I believe this is truly a historic time that will do a great deal to heal wounds not only at home but around the world. The fact that we as a nation chose to elect to the highest office in the land a man of color named Barack Hussein Obama will go a long way in changing the perceptions of America abroad. I understand your desire to marvel at this experience. You'll have plenty of time to criticize when Sarah Palin gets her reality show. ( How about "She's the Governor" on A&E?)

When MSNBC went to a live shot of Spelman College, you saw students cheering and hugging each other, as well as some that were just completely overcome with emotion.

Then the shot of Jesse Jackson standing there, amidst the crowd quickly soaking it in and realizing exactly what a huge moment it was...

It was beautiful.

What the hell was the deal with that hologram? It was truly frightening, and the worst part about it was Wolf Blitzer hyping it as something historic.

The clear voice last night, and going forward, is that our unity country is far more important than our divisions. Last nights win was a win over intolerance, hate, and fear. While having the first african american president is huge, it is dwarfed by the coming together of so many for one clear statement - the USA can do better.

It is up to all of us, not just Obama, to make it so. So here is my peace offering to all the hate bloggers that spent 6-10 months trying to scare us out of voting for everything positive about this country. Lets get together and make it work.

Hello Julia, Thanks for your wise words. It will be fascinating to see how bloggers will respond to your enlightened offer. I am hoping that we hear from some of them today and that they are moved to have more open hearts. But I have to say -- and this is probably the cynicism of 30 years in journalism speaking -- that right-wing talk radio has been preaching such anger and hate for more than two decades, and it is hard to undo that, especially for those who know only name calling and attacks as the way of political communication. But today is a day for hope, so let's do so. ....And I love your message about us being the ones that have to change the discourse and the culture -- not the new president-elect. Thanks so much. Z

Your commentary on what happened in Baltimore last night was the best commentary I've heard.Last night was the long awaited event that I never thought I would ever see, I told my daughter to go wake up my two little grandbabies kiss them for me because history was made.I truly hope that this is the season for each and everyone of us to come togather to make this country what it was intended to repersent,Love, Peace,pulling togather. It is so funny how people are trying to say that the only reason he won was because black people put him in office not so we came togather as a people that what put him there thank you so much David I love that commentary.

Hi Geraldine, Thank you for these kind remarks. And most of all thanks for the personal testimony of waking the grandchildren to make sure they experienced the moment of history. After more than 30 years in journalism, I am certain last night's events are memories they will hold and treasure for the rest of their lives. And for all the criticism leveled against TV, for most of us, it is through TV that we experienced these incredibly moving moments. Thanks. Z

AS A COUNTRY WE NEED TO ELIMINATE RACISM.BECAUSE WE ALL SWIM IN THE SAME SEA OF LIFE.WE ARE A UNITED STATES !!!!!!!!

I to, was overwhelmed by the nation's confidence in a man of color. To see us all come together as one last night brought joy to my heart. Yes, we mad history in electing Barack Obama, but we more so made history in that we were all peaceful in our show of support for the elections. We know that there will be challenges ahead, but if we could all stand together as we did last night, what an amazing stay in the White House President Obama will have. He has brought us together in unity, let's keep it going.

obama wins. happy days are here again

Last night confirmed to me that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.

I am a 20 year old natural citizen registered to vote in the 2008 election, but declined my right on personal beliefs this year. But regardless of that fact, nothing could stop my tears of gratitude last night as I watched true history in front of my eyes, as I was lucky enough to catch the exact moment when Barack Obama was announced as the President-elect of the United States of America. No matter who you voted for or what your beliefs are, it cannot be denied that last night was one of the most outstanding historical moments in American history.
No one else could have said it better than you:
"TV news is guilty of a million sins, and I make a living writing about them. But last night, as I savored the symmetry between what I saw on TV and experienced in the streets of Baltimore, I let the moment wash over me.

I was grateful to be alive to witness this moment of history, and thankful to the medium of television for expanding my world beyond Baltimore so that I could experience it with Americans coast to coast."

