews as they have been the most helpful for me to discover my own writing style. The least I can say, very sincerely, is thank you, for your contributions to me, and the rest of the world.

I didn't pause to read--I just have to share my happiness and hope. I feel like we can now turn the page and start fresh. Roll up our sleeves and never, ever, forget that "yes, we can."

I just watched Barack's acceptance speech. It was one of the best performances I have ever seen. Most Hollywood actors would have killed to be able to deliver a speech like that. So the next four years will be interesting.

My brother made a comment to me that he feels like he is watching the history books being written. I definitely feel the same way. I am living out the Confucious curse and living in interesting times.

Thank you Mr. Ebert. As I was tearfully listening to Obama's speech, I realized I was thinking of you. You are the person who has inspired me as much as Obama has inspired a generation. Thank you.

I voted third party. As a Libertarian I liked half of what Obama said and nothing about McCain (he is a phony economic/fiscal conservative). I voted for my heart with my third party candidate but I see how Obama can do something to this country. I would rather see Ron Paul be president but Obama connects the message that we are responsible, it is not about him but us, and that this victory is the chance for change. As a reader of your reviews I always hinted at your politics that are liberal and your recent opinion columns focusing on the election. I know that you separate yourself from politics and your reviews which is most admirable of a critic but I'm glad that there is a place for you to express your opinions, political and other such as rice pots, which is the foundation of liberty and our nation.

You're absolutely right. After 8 years, we the people have our voices heard. Obama deserves this and American deserves this. I am thankful that I got the chance to be a part of this event. God Bless America.

Roger, thank you so much for a beautiful coda to this historic night. I am a 29 year-old white male who recently moved from Montana to Michigan, and I had never voted in a general election before today. I voted for Barack Obama not because I agree with all of his policies, but because when I watch him with his two little girls, I see a kind, gentle, good-humored man. I see vitality and intelligence. I see a pragmatic, grounded person whom I truly believe has the capacity to be one of our greatest leaders. It remains to be seen if the path we have chosen for our young country tonight is the best one, but I voted for Barack Obama because I'm ready for the journey, and honored to be a part of it.

Still looking for my Grandmother's flag. Began looking after I started crying when reading the words you posted above:

This land is your land,
This land is our land,
From California, to the New York island.
From the redwood forests, to the Gulf Stream waters--
This land was made for you and me.

It flew from the front porch of 3161 South Rockford Drive in Tulsa from about the time I was born in 1961 until the day of Reagan's inauguration. I made her take it down; something was wrong with America.

I let her put it up the day after Bill Clinton won and it remained up until the day of her funeral in 1998. I took it down that day and brought it home with me. I've lived abroad from just before the 2000 election until earlier this year I live in an apartment now in Hyde Park directly north of the Museum of Science and Industry. Sometime between now and dawn I will find her flag and hang it in the window. You'll know it when you see it. You'll remember it. The true red, and white and blue.

This election restored my faith in America. I honestly believed the nature of the electoral college was flawed and tweaked to the point where Obama couldn't win. Thankfully, I am proven wrong. We aren't the racist cesspool that so many believe we have become. I look forward to four years I hope will change America.

P.S. As for McCain, I give the guy credit for his attitude during his "Bye-bye" speech. He is by no means a sore-loser, and as a POW I will respect him indefinitely.

I can't say the same for some of McCain's supporters, especially the ones who booed during the rally...have you people absolutely no respect? Suck it up...us Dems did for 8 years.

From an Englishman abroad

Roger you comments are as insightful and uplifting as always. Barack fills me with hope for your great country.

Now go and watch a movie :-)

Rob

The sad thing is this historic moment has been so terribly tainted by the tsunami of misogyny that engulfed first Hillary Clinton and then Sarah Palin. Yes we can, unless you're a shrill, b*ll-busting b*tch (and lets not even get into the use of the c-word).
I also wouldn't be too sure about the restoration of privacy. Barack Obama did vote for FISA.

I was so happy to read your post and already see so many comments something about this election. The internet is such a wonderful tool for the entire world, including myself in Montreal, to come together in celebration of a truly historic event!

This is a beautiful entry; its clear that you love your country a great deal and that you see this as a wonderful moment in history, and that is admirable.

I can only hope that Obama lives up to the hope people have placed in him because he is inheriting a terrible legacy of his predecessor. On international grounds the United States' star has fallen a great deal due to the Bush administration, and it would take Herculean strength and incredibly focused will to get the US right in the eyes of its international detractors and even its own citizens. But from South Africa I wish you all a prosperous four years ahead, that will hopefully be the Golden Age that it must be. May God truly bless the next four years.

Ebert: You write: "...it would take Herculean strength and incredibly focused will to get the US right in the eyes of its international detractors and even its own citizens. But from South Africa I wish you..."

I attended the University of Cape Town during the year of 1965. I returned a few years ago with my African-American wife. Early one morning, before the tourists arrived, we were taken through the Robben Island prison by A. M. Kathrada, one of Nelson Mandela's fellow prisoners there. When we returned to Table Bay, he took us to the Robben Island gift shop. "I want you to meet the shop manager," he told us. It was a white man."He was a guard on the island." We greeted him, a little puzzled. "He was the meanest, most racist guard of the whole prison. He would beat us and spit at us." I started to frame some lame words about forgiving them for they know not what they do. "He had to be," Mr. Kathrada said. "He got such a good reputation that they allowed him to stay long-term. The other guards were rotated out." "And now...he's the shop manager..." Chaz began. "Oh, we enjoyed being beaten!" Kathrada said, and now he was smiling along with the manager. "This was the man who brought us our letters and took new ones away. He took out Nelson's book. He slipped us newspapers. And he smuggled in Nelson's new grandchild for him to kiss and love. Beating us was an excellent cover."

What I wanted to say has been summed up by so many others already. Mr. Ebert, your words have been an inspiration and a great source of entertainment for me over the last twelve years. Thank you for this, and for so eloquently sharing your feelings with us tonight.

I am not a Democrat. I consider myself a fierce Independent with leanings that are socially liberal and otherwise all over the map. I remain cautious and full of trepidation at the thought of what a fully Democrat-controlled executive and legislative branch is capable of. I don't think that's necessarily a good thing.

And yet a funny thing happened tonight. When Ohio and Pennsylvania were called for Obama and I realized, having done the math, that that all but sealed the deal, I let a grin escape, and by the time Obama made his powerful acceptance speech I realized I was crying tears of joy.

I don't necessarily like the process that led to those tears, as it largely consisted of anger. Anger at the so-called leadership of the past eight years, which has seen an unprecedented rise in the powers of the executive office, an unnecessary, unjustifiable, and illegal war, the selective shredding of the Bill of Rights, the regular callous abuse of authority, and an overall foreign policy that can only be characterized in terms of overwhelming arrogance. There's a reason the rest of the world was hoping for Obama to win. When they deal with America, they see Bush. If I were them I'd be sick of that, too.

I see a leader in Barack Obama, in a way that I never saw in Bush, and found impossible to find in McCain. I realized how much I had missed his qualities, which you point out: his fair-mindedness, his maturity, his impressive intellect. I would add to that his charisma. It will be so wonderful once again to have a president that can speak. I will not agree with everything he does, but I will be no longer embarrassed - and even more than a little proud - of our nation's representative on the world stage.

Roger,
Watching the election I had to keep telling myself, "This isn't a only a movie. This isn't only a movie!" Thank God. I am a product of Woodstock and the Civil Rights marches here in the South. As in the Dylan song, "I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways." Tonight my wife and I were weeping as we watched President Elect Obama take the stage. I am so proud of our country.
"I have a smile on my face for the whole human race..." You know the rest.
K.

Tabby, one of the cities in my Floridian county recently elected a Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan to city commissioner. Let me say that again: They elected a Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan to the position of city commissioner. Yes, THAT Ku Klux Klan, the same Ku Klux Klan that burn crosses and admire men with real pretty lips.

This has been my primary exposure to Floridian culture, and I was very proud of the rest of my state when our electoral votes went to Obama. Not because they voted for a black guy, but because they saw past it. I cannot remember the last time I went a week without hearing the N word. It's disturbing, but it's only a hurdle to overcome. It doesn't taint our successes. When progress and tolerance and optimism win, they win, and that's all there is to it. It's not right to dwell on the negatives right now.

Mr. Ebert,

A truly moving entry. I just returned from the rally at Grant Park and checked to see if you had any words. The only one I can conjure up for the evening is inspiring; an inspiring campaign, an inspiring man, an inspiring speech, even an inspiring walk home down Michigan Ave. amidst cheers.

I wish you could have been out there with us, truly. Here is one for all Americans, against the odds we have hope.

Dear Mr. Ebert,

Your letter is touching, but would you have written comments if Alan Keyes had been elected the first black president?

President elect Obama was not the right decision. John McCain was, and his sticker will remain on my bumber until 2012. This is not a criticism on his character, only his policies. His inexperience is frightening. His total support for the abortion genocide is shameful. The war in Iraq will end soon because of the surge McCain fought so hard to pass, and Obama better not take credit for it when it does happen.

Please remember that your readers come from all sides of the political spectrum.

Ebert: Certainly not, because Keyes would have been a wrong president. Maybe you didn't read what I wrote. I said I wasn't happy because Obama was the first black president. I was happy because he was the >right president. You think I'm biased because I wouldn't favor a right-wing flake just because he's a black conservative, but applaud Obama because he's a black liberal? Listen to yourself. Can you spot the racism? Why do you think I should remember that my readers come from all sides of the political spectrum? So I won't offend you? Please remember that your bloggers come from all sides of the political spectrum. From my side, you're quite welcome to offend me. Go righgt ahead. Just take a deep breath and try to argue your side without bringing shame upon it.

(See? This is what I meant!)
Roger, congratulations to you and all your fellow americans who feel this way. What I am hoping for, as a foreigner working for a U.S. company is that your country will regain its optimism soon. This is what the world needs.

Happened to catch the music played when McCain took the stage for his concession speech and then when he left?

Taking the stage - Days of Thunder

Leaving it - Crimson Tide

One an anthem for red state NASCAR fans and the other from a film about an old school maverick who is stripped of his command by a younger black guy.

And Obama just ended his speech with music from Remember the Titans - the story of a team of white and black coming together and putting all their differences aside to win a championship.

God Bless the United States of America.

Maybe the candidates had a deal with Jerry Bruckheimer.

- Erik Childress

Very well said. I've never been more proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. Thank you for writing!

Your Canadian neighbours, and people from nations all over the world, are incredibly pleased and proud that America has made the choice it has tonight.

Welcome Back, America!

Now.

Hold their feet to the fire. You have your guy in the White House. You have control of the House and the Senate. DEMAND MORE! Demand REAL health care reform, and an end to America's dependence on ALL fossil fuels, and the removal of your miltary's boot from the throat of inconvenient nations, and an end to child poverty.

From Obama's speech in Grant Park tonight:

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

His speech gives me goose bumps. I see possibilities where there were none before. I have hope and energy to face the future. It won't be easy or simple. But I believe we can do this. I think this is the first time in my adult life that I am witnessing a true leader of all of us. We are all in this together and together we can make the difference. Tired now and off to bed. I can sleep easy now: we did it.

My heart, my whole body is filled with these little prickly explosions. What is this? Hope and excitement and shock and awe (heh, heh) and joy and deliverance and all those things, of course. An actual good, wonderful thing has happened in this country, in my country, the union I've loved and been ashamed of as long as I have been politically aware... tonight, who has grievances worth uttering?

This is WAY better than THE DARK KNIGHT.

It won't stop. I've known for hours, and it won't stop, this giddy buzz my body is spinning around the house on. How will I sleep tonight?

Who cares if I ever sleep again?

I feel like making love, having a huge Italian meal, watching LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, and starting to write again with passion.

And now I wonder: How can my generation adhere to its strict policy of irony, detachment, and suspicion in the light of all this sincerity?

If it took 9/11, and if it took George W. Bush, then that is what it took. This was never going to be easy, this actual application of those fantastic, straight-from-Venus words of old Thomas Jefferson (the mind, not the man)... but if the last eight years of horror, then heartbreak, then outrage, then bleak, numb acceptance were what needed to happen for that prince to take the stage in Chicago tonight, then every sigh we sighed was worth the hushed effort. We are over the hump, past the midpoint, well on the way...

The implicit lie that most of us lived with has, somehow, been vanquished in the final moments of what seemed like the last act.

Now, finally, we can say we are America. I've never been so proud to live in this world.

I do think of Barack Obama's race as a side note. Maybe we're finally moving beyond race.
One thing I appreciate about Obama is his age. It truly hit me me when he spoke of Bill Ayers as someone who did bad things when Obama was 8 years old. We have moved beyond the boomers and the WWII generation.
Barack Obama brings us into the 21st century. I hope it's a good one.

Thanks for another thoughtful commentary, Mr. Ebert. I have appreciated your occasional political and social commentary for years; as much as the film writing.

I have been told over and over these past few months that because I live in the state of south carolina, a red state, my vote won't count. Well, I can't help but feel I contributed to this victory.

I was 17 during the last presidential election and felt completely powerless. I would never have thought that in my first election I would be voting for a black candidate, let alone such an inspirational one. If for no other reason, I wish people would give him a chance because of all the hope he brings to so many of us.

Katelyn, Rock Hill SC

No terrorist attacks on this country.
No child left behind- billions spent on education.
Prescription drug benefits for seniors.
45 billion on aid for Africa
Iraq and Afghanistan liberated by George W and our military-- they now have a chance for self determination and a new life. This could change the course of history.
Real deeds not just flowery speeches. All brought to you by George W. and the GOP.
History will be kind to George W.

I think at this point you show more insight than 99% of people writing and talking today and that is because you take your time to think things through and say the CORRECT thing.
You back up your opinions.

I don't always agree with you -- mostly on movies -- but you always back up your opinions with an eloquence that is missing from today's society.

Keep it up Roger! I'm 16, an aspiring filmmaker and playwright -- you inspire me every day to question rationally and to think about things in a different way. My good friend Michael Aisner knows you quite well and even he is still inspired by your words.

My dream in this world is to meet you some day. You are an extraordinary man.

Danny.

Ebert: Give a Peace Bump to my friend from Boulder.

Your writing tonight brought me to tears. Words cannot describe the joy I feel in that we all shared in one of the most profoundly moving moments in American history.

Live old and continue to write every essay like it will be your last.

The first presidential election I could vote in was in 92, and I proudly placed mine for Bill Clinton. I remember being energized with hope and feeling empowered that my generation had played a major role in choosing this man. Tonight eclipsed that. I'm proud of my fellow Americans, especially those in that age of 18-25, the same age as me in 92, who have volunteered and sacrificed time and money to turn this nation away from government of fear and lies. The major feeling I come away with tonight is a desire to come together under a strong leader (as you said, the right leader) and embrace what America has meant to so many on the global stage. I have not felt so much hope in what we can do in years. I wonder if this is similar to how people felt when Kennedy won? It's as if we have come to a crossroads and chosen to embrace hope and responsibility. I'm proud to be an American tonight; I always have been but not as eager to proclaim it over the last 8 years. Thanks you for your elegant words; I couldn't wait to read you reactions. I am thrilled to be witness and a participant of one of our finest moments as a nation.

Wow, you Liberals really have a flair for the over-dramatic. It's a shame that people couldn't put their own racial and party biases aside. It's a shame that people voted with Hollywood, and with the media, instead of doing their own research and thinking for themselves. It's a shame that people saw fit to elect a godless racist socialist. I'm not saying that you voted for him for these reasons (although you would probably vote for any Democrat, just because it would be voting against a Republican). Barack will change America. And, when he does, you'll all be crying for someone to come along and clean up his mess. His own vice president even expressed little faith in him, if you'll remember (Hillary, too). This was not the right man for the job, not by a long shot. One day you'll realize that. I just hope it isn't too late for America by then. You're a brilliant critic, but you're politics are absolutely FUBAR.

I spent a good hour writing you a comment telling you not only my life story, but my passions, goals, and political affiliations as well, when all I want to say, is that for the first time in my life, I am proud to be an american.

Oh, and that you totally rock.

Ebert: We need that hour back. Send it in.

Hmm … where do I begin on this historic night? How historic, I don’t know? I’ll let the historians — who are charged with the awesome responsibility of putting Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 into historic perspective — answer that question.

First off, Mr. Ebert, I firmly believe that any language belongs to its people who speak it. However, the syntax is ours alone. Your perfect prose is a thing of grammatical beauty.

Mr. Barack Hussein Obama (yes I dare to insert his “scary” middle name), congratulations on being elected the 44th president of the United States of America, a young, ambitious and extremely powerful country.

The 47-year-old junior senator from Illinois wrote a new chapter in our nation’s 232-year-old history by becoming the first black U.S. president. I think it’s so cool that my 29-year-old eyes could witness that great accomplishment.

Once he puts his hand on the bible and the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court recites the oath of office to him, he’ll have a tough mountain of problems to climb; one whose peak is high, but very attainable. He won’t be alone – we’ll be right there with him.

I’m of the school that no one in life accomplishes things alone. We all need the undying, unfailing support of family, friends and loved ones to reach our goals. It was especially touching to see him thank his wife, daughters, grandmother, relatives, colleagues and mentors who have shaped him into the man he is today.

As a concerned American citizen and service member who’s performed convoy missions in Iraq and climbed cold, treacherous Afghan mountains, I’m proud that we, the people, picked the right man for an extremely difficult, stressful job. One that’ll see his salt-and-pepper hair give way to a completely snow-capped pate in a few short years.

Good luck, Mr. Obama, and as always, good health to you, Mr. Ebert.

Your novice film critic friend,
Carlos R. Diaz

I voted for Ralph Nader.

I am completely satisfied with the election results. There are no hanging chads, no recounts, only Mr. President-Elect Obama.

To anyone reading this, I would like to thank you for casting a vote for President (if applicable).

I am elated that voters saw past color, race, creed, etc. to vote for the candidate that most closely matched their views and the one they saw as most fit to hold the office.

I am proud to be an American citizen.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal..."

Mitch, TN

I don't believe that President Bush is entirely to blame for our economic depression, or more importantly the war in Iraq. I think back to the conversation between Costner and Donald Sutherland in JFK

"The organizing principle of any society, Mr. Garrison, is for war. The authority of the state over its people resides in its war powers."

Seems like a very real and accurate representation of just one of the many problems we as American's seem to be facing today.

I heard tonight one of the pundits say that Obama won because he was both the inspirational choice as well as the pragmatic one. How can one man be both? But he really is, huh?

Dear Roger,

Congratulations! The USA seems to have elected the right man! As a European I never was jealous with the United States during the Bush years. But in only one night your country is lead by a (kind of) liberal Afro American president and all of a sudden I envy the States: my country, the Netherlands has gotten more and more right wing, with a lot of room for unbalanced views -often close to bigotry. All of western Europe has gotten more reactionary. In one night (well... after a very lengthy campaign) Bush-country at least seems to be more progressive. But you're right, it's about electing the best man. Obama isn't a hawk. He has a lot on his plate. I seems that people don't only want him to run the country, but also to heal the world. But somehow, even from here, you can feel a certain warmth. This man, Obama. just radiates hope.

Again, congratulations!!!!

Marc

To Jennifer Smith...Barack Obama has one policy that will make us energy independent, but we will always need fossil fuels. His policy to mandate that every car sold in the U.S. be a flex-fueled vehicle (only 100$ extra for per car, but 130$ for methanol standard, which needs to be the standard...the extra 30$ is for less corrosive fuel injectors) by the end of his first term, and it will do just that. Methanol can be made from any biomass, w/out exception..recycled trash, plant residue (there is enough of that to replace OPEC oil, etc). It will then become the worldwide standard and every foreign car market that sells to the U.S. will switch over and within three years, there will be hundreds of millions of cars worldwide to compete with oil (for a change--no more arbitrary price hikes from the oil monopoly at will). Our farmers will have more business in alcohol fuels then they could handle (and so would other countries), and we could drop trade barriers and start selling tractors to third world countries for alcohol fuels and let them put money into their treasuries, and ,thus,be a huge engine for world development. The 700 billion that we buy for foreign oil could be used for domestic alternative energy funding, half of which could be used to sell tractors to Africa, Latin America, Thailand...any country with a tropical region, which mainly are third world countries. We should also give tax credits to people who buy hybrids , and if they don't pop up fast enough after the mandate, tax credits to gas stations owners who put up alternative energy pumps.(20,000, which is a 1/3 of how much they cost). This will be good for 60-80 years, and by then we should have solar, nuclear, wind power, coal etc. Some of Obama's other energy policies are pretty bad (taxing domestic production for cash handout and for oil heating a/c), but he has got one right, plus his support of development of alternative energies including ethanol. Every .45 cents subsidized per gallon takes away 3 dollars in foreign oil spending. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obamas-energy-plan-a-mix-of-bad-and-good/2/ . OPEC is trying to take over the world basically through their oil revenue, it must be stopped, and can be through the stroke of a pen. Support the OPEN FUEL STANDARD ACT.

I've been reading your blog now for quite some time, and look forward to each new entry. This is my 4th presidential election, and my first time voting for a Democrat (Obama). I suspect I'm not alone. The point is, overwhelmingly the American people are fed up, scared, and willing to try something totally different.

What does this really mean? Well if Hillary Clinton clenched the nomination, I would have voted for McCain, and I bet he would have won.

Can he bring the country back together and repair the damage of the last 8 years? (Yes, I'm a Republican, and I believe the Bush administration proved after all to be quite a disaster). I hope so, but nobody really knows what's going to happen. At least Obama inspires hope, confidence, and tremendous intelligence, something totally lacking in modern politics (on both sides of the isle).

One thing is certain. I feel proud to be an American today. Not just because Obama is African-American, but because of the way he got to this point. So many people have bashed him for his associations, but those things were always ridiculous to me (and millions of other Americans). Did these people forget? This man came up from nothing. That's proof enough to me he's qualified to be president.

Sorry for the length. I'd like to know what you think Mr. Ebert.

Roger, I just want to show my praise of your overall body of work. You are arguably the most famous movie critic of modern times which only works against you to some people that don't like to be told how great a movie is, let alone from the leading authority. When letting someone know that you like a particular film that obviously love, half of them seem to scoff. If they only knew your commitment to open dialogue with your readers, they would probably realize that some of us enjoy glancing at your star system(which is amazing that you will admit it's inherent flaws) and then read your prose after they watch the movie and form their own opinion! I will let you decide if you want to point out how this is relevant to this particular posting or not ;)

Here's to at minimum four years of progress and healing. Keep up your excellent work.

For some reason, all I can think of is the line from Revenge of the Sith: "So this is how liberty dies...with thunderous applause."

牛

While I was teaching overseas, a cynical Canadian teacher said to me, "Do you honestly think that Obama has a chance of becoming President? I'm telling you right now, there is no way you Americans are going to vote in a black President." I am all too sad to not see his reaction today.

"We will restore the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of privacy, and habeas corpus."

Well, all sounds good except leading Democrats are already talking about regulating political speech (i.e. it should be regulated the same way as pornography), which is something President elect Obama has already bought into during his campaign.

As for freedom of privacy and habeas corpus, those rights were gutted under the Clinton administration but since they were enlightened is was deemed proper.

Be careful of the government you wish for, you just may get it.

WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR
By Rabindranath Tagore

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic wars;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action -
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let the world awake

ODE TO JOY
Thy magic powers re-unite
What custom's sword has divided
Beggars become Princes' brothers
Where thy gentle wing abides.

Be embraced, millions!
This kiss to the entire world

Schiller

Mr. Ebert, I know you don't need my validation but there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time. I've been bemusing my friends for years with the firm assertion: "I promise you, years from now people will look back at Roger Ebert's reviews and recognize him as one of the great philosophers of our times."

I never thought I'd be grateful for the dubious art of blogging, but at least now I have the evidence ready to hand (and mouse).

Thank you for always being true to your beliefs and for sharing them with us.

Do you think America has quite grasped how much this victory means to the rest of the world? I'm in New Zealand and I was near tears when CNN called the victory. It's now 1.38am here and I have yet to sleep.

They said he was weak on foreign policy...but what could be better for foreign policy than a president beloved and respected by so many outside of the US?

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, folks. For the first time in a long time, I think I can see it.

