<img src="http://larvatusprodeo.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/3005940172_cc138e1d96.jpg"
Photo of the Obama event in Chicago courtesy of bcbeatty – licenced under Creative Commons.
So, since there was so much discussion before election day of where folks were going to meet up to watch the count in convivial style, how did everyone enjoy their election celebrations? Where did you go? What was the mood? Any good drinking games?
And how’s everyone feeling today?
Bleh blah b;ah, election on birthday and Guy Fawkes…vivid memories of early childhood community bonfires every year…in a country where fireworks still legal and still going off…close laptop…sleep…
I never made it to the East Brunswick, due to being too hungover from an all-day BBQ and horse-racing-avoidance-through-chemistry on Tuesday.
A solitary celebratory beer put paid to the hangover, but I couldn’t drag my carcase out the door.
Stephen Page, choreographer for Bangarra, was recently in Washington DC for two performances with the troupe at the Kennedy Center. He told the audience that he hoped that one day he would live in a republic with a black man as president. I’m inexpressibly happy to say that come January, I shall. As someone who “can remember exactly where I was when…” Martin Luther King was assassinated, I still find this election to be just this side of (literally) unbelievable. But wonderful. Literally.
Actually, can’t sleep just yet…so gonna put on some quiet This Heat for some inspiration to finish writing my imaginary book on ‘the history of Freemasons and their Amazing!! Renderings of Concrete’.
Hey, I’m still buzzing. Our lunch at the Warren View was convivial, with plenty of jugs of beer and munchies, and I left to get home to the parental responsibilities just in time to hear McCain’s concession speech on the radio in the taxi and catch Obama’s speech on the telly at home.
Then went out to a comedy show where the comics lamented the end of the Bush and the Palin era of easy material, and got home about midnight. Still buzzing.
“Still buzzing.”
I’ll have what she’s having.
A comedy night on the Lower East Side, hosted by The Onion newspaper. With free whiskey. I’m not kidding. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Oh, and Obama won.
I was working and driving between Launceston and Hobart when the results really started to flow. My (American) partner was madly texting me updates and I was trying to hear the election coverage on ABC Newsradio through the static. Pulled over to listen to Obama’s victory speech, and arrived home with a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
Great joy & elation. Buzz rather abruptly killed by the news on Proposition 8 – more than I expected. As a lesbian with a Californian partner, put simply, it really hurt, and to happen on the same day actually made it much worse. A really rotten juxtaposition.
Didn’t stop us shedding a gentle tear as we raised our glasses to some actual hope in the world and an historic day.
Mood quiet but affirmative at the East Brunswick. Somewhat limited ABC coverage on the big screen, pool, beer and fish and chips followed by wine and cheese at Atticus Finch and a celebratory Veuve Amiot at Mr Wilkinson. However, a hangover this morning and ineffective border security (i.e. failure to shut the dunny door) means that lolcat’s War on Toilet Paper continues unabated.
No hangover here.
I will say this.
When Australia has a original son as Prime Minister
When Germany has a Chancellor who is Turk, by birth
When France has an Algerian who wins in an election over Sarkozy
Then you can look down on the US
Just sayin’
AK – agreed on Australia, (although you guys have had a few centuries head start on a Native American pres – how’s that coming along?) but what exactly is especially desirable about foreign-born people running a country?
I kinda like the idea that you have to be born and raised locally to rise to the highest office. Race having precisely zero to do with it, I hasten to add.
And re: looking down on the US…
That’s really not it. There are some sections of every society I look down on in my weaker moments (and you’ve been round here long enough to know we generally reserve the harshest judgement for our own here in Oz). What I feel lfor the US as a nation however is more like an older brother – high-school debating champ, quarterback, ruddy good looks and a winning smile, who wound up on meth and picking bar fights.
Hey Francis, good question about a native American as pres.
Maybe next time.
FDB, Julia Gillard was born in Wales. That’s one positive.
Who is this Francis of whom you speak? Uncannily close, but no cigar.
Liam:
*epicforeheadslap*
Okay, how’s this for weasling? Until we’re a republic, the UK isn’t really a foreign country.
