Barack Obama Wins

There was a saying to the effect that great leaders emerge in testing times. In a time of crisis somebody is being ushered on stage to take charge and lead. I am pretty sure that this is what voters in America confirmed on November 4. Barack Hussein Obama is the next president-elect of the United States. What a triumph! He was the candidate who wasn’t given much of a chance when he initially announced his candidacy for office. Yes, a new and interesting face, but that was it. Everybody was focused on Hilary Clinton and John Edwards on the Dem side. Not only did Obama outsmart (and outspend) the Clinton dynasty in the primaries, but he won by quite a margin yesterday against John McCain and the Republican political machine.

Watching the Grant Park rally in Chicago last night was moving. I have to say that I had a lump in my throat watching people’s faces as they listened to Obama. The emotion was quite palpable. You could feel the optimism, the belief that things will really change for the better. I am glad I witnessed this (and kick myself for not being there in person). The speech itself was brilliant. I just marveled at Obama’s eloquence and delivery.

McCain’s speech conceding the race was also quite good and, yes, graceful. He reminded again of the McCain we were used to see, the guy who was liked by so many, the old war hero. If he was like that and had less Palin and more Arnold during his campaign, the result might have been different. No matter what he did, though, McCain was doomed by the shadow of W and Palin. I kind of feel sorry for him because this was his last shot at running for president. He should have been elected as president back in 2000. I bet America and the world would have looked a lot better than they do today.

Back to Obama. Excitement is all good, but the reality is that he is facing some Herculean tasks. When he started running for the job, the issues were the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the usual cultural “wars”. Now we’ve got the economy going downhill and the markets crushing every other day. There is quite a bit on your plate, Barack. Which brings me back to my original point. After seeing Obama run his campaign, his steady hand, sound judgment and ability to go against the odds, I think he will not disappoint. In fact, I think America will emerge from the current mess better and stronger than before. Will wait and see.