He made a monkey of Sean Hannity. Should be a great in the new role.

The choices so far are great. ...................................... visit the site and join.. http://change.gov/

visit the site and join.. http://change.gov/

The genius David Axelrod. Former Obama chief strategist David Axelrod has accepted the position of Senior Adviser in the White House, sources tell ABC News. He will join Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill, who has accepted the position of Obama's White House Chief of Staff. Axelrod is a sharp political strategist and Emanuel brings a lot of strengths to the office.

President-elect to hold presser By MIKE ALLEN From Mike Allen's BlackBerry: After meeting with economic advisers in Chicago tomorrow, Obama will hold his first press conference as president-elect. He plans a "down" weekend at home, then he and his family will come to Washington to visit President Bush at the White House next week. Update: A K Street source tells Politico that Obama will not announce key appointments at his press conference. We're continuing to report the story.

I will oppose it when it becomes a reality. Until then why waste time on a fairytale?

Rahm Emanuel Obama Cheif of staff A tough guy in congress pro Israel. Robert Gibbs: Obama's Press Secretary The man who humbled Sean Hannity of fox news.

You asked and answered your own question. No one knows what the intentions of the new President is, all we can go with is his pronouncements and we know what his position is with regards to the terror networks and it is firm.

source Yusuf among world leaders mentioned...

Somalia Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the president of transitional Somali government, voiced hope that Obama would help end conflict in the world. "I am congratulating Barack Obama for his election as the president of United States of America," Yusuf said in a statement released by his spokesman. "I am hopeful that he will help end major crises in the world, particulary the endless conflict in my country Somalia. This was an historic election in which a proper leader was elected. This is a great moment for America and Africa."

Syria Mohsen Bilal, Syria's information minister, said on Wednesday that Damascus hopes Obama's election will lead to changes in US foreign policies in the Middle East and boost the prospect of regional peace. Bilal said he hoped Obama's win "will help change US policy from one of wars and embargos to one of diplomacy and dialogue," the Syrian news agency SANA reported. China Hu Jintao, China's president, congratulated Obama on his victory in the US presidential poll, saying a closer relationship btween the two nations would be "for the benefit of Chinese and American people, and people around the world". "In a new historical era, I look forward to ... taking our bilateral relationship of constructive co-operation to a new level," Hu said in a written message, according to a statement on the Chinese foreign ministry's website. Wen Jiabao, China's prime minister, also congratulated Obama, while Xi Jinping, the vice-president, sent a message of congratulations to Joe Biden, Obama's running mate and America's next vice-president. Britain Gordon Brown, the UK's prime minister, congratulated Obama, hailing his "energising politics ... his progressive values and his vision for the future". "I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the presidency of the United States," he said in a statement. "The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is vital to our prosperity and security ... Barack Obama ran an inspirational campaign, energising politics with his progressive values and his vision for the future." India India's ruling Congress party hailed Obama's victory, saying his "youthful energy" was in tune with the energy of emerging India. "Obama represents youthful energy, exuberant dynamism and a forward-looking progressive mindset which is also the spirit animating India," Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesman for India's Congress party, said. France Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, congratulated Obama on a "brilliant victory". "I give you my warmest congratulations and, through me, those of all French people," Sarkozy told the Democratic candidate in a letter made public by the French presidency. "Your brilliant victory rewards a tireless commitment to serve the American people. It also crowns an exceptional campaign whose inspiration and exaltation have proved to the entire world the vitality of American democracy. By choosing you, the American people have chosen change, openness and optimism," he wrote. "At a time when all of us must face huge challenges together, your election raises great hope in France, in Europe and elsewhere in the world." The European Union Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Comimission, applauded Obama's victory, with Barroso calling for a "new deal". "This is a time for a renewed commitment between Europe and the United States of America," Barroso said in a statement. "We need to change the current crisis into a new opportunity. We need a new deal for a new world." "I sincerely hope that with the leadership of President Obama, the United States of America will join forces with Europe to drive this new deal. For the benefit of our societies, for the benefit of the world." South Africa Kgalema Motlanthe, South Africa's president, congratulated Obama on his presidential victory, saying Africa "stood proud" and looked forward to a fruitful working relationship. "Your election ... carries with it hope for millions of your countrymen and women as much as it is for millions of people of ... African descent both in the continent of Africa as well as those in the diaspora," he said. Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black leader, also congratualted Obama, saying that Obama's election as US president showed that anybody could dream to change the world. "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place," Mandela wrote in a letter to Obama. The 90-year-old Mandela applauded Obama's commitment to support global peace and said he trusted that combatting poverty and disease would become the mission of Obama's presidency. "We wish you strength and fortitude in the challenging days and years that lie ahead," said Mandela. "We are sure you will ultimately achieve your dream [of] making the United States of America a full partner in a community of nations committed to peace and prosperity for all." Sudan Khartoum expressed hope that Obama's election win would mean "real change" for the country's strained relations with the US - America has branded Sundan as a "state sponsor of terrorism". "The result of the election is a purely domestic affair, but certainly the United States, being the only big power in the world, it affects almost everything in other countries," said Ali al-Sadiq, a spokesman for Sudan's foreign ministry. "We would hope that the slogan of president Obama - 'change' - would be reflected in the foreign policy in the United States, especially towards Sudan and oppressed countries, the Palestinians, the Iraqis and the Somalis. "We would like to see some real change between Sudan and the United States." Somalia Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the president of transitional Somali government, voiced hope that Obama would help end conflict in the world. "I am congratulating Barack Obama for his election as the president of United States of America," Yusuf said in a statement released by his spokesman. "I am hopeful that he will help end major crises in the world, particulary the endless conflict in my country Somalia. This was an historic election in which a proper leader was elected. This is a great moment for America and Africa."

source Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, congratulated Obama on his US election victory, saying it took the world into a "new era". However, Karzai said Obama should aim to prevent civilians in Afghanistan from being killed and injured by the US military. "Our demand is that there will be no civilian casualties in Afghanistan. We cannot win the fight against terrorism with air strikes," Karzai said. "This is my first demand of the new president of the United States - to put an end to civilian casualties." Iraq Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, said Washington would not adopt a "quick disengagement" policy with Baghdad under the presidency of Barack Obama as a "great deal is at stake here". Speaking to Al Jazeera, Zebari said: "I think it [Obama's election] was a major, major change ... although as far as Iraq is concerned I don't believe there will be any changes overnight. And there won't be any immediate disengagement because a great deal is at stake for everybody. "I don't think there is much difference between the Iraqi government position and President-elect Obama's. He is contemplating withdrawing US forces within 16 months. We may have some difficulties with that time-line, but we also, in the status of forces agreement, set the date of 2011 as the date for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. So really the differences are not very wide." Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister, congratulated Obama on his victory, saying he hoped the Democrat would promote "peace and stability" in the region around Afghanistan. "I hope that under your dynamic leadership, [the] United States will continue to be a source of global peace and new ideas for humanity," he said in a statement, directed at Obama. "I look forward to more opportunities to discuss ways to further strengthen Pakistan-US relations and to promote peace and stability in our region and beyond." Obama has riled Islamabad in the past, pledging that the US under his leadership would "take out" al-Qaeda and Taliban bases in Pakistan. Palestinian Territories Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, congratulated Obama and urged him to speed up efforts to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. "President Abbas congratulates US president-elect Barack Obama in his name and in the name of the Palestinian people and hopes he will speed up efforts to achieve peace, particularly since a resolution of the Palestinian problem and the Israeli-Arab conflict is key to world peace," Nabil Abu Rudeina, Abbas's spokesman, said. "President Abbas hopes the new administration will continue to make the peace efforts one of its top priorities." Meanwhile, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, urged Obama to learn from the "mistakes" of previous US administrations in dealing with the Muslim and Arab worlds. "He must learn from the mistakes of the previous administrations, including that of Bush which has destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine," said Fawzi Barhum, a Hamas spokesman. "He must improve US ties with the rest of the world rather than wave the big American stick. "We want him to support the Palestinian cause or at least not to be biased towards the Israeli occupation. We have no problem establishing normal relations with the United States to explain our just cause." Ahmed Youssef, a Hamas senior political member, hailed the vote as historic. "We [Hamas] do believe that if America's political equilibrium is to be restored, this political election should be the turning point. We hope that Obama will address the Palestinian issue in a fair and honest way. The Palestinian question is the mother of all issues in the region – it concerns 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world. "During the political campaign in the US, people used a lot of rhetoric … Obama said a lot of things to please the Jewish community, looking for their votes and money. We understand that. But all that rhetoric will be changed because looking at the list of Obama's advisers, I believe that they have a better understanding of the conflict in the region." Israel Israeli-US relations face "a bright future", Ygal Palmor, a spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, said in reaction to Obama's election to the White House. "Israelis congratulate the two great friends of Israel, John McCain for his great campaign, Barack Obama for his historic victory. "We are certain that Israeli-American friendship faces a bright future." Tzipi Livni, leader of the ruling Kadima party, recalled Obama's visit to Israel in July and said that "the people of Israel felt he [Obama] is a man who is deeply committed to Israel's security and peace". "Israel hopes to pursue close strategic cooperation with the new administration and the new US president, and hopes to further tighten the unshakeable ties between our two countries," she said. Iran Iran's official news agency quoted a leading politician as saying that Obama's election win was a rejection of the policies of George Bush, the current US president. "Obama's victory is... evidence that Bush's policies have failed," Gholam Ali Haddad Adel said, according to IRNA. "Americans have no option but to change their policies to save themselves from the quagmire Bush has created for them." The government daily newspaper Iran said in an editorial on Wednesday that McCain's failure to take the presidency lay with Bush. "Defeat for the Republicans is the price they pay for Bush's strategic and tactical blunders," the newspaper said. Mohammad Hasan Aboutorabi-Fard, Iran's deputy parliament speaker, called on Obama to make good on his promises to bring change. "Obama is expected to learn from Bush's failed policies and correct America's wrong policies in the Middle East," IRNA quoted him as saying.

