I never realized what an absolutely magnificently historic picture this was.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10 years ago yesterday in Chicago's Grant Park.



There's something about this picture I absolutely love. It captures the greatness of the moment, the history of the moment.

Hundreds of thousands of people out in the cold Chicago night, illuminated by spotlights. In the background are tall skyscrapers. One of them has its windows lit up in a pattern: not "Obama", not "Democrats", but "USA", signifying the importance of the moment for the entire nation. And of course the one person who stands taller and more prominent than anyone else is the man who was suddenly slated to be the 44th President of the United States.

This photo perfectly encapsulates the power, the glory and the history of that moment. It's absolutely stunning.

[Aristus]

1. Ten years later, that remains one of the happiest days of my life.

We deserve another day like that one soon...

[Politicub]

10. Me, too. I danced around the living room.

I hope tomorrow is a dem landslide. I'm nervous, but incredibly hopeful. Before Obama won, the polls were neck and neck with him and McCain. It's like that in several important races, like Beto and Cruz, so anything is possible--that's what Obama showed by example. Anything is possible in America.

[DownriverDem]

17. I cried for joy

around my basement and 4 years later I did the same thing.

[calimary]

19. We were actually having an Election Night Party with a few close friends.

I was that confident. And I wasn’t disappointed!

We had Chicago-style pizza, cans of Arizona Sun tea and Delaware Punch to drink, and for dessert - a “chocolate moose”! I bought this chocolate mousse cake at the local bakery and stuck some brown pipe cleaners twisted into antler shape into one side! What a feast! And then when Barack Obama passed the magic number of electoral votes, I remember sitting on the sofa with my arms raised high up, and fist-pumping the air in delicious triumph!

What a GREAT night!

[Aristus]

33. Sounds wonderful.

I wish would could have had a great national DU meet-up on that day to celebrate.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

27. Mine too!!!!

[madaboutharry]

2. I was literally jumping up and down with joy.

And republicans in Washington, at this beautiful and historic moment, were conspiring to thwart him at every turn.

[mucifer]

3. I was there. It was so surreal. We really thought the future was so bright. So many people were

crying. In my largely segregated city of Chicago there was SO MUCH LOVE!

[lapfog_1]

5. My strongest memory was of Jesse Jackson crying...

thinking about the times he ran and got absolutely nowhere... that he could take such joy at someone else succeeding.

[cate94]

13. I was there too!

It was wonderful! I was one of the people crying tears of joy. Such a beautiful night!

[Javaman]

4. there are certain photos that crush me.

this is one of them.

it does so because of what we have now.

what we once were.

[lostnfound]

8. Nesting dolls, the bad one opens, the good one appears, another bad outcome, another good outcome

The sun will rise (probably). It’s a matter of how much people suffer before it does.

[BeyondGeography]

6. I was thrilled

Now I see a lot of people who were basically told by Mitch McConnell and the Koch Brothers, “Nice 10 million vote majority ya got there. Be a shame if something happened to it.”

[homegirl]

7. From Chicago...

My daughter was on a business trip to Chicago, she called me, opened the window and I heard the cheers from the park. What a night!

Locally we danced and cheered at the biggest hotel ballroom in Sonoma County, CA.

[Totally Tunsie]

9. I find ALL photos of President Obama "stunning".

Not only is he a handsome man, his face is so wonderfully radiant, calming, assuring, hopeful...well, I could go on for a long time with many descriptions.

Perhaps it's just the retrospection of his photos. It's so soothing to look back and see the eight wonderful years we had under his leadership. Each photo brings that back to us in its own way.

[The Liberal Lion]

11. When the election results were announced I ran outside and yelled at the top of my lungs "OBAMA"

How far from grace we have fallen now at this moment. I was hopeful then that America had FINALLY become a place of equality and justice. Now, 10 years later, I no longer have this belief. I voted in this election because it is my duty to do all I can within the law to end this nightmare. I still have hope that my vote mattered. Nevertheless I am at this moment packing my final boxes to be shipped abroad. I can no longer afford so much hope as to stay here. There is a certain sadness within me as I pack these boxes, as I have gained so much from this country despite the obstacles and adversities. I gained a college and a graduate degree. I reached my dreams of both becoming a psychotherapist, and then starting and growing a very successful business. I cherish the opportunities that I've been provided and I shall be forever blessed with that which I have gained here. I was lucky to have lived in this country and become mature during a time of widening enlightenment in this country. But now I feel the age is too dark for me to remain. I don't believe I shall ever call any place in America again "home". Our system is utterly broken. It needs to be put out of it's misery. I hope that I am wrong about the future of this country, and I hope true patriots will set up and lead. I will do all I can from abroad to fight this scourge that is growing across not only our land, but our globe. But first I must survive and then I must thrive. I shall do both from abroad. But I will never forget how I felt when Barack H. Obama overcome the odds and won that election. I will never give up that hope that he inspired in me. That hope is both my shield from evil, and my bludgeon that I shall use to spread justice in my own way.

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. That was such a magical night

And it was felt all around the world as well.

It made it so easy to believe that America, as a whole, had on a dime, finally left racism behind. And as well, had left the Tea Party / far right, and all their birther etc.. nonsense behind as well. Which looking back was obviously quite naive.

Because meanwhile even more people that are in that crowd were stewing at home. And Repubican radio shock jocks, and Fox News hosts were gearing up for their next week of ginning up their listeners with fake news and fear to feed those stewing about their loss.

