President-Elect Obama faces the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and a new unraveling of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Obama is forced by his party and his corporate funders to come out on the side of big business, this will prepare the way for a new political awakening, growing struggles, and a growing working-class consciousness.

Socialism Today editor Lynn Walsh discussed the presidential victory of Barack Obama.

Dear Socialist Alternative, You did a marvelous job at the Obama vs. Nader debate the other night [with Seattle City Councilor Nick Licata]. If there were any winners or losers, you won by a wide margin.

While continuing to organize against the war and on community issues, Socialist Alternative energetically campaigned for a vote for Ralph Nader in the presidential elections, arguing that building mass movements independent of the two parties is the surest way to win the change we need.

The economic crisis and the Democrats’ sweeping electoral victory opens a dramatically new period in U.S. politics, filled with possibilities and pitfalls for the left. The pressing need to build a working-class resistance against layoffs, budget cuts, and foreclosures, among other demands, is fast becoming clear to millions feeling the bite of the recession.

Blacked out of the corporate media, barred from the debates, and facing an electoral system rigged to favor the two big business parties, Ralph Nader’s campaign for president persevered to reach millions of voters with a genuine pro-worker, antiwar alternative.

Riding a tidal wave of anger at Bush, the economy, and the Iraq war, the November elections saw a sweeping victory for Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.

Famed antiwar mom Cindy Sheehan received an impressive 29,951 votes – 17 percent – in her insurgent bid for Congress against Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. On a recent trip to San Francisco, I was able to meet up with Sheehan and discuss her campaign, as well as her plans to launch a new party after the elections.

On Election Day, voters delivered a decisive, historic defeat to the Republican agenda of corporate greed, corruption, and war. There is enormous hope that Obama’s election night promise of “a new dawn for America” is indeed in progress. But will Obama and the Democratic Party deliver?

The overwhelming victory for Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential elections and the major gains scored by the Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives represent a turning point for the U.S.

Americans have a decision to make on November 4, when the US presidential election is to be held. Evidently, Barack Obama’s candidature and campaign for the presidential seat has become a global phenomenon, not just in America and Europe but also in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. It is not only because of his multi-racial background that Obama appeals to millions across the world, but also because his claim of giving hope resonates in the minds of Americans who are seeking a change from the 8 year-long economic deprivation wrought by the neo-liberal policies of the Republican Bush presidency.

The U.S. presidential election campaign has opened a new chapter for U.S. imperialism. With the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, the clear favorite to win the race to the White House, what will this new situation mean for U.S. foreign policy?

With the massive working class anger at the Democrat/Republican big bank bailouts the past week, Cindy saw the shift in the mood and declared that a new political party must be built after the elections. She had previously made similar statements in an interview with a Socialist Alternative member that appeared in Justice newspaper; This new statement is a confirmation of her intent.

After a week of unprecedented economic and political turmoil, leaders of both political parties were stunned as their bi-partisan plan to bail out Wall Street at taxpayers expense went down in defeat on Monday. The vote is a huge defeat for the Wall Street elite and it deepens the political crisis in Washington.

The conventions of the two main parties in US politics are stage-managed affairs. This year was no different. No real debates on policies occurred. In fact, proposed policies are barely talked about. Still, the conventions of the Democrats and Republicans showed a shift in the presidential election campaigns, which has been reflected in the polls.