We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares and go...

November 4, 2008 5:50 PM

SLSGPP (Single Link Streaming Grant Park Post)

Also useful - chicago emergency channel scanner

posted by Smedleyman (41 comments total)

Apparently you can click on a link tab in the first link to see some other non-Chicago related something or other that’s going on. Some candidate somewhere other than Chicago.
posted by Smedleyman at 5:55 PM on November 4, 2008

Grant Park is like a concert without the music. Festival sort of thing.

Obama tho is still eating dinner with his family.
...what do you figure that table talk is like.
“Pass the potatoes please”
“So, honey, how was your day?”
posted by Smedleyman at 6:01 PM on November 4, 2008

The c-span crashed my firefox, twice. Really it did. I think This is the reason.
posted by lee at 6:04 PM on November 4, 2008

Is this our political thread? Can someone explain why Lieberman has been at McCain's side for the past 72 hours? Are they trying to fantasize that they the true P/VP buddies now that there's no real race? Struck me as bizarre...
posted by cavalier at 6:23 PM on November 4, 2008

I think Grant Park is going to turn out to a defining moment in US history. Obama has been reining back his rhetoric over the last few weeks. I think he's going to let it fly tonight. I was queasy for a while but Ohio + PA == teh win.

He's had a long while to work on this speech...
posted by unSane at 6:26 PM on November 4, 2008

I was down at Grant Park (no ticket, introvert, came home early). 'Like a concert without the music' is exactly right. The sheer number of people selling t-shirts, holding signs, seeing people they know, yelling slogans and encouragements to strangers, following crowds because they're unsure of what else to do, hugging, cheering apropos of nothing… it was overwhelming, and the energy and community evident made me wonder how John McCain ever thought he stood a chance.
posted by shakespeherian at 6:34 PM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

BLACK IS THE NEW PRESIDENT
posted by DU at 6:35 PM on November 4, 2008 [8 favorites]

“it was overwhelming, and the energy and community evident made me wonder how John McCain ever thought he stood a chance.”

"Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the little soft cities;
Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning as a savage pitted against the wilderness,
Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,
Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth,
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs,
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle,
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse, and under his ribs the heart of the people,"

Kinda works for Obama too.
posted by Smedleyman at 6:49 PM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

What's the over/under on the first "Can you believe this bullshit that President Obama did?" fpp?
posted by empath at 6:49 PM on November 4, 2008

Yes Obama has now won. He's at 200 already. It's a done deal. I really want to thank all of you who voted to take culture in to the next millennium. Starship Earth! All of you rock!! Please keep church and state seperated. We should focus on not killing each other for wealth. I'm going bananas right now! America rocks today!! I'm listening to Peal Jam right now. Betterman.
posted by Flex1970 at 6:55 PM on November 4, 2008

This is too groovy! I know someone who is stage directing a lot of the planned part of the event, and I'm thrilled that I'll get to see as much of it as I can now. Thanks!
posted by dejah420 at 6:58 PM on November 4, 2008

I've not felt this good and excited for this country..... EVER. Right on! This is the first time I've ever voted for a winner in 26 years. YAY!

WE WILL CHANGE!
posted by Eekacat at 7:00 PM on November 4, 2008

So awesome it hurts.
posted by mullingitover at 7:03 PM on November 4, 2008

Please keep church and state seperated.

YES WICCAN
posted by DU at 7:04 PM on November 4, 2008 [5 favorites]

You realize the McCain event actually has music?

On the other hand, there's no happy people there, so it sorta balances out.
posted by arto at 7:10 PM on November 4, 2008

Because there are no strict "churches" in the usual sense, could the wiccan religion / belief system be the perfect match for those in government who are looking for a religion? Just a thought.

(And I could be totally off with the lack of wiccan churches).
posted by filthy light thief at 7:14 PM on November 4, 2008

I don't think the reality has hit me yet. Can we really have a progressive, intelligent African-American president that the world looks up to? I'm not on Bizarro World am I?
posted by DU at 7:15 PM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

(And I could be totally off with the lack of wiccan churches)

Wiccan Church. They either have a time machine or really need a website administrator, since it was apparently last modified in 1969.
posted by CKmtl at 7:24 PM on November 4, 2008

Fuck yes America.
posted by Brittanie at 7:32 PM on November 4, 2008

Can the world now set up a website of people holding up pictures that say "Way to go!"?
posted by drezdn at 7:36 PM on November 4, 2008

-- left foot is starting to sketch a long-forgotten happy-dance --
posted by mmahaffie at 7:36 PM on November 4, 2008

Yes, I can has a pony!
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:49 PM on November 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

I'm pretty sure Colbert broke character when he got the news.
posted by drezdn at 8:05 PM on November 4, 2008

YES WE DID!
posted by swell at 8:05 PM on November 4, 2008

Fuck. Yes. Hussein FTW
posted by agress at 8:08 PM on November 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Something happen? Wow. LOUD!

Man. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to feel proud of your country.
posted by Smedleyman at 8:09 PM on November 4, 2008

(I should probably go and look like I’m working ... although I’m attempting to hide my unbridled exuberance as I type this and maintain a placid, yet concerned and attentive look. So I suppose I’m at least pretending to work)
posted by Smedleyman at 8:11 PM on November 4, 2008

Both feet fully involved now in happy-dance.
posted by mmahaffie at 8:14 PM on November 4, 2008

Win, baby, win.
posted by drezdn at 8:22 PM on November 4, 2008

(Anyone else noticing a huge time lag in posts?)
posted by Smedleyman at 8:24 PM on November 4, 2008

Ok. National Anthem. I’m tearing up a bit. Lump in my throat. Ok.
posted by Smedleyman at 8:41 PM on November 4, 2008

Anyone know when Obama is scheduled to speak?
posted by prunes at 8:48 PM on November 4, 2008

Ooo here we go!
posted by prunes at 8:57 PM on November 4, 2008

Ok. National Anthem. I’m tearing up a bit. Lump in my throat. Ok.

I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to nerves and being overcome with emotion, but it is still a disgrace to mangle the words of The Star-Spangled Banner so thoroughly, particularly on such a momentous occasion.

That said, I'm right there with you on the tearing and lumping. What an incredible night.
posted by Balonious Assault at 9:18 PM on November 4, 2008

Why do Obama's speeches always get me teared up?
My wife and I DVR'd CNN's coverage, so we were a bit behind, but goddamn... Yes we can.

Yes. We did.
posted by agress at 9:40 PM on November 4, 2008

What's the over/under on the first "Can you believe this bullshit that President Obama did?" fpp?

2112. We will never find out. The team is too good.
posted by lostburner at 10:37 PM on November 4, 2008

It was a pretty great speech, but I'm not gonna lie: The best part was standing in that crowd when CNN called the election for Obama. One network calling it is fairly meaningless. But the collective joy was tremendous + genuinely affecting.
posted by sparkletone at 11:50 PM on November 4, 2008

I was at Grant Park last night (in the losers non-ticketed area). The mood was electric but also subdued in a way, at least until the final result was announced. I attribute this to three things: 1) everyone I saw appeared to be sober; 2) everyone was dog tired from walking/standing for hours; 3) no one could quite believe it until McCain's concession speech. It was the most orderly large gathering I've ever been to. There was pure joy and respect for each other on a level I've never seen before.

My coworkers tell me that it hasn't quite sunk in yet. Yeah, that's because you were home watching it on TV. I was there, I know it was real, I felt it. I heard the black woman behind me singing gospel songs, saw the black man in front of me wiping away tears, saw the sea of white people who saw hope instead of color.

I have never felt so much pride in my fellow Americans, so much confidence that the sun has risen on a new era. Thank you to my country for helping me believe again.
posted by desjardins at 7:31 AM on November 5, 2008 [2 favorites]

it is still a disgrace to mangle the words of The Star-Spangled Banner so thoroughly, particularly on such a momentous occasion.

We couldn't hear her mistakes in the wayback crowd, because we were singing louder than she was.
posted by desjardins at 7:33 AM on November 5, 2008

I was there with a ticket. You have never truly watched CNN until you've watched it on a giant screen in the middle of a crowd of a million people all screaming and cheering every time a little more blue appears on a map.

Then there was McCain's concession speech. Everyone was pretty civil and respectful for it, until he mentioned Palin. A roar of booing.

After Obama's speech, everyone poured out onto Michigan Avenue. I've never felt so connected to the people of my hometown as I did walking with them last night after that event.
posted by buriednexttoyou at 7:54 AM on November 5, 2008

There was a spontaneous demonstration down at First and Pike in front of the Clock at the Pike Place Market--people were in the streets celebrating while the police looked on. And up on Capitol Hill, car horns and fireworks were going off late into the night and you could hear the occasional group of people yelling as they walked down to Broadway. I have lived in Seattle since 1967 and I can not ever remember an election being celebrated with such gusto. I, alas, spent a few hours on an apartment turnover and was too pooped to go out and party thereafter. But I went to bed happy on more than one count last night.
posted by y2karl at 8:54 AM on November 5, 2008