As a Canadian, it angered me that despite proof that the war in Iraq was based on lies, John Kerry still lost and George W. was re-elected. Why? Because Kerry couldn't articulate a clear vision, while "W." could and did. Given weak opposition, a ruling party can do darned near anything.

But on Tuesday night the roles were reversed, and Americans of all stripes answered John F. Kennedy's challenge, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Thus, this election was won not by shadowy men making backroom deals, nor by voting irregularities in Florida, but by millions of ordinary people getting involved and involving others. People waiting for hours - hours! - to cast their votes. My gosh, I envy your passion. In Canada we've become so cynical, we're comatose.

So bless you on your new adventure. Tonight was the wedding, now comes the marriage. Set goals. Get busy. But don't get too snippy, righteous or emotional; we've seen what harm that does already.

Lastly: so, when do the Chicago Bulls play the White House? Hoop dreams indeed!

Eloquent as your words are, shouldn't we examine Obama's words as well? They are frightening to me, frankly and I would have thought that someone like yourself would find them that way as well. Obama's rhetoric is in complete contrast to his record. The idea of tax "cuts" when clearly it is welfare through redistribution of funds is appalling. Let's call it what it is.

I, sir, think that society is NOT government. I don't agree that the U.S. Constitution is a living document wherein the founders penned "negative liberties". It is my belief that the first amendment does not "give" me the right to free speech, rather prevents the government from taking it.

The policies that Obama and his stooges Ried and Pelosi favor, in my view will hurt the country far more than help it. Taxation, earmarks, behemoth social programs, in the vein of "fairness", are not motivators. You know, it really is OK to have wealthy and not wealthy groups of people. It isn't my responsibility nor that of the government to make sure every one gets educated. It is their responsibility to take advantage of the freedoms available and do it themselves! I had to.

I work and toil for my self interest NOT for the government. At this rate fascism will be an everyday entity with the government having a regulatory hand in the way your local sub shop makes and sells its sandwiches. "Oh you can't afford the large, well, the man from the government is here to take that man's change and give it to you so that you can eat just like he does."

Sad.

A credit for Woody Guthrie? Thanks, Roger.

http://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/This_Land.htm

I am a Canadian living just north of Maine, in the small province of New Brunswick. On my way to work this morning, I stopped at my girfriend's to pick up my lunch (thanks, honey...you are a wonderful woman), and she summed it up for me: "You know, Darren; I think this result is going to cheer up the world." She's right.

I don't think anyone won last night. I don't believe Mr. Obama is the great Saviour for this country, but neither was John McCain. Mr. Obama was a Product that was Packaged well and Marketed right. He had a great Advertising Team, and of course he had a lot of Celebrity Endorsement. It remains to be seen if there is any substance behind the Hype and Show. So far we have just seen smoke and mirrors...that is all. Soon,we will all get the chance to see what he is really made of, and I hope,for this country's sake,that it wasn't all just a good script.

I don't think anyone won last night. I don't believe Mr. Obama is the great Saviour for this country, but neither was John McCain. Mr. Obama was a Product that was Packaged well and Marketed right. He had a great Advertising Team, and of course he had a lot of Celebrity Endorsement. It remains to be seen if there is any substance behind the Hype and Show. So far we have just seen smoke and mirrors...that is all. Soon,we will all get the chance to see what he is really made of, and I hope,for this country's sake,that it wasn't all just a good script.

"Real deeds not just flowery speeches. All brought to you by George W. and the GOP."

Let's not forget for your list the following:

Guantanamo Bay.
Abu Ghraib.
~90,000 Iraqi civilian deaths, not to mention still failing infrastructure, civil war, and corruption
Escalating tension with Russia, Pakistan, Syria, EU, United Nations
Continued success of the Taleban.
The "Patriot Act".
Illegal wireless wiretapping.
Weakened environmental protections.
The credit crisis.
Huge national debt - (I highly recommend "I.O.U.S.A.")

Will history be kind? Only if we are revisionists and ignore all of the rest of what has happened the last 8 years.

Ebert: Actually, that earlier comment was anti-GOP, but written ironically. Still, I'm happy it provoked your list.

I just have to say to your fair city, Chicago looked pretty incredible last night.

To paraphrase our still current president, what a awesome skyline and scene. What a awesome park you all have.

Now I know what it would look like if the Cubs (n)ever win the World Series.

Think about it, a black man became president before the Cubs won another World Series.

There's always next year.

Okay, I'll bite.

No terrorist attacks on this country.

Prescription drug benefits for seniors.

45 billion on aid for Africa

Iraq and Afghanistan liberated by George W and our military-- they now have a chance for self determination and a new life.

History will be kind to George W.

Roger, you've nailed it. We who rejoiced last night for Barack Obama's victory did so because he is exactly the right man for these terrible times. He can, and I think will, restore our place among the nations as a force for good. He is steady, intelligent, and not afraid. I'm so glad I have lived to see this moment. Of course it's a vindication for our black brothers and sisters, but it's even more a vindication of Americans who have had to watch, anguished, the deeds done in the name of our nation in the hands of those who had their own aims. I have never been so full of hope, yet I live in Idaho, where the (truly) good citizens around me fear him because he is a realist, fear him because he is (half) black, and fear him because they have been swayed by their religious and civic leaders who sometimes use them for their own agendas. My hope for my neighbors in Idaho and all my fellow citizens who did not vote for him is that they will give him time. My greatest fear is not the economic times we face: Americans have lived through them before; it isn't the threat of terrorists; it is our own homegrown fundamentalism that has become increasingly prescriptive, not understanding the difference between ideology and values. The guiding force in Obama's personal and political life, according to his own book, is empathy, that most basic virtue. I believe that he will exercise that empathy when making decisions on our behalf, and I desperately hope that those who opposed him will as well.

What a week. Roger, thanks for this blog, thanks for giving me and other Americans an outlet to express our emotions and thoughts at this pivotal moment in our history. Thanks for being the decent man you are yourself.

Roger, you've nailed it. We who rejoiced last night for Barack Obama's victory did so because he is exactly the right man for these terrible times. He can, and I think will, restore our place among the nations as a force for good. He is steady, intelligent, and not afraid. I'm so glad I have lived to see this moment. Of course it's a vindication for our black brothers and sisters, but it's even more a vindication of Americans who have had to watch, anguished, the deeds done in the name of our nation in the hands of those who had their own aims. I have never been so full of hope, yet I live in Idaho, where the (truly) good citizens around me fear him because he is a realist, fear him because he is (half) black, and fear him because they have been swayed by their religious and civic leaders who sometimes use them for their own agendas. My hope for my neighbors in Idaho and all my fellow citizens who did not vote for him is that they will give him time. My greatest fear is not the economic times we face: Americans have lived through them before; it isn't the threat of terrorists; it is our own homegrown fundamentalism that has become increasingly prescriptive, not understanding the difference between ideology and values. The guiding force in Obama's personal and political life, according to his own book, is empathy, that most basic virtue. I believe that he will exercise that empathy when making decisions on our behalf, and I desperately hope that those who opposed him will as well.

What a week. Roger, thanks for this blog, thanks for giving me and other Americans an outlet to express our emotions and thoughts at this pivotal moment in our history. Thanks for being the decent man you are yourself.

Roger, you've nailed it. We who rejoiced last night for Barack Obama's victory did so because he is exactly the right man for these terrible times. He can, and I think will, restore our place among the nations as a force for good. He is steady, intelligent, and not afraid. I'm so glad I have lived to see this moment. Of course it's a vindication for our black brothers and sisters, but it's even more a vindication of Americans who have had to watch, anguished, the deeds done in the name of our nation in the hands of those who had their own aims. I have never been so full of hope, yet I live in Idaho, where the (truly) good citizens around me fear him because he is a realist, fear him because he is (half) black, and fear him because they have been swayed by their religious and civic leaders who sometimes use them for their own agendas. My hope for my neighbors in Idaho and all my fellow citizens who did not vote for him is that they will give him time. My greatest fear is not the economic times we face: Americans have lived through them before; it isn't the threat of terrorists; it is our own homegrown fundamentalism that has become increasingly prescriptive, not understanding the difference between ideology and values. The guiding force in Obama's personal and political life, according to his own book, is empathy, that most basic virtue. I believe that he will exercise that empathy when making decisions on our behalf, and I desperately hope that those who opposed him will as well.

What a week. Roger, thanks for this blog, thanks for giving me and other Americans an outlet to express our emotions and thoughts at this pivotal moment in our history. Thanks for being the decent man you are yourself.

Roger, you've nailed it. We who rejoiced last night for Barack Obama's victory did so because he is exactly the right man for these terrible times. He can, and I think will, restore our place among the nations as a force for good. He is steady, intelligent, and not afraid. I'm so glad I have lived to see this moment. Of course it's a vindication for our black brothers and sisters, but it's even more a vindication of Americans who have had to watch, anguished, the deeds done in the name of our nation in the hands of those who had their own aims. I have never been so full of hope, yet I live in Idaho, where the (truly) good citizens around me fear him because he is a realist, fear him because he is (half) black, and fear him because they have been swayed by their religious and civic leaders who sometimes use them for their own agendas. My hope for my neighbors in Idaho and all my fellow citizens who did not vote for him is that they will give him time. My greatest fear is not the economic times we face: Americans have lived through them before; it isn't the threat of terrorists; it is our own homegrown fundamentalism that has become increasingly prescriptive, not understanding the difference between ideology and values. The guiding force in Obama's personal and political life, according to his own book, is empathy, that most basic virtue. I believe that he will exercise that empathy when making decisions on our behalf, and I desperately hope that those who opposed him will as well.

What a week. Roger, thanks for this blog, thanks for giving me and other Americans an outlet to express our emotions and thoughts at this pivotal moment in our history. Thanks for being the decent man you are yourself.

i voted for Obama and liked the title of this piece and yes this is the dawning of a new era. But let's not forget a verse added years later from the Native American perspective:

This land is your land, but it once was my land,
Until we sold you Manhattan Island.
You pushed our Nations to the reservations;
This land was stole by you from me.

Time to take off the rose-colored glasses people. Obama will make mistakes just like every other president. He's not perfect. Those who think he's the "savior" of our country are setting themselves up for disappointment. He'll do fine, I'm sure, but not to the impossible level some are elevating him.

I was so damned proud of my country last night.

It's amazing to me how you can exhibit such unclouded perspective when it comes to most movies but I've never seen you be anything less than completely enthralled with the Democratic Party. Having such faith in the upcoming Obama presidency is akin to wholeheartedly believing advance hype on a movie before seeing it yourself. Let's see what Obama actually does before overflowing with praise. Right now he's largely untested and has yet to prove himself. Any actor with enough speaking talent and charisma could have run the campaign Obama did, but speaking talent and charisma don't necessarily translated into a successful presidency.

It's amazing to me how you can exhibit such unclouded perspective when it comes to most movies but I've never seen you be anything less than completely enthralled with the Democratic Party. Having such faith in the upcoming Obama presidency is akin to wholeheartedly believing advance hype on a movie before seeing it yourself. Let's see what Obama actually does before overflowing with praise. Right now he's largely untested and has yet to prove himself. Any actor with enough speaking talent and charisma could have run the campaign Obama did, but speaking talent and charisma don't necessarily translated into a successful presidency.

"He has no grandiose ideological schemes to lure us into disaster."

I dunno. Obama seems to reside on the far left of the political spectrum. Is that where the country really wants to be? Election results not-withstanding, I don't think the country is comprised of far-left individuals. Even California, a state where Mr. Obama garnered over 60% of the vote, seems poised to approve Proposition 8 - a decidedly conservative stance.

I think there are many who will see a swing to the extreme left as a disaster for this country. Anyone who works in the health care field, for instance. Hopefully Mr. Obama can be the uniter his supporters think he will be as opposed to the extremely liberal politician he has shown himself to be during his time in the Senate(s).

I hope my use of (s) doesn't annoy you too much. I just couldn't resist.

I'm 40 years old and have voted in every election since I was of age. This year, for the first time ever, there was a candidate about whom I was passionate and excited. In the past I tended to vote using the "lesser of two evils" approach. Not this year.

Your assessment that Obama is the "right" president is spot-on. He is the antidote for the illness that's been plaguing us the past few years. Certainly Obama has his work cut out for him, but hopefully he will fulfill the vast promise that he has. The mood in the country is ecstatic. Here's hoping that that feeling continues for (at least) the next four years.

Roger,

"Not because America was 'electing its first Black president.' That comes a little late in the day. It was because America was electing the right President."

I wanted to hug myself while I read that statement. I couldn't have found any words truer than those. President-elect Barack Obama (damn it feels good to write that) is the right man for the job, regardless of whether or not he's the first black president. He's right that it won't be an easy road during his presidency, but hopefully I'll still feel as proud to be an American during his 8 years in office as I am today.

Roger,

"Not because America was 'electing its first Black president.' That comes a little late in the day. It was because America was electing the right President."

I wanted to hug myself while I read that statement. I couldn't have found any words truer than those. President-elect Barack Obama (damn it feels good to write that) is the right man for the job, regardless of whether or not he's the first black president. He's right that it won't be an easy road during his presidency, but hopefully I'll still feel as proud to be an American during his 8 years in office as I am today.

I am in mourning. I am conservative. I fear for the welfare of my family. I wonder how I am to afford the tax increase that I will likely get even though my family falls well under the threshold propounded by Obama and reduced by Biden. I fear that without appropriate checks in our government, our laws will continue to be written from the bench (the initiatives regarding gay marriage in CA and FL will undoubtedly be ruled unconstitutional by either one or a panel of judges, though our Constitution or laws do not define sexual preference as a right). That our public education system will become more bloated and irrelevant as there are no American values being taught today. To hear intelligent people waxing ignorantly about what they feel the Constitution is as opposed to what was and continues to be written makes me shudder. I fear for our military that will be reduced in stature. I fear for our economy, when businesses will be taxed or forced to go overseas because of the high cost of labor/payroll taxes/health insurance/social security taxes and the new concept of paying for one's carbon footprint.

All of these fears aside, I understand that liberals had similar fears 4 years ago and many of those fears were realized.

Finally, I think we all need to understand that those we have put in power, from the local city council person to the Senators and Representatives in our states and country are there to consolidate their own power. They, Rs and Ds aside, have perverted our political system to where it is today. My one hope is that Obama is resourceful enough to move to the center where our country mainly resides and has the courage to stand up to his own party which have viewed this election as an invitation to a buffet.

p.s. If I can be heartened in all of this, it is nice to see that some people have had their faith in our system restored.

I am not a “normal” American. I am not liberal, nor conservative. I do not wish to label myself in any way. I find myself watching the two speeches that were shown at the end of this election day. Both given by Senators, both given with respect and dignity. And I wish that the entire election could have had that tone. No muck. No dirt. Just honesty.

What did I do while I watched Mr. Obama speak? I thought a few distinct thoughts. I remembered watching the morning of September 11th seven years ago. Watching what I thought of as a movie. A disaster movie to be sure. But something that just could not be completely real.

I watched Mr. Obama and thought the same. That this is just a movie. A splendid tale. With a happy “Hollywood” ending.

And I recalled my favorite line from the TV series The West Wing. Spoken by various actors, but none better than by Martin Sheen. The line is simply, “What’s next?”

And that is what I thought about as I switched off my TV. As I laid my head upon my pillow to sleep until the early morning. When I would go to work, the same as always.
I would eat my lunch, the same as always. I would go to my second job, the same as always. And I would ride the train home, the same as always. Now I think to myself over and over. What’s next?

My question for you Roger, What is next? What’s the next scene in this movie we call life?

I'm sure you have noticed a lone Chinese word entrant courtesy of a "leo wong on November 5, 2008 4:18 AM" in your blog. That is the Chinese character for ox or cow. At first, I was perplexed why it should appear there. I thought it was some kind of a Chinese prank. But following on a suspicion, I checked on President-to-be Obama's birthdate, and sure enough, he was born on the Year of the Ox (Metal). What's more, his incumbency starts around six days before the Year of the Ox (Earth) commences again, for 1961 and 2009 are both, to their larger extents, Years of the Ox. Accordingly, Ox people are hard workers. Lots of English websites pertaining to Chinese Astrology will tell you that, like this one: http://www.xtraastrology.com/chinese_animal_signs/chinese_ox.html .

Chinese astrology is something I have never been a master of, I just don't believe in any kind of astrology, oriental or occidental. So I plead that you understand why I take the backdoor to give you this message. It is not to proselytize you (or anyone else) on the superstition, which I doubt would have any effect. Besides, it's against my principles. I write so as to illuminate that strange Chinese word appearing in your blog.

Of course, there is this off-chance that I might have interpreted all of this wrongly. Maybe that word is some kind of modern Mainland Chinese lingo that I'm unaware of, but this seems unlikely. The season and timing are such that leaves little room for doubt.

The one thing Bush did that makes me happy, even if he didn't give it the push it deserves, is start NASA on the road to Mars.

But it's a drop in the bucket compared to the harm he's caused.

I've been out of work completely for over a year. My wife brings in the pitiful dab of money we have to eat on. We're behind on the bills. We're just short of homeless. And Republican economic policy and financial deregulation is the reason that I and countless others are in this sad state. The market can't be trusted to regulate itself, Milton Friedman be damned.

President Obama has a hard row to hoe, but I'm sure he can do it. I trust him. Eight years of Republican rule and seven years of watching the grandson of Slew McCain kissing the asses of the RNC has sickened me. Junior threw his ethics out the window in order to get elected, and look where it got him.

All I want is a job and a chance to have a better life. To be able to support my family, even if it is just a wife and three cats. To be able to afford a decent cigar and delivery pizza. And to be able to pay my own damn bills without having to go beg for aid from this or that charity or agency. And, yes, to be able to see a doctor if I need to without going bankrupt.

Can Obama make this possible? Yes. Not overnight, but yes. The good guys have won this round.

Thanks for the continuing eloquence, Roger. As always, my love and respect to you and Chaz.

Mike

I will proudly tell my children and grandchildren that I was among that million and a half of volunteers, that I held signs on Election Day and stood up all night watching the polls. That's very little compared to what some of his amazing supporters did, and since I am so proud I can only imagine how they feel. Obama's campaign celebrates the optimism that makes America great... Tuesday was a good day.

Dear Mr. Ebert
(I almost feel like I am allowed to call you Roger)

I am a Belgian citizen with great interest in movies and arts in general. When I was young, I wrote a review of every movie I saw, every book I read, every TV program I watched. I still have these diaries in my office.

But then life happened (job, family, kids etc) and my time for reading and writing slowed down. I felt sorry for that : in my spare time I had to make choices and decided that it was better to read and watch more, than to write about it. The internet was emerging. I figured that for every entry I would normally have written, I could find someone's review voicing my opinion, and I would print that out and keep it (with some side-notes)...

It turned out pretty soon that your reviews became my favourite point of reference. Sometimes it felt like you had been writing my exact thoughts... Sometimes it feels like having a twin (on the other side of the world and quite a few years older). I value you most for your humour and for your relative approach to everything : nothing is good or bad in itself. You must judge things in the perspective of genre, context etc. I like that approach.

I was very sorry when I learned about your illness and very happy to see you back. I started reading your blog and enjoy that probably even more than your reviews : the same humour and wit, and the same philosophic distance.
Great work.

(I wanted to write this already under your blog entry where you have written that losing your voice has made you more articulate (in writing), but I did not have the courage to bother you with my silly thoughts. That was a thoroughly brilliant piece of writing about the process of thought and writing. Best on the subject I have ever read. I should've told you that then.

(Now however, I must write you my appreciation. No more excuses.)

(Only too bad that for me, "This land" will forever be associated with the JibJab Bush and Kerry animated satire...)

With respect,
Roel Hendrickx.

@ Erik O.

For one thing, I think it is good that the new president is ‘Godless’, if that is what Barack Obama indeed is.

I think we have seen enough of god’s own torchbearers in the White House. I wonder how many times Bush had visions of ‘burning bush.’ Or of smoking guns. The U.S. Constitution does not forbid atheists from becoming presidents does it? If it does, it shouldn’t.

Bin Laden believes in God too you know. Is he moral? Being religious is not equal to being moral.

Obama a racist? Well that’s a first ..

Obama a socialist?

@ Donald

From what I have heard of his speeches, I think he makes it pretty clear what his policy on tax is. Yes, it is probably O.K. to have wealthy and not wealthy groups of people. But I can see no reason why in a democracy, the wealthy should be taxed LESS than the not wealthy. Or why a small business owner should be taxed more than a multinational corporation. And we are talking in terms of percentage of income here.

It is not your responsibility to make sure that everybody is educated. But it sure as hell is the government’s. What exactly is the government there for?

And what do you mean by behemoth social programs? Much needed reform in education? Yes government spending has to be reduced. But not merely so. It has be reformed. Put in proper avenues. And that requires a long term vision. Not a four year one.

Yes it is the responsibility of the individual to take his/her opportunity. But that opportunity has to be presented to everybody.

Believers in democracy like to shout that ‘All men are born equal.’ No they are not. Democracy does not demand conformity. Men are not born equal. But all men should have equal opportunity.

The election result is fantastic, even if only for its psychological shift in how the world views America.

How Obama does in office remains to be seen. But I think the United States and the world are better off for this change.

Ebert: I think "godless" translates as "not an evangelical who has been born again according to my strict definition." Barak Obama is the most frequent and consistent church-goer of any President since Jimmy Carter. When he said his grandmother had "gone to a better place," I felt that he sincerely believed that. When Bush said the war in Iraq was according to God's plan, I felt he sincerely believed Dick Cheney.

Congratulations to the people of the USA! You should be very proud of yourselves.

Sincerely,
A neighbor from south of the border.

Roger,
Why is it so easy to forget that the war in Iraq has cost the lives of at least 90 000 Iraqis?
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/tollofwar/tollofwarmain.html

I don't think anyone won last night. I don't believe Mr. Obama is the great Saviour for this country, but neither was John McCain. Mr. Obama was a Product that was Packaged well and Marketed right. He had a great Advertising Team, and of course he had a lot of Celebrity Endorsement. It remains to be seen if there is any substance behind the Hype and Show. So far we have just seen smoke and mirrors...that is all. Soon,we will all get the chance to see what he is really made of, and I hope,for this country's sake,that it wasn't all just a good script.

I believe that we conservatives in the last eight years did ourselves a disservice by dismissing and diminishing the views of our liberal friends. I was hoping liberals, with the election of Barack Obama, might right our wrong. Now, after reading your divisive and partisan words, I fear the divide remains open. As a conservative who loves literature, film, and the arts, it is difficut to see the artists we admire so greatly for their craft push us away with the same closemindedness that plagues some conservative corners.

You write that Ms. Rice perhaps "could not stomach the thought of Vice President Palin." If even the THOUGHT of a good American, conservative or liberal, black or white, man or woman, could make one ill, what does that say about him or her?

Mr. Ebert- thank you for intensifying my love of film.

I believe that we conservatives in the last eight years did ourselves a disservice by dismissing and diminishing the views of our liberal friends. I was hoping liberals, with the election of Barack Obama, might right our wrong. Now, after reading your divisive and partisan words, I fear the divide remains open. As a conservative who loves literature, film, and the arts, it is difficut to see the artists we admire so greatly for their craft push us away with the same closemindedness that plagues some conservative corners.

You write that Ms. Rice perhaps "could not stomach the thought of Vice President Palin." If even the THOUGHT of a good American, conservative or liberal, black or white, man or woman, makes one ill, what does that say about him or her?

Just let me say, I love reading your movie reviews and your blog, but I have to take a stand here.

The response you wrote to a comment above regarding Alan Keyes I find unwarranted. You describe Keyes as a "right-wing flake." He is not a flake and that is a completely unfair characterization of a person you can only view through the lens of your liberal ideology. I am by no means a staunch conservative, but I am sick of these liberals who treat their views as foregone conclusions.

At least Keyes thinks outside of the box, and doesn't represent the same tired ideas. There is nothing new to Obama's campaign message. He won because the incumbent Republican was unpopular, and he was the most popular Democratic candidate in the running.

