I will start this diary, which I hope will be read for what it is and not immediately ridiculed. I voted for McCain. I remain, notwithstanding a result I did not want, profoundly hopeful for our land, and eagerly anticipating the next four to eight years.
Barack Obama has the potential to be a transformational President. Clearly, though the Democrats did not get 60 Senate seats, even one who often votes independently cannot be deaf, dumb and blind to what the American people said. Put simply, the people showed that ours is a country where anyone can do anything, if they have the brains, the drive, and the will.
Our country is truly an amazing land. It is a land made up of people from all nations. Some people came involuntariiy, and are part of the heritage that Barack Obama partially springs from.
Others are descended from people wanting to leave the idiotic culture, ethnic and religious wars. In many respects, the quilt that makes up America is a speaking quilt. To quote Barack Obama's campaign slogans, the quilt says "Yes We Can". What we learned today is that the immigrants whom came here for a merit-dominated rather than religion and ethnicity based experience have prevailed.
A few words about the U.S. Presidency, and the hope that he can achieve gretness. The U.S. President is a combination monarch and Prime Minister. In order to lead successfully, they must be inspiring. They also must make decisions. The best of them, such as George Washrington, Ronald Reagan and Abe Lincoln were both inspiring and decisive. Less successful, but still great Presidents such as Truman made gutsy and courageous decisions, but were not particularly inspiring. George W. Bush fits that category.
We know that Obama is inspiring. It is up to him how to use his considerable oratorical gifts, and charisma, for the country. He will either soar, or fail miserably. I will never root against my country, and hope, despite my voting for McCain, that he meets his promise. Ronald Reagan surprised me, quite pleasantly. I both hope and fear for the future.