With wars under way in Iraq and Afghanistan, an engulfing economic downturn, a catastrophic foreign policy and the largest federal deficit in history, the United States has elected Barack Obama. Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election is not a reaffirmation of the American dream; but the validation of the United States ability to reinvent itself. Both Obama and McCain represented this power of reinvention. Obama has simply been the most suited leader for this specific period in history.
While Obama is an agent of hope, John McCain can become an agent of reconciliation. Hope will not create jobs, fix a broken health system or mend a failed foreign policy. Hope will however, bring people together to act, gather, legislate and engage for a common goal and purpose. E.J Dionne Jr. from the Washington Post encapsulates this sense of reinvention in a few simple words - "Yesterday, America chose to practice what it has long preached to the rest of the world."
On the policy side we hope the Democrats majority in both chambers leads to the fulfilment of an ambitious Obama policy platform including: 1) an orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and a greater focus on the war in Afghanistan, 2) tax cuts for Americans who make less than $200,000 a year and higher taxed for those making above $250,000 a year, 3) revamping of the health care system, 4) a conciliatory and open foreign policy. We will be keeping a close eye on Obama's new online community space change.gov.
Obama's first test will be his appointments to key positions including Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State. Obama must translate this electoral win into a successful governing startegy. Obama is the best man for the job.
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