# Will there be massive public celebrations worldwide if Obama wins? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027 "2008-10-29T01:59:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/101 "2008-10-31T06:18:48Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Well, certainly [these guys](http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE49T76620081030?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true) appear to be pretty excited about it. Sam, seriously – who the hell cares what those losers think? They’re not Americans, it’s none of their business. Fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![fiztig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@fiztig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiztig)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/102 "2008-10-31T06:19:19Z")
Well, there probably won’t be street parties here in Australia (although there might be some spillage from pubs in the wee hours of Thursday morning), but there will be a number of psephologist parties going on that get pretty happy. Especially if you look at recent [poll](http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2008/10/31/presidential-election-minus-five-days/) results which suggest that 72% of Australians prefer an Obama win, while only 9% are supportive of McCain. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/103 "2008-10-31T06:21:32Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > The Obama campaign threatened legal action twice to shut down Republican commercials. You mean the NRA ads that Obama’s campaign [claimed that the ads contained false claims that violated the broadcasters’ FCC licensing responsibilities?](http://www.thebitchgirls.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/obama.pdf) Dude, “freedom of speech” doesn’t mean that, say, libel and slander laws don’t still apply. So do other forms of law restricting the spreading of falsehoods via the public press and media, such as FCC regulations. > [@Sam Stone](#): > > Obama’s campaign issued ‘action alerts’ to have their supporters flood telephone lines to call-in shows to prevent the public from asking questions when Stanley Kurtz, who was investigating the Rezko affair, was being interviewed. This happened several times. The Obama campaign’s “Action Line” aggressively rebutted attacks on Obama by responding to them through the feedback mechanisms the stations provided. In other words, the campaign volunteers were exercising their **own** right to free speech. Sounds like you think there ought to be a more even-handed distribution of broadcast time given to listener feedback from different ideological positions, rather than just through a first-come-first-serve feedback system that can be dominated by an overwhelming majority of responses from one side. Maybe you should consider supporting the Fairness Doctrine. > [@Sam Stone](#): > > “Joe the Plumber” came under state scrutiny and was raked through the coals by the Democrats for the crime of asking Obama an uncomfortable question. :rolleyes: You’re really reaching here in your attempt to cast this as an attack on free speech. Wurzelbacher chose to thrust himself into the public limelight by making some claims of dubious veracity, and he got called on it. That’s not restricting anybody’s free speech, that’s simply using free speech to critique free speech. As in the case of your first two examples, objecting to people telling lies is not an assault on free speech. > [@Sam Stone](#): > > The Democrats want to pass a ‘card check’ law, which will remove worker’s right to vote in a secret ballot, exposing them to threats and intimidation and social ostracization for expressing their preference. You’re trying to argue that a **secret ballot** in union voting is a **free speech** issue? This is even more ridiculous than the previous one. Look, I’m not telling you that you have to like all Democratic actions or policies, but for heaven’s sake at least show some judgement about which of them are actually related to First Amendment issues. > [@Sam Stone](#): > > Democrats keep playing around with the notion of reviving the Fairness Doctrine, a law specifically designed to squelch Republican speech. Horseshit. The landmark _Red Lion_ case that brought the Fairness Doctrine to prominence was not about “squelching Republican speech”; rather, it was brought by a liberal author seeking time to reply to conservative attacks on him. > [@Sam Stone](#): > > I can’t think of anything comparable to any of that on the Republican side. Can you? Easily. For example, the McCain campaign’s [pre-emptive removal of campaign event attendees who they thought might be potential protesters](http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2008/10/28/news/local_news/doc49068f6ccce49245010961.txt). That sort of thing, of course, has been SOP for Bush campaign events for a long while, with their so-called [“free-speech zones”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zones) set up to contain protesters at a safe distance from the actual event. Conservatives have got so used to being the aggressive attackers with smear tactics and negative campaigning that when liberals start responding assertively and challenging the lies, conservatives feel that their free-speech rights are somehow being threatened. Not so. The conservatives may have forgotten it over the past eight years or so, but the fact remains: free speech does not automatically entitle you to lie and not get called on it. Not even if you’re a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/104 "2008-10-31T11:58:28Z")
I thought it was slightly amusing when I read [this article.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081030/pl_politico/15099). McSleaze and Palin know damn well that there was no real relationshipo between Ayers and Obama, but they still used it as an attack. So when Obama compares McLiar to Bush he gets all butt hurt and says “Oh he can have a pass on that”. What a bunch of lowlife morons. I’ve seen children act with more honor than Mccain has. If Obama wins I won’t be partying, but I will have a drink in celebration and I’ll hope it signals the beginning of the end to the mudslinging idiocy that goes on campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/105 "2008-10-31T12:25:03Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Conservatives have got so used to being the aggressive attackers with smear tactics and negative campaigning that when liberals start responding assertively and challenging the lies, conservatives feel that their free-speech rights are somehow being threatened. It’s related to the Religious Right being so used to being the only fish in the pond that they consider any attempt to keep them from forcing other people to act as if they were conservative Christian is seen as a violation of THEIR free speech. Again, bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/106 "2008-10-31T13:37:37Z")
