American Politics

It has not been easy to ground what I think about this newly elected President. But my ideas have been orbiting around the clarity Barack Obama seems to offer American political culture, after decades of a politics informed by what Stephen Colbert calls 'truthiness-' a politics of spin, dissem¬blance, and manipulation, a politics in which mythology takes precedence over what we know our experience to be.

Senator Barack Obama was the underdog in this presidential election for obvious historical reasons, but his family and personal story, along with a dynamic and wonderful people (Americans are decent people, no matter what you think) who believed in his message of change was the fountain of inspiration that saw him breast the tape of victory (see Kal’s cartoon in the Economist of November 7). Thus, as we savor this historical moment, let us take time to consider its significance for Africa.

In his Dec. 1 news story "Senate Could Give New President Early Legislative Victories," Paul Kane argued that Democrats can rely upon the votes of moderate Republicans to overcome Senate filibusters.