***

The philosopher and poet George Santayana once said, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Fortunately for us, Santayana was in the Palin-verse, at least - both a "foreigner" (He was born in Spain and lived outside the US for half his life.) and an "elitist" (educated at Harvard), so it's unlikely that Sarah "Sixpack" Palin has ever read his work.

The sad and scary reality is that Sarah Palin's gaffes don't stem from being tongue-tied or nervous; they are, rather, a direct result of her ostrich-like ability to bury her head in the sand, refusing to educate herself on the most rudimentary level about life as it exists outside Alaska and the Conservative Christian bubble.

One can be trained out of a tendency to phrase things wrong. The reason Sarah will likely continue to gift us with gaffes throughout her political career is that she actually says what she means; she just doesn't "get" that what she means is ignorant foolishness.

Watching Sarah Palin speak is a bit like listening to sound bytes from a precocious child actor who has suddenly found herself engulfed in the media storm surrounding an Oscar-nominated film. People keep shoving microphones in her face, and nobody has the heart to tell her that people are laughing at her and not with her.

Her interview with Katie Couric had just that ring to it, and she rattled off a string of inanities, getting more and more frustrated when she was pressed to actually prove that she really knew something about government and the world.

My favorite snippet from that interview came when she was asked to name the newspapers and magazines she reads: "All of em, any of em that have been in front of me all these years." This suggests that not only does she not read magazines or newspapers, but she can't even summon their names to memory. Scary.

The other reason Sarah Palin is unlikely to shift into the realm of great orators anytime soon is her complete lack of understanding of the concept of consistency, which she probably thinks is just one of those "high-falutin" ideas perpetrated by Washington insiders.

She continually seems flummoxed when something she says comes back to haunt her. Who cares if she said that the vice president is "in charge of the U.S. Senate" or that Afganistan is "a neighboring country"? In the mind of Sarah Palin, any presumption that what she says is any kind of reflection of what she knows is either "sexism" or "Marxism."

One does wonder if, not being a great reader of newspapers and magazines, she has ever taken the time to read "The Feminist Mystique," "Das Capital" or "The Communist Manifesto" so that she can have some clarity on what the terms she throws around actually mean. I suspect not.

The president's primary job is to communicate effectively with all levels of government (both domestically and internationally). Sarah Palin lacks this ability, and, unless she takes some time to educate herself in the way her country is actually run, all she really has to offer this country is a future of sound bytes that sound like they were taken from a taping of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader." If that's what's the country wants, then we're better off voting for Jeff Foxworthy. At least he knows when he's being funny.

***

It's time again for primaries and national elections. Of course President Obama will be his party's nominee, but did he live up to his "promise?"

You must ask, "which promise is that?" He raised the capital gains tax in an effort to "spread the wealth." This backfired and sent many businesses that were still in the US scurrying to countries with more favorable tax policies. Mr. Obama's attempt to "grow the economy from the bottom up" has been a dismal failure. Since he decided to punish through taxes any business that grossed more than $200,000, the hope of new jobs quickly died. The unemployment rate continues to be staggering. We are still in the throws of a great depression.

Mr. Obama and his left-leaning congress succeeded in his early years in driving the deficit up to nearly 2 trillion dollars and redistributed the wealth to those who just squandered it. Instead of leading a center-right country from the center, he continues to try to lead from the left. If he didn't learn within his first year or two, what chance is there he will learn in a second term?

He promised change. His early administration was filled with Clinton staffers and cabinet - what change was this? Again the electorate voted foolishly by not searching the issues but depending upon the media to spoon feed them. What kind of change did he bring, this so-called messiah, to his followers who thought he was their savior? Our Christ-like figure, Mr. Obama, had to withdraw his promise for universal health care as he gave away the rest of our nation's wealth before he could get to this issue.

He did fulfill his promise of pulling the troops out of Iraq, which was greeted with jubilation by his blind followers - until al Qaeda really took over with Iran's support and expanded their terror base from Afghanistan now to include Iraq and Iran. The entire Middle East is now in danger - the moderate Arab states have much to fear from this trio of trouble, and Israel is in peril of being wiped off the face of the map. They are poised to strike these nations. They have held off only because President Obama promised to protect them.

Now he had to institute a draft and is taking the youth of this nation, subjecting them to 6 weeks of basic training, and then throwing them into this cauldron that his administration created by withdrawing troops prematurely. The death rate is terribly high due to his policies. Does this sound like Viet Nam all over again? The youth who sang his praises in 2008 are now protesting daily in all the major cities of the US. The wealthy - the few who are left - succeed in keeping their sons and daughters out of the draft - what else is new.

