is not that he's black, it's that he's half white, and half black, and was educated in Indonesia, and brought up in Hawaii, and is genuinely neither anti gay nor a bigot and seems intelligent and decent and tolerant.

Pigment is totally unimportant and the acclaim for him being black only highlights how strange humanity has been for years - why on earth did it ever matter?

In times to come it will seem as odd as selecting a leader on the colour of their eyes.

I think pigment is very important. The first BLACK president is a massive deal to Billions. Its a massive step for a country who not so long ago woulldn't even share a bus with a black person. In the grand scheme of things it makes no difference. Black people worldwide are rejoicing and i don't blame them.

I must say both candidates came across as thoroughly decent men; McCain's concession speech said everything we always thought about the man, that he was far and away the best Republican in ages.

Yup, in defeat, McCain seems like one of the more 'agreeable' Republicans.

His concession speech was truly exceptional and he showed himself to be a decent man.

Perhaps if he'd conducted his campaign in the same kind of spirit he'd have done a little bit better.

Why start a thread then drift from the topic when an opposing opinion is given? Its like the cold war all over again? At least have the good grace to acknowledge those who choose to respond. (when it suits?)

I think he is proving to be one of the great orators of our time.

I also think he will be extremely good in convincing others to implement his policies.

It is not often that Veritas is wrong ! but HEALTHCARE REFORM has been his achilles heel and he has failed to persuade the USA public.

His "Blackness" Is also now an issue - his team call his opponents racist behind the scenes at every step. Which is a shame.

As for "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN" the increase in troops to Afganistan shows nothing has changed. He has stopped torture ( we think ) but war is being waged in a bigger way. The Iraq troops are still there by the way - they pulled OUT of the Cities to bases - that was the only change.

We await OBAMA's first true test - so far World politics has been very quiet - no major issues to get involved in/ But Israel are desperate to bomb Iran - and so there could be something to do later this year.