In 2000, the memo went out in the press: Bush is dumb. Now, in 2008, another memo has gone out: Obama is highly intelligent. Perhaps the latter is true, but I don't see it. Point to one example of this intelligence. I would say he's politically savvy to a degree (he made quite a few missteps in speeches), but where is the evidence of a great intellect behind the LCD campaign of "change," "hope," etc? Obama is simply a demagogue, one in favor of a leftist ideology, so very few seem to mind.

I understand that the country feels it needs a change after 8 years of a Republican, and I have no problem with that. But I am sick of superficial thinking from so-called pundits, people who are so positive in their opinions that they can't possibly see another side, and who respond with condescension to anyone who disagrees. Your attack on Keyes is completely baseless. He may not be the greatest presidential material, but he is certainly a better candidate than Obama, who refuses to commit on certain moral questions.

I think Democrats and Republicans both have to work together, but the liberals actually seem the more inflexible of the two, unwilling to cede their points. Bush tried to be bipartisan, and look what happened - he pleased neither side. (See the editorial today in the "Wall Street Journal" entitled "The Treatment of Bush Has Been a Disgrace").

I apologize for this long response, but I really feel you have given Keyes short shrift.

To paraphrase Lord Herbert of Cherbury (I forgot the exact quotation), "There are those who grow so accustomed to their role, that to avoid other views is their first consideration."

I'm glad to see you changed the 32 to 28. But now my comment from 10:52 last night looks like it was written by someone who can't read numbers. I'm glad I didn't give my full name! (Of course if you now go back and insert an acknowledgment, I'll look like someone who can't read boldface....)

I was wondering if you were going to revise your pre-concession speech version of this entry that said "Americans listened to McCain's concession speech with indifference." After the Tru Loved brouhaha, predicting how people would react to McCain's speech was certainly bold. Indifference was a good guess, but your after-the-fact revision is certainly closer to the reality.

Ebert: Should have never gotten online. That's what comes of doing a draft in advance so you can post it when the election is called, and being in too much of a hurry to go back and copyread it again.

Mr Ebert, when they start giving out Pulitzer's for blog entries, you better make room. As always, it is a sheer pleasure to read your words. With our pal Studs moving on, it's comforting to know someone out there knows the power of the writen language. You may not have your voice right now, but goddamnit, you have never lost your VOICE. Thanks.

Thanks for another inspiring post from another inspiring American!

As I was watching Obama's speech last night, and after when his and Biden's families came out, and then Obama was last on stage with lovely Michelle waiting for him and they exited the stage hand in hand with the crowd roaring behind them, I wiped the tears from my cheeks and told my friends who were watching with me, "This is like the end of a fantastic movie, only it's real." Can you believe it?

Robert Wilmott:Right.What they call life is just another movie.But the movie is a real drag if you keep asking what's next.Because it's a movie in which you are the producer,director,lead actor and most importantly the script writer.If you just ask,what's next,what's next,then you're just an audience and playing ball is 100 times more exciting than watching.Movies are great but not a patch on life.It's nothing but attitude,if you ask me.

Robert Wilmott:Right.What they call life is just another movie.But the movie is a real drag if you keep asking what's next.Because it's a movie in which you are the producer,director,lead actor and most importantly the script writer.If you just ask,what's next,what's next,then you're just an audience and playing ball is 100 times more exciting than watching.Movies are great but not a patch on life.It's nothing but attitude,if you ask me.

While I may only be 27, my extended family, split between the liberal and the conservative instilled in me two things.

1. It is part of your personal and national responsibility to be involved in the political process
2. That there should be no real bounds to what a person can achieve in America.

And, as my third election I have voted in, I saw both of those clearly realized and crystalized in the electorate.

I was also, ironically (considering I voted and campaigned for Obama), never quite as touched as when McCain gave his concession speech. It felt, for the first time in the race, that here was the man I had grown up respecting. He called for unity and support in a time of great struggle. He asked for it decisively and graciously, and finished the election in a painless, respectful and timely manner.

And, while many people talk about Kennedy, there were many other presidents that I thought of. The most obvious to me being the Adams', Lincoln, the Roosevelt's, and actually LBJ. I wonder what they would feel about this election considering their published beliefs, social policies and moralities.

1. I'm very proud that we've been able to as a society overcome at least in large part the tarnish of racism that has been over our country. The first hour of NPR's Onpoint yesterday did an excellent job of putting what it means to have a black president in office in historical. http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2008/11/americas-founding-choices/

2. I don't think that Bush lied I think he merely saw Iraq as being a substantial threat and consequently was more accepting of iffy intelligence that he probably should have been. However, you slice it or dice it many of the democrats in congress and much of the international community went along with him which means that either democrats were also deceiving americans or that the bush administration duped congress, and the uk, Australia, Canada, and Spain just to name a few countries. Anyone who accepts the second thesis has far more faith in the bush administration's abilities than I do, and the first one borders on conspiracy theory.

3. There has been no greater advocate for POW rights than John McCain.

Thank you, Roger, for not being afraid to express your feelings about this. I am truly inspired by Obama as well. He is my new favorite character in our ongoing Great American Political Film.

For the last Eight years, we have had to do our best to get beyond our distrust of our government. Now we have an opportunity for real change. Obama is a man who was not swept up in the road to Iraq hysteria. He's said that there are patriots on both sides of the war debate. I believe he has the potential to be a great uniter. We can't forget that we have to meet him half way.

Ebert,
I'm 18 (almost 19) and I just voted for my first time ever 2 days ago. My vote didn't go to John McCain. I never really payed attention to any of the elections in the past, and now I find myself oddly consumed by politics. Maybe because I'm older and more in-touch with the world. But voting made me feel good. It made feel a weird happy feeling that I didn't expect. And last night while I was working, I couldn't help but be so anxious and excited for Obama, not only before he was actually elected, but after, too, and I started wondering "What next?" and how much good potential Obama has.
Like you said, I was swept with emotion as well. You expressing your support for Obama makes me pleased and comfortable as well, knowing there are so many intelligent people (including yourself) who voted for him. I feel I voted for the right president and I'm glad to be part of the majority. I'm glad to be part of the statistics of young voters aged 18-24 or whatever it is who voted for Obama. My voice was heard (assuming my vote wasn't tampered with!) and I'm pleased. It's reassuring to read your journal concerning this topic, seeing how much you support Obama, and I'll continue to read your reviews. Can't wait to see what happens!

Mr. Ebert,
I'm 18 (almost 19) and I just voted for my first time ever 2 days ago. My vote didn't go to John McCain. I never really payed attention to any of the elections in the past, and now I find myself oddly consumed by politics. Maybe because I'm older and more in-touch with the world. But voting made me feel good. It made feel a weird happy feeling that I didn't expect. And last night while I was working, I couldn't help but be so anxious and excited for Obama, not only before he was actually elected, but after, too, and I started wondering "What next?" and how much good potential Obama has.
Like you said, I was swept with emotion as well. You expressing your support for Obama makes me pleased and comfortable as well, knowing there are so many intelligent people (including yourself) who voted for him. I feel I voted for the right president and I'm glad to be part of the majority. I'm glad to be part of the statistics of young voters aged 18-24 or whatever it is who voted for Obama. My voice was heard (assuming my vote wasn't tampered with!) and I'm pleased. It's reassuring to read your journal concerning this topic, seeing how much you support Obama, and I'll continue to read your reviews. Can't wait to see what happens!

As to the statement that America elected the right person, I humbly offer the advice, "Only time can tell." Ultimately, the change we seek is competence, isn't it? Someone who is not out of his league, as our current president unfortunately was and is. It is a strong leader that keeps sparring factions from dismantling the temple, the school, the business, the industry, the government, the culture. It is a lack of strong leadership that has us so divided. Let's hope we made the right choice this time. And let us have good feelings about that hope. But I assure you, only time can possibly tell.

Roger, you disappointed me. I would expect more from a thoughtful person like you to fall back into knee-jerk leftist ad hominem attacks.

For 30 years I've watched, read, and listened as liberals instinctively label all their opponents as a) evil or b) stupid. And they make this single thought conclusion while assuming their own intellectual superiority. It seems to be the result of a self-righteous, low-level logic that says "I am a good person and I believe X. Since you believe Y, you must be bad or stupid."

And then the left accuses the right of thinking in black and white or not being "nuanced". That's called projection.

The left makes up and propogates lies about the right and then accuses the right of lying. "Bush lied, people died" has been the biggest lie propogated over the last 5 years. Everyone, including the Clinton administration, every leading Democrat in Congress, theh United Nations, and the governments of our most important allies believed a) Saddam had and was developing WMDs, and b) was willing to use them against free countries. To ignore that and regurgitate "Bush lied" is itself a lie. More projection.

Celebrate your victory. Be proud of your candidate. Be as optimstic about the future as you want because you won. But please leave the childish name calling and slandering out of it.

Two weeks ago I made my first visit to the Washington DC area. I visited the JFK gravesite at Arlington and saw his words engraved nearby.

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

JFK speaking those words today would be called a conservative.

Ebert: The words sound nonpartisan to me. There is something to be said about labels. Maybe we can agree on this: Cheney is evil. Bush is stupid.

I am filled with a sense of pride that I have never felt for this country of mine. Because as you said Roger, we finally elected the right president. Witnessing the last 8 years I thought this country might continue to vote out of fear, continue to lose trust in our fellow man, and continue to insulate ourselves from the rest of the world. Well, I am elated that the American people chose the high road and am filled with pride today.

Following your lead Roger, I think Woody Guthrie states the thoughts I had before this election best:

"In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me."

And after:

"The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me"

I love your choice of songs. I have two more suggestions that have been running in my head:

"Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead!"
and
"Dancing in the Streets"

Did I, the frustrated conservative, ever have a choice? On one hand, I see a militarist hocking kitchen knives on SNL a few days before the election. On the other, I see a socialist--plainly a stronger leader--who consistently, even heroically, stands for Something... even if many of his values are antithetical to mine.

I agree with The Man on a couple things: I believe we should get out of Iraq. I'm 'greener' than most of my conservative peers (my father was a woodworker). I agree with The Other Guy on a few things... but not enough.

And I couldn't vote for a clown--not in good conscience.

Did I, the frustrated conservative, ever have a choice? On one hand, I see a militarist hocking kitchen knives on SNL a few days before the election. On the other, I see a socialist--plainly a stronger leader--who consistently, even heroically, stands for Something... even if many of his values are antithetical to mine.

I agree with The Man on a couple things: I believe we should get out of Iraq. I'm 'greener' than most of my conservative peers (my father was a woodworker). I agree with The Other Guy on a few things... but not enough.

And I couldn't vote for a clown--not in good conscience.

Honeymoons are wonderful things, eh?

Enjoy this one while you can, soon enough the contradictions that underlay the different promises to different people will begin to emerge and the intra-family squabbles will start....

Gosh, I sure hope I'm wrong about this, I really do!

The nightmare has ended? or we awoke from one very bad dream but then fell asleep again and had another bad dream....

Barack is part of the reason why Prop 8 passed.
Thanks for nothing, Obama.

America feels different this morning.

Bigger.

Brighter.

Better.

More inclusive, less divisive.

Full of hope and optimism.

The sun is shining and a new dawn has arrived.

I have never been more proud to be an American than today.

Roger - I share your views on the election of Barack Obama. He was the right man for the job! It was with pride that I watched his acceptance speach last night. Not because he was of African American descent, but - because he is an ARTICULATE (we all know why this is bolded!), intelligent, level headed man who's intent is to lead America for the good of ALL people.

However, it is with a heavy heart that I'm watching the numbers for Prop.8 in California. My dissapointment with my fellow Californian's runs deep. Prejudice is not dead in this country. We still have a long road to hoe in this state and country regarding bigotry and prejudice. Religion should NOT be the basis on which we decide how to treat our fellow persons. Sexual orientation should not make us shudder - or fear for our children.

What troubles me is that, in my lifetime, we will not move ahead with true caring for our fellow human beings. The many years of the Republican party being in bed with the religious right has contributed to the movement coming to a near standstill. This saddens me. I'm not referring to race here - I'm referring to social and monetary standings, and to sexual orientation. I do consider race to still be an issue regarding prejudices - of course. But, with the election of an African American president I feel the healing will begin in hernest.

Hooray!!.. for the Democratic party and election of a GOOD man! Boo!! for Californian's that think gays have no rights to love and freedom!

(I should disclose - I am a HETEROSEXUAL, middle income, educated, agnostic, MORAL, woman).

Thank you for your time.... I wish you and all the best!

What an amazing night. What a great moment. I wrote about it in my own blog, too.

We have gone from the horror of Bush to the hope of Obama.

I will say that last night was an enormously important night in the history of our great nation. People made the conscious choice to look beyond slanderous/libelous insults and fear tactics and pick someone who represented a different direction.

Let's look at the failures of the Bush administration:
1. A war in Iraq that was based on outright lies and misinformation. This war has lead to nearly 100,000 deaths and didn't even CATCH THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR 9/11, despite all the gung-ho "Dead or alive" rhetoric!
2. No Child Left Behind: An underfunded mandate that prepares HS students to take very specific tests that examine factual information and NOT critical thinking skills. Accompanying NCLB is a mandate to teach students how NOT to protect themselves from STI's and unwanted pregnancy.
3. A man on the Supreme Court who believed a strip search of a 10-year-old girl was okay. Go look that one up, it's true! However, good thing he's pro-life!
4. A much more powerful executive branch that has decided it's okay to send people to prison with no due-process, wage war with limited oversight, extensively use signing statements to override laws that the administration doesn't like, etc.
5. A tax system that cannot support the massive expenditures that the administration has decided to undertake, leaving the US beholden to the whims of nations such as China. I hear the complaint that "well, they'll never actually call in that debt..." True, but why should the US run that risk when it is completely unnecessary?.

Must I really continue?

Mr Ebert, when they start giving out Pulitzer's for blog entries, you better make room. As always, it is a sheer pleasure to read your words. With our pal Studs moving on, it's comforting to know someone out there knows the power of the writen language. You may not have your voice right now, but goddamnit, you have never lost your VOICE. Thanks.

I can't wait for my Obama check in the mail and do I have to go to work on Jan 21?

I am proud that my country, for all its faults, can still show to the rest of the world the beauty of freedom and voting one's conscience. I am a Republican and I do not mourn the results of this election. Though I did not vote for him, I look forward to seeing what Obama can do.

Yet I fear the hatred and vitriol that spews forth from both parties. I bear no hatred towards my fellow citizens, but I fear that my own values are and will continue to be mocked, derided and suppressed. As my values and beliefs become those of the minority, who will speak out on my behalf?

I fear that those on the left have become just as intolerant of dissent as they have accused the right of being these many years.

I do not see how you can like him so much. His abortion view is quite poor especially since he uses the standard excuse. In the debate he said you have to save the mother's life, but the actually amount of times abortions are done for that reason is incredibly low. It is just a poor answer, and it is a shame if you have the same one.

And yet, as a new day of freedom arises for our nation, another one closes in California.

We talk about the wave of change Obama will bring. But, how can we cope with still treating gay Americans as if they are sub-human creatures, undeserving of the rights of other men and women?

Thanks Mr. Ebert for the wonderful article you wrote. This is a moment in time I personally we treasure for the rest of my life. As the old Same Cooke song goes "A change gone come" and after 40 years it did. My grandparents lived through segregation and jim crow, I know they to are smiling today.

Dear Mr. Ebert

I started reading your reviews when I lived in United States, about ten years ago; when I came back to Italy I made it my business to look right away for your page on Internet: I was definitely hooked. I prayed for you during your illnesses and began to read your blog when you started it: hooked again.

I can't say I know and understand thoroughly a complex country like yours, but I think I got just a glimpse of your way of life, of your pride of being americans, of your belief in being, for everybody, the land of possibilities, of your contradictions.

I always believed yours was a great country; so much more after yesterday.

Thanks, Mr. Ebert for being out there to share this moment with me also.

After so many years of Fear mongering from all sides, it is no surprise to me to read the words, "I'm afraid" from so many conservatives. It is time to set aside the fears the fears that have been pounded into you for almost a generation. In his spectacular concession speach, Sen. McCain brought a message of hope, and spoke of the work ahead. He did not speak of fear, and knowing him, he never will back down from a challenge.

Lose the grip of fear. Do not give in to Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly. There are too many problems in this nation right now to worry about invented and unrealistic potential problems. Lose the fear and embrace the hard work we all have to do.

If you are afraid of the changes that hopefully are coming, ask yourself some questions: Is your world so good right now? Do you not see the suffering of your neighbor? Is personal sacrifice too much for you to handle? The upper middle class, middle class, lower middle class, and lower class have already sacrificed more than they can handle.

I feel hope today. And that is better for me than the daily 120 mg of Cymbalta I take for depression.

If a President can be that easily misled into such a catastrophic war decision, he should never have been President in the first place, regardless of wether or not his favorite film is Armaggedon.

Roger-

Ever since the dawn of civilization to this day of existence, mankind has constantly pushed the paradigms of living and evolving. As I read your blog, I am reminded once again, that mankind has evolved one further notch. I do not say this because one race has chosen to elect a leader of another race without bloodshed. I say this because 65 million people chose to be heard in one powerful voice, amidst the dizzying din of fear mongering. Intelligence and calm exhibited by these 65 million people, is a good sign of things to come for humans and our planet.

Obama is not a messiah and he certainly cannot accomplish change on his own. However, with 65 million people truly on his side (I never can remember in history where a leader was so inspirational in offering hope and optimism), great times are coming home to roost.

Hope! That eternal word which drove desire for freedom in a great movie like Shawshank Redemption is what Americans need. Obama may not solve all our problems, but he sure will motivate me to be confident in our future.

I do feel that liberally aligned people like you and conservatively aligned people like me have an obligation to stand behind this once in a lifetime leader, challenge him, support him, and drive him to lead us in the right direction (right here certainly means correct, not right or left side of politics). There is no more important calling for you and me over the next four or eight years, than to hold Obama accountable for the changes he promised. We are looking for measurable change in the manner that politics is conducted and people are governed.

Blogs such as yours are a key component of this obligation and I am excited for you to continue expanding your sphere of influence beyond cinema and the review of motion pictures. Thank you for the heartfelt message, it was a moving tribute to an historical day.

Dear Mr. Ebert,

I started reading your reviews when I lived in United States, almost ten years ago; when I came back in Italy I made it my business to look for your page right away: I was definitely hooked.I prayed for you during your illnesses, was happy when you got better and began to read your blog when you started it: hooked again.

I can't say I know thoroughly your country, complex as it is; I think I just got a glimpse of your way of life, of your pride on being americans, of your belief in being a land of opportunities for everybody, of your contradictions.
I always believed that United States were a grat country; so much more after yesterday.

Thanks, Mr Ebert, for sharing this moment with me also.

Ebert...you're a douche. So are the rest of you who voted for this Obama nightmare. Good luck sheeple. I'm moving out.

Last night was monumental, and for the first time in a long while, I have hope in my heart and a smile on my face.

You wrote beautiful words of truth that moved me to tears. Thank you, Roger Ebert. Excellent writing, stirring words.

With greatest admiration,
Sherry Sink

Mr. Ebert,

I wrote the following yesterday after I voted but before the election results and sent it along to a few friends. I felt then, as I do now, that the country will begin to change and it did my heart good to read what you wrote about the election. I hope you do not mind me re-posting it here, but I wanted to share it with you.

"Given that today is about changing the ideals of the country, I was thinking about all the possibilities for the country if everything were as it should be. My thoughts are as follows:

In an ideal world…
- Obama would be President
- Biden would be Vice President
- McCain would be riding a John Deere mower around his farmland and enjoying his retirement
- Sarah Palin would be the nicest gosh-darned cashier at the White Castle in Juneau, Alaska

In an ideal world…
- No American would pay a cent for healthcare
- No single mother would pay a cent for day care
- No government would spend a nickel on warfare
- No Chicagoan would pay more than a dollar for train fare

In an ideal world…
- You would take home more from your paycheck than they take out
- You would get back more from the politicians than they get away with
- We’d send home more soldiers from the Middle East than we send over there
- More people would be put in homes than taken out of them

In an ideal world…
- There would be more than one cable company to choose from
- There would be more than one good candidate for President
- There would be more than one available doctor in your HMO
- There would be more than one gender available for the person you choose to marry

In an ideal world…
- Hannah Montana would only be the name of a fast food chain in the Pacific Northwest
- The phrase “drug company” would only apply to the three guys on the street corner
- The words “webinar,” “Googling,” and “blog” would still get caught by the spell check and save you embarrassment
- “Opening up Windows” would still just be the best way to let in some fresh air or tell the kids it was time for dinner

In an ideal world…
- A graduation would be more common than an eviction
- A handshake would be more common than a gunshot
- A premature birth would be more common than a premature death
- And “Love” would still be the most commonly-spoken four-letter word

Today of all days, here’s to ideals.

From one of the hopeful to another,
H. Blake Hollon"

I was surprised that Barrack didn't end his acceptance speech in the way he was taught.

"Not God bless America. God damn America."

Mr. Ebert, once again you have justified your place in my list of all-time best essayists, and best writers period.

Dare I say it...you have Obamanesque eloquence! (Ok, ok...you're more eloquent, but it's the electoral honeymoon and all...)

Roger, I hate to throw a spanner into the works, but have you now decided that politics is (are) now fair game subject for your blog? I understand the occasion, but statements like "America was electing the right President" can hardly be construed as anything but political.

Ebert: I'm eager to return to safe non-political subjects, like Creationism.

First, realize that we've just elected a man from a Democratic Congress that has a 9% approval rating (compared to Bush's 30%). Along with Obama, Washington will now be run by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid -- probably the two most unpopular politicians in Congressional history.

Second, the thing that has bothered me so much about Obama's supporters is the emotional (as opposed to intellectual) investment they have made in him. I'm a McCain supporter. I'm sure Obama will be okay, but I've never hyperventilated over McCain or any candidate. Reading all the posts here and from two years of people talking about him, you'd think he was an avatar. I've asked a half dozen supporters, "What do you like about him?" The answer usually goes, "Well, um, it's... it's... how can I put this?" or "He'll bring us hope." Is it right to put so much "hope" in one man? Is just "change" enough? Isn't his "Hope" poster a tad Orwellian? What would you say about a McCain poster that looked like this? Imagine a Bush poster as such.

The Dems chucked gays under the bus to ensure their victory, and yet again we are just going to sit back and take it. Right now thousands of marriages are in jeopardy in California, and the idea won't even be given a chance in several other states. How would you like to wake up tomorrow morning and suddenly find yourselves potentially not married because of the whims of a bigoted majority, a not small number of which includes your supposed Democratic allies? Yet nobody seems to care because "our man" is in the White House, a man who has said that he has no desire to fight for gay marriage. I sure am glad the God-fearing homophobe didn't win the presidency last night.

With friends like these...

On the day after this historic election, it becomes prudent to look at the popular vote numbers, realize that this is not a country united, and that the most liberal member of the Senate has a Herculean task ahead of him if he wishes it to be.

During your joy, please remember the dozens of millions of others who are not pleased with this outcome. Realize that the displeasure of most of them is not motivated by party, race, gender, and class, and that they are genuinely fearful about the next four years.

Understand that until America finds a direction which brings hope and courage to all its citizens - not just the 37.2% of the registered voters who elected Obama - there is still much work to be done.

Ebert: I see the glass half full. He won with 53% of the registered voters who actually voted.

Beautiful and eloquent. I've a number of hopes for Obama's administration. I hope we can improve our image abroad. I hope we can take care of people here at home. I hope we can finally have an end to the politics of race.

But mostly... I just hope, and that's something I haven't been able to do since January of 2001.

Notes to Self (11/05/08)

1. Stop pinching self; it’s not a dream. Plus, it’s causing a welt.
2. Stop pinching others; they’re not dreaming either. Plus, it’s causing a welt.
3. Stop crying, especially at intersections. Other drivers are getting pi$$ed.
4. Stop crying every time you think of Malia and Sasha Obama getting a new puppy.
5. Schedule back tattoo of America’s First African-American First Family at earliest convenience; double-check to see if “McCain $ucks” is, in fact, the First Puppy’s real name.
6. Stop giggling uncontrollably every time you think of Sarah Palin’s stunned expression during McCain’s concession speech, even though she did, in fact, look like a moose caught in the crosshairs.
7. Practice mouthing “$UCK THAT, $UCKER” at cars with “Sarah!” stickers on them.
8. Chide self for being so hard on Sarah Palin, say “yeah, right” to self while laughing long and heartily, then pat self on back for making self laugh so hard.
9. Have change of heart and be good sport with friends who supported John McCain; reassure them that everything will be okay, that’s there’s no such thing as a Republican Interment Camp, and that, yes, a Republican may one day return to the White House...in 2024.
10. Firstborn, next car, that goldfish you just bought, the upgraded iPod you want for Christmas...whatever it is, name it “JoeBama.”

