Time Magazine Names Barack Obama"Person of the Year 2008"

I can't say Time Magazine is good with suspense and surprises. Did we expect anybody else to win Person of the Year 2008? Back on December 9, I wrote a post at Michelle Obama Watch reporting that Obama had over 500K reader poll votes while the second place candidate stood at a paltry 24K. Unlike the primary and general election polls, that ish ain't even close.

During his follow-up interview with Time Magazine, Obama reminded me of the palpable hope I have in him to become one of the best Presidents this country ever had the honor to elect. He clearly embraces his accountability to the American people, an expectation I dropped like a rock a long time ago. Keeping on that theme, Obama offers a checklist for voters to use in judging his performance two years from now:

"Have we helped this economy recover from what is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Have we instituted financial regulations and rules of the road that assure this kind of crisis doesn't occur again? Have we created jobs that pay well and allow families to support themselves? Have we made significant progress on reducing the cost of health care and expanding coverage? Have we begun what will probably be a decade-long project to shift America to a new energy economy? Have we begun what may be an even longer project of revitalizing our public-school systems?"

He continues the agenda with issues of international concern:

"Have we closed down Guantánamo in a responsible way, put a clear end to torture and restored a balance between the demands of our security and our Constitution? Have we rebuilt alliances around the world effectively? Have I drawn down U.S. troops out of Iraq, and have we strengthened our approach in Afghanistan — not just militarily but also diplomatically and in terms of development? And have we been able to reinvigorate international institutions to deal with transnational threats, like climate change, that we can't solve on our own?"

And he wouldn't be Barack Obama if he didn't include concerns about his performance that resonate with Americans at a personal level:

"Outside of specific policy measures, two years from now, I want the American people to be able to say, 'Government's not perfect; there are some things Obama does that get on my nerves. But you know what? I feel like the government's working for me. I feel like it's accountable. I feel like it's transparent. I feel that I am well informed about what government actions are being taken. I feel that this is a President and an Administration that admits when it makes mistakes and adapts itself to new information.'"

Congratulations Obama. Read the entire Time piece here, including a slideshow of Obama's college years rockin' the low fro.

Comments

[Deacon Blue]

Barack Obama? Nevah heard of 'im...

;-)