Ok, I was wrong and I admit it. I'm glad, so far, that Obama won.  

And isn't Mrs. Obama beautiful? She's such a snappy dresser, I saw her in a checked sundress a few months ago that wasn't really flattering but she made it look gorgeous. And she's going to instruct housekeeping to not make the childrens' beds! I know this has nothing to do with governing but I think she's going to set a wonderful example (him, too) in parenting for this nation that sorely needs to get parenting lessons.

Glad I made you laugh! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wisdom doesn't always come with age. I've known some awfully wise younger people, too. I'm not saying you're wrong at all! It normally takes the average person many, many decades to become wise. So, traditionally speaking, your statement is correct. But, there are exceptions.

And about the race thing? You are also very correct in that it would not be an issue if people would stop bringing it up. Yes, it is an historical event, but that's an entirely different arena when we're discussing the presidency. No one should be bringing up his race when talking about his qualifications as president... it has nothing to do with it.

But this man is bi-racial, not black. Why does everyone keep calling him black? He's half white! What if he looked white? I mean, what if his skin color was so light that he looked white? Would people still be calling him a black man, even though he would still have the same amount of African ancestors?

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with what you were trying to express here and I'm not trying to start a debate or get anyone upset... this just pops into my brain every time I hear someone call Obama black.

Happy turkey day!

Yes you are right, he is biracial and raised by his white mother. There are (for legal resons assosiated with afirmative action type laws) legal definitions of race, and he is within his rights to claim himself as black legally. Again, really it should have nothing to do with policy, and as Bill Clinton Claimed himself as the "First Black President" I guess our historic thing is out the window. Oh well. I'm out on the discussion, I have to go cook a turkey. My point on the issue was just that the only way for race to go away as an issue is for us to stop fixating on things like being the "first black president", or being sick of "old rich white people". If we paid attention to issues and character we wou be better off

My objection to rich old white guys is that most of them have never missed a meal in their life and have no idea how most of America lives. They think paying a little more in taxes is no big deal when in fact, many families are just squeaking by and making their kids wear winter coats they've outgrown because they can't afford new ones that fit well. Those ROWG can't understand why many poor people are overweight, they don't realize that the poor eat the cheapest food possible and that food happens to be macaroni and cheese or other carb-rich foods. ROWG all have health insurance, they can't imagine why middle class Americans can't afford to insure their families.

I have nothing against anyone who has money. It's their attitudes and their Ivory Tower view of the world, their disconnection with the average American that I think makes them unfit to lead the country. Mr. Obama may not have come up from poverty but he has more understanding of the average American's lifestyle, needs and ambitions than anyone we've had in the White House in my lifetime.

you know why we call him black because he is black..."one drop of black blood makes you black"
If anyone know half of what we as black people went through in the slavery days most of the slaves were considered "malotto" meaning the slave masters slept with the slave women and produced mixed kids...they didnt call them bi racial then....they didnt think about then being "half white" when they whipped their a$$ until they were half dead...passing for white was a death sentence if you got caught....so please get over it cause OBAMA is BLACK!

Dragon- so basically what you mean when you say "rich old White guys" is "Rich People" Their gender, Age and Race has nothing to do with anything you just said.
Thick- By your definition, everyone but albinos are Black. Being that what you perceive as black skin is the same chemical as a freckle or a tan. Genetically we are all related and there is strong evidence that the first human was black. If you beleive in evolution, the first human came from Aferica, and If you don't beleive in evolution, but use a strick biblical history the common ancestor is Adam. (I could go through other religions, but most of them beleive that there was a first or a first pair) So genetically we are all black.

Thick: you are correct again. Forefathers of this nation laid down the "one drop of black blood law" and one could be killed for trying to pass as white. Another poster said in another discussion that Barack Obama was black as long as he was walking the streets of Chicago just the average man, he was black in the senate and a well educated senator at that, it wasn't until he became the president elect that suddenly he is not black after all but mixed. LOL.

There is strong evidence that the original man was black but who goes around with white or even tanned skin and says I am really a decendant of blacks?? Not even the scientist do.