\*\* > [@](#): > > Will there be massive public celebrations worldwide if Obama wins? \*\*If six billion people each burn 1,000 Calories celebrating Obama’s victory, they’ll use a total of 2.54 X 10[sup]16[/sup] joules of energy. Converting that to mass via e = mc[sup]2[/sup], gives a figure of 0.28 kilograms for the actual mass of the celebration. No one in their right mind would call an object weighing 0.62 pounds “massive”, so **no** , there will not be massive worldwide celebrations if Obama wins. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/107 "2008-10-31T13:57:37Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > \*\*\*\*If six billion people each burn 1,000 Calories celebrating Obama’s victory, they’ll use a total of 2.54 X 10[sup]16[/sup] joules of energy. > Converting that to mass via e = mc[sup]2[/sup], gives a figure of 0.28 kilograms for the actual mass of the celebration. > No one in their right mind would call an object weighing 0.62 pounds “massive”, so **no** , there will not be massive worldwide celebrations if Obama wins. Everytime I start to forget what I really love about the Dope along comes a gem like that. Well played sir! ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/108 "2008-10-31T18:49:20Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > \*\*\*\*If six billion people each burn 1,000 Calories celebrating Obama’s victory, they’ll use a total of 2.54 X 10[sup]16[/sup] joules of energy. > Converting that to mass via e = mc[sup]2[/sup], gives a figure of 0.28 kilograms for the actual mass of the celebration. > No one in their right mind would call an object weighing 0.62 pounds “massive”, so **no** , there will not be massive worldwide celebrations if Obama wins. 0.28 kg might be massive to an ant. I came up with the original question the other day after I heard “All over the World” by Electric Light Orchestra from the movie _Xanadu_. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/109 "2008-11-01T00:28:04Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Please excuse the momentary tangent… > > DT, **If you hate America so much** why do you reside in California? > > Just curious :dubious: > > Silly that one of the greatest things about this country is that it allows the individual to have their own opinion. Not sure how much longer the thought police will allow that, so enjoy it while you can. [Bolding mine.] I’m honestly not trying to be a smart ass here, but that’s the first time I’ve ever actually seen that sentiment seriously stated. Oh, I’ve heard and read it _joked_ _about_, but never as a for-real comment outside of a blog. Color my ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/110 "2008-11-01T01:40:54Z")
> [@kjckjc](#): > > I need some of my ignorance fought. Why do they care? I can see how any of the people in countries we had somehow magicly linked to bin Laden would not like us. And maybe the Russians, Germans and French for daring to have a dissenting opinion. But what have we done to Poland…or Sweden…or NZ in the past 8 years that they feel oppressed? Or is it more of a “Hey, good for them (Americans), they will be much better off now.” type of happiness? > > -kjckjc Because no man is an island and when America tortures and starts wars it diminishes me? For the same reason I feel affected by China not respecting human rights? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/111 "2008-11-08T23:17:23Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Given how much Bush is hated across the world, do you think there will be dancing in the streets all over the world if his fellow Republican is defeated? Well, **Ponch8** , a little late, I know. But it seems we have an answer to your question: [Global Cenebrations over Obama Victory](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRJY8P9l9aM&feature=related) [World Reaction to Obama Winning the Election](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3PszZbJf_0&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/112 "2008-11-09T01:22:14Z")
From another messageboard: > [@](#): > > Unfortunately I do not have the bandwidth in Lagos to play the You—Tube link. However you may be amused that in the MUSON (Musical Society of Nigeria) choir rehearsal on Wednesday evening the Bach Mass in B Minor’s “Osanna, Osanna” turned into “Obama, Obama” – Nigeria is pleased with the US result – and all the men are aspiring to look like Obama in their new outfits! ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/113 "2008-11-09T18:05:21Z")
So, what did everyone think of the Iranian president (yes, that guy) welcoming Obama’s victory? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/114 "2008-11-10T04:30:44Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > So, what did everyone think of the Iranian president (yes, that guy) welcoming Obama’s victory? I’m sure the two of them will still butt heads a lot, but it’s nice to start off on the right foot with Iran for once. Maybe we can finally work out a deal where they apologize for the hostage crisis and we apologize for deposing Prime Minister Mossadegh and we get one step closer to normal relations. (Iran’s nuclear program and nonrecognition of Israel would remain problems, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027/115 "2008-11-10T10:39:52Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > So, what did everyone think of the Iranian president (yes, that guy) welcoming Obama’s victory? SOP for that situation - Ahmadinejad gets to look all diplomatic while snubbing Bush by implication, and he also makes the first move in what will undoubtedly be a very long nuclear chess game. I note that [Obama has already played his first move](http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/11/08/iran.obama/) as well. Note that Iran’s response came not from Ahmadinejad but from Ali Larijani - Iran gets to take a stand without Ahmadinejad burning his bridges too early. So Ahmadinejad starts off with “We hope the new President will be more accommodating” and Obama has returned “Sorry - we’re still not okay with you having nukes.” Both are about what you’d expect as opening positions. If Obama avoids overt saber-rattling Ahmadinejad may tone down his own rhetoric, and after a lot of talking some sort of detente may eventually be achievable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-massive-public-celebrations-worldwide-if-obama-wins/470027.md?page=5)