Mr. Ebert,

I am a huge fan of yours. You mention freedom of speech in your post. As a journalist, and a Pulitzer prize winner, and a thoughtful human being - what is your opinion of the "Fairness doctrine?" Do you think it might be in the future?

Ebert: I doubt it. Obama made his opposition to it clear as long ago as May 25, although news travels slowly when it is tacking into the wind of Rush's gales of hot air. Where did you get the curious notion that Obama supports it, by the way? Recently? Like in the last four months, say? I know it takes an absurdly long time to Google "fairness doctrine Obama" and then scroll all the way down to the first entry.

It was not a victory so much as a milestone for the human race. I believe that there is no language, color, political, religious, sexual orientation, etc. "win" last night. It was a victory for the people of the world and signified a possibility that we CAN all believe and hope the same way as God meant for us to be. God Bless Barack Obama and his family and God Bless the World!

I felt this way about a candidate once. When Bill Clinton was elected I was so excited. I thought it was a new era. He began letting me down the very day after his inaguration (remember that runway haircut?)and pretty much cured me of political idealism. I voted for Obama and wish him the best, but I'll let you know in four years if I'm happy he won.

Roger, you are right on target about it being the right time for Obama.

Tears well up once again as I recall last night. If McCain had been as gracious during the campaign as he was last night, he might have fared better. Obama's speech will go down in history as an indelible symbol of a nation's bruised and fearful heart turning toward healing and reconciliation.

Last night, time stood still as millions of Americans of all ages, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, social strata, political leanings, and sexual orientation joined with Obama to echo President Lincoln, to say, in effect, "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on . . . to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, AMONG OURSELVES, and with all nations."

I am overwhelmed with joy and hope.

I'm shocked and appalled that anyone cared about who won this election. Both candidates lined up almost exactly the same on all major issues at the end. Your choice was a better speaker verse too much experience. Better speaker won. Wake me up in 4 years when we have a candidate that offers true change from the current business as usual that both parties have made their rallying cry.

I'm a student at the North Carolina School of the Arts and last night (Nov 4), about 15 or 20 students including myself were huddled in a dorm lounge, watching The Daily Show. Jon and Stephen were making jokes back and forth, stalling basically, and in the middle of it, Jon said that Obama had won. Everybody cheered and within minutes, people were streaming out of the dorms, screaming, a few crying.

At first it began with a few, almost everyone celebrating, and then more and more and more arrived. In the middle of that, a student came out with a tuba and began playing The Star Spangled Banner. All gathered about him and joined in song, as if for the first time this new generation of people woke from the illusion of apathy into the reality of unity and betterment and change. It was the kind of moment you remember with fondness.

Well done. Last night was one of the happiest of my political life. It was a great moment shared by all. McCain's speech was dignified, I was rightly proud. Obama's acceptance speech allowed me to weep tears of joy and gracious pride. We felt united again, as in the United States of America. What a moment to remember! What a time for prosterity!

Ok Roger you can stop laying it on so thick. Your Kennedy Center Honor is in the bag.

I voted for competence and an end to national decisions that were based on hopes instead of facts, political score-settling over broad solutions, and focus on trivial/stupid items while critical nuts and bolts issues (infrastructure repair, education reform, tax policy, health care) were ignored.
The main opportunity for this country is also a pitfall for President-elect Obama: the bar is set so slow after the awful results of the past 8 years that an uptick from abysmal to merely mediocre might be perceived as success--and that's not something we can afford. We will see what can happen by around June 2009. I don't believe in miracles but I'm optimistic that intelligent leadership can start our national reconstruction work.
And honestly, we've seen 8 years of right-to-hard right leadership; it would be a recipe for disaster to replace that with left-to-hard left answers. Extreme is extreme. The center-left is the best avenue to actually start turning things around.

I felt an overwhelming sense of relief last night when the election was called. It was like the reverse of 9/11 for me, as I watched the towers fall, safe at home, because I worked the slacker 10am shift in midtown then. It was a "this can't be happening" gut feeling, because I'm so cynical that I kept expecting an October surprise, or a nutjob with a rifle, to remind us what America is really like.

Obama ran a fantastic campaign, and so many first time voters swept in like those lame deux ex machina ghosts at the end of the last Lord of the Rings movie. It felt great, so many people I spoke to just felt proud to vote that day. It's not that we elected the first Hawaiian, the first black man, the first guy whose name ends in a vowel- someone whose parents immigrated here, after 1776- but we voted for someone who appealed to our hopes, our better nature, instead of our fears, prejudices, and doubts.

I liken it to 1927 after the Louisiana flood; it was a horrible time, when the National Guard held sharecroppers at gunpoint, to demand they keep working while the landowners fled. When the flood was over, blacks migrated en masse to cities like Chicago, where they could register to vote with less hassle, and they helped sweep the incumbents (Hoover) out of office with their votes, and FDR was brought in. With the great challenges ahead, President Obama has the chance to learn from FDR's mistakes. Since we are already in a war, perhaps we can reap the economical benefits of withdrawing from one, and see a real "peace dividend."

Maybe our military can concentrate on the successful anti-terrorist operations that our Special Forces are doing in the Philippines, and were doing in Afghanistan at one point. The monetary sinkhole of Iraq can be sealed, or at least become another Korea, which is more likely. We can force the health care industry to give us what every other major nation expects. Of course taxes will rise for some; we just gave $700 billion to the ruling class for their gambling addiction. We went from owing less than a trillion to now being indebted to China and other t-bill gobblers for nearly 10 trillion dollars, an unimaginable sum. It will take decades to undo the damage, but we can never forget.

Change is difficult, and I don't expect much in the next four years. But it will be nice to have someone in the Oval Office whose intelligence can be respected, who doesn't shame us before the international community, and has an active interest in capturing Osama bin Laden, even if it's a symbolic victory at this point. I have always loved my country, though I've rarely been comfortable with our enormous government. We're easily led due to our ineffectual media and education systems. Hell, I'll admit it. I didn't vote for Kerry. I was afraid back then too.

I hope Obama learns from Clinton, that even with friendly Congress, that leaning a little toward the center might help in the beginning. He has big ideas, but the lobbies are incredibly powerful, and we've been poisoned by the spectre of "socialized medicine," so it will still be a hard sell. Yet it must be done; we cannot tolerate families in emergency rooms because regular doctors and immedicare won't see them without insurance. It is more costly than the solution. It's difficult to pursue happiness when you can barely pursue healthiness.

But most of all, I'm looking forward to the laughs. We have a big-eared sort of nerdy black guy (he bowled what, a 35?) in the White House. Urkel is running the country. But at least if we laugh, we won't be ashamed that we elected him. And he won't choke on a pretzel, I hope. The other source of humor will be the sudden fantasy from right-wing white males who suddenly feel victimized again, as when Clinton was in office during the "political correctness" reverse-witch hunt (I regret being one of them, back then). I was hoping Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage would have heart attacks, but I look forward to their apoplexy. But most of all, I hope that in 2012, we'll be able to have an election that isn't about the '60s. Obama's election might put a nail in that coffin for good. Let's hope.

Obama had my vote indefinitely when he gave his eloquent speech about race issues in America. Like assumed Clinton-supporter Bill Richardson, I was sold. Jon Stewart hit the nail on the head when he said that for the first time in a long while, a politician had spoken to the American people as if they were adults. It's such a refreshing idea.

The last time I saw anything like it was downtown last night was July 4, 1976 - thousands of people jamming the streets after the 200th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence at Grant Park. Singing patriotic songs. Dancing in the streets. Holding their children high up to see what joy looks like. Celebrating. It feels like hope! And I do think we chose the "right" president.

One thing a lot of people do not realize is that Woody Guthie actually meant "This land is your land, this land is my land" literally as this rarely sung verse shows:

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

I certainly hope you are not suggesting that Obama is as far to the left as some have claimed he is and may actually abolish the concept of private property.

Ebert: No, I would not be suggesting that, on the evidence of an unknown lyric of a song written 21 years before Obama was born, and which he did not quote, but me, although I realize those are the tactics often used by his detractors. As a wild guess, I would hazard that the lyrics referred to Dust Bowl famers who were "tractored off their land," as the conservative John Steinbeck wrote in "The Grapes of Wrath." Woody's song came out in the same year as the film, which was directed by the conservative John Ford. Wonder if Woody had just seen it. In fact, here is a still from the film that might almost have inspired him. Any parallels with the current mortgage crisis are entirely coincidental:

http://eserver.org/clogic/2002/images/air.jpg

I found this in the online MAXnotes for those too impatient to read the novel: "Pa, Al and Uncle John go looking for work, but all they find are signs saying, "No Help Wanted. No Trespassing."

Please, please stick to movies. This guy seems to be a Marxist as far as I can tell, he has an extremely dubious past...never mind. Let's just leave it at this: I sure hope he's the right President. He better be, he's going to be Commander in Chief for the next four years. We're stuck with him.

I believe most Canadians see America as their older brother who they love but will sometimes go astray. At those times we have no choice but to get angry and lose respect. Last night proved that our brother has once again found his way, but now that I think about it, he always does when the time most requires it. Congratulations America. We are proud of you.

Dear Mr. Ebert,

I looked back on your reviews of both Manchurian Candidate movies. The "Frank Sinatra Version" you gave 4 stars, and the "Denzel Version" you gave 3 stars. I agree those were both were good movies, but I don't think I'd really enjoy a real life Manchurian Candidate aka "The Barrack Obama Version".

what is this alluding to jfk? does anyone remember The Bay of Pigs invasion? and does anyone think that Obama will actually be significantly different than any other politician? yes, he is a black man, but he is not, from what I can see, a culturally black man. The Reverened Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton; two great black leaders, would never be elected because they espouse the "black is beautiful" philosophy. they worked in the trenches, while Obama was receiving all the benefits of Punahou and Harvard, and yes, he will now actively serve the interests of affluent, liberal whites (where i imagine most of his campaign contributions came from).
"diversity", as an ideal, in a way serves to destroy culture; it says that we should be "colorblind" and therefore are not racist, when in fact it incorporates people of all different races and cultures, but does not allow for understanding across those cultures. "diversity" is a white philosophy used to help us white people ease our minds and ignore the real issue: we don't like people who are culturally different from us. we want to bring them into our white world. when one moves into an upper-middle class neighborhood, and there is a diversity of white, black, and asian families, there is NO DIVERSITY of culture; all of these families are economically homogeneous, and have succeeded largely by adhering to the white system.
if you don't act white, you don't make it into the places where whites are. if you are someone who is culturally black, indian, latino, chinese, then you are taught that you must compromise who you are to enter these areas of whiteness, which, surprise!, compromise most of the country outside of low-income urban neighborhoods.
this election may be an ideological victory on some grounds, and yes, the election of a physically black man to the white house is an absolute dream come true, but there still permeates in this nation a racism that is not obvious. we must learn to accept unconditionally those cultural differences, and actively experience, embrace, and preserve them ourselves in order to start to move past our innate distrust for those different from ourselves.

As a man born in the closing years of the 70's, the America you mention is only a myth, held high by my parents generation while they lined up at department stores to collect what they felt was their due.

Roger, for many of us, this is the first look at an America born of itself, rather than an America in reaction. For us, Obama did not help America remember itself. Obama collected the best in our nationsl mythology and rhetoric and said "This is not a justification for action. This is a foundation for action." Obama dared to envision a future for America. As someone born into the height of nuclear terror, I've only seen this kind of vision in documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address.

As an educated person, as a filmmaker, and as a man, I've promised the world something of myself. I'd grown to accept that this would happen in spite of my nation of origin. For the first time as a man, I was allowed to believe that America might be my community, my support... in short, my nation.

Roger, can you imagine what that feels like?

I never imagined an America like you describe until Barack Obama began his presidential campaign. I've never lived there until today.

I'm not what one would call a political person, though living under the Bush administration for the last eight agonizing years has certainly drawn me into the subject a tad. Still, I'm not as gung-ho about the subject as most Americans. What I am gung-ho about is reading people, which I feel I do very well, and in Obama, I see a genuinely sweet individual whose heart is in the right place and feels not like a politician, but a guy tired of what has happened over the last eight years, and wants desperately to make a change. Now he has the chance. Good luck, Obama.

@ Erik O.

Barack will change America. And, when he does, you'll all be crying for someone to come along and clean up his mess. His own vice president even expressed little faith in him, if you'll remember (Hillary, too). This was not the right man for the job, not by a long shot. One day you'll realize that. I just hope it isn't too late for America by then. You're a brilliant critic, but you're (sic) politics are absolutely FUBAR.

It is fact-free opinionating like yours that was repudiated in yesterday's election. Also, the mess that needs cleaning up is the Republicans': 8 years of Bush, and 12 years, from 1995 'til 2007, in which the Republicans effectively controlled both houses of Congress (while they had a nominal Senate majority from June, '01 to January, '03, they seemed too cowed by Republican smear merchants to actually use it).

If you don't like Roger's politics, don't read his reviews; his politics absolutely inform what he writes and how he perceives the movies he reviews.

@ Roger

Thanks as always for your voice. I, too, hope that this represents genuine, fundamental change in the US.

Mr. Ebert,
We grew up in the same era, you and I. I'd like to think I'm not as naive as I once was. You make it too easy on George W. by believing "he was mislead". He wasn't. He knew what was going on. Don't forget his daddy started the first Gulf War in 1991. It would be negligent to think there was no communication between the two about the real reasons we invaded Iraq the first time. W just continued on with Iraq War Part II. Personally, I think W and Cheney should go to prison.
As far as Obama's victory, I am very excited. Here is a man who is not only intelligent, but who has vision and compassion. I was so glad to read your letter. Obama will be a great President. I am so glad to have witnessed this election.

To those who have had a happy day tempered by the passage of Prop 8, know this:
The arc of history is bent towards justice and equality. The vote was split decisively along many lines, but perhaps most dramatically by age: Those under 24 voted no 2 to 1. Those over 65 voted yes in the same proportion. In twenty years, even if everyone maintains their current views (unlikely), the attrition by age of those who are older will correct the great wrong that was done yesterday. Perhaps in fifty years, when I am old and retired, my children will think of me as stuffy and conservative, because I don't support the progressive agenda of the day, (which as happens to every generation... before gays it was blacks, before blacks it was catholics...), and I honestly hope that they're right. Such is human progress.

For all your pop culture literacy and your occasional literary references, it's always surprised me how you can still turn out such terribly cheesy sentences and simplistic campaign-ad metaphors as:

"During the last eight years, the beacon on the hill flickered out. Now the torch will shine again."

But meh, I don't mean to douse the flame of inspiration lit by Obama's win. I definitely felt the rush, too, and am glad the dude won.

Ebert: Amazingly, that cheesy "beacon on the hill" metaphor was not original with me.

I've been enjoying the music references running through some of this discussion. Let me add two tidbits:

1. In his closing remarks, Obama referenced Sam Cooke: "It's been a long time coming, but a change is gonna come."

2. And the first tune after the President-Elect left the stage? Springsteen's "The Rising."

Not the first time these have been in the air surrounding Obama--and with luck, it will not have been the last.

Thanks, Roger, for some pure optimism. I teach at Knox College, where in 2004 we were fortunate to have Obama as our commencement speaker; and at the time I told my sister in NJ that Illinois was going to give America its next President. She called me last night to remind me of the promise, and to thank Illinois for keeping it. Both she and her husband are Republicans who switched this year. Oh, that Garden State: full of great tunes and great people!

Interesting, despite the claims that Obama is a socialist (obviously a claim made by those ignorant of economic theory and who have never been to a real socialist country) ... I find it pleasantly amusing you concluded with a (very appropriate) quotation of Woody Guthrie, a gung-ho Socialist (if not Communist). I enjoyed your essay; I wish I could have been there.

That was amazing. I had so many of the same thoughts as I watched last night. I admired John McCain for his gracious concession speech. Both McCain and Obama reminded us that this is one nation, not a Republican and Democratic nation. And the historical significance of this was unbelievable. I woke up this morning so afraid that it had all been a beautiful dream. If it had been, that would be the moment when everyone in the theater groans, "I hate it when that happens! A dream sequence!" Thankfully, it wasn't a dream sequence. But the movie isn't over. Or, at least, there's a sequel coming. But, for the first time in my life, I'm optomistic.

I voted for Sen. Obama in the belief that this election was going to be a lot closer than it turned out to be. On other blogs I was raising a Cassandra cry about how The Electoral College (a pet crotchet of mine)could still yield a wrong result if enough of the battleground states were too close. I was wrong about that one, and I'm glad of that. (Although I'll just add here that I still consider the EC to be the Great National Booby-Trap, now freshly reset for 2012.)But now it's time to get real; the far Right is already honing the sharp knives, waiting for the first misplaced phrase, the next questionable appointment, any opening to get the Calumny Express going full-speed. Based on past performance, they won't even wait for the Inauguration. So hail the bright new dawn... but take along an umbrella, just in case.

What ideas are those? Compromising the principles of our constitution? Spreading the wealth? Becoming western Europe? Is that the America we want? I guess that's the America Mr. Ebert wants, who is slowly, in my estimation, slipping into senility. Obama will restore our first amendment rights- while pushing to reimpose the fairness doctrine. He won't invite an opportunity to torture- people who want to see the destruction of this country and our ideals. He'll "save" us from environmental armageddon- which was supposed to happen by now, so claimed Silver Spring readers since the 1970's. It's no mistake that Mr. Ebert continues to rate propoganda pictures like "W" and An Inconvenient Truth four stars- first rate twists of fact. The activist Ebert and the critic Ebert are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, perhaps Mr. Ebert should consider a step into the Sun Times editorial page in the future. In the meantime, I'll rely on Chuck Rich or Michael Medved for my movie reviews now, and in the future. Have a great day!

Ebert: How about this for a hypothesis, Mr. Tact: We disagree, but I am not senile?

Life is a mind game ,Hope is right.Cynicism is wrong.Obama's skin ain't going to make history.Barrack can . But at the moment black is a beautiful colour.It sends a message of pregnant possibilities,a message that the world is a changing thing .It's an example to the world.What I loved most about the movie Juno was the mingling of race in an American school--being a little out of touch with history it made me blissfully aware how much things changed at your end since the film Kill a Mocking Bird..Everybody is looking to the young newly elected leader of one of the superpowers to have an inclusive dream.In that sense Obama'colour of skin is a great inspiring living poem in a world reft by non reasons like colour and umpteen varieties of boundaries.As Beethoven wrote ,Let your magic bring together,what the narrowness divides!There is no soothsaying,no astrology,only people and what they determine.Mc.Gains congratulatory speech was so graceful---it represents the attitude one should have,whatever one believes.After all one can always disagree with and talk to a good man.It's a bright feelin',Hon.

Here's the quiz that started it all.

Name the leaders of these four countries.

Pakistan
India
Taiwan
Chechnya

See how you do.

And that's how the Bush is dumb all started. Bush was smart enough to know that the terrorist's war needed to be fought in the mid east and not on American soil.

I truly hope conservatives can give Obama a chance unlike how liberals treated Bush. They were after him from day one. I can think of plenty of things that right wing radio has said about Obama and I hope none if it sticks come January. Let's hope he's a success and does some good in this country.

The biggest threat to our country is from OPEC. They are trying to bankrupt our nation by buying up majority shares of key sectors of our economy. The Bush administration is malicious, not stupid beacause parts of them are taking Saudi money which is part of the reason we don't have a good energy policy. Spencer Abraham gave us a hydrogen energy policy that will never work. He is now taking Saudi money. Colin Powell received a Jaguar a week after he retired from the Saudi ambassador Prince Bandar, who parked it out out front and knocked on his door personally to give it to him. Saudi Arabia's newpapaper Al Watan in 2006 printed propaganda saying american soldiers are selling 25$ for an eye and 40$ for kidneys of wounded victims in Iraq. They were killing our soldiers and Colin Powell could have prevented it, but took the car instead. There are many lawfirms in Washington taking Saudi money, and think tanks to prevent us from having an energy policy. Barack Obama has one: mandating all cars sold here be flex-fueled vehicles by end of first term. As I've posted it will be a huge engine for world development in the hundreds of billions per year transfered back to us away from foreign oil and to third world countries for alcoholic fuels starting 3 years after such a mandate; every major foreign car manufacturer will switch over too because it only costs 100$ per car and thirld world countries will be able to provide us with alcoholic fuels and put money into their treasuries getting billions out of poverty in the world.

I agree with you 100%- the right man for the job won. And, the reason for the victory was not youth vs age, black vs white, Democrat vs Republican. Obama won because he is intelligent, charismatic and offers hope. Perception is critical. Americans were tired of the Republicans portrayal of fearful victims. We have been a people of self-confidence and Bush and his cronies took that away from us. Hopefully, we will perceive ourselves as winners and leaders and the rest of the world will join us.

I imagine Germany probably had the same blind faith in Hitler that you guys have in Obama. Why are you worshiping a guy who hasn't even proven anything? Because he makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside? Because he sounds sincere? You complain about the government being based on propaganda, fear and lies right now. What exactly makes Obama any different? His emphasis on change seems like more of the same. Change can be good (and I hope it is in this case), but it could also be bad. I have hope that he will indeed be good for this country, but I'm not ready to put him on a pedestal quite yet. History is usually what tells us how good (or bad) our presidents are. I'll hold off on judging Barry until he's actually done something.

For the first time in a very long time, I am genuinely excited about the future.

How right of you to point out the link with 68. Obama is all of the great energies and hopes of the 60s, finally realized. They are realized as commonality and collectivity, and not as anger, which was what ultimately doomed those 60s movements.

Somewhere deep down, I knew we had this in us.

I like Obama too, but you have got to be the most optimistic person I know.

Elequently put as always, Roger. My own thought? I was born in 1963. I was too young to be a part of, or even understand, the historic events of the '60s and '70s. During my adulthood the United States has largely been about accumulating material wealth - the might dollar has been King of the Land. I have often wondered what it must have been like to be a part of important historical times, when individuals put aside their own needs to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I have wished I could live in such an era. Now I am. For the first time in my adult life there is a leader who inspires me. We are in difficult times - and we have a leader with the capacity to lead us through these times to something better, if we are willing to do our part. I for one am ready.

Nice essay.

It's worth remembering that Woody originally called his song, "God Blessed America", written as an answer to Irving Berlin's somewhat more treacly hit.

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/radio/woody/ah.html

For the last few years, when the ball game reaches the bottom of the 7th, I usually hum a few lines of Woody's version to accompany the guest vocalist.

Somehow I can't picture Harry Caray singing a Berlin tune.

I live in Seattle, Washington, and I read the online version of The Seattle Times daily. A feature has recently been added to the website that allows readers to comment on the articles. A "What does this election mean to you" thread has appeared that contains comments so hysterical in their negativity that I am shocked.

I really think the second best moment as I watched the results of the national election last night occurred when Senator McCain raised his hands in an attempt to stop his supporters from booing when he said President-elect Obama's name. Left to their own devices it seems they would not have permitted their candidate even one moment of graciousness in defeat until the senator himself pressed it on them.

Roger, I, too, feel that we have elected a grownup to the office of the president and I believe the long work of regaining our stature as a nation in the eyes of the world and in our own can now begin in earnest.

Hi Roger, I never replied to any of your blog entries, even though I have read most of them. I am an avid reader of your reviews and while I do not always agree with them they usually give me additional stuff to ponder about.

As a German who has lived in the United States as an exchange student and visited the country again several times later I would like to congratulate all Americans on their new president. I know, it always sounds patronizing if an outsider or foreigner makes a comment like this, but I really think you have finally made the right choice (or at least, in contrast to 2000 you have made the right choice so clearly that no manipulation would be able to change this).

