Dark Emperor

Last night, I sat in the booth of a pizza parlour surrounded by young Americans and watched as the CNN predictions came in. It was an odd experience made all the more bizarre by the in house entertainment - a bellowing Mariachi, fully amplified and winning the battle of words with the CNN team. We sat transfixed and attempted to lip read the shiney presenters and pundits. One minute, Chuck McGargle (something like that) was saying McCain could still win - the next McCain was standing slump shouldered on a dour looking stage that said ´We knew this was going to happen - why bother spending the cash´. I saw Palin briefly but it looked like she knew that her career in politics was going to be nearer to Saturday Night live than the Oval Office.

It´s a strange one this result. I think a lot of us are torn between - ´this ain´t going to change anything´ and ´this must mean something´. I am inclined to believe this does mean something. My sense is that Obama will be a pragmatic president, and perhaps help guide it towards a renewed sense of moral purpose. I really hope so. Having said that, this has come at a point in time when America has reached the arc of its power, it will be an ever waning presence internationally, but it could be that as it fades away it helps to guide those countries that take the lead.....Alternatively it might continue to spew out mindless drivel and drown in its own filth.