Barack Obama won the election, clearly and decisively, without the need for any legal intervention or recounts. Come January, we’ll have a new president, new administration, and a government full controlled by the Democratic party.
Whether you supported Obama or McCain, nearly everyone is agreed on the need for Change. Even the incumbent party was running on a platform of change!
What I found most surprising is the reaction of people from around the world to the election results. There seemed to be a huge, positive, response to Obama winning. It’s not just that he’s the winner, but more so that many in the international community relate to his message.
That is a different response from ‘congratulations’, or sucking up to a new US leader, or even just jumping in early and promoting a country agenda. The response is more about relating to the messages of ‘change’, ‘hope’, ‘a new beginning’, and ‘cooperation’.
I can hear it now….but, Mike, it’s an election year, and this is politics – it’s about telling people what they want to hear.
Hard to argue with that. However, and remember I’m a realist (or a cynic, depending on whose talking about me) at heart, and don’t get too caught up in the political swings. Don’t take that wrong – I always vote and I’m always involved in the free political process. I just take it all with a grain of salt and step back to make my decision based on the facts and issues important to me.
And I’m telling you, it feels different. I’m buying into the ‘Land of Opportunity’ theme and the ‘Time for Change’ and especially the ‘It Starts with You’ concept that we are all responsible for our own success and ultimately the success of the country based on our own choices and ….ACTIONS.
Time will tell if this particular election is a turning point. I kind of think the rest of the world can see the US a little more clearly than we can see ourselves….they think it’s momentous.
The world needs a leader right now, a country to rally around. They’ve rallied around the US before, it’s time for another run at World Leader. Mr. Obama has a tough row to hoe, and is already being challenged; they’ll be lining up to challenge him in the coming months.
At home, the comparisons to Hoover/FDR transition are commonplace. Unfortunately, the economic aspects definitely hit too close to reality; it makes it scary. The deciding factor in the transition period is whether Obama acts on the bipartisan course he has preached, right now, even before january and set himself up for real change. He preached it, many believed it, and now it’s time to do it.
The first 100 days will be successful in domestic policy if he and the majority party can pull off bipartisan consensus before inauguration. That success will send a message to the world….and the Echos won’t stop any time soon!
