It has got that way with me as having a mature age Post Grad with a pleasing memory of Keynsianism and a forgiving America with the Marshall Plan, etc, I feel that America has now lost even common sense, with a popular Palin gladly pressing the Wild West anti-intellectual so-called American Way.

Certainly the start of the downgrade as Henry Kissinger forecast was when he strongly warned Nixon about shutting his mind to Israel going militarily atomic.

It is so idiotically tragic that now in our OLO we find so many contributors forsaking that ability to use scientific reasoning backed by historical insight to understand what is really America's problem.

Playing her luck, rather than using wisdom and understanding.

Cheers, BB, Buntine, WA.

A simple potted history from the viewpoint of a non-Bushie. Which is practically everyone these days.

bennie, to be a non-bushie is certainly not without just cause.

Although I'm a leftist I've never been anti-American. Just against the cartel running the place. Barbara Ehrenreich, Molly Ivins and Laura Flanders are some of the Americans I admire and they have all written about the corrupt, criminal regime currently lodged in Washington (hopefully not for much longer).

I hate anti-Americanism. Some leftists will make anti-American comments that would be clearly racist in any other context. So I hope anti-Americanism has no future and people learn to distinguish between the US ruling class and the American people.

Hopefully the elections in a week will turn things around,
when Obama hopefully wins. He understands the need for people
skills, as Clinton did. Bush/Cheney only knew 4 by 2 policy,
no wonder America is hated.

The Economist is running an international poll on the US elections.
So far Obama has around 40'000 votes and McCain 7000. Sudan and
Congo seem in favour of McCain :)

That kind of says it all.

Even if Obama wins, as seems likely, he'll be tied down by the past 8 years of violent US history, not to mention the recent economic crisis. All brought about by the current Republican ethics that encompass violence, stupidity and fiscal irresponsibility.

There's not a great deal Obama can do to extricate the US from this mess in the short term.

It will take probably another 8 years before the US recovers from it's violent, interventionist recent past and it's self inflicted economic crisis.

I'm with you Joe in the US. It'd be devastating to see off bozo only to be met with Punch.

And I'm with DavidJS.

You could fit all of Australia's reflexive anti-Americanists into the same community hall that contains a Socialist Alternative meeting.

"Anti-American" has been used for the last 8 years as a cheap smear of critics of the disastrous Bush administration. By that standard, the vast majority of Americans are now anti-American. Where's Joe McCarthy when you need him?

RW523252 it takes more than one to Tango.

Some selective listening going on here. During the primaries Hilary and Obama were both quoting Reagan (yes - in a respectful way).

So your rich Uncle tries to help you out and even though his intentions are good things go awry. He then loans you money and provides some very flexible terms to pay it back. You struggle to pay off the debt and find it extremely difficult to do so. The result - you begin to dislike the rich Uncle.

Don't be surprised that within 10 months of Obama being elected there will be a very complex and nasty foreign policy emergency for him to deal with. There will be a test, simply to test him out if for no other reason.

As per fiscal responsibility - Clinton's administration took Fannie and Freddie to Fed Court. Claimed discrimination and won. Result F & F were ordered to loan money to people who could not pay it back. The Dems bragged about increased % of home ownership. McCain sponsored legislation to prevent what has happened - Obama et al voted against it. FACT.

Quote -- Big Media have kept the American public blind to the truth about Obama, including...

The fact that a corrupt Chicago Machine politician "made a U.S. senator" out of Barack Obama

How Barack Obama won his first election by having his lawyers knock all his opponents off the ballot on technicalities

Obama's support for a grotesque "infanticide" law that was too extreme even for Nancy Pelosi

The Tony Rezko connection: "I've never done any favors for him," says Obama about convicted developer Tony Rezko. Oh, but he has...

By T Winter, Human Events

perhaps anti-americanism is merely the result of one time fans becoming aware of america's true character, rather than the bowlderized 'john wayne' story.

iraq and dubya are not a new thing, not atypical, quite the contrary- america has been using military 'persuasion' on it's neighbors from day1.

mexico and the central american nations were visited regularly by the marine corp, acting as the enforcement arm of american arrogance. the phillipines resisted american invasion, 100,000 gave their lives in the resistance. the invasion of vietnam under pretext of attack by viet motorboats on the american fleet is now known to be the 'wmd' of the time.

once you catch on to the reality that all of america's history has been a story of aggression, anti-americanism becomes easy to understand. remaining a fan, now, that's hard to understand.

