Obama-rama!

As January 20th approaches, I feel a sense of relief to be here in London. Don’t get me wrong—I’m very happy that Americans voted for the best candidate, and that he happens to be African American (in the truest sense). But with all the road closures, restrictions, people, toilet issues, etc., I’m glad I’m not going to be stuck in the hoopla. Summers in DC are bad enough when people take their vacations and annoy the local residents, but having close to a million (or two or four) people converging for the long weekend in the city makes me cringe. Thank goodness for London!

I haven’t been really following the BBC here (I still frequent my local DC news sites), but there is a following, albeit strange following of Obama. I lied, I read the BBC yesterday. They likened Obama to JFK , which I found to be a very silly article that concluded there are no real similarities between the two men really. Anyways, I thought it was just Americans who were chanting “Yes we can!”, but strangely some of the English are just as much in love with the man. Even Torries (English conservatives) are fascinated and excited about his leadership, and not in a sense that “anybody but Bush is better”. But it’s a genuine attraction to this articulate black man from Hawaii.

Discussing the new presidency to Dan’s friends, the theme I here (just a summation of course) is that they are relieved that Americans are now voting for a competent man who thinks about the world as well. And as much as I would like to believe in that, I still think that Americans are still isolationists (and historically, our nation has been this way to a degree). I don’t think that everyone’s vote primarily focused on how this presidential candidate will impact the world. Generally speaking, I think most Americans voted for a man who can bring America back to its greatness; and that just so happens to impact the world. And to be honest, I doubt Joe the Plumber and friends really did their research on each candidate before they went to their local polling place. They got their information from the TV, and based their vote on what they saw and heard. And as much as I would like to be an optimist about the United States, I am whole-heartedly a pessimistic person when it comes to politics. Americans are obsessed with themselves and preserving the American way—sorry world.

It still is an exciting time in our history. And all eyes are on Washington the next four years. Hopefully Obama and Capitol Hill will work together to get things done (the world forgets about the House and Senate all the time!), and hopefully it will positively impact not only the United States, but the world.

UPDATE: It seems Obama-rama has reached new heights here in London! According to the Post, I have to flash my US passport at Madame Tussauds on Inauguration Day for free admission, and I can get some Krispy Kreme if I say, "Yes we can!" Sweet!