A Planet Changing Election

If Barack Obama wins the election today not only will it be "historic" for all of the reasons we've discussed throughout the long campaign, he surely will be our president for the next eight years. My nine-month old baby daughter, Gianna Isabella, will be in the third grade when President Barack Obama leaves office. If this election has been about anything it has been about the future of our children and the world's children. I take solace in the idea that there could be young children living in the White House again. They are the future.

We have lost eight years under George W. Bush. The president of the United States is more than a reflection of his time -- he shapes it. And our time, over the past eight years, has been shaped by an ignorant bully.

We have an opportunity today to show the rest of the world that we Americans are not warmongers and imperialists; that we are not authoritarians and militarists; and that we want to play a positive role in the community of nations and be a force for peace and do our part to save the planet from the perils of global climate change and other looming challenges.

It was the United States that gave humanity the priceless gift of the first photographs of our beautiful blue planet hanging in total blackness. When our astronauts of Apollo 8, the first humans to break out of Earth's orbit, turned their cameras back on the Earth they captured a timeless image of our home, ourselves, and everything and everybody we hold dear. The moon landing took place the following year. And that astonishing achievement arose from the vision, imagination, and will of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

The point is we have more to be proud of as Americans than just generating wealth and fighting wars. Barack Obama offers us the potential to reignite that vision and imagination. He has reformed his party and promises to reform the nation. His interest and engagement in foreign affairs and diplomacy give him the potential to do great things on the international stage, not only for Americans but also for the people of the world.

The world today is too interwoven and interconnected for the United States to bestride it like a menacing colossus. The problems we face are too big to be solved by any one nation no matter how big and powerful. Whether we are talking about making changes in our energy infrastructure to reduce green house gases; or abolishing nuclear weapons; or containing international terrorism; or stopping genocide; or, as the current financial crisis has shown, creating a stable and prosperous world economy, the lesson is clear: We must work together in the final analysis. We must put aside our divisions and extend our hand to the nations of the world -- including so-called rivals like China, India and Russia, and even to "enemies" like Iran and North Korea. There are too many nations in the world today armed to the teeth with high-technology weaponry to do otherwise. The problems of the 21st Century are global problems that require global solutions.

We are going to need the talent, energy, and ingenuity of ALL Americans if we are going to do our part to help humanity grapple with the ominous global challenges we face in the 21st Century. We can no longer afford to cast off millions of our own citizens and consign them to poverty zones with no health care and substandard schools. Over the course of his nearly two-year presidential campaign, Barack Obama has proven that he is the right leader at the right time. He has the vision, the imagination, and the will to be a great president if only the voters give him the chance.

Comments

[vegas9999]

We will not have to worry about generating wealth or fighting wars with Obama. Right?

[johnie2xs]

On the contrary, we will. No one is saying that because he is in charge, least of all him, that miraculously there will be a minimization of all that ails us. The difference will be in his deliberative and intelligent nature. We can no longer view every problem in the world as being a nail, to be dealt with, with a military hammer.
This is not the time for back biting. To work against President-elect Obama, would be to work against our own interest.
Stow all partisanship and lend a hand.

[DLSprague]

I already cast my vote for Gianna and all the other little ones in my life. Now, we will see what happens. Lets hope that enough people figured it out. It is a seminal year for politics and the future, that's for sure. Most important in my lifetime.

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

There are tens of thousands of very talented people in our great university just waiting for the chance to serve their country -- Bush has only gone to the Right-wing think tanks and to lobbyists and other corporate shills to fill the departments of government - he doesn't even believe in government. Watch the sea change of an Obama Administration simply by having committed people who believe in serving in government, like the FDR years -- instead of mediocre hacks and cronies!

[demo-bane1]

Maybe they need to apply for the jobs instead of waiting for a hand-out.

[DEFIANCE]

A person can apply all they want and it wont do any good if the person choosing is a cronyist and doesn't believe in selecting the best over the most loyal.

Obama seems likely to actually look at applications. The handouts are what has happened over the last 8 years, now we may see those that have earned it get the chance they deserve.