So, he did live up to his promise of "change," but not in the way we wished he had! Now we are ready for a real change in this country. I don't see how he can win another term.

***

Sarah Palin is a very energetic and extremely entertaining woman who recently took the world by storm. Her campaign for vice-presidency showed women everywhere that anything is possible. She not only ensured that she would get a chapter in the history book, she has only just begun filling up the pages.

Sarah Palin is a gifted communicator in the sense that she says what she thinks is right. She doesn't say what Americans want to hear or else she would be packing her bags and on her way to the white house right now. Sarah speaks the truth as she knows it and in today's society this is not very common.

Too many candidates busy themselves reciting speeches and speaking of ideas they don't believe in. They often say what they think should be said. Once they win the race, everything changes. With Sarah Palin, the examples have already been set. Her actions speak louder than her vocal chords will allow.

As a mother, Sarah Palin knows how valuable good communication is. No doubt she has had much experience in problem solving among children. Any parent knows this is not only a difficult task but also great practice for the rest of life's issues.

Sarah Palin is a thinker. She has good ideas and she tries to do the right things. This is a quality many political figures lack. It is also admirable and helps to set her apart from the rest of the presidential candidates in both past and present elections.

Sarah Palin proved this theory in the way she handled her daughter's pregnancy. She did not quickly sweep the news under the rug and walk away. She faced the situation and encouraged her daughter to make the right choices.

Sarah Palin has a style that is different from what we are used to. Her public speaking methods may seem unorthodox for many but it works for her. She gets the attention of the American voters, good or bad they stop to listen.

Sarah Palin has a certain innocence about her that is intriguing. Her lack of experience makes her seem pure in the world of politics. The fact that she hasn't given as many speeches as some candidates have makes her words seem more believable.

Sarah Palin has a different and sometimes questionable style. This is what the world needs. Even when she isn't speaking, her voice echoes in the minds and hearts of the American voting public. She won't allow herself to be silenced.

Sarah Palin proves that women should not only be seen but also heard because they do have valuable things to say. She did more than put her foot in the door. She kicked it in and paved the way for a new beginning.

The question is not whether or not Americans will embrace her style. It is, "Why wouldn't they?" All people deserve a second chance and Sarah Palin is no exception to the rules. Give her time, and she will prove to the world that she is a worthy communicator. The positive changes she can bring are exactly what America needs.

***

Dear Republicans,

Your Party was just soundly spanked for reasons obvious to all American voters. Take it from me...your party elite doesn't have a clue so here are ten simple steps that will help the Republican Party regain its reputation and retake the White House:

1. Stop, shut up and listen! Forget "talking points" and trying to direct the agenda from the top down. Votes come from the bottom up-find out what the voters want by asking them, not your special interests cronies. Lobbyist dollars aren't votes! We decide the issues. Get over it.

2. Conservative-look it up! Whoever dreamed up the idea that Republicans would win more votes by acting like Democrats should be drummed out of the Party...he's obviously in the wrong place.

3. It's OUR money! Stop with the sneaky backroom deals and unrelated spending stuffed under valid appropriations. You've broken us-stop printing money like it's a game of Monoply. And don't even THINK about raising taxes. Do your job and forget the "public-private partnerships. The United States isn't yours to sell!

4. Stop acting like you work for the European Union, China and the international banking cartel. We hire elected officials to implement policies that benefit US, NOT some group of major stockholders. This has caused nearly insurmountable resentment among the middle class-or what's left of it.

5. Constitution-remember that? The supreme law of the land? There should be a dusty copy around Washington someplace. Read it. Abide by it. No, its not a "living document"- its an enduring document. While you're at it, fax a copy over to the Supreme Court and all of the Federal Judges-it should be enlightening. Hint: Constitutional law ISNT International Law!

6. Dump the Patriot Act-this thing is so egregious, so intrusive, so anti-American that it has alienated nearly all citizens on both sides of the aisle. Follow the limitations of the Constitution, once you find a copy...and get rid of the intrusive laws and bureaucracies engendered by The Act.

7. Secure the borders! If you had done that, there'd be no excuse for the Patriot Act. Keep illegal border-jumpers out of here. Throw visa over-stayers out of here. Stop playing international political games with immigration. It's not our responsibility to fund, feed or free the rest of the world. The best we can do is provide a representative democracy for others to aspire to and allow in only as many legal immigrants in as we can afford- with high unemployment, we can afford very few. Let's see some major employers do the perp walk and quit pussyfooting around. If you acted like you meant it, we probably wouldn't even need that ugly fence.

