Pyat actually sort of likes America, you know?

[pyat]

President-Elect Obama’s acceptance speech is terribly good, particularly once he gets past the business of thanking various people. It has been a long time since I felt a contemporary politician had any kind of charisma, or any power to move me through mere eloquence.

I admit that the last time was actually Bush’s State of the Union address following 9/11. He is a terrible extempore speaker, but earnest enough to be eloquent.

Obama is both evidently earnest and casually eloquent, and his message is not one you can disagree with. Just… excellent, really. His policies are more conservative than mine, and from some perspectives, to me, there would have been little difference between him and McCain. McCain is neither evil nor incompetent, and certainly a better man than George W. Bush in almost every way.

But that Obama will make a better leader, a better diplomat, a better person to inspire the citizens of his nation, and navigate the United States through the international stage, is undeniable. Or, at the very least, it is plain to me.

"Obama displayed a steadiness. Showed intellectual vigor. He has a definitive way of doing business that will do us well.” Colin Powell said that after the election. And that’s really what it comes down to.

Following on my post yesterday, I want to talk a bit about the other side of the coin when it comes to Canadian perceptions of the United States. While we, taken as an aggregate, tend to be cynical about America, we also recognize it as a world leader in a number of areas, not least of which being your support and leadership in defense of ideals that we hold dear.

The grudge is shallow. The admiration is the product of reflection.

Comments

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

I was watching Obama's speech last night and thought to myself, "Why can't I get this fired up about Canadian politicians?"

I feel happy for the Americans; I think they have chosen the best leader for them (although I still admire many qualities about McCain (though I'm really, really glad Palin isn't ANYWHERE near the presidency)). Granted, from the Canadian perspective, we might've been better off with McCain in terms of trade negotiation, but I digress...

[neosis.livejournal.com]

I eventually came to conclusion that John McCain would have been bad for the U.S. not because he's particularly evil or particularly incompetent, but that he did not show the necessary interest in dropping Bush's evil and incompetent hanger-ons.

His campaign was being run by Bush people, he was taking advice from Carl Rove, and his idea of Change seemed to be changing Bush terminology into McCain terminology without too much change in policy. As they say on the Daily Show he was a Maveric who only voted with Bush 90% of the time.

Having said that I remain skeptical that Obama can deliver on his promises, but I'd rather seem someone I think will try to make things better, elected. And frankly, I think Obama's already off to a good start. I think things are going to change in Washington, perhaps in ways no one expects right now.