How they voted sources

What will you miss most about Bush? Posted: 12:27 PM ET FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty: With the election of Barack Obama, President Bush is now a certified lame duck who will quickly disappear in the rear view mirror. In 2000, we elected a guy we’d like to have a beer with. Huge mistake. Bush soared when the Twin Towers came down. On September 14, 2001, he gave a rousing speech to rescue workers at Ground Zero. It was arguably his finest hour with 90 percent approval ratings and the entire world ready to step in and help the United States in any way they could. But Bush blew it. The next seven years were pretty much a steady downward spiral. The invasion of Iraq, torture, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, domestic spying, secrecy, lost White House emails, zero accountability and the economy in ruins. President Bush will leave office as arguably one of the worst presidents this country ever had. His approval ratings are at an all-time low. He is so unpopular he dared not show his face on the campaign trail. The ultimate irony is without the utter disaster that was the Bush Presidency, an African-American would probably not have been elected president. Funny how things work out. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, did as much to get Barack Obama elected as the primary voters in Iowa did on a cold January night earlier this year. Historians will render the final verdict, but you can have your say right now. Here’s my question to you: What will you miss most about President Bush? Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air. And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment. Filed under: President George W. Bush

Obama Sweeps to Historic Victory Nation Elects Its First African-American President Amid Record Turnout; Turmoil in more in Politics & Campaign »WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama was elected the nation's first African-American president, defeating Sen. John McCain decisively Tuesday as citizens surged to the polls in a presidential race that climaxed amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. "Change has come," Sen. Obama told a huge throng of cheering supporters in Chicago at a midnight rally. In his first speech as victor, Sen. Obama catalogued the challenges ahead. "The greatest of a lifetime," he said, "two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century." (See the full text of Obama's speech.) He added, "There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.'' View Interactive Click to see an interactive map of election results. D.C. Celebrates Obama Victory 1:57 Thousands of Barack Obama supporters take to the streets moments after his acceptance speech and head to the White House to celebrate Tuesday's historic election. (Nov. 5) The culmination of the epic two-year campaign marks a historic moment in a nation that since its founding has struggled with racial divisions. It also ushers in a period of dominance for Democrats in Washington for the first time since the early years of President Bill Clinton's first term. With Tuesday's elections, Sen. Obama's party will control both houses of Congress as well as the White House, setting the scene for Democrats to push an ambitious agenda from health care to financial regulation to ending the war in Iraq. In becoming the U.S.'s 44th president, Illinois Sen. Obama, 47 years old, defeated Arizona Sen. McCain, 72, a veteran lawmaker and Vietnam War hero. Despite a reputation for bucking his own party, Sen. McCain could not overcome a Democratic tide, which spurred voters to take a risk on a candidate with less than four years of national political experience. Sen. Obama is the first northern Democrat elected president since John F. Kennedy in 1960. Sen. McCain conceded the election to Sen. Obama, congratulating him and pledging to help bring unity to the country. Speaking from outside the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Sen. McCain told his supporters: "It's natural tonight to feel some disappointment. Though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours." (Read more on McCain's concession.) Sen. McCain was defeated in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and New Hampshire, swing states he was hoping to secure for the Republican column. According to a preliminary tally, Sen. Obama led the race with 349 electoral votes versus 162 for Sen. McCain; 270 were needed to win. Also elected, as vice president: Joe Biden, the veteran senator from Delaware who has promised to help Sen. Obama steer his agenda through Congress. Sen. Obama's victory was built on record fund raising and a vast national campaign network. It remade the electoral map that had held fast for eight years. He overwhelmed reliable Democratic strongholds in the Northeast and West Coast. He won big in the industrial Midwest and contested fiercely in areas of traditional Republican strength. He won Virginia, the first time a Democratic candidate had taken the state since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. And he finally wrested Florida and Ohio from the GOP, two states that had bedeviled his party in the last two elections.