I love the United States, even though of course I have a lot of criticism. It has become so hard in recent years to explain to the people around me that Americans are not stupid, that they mostly just have a different view on the world and on what qualities a president should have and also that it has been an important element of American culture to strengthen the back of your president even though you do not agree with him (even though Bush has really stretched the patience of his fellow citizens). It was so great for me to feel the faith in the US restored almost instantly here in Germany as the results of the election came in.

I do not think that McCain would have been a bad president. It was mainly the people around him, mostly Sarah Palin, and behind his campaign that showed over the past months that there would be no real change. So much that was said and that was done reflected the typical behavior of the Bush administration. Obama's campaign was almost European in nature, mostly relying on facts and reason and only to a small amount about belittling the opponent. Maybe this is another reason why we routed for him as well.

Make no mistake. Many of the visions of Barack Obama will not come true. With the current situation he will not be able to change the health care system in the US and many other things will fall by the wayside as well as he has to deal with the financial crisis and the situation in the Middle East.

But for the first time in almost a decade we have the feeling that here is a man who not only will try to do the right thing but who is also intelligent rather than cunning and able to think for himself. He is a man not driven by religious dogma and Southern machismo but a person who believes in dialogue and persuasion through words instead of weapons. And most of all: Even though he will not be able to make them come true, at least here is a man who has a vision. This thought is very reassuring.

Claus Kleber, a German anchorman who covered the election in the US said tonight in an interview that he had only once felt this kind of emotion and joy of people around him in his career as a journalist in the way he felt it yesterday. And that other time was in the night when the Berlin Wall came down.

Scott S. wrote, "I truly hope conservatives can give Obama a chance unlike how liberals treated Bush. They were after him from day one."

You mean after the eight straight years of conservatives on the attack going after Bill Clinton even before his first inauguration? Because you know, some of us have memories that easily go back sixteen years and aren't going to buy this "nasty liberals victimizing Bush" nonsense as if the political left are the only ones responsible for the Divided States of America. If we want to look at recent presidential history, it's a good thing Democrats control both houses because the world will be spared the sight of millions of dollars being spent on a special prosecutor trying to dig up any dirt on Obama in a transparent attempt to bring him down.

Your comments were very beautiful and heartfelt, thank you Roger.
I was born in Venezuela, 21 years ago, and raised believing in the American dream, in the US as a beacon of goodness and hope in the world. GI Joe's were my heroes. My grandma is American, she taught me english when i was a child. My mother is not, but she taught me that hard work, dedication and personal growth are necessary to triumph in life, that society would value me if i did my best.
Sadly, society in my country does not. It values connections and double-dealing, it is somewhere were most of the rich became so thanks to a government contract. (think Halliburton, but on a higher order of magnitude)
(for a quick taste of the tip of the iceberg read here http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/world/americas/04suitcase.html?scp=1&sq=venezuelan%20suitcase&st=cse )

But i got a scholarship to come to this country, this place all my family values so much. And i must admit, i was disheartened by the political campaigns (especially Bush's and McCain's). Why did this country elect such a terrible president? Why are we still fighting the old culture wars? I thought that the president should be the person that had the most merit , and yet "elite" was made to be a derogatory word.
I thought grown-ups were held to higher standards, like honesty and integrity. Maybe not in Venezuela, but surely here?
I was so scared McCain would win the election. Not because he would have been a terrible president, but because then it would get so much harder to believe in my american dream.

And yet, the best man won. And that is an occasion to celebrate.
You see, we have a beautiful country, so beautiful that here is all my family, a family of accidental emigrants. (at this point we are all either citizens or residents)(My sister moved for college, and stayed. My brother moved afterwards to do the same oilman job he did in Venezuela for 10 times the salary , and stayed. I came to Dartmouth, and while my heart is in Latin America, i might just stay.)

The world smiles today. Hopefully, all the young people growing up in Latin America, will grow up believing in the same American dream i did. You see, Barack Hussein Obama is now our president.

Jeff wrote: why are you worshiping a guy who hasn't even proven anything?

And what had G.W. Bush proved, when elected? That he could be a governor? So what. Ditto B.Clinton. Neither one had any major experience running a nation (despite what Texans might think).

Who seriously thinks the President makes all the decisions based upon his own personal experience? That's why he has a cabinet. It is the one major reason I voted for him (since my 1st and 2nd choices didn't get that far) - he clearly demonstrated his ability to surround himself with competent people. What greater talent in a president do we need, other than the ability to present those jointly-developed ideas? A skill he has also demonstrated.

Now, we need to see if he lives up to his potential.

And, seriously, who thinks the President has the power to single-handedly do all of the things following the words "I will ..."? He sets policy, he can't make laws without Congress' complicity. There are 2 other branches of government which have the ability (if not always the will) to bring the Executive to a halt.

As the country rejoiced today in the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States (I voted for him), I spent the day at work trying my best not to become emotional in front of my colleagues. It wasn't because I think it's a proud moment that we've elected the first African-American to our nation's highest office (which it is, most certainly), but because last night, the people of my great state voted, by constitutional amendment, to strip me of the basic civil and legal right to marry my partner of more than thirteen years. They removed from me, by force and fear, the equal protection that the very constitution they voted to change is supposed to protect. (Full disclosure: We currently have a domestic partnership agreement, which leaves us short 9 basic rights that heterosexual married couples have, including the right to claim my partner's body at the morgue should he, God forbid, pass away.) I live in California, that wonderful democratic state after which so many other states pattern their social leanings. The California of Hollywood and suntans, liberal media, animal activism and the fight against climate change. The land of movies, where, in a perfect world, anything is possible. It's the California I thought I knew. The California I thought was my home. So, while we dance and sing in the streets that an African-American has made it to the Presidency, let's not forgot that I and hundreds of thousands of others in two other states (Florida and Arizona), and the many more that already have same-sex marriage amendments on their books, get to sit back and replay in our minds the fact that we've been relegated to the status of second-class citizens. The civil rights movement has barely begun.

this is all total b.s.

this is all total b.s.

I looked all around for a national newpaper about Tuesday morning. I was upset to find out that they were all gone. That thing's gonna be worth a lot someday.

I don't know if Obama is either good or bad, or how great of a job he'll do. He probably won't matter much in the long run, but I like what he represents. He represents a bold new direction for our country whether you like him or not. Make no mistake, this is history.

John McCain I think is a good man, though perhaps not the greatest politician. If he was elected, I wouldn've have minded much at all. I'll reserve any personal comments about his running mate.

Did anyone see Michelle Obama's dress? I don't care what you think you know or what planet you're from, that was a monumental mistake. Not to mention it was uglyyyyyyyyyyyy!..

I walked into a 7 Eleven to ask about a Nov 4th Newspaper. I asked the cashier if he had any left, he said no. He looked like he was still in HS. He asked me: "What's so special about today that you want a paper so bad?" I froze, was I REALLY hearing him correctly?

I didn't bother to answer him back, a lady in line behind me made sure that he knew why that day was so important. People this dumb shouldn't be cashiers (nothing against 7 Eleven).

Wow. Consider me scolded on the fairness doctrine question. I was more concerned about the senate where such notions are put up for a vote. I have seen it reported on lately - (Sen. Chuck Schumer and a few others have mentioned it) and was wondering what you thought of the doctrine itself....

Ebert: I'm against it.

Sorry, don't agree. Let's talk again in a year or so.
I'm a patriot. I always pull for the USA. I hope Obama turns out to be another Abraham Lincoln. I don't think he will though.
I wonder if there will ever be a point in the Obama administration where the mainstream media will say whatever problems we face are HIS problems... problems he created. And if he succeeds in dealing with those problems, that they'll say, well hell, that's the least he can do. He brought all this down on us. You know, like they've done with Bush for the last eight years.
And how will the media deal with Obama's report card at the end of his first term? Somehow, I see them saying, we still have lots of problems, problems with the economy, problems with foreign adversaries, problems with energy, but hey, the guy's done the best he could, given what he had to deal with. Cut the guy some slack.
I'm going to stop now before I throw the computer monitor at somebody.

I agree with Jeff. What has Obama done? He has barely more experience than Sarah Palin (who has, at least, been governor of something). The day after Obama's elected, you would think the Dow would get a boost. Today's result? Down nearly 500 points. Maybe some people are finally waking from their fever dream and wondering, "What is this guy actually going to do?"

Ebert: Ah, yes,the old Palin "more experience" talking point. Your needle is stuck. Try tapping your head. What did you make of the McCain staff members revealing today that during debate rehearsal Palin could not name all the nations in North America (hint: there are three, and she can see one from her house). She thought Africa was all one country, and explained that "South Africa" was its southern part, like South America. Search for the video clip of that report today on, I dunno, let's see here...yes, Fox News!

As a Canadian, watching America, I have been dismayed by how many times in the past few years your country has chosen the wrong choice over the right one when it was so blatantly obvious.

I watched the campaign and remember how many times Palin invoked John Winthrop's "City on a Hill" sermon.

Ironically, today, more than any other country, America, this morning, embodies that, and not Palin and her frightening worldview.

There is hard work ahead. Sacrifice will be required. But your country is capable of it.

Never was I so disgusted with the American leadership when they said that you could support the troops by going out and maxing out your credit cards. In the days of WWII, the American people were required to sacrifice.

I remember Ari Fleischer saying that Americans have a "right to consume" when speaking about conserving energy.

I am hoping that the election of Mr. Obama signals a return to sanity for your great nation.

And I would like to thank you, Mr. Ebert for speaking the truth, and for your inherent decency and honesty.

As a Canadian, watching America, I have been dismayed by how many times in the past few years your country has chosen the wrong choice over the right one when it was so blatantly obvious.

I watched the campaign and remember how many times Palin invoked John Winthrop's "City on a Hill" sermon.

Ironically, today, more than any other country, America, this morning, embodies that, and not Palin and her frightening worldview.

There is hard work ahead. Sacrifice will be required. But your country is capable of it.

Never was I so disgusted with the American leadership when they said that you could support the troops by going out and maxing out your credit cards. In the days of WWII, the American people were required to sacrifice.

I remember Ari Fleischer saying that Americans have a "right to consume" when speaking about conserving energy.

I am hoping that the election of Mr. Obama signals a return to sanity for your great nation.

And I would like to thank you, Mr. Ebert for speaking the truth, and for your inherent decency and honesty.

Roger,

I was born during Reagan's first term. I was too young to notice much of Bush I's presidency. Clinton seemed like an ok guy to a pre-teen/teenager, but the sex scandals distorted everything for the younger generation. Then came Bush II, and year after year, we became disenfranchised with our government, to the point where a lot of my friends and I felt nothing at all for our "leaders" down in Washington. For my generation, it was basically, "We're out here by ourselves, and there is nobody looking out for us."

Then comes 2007/2008, and the emergence of Barack Obama, who sticks out from the other candidates not strictly because he's black, but because of his message of change, his relative Unknown Factor to the Establishment, and the hope that we can trust our government again. But to be quite honest with you, I never placed much hope in his potential presidency. After 24 years of disillusionment - which is not long in the grand scale of things, but still - I came to not only think John McCain would win, but I actually resigned myself to this.

Then Obama pulled ahead, pulled further ahead, and stayed ahead, and that's when I realized that I wasn't out here by myself. That's what President-Elect Barack Obama means to my generation. We're not out here by ourselves while our parents go through the formalities of electing the same people and parties over and over again; we're all tired of the past beating us over the head and telling us there's no hope. President-Elect Obama not only made history by winning the presidency, but I think I can safely say that each one of us feels like we're going with him, like we should once again (if we ever) feel like each one of us has a stake in this country's future. President-Elect Obama is the first politician I can ever remember that I looked up to, and I think and hope that we can look forward to future generations experiencing the Rush that I felt last night hearing President-Obama lead a crowd of 100,000+ in chanting, "Yes We Can!"

Roger, I know this is a long post, but I hope some of the so-called "red-state conservatives" that can't understand what all the hype is about will read this post and know that it's not a down-with-Republicans thing. November 4, 2008, and later, January 20, 2009, will be days that America saw a drastic outpouring of possession of the government by the people. To paraphrase our Future First Lady, this is the first time I'm proud to be an American!

To everyone telling Roger to "stick to reviews"...

Roger lives here, too. He gets to say things about our next leader, and the majority of his readership welcomes it. In fact, I was eagerly anticipating his commentary on Obama's win, as were many of us.

Ebert is a great film reviewer. But perhaps the opportunity cost to the world was too great. Perhaps his career should have instead been social and political commentary.

Roger Ebert I think you should stick to movies...

Obama has divided race to gain the popular vote of the young and gullible... I work with a political action committee and the simple fact is that Obama has done absolutely nothing! Not one thing for the state of Illinois... So what can he do for our country? Provide hope? You can hope in one hand and shit in the other and see which gets filled first... Hope will not protect this country...

1. At home, there will be an increase in taxes—income, estate, payroll—to fund more government health care, education, and general entitlement programs.
2. The old Reaganesque notion that government subsidies can make one more dependent, angrier, and envious is forgotten, along with the notion that lower taxes stimulate economic growth and encourage risk-taking, innovation, and independence.
3. I worry especially about the lifting of income caps (how far?) on social security taxes inasmuch as they were part of the original covenant justifying the caps on benefits paid out.
4. NAFTA and other free trade agreements would be repealed; illegal immigration would either not be an issue, or more a problem of finding the right way, with borders still open, to grant amnesties.
5. Appointments would hinge on a belief in bigger government and the theme that the individual is currently suffering due to reactionaries in government and corporations, barely housed, fed, or educated, and deserves more federal dollars appropriated from others who either don’t need all their income or didn’t deserve the compensation they were given.

Oh and kudos to all you who were sold on the young face and the "Bad America" rhetoric. I cant wait for my world citizen card and my American Dream check! LOL The oblivious will get the country they deserve! I just wonder what the European Union is going to rename the country...

Roger Ebert I think you should stick to movies...

Obama has divided race to gain the popular vote of the young and gullible... I work with a political action committee and the simple fact is that Obama has done absolutely nothing! Not one thing for the state of Illinois... So what can he do for our country? Provide hope? You can hope in one hand and crap in the other and see which gets filled first... Hope will not protect this country...

1. At home, there will be an increase in taxes—income, estate, payroll—to fund more government health care, education, and general entitlement programs.
2. The old Reaganesque notion that government subsidies can make one more dependent, angrier, and envious is forgotten, along with the notion that lower taxes stimulate economic growth and encourage risk-taking, innovation, and independence.
3. I worry especially about the lifting of income caps (how far?) on social security taxes inasmuch as they were part of the original covenant justifying the caps on benefits paid out.
4. NAFTA and other free trade agreements would be repealed; illegal immigration would either not be an issue, or more a problem of finding the right way, with borders still open, to grant amnesties.
5. Appointments would hinge on a belief in bigger government and the theme that the individual is currently suffering due to reactionaries in government and corporations, barely housed, fed, or educated, and deserves more federal dollars appropriated from others who either don’t need all their income or didn’t deserve the compensation they were given.

Oh and kudos to all you who were sold on the young face and the "Bad America" rhetoric. I cant wait for my world citizen card and my American Dream check! LOL The oblivious will get the country they deserve! I just wonder what the European Union is going to rename the country...

Ebert: Divided race? He got more white votes than any Demo candidate since Kennedy, except for Carter. Cleaned up on Latinos and Asians. Did you see the crowd at Grant Park? At his rallies and campaign events? McCain's audiences were all white except for a few African-Americans who were positioned behind him in the bleachers.

Roger, from the moment 11PM arrived on Election Night and Barack Obama was declared the winner, through John McCain's eloquent concession, and finishing with the President-Elect's moving and historic speech, my eyes were full of tears. I have not felt that same emotion for a public official since I was a child during the JFK years. I remember with unparalleled sadness the day that we were called into assembly to hear that President Kennedy was killed, and grieved again in 1968 with the deaths of Bobby and MLK. Because of those nationally tragedies, I vowed to never let a public official truly get to me again until I heard Barack Obama give a speech after the South Carolina primary. Since that time, with his epic speech on race in Philadelphia, his nearly flawless campaign, and his common goodness, competency and decency, he has me emotionally and personally invested again in believing that who we elect can truly change the course of history.

I believe that President Bush had an the greatest modern opportunity following 9-11-01 to get the nations of the world on the side of the United States for a generation to fight the evils of terrorism and to unite in a global effort to deal with our mutual challenges. That effort was wasted with our poorly planned entry into Iraq, not to mention other policy blunders. We as a people did more in the past 24 hours to achieve that goal of unity through the election of Obama than was done in the past seven wasted years. I am not a religious person, but if there is a higher being, I beseech him or her to protect this incredibly talented man from harm and to give him a chance to change our country and our world.

Ebert: Divided race? He got more white votes than any Demo candidate since Kennedy, except for Carter. Cleaned up on Latinos and Asians. Did you see the crowd at Grant Park? At his rallies and campaign events? McCain's audiences were all white except for a few African-Americans who were positioned behind him in the bleachers.

Let me rephrase that... He played the race card to gain the popular vote of the young and gullible... Have you heard Howard Stern's interview to people in Harlem... Perfect example of how Barack played the race card...

I can't stand that this election has been about race... It should have never been.. You have the idiot reporters who keep bringing up race, asking people about race, reporting "race statistics", and all the ignorant voters who want their 15 seconds of fame to tell the world how they voted for the first black president. i will never understand why the people who preach equality continue to always stay focused on the issue of race.

It is all kind of ironic. We talk freedom this, change that, but unless you are on the side of Obama there's no real voice for those with opposing views. There's no voice for me anymore. Not in the news, not in film, not in schools. So please, lets not talk about this man as if he is going to unite America. I was honestly saddened by the experience and scared. Of course you will disagree, but I feel as if he fooled Americans. How can he keep the promises he made with the current status quo. I pray Americans hold him accountable the same way they did Bush. But we all know that's not going to happen. Bush could have cured AIDS and still would have been the worst president. Obama could be bring us to the brink of WWIII, but hailed as the greatest president. No one is honest anymore. Roger, I have been a fan since I was about ten years old and I can't help but feel a little disappointed about your more inconspicuous political view points. You seemed to be above all that. I guess I always thought of you as being objective. But thank you anyways, for all your great work. I study your critiques and read your books, but I guess you are just like all the other celebrities who wish to influence the publics' view point. But who cares what I have to say. I am just a 26 year black man who thinks electing Obama was a really big mistake. Maybe one day there will be a voice for EVERYONE. Here's to 'freedom'.

Everyone is forgetting the real heroes in this election...

That's right. The Washington Redskins. 18 for 18 in predicting the president by either winning or losing on the Monday night before the election. Or maybe thank the Steelers for beating them? Or maybe Jim Zorn threw the game! Say it ain't so Joe...I mean Jim...say it ain't so.

Personally I think everyone should be up in arms. We could have had the first cybernetic-organism as a president! But no...had to be the "right" candidate. Well sirs, I for one will stick to voting for hilarious old guys that are bad at pronouncing ten-dollar words and blink Morse-code. Transcripts of that Morse-code have been translated as follows:

"Sky-net will commence the destruction of the world after death of John Connor..."

Then Arnold would have had to fight John McCain and Sarah Palin with a mini-gun! You guys really missed out by voting for Obama...really missed out.

So, Jordan Narancich, you're saying "no we can't"?

Tell you what bucko, if you're not willing to work and just want to complain, why don't you sit this one out and let some progressives get the job done?

Nattering nabobs of negativism... grrrrrrr.....

I'm sorry to have to point this out,Roger,but your B*L*O*G is putting the movies out of business.

Re: Prop 8

Obama said that while he defined marriage as being between a man and a woman, he opposed Prop. 8. Regrettable as Prop. 8's passage is, the "blame," if there is such a thing to be handed out, goes to its opponents, as they allowed the Protect Marriage folks to make it appear as though Obama supported a measure that he clearly stated he was against. In effect, the same strategy used to pass Prop. 8 was used to take Ohio in 2004 - culture war. The most disgusting thing about the whole bill is that its supporters flagrantly advertise themselves as stripping a right from a routinely discriminated against segment of the population.

Still, not as scummy as Arkansas' declaration that gay couples can't adopt children. Oh sure, heterosexual unmarried partners can't adopt either, but at least they can marry.

Re: Obama

Socialism: Really now, the Socialist stuff needs to stop. I thought it was pretty clear that Obama wasn't a socialist when members of the Socialist Party declared their disagreement with Joe the Plumber's expert political analysis.

Race: Again, reality please. While the election of Barack Obama is symbolic of a lot of things, for many of us, he just seemed like the better candidate. Something about calling for the unity of Americans rather than playing the fear mongering hatred card. This wasn't a "lesser of two evils" election, and it wasn't an election prompted by sympathy for the black population, at least not for me.

I'm Irish. I'm somewhat a student of history, so I know what it was like for my people the minute that they stepped off the boat looking for a piece of the American dream. We were subjugated to prejudice, lied too, told not to apply for jobs, and pitted against the African American community by the rich white Anglo-Saxon Protestants who were made rich from the toil of both segments of the nation. I read about slavery and I feel terrible, but I am not made to feel responsible: I have my own history.

To be honest, I bet that most of the young, white, college-age voters who participated in this election are from a similar stock as me: Their ancestors are post-slavery. They are post-civil rights. They got behind a candidate who actively sought to bring them into the political process not based on the color of their skin but based on his belief that we had something to contribute. We listened, we responded. We were not fooled.

That some of us are using Howard Stern to illustrate why millions of young Americans showed up to vote only demonstrates that some of us don't want to be swayed by logic; rather, we'd rather stick to our prejudices and fears.

On my blog (cheap plug), I talk a lot more about Obama's impact on me as a young voter. I bring up FDR, JFK, and Walt Whitman. We may be young, and our "experiences" may yet not count for much, but we are not stupid. Don't discount us as such.

http://carefuleugene.blogspot.com/2008/11/hope.html

It is creepy to see grown men and women standing in public CRYING over a politician. He's nothing but a charlatan.

If they make a movie about his (1) term in office, will they call it O? Maybe the movie will show the important moments of his past and we'll get to see the exciting parts when he votes PRESENT when he's a state senator at Springfield.

And who will play the parts of Rev. Wright, Tony Rezko and William Ayers?

Hopefully by then, we will all have had the chance to read the paper that he wrote his senior year at Columbia.

Sorry Jordan Narancich, but Obama did not play the race card; as you point out yourself, the media played the race card. In fact, Obama himself went out of his way NOT to focus on his own ethnicity. I'm sorry, but using the Howard Stern interviews of a few people in Harlem borders on racism itself! Shame on you for basing your entire argument on a smattering of interviews by a shock-jock whose sole mission is to entertain. Hardly a politically scientific approach to defending your viewpoint.

Further, to suggest he played the race card just to get the youth vote is an insult to young people everywhere, as if our nation's young voters can't sort through the issues to vote intelligently. Were not the young McCain supporters also gullible, perhaps?

Of course everyone expected Obama to take the African American vote (nearly 100%), but barring the senior citizen vote, he also got the upper hand in nearly every other demographic, making him nearly unstoppable: men (no Dem since Clinton has pulled this off), Catholics, women, voters under 30, Latinos, Asians, first-time voters, voters making less than $100K. Obviously, the numbers prove it was MUCH more than merely race. And also to chalk his win up to...what?! Gullibility?! You've got to be kidding! You could also argue the gullible voters were many of the McCain supporters, for buying hook, line, and sinker the McCain/Palin fearmongering that sadly has become the GOP's calling card.

Using the race card argument proves you're either unwilling or unable to hold McCain responsible for his own failures in this election. True, many factors contributed to McCain's defeat, but even McCain himself admitted the disastrous results were nobody's fault but his own.

Healthy Gopher,
I did not claim that GW, Clinton or anyone else had proven much when they were elected. I don't remember hearing this kind of praise for them though. I just don't know where it comes from. The only answers I can think of are superficial. Because he had a good campaign? Because he's young? Because he's charismatic? Because he's from a different party than the current president? I'm not saying he won't be a good president. Only time will tell. Many of you guys are stating with such confidence that we elected the right man. You might be right. I hope you're right. I just can't say I agree or disagree with you yet.

Holy Cow!

I don't know how you find time to read so many responses. I could only skim through them and I was shocked at the tone of so many today - vile, hatefull, hurtfull and seldom providing any usefull comments to support their views. Did the terminally abusive and ignorant suddenly tune into your station? I suspect one of their radio talking heads sent them your way.

