Senator Barack Obama

How they ran

As the dawn breaks the world waits for a new page in history or the continuation of an interminable nightmare.

The last 21 months have given us a foretaste in the formidable organisational, management and leadership skills of the contending presidential candidates.

The choice is between one who began to inspire from the first day he decided to run even though he did not seem to have experience and another whose career in the military and politics is exemplary.

Having the nous

But the presidency is not only about the individual but the team that individual can assemble to give that job a good shake down.

In that sense looking at the campaigns of John McCain and Barack Obama, it would appear the latter has all the nous to get things done.

Really, if John McCain were to lead just as he has lead his campaign we are in for 4 years of chaos, reactionary outbursts and an inability to really grasp the context of what each event requires and entails – we need a cool headed man at the helm not a frenetic firebrand desperately trying to prove his young has not deserted him.

Interest and desire expressed in money

Indeed, Barack Obama decided against the public funding of his campaign after he offered to take funding – I see the audacity of not just hope but assuredness, he had inspired enough people to put their money where their mouth is in political terms and raised the most money ever for a presidential campaign [1].

Spread of contributions [2] to the campaigns is higher for Obama than for McCain, which speaks volumes – this man started a campaign and created a movement – a movement that overhauled other formidable figures in the wake of his achievements.

If Senator Obama takes this ability to the White House, I think we have the making of an excellent presidency, and so may it be.

A man for Americans

In fairness, it has taken time for me to warm up to the prospect of an Obama presidency, but if good speeches are not part of the stuff of leadership, one does wonder what is.

This man seeks the middle ground that tries to reconcile the polarised American populace to the voice of reason where they can disagree without being disagreeable, for that, he is called a liberal.

Suddenly, one is made to view conservatives as illiberal, intolerant, bigoted and disagreeable, but really neither liberals nor conservatives should be seen in those unnecessarily stark terms, rather, being American first and foremost for the good of America should be what matters.

Change for the better

When I think about change in my life, I am looking to improve things about myself, when I think about change in my circumstances, I am expecting to have favourable outcomes – the possession of that mindset alone is the beginning of change and the birth of newness.

The message of change also bring hope and much hope is not seen but the desire seems to have a compelling force to inspire people to new things – that is what we need of the man in front.

At this juncture we have the call of destiny, the making of history and the dawning of a new beginning, the question is – Are American brave enough to choose the opportunity to look up in expectancy or look down in confused acrimony?

Each vote cast is for America and for the world, a soothing balm is needed to ease the pain, Senator Barack Obama should and must be that choice – destiny’s child calls, heed the call.

Sources

[1] Obama raises record $150 million in September | Reuters

[2] FactCheck.org: What is the average size of Obama's contributions and what is the average size of McCain's contributions?

Between reflective Obama and reflexive McCain

Still no bailout yet

There were probably some people waiting with bated breath to hear that a deal had been done for the $700 billion bailout of US banks.

In fact, at one time, the news suggested that a deal had been done in principle and not long after it appeared no deal had been done yet [1], people have been shouting at each other – I suppose you can call that debate.

The maverick decides

The move by Maverick McCain to suspend his campaign [2] and move lock, stock and barrel to Washington to trash out a deal with the emotion of concern that almost left us impressed with his commitment was a stunt in everything but name.

Barack Obama refused to be barracked into conceding that leadership was about dropping everything for one thing when generally leaders have to contend with multiple issues in different spheres and still be on top of things.

In fact, once again, the man showed a sense of balance and proportion that one would have expected of an older head like McCain’s who by tradition, one would have thought would be wiser too.

Need for an unadulterated debate

The Presidential candidates do indeed need to work on helping trash out a bi-partisan deal but that should have been done in the background without infecting the debate and negotiations with campaign distraction – McCain’s move was more to stir up the waters and try to wrestle from our minds the fact that he is not that clued in on financial matters.

The foreign policy presidential debate which might take place today would indeed have been overrun with questions about the financial turmoil hitting the markets – it is unlikely that Senator McCain would have been able to convey an air of competence on those matters – in fact, we are just about getting bored with the military and prisoner of war anecdotes that bear no particular significance to the lives and people of today.

News comes in now that Senator McCain would be attending the debate after all [3] – Bless him! Or did I mean something else?

Reflect on the reflex

This man is impulsive, reactionary, driven by sensational whim and devoid of the coolness under pressure that is needed to run a ship of state that is global in its remit.

The fact is 300 million Americans will be electing for 6.3 billion people of the world the next person who can dictate the pace and direction of the near-future world order.

If indeed suspending his campaign in order to concentrate minds had yesterday achieved the impossible and unlikely result, we might have praised him for having great insight and foresight; but as it stands, he has again been reckless and intemperate in the appreciation of issues; I am beginning to have a greater fear for John McCain as president than the looming tsunami of a recession turning into a depression.

None of the options available would have been my choices, but with the choices we now have, I am as sure as I can be that McCain cannot be the right option for a world that needs the calming influence of a reflective leader rather than the impulsive determination of a reflexive maverick.

Sources

[1] BBC NEWS | Business | Bush says bail-out will be passed

[2] McCain suspends campaign to work on Wall St plan | U.S. | Reuters

[3] McCain will attend debate, campaign says - The Debates- msnbc.com