Demos is close to the money on U.S.A. history. There is nothing new about US gratuitous interference in the affairs of others.

Senator Fullbright recognized it, and was sufficiently concerned to write a book on the subject. First published in 1966, the preface by Fullbright commented “—the book is much less a criticism of the past than it is an expression of genuine concern about the future. It is not a denunciation of yesterday as much as it is a prescription of hope for tomorrow.”

Overall, it has been pretty much business as usual since 1966.
Unfortunately there is little prospect that great changes will occur with this year’s incoming administration; but, like Fulbright, let’s hope for improvement.

As to its effect on Australia – we would accumulate more respect in world affairs if we were to abandon the role of being America’s yes-man for every distasteful adventure; and be an honest friend, speaking up when mistakes are being made – not encourage them no matter how unconscionable.

US administrations have long been interferring the affairs of other countries and other people since George Washington's days. But then so have other large empires - the Soviet Union was quite aggressive in this respect and the British empire practically invented "gunboat diplomacy".

US politicians regard America has somehow exceptional. However, this was also the thinking in Rome at the height of its empire, in Queen Victoria's Britain and Russia under Lenin and Stalin.

As I said, it's important to distinguish between governments and the people (even if many of the people voted for the government of the day). George W Bush may have received votes from "working families" (please forgive the use of that term) but he certainly hasn't exactly been working on their behalf. I suppose if you count Dick and Lynne Cheney as a working family...

Cowboy Joe should be more familiar with the activities of George "cowboy" Bush. Bush used to brag about how he increased homeownership. In 2004 when his Republicans controlled both the House and the Senate, Bush led the push for loans requiring no downpayments to low income people, some of whom had bad credit. McCain, of course, was in the Senate at the time and to my knowledge, did not oppose this. McCain was a Johnny come lately in trying to control the nonsense that had been initiated not by Democrats but by Dubya himself. Read it for yourself, Cowboy Joe: http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/housing/2004-01-20-fha_x.htm

Cowboy Joe sounds as though he is a dedicated viewer of Fox News.

The term "anti-American" is an example of propaganda that tries to stereotype all those who dare criticise the United States (for apparently any reason whatsoever) as being part of a single irrational group.

The same ham-fisted method is used to brand somebody as being "anti-Semitic" or worse, "un-Australian".

Strangely, it's also the same logic that sterotypes everything the USA does as being part of a single ideological purpose when both concepts are false and misleading.

Criticism should only be seen as criticism. The rationality of individual arguments is what counts.

Like any nation they have things to be proud of but also much to be ashamed of as well.

I expect ‘anti-Americanism’ to be as virulent as the exceptionalism it lays claim to. The Monroe doctrine and more recently the Bush doctrine - the one Sarah couldn’t remember - are practically an ‘up yours’ to the world at large. Disregarding or cynically engineering UN determinations (Iraq, Israel, Guantanamo, FTAs – hell, the whole world) has resulted in a stronger anti-Americanism that many Americans seem surprised about. (hint: if you’re one of them stop watching Fox)

America’s done much for the world but the current administration appears to act like a bunch of modern-day moguls asset-stripping all they can, so that whoever follows has an impossible job bringing things back to where they were. The country is virtually owned by China. Manufacturing is disappearing, as are many towns that depend on it. The financial crisis nursed into existence by lax regulations, beginning with Enron and leading to today, was only part of a massive transfer of wealth from the middle class to the already-wealthy.

Cowboy Joe, it appears all politicians can be considered as tainted as each other. Perhaps Obama has had dealings with unpopular figures; given the competitive nature of US politics it might be seen as unavoidable but why does the republican campaign narrow in on his tenuous connection with Ayers? Is it because that offers the most leverage with the emotional response of the electorate? Voting intentions are largely determined not by considered thought but by gut instinct. Since Bush has presided over a shrinking working class and standard of living how else could he be elected? Twice, for chrissakes??

Obama is seen as a moderate, who has spelled out he’d look at ways to redistribute the wealth (which is about 95% of what every government does). It doesn’t mean he’s a commo; it means he intends not to continue giving oil companies tax breaks. He’s also seen as an intellectual, which for some reason doesn’t sit well with Americans.

Take my word for it Joe. If McCain and his ditzy sidekick are elected next week week you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

Whether McCain came lately to the looming financial crisis or on time; at least he came to the issue and demonstrated leadership by doing so.

Obama did not address the issue thereby demonstrating an absence of leadership by comparison.