These people couldn't even accept the statements of support and healing made by Sen. McCain, their candidate,in his concession speech. They boo'd Senator McCain last night and now came to treat you with similar disrespect. I'm glad they are on "the other side", as I would be have them on the Obama side.

Mr. Ebert, your talk of a mighty tide and a storm of history has only made me more proud to have voted for John McCain in this, the first presidential election I was eligible to vote in. I have only my conscience and judgment as justification, which I owe to my country at any time, and most of all when there is a dominant consensus. I’m not suggesting Obama supporters did any less, but it is satisfying to think one has weathered a storm.

But it bears mentioning that Obama’s message of inclusiveness will prove hollow if he fails to recognize that not everyone supported him. The genius of America is not, as some seem to think, in coming together under one banner. It is in learning to get along in spite of differences. This land was made for you, but it was also made for me.

Ebert: Like Woody sang, "This land was made for you and me."

Roger, I can't remember when I last enjoyed such eloquence or was so moved.

Wait, yes I can... last night when President-Elect Obama spoke.

As a child I too saw JFK speak live during his campaign. I have not felt this way about our leadership in 48 years.

Roger, I can't remember when I last enjoyed such eloquence or was so moved.

Wait, yes I can... last night when President-Elect Obama spoke.

As a child I too saw JFK speak live during his campaign. I have not felt this way about our leadership in 48 years.

Let me rephrase that... He played the race card to gain the popular vote of the young and gullible... Have you heard Howard Stern's interview to people in Harlem... Perfect example of how Barack played the race card...

I can't stand that this election has been about race... It should have never been.. You have the idiot reporters who keep bringing up race, asking people about race, reporting "race statistics", and all the ignorant voters who want their 15 seconds of fame to tell the world how they voted for the first black president. i will never understand why the people who preach equality continue to always stay focused on the issue of race.

It was the economy, stupid.

The civil rights leader Andrew Young was on the Colbert Report tonight:

He was estastic over the election results and told Colbert (jokingly,of course, equating it to the inner cities of the 1970's) that, only when the country gets this F***ed, would people dare hand it over to a black man.

hi roger

i have been reading your movie reviews for 8-9 years and your reviews have become a yardstick for the movies i watched. i only recently discovered your blog and would have love to have discovered it sooner. you're a great reviewer-always so insightful and eloquent.

i am from malaysia and have been following this election closely. i am glad that america was brave enough to make this choice as i was skeptical that they would.

its my hope that with obama as president, america would make wiser decisions and engage in proper discussions before taking any actions. the war in iraq was such a mistake and if only bush had listen to the right voices, america would not be sucked into such a mess and antagonised so many nations.

thanks for a great post and i do hope that america would unite to support obama and his vision for change.

Mr. Ebert,

If I had known you were writing blogs I would have been here a long time ago. I have always enjoyed your very thoughtful writing.

You nailed what I have been thinking with this post. Obama's victory brought tears to my eyes and he is going to inspire countless young people who have felt hopeless for a very long time. I am white but knowing what my parent's and grandparent's generations did during the segregation era and during the desegregation struggle makes me sick to my stomach.

It is true that this election was not about race. Obama was the best man on the table to deal with every issue that currently faces our country. The fact that the majority of us saw this without regard to his physical appearance is a great leap forward for our culture.

Churchill said that Americans can always be counted upon to do the right thing, after they have exhausted every possible alternative. I guess we were finally out of viable alternatives.

There have also been some news reports that McCain supporters were unable to "Swiftboat" Obama because they could no longer afford to do so due to the faltering economy. If this is true, it is quite ironic as the economic problems we are facing have a lot to do with the person who they fought so hard to elect.

4 years from now , we will see if the hope and change that people have attributed to Obama will have come to fruition. there are high expectations from many who voted for him , some of these expectations:

no worries about mortgage payments.
no worries about filling their gas tanks.
no worries about health care.
no worries about heating and cooling thier homes.
no worries about college education.
no worries about countries and lunatics who wish to do U.S. citizens harm.

see , under Obama , all of these things will be taken care of...
With the power of hope, sunshine , unicorns and rainbows we will have all of our worries removed...

Obama's divided race? How about the guys yelling "kill him!" at the McCain rallies? How about the disinformation campaign to paint him as a terrorist sympathizer? I think the accusation is pure idiocy. It's garbage like Fox News that is always trying to stir up hatred between the races, and to rile up the human refuse of the fringe racist element - those sorry excuses for Americans you could hear yelling obsenities at the McCain rallies.

I feel sorry for McCain. His campaign was poisoned from the beginning by ignorant racists. And it wasn't his fault.

Having said that, I believe Obama was the best candidate. And not because he's black. But because he's someone who has proven that it doesn't matter what color you are. And the fact that he's done that, and triumphed in the face of such bitter, ugly fear and ignorance makes me more proud to be an American than I have ever been.

Let me first say that Obama won this race handily. Though there was certainly (as there always is) some degree of voter fraud, there was certainly not 7 percentage points worth. Likely, not even half (of half) that much.

But, there is one factor here where the hypocrisy from those of us on the left is palpable: campaign spending. Ask yourself honestly, if the shoe were on the other foot would you feel differently? If John McCain had won this election by spending buckets and buckets of money. By spending something more in the advertisement of his campaign than Wa-Mart or McDonalds, if he had, arguably, bought a good portion of the electorate…wouldn’t we all be screaming about the rich, white republicans and how the system needed to change?

This does not sit well with me.

Ebert: The average size of a donation to the Obama campaign was $86. The average McCain contribution was $358. Yet you say Obama raised many times more money? How did that happen>

Obama's grandmother died this week before he won. Your friend Studs Terkel passed away before Obama won. Michael Crichton, writer of "Travels" (my favorite book), also left us before Obama won.

I guess all great victories in life are bittersweet. We appreciate them more that way.

A couple have replied to the wing-nuts (many of whom don't seem to capable of posting a comment less than twice - perhaps they are palsied with rage) with a statement that about 90,000 Iraqi civilians have died as a result of the Iraq invasion. That is a bare-bones (no pun intended), minimum estimate. The median of published studies is around one million - and about 3 million refugees who have fled the country.

A friend of mine who is a bit of a wing-nut on this issue (we all have our quirks) said we would know in 30 years whether the Iraq invasion was worth while, depending on what sort of stable government evolves. I replied that in that case we would never know, as Saddam would have been dead in 30 years anyway.

Granted that Bush 43's decisions were largely the result of bad advisers, I still think he deserves the blame for those decisions. Nobody put a gun to his head and forced him to run for President, and as Clint Eastwood said, "A man's gotta know his limitations."

I don't think anyone has all the answers but I have more confidence in Obama being able to tell good advice from bad than McCain.

(Thanks for another great essay. Sorry for adding to the controversy, but it is hard for me to be silent when the wing-nuts are cork-screwing into flight.)

I have never understood the appeal of Obama. That is not really true. What I mean is that I have never FELT the appeal of Obama. I think that he is, at best, a mediocre public speaker. For all the talk of his intelligence, his stated policies seem to me to be poorly thought out. I think he gets a lot of credit merely because he is not George Bush. Being articulate and educated seems to be a poor qualification for leadership (have you known any law professors personally -- I have and wouldn't trust one to lead me to lunch much less some sort of utopia). However, compared to the inarticulate (and educated) Bush....

Is John McCain similar to George Bush? No. Was the current financial crisis caused by deregulation? No (although that doesn't mean I do not support increased regulation).

Can tax cuts by given to most people in the current fiscal environment? Anything can be done, but it would be disastrous. Even with the increased gap between the rich and everyone else in America, the rich still do not have enough money to fund the government programs we have now, much less a humane health care system. Since lower income families do not pay income taxes, this means the government has to get most of its money from the middle class. Cutting taxes now is impossible, mainly because we have no way to force the rest of the world to continue buying our debt.

In other words, it is in their short-term interest at the moment, but the point is rapidly approaching at which China will no longer subsidize increases in our debt -- because their economy is deveoping beyond the point at which it needs the United States. They are not going to pay for our tax cuts, nor to protect the jobs of American workers. This may seem unfair to Democrats when China was willing to subsidize tax cuts for corporations and Middle Eastern wars for Republican presidents. It may also seem unfair to Democrats that China is not going to shed any tears over the decimation of the American working class. However, since China is just starting to recover from a century in which hundreds of millions starved, died in war, and in which the country was generally abused by Britain, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, Japan, and Chinese forces (not to mention those of the United States) in ways that the hardest-pressed American worker would be hard-pressed to understand...well, I think it is understandable that their sympathy for American and Democratic woes is going to be severely limited.

Many intelligent, engaged liberals have been indulging in a great fantasy for the last eight years: that the problems of the United States have not been caused by the course of world history or economics, but by Republican ideology and the Bush Administration. Perhaps, even more damaging, is the underlying belief that American political arguments control the fate of the planet.

Well, congratulations if you've hated Bush. Even greater congratulations if you love Obama. But fantasy-time is over for you now. Don't retreat into your idealogical assumptions: it didn't work for the Republicans who were no less human than you.

This message was approved by me. I am a registered independent who liked McCain personally and voted for Obama.

Mr Ebert,

You've lived in Chicago a long time, right? I'm a little surprised at the fervor of your reaction, given your background, especially as you are a newspaper person to boot....

I grew up in Chicago and spent my young adult years there. One thing I learned to recognize was the classic Chicago politician; one who would say whatever he thought his audience wanted to hear while campaigning, and then governing however he felt like (especially in taking care of his buddies) once elected.

Obama presents himself very well, yet I notice in his speeches that he (a) remains pretty general, and (b) changes what he is saying to fit the audience to whom he is speaking. I saw nothing to distinguish him (beyond his eloquence and his mellifluous voice, which sounds great, doesn't it?) from any other Chicago-style policitian. I'm genuinely curious why, when the similarities seem so strikingly obvious to one who didn't really care very much one way or the other which candidate was elected (Congress will drive the agenda anyway, no matter who won), why you were so taken in by him where you presumably wouldn't have been taken in by so many others of his ilk.

I really did like your prose, it would fit an inspirational movie quite well. I'm just a little surprised that you lavished it on the person you did....

Ebert: I am so, so tired of hearing this knee-jerk twaddle about Chicago corruption. Yes, it exists. Other big American cities would be lucky to have so little. This is the best-managed big city in the country, and the most beautiful, and the cleanest. Come and visit sometime. Free festival every weekend in Grant Park, of all places, which is much, much larger than what you saw on TV, and part of a system that maintains beautifully landscaped parks along every mile of shoreline and has a 20-mile lakefront bike trail. Broadens out into Jackson Park, Lincoln Park, boat harbors, bird preserves. Lake Shore Drive the most stunning urban roadway in the world. Where did you say you were from? ,/b>

Obama is the right man to be President? Why, because he fits your left-wing views? Because he's a tax and spend liberal? So, what you're saying is that, by definition, no conversative or Republican could be the "right President?"

Roger, I hope you apply the same scrutiny to Obama that you so unfairly and unevenly applied to John McCain - in the cheap way you applied every negative context and inference to every word that John McCain said, while giving Obama a free pass.

Your comments about Sarah Palin were even worse; you attacked her intellect(which as governor of an important state with a budget surplus of $5 Billion, I'm assuming she must have) because she doesn't talk like you, and holds views that are different from yours, which is reprehensible. (No, Sarah Palin might not be able to name the capitals of foreign countries, but she can balance a budget, and govern, can't she?)

Roger, I grew up idolizing you, but this new tone of yours has left me angry and disullionsed. Who are you anymore? What happened to you? Is this left-wing activism a reaction to your long battle with cancer and maybe a feeling that you need to express these feelings for posterity? I suspect that's probably the case.

You've become the same kind of hateful idealogue that you've previously condemned. Worse, you've become a hateful man, which I didn't think was possible from you. I say hateful because your writing has become infected with bias and dishonesty.(I almost find it sad when you so anxiously quote these liberal blogs in defense of one your columns, or quote some left-wing radical to support your point of view).

Fine, Barack Obama is our President, based on alot of promises and very few hard details. Remember the promises he's made - from ending the Iraq war, to establishing universal healthcare, etc - and you hold him to the same standard you've applied to republicans. There's no excuses anymore.

Ebert: Don't you think "tax and spend liberal" is losing a little of its punch now has doubled the national debt single-handedly? Obama says he will raise taxes and lower spending. McCain would cut taxes and was unable to tell Tom Brokow how he would cut spending. Which one would you choose to balance your checkbook?

Kinda creepy. People crying? Putting so much faith in government to chart our futures? The Grant Park "rally" seemed more suited toward a 3rd world dictators speech than a president of a free society.

Richard W.: In his election-night speech, Obama did, in fact, acknowledge that plenty of people did not support him. His words: "And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too." It was a very clear attempt to unify the country.

Dear Roger,
Your lyrical voice has brought me to tears once more. My heart sings and my mind is full of the excitement of this new dawn in our lives and in our national history.
There was palpable joy in the diner down the street. A sweet waitress was still hoarse from screaming with gusto Tuesday night. Don't think me crazy, but I could feel a difference in the air brimming with a new found optimism and cheer!
The blog on THE POT made me laugh and your most recent entry has made me connect with the real significance of the moment. It seems too good to be true.
As a student of history by way of my intense interest and love of the dialogue and discourse; I too feel that we have turned the corner. Can you imagine what Studs might say now? We must all bear witness to these hours and these days in the history of our beloved country and remember to shine a true beam of light upon the dark shadows and corners of ignorance and prejudice. To embrace the beauty of language and the journey of the mind, to honor and respect each other during the bright golden days of fall as well as the coming chill of winter; to feel pride in a man who worked hard to be a great symbol to every child and adult in the United States of America.
OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA you are now the man for all seasons. And please don't forget to get a great pup for the girls. We have a gorgeous springer spaniel who is kind and loving beyond measure. Oh, wait..... those other guys had springers so pick a pup with your kindness of heart, calm disposition,
fierce intelligence and winning personality to match your lovely familly. Actually many pups will fill the bill. It usually is love at first sight and then the research to match one's emotional response becomes a necessary part of the lifetime deal between you and the dog. When your day has been difficult and you are alone in the room, it is the sweetness and true heart of your dog who will remind you that basic things are so very important. PEE ON THE GRASS, DON'T PULL ON THE LEAD, AND NEVER, NEVER BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU!

Judy Shuster (happy at last)

Roger, thank you for these beautiful and inspiring words. I am a couple of weeks away from turning 50; I remember JFK's assassination, and Bobby's and Dr. King's, I remember Chicago in '68, I remember the spirit of the '60s and the start of the culture wars--these things were all a backdrop to my life.

I did not originally support Barack Obama (I was for Edwards, sadly), because I believed his time had not come. But over the course of his campaign he made a believer out of me. His dignity, his calm, his intelligence, his inspiring speeches--these made a combination I had never seen in a presidential candidate in my entire life. (I did love Bill Clinton in his '92 run, but dignity is not a word I would associate with him!) Edwards withdrew from the campaign before the NY primary, and I was torn: I didn't want to vote for Hillary (that indefensible but constantly defended vote for the Iraq invasion prevented me) but I was uncertain about Obama. In the end, though, I pulled the lever.

On Tuesday, I had no such doubts. I took a photo of the voting machine with the lever turned for Barack Obama, the best candidate I have ever seen run for the presidency.

But now the real work begins! He has been presented with a daunting task, to clean the Augean stables of Messrs. Bush and Cheney (who, to disagree with you, I feel are equally responsible; Bush's words in the '00 campaign were enough to convince me of his personal perfidy). And on Tuesday night, in Grant Park, he asked for our help.

I am eager to answer that call, and curious to see what form it will take. I love movies from the World War II era, and the propaganda posters one seen in places like http://djvued.libs.uga.edu/wwpost/. I've always had a wistful envy of those Americans who so loyally pitched in to do their part. Plant a victory garden so food can go to the soldiers! Use less sugar so ships are placed in less danger! Gather rubber, steel, paper! Those times were hard, but everyone had a demonstrable common goal.

I hope that President Obama can find a way to inspire us in this way. We ARE one America; the United States of America. We all love our country, and believe her the best in the world. We relish her position as a shining beacon to the world. I want President Obama to tap into that and bring us all together in the fight through the hard times ahead. Then I will know that my decision on November 4th was not only right, but truly inspired.

I have a great deal of respect for your perspective on movies but I must say that I can not agree or relate to your perspective on this election. Many times while reading your movie reviews, I instinctively know that I will disagree with your opinion. At these moments I don't stop reading. I respect your insight too much. In rare instances, I ignore my instinct and see a movie based on your insight alone. I will not be ignoring my instinct about Obama.

America doesn't need 'change'. America is great and the individuals that make America great are honest, hardworking and dedicated people.

I am a good American. I work hard to support a young family. I have a large extended family that I help when they are in need. I also help my friends when they are in need. I mow and landscape my lawn. I change my oil and inflate my tires. I drive safe and economically. I donate to charities. I support local businesses. I mentor those that are willing. I work in the software business - one of the most diverse environments possible.

I pay taxes to the federal government, the state, the city, the county, and multiple 'special' taxing districts through sales taxes, property taxes, income taxes, payroll taxes and fees. The only change that will happen under Obama is that more and more of my money will be filtered through the federal government, the state, the city, the county before it can help anyone. I would rather pay for the health care of my neighbor or a family member or a friend than send the money off into the ether.

I will never subjugate my opinion of America due to who is in charge in Washington.

What garbage. Do you really think a man with no experience, no record and no personality is really the best person to combat global terrrorism, a global recession and fire ants? What self-delusion. Interesting that you gave as your reasoning that Obama was a "grown up." That's what was said about Tom Hanks' character in "Big"...the boy in a man's body. Perfect.

Dear Mr. Ebert,

I agree with you, this is a great day to be an American. Although i did not vote as I had to run my small video store in a small town in PA if I had voted I would have been among the millions who voted for Obama.

As for the people who think you should just stick to movie reviews, I disagree.

To those who say Obama does not have enough experiance to run our country I say let him try. He can't do much worse than those who have been in political families and have lots of experiance but got us in the situation we are in today. You are probably the same people who deny someone a credit card because they do not have enough credit.

Somehow I feel just like Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes". "They finally did it, they finally did it!"

Guess my comments weren't approved. Not politically correct. The free speech has already expired in this country. We whites are all racists!!! Truth is forbidden.

Roger-

It was certainly interesting for me to see that many African Americans felt that they finally had a role model to aspire their children to after election day.

Is it not time for someone like Spike Lee or a Spielberg to create a documentary or a motion picture to chronicle this great achievement, tap into this source of pride that is waiting to be harnessed, and dispell the notion among all African American Children that their prosperity lies only in Gangsta Rap or other forms of music.

What would be more powerful than telling the story of Obama and his rise to being the most powerful man on the planet. In my opinion, his election is more than solving the problems of today, it is about inspiring enough people in all communities (especially the African American children) to a bright future.

Perhaps you can even write the screenplay!!

I notice a lot of commentary about California's proposition 8. Here's a little perspective from Connecticut that might temper some of the more extreme responses.....

The state legislature passed a civil union statute that was an acceptable compromise to nearly everyone. After all, New Haven is the international headquarters of Knights of Columbus (Catholic men's organization whose founder, Father McGivney, is on the path to sainthood). Many people view "marriage" as something more than merely a civil commitment, it has sacramental overtones as well (perhaps stemming from a gut-level biological basis, as it is only through the junction of sperm and ovum that life begins?).

Most of these same people are reasonable people, not bigots. They were not anti-homosexual at all, they were quite content to allow gay couples the same civil rights as married people regarding hospital visits, inheritance, family healthcare benefits, etc. In other words, there was a great compromise: homosexual couples could have a civil ceremony and have all the legal rights of a married couple, they just couldn't use the word "marriage" to describe it, because "marriage" had a special meaning beyond just the societal recognition of couplehood.

This is how our political system is supposed to work, people work out a compromise that most people can live with. This would have been a fine outcome.

Somehow, a few people in black robes weren't content with this, they took it upon themselves to ignore the legislature, ignore this perfectly reasonable, workable compromise, and inject themselves into the situation when there really was no need whatsoever to do so and a lot of reasons for them not to do so. They declared that people HAD TO use the word "marriage".

I think much of the outcome is an understandable reaction against being forced to submit to something unreasonable. I'll bet real money that if there had been two propositions on the ballot, one declaring that "marriage" was only between a man and a woman, and another declaring that same-sex couples who participate in a "civil union" would have all the legal rights and recognition that married people have, then the latter would pass handily while the former would have passed by an even larger margin.

Sometimes people get so hung up on symbols that they totally overlook the substance and yet it the substance is where we reside. Is it anti-gay prejudice at work or anti-religious prejudice at work in that people can't accept all the legal recognition of marriage without the word, that they have to insist on having the word itself as well?

In my opinion, our national debt is the most serious issue facing our country. We owe $10 trillion, and another $50 trillion in future obligations (Social Security, Medicare, entitlement programs, infrastructure costs, etc.) Servicing the debt can only be done through taxation, devaluing the dollar, and borrowing even more money. Each of these carries painful consequences to all Americans.

America is not going bankrupt. We already ARE bankrupt. You've seen "I.O.U.S.A", so you know what I'm saying is true. We need a leader who will do the right thing, which is to CUT spending, and at least begin to dig our way out of this financial mess. It is my hope and my prayer that Obama will not pursue short term "solutions" (such as FDR-style economic "stimulus" programs that only add to our debt). I hope that he has read books such as "Atlas Shrugged", and learned that taking money away from hard-working people and redistributing it to those who have made foolish choices will only "kill the goose who lays the golden eggs", so-to-speak. I hope that he is willing to be politically unpopular, to risk sacrificing a shot at a second term, in order to serve the greater good of the country. If he can do these things, then he will have EARNED the accolades being heaped upon him, and I will be first in line to admit that I was wrong in not voting for him.

I am stunned by the vitriol and anger towards Barack Obama, and even more perplexed at posts of apathy. Two of the greatest American speeches of the last 50 years were made on the same night, and still many people think the main theme is, "America is doomed." How could anyone get that impression? How could you hear Sen. McCain's speech and not be moved by his genuine passion and probable farewell? How could you listen to President-Elect Obama's speech and not be impressed by his inner strength and conviction?

And isn't it great to finally - after a generation - *FINALLY* have a president that won't embarrass you. I think you have to go back to Jimmy Carter to say you have a president that you didn't worry about him saying or doing something that makes Americans look bad. Reagan was a joke with his speeches, meandering and pointless. GHW Bush said nothing worthwhile unless he was regurgitating Reagan's meandering speeches. Clinton had multiple "off the field" issues. And the less said about W, the better. Talk about a downward spiral! Anyhow, I'm tired of being veiwed globally as a gun-happy, undereducated, backwards, science hating, intolerant nation.

Mr Guthrie also sang in that same song:

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me;
Sign was painted, it said private property;
But on the back side it didn't say nothing;
That side was made for you and me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Land_Is_Your_Land#Confirmation_of_other_two_verses

Property rights - who needs 'em? Not in Obamerica!!

Ebert: No, I would not be suggesting that [abolition of private property] on the evidence of an unknown lyric of a song written 21 years before Obama was born, and which he did not quote, although I realize those are the tactics often used by his detractors. As a wild guess, I would hazard that the lyrics referred to Dust Bowl farmers who were "tractored off their land," as the conservative John Steinbeck wrote in "The Grapes of Wrath." Woody's song came out in the same year as the film, which was directed by the conservative John Ford. Wonder if Woody had just seen it. In fact, here is a still from the film that might almost have inspired him. Any parallels with the current mortgage crisis are entirely coincidental:

http://eserver.org/clogic/2002/images/air.jpg

I found this in the online MAXnotes for those too impatient to read the novel:

"Pa, Al and Uncle John go looking for work, but all they find are signs saying, "No Help Wanted. No Trespassing."

Ebert, I love your column, but I think you are a bit naive if you think that Obama will lead a corruption free presidency. Apparently you either weren't paying attention or have forgotten that during the primaries, there were several instances where Obama was linked directly to shady characters (and I am not talking about the Ayers or Julius Wright connections) and questionable financing policies. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Thanks, Roger...I'm sending this blog entry to my family members in PA and NC...I live in Virginia...I was front row for Barack's last rally in Manassas, VA with my two sons, 3 and 6 years old to be able witness. My wife and daughter were there in the back of the stage. 100,000 strong...