Just had a beer on the couch at home. I wish I could have been elsewhere.
I was at work, sneaking peeks at the whole thing on a laptop on the other desk that was running the live MSNBC election telecast.
It rocked to see the speeches live, although it would have been nicer to share the moment with a few more members of meatspace and a frosty one.
Who else felt an irrational upswelling of hope when Obama came out to claim the victory? Back to earth today thankfully.
As I was saying yesterday, I was genuinely moved and I don’t think it’s necessary to retreat from that emotion. Obama is unquestionably a good thing for the world. And not just for the “getting rid of Bush” reasons. Of course, he won’t bring about the New Jerusalem tomorrow, but I, for one, am getting more than tired of routine cynicism in politics. Obama’s victory – and more than that – the genuine involvement and participation his candidacy inspired and drew from, as I’ve been saying, has certainly re-energised my own wellsprings of political hope.
I’d contemplated going along to the shindig at the Jube Enemy Combatant organised, and contemplated accepting a friend’s group text invite to go and drink champers on his Paddo deck, but I’ve got a throat virus – epidemiologically, I blame the phd!
The ANU bar was pretty good – but today my head hurt somewhat
Hung out with Blue and Red mates at the US election party, Manning Bar at Sydney Uni.
The place went beserk at least four times:
(1) When CNN crossed live to said party – it was a mad search for the camera followed by copious boneheading
(2) When he won
(3) When he conceded
(4) When he claimed victory
This pic sums everything up.
Saw that one on FB – great photo!
Slide bar in Oxford St went off! Beer ran out about 8.00 pm majorly hung over
It was Manning for me. Hilarious. Cheap beer and processed hotdogs. CNN – did you see the hologrammed reporter? She looked just like Princess Leia. And the graphics. I wondered if our own Antony Green was salivating at the thought of it. “Lets just zoom into this house here in Virginia to see how these 3 people voted”….There 300 exhuberent democrat supporters and 3 republicans – young liberals I believe, who made more noise than everyone, unfortunate youth. Slaughtered with the milk still visible in the corners of their baby mouths. First Howard, now this. They shall be too old to be Young Libs by the time their turn comes round again. A tragedy of unspeakable proportions. Yes. Thats what i told myself as I heard the chant “Mac is Wack”……
I loved the hokiness of CNN’s holograms!
I spent the day at a party. We celebrated by spreading the cake around.
Started the day watching the Channel 9 presentation,11am, then switched from there and channel-surfed from 9 to ABC, SBS. Was watching Tony Jones on ABC, 6.45pm when a comrade turned up to take me to the Socialist Alliance meeting/dinner. Wept tears of joy. Extremely happy for all those exuberant Americans. It proves, that like us, they know how to fix their mistakes.
Was in Washington DC on Tuesday night, initially at a dinner party where we watched CNN, occasionally switching over to Fox for the schadenfreude.
When CNN called it for Obama, the whole street erupted with hooting cars and whooping folks on their doorsteps.
Then we went up a block to U Street (the heart of black Washington) where a massive street party had spontaneously erupted with thousands dancing and singing, bands and DJs popping out of the woodwork and complete strangers, some of them very attractive indeed, hugging visiting Australians (and eachother). After that things got a little blurry and even two days later I still feel like a deep-fried turd albeit one with several varieties of lipstick on my collar.
Anyway, now catching a sleeper to New Orleans to probe the electorate’s mood on Bourbon St. Don’t wait up.
The Geek and I shared some dark chocolate to celebrate the result and had another laugh about “votin’ fer the n****r”.
Read the Huffpost article listing right-wing responses to the vote. Read Janet Albrechtsen too, which had me smirking like Costello. Must rescue Miranda from the recycling to see if she was smirk-inducing. OTOH it was unfortunate to see the rednecks turn out on a simple living blog (Down To Earth) after the blogger innocently expressed her pleasure at his positive message. Their country has gone socialist. Riiiiight. Wonder what they think socialism is?
Bought three pullets today and am considering calling one of them Bu-kerk Obama. May not pass the Kid Approval Test, though.