Sure there is shared responsibility, but the fact remains that Clinton and the Democrats started the ball rolling based on ideology not fiduciary responsibility. The chain of events was started by those who chose to create their own reality ie that most low income individuals can pay off a mortgage.

Alpers and the connection to Obama simply goes to character. Birds of a feather is the saying.

Ditzy, hmmm. Now what adjective would one apply to Biden when he stated that Roosevelt immediately went on television to address the financial collapse during his administration. He is known far and wide for his propensity to utter dumb things, but in Biden's case it is regarded as colourful, quaint and a bit bohemian.

Doesn't rate at the New York Times and other left biased news outlets.

Joe in USA

FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2005

The United States Senate

May 25, 2006

Sen. John McCain [R-AZ]: Mr. President, this week Fannie Mae’s regulator reported that the company’s quarterly reports of profit growth over the past few years were “illusions deliberately and systematically created” by the company’s senior management, which resulted in a $10.6 billion accounting scandal.

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/bush-mccain-tried-to-reform-housing-finance

BTW Clinton was in office long before 2004, Joe.

Hmmmm... when the US election is fought out by Americans on an Australian Forum... we know OLO has "arrived" :)

Good on you blokes for giving your input.

At least you 2 have shown one thing.. that ALL politicians have baggage and some of it seems to have been dragged through some mud while the trolly from the plane dragged it along.

The other amazing thing about Politics is that for some strange reason, each side sees itself as the epitomy of righteousness and the other as 'Satan' himself.

The most relevant word for both sides is 'hypocrisy' :)

When you see the lengths to which people will go to define themselves as 'mr Clean' while knowing full well they are absolutely rotten to the core, illustrates that Politics is really just about power and not fairness. Looook for those who benefit!

-If Obama, will it be the Hispanic lobby? The Black Lobby?
-If McCain will it be big business? who knows.

You don't need to be an Isaiah or a Jeremiah to predict where the USA will be in 20 yrs time... and it's not a nice place.

Clinton’s doing eh? 8 years in the whitehouse and what, 10 in congress wasn’t enough? We have politicians blaming long-gone prime ministers here, too.

Do all US senators bear the stain of Robert Byrd Joe? ex KKK and all that. Birds of a feather my foot.

Biden’s gaff-prone, that’s clear. On the other hand he doesn’t see the world coming to a cataclysmic end during his lifetime. Ever watch David Letterman? There’s a segment called ‘great moments in presidential speeches’ or something like that. I won’t go into detail. Perhaps Letterman’s too left wing and you watch Hannity instead.

I see the republicans are blaming the MSM for just about everything these days. Who unquestioningly iterated the administration’s lies regards Iraq?

It may surprise you to know the western world is following this election very closely. A survey in Australia showed around 80% support for Obama & 13% for McCain. As pointed out in the article anti-americanism is on the rise and only a Democrat victory will assuage it.

Polycarp, you stated,
"-If Obama, will it be the Hispanic lobby? The Black Lobby?
-If McCain will it be big business? who knows."

It is easy to forget who Obama really is. His mother is white and he was raised by his mother and her white parents. Obama was born in Hawaii where there are very few black people. DNA knows no racial identity but his chromosomal DNA is 50% white and 50% black. His total DNA is predominantly white because all of his mitochrondial DNA is white. I suppose your biology background included discussion that the transfer of mitochrondia takes place only from mother to offspring. Is black DNA dominant over white DNA? Of course not. Culturally, Obama should know far more about whites than black. He also should know the effects of being a minority in the midst of overwhelming prejudice directed toward minorities. That he has overcome that tells us all that he is a special person. Becoming the editor of the Harvard Law Review is an honor that can not be ignored. In 200 plus years, the U.S. has never before had a leading candidate for President who was Hispanic, Black, Jewish or Asian. He has become an icon whether or not he wins the election. He had to overcome all odds and direct an almost flawless campaign to reach is current position. Compare Obama and his team with the fumbling of McCain and his surrogates.

Beautifully and succinctly expressed Joe, however you will discover that Poly's understanding of basic biology is based purely on his interpretation of Genesis.

I wish I was American right now, just so I could vote for Obama and 1 in 4 Australians agree with me.

Cheers

Hello from an Aussie,

Over the past few weeks I have been reading 2 very interesting books by Stephen Kinzer - one 'All The Shah's Men' and two 'Overthrow'.

