I particularly like how the idiot 'politicians are all the same' crew have got it in the neck. I've heard it from both right and left. No they're not the same. As a direct result of this election the troops will be out of Iraq in sixteen months, US women will be safe from backstreet abortionists, there's the real possibility of a US national health service, the 'end of days' lunatic religious right has been given a bloody nose, and a half Kenyan will be in charge in the White House. That’s not ‘the same’ as McCain and Palin having won.

Great scenes on BBC News 24:

# Jesse Jackson in the vast crowd at Chicago listening to Obama's victory speech -- with tears streaming down his face

# An NBC anchor announcing Obama's victory -- to audible whoops of joy from the technicians

# The BBC Kenya correspondent speaking in front of a mural of Obama and the Queen in a blue hat...

You realise the Dems have taken both Houses too? The Republicans have been hit with a triple whammy -- George W Bush's final gift to America.

I had the same thought, Mary. It feels very similar. When I popped out earlier, people buying newspapers were smiling at the front page.

Blair is a pretty good comparison, Mary; I remember feeling very much the party pooper in '97 when I had to be honest with my euphoric friends - who really thought that kicking out the Tories meant the start of good times for ordinary people - and suggest that little would change.  I'm not sorry to see the last of Dubya but I'm pretty sure Obama will prove what I already know - that a non-white Democrat can run the system on behalf of the rich and privileged (ie screw the workers) just as well as a white Republican.  Maybe if we say 'watch this space' loud enough people will in fact be vigilant enough to realise that this lot really haven't got the interests of the ordinary person at heart - or even if, in their hearts, they'd like to serve the masses they'll end up serving the bosses just like every other adminstration.  But I wasn't encouraged by the vox pops I heard on the BBC coverage which, both before and after the result was known, seemed to concentrate on the historic racial aspect of Obama's election.  Of course, the election of the first non-white president is historic but the true significance of that has to be left for history to decide. 

lots of factors have come into play, the world is rather chaotic, things just kinda happen really

I too remember being very pleased in 1997. I also remember being very pleased in Australia in 1983 and on the whole that also ended badly. For that matter I was pleased for Australia last year and still am but alas for my particular sector of the community Rudd has been an utter disaster so far.

The thing is, I can't remember being quite this pleased. And I would have thought the baked-on layer of cynicism to be pretty thick by now.

But much of the pleasure in 1997 - and now - is partly down to the sense of relief at what we've got rid of - sleazy Tories, Portillo losing his seat in 1997; Cheney, Bush and the appalling Sarah Palin now.  Yes, it's not going to be Utopia, and I largely agree with HtoHe about the need for vigilance - but seeing the Tories or the Republicans comprehensively stuffed at the ballot box is IMO one of life's rare pleasures and should be savoured.

Of course, nothing last night quite matched up to that roll off sofa in fits of gleeful hysterical laughter moment from 1997 when there flashed across the screen:

Lab gain Hove