I think its in our nature as more liberal folks to WANT to believe in good things happening. And that everything is fine now after any big win like this. Because we just want to live our lives in peace and contentment. We naturally do not go out looking for enemies. We have better use for our time. Like Obama did a lot, we want to laugh, joke, spend quality time with our families.

Some just get off on, and are encouraged to by RW media, being angry 24/7 at "the world", which is defined by the RW media for them. And they never let up, or rest, like we are prone to do.

We naturally, as liberals, really really really want to live in a world where if they go low, we go high.....AND IT WORKS! Because the good guys always win right? Every Hollywood movie tells us that. From "Its a Wonderful Life" and on. But that is not reality today. The George Bailey's did cheat their way to a win in this movie. Its difficult to go against our own nature, but we have to now, we are forced to by these nazi loving traitors.

[gademocrat7]

14. I was overcome with joy!

An incredible moment in our history.

[riverwalker]

15. It was pure joy

Not hate and fear, but hope. I’ve been looking at the MAGA faces at his rallies, they all scowl, sneer or frown. There is no joy in them.

[EffieBlack]

16. He looks so young ...

Two of my fondest memories of that night: 1) my mother yelping with joy every time the anchor said, "President-Elect Obama"; and 2) my father sitting quietly watching the television with tears streaming down his face.

[study war no more]

18. I miss that feeling

What a proud day in our history.

[mikeysnot]

20. My friend and I were standing right

by that flag left of the BP glass.

[jmowreader]

21. I remember when we knew he had it

Karl Rove was on one of the networks talking about what it would take to put McCain past 270, and he was explaining the criticality of Ohio to their side. It was just them that Ohio was called for Obama, and Rove’s face instantly developed this “oh shit” expression.

[panader0]

22. In 2004 I made my little children watch the Democratic Convention.

When Obama spoke, I told them "That man will be the POTUS someday."
Magical stuff.

[malaise]

38. A family friend in Jersey who works for Dems

told us to watch Obama at the 2004 convention.
That was that. I joined DU later that year.

[SCantiGOP]

23. I stayed up until almost 5 am

Just watching the coverage over and over. A great feeling, which I hope to get about as much tomorrow night, and then a full dose in November 2020.

[lunatica]

24. The next day I took my mother to get her flu shot

There were a lot of people there (it was a hospital in Oakland, California) And I was so happy that I yelled out “Yay Obama” and everyone yelled “Yay!” back. Even the nurses giving flu shots. It was a truly happy moment for a hospital waiting room.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. There are awesome moments in life when if you are there

transcend everything too. When people all love each other. I liken it to walking down the street in DC toward the mall with all the other people to Obama's inauguration. Or I was lucky enough to be in New Orleans When the Saints won the Super Bowl. It is the greatest feeling to treat everyone with kindness and be treated that way back.

[FM123]

26. To this day, I can not look at that photo without tears welling up in my eyes.

[Blue Owl]

28. And I thought we as a nation had turned a corner...

...never to go back to the days of massive-scale GOP corruption, and making strides to eliminate racism from our culture.

Now here we are with a crooked Nazi in the oval office -- I still can't figure out how it could go from one extreme to the other...

[grantcart]

29. This is the country that is going to the polls tomorrow

[watoos]

31. You bet it is.

[NotAPuppet]

30. I remember...

I don’t know how many times I’ve cried listening to President Obama’s speeches. The man is such a class act and a decent human being as opposed to the orange moron.

Hopefully we get some good news tomorrow, because I’ve been ready for this nightmare to end since November 2016.

This is also my first post on this forum, so hello everyone!

[Totally Tunsie]

41. How nice that your first post on DU is about a happy subject.

Enjoy your time on DU!

[Scurrilous]

32. K&R

[Honeycombe8]

34. That was something. And we lived to see it! An historic moment. An historic Presidency. It was magic

The goodness and greatness of America came forward with a rush.

[saidsimplesimon]

35. Stacey Abrams is Presidential material

If you haven't heard her speak, do so. I was immediately reminded of President Obama.

[SWBTATTReg]

36. We will dance again!! Lots of love, and vote!!

[Cha]

37. Brilliantly described, Tommy.. Thank You!

Tweeted!

Link to tweet

[amuse bouche]

39. This memory makes me sigh so freakin hard

[Moebym]

40. I wish I were here in the US that night.

Instead I just followed it over a livefeed on the computer, alone, celebrating with people on the Internet.

Oh, how I wish I could have joined everyone on the streets.

[scubadude]

42. Im in that pic, maybe 30 yards back.

That is a moment I will never forget. Waited for hours to get a good spot.

[Neema]

44. I was there too! But way in the back.

Though I lived in the city, I worked in the suburbs and couldn’t get the time off from my shitty job. So I didn’t get downtown until like 6:30. In hindsight I probably should’ve just snuck out early because I was laid off just a month later anyway.

[Neema]

43. It was my great privilege to stand in that crowd and

cry tears of joy with everyone around me. ❤️❤️❤️

[backtoblue]

45. K&R

[True Blue American]

46. And after all of that

Who will ever forget this moment? My favorite memory of all time.

[marble falls]

47. From a little further back ....

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HyyDHyAwI6k/SRHzPrCAU0I/AAAAAAAADqY/I7X9NA8XBoI/s400/obama+grant+park.jpg