President-Elect Obama has 68 Percent Approval Rating To Start

According to a new USA Today / Gallup Poll, most Americans believe that the country will be better under President-Elect Barack Obama. It also reports that Americans see a new brighter period of race relations. Here's what Jill Lawrence of USA Today wrote:

WASHINGTON — Americans have soaring hopes for the incoming Obama administration and an even higher opinion of the man they just elected president, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows.

Nearly seven in 10 adults, or 68%, say they have a favorable opinion of President-elect Barack Obama. Nearly that many — 65% — say they think the country will be better off four years from now.

A much lower level of optimism greeted President Bush and former president Bill Clinton when they were first elected. In both cases just slightly over 50% said they thought the country would be better off.

Bush's job approval rating is a mirror image of Obama's favorable rating — 68% say they disapprove of how the Republican is handling his job.

BREAKING: 6.5 Magnitude Quake Strikes Northwest China

The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 6.5 earthquake has struck northwestern China. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

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Schwarzenegger tells backers of gay marriage: Don't give up

The governor expresses hope that Proposition 8 would be overturned as protesters continue to march outside churches across California.

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Minnesota Recount: Most Undervotes in Counties Won By Obama

An analysis of the 25,000 vote difference in Minnesota Presidential and Senate race tallies shows that most ballots lacking a Senate vote were cast in counties won by Barack Obama. The finding could have implications for Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken, who are separated by the thinnest of margins -- 221 votes as of Friday, or about 0.01 percent.

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Minnesota ruling favors Franken as recount looms

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sen. Norm Coleman has failed in an attempt to block some absentee ballots from being counted in his close race with Democrat Al Franken.

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500+ Death Threats: Fears grow for Barack Obama's security

The secret service is reported to have already investigated more than 500 death threats against Mr Obama during the presidential election contest. Last month, two neo-Nazi skinheads were arrested for conspiring to assassinate Mr Obama.

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"Global Cooling" myth get's fried

Deniers claim earth is cooling despite the "the most dramatic climate change since the onset of human civilization 5,000 years ago" Antarctica could burst into flame and the climate change / global warming Deniers would claim it was cooling.

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Google Maps: Breakdown of Cloverfield [WTF?]

"This is where the things in Cloverfield happen...okay this is where the monster first showed up..."

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Hate Crime Against Obama Supporter In Torrance, CA

Well, for all of the good feeling you now have some crazies coming out and making themselves known. I saw this on the Obama listserv called "Loa Angeles For Obama":

Hi Everyone,

I'm beyond upset to report that my neighbor who has been an active Obama supporter just had her house vandalized. She had put a "Yes, we did!" sign on her house and some assholes came and spray painted her car with swastikas and "88" which is a symbol of neo-nazi groups apparently.

We live in Torrance and which is a fairly conservative, but racially mixed area, but hate crimes are not something that usually rear their ugly heads here. The perpetrators are clearly idiots as well because my neighbor is white.

I feel especially bad because she had expressed some fear in putting up the sign in the first place and I told her not to be scared because I'd only gotten positive feedback from people this whole time I've been expressing my support for Obama. In any case I want to organize some way for Obama supporters to send her our support but I'm not sure what the protocol should be. I'd appreciate any guidance in the matter.