So this week has seen two victories that I have campaigned for over the last few weeks.

Firstly, Barack Obama has become the President elect of the United States. In fairness to John McCain he was very humble, and conceded defeat in a dignified and respectful manner (even if the rednecks at his speech didn’t). A big congratulations to Obama, and to America for making a change. Despite the results however it is important to remember two things. Firstly, the vote was deceivingly close, there are allot of Americans out there who will be unhappy with the result, Obama has to endear himself to these people, and my opinion he will. Secondly, he hasn’t achieved anything yet. Whilst the optimism that seems to have surrounded his appointment is no doubt a good thing… lets proceed with caution… after all, the last cowboy didn’t exactly set the world on fire (only bits of it).

The second (and most important) victory is of course Lewis Hamilton’s heroic and nerve jangling victory over adversity, Ferrari and the FIA to take the Formula One world championship to become the youngest drive ever to do such. Next time Lewis… don’t leave it to the last corner of the last lap of the last race of the season.

A hearty congratulations to you both.

I’ve read allot of right wing blogs recently (notably this one). Speaking as someone who thinks of themselves as a Conservative when it comes to British politics, I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the right wing bigotry, fear-mongering, farcicality and indeed blatant racism of those American voters who are standing against the idea Of Barack Obama being the next president of the USA.Let me make this perfectly clear. America is a laughing stock. America is hated, loathed and generally thought badly of by a large percentage of Europeans, Asians, South Americans and more. This is almost completely down to two factors. American foreign policy and George W Bush.

15 years ago as a young boy, I remember all of my friends and me included thought America was the best thing since sliced bread. That has changed. America is now seen as a country full of religious nut-jobs and closet racism that is being led (as of October 2008) by a man who could well end up being impeached for war crimes.
He (Bush) has created a society of fear that has spread like a plague through the American middle classes, causing them to treat anyone who isn’t the same as them, or doesn’t hold the same beliefs as them as different, dangerous, or a “Terrorist”.
America has an immigration problem, very true… but was America not founded by immigrants, wasn’t it America that welcomed so many different nationalities to it’s shores, wasn’t it these different nationalities that made America the great place that it once was? Hell, most middle class Americans come from European descent anyway.

Barack Hussein Obama (despite what his name might or might not suggest) is not a terrorist. He does not associate with terrorists, and if he had or did, this would have come to light a long time before now, probably before he reached the senate.
In my opinion he will rejuvenate America in way not seen in half a century, the whole world will be a better place for a more reasoned and thoughtful outlook to the rest of the world.

The arguments that he is a communist, and a socialist that wants to destroy American jobs holds little water. For example, if he introduced a privatised, or partially privatised health system it could do wonders for the millions of Americans who cannot afford proper health or dental cover, something that is only likely to worsen as the inevitable economic downturn rears it’s ugly head. I lived in the UK for 23 years of my rather dull life. I chose my own doctor, my own surgery never had to wait weeks for an appointment, and when I have been very ill was always cared for by caring staff in a clean and modern hospital. Whilst I acknowledge that not every case is like this, it certainly suggests that the system can work if done correctly.

The alternative to Barack not winning the vote is alarming at best, at frightening at worst. A president with questionable health, and a vice president that (and let’s be honest here) is seen as a comic side show. This would be as bad if not worse than the current incumbent.

Whilst I have no say in the American election, I have faith in Americans to do the right thing, and save their country.