[OurKoan]

I love the line about small children living in the White House. What could be more of a humanizing effect, a reality check on what leadership role gets served out of that building than hopeful, cheerful, young souls romping around?

We get more than Barack with Obama. We get a loving family in the WH, and that is priceless!

[Pdubya]

I imagine that I will be shipped off to Pakistan and the money I earn will buy half of what it buys now.

[ILibertine]

2000 was a planet changing election that led in a completely wrong direction. 2004 was a planet changing election. It re-affirmed the nation's committment to the path Bush had forged, when "ignorant bullying" was already quite clear. Not until 2006 did significant-enough portions of the electorate began to see through the veil of deceit and realize the level of incompetence.

Possibly this election would not be the apparent win for Obama were there not the economic plunge. Issues such as a non-conscription, frivolous war, habeus corpus, Patriot Act, dismantling regulatory affect, diplomatic intransigence, etc. may not have had a cumulatively significant affect upon voter's persuasions. They would be difficult to impress upon many in the face of strong Republican issues such as Joe the Plumber, Maverick populism and the stability of a comforting face.

One suspects that an Obama presidency will reverse the exponential dumbing-down that Bush exemplifies, McCain furthered, and has become instilled within the economic, social and political fabric in actions. It would be nice to see re-invigoration of the arts, responsibility, less demonization of differing perspectives and an international presence that considers historic precedent, current realities and consensus.

It's also important that voters stay engaged and endeavor to ensure that a Democratic majority, if that is today's result, does not evolve into a self-serving political machine, rather than a mandated engine toward ameliorating or correcting the numerous failures of the recent administration with a more balanced and forward-looking policy.

[demo-bane1]

Sooo...obama is going to talk to our enemies and work-out our differences and they will stick to the agreement? Have you seen the treaty the clinton negotiated with the north koreans?? It was a beaut. Full of dis-armament and human right imrovements. BUT they were just using the time to continue doing what they were doing and and we now have an even more powerful enemy that would rather have nukes than feed it's own people.

[IndyReader]

Sorry, but the world has already written off the US; we are a =former= world power. We are beholden to the Asian rim and dismissed by Europe, east and west. Hopefully Obama will restore to us a less hubristic pride in country and place in the world. People like you are just going to have to accept that we are just no longer #1.

[koulflo]

A planet changing election, yes, but one small race in PA might show we still have a ways to go.
see
http://koulflo.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/a-race-to-watch-barletta-in-pennsylvania/

[Nota]

Just a warning, no one knows the future. You shouldn't be making such sweeping predictions until Obama proves he's a capable leader of our country. Campaigning effectively does not count.

Watch the first 100 days of his presidency. History shows those days will define his term in office.

Until then, please keep your predictions to yourself.

Obama promised changed- no one said it was going to be a good change. All we can do is wait and see.

[sukiposeyzena]

It isn't about predictions. It's about confidence.

[ILibertine]

I suggest the very act of voting is a prediction - of how an individual wishes the future to evolve based upon his or her relative choices. And Mr. Palermo sees his vote as having the effects he describes. I am pleased that he, and anyone, incorporates such expansiveness in their decision-making.

I am pleased that you incorporate some reserve, as well. This is politics, after all. That said, many feel there is a curious moment upon us, when a once in a lifetime personality comes on-stage - seeming to exemplify at once the ability to rise in a tough political system and to project a remarkable compassionate side, that disposes many to ascribe virtues of high order.

There's nothing wrong with being objective. Likewise, there's nothing wrong with entertaining lofty hopes. They must have seemed lofty in Philadelphia in 1776. The point is, the bar needs to be raised, not lowered.

[sukiposeyzena]

The majority of Americans have stood up for patriotism and hope in this election.
Our future is in good hands.
Judy

[Barba]

Hey Folks

I wanted to say žThanks" to all the Voters and especially to all the Volunteers all over America. It was so great, to watch the Elections this time.
You have not only done that for Obama and for your own Country: you have done this for the whole World.

I"m very grateful and happy for that!

Greetings and Love from Europe!
Barba