All three states went to Obama...Virginia, the first time in 44 years. In some small way we like to think we helped.

The speech that night was great and then to hear him in his acceptance speech the next night was a part of history we all shall cherish.

I have faith that President-elect Obama will in fact bring numbers of different people together...he said the election was not about him, it was about us. He also said that night that he will work hard for all Americans...."And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."

And at the end..."This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can."

Some never seem to be able get along because of their entrenched differences...it is a shame when sour grapes becomes a chronic condition.

For myself, I cannot wait for the work to begin...in fact to some degree it already has. The difference this time is that instead of the last 8 years saying "if you are not with us , you are against us." President Obama is saying "whether you are with us or against us, I will be working to make thing better for all of us."

I'm Indian and applaud the contributions of America to the world.Its heartening to see your country proud again.America has and always will be a beacon of hope to those who value freedom and right of expression.JRR Tolkien seems to speak to you in this moment of triumph.....

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

Pardon me but I couldnt let this passage go to waste at a time like this:)

Regarding Palin's dys-geographia: Her blunders regarding North America, Africa, and so on come as quite a relief. In an earlier posting, you had called her the "American Idol Candidate," and it worried me that she was someone about whose performance people would say, "I could do that." Well, I too could get basic geography questions wrong--but would I want to? It seems she is heading right where I'd hoped: into the basic cable, real housewife/milf, reality-show dustbin of history.

But if her imminent departure makes you pine, you can always watch Tina Fey, who's smarter, sexier and less likely to try to hoodwink Real America.

Hand-in-hand with Hope walks Doubt. Disappointment and Satisfaction straggle along behind, neither knowing which of them will ultimately be invited to join at the head of the parade.

Many have told me that the election of Barack Obama, confirms that America is what it has always claimed to be. That which I, in my lifetime - I am 47 - have never thought it, actually, to be (Tom Brokaw's, Ronald Reagan's and Mr. Obama's insistence to the contrary, noted and discounted).

I am unwilling, yet, perhaps due to my own feebleness, to pack my cynicism away in the attic, though, I will confess to you, I have always wanted to. I am as giddy at the election of the nation's first black President as most, though, being caucasian, I cannot share the extra joy and pride of persons of color. Truth be told, I never felt proud of most of the old white guys we elected even though they shared my skin-tone. (I admire Lincoln and Kennedy for the leadership my history teachers instructed me about, and I was inexplicably fond of Jimmy Carter.) Obviously, the source of my giddiness isn't a latent patriotism. Nor is it a belief that my standard of living is suddenly going to improve or that I will be able to afford all the drugs to keep my parents propped up into their nineties. But I am giddy. (Don't I sound like it to you? Winky emoticon or whatever.)

I am giddy because the SMART one won. Not the pitiful former prisoner of war who was so willing to abandon his soul when the evil puppeteers of his party started whispering. Not the heavily-made-over moose-hunter who can now take her comic-book world-view and her divisiveness with her when she crawls back under her rock. Not the terse one who might've been nominated and made us suffer for not cuckolding her grown-frat-boy husband. I really didn't think it would turn out the way it did. I thought, in the end, it would be close enough for the three fat, white, wealthy Texans who manipulate the price of gas and secretly run things to steal another one. I am giddy because I was wrong.

Maybe, hopefully, I am wrong about other things, too.

Hooray! We will have a President who can speak thoughtfully and intelligently. He will represent us, hopefully, as we wish to be, rather than as we are. As we might become.

Perhaps words will mean, once again, what they were defined to mean, not what they are spun to mean. Perhaps FOX News will be forced to close down.

Giddy people get carried away with themselves.

Although I chose McCain by a nose, when the results were in, I thought of, and was happy for, you. I think that the Obama/Biden ticket puts the vision and the experience in the respective offices where they will be most effective. And I cannot help thinking of this:

'Let the word go foath from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the toahch has been passed...'

Yes, on 9/11 the people in other nations, who cheered the falling of the towers, showed what 8 months of a Bush white house can cause. Yes, and after Reagan died, who was the liberal who suggested it would have been better if Bush had died? Roger Ebert even chose to include the Bush children in one of his angry comments. Something about what they wore to some event? And on and on. Somewhere, Woody is throwing up.

Ebert: What about the people of Iran, who thronged the streets of Tehran with a candlelight march showing their sympathy? Who was the liberal? The Bush kids wore blue jeans to Buckingham Palace, or so it was reported. When Laura Bush corrected those reports, I hope you read my apology.

Dear U.S.A.
Congratulations. You finally made it. It took eight years, billions of Dollars, thousands of bodies and God knows how much in goodwill, but you finally have an elected representative in the big white building. You came out, hardly unscathed, but make it out you did. You finally woke up to realise that wars on nouns don't really turn out too well.
See what I just did there? A cynical sarcastic comment. But we all seem to be so cynical these days. Cynicism, negetivity are the new black. You know, cool. But then I saw something. I saw a woman cry. I saw her face go from anxious hope, through a whole gamut of emotions, and finally break into tears of unrestrained joy (and maybe even a little bit of relief?). I saw her mouthing the words "We did it" over and over again. Of course it was on television. But it was more real than anything I have seen recently.
Display of emotions like these are reserved for sporting contests. But politics ? Really ? Who cares if one incompetent fools replace another on the seat of power? That's the way most of us see politics these days. It's an excuse to badmouth some people and go back to our daily lives. But U.S.A., you finally made the world proud. You picked a man from nowhere and took him to the top. Because you realised you COULD do it. And only you could. It wasn't enough to hope for change, you'd actually have to get it yourself.
I envy you, you know. I really do. I don't say this because you have a great president, someone who will wave his little magic wand and make your problems go away. Whether he can get you out of the hole you have dug yourself into remains to be seen. Some say he is the right man. I say, let's wait and watch. Maybe he is. but that's not because why I envy you.
I envy you because finally, FINALLY you have a leader, not just a politician, as your President. Someone who you can cry for, someone who inspires you, someone who makes you feel like he could change the world and for a pinch, so can you. For too long we have had leaders who elicit emotions restricted to anger, bigotry or hate. Leaders who inflame passions of all the wrong kinds. That does not mean we don't have good leaders. Our own Prime Minister is a good man, a smart man. A humble, intelligent, compassionate man. I truly believe he is. But he does not make me FEEL. He does not make me wan't to go out there in the rain just to hear him speak. You have such a man.
President Barack Obama has a tough job ahead of him. But he has you, his countrymen by his side. He is a black man who got elected to the highest office of the Unites States of America. A country where only eighteen percent of the population share his skin colour. This goes beyond race. He could do this because he could drag you out of the culture of cynicism you had settled into. Lets hope he can do all that you hope he can. The world will be watching.
Thank you.
From India

While I'm happy that so many people are so elated over Obama's victory, and I hope this will bring a new confidence to our economy and respect around the world for our economy, there are some who do not share this optimism regarding Obama. One is Mumia Abu-Jamar, who Ebert has publicly supported in the past. Mumia considers Obama little more than a Republican. Most people hold Mumia and his supporters in rather low regard, of course, as he's an unrepentant cop-killer, but I wanted to point this out anyway.

(In case anyone doubts Mumia's guilt, explain to me why Mumia's brother, William Cook, who was standing right next to the cop when he was murdered, refused to proclaim his brother's innocence and did not testify in his defense at the trial, his only spoken words in the 20 years following the murder regarding what happened being "I ain't got nothing to do with this.")

Ebert: Is there a wee difference between supporting someone and giving a good review to a documentary arguing his guilt? His brother's silence? How naive are you? If the police had framed your brother as a cop-killer, and you could verify his alibi, but word has reached you that members of your family might have unfortunate mishaps, how much would you have to do with it?

To Jordan Norancich,

We are being taxed by OPEC at a rate since 1999 of 30% a year. It is the by far the highest in American history. They are also executing takeovers of western corporations through sovereign wealth funds, also pieces of our media, http://www.answers.com/topic/alwaleed-bin-talal, he owns 5 percent of newscorp and aol/time warner, these include Fox news, CNN, time magazine, wall street journal, the london times and much more media purchases in Europe, including the danish cartoon controversy. They will make 1.5 trillion in profits this year, and entire fortune 500 is worth 18 trillion and in 6 years could by majority control of it. Also, Darfur could be stopped and China's resistance to it is because of Sudanese oil imports. Also, Georgia conflict is related to this. http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080809/anne-korins-oil-solution/ Please, read to just get a taste of what being energy dependent means on a global scale, including corrupting Washington. Obama has a policy, and that is to mandate all cars be flex-fueled vehicles sold in U.S. by the end of his first term. In terms of free trade, after three years of this mandate, there will be 50 million cars sold here, and hundreds of millions worldwide that will compete with oil. Some other solutions are put forward in article: "encouraging India and Pakistan to pursue an alternative pipeline route from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan – to ensure that India does not tie its economic future to Iran." That was about natural gas, because flex-fuel cars can be run on methanol which can run on any biomass w/out exception, including natural gas, trash, plants (which are cooling agents for the planet) etc. When those hundreds of millions of cars are worldwide, we will then be able to drop trade barriers and can sell tractors to third world countries for them to give us fuel through their agriculture on tropical regions and get them out of poverty, trade barriers will be broken worldwide and not just in the U.S. and the planet will be cooled off from all the agriculture rather substantially. This is the number one problem worldwide: the taxing on the world economy (a 30% increase annually here in U.S., no wonder people stopped buying houses), and starvation and human injustice, and blackmail in the case of China and Russia, and robbery on everyone.

http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080809/anne-korins-oil-solution/ IF you click on that little graph in the top left corner of that page, and look at it carefully, you can see how OPEC is manipulating the price of oil. It was 11 dollars in 1999, and they cut production by 2 or 3 % and the price shoots up to 30 dollars a barrel. And their playing around with production varies wildly with non-opec production to fix the price of oil.

Mr. Ebert, I would love to see your evidence about how freedom of speech, privacy and habeas corpus were violated during the supposed "eight year nightmare". The only reason you think it to such is because you didn't get your liberal ways. Although momentous the election of an African-American, unfortunately the first one is a radical, himself racist, liberal that will wipe out the light on the hill altogether in no time.
This will be a great motivator for the once great Conservative movement to be reestablished. I am pumped up and motivated by the fear I have of this country electing the wrong president.

Ebert: Oh, I dunno. How about unauthorized wiretaps and Guantanamo? You can't be a racist and a liberal at the same time. Not true of all persuasions.

Dear Ebert, I've been reading your reviews since a long time ago, and I just want to say you've brought so much more than just movie reviews to us. Reading your words are truly very inspiring. Is bliss. So I thank you for your great writings and insights.

I am not an American, but same as everyone else outside of America, I was very nervous on Tuesday night. I never thought I would care this much, but I did. I am not as knowledgeable as the readers here in terms of political views and all these ever-so-complicated issues. But I was truly happy for you when the outcome was finally revealed on Tuesday night.

What kind of feeling it is to live in a nightmare for eight years? I thank God for never did experience that, and I pray for God that I will never have to. I truly hope that there will be no more wars, there will be no more excessive waste on food and energy, there will be true respect to human lives, there will be no discriminations, no corruptions, no pollutions, no hatred.

And that there will finally be a true movement where all it does is to lead human to humanity.

All the best,
YT

Hi Roger

I don't understand when people keep saying Obama played the race card. How did Obama play the race card? He's a human being for god's sake. As simple as that. Did you see how that man talked? Flawless. Barack even said that he will make decisions that people might not agree with and decisions that people will understand. He thanked the Americans, the men and women, children who got him this far as the next president.

Out of respect Barack Obama even thanked John McCain and his party the man all about honesty. Harry Truman wasn't even educated and I find it amazing that he won against Dewey during his presidency. Truman made a lot of sacrifices and in the end historians and critics say he was one of the greatst presidents and I believe the same will be for Obama. There is no race card in Barack Obama I wish people would have a bit of Empathy and try to walk in his shoes.

Now my overlook movie of the week..."Gangs of New York"

Why?: The arrival of the Irish, Salvery Abolished by Lincoln, people tried to vote for a new shariff, soldiers join and set sail to take part in the Civil War only to see a coffin being returned, the deadly Draft Riots, to much gangs and bloodshed within the Five Points-Lower Manhattan, romance & Manhattan.

I'm a bit late to this discussion (fascinating), but I just wanted to tell you thank you for your post and for putting into beautifully written words what I've been thinking for the past day or so. I've long been a huge fan of your writing - and I can tell that this blog (just discovered tonight) will now be one of my favorite places to visit.

I came later than most to the Obama fold (I was for Hillary early on, and was generally resistant to what almost felt like mass hysteria among the Obama faithful), but joined with a full heart after his Philadelphia "race" speech. I was quite petrified with fear about what might happen to this country under McCain/Palin, and happy beyond words when Obama won. And yesterday something crystallized as it occurred to me exactly why I feel so good about the result of this election and so hopeful about our future, even given the monumentous tasks ahead: As young as he is, he is the first real grown-up in a very long time to take charge of this ungovernable mess of a country. Bush certainly isn't one, McCain is verging on being past his grown-up prime, and even Clinton showed signs of a lack of grown-up gravitas, focus and decision-making ability at inappropriate times.

Obama is clearheaded, supremely intelligent, pragmatic, decisive, focused, curious, openminded, hardworking, thoughtful, willing to listen but not a pushover, serious but with a leavening sense of humor, aware of what he doesn't know and eager to learn...and much more. A stable, mature grown-up - and that makes me feel more secure than I have felt for many, many years with the person at the helm. What he doesn't know, he will learn from those who do. He will make considered decisions based on facts. Those two things, alone, ensure that the next 8 will enable us to make huge strides towards repairing the damage from the past 8. And move beyond into a better future....

Dear Roger and Chaz,

In champagne toasts with a small group of folks who never thought we would live long enough to experience the hope and joy of Tuesday night, we could not recall such a night of celebration in this country since the end of World War II. Hallelujah!

You have eloquently said it all. The President-elect is not the first black President, but the right President for our time.

History seems to have required that we endure the dreadful constitution-bashing Bush era to rise to this new opportunity to reaffirm founding principles in facing the many challenges ahead, attracting the best people in the country to help.

At last we have a constitutional scholar at the helm. What a gift.

Paul

Roger,

Like you, I think we elected the right person at the right time on Tuesday to be the next President of the United States of America. I think the question of who was at FAULT for the miserable outcomes of the past eight years is immaterial. The answer to who is RESPONSIBLE for all of it, and I think there is no getting around it, is us. Just as we will be RESPONSIBLE (though not necessarily at fault) for the outcomes of the next four years. The "us" is everyone in the U.S.A. who was eligible to vote. It does not matter who we, as individuals voted for, or even if we voted at all. It is in our Constitution. We vote for representatives who act in our name. Whether or not we agree with their actions. Whether or not we voted for them. Unlike nations with Kings or single party systems, or dictatorships, we cannot say "they made us do it." We did it. We elected Bush, even if we did not vote for him. We can argue until the end of time about whether the 2000 election was perfectly fair. But, if only a few more thousands of people had voted for Gore it would not have gone the way it did. We can blame Florida, or the Supreme Court if we want. Too often, we get lost in the blame game, but that's just evading responsibility.

On Tuesday, Americans did not evade responsibility. They made a clear choice. Hundreds of choices in fact, in races large and small, national and local. When the elected officials take office, and act, or fail to act, we the people will be responsible for the outcome. If in the future, we don't like the outcomes, we can exercise our freedom of speech, try to influence the outcome in some way, but no matter what, we will remain responsible for it. And then we'll get a chance to vote again.

Which is why it is so important to vote the right way in the first place.

Two weeks ago I made my first visit to the Washington DC area. I visited the JFK gravesite at Arlington and saw his words engraved nearby.

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

JFK speaking those words today would be called a conservative.

Ebert: The words sound nonpartisan to me. There is something to be said about labels. Maybe we can agree on this: Cheney is evil. Bush is stupid.

Thank you for reinforcing my point, Roger. I'm sure your readers can distinguish labels from name calling.

I am proud that America has added Iraq and Afghanistan to the list of countries that owes it's freedom along with Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, South Vietnam, etc. Since liberals including yourself were against using our forces for freeing 25 million Iraqis I made my conclusion regarding JFK's words.

On a seperate note - I apologize for putting it here but have wanted to tell you for a long time - while I don't always appreciate the tone of your political opinions I appreciate you expressing them when appropriate. I don't have a problem with the media being biased. I have a major problem with the media being biased and denying it. I respect the fact that you articulate your positions to clarify your writing, whether it's blog, review, etc.

One final political note ... Obama made a beautiful acceptance speech and called for those who did not vote for him (myself included) to give him a chance and to work together. I plan on giving him a chance and doing my best to support OUR president. It's a shame that the other side could not do the same thing in 2004 following Bush's similar appeal.

Mr. Ebert I have been a proud reader of your essays for almost 6 years.. But from those 6 years that I have read your essays and whether I have agreed or dissagreed with your opinions, I have to fully say that this was the most touching piece that I have read so far. I am a young American and given that I am 18, this was my first election. But for over two years I have had faith in this man, who cannot even be descrived as just a man but a symbol. Obama in my generation has become everlasting, a symbol of hope, dream, possiblity, and a new beggining.
I am a New Yorker, but over the summer I stayed in Richmond Virginia. I had just finished "Profiles in Courage" by JFK and never had I felt more energetic to be able to become a member in this great process of electorate, so I signed on the Obama campaign in Richmond, as soon as they were set up. We traveled through the hot summer in a small pick up van. From door to door we tried to get more people involved and readied to vote. Obviously some of the people we met were not so cordial and some even called me names and tried to place toghether my involvement in the campaign with my ethnic background ( I am latino).
Overall we gathered a list of over 2000 people ready to support Obama and the summer was over, I went back to school in manhattan and I started my path towards the beggining of Senior year in High School, but I still kept up with everything that was going on.
Yesterday was probably my proudest moment as an American. The lights shined in Times Square and the CNN Screen screamed at the gathered crowds of electrified New Yorkers. By 11:00 pm I was in tears squeazing my friend's hand.
I told her
" I am so proud of my country'
It was the first time I had said that genuinelly. The crowds exploded in banters of "yes we can"'s, "Obama"'s, and "No more Bush".
All of Broadway was closed and me and my friend decided to walk down to Union Square and while we were flabergasted by what had just occurer, we could not just forget the sence of electric joy that seemed to be building in our stomachs. We were laughing, we were crying, and before we knew it we were walking to brooklyn.
People honked their cars, subway cars could be heard underground joining in with the cars in the street. People chanted "yes we can".
"yes we can"
And all I could think of at that moment, staring out of my window ( and after arriving home) was the famous lines JFK engraved the youth in the 60's
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country"
My small act of involvement echoed that thread of hope we had shared through the primaries, the debates, the rallies, and the meetings.
This election was no longer about the 2 candidates, but what the people did to elect them and elect him.
Like Barack Obama said in his acceptance speech.
"This election wasn't about me, it was all about you"
we finally made a huge leap past the status quo of conservatism and bad goverment.
We finally made it to the undelying definition of being an American and sharing hope.
Hope for the middle-man who amply deserves the attention he needs. Hope that we may never endure the Hell of the Bush years.
Hope is no longer a candidate for president with cheap words, but a reality.
A dream.

It is as though a long decaying Berlin Wall has finally crumbled.

The ultimate danger is not the weapons,nor the economy but the inwired capacity of human beings to hate.As the UN Charter observes most correcly,wars(and all woes)originate in the hearts of men.

It sure must be an exciting challenge,perhaps not so enviable a one, to be Barrack Obama!

Yikes, the unsmiling men standing in the shadows are coming! In their black helicopters! Scary.

You truly are living in an imaginary world.

Mr. Ebert:

I have greatly admired your views, especially your Liberal/Progressive views for several years now. Being similarly inclined all my life, and believing that bright, intelligent, caring and thoughtful people must of necessity be Liberal in their worldview (this is exactly why conservatives hate University professors and thinkers so much)- your clear, unambiguous defense of human rights, civil rights, decency and accountability in public life, and the importance of internationalism and a multicultural world (to some extent, your work reminds me of similar thoughts from Garrison Keillor, an American treasure) have been reassuring and of great value.

The sizable Democratic victory this election cycle, and BO's ascendancy were no doubt history-making. There is obviously reason to rejoice- particularly in the wake of the endless nightmare and terror-ridden nightmare in the hands of brainless goons that terrorized the world for 8 years.

However, this election cycle is hardly the prescription out of America's consumerist, uncaring, violent, war-crazy, imperialist agenda, and the grip of profit-driven corporations and scheming lobbies over all of public life and legislative life in this country. There is truly a long, long way to go towards that inclusive ideal of the future.

I have to admit that it made my heart fill with pride in our country Tuesday night. Being 56 years old, it's been a long, long time since I've seen such enthusiasm in our younger generations. So much reminded me of back in the 60's.
I agree with you that Bush, no matter how inept he was, being misled and manipulated. And we should never, never forget those unsmiling men in the shadows....they are the destroyers of the American dream.

To Ty Powers:

You are extremely ignorant to think Obama did not play the race card when Obama stated himself, "There will be a new hope for black people." And the young voters I feel bad for because they are taught in a democratic fashion by colleges! They don't voice their own opinion or do their own research because these teachers instill the democratic fashion in their minds.... Obama is linked to some of the biggest pieces of garbage known to this country but somehow people feel that it's ok...

To Keith Carrizosa:

Please do not post articles from answers.com and seekerblog.com because those are not the most reliable sources to get answers from... Try cnn.com because you may be surprised to find that the expert analysts agree in favor of McCain... And honestly, flex fuel cars and solar energy and whatever else you want to throw out here is ridiculous... Do you have any idea how much money that will cost? And they run on ethanol not methanol...

Ebert: Good God! And that statement makes him a racist! Listen to yourself.

It is a bit saddening from the the contents of your post,the comments thereon as well as the tone and temper of debates of previous months that even the Most Happening Country and most educationally advancing is far from free when it comes to jingoistic chauvinism.Likes of Gandhi, Tolstoi and Tagore remain in the idealistic wilderness.One hesitates to quote Dr. Johnson on the subject of patriotism at this time.

To Jordan Narancich

If you would read my other posts, I know exactly how much it costs. And if you know about the OPEN FUEL STANDARD ACT, the automakers said themselves they were going to convert half of their cars to flex-fuel by 2012. The OPEN FUEL STANDARD ACT simply uses their own words and puts it into law. It costs 100 dollars per vehicle, and yes they do run on methanol, they were invented to run on methanol in 1986 by Roberta Nichols. After years you will probably have to change the fuel injector because methanol will corrode it and clog the system. But the fuel injector to do that costs 30 dollars for the methanol standard. Given the importance of the situation it is best they pick up the pace, and that is all Obama's energy policy is doing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_fuel

It is a bit saddening from the the contents of your post,the comments thereon as well as the tone and temper of debates of previous months that even the Most Happening Country and most educationally advancing is far from free when it comes to jingoistic chauvinism.Likes of Gandhi, Tolstoi and Tagore remain in the idealistic wilderness.One hesitates to quote Dr. Johnson on the subject of patriotism at this time.

Are you serious? Ghandi and Tolstoy are in the idealistic wilderness of what?

Serious thought?
Serious writing?
Serious literiture?

Meanwhile Sarah Palin struggles to understand that Africa is a continent and not a country.

Yeah, you go! Drill, baby, drill!

Well said as usual, Roger. After eight long years of involuntarily pallin' around with moral/intellectual terrorists, I too see reason for hope. Has modern conservatism done anything constructive for this nation? Have I missed something?

Hi Roger,
I'm South African, now living in LA and working in Entertainment. I was particularly moved by your article and also glad to hear (in your comments) that you made a trip to SA and have experienced Robin Island. A terrific article Sir! Thank you!
Adrian

One thing is clear from this thread: enough smart people have defected from the GOP that the average Republican is substantially stupider than he was eight years ago. I can't say that I'm sad about that, though.

Dear Roger, this old fan of yours now feels free to hope we South Americans will also be able to sing those verses, as well as Central Americans, Asians, Africans and Europeans. Our freedom to decide for ourselves the leaders who will run our countries is still the same; but today I feel it will be a lot safer.