As one contributor wrote, the Media (TV,Newspapers, Talk-back radio) has played a significant role in keeping the public in the dark about the qn 'why America is so derided even hated by peoples around the globe?

According to Kinzer, anti-American sentiment has been festering since the regime of Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii was overthrown purely to accomodate US business interests.

Since then (nearly 110 years) a succession of US Governments have worked overtly or covertly to facilitate 'regime change' opertaions for other than the altruistic reasons they have led the world and their own citizens to believe.

Listening to McCain speak at a rally yesterday, I got the impression that he will maintain the prevailing policy regarding Iraq as a face saving exercise of American Military might. As a Viet veteran that is one issue that appears foremost in his psyche.

Obama however, may not have many options open to him - although that may change in the event he occupies the WH, which I hope he does.

I am not sure such a thing as anti-americanism exists as a construct -
I concede that there is a sense that people world wide dislike bullies - are bemused by some forms of excess - find hypocrosy unsettling - if they are seen in variable degrees exhibited by the USA or China for that matter - what does it really mean? - no one seems to have fabricated the notion of wide spread Anti-Chinese sensibilitiy as some sort of sociological phenomenon

- China exhibits many of the same characterisitcs that people tag the states with - hubris, militarism, extremes in cultural mores ( different one ) but extremes just the same.

I get the feeling that the notion of Anti Americanism stems - just like a degree of paranoia in the psychotic - from an over developed sense of self importance amongst Americans and Americanophiles "every one is out to get because of who I am etc etc"

Hello Sneekeepete,

Whilst I concur with some of what you assert - I am not certain that necessarily holds true in states where covert 'regime change' operations have been undertaken so that with some exceptions, the business interests of US conglomerates can function and operate to the detriment of the locals.

Perhaps you should read Kinzer's book 'Overthrow' - the documented regime change operations by US Administrations are so numerous, callous in execution and incomprehensible in magnitude that even 9/11 for all its horror looks like a walk in the park.

Better yet, live a few weeks in some of those states so you can experience in person the venom which permeates the atmosphere and drives these people to commit atrocities against their fellow beings.

Dear Ninja. Thanks for the book report. I would like to read it. Could you also recommend a book that would provide a balancing /opposing view as I would like to read both?

Please elaborate on the comparative horrors (US imposed) of the countries you are referring to (names would help) and the stoning to death of a 13 year old female rape victim (citizen imposed).

The ghastly & disturbing event which was reported on the radio today was witnessed by thousands of onlookers sitting in a stadium. Beats Dancing With the Stars.

The participants (onlookers) were not lackeys of some foreign government or were they?

I would not be surprised if someone will argue that the stoning was the result of America's foreign policy.

Apparently there are no serious competitors for America's #1 ranking of the Most Evil Force in the World, as little is written about other countries. Perhaps the journalists who have been taught by closet socialists have insured the #1 ranking will hold for some time.

One could be excused for thinking that the stoning of the child would result in mass demonstrations throughout the world or at least in George street. After all Australians are much more highly evolved than Yanks.

Hang on a moment, could the fact that there will be no demonstrations lend weight to the concept that Anti American beliefs exist?

Please once again, we ask followers of this thread, to study their history books, if they have any.

Once again we say, that the biggest mistake in modern Middle East history, was when a quotation from Henry Kissinger, Minister of State at the time to President Nixon - was deliberately hidden by White House occupants till recently.

The statement simply gave warning to President Nixon that if he did not prevent Israel from going militarily atomic, future ME history would severely suffer from it.

Proving the historical dumbness of our present OLO contributers is the fact that not one has given comment, proving that they have little nounce as far as believing that a thorough knowledge of political military history is all important, even as Churchill informed his own high-ranking officers.

Finally, as regards the mistake of Gallipoli, it is true that Churchill himself still not learn enough - even from ancient Greek military history as he often gave quote to in his writings.

Just to remind a little more that future political foresight gains very little without thorough historical insight.

Cheers, BB, WA.

Sorry Cowboy, there is no published book denying US involvement in scores of political overthrows and subversions. I recall a televised conversation between a US state department official and ultra-leftie John Pilger, where the official asked, tongue-in-cheek, just how many countries the US had bombed in the C20th. Pilger gave a number - something in the 70's I think, all documented - and the official flatly refused to believe him.

The book you request doesn't exist but you're welcome to write one. While you're at it, include chapters like, "Earth - flat or round? A balanced argument", or "Does hot air, in fact, rise? An alternative theory."

