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Distinctly do I remember the last presidential election in the US four years ago. I was spending two semesters in Pennsylvania at the time and had the opportunity to experience the whole process first hand (including the final phase of the election campaigns, which – if you’ve ever seen their German equivalents – are quite often as grotesque as they are entertaining).

It was painful to see The Man with The Plan lose against a retarded fellow. What made it worse was that while the 2000 election was a scam, Bush won fair and square in 2004. (To be fair, he didn’t win as much as Kerry just threw it away. Not that that makes it any better…)
Like most colleges, the one I attended back then was very liberal, especially the staff with which I had a great connection. The atmosphere of resignation, incredulity and anger that lingered in the air the days following the election was dense. I remember a friend being close to tears when the results were announced – something that I just couldn’t (and still can’t) picture happening in Germany.

Present day. Obama is president-elect. And although the messiah-metaphor is stupid and certainly out of place, it does capture the spirit of the day. I for one am glad and very excited. A democratic Senate, a democratic House and a democratic President. Let’s see what they make of it.