Hi Kim, Thanks so much for the comments and for sharing the feelings you had as you heard the announcement. Z

i was one of those people on charles street cheering on cars as they passed by us. it was honestly one of the most amazing times I can remember. I was hugging people and cheering with people who i hadn't known prior to 15 minutes before. it was one of the few times where i can say that i felt the whole city felt like one greater whole.

It was a great feeling. Tim Swift, the arts editor, and I were in the car, and we both just sat there with smiles on our faces as the you guys walked and danced past. It was extraordinary and it did feel as if we all part of something larger for that moment. As a person, I am so glad I had the chance to experience it. As a TV critic, it was so nice to see real-life in synch for once with what was showing onscreen. Z

For me the most moving video clip from last night was one on YouTube today: A crowd of Obama supporters on a plaza in (I think) Portland, OR who when the race was called broke into song:

"Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed by the twilight's last gleaming..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbEA5ue2Be4

Got it.You are right. Thanks. Z

MSNBC did a pretty good job with this, too. They made the call as the West Coast polls closed (I think they jumped ahead of CNN on this), then went to cameras in numerous places, starting with Grant Park, then Spellman College, Rockefeller Plaza, Harlem, and a couple of other locations I can't recall at the moment. There was no fewer than five full minutes of this video, jumping from place to place and showing the joy and emotion. MSNBC also caught Jesse Jackson and Oprah Winfrey crying (in separate shots). There was no commentary at all other than the images of the crowds. Finally they had to start again because they had to gear up for John McCain's concession speech.

MSNBC made use of a kind of reverse hologram effect, with Ann Curry completely surrounded by green-screen effects. Chuck Todd was also green-screened, but at least he had the podium with the laptop computers in front of him. That was almost as weird as the hologram, although I think CNN had one of the better interactive maps I saw.

Truly wonderful to see us Americans coming together and embracing the change we so need. YES WE CAN and YES WE DID.

Yes. Thanks. Z

R. Bruce Dunn- we'd be a lot more united if millions of people weren't arbitrarily declared criminals because they prefer marijuana to the really dangerous drug (alcohol).

Let's not stop the celebration just yet, let us metaphorically hold hands and celebrate the fact that we are citizens of the world who can turn things around and be a beacon for economic growth, cultural awareness, self-reliance, goodwill, etc; let us try to support our new president through thick and thin (within reason). Let’s not look for mis-steps before they happen. The road will be rough and winding but don’t lose hope. BE OPTIMISTIC and at the same time realistic. Let's use the next 8 years to transform our thinking about how we function as a nation and how we view education, health care, energy use, etc. Let’s commit ourselves to make a difference in our individual corners. Let us be gentle and patient with people who cannot and may never see the light at the end of the tunnel; be tolerant and at the same be vigilant and keep an eye out for those who hate and want to hurt the president and other bystanders; let those who CAN (and YES WE CAN), aim to give more honey than vinegar even to the haters. Let's use technological advances to implement cutting edge programs in schools of every level. Let us showcase to our global neighbors the good sides of what it means to live in a multicultural and pluralistic society. Let's embrace our similarities and "for real" respect our differences. BE PATIENT and let’s do our part and believe me, our President-elect Obama will surpass our expectations. PEACE!

Hi, Good reminder and great message. Thnaks. Z

In case anyone is unaware, those happy kids banging on pots and pans on Charles street wound up tazed and arrested. I'm very serious about this. There is an article in this very newspaper about it. Certainly put a damper on our magic night.

Hi Andrew: Of course, I didn't know about your situation when I posted at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. But is there more beyond what it is the newspaper that you can share? I saw part of ithe Hopkins celebration from about a block away as I drove up Charles, and thought, "Finally, the area feels like a real college community" -- a longtime Hopkins goal. I am curious to hear from you or any of the other Hopkins folks how it came to the end it did. PS Did you see the TV celebrations? Thanks. Z

so what was to celebrate,McCain lost.