8. Butt out of our lives, schools, churches and state and local government. Learn the meaning of limited government. At this point, limiting it isn't enough-you need to shrink it. We don't need it and we cant afford it.

9. Stop trying so hard to cram a "leftist-lite" candidate down our throats. Clean up the election processes and start to follow the rules that are in place for the purpose. Stop giving tax dollars to leftist organizations that work to undermine our form of government. Take the media to task for not doing their jobs and reporting both sides of the issues. Allow us some real choices-and let us choose candidates that actually want to win.

10. Drill, dummies, drill! We don't care if Pelosi has a stroke because she cant single-handedly "save the world". Stop with all the carbon tax trading, egregious invasions of private property in the name of "environment' and other feel-good ecology scams. We're gonna need some global warming if we cant pay our heating bills this winter.

You want our votes? You've got your marching orders! Now, get to work!

***

As our 10-day whirlwind trip across five states and along 1400 miles of Route 66 (and elsewhere) comes to an end...just in time to fly back to Chicago, pick the daughter up, and start cooking 32 pounds of turkey and all the trimmings...we visited the Barstow (California) Route 66 Museum and thought back on our trip from Oklahoma City westward.

My favorite place(s) were the Museum Club we visited in Flagstaff, where Jane Bliss bartended and told me the story of the owners and the lynching from a tree still set in the middle of the club’s dance floor. Jane urged us to take the scenic route to Sedona, and it was truly a treat. Plus, we could bet while lounging about with the regulars. The place was the kind of local hangout that you could easily lose an entire day in as you dined on their genuine Angus steakburgers, learned about the haunting of the joint and just generally had a great time.

My other favorite thing we did was the ghost tour at Fort El Reno with Bob Warren and Jessica Wells, who couldn’t have been more interesting and more gracious. Bob looks as though he should be starring in the movies in Richard Farnsworth’s old parts. The tour of the cemetery was spookier than anything else we did and it is worth mentioning that my computer refuses to cough up the “haunted” picture I took. Someone (or something?) tapped me on the shoulder 3 times as I entered the Visitors’ Center, where the tour was breaking into smaller groups. It was c-c-c-c-cold and the 35 World War II Prisoners of War who are buried in the remote cemetery provided even more spookiness.

Sedona offered beauty and great sunsets and, also, the best dining and housing of the trip. Sadly, the worst designation would go to Gallup, New Mexico, but I freely and fully admit that I made the reservations as we moved on down the road, so I am to blame. When I asked for good recommendations, I was given the name of several chain franchise restaurants, which was not what I had in mind.

The spooky-looking Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff and the downtown hotel where so many scarifying events have occurred (which will, no doubt, be addressed in future stories) were highpoints.

Albuquerque impressed and Gallup depressed.

Seligman, Williams, Kingman (AZ) and McLean (TX) all seemed dead already, although the perfectly restored gas station in McLean was the one bright spot in an otherwise dark town.

We’ve driven through Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, a small part of Nevada and California. It’s time to go home to Illinois.

***

On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, history was made. The first African-American president of the United States was voted into office, ending eight years of Republican rule. A wave of excitement and euphoria washed over our land and in fact, the world. It truly marked a new and brighter day.

Dear John,

I am a conservative evangelical Christian and like others I have sinned. There were just too many "distractions". I beg your indulgence.

10) Obama's Message of Change. George W. Bush, a self-professed born-again evangelical Christian, had eight years to bring America back to more godly principles. Yet today, we have two wars that are draining our military; abortion is still a major problem; America is growing less influential in the world; torture and the abandonment of the Geneva Conventions have wreaked havoc on our reputation; surveillance of Americans has increased dramatically; the environment has been neglected; and the implementation of the unitary executive theory has granted almost king-like power to the American presidency. We absolutely needed change.

9) Obama's Real, Specific Action Plans. Compared with your flowery praising of the American worker, Obama's words were far more specific and his plans more logical. I didn't know where you stood; but I knew exactly what Obama would do if he were elected our new president.

8) Obama's Economic Plan. Just as Bill Clinton took George H.W. Bush's recession and turned it into the largest economic expansion in U.S. history, I believe Obama's economic plan will take George W. Bush's near-depression and turn it around into another major economic expansion.