After a Decisive Victory, Obama Chooses Transition Team as Challenges Loom In his first major move as president-elect, Barack Obama has asked Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), a tough-minded tactician with West Wing experience, to serve as his White House chief of staff, Democratic sources tell Politico. Emanuel has said to friends that he wants and will take the job, but it was not a done deal as of early this morning. Obama plans to move swiftly with his transition announcement and could name Emanuel this week, the sources said. He then plans rapid-fire announcements on his economic and national security teams. If Emanuel — a member of the House Democratic leadership with ambitions to one day to be House speaker — were to turn it down, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) would likely get the nod, the sources said.

George, we've got just the job for youHe's had a crack at being president - but a man of George W Bush's talents will now surely be looking for his next big challenge. Tim Dowling has some ideasTim Dowling The Guardian, Wednesday November 5 2008 Article history George W Bush could step into David Tennant's shoes. Photograph: BBC. Photomanipulation: Steve Caplin As of today, George W Bush has exactly 77 days left to put his CV in order, a difficult task complicated by the fact that whatever he's done as president, he hasn't done much of it lately. There aren't many positions out there suited to a former world leader and professional lame duck, but a few high-profile vacancies have presented themselves in recent weeks, and more are bound to arise as the year draws to a close. There must be some job the man can do competently. He still has so much to give. The new Doctor Who Ever since David Tennant announced he was handing in his sonic screwdriver, speculation over his potential replacement has been rife. But not one person - correct me if I'm wrong - has so far suggested Bush for the role. The surprise when Tennant morphed into the former president on Christmas Day would therefore be enormous, and huge ratings for the first two episodes would be guaranteed. It's hard to see him lasting long, but perhaps he'll turn his inability to say "reverse the polarity of the neutron flow" into a charming character flaw. Leader, North Korea It's just possible that this position will open up soon - if it hasn't already. Bush would no doubt enjoy the constant sabre-rattling that comes with being a key player in the axis of evil (though he should bear in mind they don't call it that), but he might have trouble adjusting to the unstinting adulation. Presenter, Friday Night with Dubya This would only be a temporary assignment while Jonathan Ross serves out his exile, but even a one-time leader of the free world would find the salary agreeable. He'd probably do it for half. And Bush, for all his faults, does have a certain folksy plausibility when he's one-on-one with people, which ought to come in handy when he's interviewing Hollywood stars who hate him. He'd have to start right away, but he's not exactly busy at the moment, and Ross managed to present the show as a sideline to his many other projects for years. Tour guide, presidential library Yes, naming a library after George W Bush is like naming an outpatient clinic after Harold Shipman, but it's a tradition in America to establish commemorative repositories in the home state of every former commander-in-chief, regardless of reading age or standing in the worst-presidents-of-all-time table. Since this particular library is liable to be little more than a collection of cowboy hats and signed baseballs, Bush should have no trouble showing people around. It would be highly irregular for him to walk up to the front desk and say, "Hello, my name is George Bush, this is my library, and I would like an application form," but what are they gonna do? Say no? Manager, Watford FC Adrian Boothroyd has just been sacked after taking his club from probable relegation from the Championship all the way to the Premiership and back to probable relegation from the Championship in just 176 games. In his job interview Bush could point to eerie parallels with his own administration, except without the early