I think Obama represents hope. The rotting carcass of US capitalism is ripe for change.

Unfortunately you can't change a rotting carcass.

Real change would mean challenging the fundamentals on which US society is built. They are a low wage economy (and all that goes with that such as inadequate health and education spending by Government), repression of unions (both overt and covert), and the right to use military power anywhere in th world to cement or further US interests (and ever increasing military spending at the expense of the health and education of working Americans).

Obama, as far as I know, does not appear to be challenging any of these fundamentals.

Passy, you are right, he is not challenging those fundamentals.

Indeed, he is supported by them, more so than Clinton which are bad enough. Do a google on Obama and NAFTA and Canada. Check out the credentials and backgrounds on the names of his top advisors, especially on economic matters - all well known hard core right-wing neo-con free-trade fanatics. Check out his big sponsors. His health plan for example? 100% Corporate welfare. His wife works for one of them. Check out his history of "bipartisan" politics while in Illinois, and how many opponents he bribed or smashed with scandals to get elected unopposed. His war record? He is on public domain newspaper record in 2004 as saying his position was exactly the same as Bush. He voted for every funding bill, just like every other Democrat. He waited 18 mths before making a Senate speech on the war, and then argued against withdrawing too early. He adores Reagan in his books and in earlier magazine interviews. Check it all out, all can be verified.

He is being painted as some small-l liberal, moderate left-winger centrist, the "hope" and "change" candidate, by an exceptionally talented media. Americans will be fooled, or "inspired", as they always are by their own Hollywood propaganda. But nobody even *questions* the man. Its hilariously funny to watch :)
Its straight out of the movie, "Life of Brian", complete with crowds of 14,000 people applauding, cheering and fainting when he sneezes

Sorry Joe, I went off on another tangent. :)

I am not sure that the US is ready for an Obama (even if it is only the illusion of an Obama). Are we sure that the US is ready for a Hilary irrregardless that she might fit more the usual political mold.

The politics of hope would include major shifts in traditional Conservative thinking particularly in contesting the entrenched economic establishment and dispelling those notions of 'growth'. To face the challenges ahead - climate change, peak oil, alternative energy investment, issues posed by globalisation,ever increasing inter-cultural and religious tensions and notions of what constitutes a real democracy - is going to take some courage, vision, political fortitude and the ability to sell these ideas to a nervous electorate.

The 'magic' woven during an election, when all is said and done, is the work of PR and spin doctors so it can be difficult to see the substance from the rhetoric. Counting the number of times a politician might use the words hope or bipartisanship is meaningless unless they actually do mean it and can follow it up with action.

The number of times Rudd used the terms working familes and conservative economics already reflects a position that does not invite much hope for any real change. The only hope is that it is early days for the new government here in Oz and there have been a few positive rumblings but we will have to wait and see...

pelican, progress under Obama or any American President will not be easy. Obama, in my opinion, offers hope. Will he accomplish all that he promises? No. Will Hillary accomplish what she is harping about? No way. And McCain - will he deliver what he promises? He would if elected. Why? He promises nothing but more of the same and for that reason, he has the chance of being elected as a snowball surviving in hell.