7) Your Obfuscation of Obama's Tax Plan. Despite Obama explaining to the American people on numerous occasions that the average American will receive a tax cut, you cleverly played on the fear of those evil Democrats raising everyone's taxes across the board.

6) Your Neoconservative Tendencies. Your playful singing of "Bomb Iran" to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann" may have been an off-the-cuff joke, but it exposed his neocon tendencies and his probable continuation of President G.W. Bush's failed cowboy diplomacy.

5) Your Lack of Real Answers. you were highly adept at using soaring, flowery oratory to win votes. Yet with all his patronizing of the American worker, you lacked a real, specific action plan as to how he would turn America around politically, economically, and militarily.

4) Your Age. I loathe to hold age against anyone, but should anything have happened to you  as President of the United States, the next in line would make an absolute mockery of the presidency.

3) Sarah Palin. The choice of Sarah Palin as your running mate had Karl Rove written all over it. Rove was successful in convincing the country that an intellectually-challenged Texas cowboy should become our 43rd president back in 2000, and more than likely this was his last attempt at taking yet another ill-qualified individual and presenting her as our potential vice-president.

2) Hypocrisy in the Religious Right. In January 2008, James Dobson of Focus on the Family fame opined, "Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances."(1) Yet only six months later, he changed his mind, saying, "If that is a flip-flop, then so be it."(2) It is highly ironic how the Republicans eschewed presidential candidate Senator John Kerry for flip-flopping in 2004 and Senator Barack Obama in 2008, yet when James Dobson flip-flops, it is suddenly acceptable.

1) The Merging of Politics and Christianity. My disappointment and frustration with the overly politicized religious right has reached the point where I believe we need a new movement to encourage Christians to remove themselves from the political sphere and revert back to the original biblical model of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ rather than the gospel of Republican politics.

Yes, I voted for Barack Obama, and I personally believe my vote will lead America on a new path of prosperity and restoration.

***

In symbolic terms, the election of Barack Obama on November 4, 2008 as the country's first African-American President was certainly significant. However, it did not mark a power-shift in party dynamics, as many pundits have stated? Obama won only 53% of the electorate; furthermore, the Democrats fell four Senate seats short of the 60 needed to break filibusters and pass legislation without Republican support. Instead, '08 was at once a testament to the moral bankruptcy of the George W. Bush regime and the wizardry of the Obama campaign. How can the Republicans get back in the game? Here are 10 simple ways:

Reformulate National Message

Instead of reactionism, Republicans need to re-evoke the sense that they're the party of aspiration; to connect with the everyman's American Dream. Furthermore, they need to better link up with science and technology to recapture the sense of socio-technical progressiveness last seen in the birth of the Space Age. They should couple this with their historical commitment to traditional values - family, faith, hard work. This can produce a time-tested and compelling vision of the future for the American family.

Reconstitute the Base

Although his Party couldn't fully digest him, McCain's moderation was an asset on the national stage. Republicans have got to move the base to the Center if they are to align with the American people. Therefore, they've got to empower moderate Republicans with more mainstream viewpoints, especially on social issues.

Expand the Party

It is anecdotal that Obama won because of overwhelming support from the young, minorities and women. The days in the 80s - when the party was the preserve of White patricians - are long gone. The next nominee will have to court these newly energized demographics.

Reform Campaign Financing

Campaign Financing 2.0: utilize the internet and grassroots funding. Obama let the cat out the box, and campaign financing rules can't put it back in.

Utilize "New Media"

Conservative Talk Radio is good for seniors, but go where the young and "liberal media" go: social network and video sharing sites. Twitter.com should get special consideration for its micro-blogging features.

Democratize Economic Policies

In past decades, "supply-side" economics has been a Trojan Horse: Reaganites used it as window-dressing to buttress the rich and gouge everyone else. What're needed are direct initiatives to stimulate the Middle Class. George W. Bush's "ownership society" should be revisited more seriously here.

Go Green

Obama will likely lay the groundwork for a new "Green Economy" with a renewable energies initiative. The Republicans can couple it with an inclusive commitment to free-enterprise and innovation.

Get Serious on Healthcare Reform

To their peril, Bush-era Republicans have under-appreciated this area in favor of national security. Obama will likely move too fast, leading to drastically lowered quality. They can show in 2012 that quality can be restored by funding innovation (egs. proton beaming and robotic surgery), streamlining administration and promoting patient choice.