success. He probably doesn't know much about football, but, frankly, how much does he have to know? Star, W: the Musical This seemingly insane scenario is predicated on the twin suppositions that the Oliver Stone biopic will translate readily to the stage and that Bush can sing. But lots of unlikely films have been turned into musicals, and if Bush turns out to be tone deaf he can always rap his way through like Rex Harrison did in My Fair Lady. Still, it would be weird. A bit like getting Jerry Springer to star in Jerry Springer: The Opera. Actually, that isn't such a bad idea either. Or maybe Bush could play Springer. Think of the protests. Host, MTV Awards There are two positions to be filled here - Russell Brand already looks doubtful for next year, and Lindsay Lohan has just been fired from hosting the MTV World Music Awards, a slightly less glamorous appointment which doesn't require much more than the ability to read from an autocue in a hesitant and uncomprehending manner. He's a shoo-in. Interior minister, Iran In the old days, the only qualification for the post was a fake degree from a made-up British institution - the previous incumbent, Ali Kordan, possessed a forged certificate for an honorary degree from "London Oxford University" - but Bush has two real degrees, a BA from Yale and an MBA from Harvard Business School (I know - he wears it lightly, doesn't he?). In fact this may be the first time Bush has gone for a job for which he is supremely overqualified, but he still has some hearts and minds to win in Tehran. Paris Hilton's new best friend This has never been considered a job for life, or even long-term employment, but Paris is currently in the market for someone who is "hot, who can keep up with me, and most of all, who is real, and won't be a backstabber". She's also looking in London, unfortunately. But if he can do the accent well enough to fool Paris Hilton (and how hard will that be, do you think?), he might also be able to convince her that he is both hot and real. And he's the former president of the United States of America, so it's not as if she'll recognise him. Presenter, Top Gear Bush is one of nature's petrol-heads, and the sort of easy-going, rightwing regular guy voters used to say they'd like to have a beer with. A spot on the current presenting team could be about to open up, depending on how many letters the BBC receives over the course of the next week that begin "Dear Sirs: I have been a lorry driver for the last 18 years and in that time I have never murdered a single prostitute." Bush should send in an audition tape (not the State of the Union address) just in case. Sarah Palin's running mate, 2012 A Palin-Bush partnership could provide the Republicans with the ultimate "maverick-anti-maverick" ticket four years from now. The 22nd amendment constitution prevents a two-term president from seeking the office again, but does the US constitution say anything about him becoming vice president and then acceding to the office through the sudden incapacitation of a phenomenally unpopular president? Actually it does - the 12th amendment states that "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States" - but does Sarah Palin know that? No. Is she going to read about it in the Guardian? No. Biographer, George Bush Sr A thorough trashing of his father's legacy could one day see Dubya become widely regarded as only the second-worst president of the US, but he'll need someone to check his spelling.

A night like no other

The base celebrate

Somalia and Africa will insha Allah benefit from Barack Obama's leadership. He is a local in terms of his roots and will help in developing the institutions of IGAD, AU which will help Somalia in the long run. However he has much to do and very little honeymoon period. The financial crisis, the two wars and the many promises made to the base will concentrae much of his time. Thus he has domestic issues to deal with and problems not seen by any President since FDR, on the table are universal healthcare coverage, a new new deal to stimulate the economy create jobs, this will probably centre on a major works projects and infrustructure. Good luck to him, he has made my two year stay in America a great time.