There are plenty of candidates for Worst Country In The World, the US is not one but for pete's sake stop fooling your self you're special.

Denying is your word not mine. I have no doubt that intervention has happened and will continue to happen. A counter factual or alternative view point (bias) is the most correct terminology and I am not surprised such a book doesn't spring to mind for you.

Intentionally pushing an old lady in front of a bus is entirely different than accidentally pushing her into its path while trying to help her out. Non-intervention has outcomes as well.

The premise that the future would have been a Utopia for the unnamed countries is what troubles me. My most immediate recollections /analogies are of Russian tanks rolling into Afghanistan and Yugoslavia. It is entirely probable that worse fates could have come to the countries that the US intervened in. Oh, and isn't the UN doing a great job in Rwanda?

Highly predictable, I have learned the author works for the New York Times, which is experiencing business difficulties resulting from a lack of advertising; BTW this was happening to them before the recent Clinton initiated melt down.

"Special" your word again, but your aptitude for digital personality identification is most impressive.

Thanks for proving my point, it is more urgent for certain types to insult someone whom they believe to be a Yank than denouncing the stoning to death of a child.

But they are not anti-American, after all some of their best screen idols are American.

“SOME WOULD BLAME AN OBAMA LOSS ON LINGERING AMERICAN RACISM”

There are always a lot of white supporters in the audiences at Obama rallies and absolutely no black supporters at any of McCains rallies. It seems the whites are much less racist than the blacks.
I think Obama will win and I thought so from day one. The republicans have certainly made a mess of everything and change is needed.

DEMOS-: “All of America’s history has been a story of agression.”

Like most other countries in the world when you study the history books and see their savage histories. America and the United Nations peacekeepers are trying desperately to stem new outbreaks of agression in countries all around the world all the time

BUSHBRED-:Israel was not prevented from going militarily atomic"

If Israel had not become heavily armoured they would have been; Quote-"Wiped off the map by now". When the British pulled out of the Middle East after WW2 the Arabs raced over and attacked the Jews in the Six Day War. They lost and that is when the Jews occupied the West Bank and The Gazza. Who can blame the Jews for being heavily militarised and armed after Hitler, and the conspiracy by the then Arab leaders to aid him in his assasination of the Jews.

It is telling that the Arabs never mention the Six Day War or their collaboration with the Germans, in their denunciation of the Jews.
The Jews and the Arabs are ironically guilty of the same provocation to War. That is they form big religous tribes that will not intergrate.

Cowboy aren't you looking for an "opposing view" regards American intervention? To me this is one of the great legacies of GWB - there's always an opposing view where black becomes dark-grey maybe, even white.

Boffins talk about man-made atmospheric pollution and George calls for an "opposing view". Nutters look to introduce Intelligent Design into science class and call it an "opposing view" with regards to evolution.

Anyway if you can find such a book let us know about it.

"The premise that the future would have been a Utopia for the unnamed countries is what troubles me." This isn't quite what's being said. The premise is that countries ought to be allowed to go about their business without unwelcome interference.

For the record I denounce stoning. I also denounce extraordinary rendition and cluster bombs

sharkfin, you stated “SOME WOULD BLAME AN OBAMA LOSS ON LINGERING AMERICAN RACISM” and

"There are always a lot of white supporters in the audiences at Obama rallies and absolutely no black supporters at any of McCains rallies. It seems the whites are much less racist than the blacks.
I think Obama will win and I thought so from day one. The republicans have certainly made a mess of everything and change is needed."

Question, sharkfin: Aren't you assuming that those attending the rallies are ONLY looking at the colour of the candidate's skin? Most blacks are democrats and even you admit that the Republicans have made a mess of everything. As I recall, in 2004 about 88% of blacks voted for Kerry. According to the polls, the % blacks backing Obama is higher. I would suggest that considering the mess that has been made by the Republicans and that Obama is a stronger candidate than McCain, we need to look beyond race for Obama's attraction to blacks.

JOE in the US

It was the writer of the article Brendan O’Connor who stated that SOME WOULD BLAME AN OBAMA LOSS ON LINGERING AMERICAN RACISM , I was only responding to this.

It seems to be an unbalanced opinion to me to say if Obama loses its white racism but if he wins it’s not black racism. How come blacks who have never voted in their lives before are suddenly lining up around the block to vote. I am sure there have been just as good Democrat leaders in the past. The only thing causing them to suddenly want to vote has to be because Obama is black.

