Once You Go Black...

There is a crude saying out there that suggests "Once You Go Black, You Never Go Back" and that's a reference to dating or something like that. Well today, the United States of America seems primed to elect the first ever African American President of all-time. And Barrack Obama appears ready to be the best US President since Bill Clinton, with worlds of potential to eclipse the 42nd President. Once the US elects a Black President, really there's no going back.

What a huge symbolic step this is for the American people, and eclipses much of the major milestones in US history.

I don't get to vote in the United States, though much of my family does, and much of my family is politically divided. In Canada where I do vote, I'm not loyal to one political party, and can't call myself left leaning or right wing, I'm pretty much middle of the road. If there is a major issue that gets to me, I vote that way. I pay very close attention to US politics and policies, and have been lucky to interview 2 First Lady's in my media career, so that helps promote my interest in South of the Border politics.

Throughout Primary season, I believed Barrack was a lot of amazing hype, with a great PR machine behind him, and lacked in issues and experience to Hillary Clinton. In the last 8 weeks of this campaign, I've seen a more well rounded Obama, and a man who is ready to step up and lead the world starting tomorrow morning. I'm now thoroughly convinced that Obama will have an amazing effect on world policies, economics, conflict and peace, and diplomacy. He will draw comparisons (which he already does) to John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Bill Clinton. And barring a shocking shift, he will be announced President of the United States later tonight.

I often hear speculation that if elected Barrack won't live to serve his term, that he will be the target of assassination attempts, that he will be weak on terrorism, that he isn't fit to lead. I guess we'll know more tomorrow morning when we awake to a new President, and a new vision for the US.

What I would expect to see in the first 6 months in office, should he in fact get elected tonight. A timeline to end "war" in Iraq. I would expect this to be a two year withdrawl, with more troops to be moved to Afghanistan (a move that should be welcomed to Canadians, and in fact could assist in smoking out Osama Bin Ladin). A major spike in the worlds economy, in 1980, Republican President Ronald Regan had a positive effect, in 1992 Democrat Bill Clinton had a similar positive influence, and in 08, the Democrat Obama will inspire similar hope and create the same results. I would also expect positive results in world diplomacy in places like Iran, and North Korea. I believe Obama will be a welcomed Diplomat, and a far cry from George Bush's cowboy ways.

So here's hoping tomorrow we wake up to a new political philosophy in the US, with many positive effects throughout the world.