Reform the Bush Doctrine

It was Teddy Roosevelt who said "speak softly and carry a big stick." Under Bush we shouted while our stick wore down from trying to whack all the gophers popping up from the holes. In the process we fabricated evidence, engaged in torture and renditions, mocked the UN, alienated "Old Europe", dismissed Syria and the Palestinians, antagonized Russia and Iran, condescended China, and worst of all - invaded and occupied a sovereign state (i.e. Iraq) not implicated in 9-11. How not to make friend and influence peopleGoing forward, Republicans can increase U.S. standing in the world by employing the nimble diplomacy, termed "soft power" by Joseph Nye, as a matter of course. Of course the big stick will remain on the table-but only used in consort with solid intelligence.

Streamline Values Platform

It can be argued that the "family values" message of the Republican 90s was hijacked in the Bush era by Christian Conservatives. Social policy was delegated to radical elements with biblical agendas. From the Middle East Peace Process to Evolution to Gay Marriage, extreme wings of the party proffered "zero-sum" positions that over-reached on policy. If the Party is to broaden its appeal, rigid absolutes need to be reduced to simple unifying themes. Good ole flagging waving is the way to go.

***

The world watched political history unfold before its very eyes this year. Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, the United States was going to have a female veep or an African-American Commander-in-Chief.

Now that the big day is over, what's to become of Alaska's Governor Palin? I was thinkin', just to be all neighborly and all, maybe I'd write her a letter. I had to dig deep down into my mid-western roots so we'd be talkin' apples to apples. It might not be the same as speakin' Alaska to Alaska, but I think she'd appreciate the effort. The letter would go something like this

Dear Governor Palin,

Can I call you Sarah? I'm sure it's o.k., you being so down-homey and all.

Please accept my biggest sorry on your party's losin' this past Tuesday. Though I'm sure you were crushed bigger than a two-timin' policeman, you were lookin' composed and dignified standing there next to Todd. Your hubby, by the way, is just about as handsome as a six-point rack on the wall of the den, if you ask me.

Anywho, ya know some of those pundits are jokin' you'll be announcing your candidacy (ya know, runnin' for president) for 2012 real soon, but I think ya know there's some chores that need doin' back in Alaska before that happens. That big ol' state sure isn't gonna govern itself, ya know.

As leader (ya know, "The Mrs.") of Alaska, you've got a lot on your plate there, missy. There's probably more bridges to build, and that moose population mighta just gone outta control while you were out and about, toodlin' across this great country of ours. There might be some of those ol' Russians lookin' over the water, there, too, ya know. I've heard ya got a good eye for shootin', but don't get all trigger happy with them. I'm sure ya know this, but I'm just sayin'. Maybe ya could look at some oil drillin' stuff while you're huntin'.

With all ya got happenin', the most important job ya got, as I see it, is as mother to those great kids. I didn't click with ya on those silly ol' political topics, you bein' part of the GOP and all, but when it comes to that mom stuff, I've got your back, Sarah. So you go home for a while, kick off those new duds, turn on an old episode of "Maverick", tend to those babies, and do that governin' like you know how to do it. We'll see ya back in a few years. Heck, those media folk aren't gonna let ya just go away all peaceful and such, so I'm thinkin' while ya got some down time, maybe you should study some of that darned pesky international stuff that mighta tripped ya up the last few months. I'll betcha that you're gonna need it in a couple years. We haven't heard the last of ya, Sarah. Darn tootin'.

Take care now, and we'll be seein' ya soon.

1. Sit down and have a good cry!
There is no dishonour these days in having a good wailing and gnashing of teeth when you've lost. In fact, that's regarded as showing the 'feminine' side and is pretty much the buzzword now. So have a good howl until you feel better! You deserve it!

2. Find someone unsuspecting to blame. It will make you feel better when you are doing the unpalatable review. One suggestion could be anyone in the party with names like Sarah or Palin. Those types make very good scapegoats, especially when they have used up tons of money for clothes, have bigoted tendencies and seem stuck on continuous stump speeches with the name 'Ayres'!

3. Have a review of what went wrong.
If you cannot bring yourselves to admit that anything went wrong, or are unable to see why it did, just find some other scapegoats. Someone called McCain, who seemed to have bumbled everything, might be willing to offer himself as a sacrificial lamb.

4. Learn about the Internet!
This is most crucial. People who are savvy, and are on the move, don't use paper and pencil anymore. Honest. They use something called a computer. If you do nothing else, go out and get yourselves some computers. If you have never heard of the Internet, Google or Microsoft might be happy to oblige. However, you might have to Google 'Obama' or 'Democrats' as there won't be much mention of Republicans!