How come Colin Powell who is republican is suddenly supporting a Democrat, it is very unusual for a politician to suddenly change sides like that especially at Powell’s age.
He also in my opinion is supporting Obama because of race.

sharkfin, opinions are based knowledge and I would not expect you to be familiar with details of our political race. I would like to cite a few Republicans of note who have endorsed Obama:

1. Ken Adelman, policy analyst and former official in Ronald Reagan's administration

2. Christopher Buckley, author and columnist for the National Review (For this he was fired)

3. Lilibet Hagel, wife of GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel

4. Michael Smerconish, talk radio host

5. Arne Carlson, former Governor of Minnesota

6. Scott McClellan, former press secretary to President Bush.

7. Charles Fried, solicitor general under President Reagan who has helped with McCain's campaign said he voted for Obama

8. William Weld, former Massachusetts Governor. Weld said he's never endorsed a Democrat for president before, but in the last six weeks or so, it became "close to a no-brainer." Obama has a history of bringing Democrats, Republicans and independents together and is the best choice at a time when America's standing in the world is at a low point, he said. "It's not often you get a guy with his combination of qualities, chief among which I would say is the deep sense of calm he displays, and I think that's a product of his equally deep intelligence," he said in a phone interview. He insisted his endorsement was based on an assessment of Obama's strengths, not Republican John McCain's weaknesses.

9. Joel Haugen, a Republican fighting a tough congressional race, was condemned by his party as he and many Republicans, called Obamicans have endorsed Obama. The Obamicans have a website, republicansforobama.org.

Apart from the above Republicans, Warren Buffet, the world’s richest man (whose party affiliation I don’t know) supports Obama.

Obama received the endorsements of many U.S.Flag Officers… weneedobama.blogspot.com/2008/03/slew-of-military-officers-endorse-obama.html

Barack Obama has impressed many who have put country first and not party. That is why Colin Powell and others have endorsed him. He has more going for him than a black skin and star quality. Stated simply, Obama is special.

Hope you are correct Joe.

Now that the Messiah has arrived we will see how long it will take for the Obamicans et al to have their hope transformed into wishful thinking and then disillusion.

I know of one Obama fan who was quoted as saying that now she would be able to pay her rent and put gas (petrol) in her car. Obviously a poster person for those who do not support compulsory attendance at a polling booth.

The primary process in the USA is the greatest waste of energy, time and money one could imagine. By the time the decision is made the issues have changed due to the length & irrational primary process.

And yes I have studied US government.

Cowboy! What are you taliking about? In light of my statements, I don't follow the logic of your comments. I gave my justification for why the endorsement of Obama by Colin Powell (black) was not because Obama's was black. I also said that Obama was special. You describe obvious inherent "problems" that exist in America. (It would take volumes to go into these). You say that you have studied American government. I say, good onya Cowboy, but how does that apply to the subject of interest?

If you don't comprehend why I said that Obama is special after observing what has taken place during his campaign and now his landslide victory, I fear that there is nothing that I or anyone else can say or do to take you out of your doldrums.

Joe in the U.S.

The overwhelming majority of the rest of the world celebrated the change and new hope for the USA yesterday. Congratulations.

Cowboy

There is no way that the USA could have continued on the course set by the Republicans for the past 8 years, They were divisive within the USA and alienating to many nations elsewhere. McCain displayed a graciousness in his concession speech that was inspiring, perhaps you could show the same level of fortitude. I believe that McCain was badly advised by his team; the selection of Palin surely indicated that all we could expect was 'more of the same.'

Obama has a mammoth task ahead, however he has the intelligence, energy and integrity to face the many challenges. What he lacks in experience will be more than compensated by the wisdom of the team he will select.

For the first time in years, I feel I can look towards America as I did in my youth - with admiration and inspiration.

I have to agree Fractelle, benefits have appeared already.

Michelle Obama is now proud of her country for the second time.

Hugo Chavez has reached out to the new administration for co-operation. A real asset in the foreign co-operation stakes.
See ---- http://online.wsj.com/articleSB122575836322595189. html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The NYSE fell 5% and the Daily Telegraph reported that the market reacted positively.

Some have outlined that Anti-Americanism stems from a systemic failure to adhere to the tenants of America ie The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution and also interventionism. Which could be described as corruption or hypocrisy.

How corrupt is a system that elects a President who could not meet national security clearances to become his own body guard? Presumably, this would be due to his association with an urban terrorist.

It has been reported that a retired FBI Agent has made this observation.