POST-ELECTION UPDATE: Now that Obama has become our President-elect, I join in his hope that we can mend our partisan differences and get a fresh start by joining together in a united effort to begin solving the very serious problems our country faces. The bitter partisanship has become so divisive over the years that it has hurt all of us in varying ways. It's time to start thinking of ourselves first and foremost as Americans rather than Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, always at each other's throats. That's the patriotic thing to do.

We have worse enemies than our fellow citizens. There's a lot of bitterness and anger with each other to get past, but with some time, effort, and, most importantly, intention, we can overcome our differences and unite as Americans. That's the opportunity that we now have. Forgiveness is a great healer of wounds.

McCain has, as Obama stated, served his country well in ways that most of us can't even begin to really identify with. Let's let it go. Let's get over each other.

Note: Just received word from a friend in Switzerland re straw polls they've run in Europe. 89% of the Swiss would have voted for Obama, and 75% of all of Europe. So Europe is hoping this signals an opportunity to strengthen our alliances with them again.

UPDATE: Forgot to add that Obama was a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1993 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. During the 2004 election for U.S. Senate, Obama won the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police and cited his "willingness to negotiate compromises."

He has written "we should be asking ourselves what mix of policies will lead to a dynamic free market and widespread economic security, entrepreneurial innovation and upward mobility [...] we should be guided by what works."

As an early opponent of the Iraq invasion, he said "I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings."

How about that one, folks, for being prescient and discerning? I told you the guy has brilliant analytical skills. I think he would repair our relationships with other countries. For his impressive accomplishments since he's been in the Senate, see Wikipedia, Barack Obama.

ORIGINAL COMMENT: For starters, Barack Obama (who, by the way, is a Jr., named after his father, Barack Hussein Obama, Sr.) has impressive educational credentials. B.A. from Columbia, where he majored in political science with a specialization in international relations. Harvard law school, where he graduated magna cum laude. What's arguably the best law school in the nation?--Harvard. What's the highest honor one can achieve in law school?--not only to make the law review, but be elected editor-in-chief. And he was, the first black ever to do so.

He's a very analytical guy. If you've ever heard him speak, he frequently speaks about both sides of an issue, unlike most people, especially not politicians. He thinks things through. He's not by any means a typical pol. He sincerely believes in cooperating with the other party; for that reason, and as just one example, he believes in changing the current methods of drawing up legislative districts, which presently are gerrymandered and results in a primary election that's a sure and easy victory for whatever party the gerrymandered district has 70% of, and in which a primary isn't a fair election at all.

Start by reading his book, The Audacity of Hope. Try to catch a tape of his 11/18/2006 interview with Tim Russert, or his interview with Oprah. What stands out to me is the man's character and morality, way beyond that of any other candidate from either party. I trust him. Hillary is tainted with the Rose Law Firm subpoenaed-records fiasco, Whitewater, and some other slippery stuff, whether justifiably or not. Obama strikes me as a guy who would never stoop to dishonesty of any sort. Whether he needs more seasoning and executive experience is an issue many other reviewers have already addressed. So whether his time is now or later, keep your eye on him. He deserves the rave reviews he's been getting--a very impressive man.