Obamanation

Election Day in the United States and pollsters give John McCain a less than two percent chance of winning the US presidency,  as it should be. The man has run an incompetent campaign, chosen a detestable running mate, shown a very ugly side of himself in his constant use of negative advertising based in falsehoods and offered very little to commend himself to the public, other than persistently referring to himself as a 'maverick' and assuring everyone that he intuitively knows how to run the country.

Originally, I felt pity for McCain, convinced that anyone foolish enough to accept the Republican nomination following Bush Jr's performance was a sacrificial lamb. Perhaps that was the reason he got it. His resume isn't that impressive. Fifth from the bottom of his class at Annapolis, he was a lousy pilot, an unexceptional military officer and a mediocre legislator. Even in his much referenced imprisonment in Viet Nam, he sang like a canary to get privileged treatment from his captures as the son of an admiral, rather than offer them only name, rank and serial number. Bad as his experience was, his conduct falls somewhat short of heroic. When his wife was disfigured in an accident, McCain dumped her to marry the heiress with whom he had been having an adulterous affair. Hardly the actions of a man of integrity.

I feel quite hopeful about Obama. Unlike his opponent, he rose from modest circumstances to become the editor of the Harvard Law Review and a professor of constitutional law. A large part of his adult life has been devoted to public service and  the people who surround him constitute an impressive brain trust. Like any president, he will be hemmed in by vested interests and the daunting task of cleaning up the mess Bush leaves behind will limit time and resources for constructive action. On the positive side, Obama can expect to have Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress and a massive public mandate. As of tomorrow, the Republicans will likely be in full retreat. Having seen how much damage a truly bad president can do, is it too much to hope that an honorable leader with an exceptional intellect can do as much for the good?