Obama reveloution part3: A Democratic headlock Many people find Obama’s post-partisan rhetoric soothing. But it’s doubtful that these sentiments, even if sincere, reflect the reality of the new Washington. This is a city that defines itself by partisanship. Politicians and the operatives they support play for the shirts or the skins and believe that one side’s gain is the other’s loss. In this environment, Democrats have the capital in a headlock, holding more power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue than they have had for at least 32 years (Jimmy Carter) and, more realistically, 44 years (Johnson). Obama seems ready to press this advantage. The best early clue of his ambitions: He wants sharp-elbowed Democratic Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) to run his White House. Democrats are positioned to do more than move legislation. They will flush Republicans out of key positions in the federal government and lobbying firms. They will install their people in the federal courts. They will be positioned to raise money for those who usually give to Republicans and easily recruit the most desirable candidates in 2010, as other Democrats look to join what looks like a winning team. Rainbow rules While Obama’s race hovered over this campaign, what was most striking was that it was not the all-consuming subject that it would have been in the past. Exit polls showed Obama pulling support from 43 percent of white voters, 2 percentage point higher than Kerry. And look around elsewhere in American politics. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s gender was a novelty when she first took the gavel but now draws little notice. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) is a top member of the House Democratic leadership. Meanwhile, the Republican Party’s inability to offer more diversity in its top ranks — Sarah Palin notwithstanding — threatens to become a crippling liability. Hispanics broke for Obama 67 percent to 31 percent. The party inexplicably failed to field a single minority candidate with a plausible chance to win a House or Senate seat or a governorship. It will enter the next Congress just as it did the past two: without a single black member. A party dominated by white males is poorly positioned to prosper among an increasingly diverse electorate. Somehow, the GOP needs to find new ways to appeal to minorities — or risk a long life in the wilderness as a percentage of the overall population continues to shrink. complete article: source

Obama reveloution part 2: The crash of the conservative wave For most of the past 30 years, since the dawn of the Reagan Era, conservatives have held the momentum in American politics. Even the Clinton years were shaped — and constrained — by conservative ideas (work requirements for welfare, the Defense of Marriage Act) and conservative rhetoric (“the era of Big Government is over”). Republicans rode this wave to win the presidency five of seven times since 1980, and to dominate Congress for a dozen years after 1994. Now the wave has crashed, breaking the back of the modern Republican Party in the process. Obama’s victory and the second straight election to award big gains to congressional Democrats showed that the 2006 election was not, as Karl Rove and others argued at the time, a flukish result that reflected isolated scandals in the headlines at the time. Republicans lost their reform mantle. Voters who wanted change voted for Obama 89 percent to 9 percent. They lost their decisive edge on national security. They even lost the battle over taxes. Republicans lost support in every area of the country. Virginia went Democratic, and North Carolina at midnight hung in the balance. Republicans still hold a significant, if smaller, chunk of the South and a smattering of western states. The cities were lost long ago. The suburbs fell last night — and even the exurbs are shaky. Republicans lost one of their most effective political tactics. Portraying Al Gore or John F. Kerry as exotic and untrustworthy characters with culturally elitist values proved brutally effective for the GOP in 2000 and 2004, as it had in numerous other races for years. In 2008, such tactics barely dented Obama — who because of his race and background looked at first like a more vulnerable target — and they backfired against such candidates as Sen. Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina, who was routed badly after trying to paint Democrat Kay Hagan as an atheist. The movement that brought so many conservatives to great power over the past 20 years — Gingrich, DeLay, Bush, Cheney and Rove — is left without a clear leader, without a clear agenda and without a clear route back. The crash of the conservative wave does not necessarily mean the rise of a liberal one. By stressing middle-class tax cuts and the rights of gun owners Obama showed he is sensitive to hot buttons. But he will take power with the opposition party diminished, demoralized and divided by a draining internal argument about the future.

The Obama Revolution Nov. 4, 2008, was the day when American politics shifted on its axis. The ascent of an African-American to the presidency — a victory by a 47-year-old man who was born when segregation was still the law of the land across much of this nation — is a moment so powerful and so obvious that its symbolism needs no commentary. But it was the reality of power, not the symbolism, that changed Tuesday night in ways more profound than meet the eye. The rout of the Republican Party, and the accompanying gains by Democrats in Congress, mean that Barack Obama will assume office with vastly more influence in the nation’s capital than most of his recent predecessors have wielded. The only exceptions suggest the magnitude of the moment. Power flowed in unprecedented ways to George W. Bush in the year after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It flowed likewise to Lyndon B. Johnson after his landslide in 1964. Beyond those fleeting moments, every president for more than two generations has confronted divided government or hobbling internal divisions within his own party. The Democrats’ moment with Obama, as a brilliant campaigner confronts the challenges of governance, could also prove fleeting. For now, the results — in their breadth across a continent — suggest seismic change that goes far beyond Obama's 6 percent margin in the popular vote. The evening recalled what activist Eldridge Cleaver observed of the instant when Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus and a movement followed: “Somewhere in the universe a gear in the machinery shifted.” Here are five big things about the machinery of national politics and Washington that will be different once Obama takes office on Jan. 20, 2009: