How does the UK, in general, feel about the Obama-Biden victory?

[Number9Dream]

Feel free to post personal opinions or provide links to editorials. Will much of the UK be glad for a Democratic President?

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Overwhelmingly relieved, and hopeful

For editorials, The Guardian, The Times and the Financial Times all endorsed him, and I expect the Independent did too; even the Daily Mail came up with:

The Daily Mail is in little doubt that Barack Obama is heading for the White House.

The Mail speaks of him "knocking on the door of history" and a "day of destiny and hope".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7707540.stm

There wasn't a particular anti-McCain feeling; but there is still a large anti-Bush opinion, and the nomination of Palin was viewed with a mixture of hilarity and horror.

[non sociopath skin]

2. The talk is that all three of the Leaders of the major parties ...

... are delighted at Obama's victory.

The Skin

[mrfrapp]

3. Cameron

Cameron has a nerve though. It's less than a year since he was calling for the Conservatives to reforge the traditional ties with the Republican party.

[LeftishBrit]

4. They don't call him Dave the Chameleon for nothing...

and McCain did compare him to Jack Kennedy!

[Dutch]

5. And lavishing particular praise on McCain. n/t

[T_i_B]

13. The question of what thismeans for UK parties

is worthy of a thread in itself IMHO.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Very relieved indeed.

The UK does not like Bush, and has felt more involved than normal with American politics, due to Blair's dragging us into Bush's war. Plus the fact that we're all in it together with the economic/banking mess.

Having an American president who seems actually to have his heart in the right place *and* an IQ in triple figures is a welcome change for the world! British people rarely put all their faith in any politician, and we don't expect Obama or anyone to perform miracles - but certainly there has been a big collective "Phew!" of relief!!!

[T_i_B]

7. I think I've alluded to how many people on my Facebook friend list

are overjoyed at Obama's election, and not just DUer facebook friends either!

In my experience, almost everyone save for UKIP/BNP types over here wanted Obama to win, although many are concerned about redneck morons who might want to shoot him. And even Tory voting friends have expressed disgust at the booing during McCain's concession speech.

In way it feels like when Blair kicked the Tories out in 1997. Obama's got a much harder task ahead of him so let's hope that it does not end the same way for Obama.

[non sociopath skin]

8. Curse me for a gullible fool if you will ...

... but, even though I have no illusions about Obama, I get a much more positive vibe from him than I ever did from Blair, who ALWAYS seemed a right-winger and a snake-oil salesman.

Can you imagine Blair as a "Community Organiser"?

The Skin

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. I agree with you on that

He does strike me as fundamentally decent, even if willing to play 'hard' in politics. As you could say about Jimmy Carter too, for instance (with Obama better at the rough stuff, I think). And you might say that John Major beat Blair in that category too - he ran as a moderate conservative, and I think he was one. Ideological honesty does count for something.

[T_i_B]

14. Back in May 1997...

it was a lot harder to find people who thought Blair was a snarmy git then it is today.

[Mark Baker]

15. He always seemed smarmy to me

I was still happy when he won, obviously. I thought he couldn't possibly be worse than the tories, pity that's not how it turned out.

But I never trusted him. I don't just mean that I was naturally sceptical about what he said, but that the way he said it was so obviously insincere. As soon as you saw him speak you thought smarmy, like a used car salesman. I can't believe that so many people seemed to think otherwise.

[LeftishBrit]

16. I was not enthused by him but I thought he'd be much better than the Tories

I didn't actually vote for New Labour, as the Lib Dems were the tactical option in my constituency, and had a good candidate. But I didn't realize how bad he'd be.

Within 6 months I was profoundly disillusioned with him. I think it was his policies on disability issues that first alerted me.

[Mark Baker]

10. Yes, but we remember 1997

and look what Blair turned out like. Now I'd never liked Blair but I was still ecstatic to have got rid of the Tories. It really didn't turn out to be anything to celebrate. I'm not even sure he was better than Maggie (I detest everything Maggie stood for, but at least she stood for something other than herself).

So while I'm very happy Obama won, I can't get as excited about it as I would otherwise.

I don't think Obama will turn out like Blair; he seems to be honest (if I was even more cynical than I am I'd say maybe he's just better at faking it), and to really want to make a difference. But for various reasons, I'm not sure how much he'll be able to achieve.

There are of course two reasons why Obama's win is something to celebrate despite this. Firstly the symbolic importance around the world of a black man becoming president. Secondly, he's not Bush.

I don't know how much of my misgivings are shared by other Brits. I've never met anyone who supported McCain, or could even imagine how anyone could consider voting for him.

[Mr Creosote]

11. I feel good.

I knew that I would. My initial fear was that he might be Blair writ large, but I think this long campaign would have found him out.

Anyway the thought of that Alaskan nutjob being close to power was too awful to contemplate.

[dipsydoodle]

12. Truly pleased I'd say

I've not heard or read one anti remark at all although doubtless a best ignored lunatic fringe have had a word or two to say.

As an aside - overall the race of a contendor is of substantially less an issue here in the UK than it would be in the USA. The older amongst us <like me ...lol> were only children when, in order to help our economy, assisted passage was offered to the Caribbeen islanders to emigrate here in the mid 1950's. Also, our children were children when Idi Amin kicked out the Hindu Asians who migrated here in the mid '70s. Put the two together and most of us have been educated, grown up and worked together as a mixed bunch.

With regard to any comparisons with Blair I don't really accept them. Barrack Obama has got no one to suck up to and Joe Biden gives him some of the wisdom and experience which comes with age. An ideal pair I'd say.

[electionwatcher]

17. Absolutely overjoyed!

I was absolutely delighted when Obama won the Presidency. I stayed up through the night to watch BBC coverage of the results and speeches. It was a very moving experience. As far as the nation's response, I think it is safe to say that the majority of my fellow Brits were relieved, delighted and hopeful for the future.

I have been personally amused to watch all three of our main party leaders trying to position themselves as the most Obama-like leader; no doubt hoping to pick up some kind of magical political kudos to boost there own popularity and electoral fortunes. I have lost count at the number of times a member parliament as tagged on the name Obama to statements or questions they have raised.

If only we did have an "Obama" of our own as an electoral choice to lead our country! Alas, there is noone to inspire us even remotely as much as Barack Obama has inspired the US. We can live in hope I suppose.