5. Recruitment, Big Time!
You desperately need the help of some 'rainbow people' fast, especially for your rallies. Notice how they took over Grant Park, these people of all shades and colours (by the way, it's called 'diversity'). Not sure how you can find them, but wherever the youth hang out, like colleges and universities etc, could be a good starting point! Even better, adopting something called 'mutual respect' might open the doors much faster to this 'diversity'.

6. Start the learning process
You need to learn about words like Change, Youth, Internet, Websites, Profiles, Donations, Volunteers, Inclusivity, Diversity, Respect, Victory, etc., which are all so alien just now. Once you get to grips with these amazing words, understand them completely and can recite them backwards, you're ready for business.

7. Get lessons in how to actually live frugally, not get your clothes from Saks.
Appearing to do something, while doing another, seemed to be an art form with your candidates. You need some kind of alignment between mouths and actions. Otherwise one will continue to let down the other!

8. Get a rather youthful, different looking man/woman with a Vision!
Once you get your visionary, who is charismatic, persuasive, handsome, presidential, great at speaking and smiling, and oozing with talent, you're halfway there.

9. Build up a network of over three million of those 'profiles'. They will be ready to do the volunteering, the phonebanks and the donations to get your candidate elected. Couldn't be easier. A real cinch. Then you are all ready for the final massive step.....

10. Poach David Axelrod and David Plouffe - in the most gentlemanly way, of course!

The Republicans will then be back in the White House again, without doubt!

***

This post guest-blogged by Elaine Sihera. ELAINE SIHERA, nicknamed Ms CYPRAH or Cyber-Oprah by friends, is a top British writer (Elaine's Den) for Helium, NewsVine and Ezine.com.

***

Why did I vote for Barack Obama? The question should be " How could I have not vote for him? From the beginning Barack Obama exuded pure eloquence and wisdom. He seemed to be wise beyond his years. I knew he was what the country needed. What he spoke about was unity and power. He had my vote the moment he gave the address at the 2004 Democratic Convention . I thought to myself " He gets it." Here is why.

CHANGE

From the start Barack Obama has represented change in this country. He believes in building people from the ground up. He believes in strengthening the middle class. Change is what we need because for the past eight years, the middle class have been left out. The richer have gotten richer and the poorer even poorer. As a result, the economy has collapsed under greed and special interest. From the start Obama understood the way Washington was doing things was not working. He is different from the usual politician because he has character. He does what is right because it is the right thing to do. Obama is that change we need.

HE IS MATURE

During the primaries and the presidential campaign Obama never stooped down to McCains level. He never attempted to denigrate anyones character. He always insisted that his staff treat people with respect even in the face of adversity.

HIS TEMPERAMENT

Obama never lost his cool. That is what makes him so attractive. He was so calm and content. During the economic crisis, he did not get worried. He didn't cancel is campaign or attempt to opt out of a debate. He kept it moving. It is important to have a President that can handle pressure, Obama showed that he can handle stress.

CONSISTENT

Obama has been very consistent ever since the time he announced his candidacy for presidency of the United States. He supported his message of "change". He remained true to himself and for that I respect him.

CONNECTS TO THE PEOPLE

Obama cares about people. I believe we need a President who truly cares about the little person. He is the kind of man who takes the time out to listen. He mentioned in his acceptance speech that he believes in a government that is for the people by the people.

FAMILY MAN

I see the way Obama treats his wife and children. Deep down I wish I had a father like Obama because he is so in touch with them. He knows what there favorite food is. He remembers to go to their school plays. My father was never like that. He makes time for his wife.

PUT GOD FIRST

Having God in your life is very important. Obama shows his devotion to God in the way he treats people. He is very humble and caring. He never comes off arrogant. He is a devout Christian. He kept his eyes on God's will and not his own.

INSPIRING

Every time he gives a speech he inspires me to go on. He makes me see it is possible to do anything I put ny mind to.

INTELLIGENT

Barack Obama is not just an excellent speaker he is very smart. He takes his time and figures things out. He does not rush into things just because the pressure is on.

BELIEVES IN UNITY

Barack Obama is a very good communicator. He can speak to anyone. His calm demeanor and baritone voice seem to draw people in. He is loved all over the country and he is the one who can bring us together as one nation.

Those are some of the reasons I voted for Barack Obama. Their was no other choice. He was the one for the job.