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The Obama song is silly, bordering on obnoxious.

Change...After Obama was briefed by the Pentagon on what is really happening, not what the New York Times reports, he seems to be agreeing more with Bush on foreign policy...very telling indeed.

Change may come, but not anything like the "cult of Obama" foretold...

As the daughter of an American and a Foreign National, I have not often felt patriotic towards the country of my birth (USA), except on two occasions: right after September 11th, 2001, and right now.
I have first hand experience of the way our country is viewed overseas. I know many smart, liberal, educated, globally and politically aware Americans as a theatre artist, but the world doesn't see America as predominantly made up of such people. Last night changed that. I was determined to change my citizenship to that of my mother's if McCain (mostly because of Sarah Palin) would have won last night. I'm not going anywhere.

I don't think "pride" is synonymous with "patriotism." Your callers (and most of the comments before mine) seem to be proud of America, as evidenced by happiness, flag-purchase intentions, and cheering police and sanitation workers.

Want to be patriotic? Join the auxiliary police, pick up trash off the sidewalk, volunteer at a hospital, etc.

Actually, I thought the most patriotic call you got today was in the previous segment, when the doctor who'd voted for McCain said he was willing to give Obama a try and would also be willing to pay more taxes if it would help.

Paying taxes is patriotic.

before hearing brian's show i saw a friend's facebook status: "...is re-connecting with the whole 'proud to be an american' thing." i realized that i don't think i ever stopped being a patriotic and proud american even in the face of the appalling events of these last 8 years... a proud *american*. what country we have been for the past 8 years i don't know, but it wasn't the USA i know. it's about time we get that back, huh?

I have not felt such love and connection with my country since 9/11. Tears have been rolling down my face since last night. When I was a child of eleven I would walk home from school with a black girl. We both needed to go buy new shoes and I went home and told my mother that I would go with her to buy them. My mother's response enraged me. She said 'No someone may think that you too are black.' I felt so ashamed and helpless.

My hope and intuition concerning Obama is that he has the potential of being one or our great Presidents in these extraordinary times, on the level of Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt. I know the show is over but I must share my overwhelming happiness and hope for the world. I too will buy an american flag and hang it in my window.

there is no way i could have anticipated how i feel today. i am very much experiencing a feeling of patriotism beyond my comprehension, as is the rest of my office and, it seemed last night, most of the city. perceptions have changed, it's amazing. like your caller said, the word "patriot" is no longer making my stomach turn. at least for today...

Unfortunitly, as long as the Democrat and Republican values stand at opposite ends of the scales, we will not be a United nation.

Progressive Patriotism? Probably not going to happen.

I am proud of my country. I respect the office of the President no matter who is in.

Eleven years ago, I came to live in the USA from my home in Europe. I have deep affections to all the people that are part of my daily live here in the greater metropolitan region of New York and for the people and places I have met when traveling out west on vacations. But while I build up more and more ties to this country and it's people, I always held up a boundary between the USA and myself. Last night, when Obama was elected to be the next president, I felt so proud to live here that I decided to tear down my mental border and apply for American citizenship.

I hope we won't cling to patiotism as most of our problems are global and require global solutions. Nations are the vestiges of empire building a hopefully antiquated system.

p.s. the beat of the Obama song is Soca(from Trinidad Calipso not Reggae.

For anyone interested, I recorded a show back in July that featured Some Obama related songs performed by the Band Extra Golden. Members of the band span the US and Kenya.

The link is at

http://www.baeblemusic.com/Concerts/TheKnittingFactory/ExtraGolden.html

Enjoy!

Part of the new overt progressive patriotism is a change in the on-the-fence status of Black Americans, not quite embracing an American identity. Last night I saw on NY1 a very young Black man celebrating in brooklyn speaking to the camera. He was not articulate by classroom standards as he said that this is not for Blacks or Whites but for all America. If a Black Brooklynite that young amid a raucus celebration in fort Green is excited for America and not Black America something is changing in a fundamental way.

I am sorry to be the wet rag at the party, but I am hearing a lot of Fair Weather Patriotism. It seems to me that the callers have lost their understanding of the system of our Government, the checks and balances, and forgotten the Freedoms we are guaranteed, and have lost sight of what our country really is: a system that has worked incredibly well and has given us opportunity to live as we wish. It is not one party or another, or the wackos on either end of the spectrum, but the framework that allows those parties to flourish and those wackos to speak their minds without fear. To be proud to be an American is to be proud of what makes us unique - our system and freedoms. If it takes one election that goes their way to restore "Patriotism" I think this is more honestly called Euphoria.

I am now and always have been an American Patriot. I just hope that this attitude of pride in our country and hope for our future will continue for a long time to come- no more threats of moving to Canada whenever a Republican is elected- united we stand!

For those of us whose dreams died with the Murder of Robert Kennedy, Obama's election represents a rebirth of hope that we did not expect to find in our lifetime.

Is this how Republicans felt on the morning after Bush's election?

Is this how Bush supporters felt when they sang "Proud to be an American?"

Will they keep their flags up now?

These are my thoughts after 1230. I just warned my European facebook friends to beware...

For the first time ever in 18 years as an immigrant I felt completely vested as an American and proud to say so. I now cherish my U.S. passport fully as never before (not that I'm giving up my Irish one). I cried during his speech last night, he is truly a uniter, not a divider. A brilliant inspirational man who will lead the American renewal.

I am 22 years old and for the first time in my life I am overcome with patriotism. I have felt politically powerless my entire adult life and rejected by my homeland. Last night I changed my facebook status to "no longer a woman without a country" in reference to the late great kurt vonnegut.

You may call it a "new progressive" patriotism, but perhaps it's simply a renewed patriotism among progressive Americans.

"We" have been feeling disenfranchised and helpless for much of the last 8 years.

Indeed, these feelings have validation in part because the election in 2000 was certainly stolen from Al Gore and the Democrats, and there's a good chance that the 2004 election was stolen as well (in Ohio, at the least, and probably Florida).

And oh yes: maybe the Electoral College will finally be abolished, this time around.

Progressive patriotism? Absolutely! But perhaps not so new. Barack Obama's language and deeds resonate with the spirit of Paul Wellstone. Let's not forget Air America and Al Franken. And I would include the Brian Lehrer show.

I wouldn't phrase it that way ... I see this even as a step to a global, human identity ... Maybe America needs to humble itself now to work together with the rest of the world, not just bully and lead. Or lead by example. And again, I can not stress this enough: could we all please be accountable and responsible, The planet and the climate need us...

Progressive patriotism...new progressive global thinking!

My eyes have been filled with tears of joy all night. I feel that this is now my country too. America has finally met its potential. For the first time, I plan on buying a flag and hanging it in my window.

I'm not sure there is a "new" progressive patriotism. As someone who considers himself a progressive Democrat - I have always felt patriotic. I love this country and the ideals we claim to embrace. I will say that it feels nice to not be ashamed by those who have hijacked the nation with fear-mongering.

The 'new' progressive patriotism is the same as the old. We just don't think that bombing civilians makes a person patriotic. We think strong support of civil rights is patriotic, and always has been. Supporting average Americans in the face of the boundless greed of the rich is patriotic.