The Result

Senator McCain couldn't conduct his campaign with the elegant grace that was evident in his speech after Obama’s victory. That was part of his problem - awkward and temperamental under pressure and with a tendency to make negative jibes. Obama on the other displayed effortless cool, appearing calm and measured. In a media-dominated age that counts for a lot.

The colour of his skin furthermore is an issue whether people like it or not, and while many people DID vote for and against on that basis, I do find it hard to believe that it gave him the edge over John McCain.

Obama has been elected despite the fact that he is black, not because of it. Little more than 40 years ago Barack Obama would have found it hard to be served lunch in a restaurant, let alone be US president. That is the mark of his success – it is for the moment however and his true impact and earned place in history will be measured in the years to come.

I've said several times in my own journal that the biggest issue the world faces is a failure of the free market, and that requires an interventionist solution. A John McCain administration could not deliver that solution - it is not in their bloodstream. Indeed, the big theme of Republican economics - cut income tax - no longer cuts it politically when 29 million Americans pay no income tax.

I get the impression that many people have gone outside of their comfort zone on this one which puts further pressure on a President faced with the most difficult challenges.
We have now economic conditions that form part of a larger cycle and that is not normally planned for, in so much as it only happens once every other generation at least. Laissez-faire cannot help this situation – you need someone to take control and for the State to provide a reinforcing infrastructure.

In this election America was not looking simply for a candidate able to command its forces as it enjoyed undisputed hegemony. It was more anxious than that. It was looking for a leader, like Mr Obama, who could command and might deserve the respect of the world.

If Obama succeeds he will be as great as the hype now says he is. If not, then the electorate will remove him in 4 years time. That’s democracy.