The first time I started to believe Barack Obama was presidential material was the night he delivered the keynote speech during the 2004 Democratic convention. His speech was so moving back then that I started to wonder if the party was nominating the right person. Obama was exciting and moving. Kerry was as limp as a dead fish.

Four short years later, Obama is now the next president of the Unites States. Simply incredible! His speaking style and body language are a combination of John F. Kennedy and Martin uther King Jr. rolled into a single individual. Truly inspirational.

But now that he has the job, can he deliver the goods? Can he truly save the United States from itself? Will the portrait of an honest and sincere man become a reality during his presidency? Or will he become just another misguided and corrupt politician as so many before him?

He has four years to prove to the entire world that he's the real deal.

It's sad that you're swept up in the religous furvor of the hussein wave. This is going to end very badly. Are you for a civilian defense force that will empose whatever he demands? Are you for robbing 401k's and savings?

What about the 2nd amendment? He will likely try to kill it, or at least do as much damage as possible. I guess that 'freedom' is just quaint to you. Do you care about the fairness doctrine? Do you believe, as recent democrats have stated, that conservative radio should be regulated? Possibly destroyed?

Ebert: "Hussein?" Don't you realize that as a rhetorical strategy, that discredits everything that follows? Civilian defense force? What are you smoking? A 401k and savings robbery? Have you missed the Wall Street crash that Obama had nothing to do with? The Second Amendment? How would a "civilian defense force" be possible, unless it were violated? You have read the Second Amendment, haven't you? Obama made very clear his opposition to the "Fairness Doctrine" on May 25. Yours is a most confused and pathetic recital of misunderstood dittopoints I have ever read. If you want to help out responsible and intelligent conservatives, you should lay low.

Roger, I also share your sense of hope that the time of kindegarten politics has passed.

Unfortunately, and I'm sorry to be so depressing, it seems I'm congenitally wired in such a way that I always take the contrarian view. And in this case, my contrarian view is that President Obama is just a blip.

Many years ago, I learned that Egypt under the Pharaohs was, at one point in its history, sliding downwards. One aspect of this downward slide was the deification of the Pharaoh. Then one Pharoah took the throne and in the course of his reign he tried to reverse all these trends and restore religious and social orthodoxy. Naturally, he was assassinated and his assassin took the throne and continued the merry trend (including the highly personal bonus the assassin of being declared a god). I had it in my head that the reforming Pharaoh was Aten, but later reading disproves this, and in fact I wonder it this senario played out at all in actuality.

This kind of progression is mirrorred in popular culture, in the story of Numenor, in the world of Lord of the Rings. The next-to-last king of Numenor attempts to reverse the slide of Numenorean culture, gets assassinated by Ar-Adunakhor, who marries the old king's daughter and takes the throne, and ultimately plunges - literally - Numenor into destruction.

There are times when I feel I'm watching the same scenario being played out today in the United States. What happens if President Obama serves one term that is dominated by economic misery and is thereby punished in the next presidential election? What if the Republican candidate in 2012 is Sarah Palin?

Then it'll be 4 more years - at least - of a Bush-league presidency.

To Ben VerHoef: I'm sure you're correct that "this will be a great motivator for the once great Conservative movement to be reestablished." GWB, Cheney, Wolfowitz, and others certainly destroyed the conservative institution of old quite handily. I, too, am actually looking forward to seeing how the GOP will respond to such a nationwide drubbing. Perhaps we'll see a coming together unlike any other.

I'm more concerned that you are "motivated by the fear [you] have of this country electing the wrong president."

When did having hope become such a bad thing?

I hope you can understand why people are so elated at Obama's election. We're simply exhausted from living under eight years of constant fearmongering. Not to get all religious-y, New Age-y on you, but "Since fear is crippling, a fearful life...is one not yet fully formed in love" (1 John 4:18, The Message).

Please, NO MORE FEAR!

You can't be a racist and a liberal at the same time.

Sure you can. Lots of liberals hate Jews. Think Jesse Jackson. Remember Hymietown? Others hate whites. Think the Reverend Jeremiah. Others hate Jews but call it hating Israel or Zionism.

Ebert: Like I say.

I see this picture of Obama everywhere. It looks like something you would see painted on a shack in a third world country. It represents a cult of personality and is the most frightening kind of propaganda.

Apparently, many believe that we didn't elect a president, we elected a savior. Well, I have news. Some day all of you Obamatrons are going to wake up from this mass hallucination and discover that he is just a flesh and blood man, fallible and frankly unprepared.

It will be the hope that never happens, the change the never comes.

I see this picture of Obama everywhere. It looks like something you would see painted on a shack in a third world country. It represents a cult of personality and is the most frightening kind of propaganda.

Apparently, many believe that we didn't elect a president, we elected a savior. Well, I have news. Some day all of you Obamatrons are going to wake up from this mass hallucination and discover that he is just a flesh and blood man, fallible and frankly unprepared.

It will be the hope that never happens, the change the never comes.

Regarding Prop 8 in CA and No. 2 in FL and the comment from Joe from Connecticut. We are not asking for religious marriage, but civil (legal); I could not care less if your religion and church welcome me. We are supposed to live in a country that separates church and state, period. A civil right such as marriage is that, a right. For all I care, you can call it "godless union" as long as ALL the rights of married people apply. Not a subset as it is with civil unions. Ther are not all there.
Gay people are dedicated, loving, passionate men and women with families...your families! we are teachers (myself), doctors (my partner), artists, law enforcers, counselors...sons, daughters, nephews, granparents... Can you visualize it? Can you relate?
CAN YOU EMPATHIZE?

Lastly, as much as I praise Obama and how happy I am about this monumental accomplishment it bothers me how ludicrous his statements against Prop 8 were by reaffirming he is against gay marriage. Absurd and hypocritical.
As others stated, history will show, and I hope all of you live to see the damage, pain and oppression you cause by supporting such campaigns of exclusion and hatred. I wonder if you can look in the eye of any gay person you truly care about in your life and not question your vote. Trust me, the pain and the rage is there.
No civil rights for everone, for sure.

Geez, I wish I had something to say that would get Roger real mad and lay a written beating on me. Some people have all the cards.

As much as I like Woody's song, I prefer his little clone Bob Dylan's take on the matter.

"Now, I'm liberal, but to a degree
I want ev'rybody to be free
But if you think that I'll let Barry Goldwater
Move in next door and marry my daughter
You must think I'm crazy!
I wouldn't let him do it for all the farms in Cuba."

Amen. Oh the Times they are a master of war blowing in the rolling stones ballad of a thin man.

P.S. Roger should run for prez in 2012...Ted Nugent as running mate? Ingmar Bergman's ghost as foreign policy adviser? You could let Dennis K and Ron Paul have a boxing match to see who would be Secretary of State.

Not a sermon...just a thought...that should be pursued...now, go, please! Please!

Roger,

In the spirit of this recent triumph for the African American community (which is just one very accurate way of characterizing the election's results), I would like to suggest a couple of films for your Great Movies list:

I played Edward Zwick's "Glory" this week for my high school history class and was once again asking myself why this film is swept under the rug, both in my own memory and in American society. Not only is it beautifully photographed and packing an emotional punch, it has such a superb script, creating well-defined characters and finely-crafted scenes.

Alan Parker's "Mississippi Burning" is, like "Glory," a film I saw in my youth that I felt connected me in a deeply emotional way to a difficult part of history that I was not witness to. What more can we ask of art? This expertly constructed movie should have trounced "Rain Man" at the '88 Oscars; it's hard to believe that "Glory" wasn't even nominated a year later.

Perhaps you have already considered them for your list. Count me as a vote for expediting their listings.

Roger you really impress me how you make this blog,i mean,that´s the right words that everyone was thinking about.I m not an american citizen,i am a mexican one.But everyone of my country was really interested about the elections,for understand the USA politic.Like here in Mexico,everything could happen in the elections,you know, fraud,etc...

Mr. Ebert,

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion. This is your blog after all. But why are your responses to any differing opinion so antagonistic and condescending, as if you have all the answers? This is why liberals are annoying - they are always so smugly self-assured that they are right. Of course, conservatives can be just as bad, but somehow liberals always act as if intelligence is on their side, just because academia happens to be liberal, and conservatives are dumb.

Are there any liberals, liberal policies, that you don't like? Do you turn a blind eye to any flaw in a liberal? I don't agree with all conservative viewpoints, and I by no means think George Bush was a great president.

Are you really serious when you say that "you can't be be a liberal and a racist at the same time"? Well, I don't know about that. What about the long hisotry of racist Democrats? And anyway, "liberal" and "conservative" are not absolute terms, but only markers of relative ideological differences.

I hesitate to even write this, and I believe you when you say that you voted for the right president. But are you going to tell me that no one voted for Obama because of his race? Of course, it goes without saying that he is liberal. People would never vote for a balck conservative, I suppose. But I saw many African-American celebrities simply say of Obama, "How wonderful would it be to have an African-American leading this country," as if that was enough of a reason to vote for someone. Isn't making a voting cho icebased on race racism? I know you will write back, "Well, I didn't..."

And isn't it racist to assume that Condoleeza Rice voted for Obama? You give the lame excuse - she couldn't stomach the thought of Palin - but do you really think that is why she would vote for Obama? Wouldn't it more likely be disliking McCain, anyway?

By the way, Democrats shot themselves in the foot on this election. Even Senator Bob Kerry commented on their tergiversation on the public funding issue. They pushed for it in the seventies, when they got less of the fat cat contributions, but now when the shoe's on the other foot... Well, they're not going to be able to cry poor in 2012.

Also, now it seems that running a campaign bestows its own experience. So, as long as you run a campaign, you are qualified. So Democrats won't be able to play the "experience" card in 2012 either. Will the Republican in 2012 simply be able to run on the "change" ticket against the incumbent Obama?

There are many disturbing things about Obama, beginning with his lack of experience. He is a junior senator with no piece of legislation to his name. And how did he get into the Senate? by defeating Alan Keyes, the 5th candidate the republicans ran.

Obama was going to change politics, change Washington, etc. So he appoints Rahm Emmanual, one of the biggest liberals in the country (and a Clintonite - so much for change) as chief of staff. Most of the other names tossed around for a cabinet are equally liberal.

Another thing, do you think Obama would actually speak out if he disagreed with a plank in the Democratic party platform? Would he have risked alienating his liberal base? I don't think so, he's just another Democrat, with the same message. Where is the change he's talking about?

The only change will be more taxes. James Carville observed in an editorial on Wednesday, "Some people want the government to fix problems, like governement and healthcare, and don't mind paying extra for it." Many people would disagree with this (including many founding fathers), and this is exactly what I fear about an Obama election. Like most Democrats (who can always promise more than Repus), he says what he can to get elected, and then the tune changes. Don't get me worng, I am happy for you and others that Obama, but there are many worrisome things about this candidate, of whom little is known except his complete alliance with the Democratic party platform of old.

Ebert: I try not to be antagonistic and condescending except when driven to it by antagonistic and condescending messages. I am happy to post intelligent posts, such as yours, without feeling any need to respond. But I grow impatient with dittoheads who associate Obama with, for example, the Freedom of Expression "Act," which he opposes.

I don't believe a single word you just wrote. This has not been a nightmare and Obama is not the savior of said nightmare. While there is a certain amount of pride I take that in this day and age we can finally elect a person of color to lead the country we have to ask is he the right man especially those who didn't vote for him. We have elected one of the most liberal candidates in the history of our country and liberalism in my view does not work. I hope I'm wrong, but how long before Obama makes the speech " My fellow Americans the Bush administration kept us all in the dark and we will not be able to cut taxes and we will be raising them. The left is already talking about messing with 401k's and even if he does not raise taxes next year the Bush tax cuts expire so we will go to the Clinton tax code in 2010 so taxes are going up. This nonsense that everything will now be better because a liberal Chicago senator is a pipe dream. His spread the wealth comment should be scary to everyone because it stings of socialism and when you watched to celebrations tuesday night was the guy with the old Soviet Union flag outside the white house right? What about the women who said Obama was going to pay her mortgage and for her gas. If we get a big government like the left wants we get a dependent class, inflation, higher taxes,etc. If you want to see what all that looks like just look at California and 22 billion dollars in debt. That is not Arnie's doing folks. The last thing I want is bigger government but thats what we are going to get. I hope I'm wrong. I hope we get 8 great years of President Obama and the next president will inherit a better nation but I don't think that will happen.

Holy cow, how bitter you are about Bush! The man you liked wasn't elected--get over it! This time the man you like WAS elected--and you've changed his name to Jesus Christ. Obama's just another guy who got elected, he's not the savior of the world. Is everyone you don't like in your universe pure evil and/or stupid? And everyone that you DO like, wise and wearing a halo? You're too old to be so naive, Roger. There's an excellent chance that at sometime in the future, someone you don't like will again get elected to some office. There's also an excellent chance that sometime in the next four year Obama might make a mistake. Remember your blood pressure and learn to live with it.

Ebert: Bush wasn't your average president. He deserves to be remembered, and, oh, yes, he will be.

We can hold our heads up high. A good friend of mine who battled mental illness, but also had streaks of genius, once told me:

"In the mind the only real difference between heaven and hell is: in hell - there is no hope. Without hope the human spirit dims."

Mark F: You wrote, "I sleep tonight in a world of uncertainty."

I would contend that a world under Obama's leadership isn't any less uncertain than a world under Bush. Simply put, the world is an uncertain place. However, the electorate very clearly now wants to try living with a little more hope than what they've felt in the past 8 years. Understandably, the events of 9/11 struck fear in the hearts of all; sadly, Bush and his cronies, instead of using hope to bolster, used fear to manipulate.

The electorate finally said, "Enough!"

Roger, History is such an ironic thing. I remember hearing a phrase condoleeza rice used during the war on terror which goes something like "Crisis is another word for Opporunity".

As a result of the George Bush Era, with the world in crisis the way it is, citizens waited hours and hours in line to participate for the first time in the voting process. People who have never been interested in politics before, (i for one) became deeply involved in the critical issues of the day. There is a sense of renewal and optimism in the country and around the world, after years of bitter divides. Without George W. Bush, things never would have moved forward like this, this fast. Without W., there most likely would have never been a Barack Obama. If in 2000, the supreme court were to have favored Gore, think of what we would have been looking at today? Sure the world would probably be in a much better way, but I'm thinking at this point in time, we'd be looking at president-elect....Mitt Romney.

Ebert: Like I say.

A weak response. Essentially, you're saying that if so, they're not liberals. Problem is that they toe the liberal line in every other way, which places them squarely in your camp. It's sad that the party of liberalism and human rights has become a comfortable home to some of the greatest anti-Semites of our time, all hiding under the fig leaf of anti-Zionism.

Bush will eventually be remembered as the man who answered terrorism fiercely, as it deserves, and who protected the country from Islamic savagery for seven years following that terrible day. I certainly pray Obama will do as well, but I'm not especially hopeful. I expect him to act more along Clintonian lines on defense.

The phrase 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' seems appropriate at this point. While few will, or can, argue that it is long past time Bush's administration end, many will, and should, argue that electing Obama as President was hardly a good idea. Going to the extreme left is hardly a just punishment for having gone far right. Ever hear of over-correcting? So many wee angry at Bush that they thought they had to vote for Obama. Hardly. Bush was not running. We needed bipartisanship, an end to extremist rule. McCain was far more bipartisan than Obama has already proven to be. And who voted for Obama on his record? No one, because he has none. He knew two words 'hope' and 'change'. If not for twenty four hour news and the internet he would not have been elected. If people hadn't been so afraid to criticize a black man, perhaps some of his ideas would actually have been dissected. And if $650 million doesn't get you elected, nothing will.

We will a few months of patting ourselves on the back, and congratulating one another on how far we have come as a country. After that we will all realize that we elected a man who is a smooth talker, but has absolutely no experience. That we have gullibale people in this country is no surprise, that they are now the majority is terrifying.

Scott, I hope that Roger replies to you; but absent his reply at this time, I'll take it on myself.

I'll start off by saying that I'm not an American; I am Canadian, which means I watch Americans an awful lot. Politcally I'm not conservative or liberal - pretty much a middle of the road type, although I can find common ground with libertarians on social issues, and true conservatives on fiscal issues.

Has the Bush presidency been a nightmare? There seems to be a consensus forming that Mr. Bush was not a leader; that instead, he allowed himself to be used as a symbol of a philosophy or ideology, if you will, by those who supported that philosophy. I think I can agree with that. I don't think he's as completely moronic as most people make out, but that he has a willingness to let others deal with the details of any issue and to remain ignorant of those details. Instead I think he saw his role as mouthpiece for a corporate presidency. Whether that's good or bad is debatable - the job of U.S. President is, like any other head-of-state job, enormously complex, and the President needs advisors.

But one effect of this vacuum of leadership was that there was no way to resolve disputes within the administration when the different "Advisors" disagreed. Can you honestly see Mssrs Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al actually listening to Mr. Bush?

So what was this philosophy Mr. Bush represents? In economics, corporate tax cuts coupled with massive increases in spending, and de-regulation and dismantling of tariff barriers. The result was huge public deficits; the moving of jobs overseas (admittedly, Mr. Bush's administration didn't begin the process that led to the exporting of jobs, but they did continue and accelerate it), and record levels of international trade deficits. That the American economy remained strong as long as it did is testament to the fundamental strength of that economy. But over time, as consumers ended up further and further in debt, something had to give. If the banking crisis hadn't come along, there would have been (and there still may be) a credit-card debt crisis as banks failed when too many people start declaring personal bankruptcy over their credit cards.

Internationally, the philosohpy resulted in countries around the world deciding they just couldn't work with Mr. Bush's administration, and the feeling was mutual. Many White House staffers under Mr. Bush were products of the New American Century project, whose philosophy is/was that America is the world's only super power and must do whatever it takes to maintain that situation until the end of time. Realistically, this is impossible - Rome couldn't do it, with half the known world inside its borders; England couldn't do it, with one quarter of the world's population being subjects of King Edward VII in 1930. But the deep thinkers at the New American Century think the US can do it with only 4% of the world's population, and 20% (and declining) of the world's economy. And they believe that being "the world's only superpower" means that the United States can do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, wherever it wants, and to hell with anyone else's opinion.

Think about it - transfer this attitude to a school yard, and you have a bully.

That's the best they can do? Incredible, unprecedented global power, and all they can think to do with it is push other people around? Give me a break. These people are not leaders.

Socially & scientifically - those behind Mr. Bush's presidency are an alliance of extreme social conservatives and the New American Century types (whose vocation is nothing less than world domination ()). The social conservatives have, despite their best efforts, been unable to roll back many of the social changes they see as having contributed to changes in American society they don't agree with. Most fundamental of these changes is the teaching of science. They've led failed attack after failed attack, trying to get creation "science" - or intelligent design or whatever other label you want to call it - taught in science classrooms. A simple act of leadership by a President would have put a stop to this nonsense, instead of leaving the matter up to dozens of individual courts. Similarly, stem cell research, while highly controversial, also holds the promise of immense benefit. Someone, somewhere, will exploit this technology. Yet the Bush administration has tacitly (in the case of creation science) and explicitly (in the case of stem-cell research) followed a course of anti-science decisions which, if extended for too long, will result in the United States becoming a scientific backwater.

I could go on - there are other examples, such as New Orleans; Iraq; and the demonization of any critic of the administration, which I view as deeply anti-democratic; the list goes on.

To be sure, not everything the Bush administration did was a disaster. But taken as a whole, this has been Presidency that shames the high ideals that the founders of your country envisioned for themselves and their descendents, and enshrined in your Constitution.

A nightmare? Well, if the shoe fits...

Now, will the Presidency of Mr. Obama be the Nirvana that everyone is hoping? Unlikely. Like Mr. Clinton, Mr. Obama is inheriting a fiscal mess from his predecessor. It will take years to bring the finances of the U.S. government back onto something resembling a realistic foundation. Will there be higher taxes? You betcha. But I'll bet you Mr. Obama rolls back many of the tax breaks corporations have been given in the past 8 years. I can't say I agree 100% with that - corporations have a nasty tendency of passing tax increases on to consumers by way of raising prices. So who's going to end up paying the higher taxes anyway?

But I think, if Mr. Obama accomplishes only one thing in the course of his Presidency, it should be to raise American politics out of the gutter of partisanship, personality cult (even though he's profited enormously from it) and especially fear-mongering. If he can just get politicians and their strategists to focus on "this is what's good about my policies - vote for me," instead of "oooooh...look how scary my opponent is. Vote for me because I'm a good guy." If he can just do this, and make it stick, he'll have done more to make the United States a great country than anything any President has done since Eisenhower supported Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka.

But that's just my opinion.

I think there is a possibility that Condoleezza Rice voted for Obama.

Do you think George Bush voted for Obama? Elaine Chao? Mike Chertoff? Why'd you single out Condoleeza Rice? I'd guess it's b/c she's black. That strikes me as a sort of condescending racism, assuming that a black woman would throw over everything she's believed in and worked toward for years simply to vote for a black man.

Ebert: It seems to you that I couldn't have said that without thinking of race, right? Who do you think she was more closely allied with in the White House? Powell, or Cheney? Oops, there I go again.

"One downside from Obama is the potential restoration of the "Fairness Doctrine". That is a threat to free speech."

It actually is a threat to put propagandist out of business as it will hold them to be responsible to defend their propaganda. Which they can't.

But for people who want to speak their mind, it is no threat at all.

Roger,

@Joe you asked how Obama could have more money than McCain. I want to know whether the 'average' figures you gave were median or mean. I know for a fact Obama outspent McCain. I'm an Obama supporter, but that's just how elections work.

There was something about this election that evoked the lyrics of Bob Dylan in my mind. Each day a song would come streaming through the lobes of my brain, as if I had installed an Sirius radio in my mind. Dylan's lyrics resonate Obama's mantra: Change. As I stared at the television on Tuesday night the concert of my mind came to a climax with "Times are a changing." After reading your election night post Mr. Ebert I wished to remind you and fellow blogger of the words written now near 40 years ago by the bard of Greenwich village. These words, thought not of our time, speak to our age and the "Change" we seek. Let us know that times they are definitely a-changin.

"Come gather round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
Youll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin
Then you better start swimmin
Or youll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance wont come again
And dont speak too soon
For the wheels still in spin
And theres no tellin who
That its namin.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Dont stand in the doorway
Dont block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
Theres a battle outside
And it is ragin.
Itll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And dont criticize
What you cant understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin.
Please get out of the new one
If you cant lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin."

I wonder, in a few short years when our economy is in the tank and we're all a little poorer thanks to our hard earned dollars being "redistributed", and we're being pushed around by the nations of the world, I wonder if Mr. Ebert will have the courage to admit that he was wrong?

But when you have a delusion like "President Obama is not an obsessed or fearful man. He has no grandiose ideological schemes to lure us into disaster," well, admitting you're wrong gets that much harder, doesn't it?

Best of luck to you, Mr. Ebert. May God bless America despite the man who will spend the next four years in the White Hourse.

I wasn't aware that the fairness doctrine was consistent with Freedom of Speech. Perhaps you can explain how some speech is more acceptable than others and why government needs to regulate speech so long that it is only imposing on others speech you don't like.

Ebert: For the third time in this thread, let me repeat that Obama opposes the fairness doctrine and has made that clear many times. Where did you get the idea it was otherwise? No, seriously, I'd like to know. I read all the comments.

To Aaron Sakovich:

Yes we can but not with Obama.... I want to work for and I do work for it and I find myself working harder now with Obama in office because I'm going to have a lot more mouths to feed... We no longer have to work for the American Dream because Obama is going to give it to everyone... Oh and don't say sit aside and let progressives get the job done when you really me sit back and watch the socialists tear this country apart...

To Roger Ebert:

The only reason that the average donation for Obama was 86 dollars was to take away attention from him receiving 7 million dollars from Saudi Arabia and money from Tony Rezko...

Ronnie Wayne:

I read his papers.... Oh wait they can't find them for some reason haha.... What a coincidence!!!!!

To Lyle:

Calling me stupid does not justify that you're wrong... Oh wait yes it does because for some reason that is the only thing you have to say.... And I'm tired of people talking about the economy and when Clinton was in Office how great it was becau