- People in say, France, are overjoyed about this election for a variety of reasons. For one, we elected someone with a truly international personal background (father from Kenya, spent years in Indonesia, etc.). But probably most importantly, we elected someone who embodies the opposite of George Bush. The past eight years saw us squander an unprecedented outpouring of goodwill from abroad after 9/11, and the administration’s reliance on torture, extraordinary rendition, and Guantanamo Bay had a profoundly negative impact on our nation’s moral currency abroad. Electing Obama is a symbolic repudiation of these policies.

- I can’t speak for Margaret, but the Kennedy/Obama comparison isn’t perfect. I think she was probably referring to the similarities in personal charisma and the ability to inspire a generation of Americans to enact societal change.

- Finally, a “troll” is someone who intentionally posts incendiary comments online without any attempt to contribute to a dialogue, but only to piss people off. I think Joe thought you were one because you posted identical comments to different blogs, which is a troll-like habit. However, given that you took the time to respond to our comments individually, I’d say this was a mistaken characterization. Despite our obvious disagreements, I think it’s admirable that you’re at least attempting to engage with ideas or perspectives you have trouble relating to. Thanks.

I’m not sure what you mean when you say I act like a troll. Are you suggesting I live under a bridge? I know you fellows probably don’t agree with my view, but Obama told us to try and reach out to the other side, so I’m trying to figure out what’s going on around here.

You are comparing Obama to Kennedy? That is a bit ironic considering that he and the rest of the Democrats voted to the man against Eisenhower’s 1957 Civil RIghts Act, which the Republicans were trying to push through. I am interested in knowing the ideas you feel Kennedy embodied that made you feel hope. I do recognize that Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic president, so as far as that’s concerned his election was also a historic first.

Ok, the fact that we have finally gotten over enough of this stupid racist garbage that we can elect a black guy president is damn cool by me. I do understand that it is inspirational. I was talking to a black dude yesterday who said he felt like he couldn’t do what he wanted in this country before but now he feels he can do anything he wants. And yeah, I think that is VERY COOL. I’m a conservative so I didn’t vote for Obama, but I do see how there are good things here. Are you telling me that people in, say France (to pick just one) are crying because we elected a black man? I can get the blacks being emotional, but the French? I know i’m an abrasive prick, but I just don’t understand it and neither do any of my colleagues.

Do you truly not understand why millions of people think the election of our country’s first African-American president is so significant? A generation ago, blacks couldn’t eat at the same restaurant counters, swim in the same pools, drink from the same water fountains as their fellow white citizens. They were considered second-class citizens (at best) within a system that was supported and enforced by the American government, all in the historical shadow of chattel slavery. Less than fifty years later, 65 million Americans voted to place a black man at the head of that very same government. That’s called an historic event, and one that is worthy of going “all crybaby style,” as you so elegantly phrased it.