I'm not happy with his views on abortion, not at all. But I can't afford to be a one-issue voter. Even if Obama were against abortion he couldn't stop it. You can't legislate morality and people will keep killing their babies as long as it is morally acceptable. I think that eventually society will move to a higher ground in regards to morals. I also think that the Obama family will be a good example of parenting and perhaps American parents will move back towards valuing their children when they see the love and discipline the Obama children enjoy.

I bet you that abortions worldwide will go down under the Obama administration. If you look at the underlying causes of why women have abortions in poor countries (which pretty much come down to a lack of education, a lack of prenatal care facilities at an affordable price, poverty and sickness), and you look at the plans the Obama administration has for USAID and promoting more charity work I guarantee you that we will see a major decline in abortions globally. just as we did under the Clinton administration. Not only that, but it seems that less people are going to be killed because of warfare under the Obama administration. And less children will die of hunger. So overall I think more lives will be saved both pre-born and post-born under the Obama administration. Being "pro-abortion" or pro-choice doesn't make you anti-Christian, it makes you pro-let-the-people-decide. I don't understand why people think that being pro-abortion is anti-Christian but being pro-war and anti-government-aid is the Christian way to go. Ughh I just don't understand!

I agree with your comment about Obama on abortion. Legalizing or not the abortion issue is the job of the legislative, he is there to approve or veto it. Granting he approves it, you always have the Supreme Court to go to question its legality. I guess abortion laws in your country vary from state to state. Am I right with that?

Well, Biden's not president so I don't have that-yet. Obama has picked a lot of his staff now and he's picked experienced people that are the best of some past administrations. They know how things work and hopefully they will know how to fix the economy. Obama is working on plans to implement when he gets into office and he'll be ready to start putting them into practice as soon as he's sworn in. I admire his beginning to work on the problems so he'll be ready as soon as he's able to legally take the reins.

"best of some past administrations" - meaning, of course, Clinton's Administration - and as I previously indicated some that have already been part of the problem.

Thanks for your kind words. My grandpa always said that if a person can't admit when they're wrong they will go through life in ignorance. We learn and broaden our horizons through our mistakes!

I think you're right when you say he's young enough to care but old enough to know better--that's a perfect description! I hope he'll bring good governing back to the country.

I also like the fact that he's very emphatic that this is going to be painful and tough. He's not talking to us like we're idiots or children like all the other politicians do. Perhaps he'll actually turn out to be a statesman--one who serves the public in the public interest, a species long thought to be extinct! I certainly hope so.

I think Mrs. Obama will be a gracious and effective first lady and I'm sure she'll accomplish just as much as her husband does. I think she is beautiful!

Yes, we'll find things about Obama that we don't like but at least he isn't a warmonger and he's a good family man as far as I know. He'll make mistakes but everyone does--those who don't make mistakes are not doing anything!

It's a shame we can't start his term right now. We really can't afford to wait another two months before we begin solving our economic problems.

cjrwells: Michelle Obama is more physically beautiful that Laura Bush and Barbra Bush...absolutely no comparison!

Thickchic: I happen to agree. I think Michelle is a pretty woman. However I was commenting on the ideologies of beauty in america, the same ideology that makes young girls diet relentlessly. Even a blind man can see Barbara does not compare to Michelle but this is america...

I wouldn't want to take on the burdens he's in for but I think he has a lot on the ball. I'm behind him 100%.

Thank you! If we're not willing to admit when we're wrong, we never learn anything and spend our lives in willful ignorance.

You're welcome. I know a lot of people that are very happy living in ignorance

Yes, it's definitely time for someone with new ideas. Some complain that he's appointing people from Clinton and Reagan but they are the best and most experienced that he could find. I like the diversity, too, men and women and black and white, older and younger. I hope he shakes things up and does things in new ways with his fresh approach. I hope Washington doesn't ruin him and I hope his family breathes some fresh air into that stuffy old White House!

Thank you for the good luck wishes! He's going to need luck to get us out of this mess and repair the damage to our reputation that our current president has done. I like the fact that he's lived outside the country--when children are exposed to other cultures, no matter how young they are, it makes a difference and changes their perspectives. I have great hopes for this president and I hope he doesn't disappoint me.