I'm extremely happy with having such an intelligent, charismatic and judicious man as Obama for president. He's someone that should generate excitement and rally our spirits, while putting us on a better path.

There probably isn't anyone in the world perfectly suited to take the helm at this time, but we are fortunate that we have someone as capable and qualified as Obama who will do his utmost to restore our faith in common sense government for the people.

I get so annoyed with the far-right button-pushing sniping that those of us who support him think of him as Jesus, The Anointed One or The Second Coming. I can assure them that the only people who are making those kind of statements are themselves.

Thanks for addressing this.

That's the start of good stuff. And the IG testifying on the Iraq money drain is another. I'm not into heads rolling as much as I am in just old-fashioned bookkeeping. Bush's administration was sloppy with accountability from the start--before his election really. Enron and WorldCom were treated as though it was just something a few rotten apples might do. Following the money resonates with citizens after TARP.

Personally, I do not understand why anyone would want to be president with a nation and politicians full of hate.

First of all, welcome back to Don Williams. I'm always stimulated by your commentary.

Obama has been my candidate of choice for two years, since I finished reading his first book. While I didn't think at the time he could possibly be elected, I saw in him the most reasonable, thoughtful, honest, inclusive, globally-conscious candidate I had seen in my lifetime. I don't expect to agree with every decision he makes, but I believe even more than I did two years ago that he will be instrumental in saving this planet. Thanks Don for expressing it so beautifully.

Good point. No way in hell I would want to take over this economy, the war in Iraq, our foreign policy, our energy policy, etc. etc. etc.

That's probably why the only people Republicans could come up with to run were McCain, Huckabee, and Fred Thompson. And Sarah Palin.

Thankfully, Democrats had people like Obama, Hillary, Biden, et. al. who were willing to step up to the plate and take the heat.

He's special alright:

Rejected public campaign funding after pledging to take it

Hires 17 lobbyist after pledging to have none

Nominates 2 tax cheats and says it's no big deal

Agree with article. Dont really think that any human can possibly correct the last 8 years in 4, but feel he will do his best. He knows that the world is depending on him.

Just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Williams' article and hope to read more soon.
Thanks, Don

metulj

It is intelligent comments such as yours that keeps me reading this blog.

Wonder what would happen if you owed 100k in taxes. Probably nothing either.

How refreshing to read words so positive!

I too think Obama will do his very best and he is coming from the right vision - yet it will take all of us working with him to help turn the ship of state around.

Too often we look for saviors outside of ourselves to fix any challenge. The real answers are within - and each of us has to do our part and step out of our own comfort zone to see how Hillary was right - it takes a village.

Mary in Radioactive TN

Yes, you are so right on, feller. Barack Obama is in the White House, elected by 52 million Americans...serving we the people. But he is not our savior, since the term 'savior'at least to me, means saving us from ourselves. I prefer to think of his awesome election as a collective trust...from all who voted for him, that he does have the guts to try and help our country move forward, out of the morass of not just the past 8 years, but even going back in the day to the crooks of the Nixon era. I am proud to have worked in his campaign for 6 remarkable months here in Red East Tennessee! My favorite story tells how local voters had the guts to vote their conscience...one guy bought 15 Obama yard signs, coming by to get a new one each time his neighbors stole one out of his yard! So I believe we supported him, not to save us, but simply because we believed his truth and his promises. And he is keeping them.

Our system is what will save us, not faith in a human being. It has lasted for over two centuries and while it often needs to reset itself putting faith in a person is how one ends up in a dictatorship. The fact that Obama may eventually show good leadership skills and exercise the power of the Presidency the right way does not mean he will "save anyone."

When little jack fires you for being too liberal, you must really be a kook! don, learn to sing or whistle, only about 12 people in knox co. read or will read your musings!

"Saviour" in my mind conjures up the image of one being accomplishing great things. I see President Obama as the leader who will inspire a great many people to small (community) accomplishments. And that is how we will turn this country around. And count me as one of those who looks forward to reading Don's articles again.

You people are so full of it. My goodness, he is the President, not some Castro to be or something. Get a life and read the Constitution, I don't believe it states anywhere in that document about the President being a savior of anything. I believe that is why the idea of checks and balances are in there too. Good grief.

Who needs TV when we are so well entertained with nobody?

"attuned ... in keeping with our best spiritual traditions." In a nutshell, that may be the best description of President Obama I have seen in print.

As always, Don Williams writes what I think and feel. Only he says it the way I would if I were far more eloquent than I will ever be.

All through the past year, I have been saddened that we supporters of Barack Obama are hard to find throughout this so-called Bible Belt of our country. That seems so strange to me, since Obama's philosophies are right in tune with Jesus' teachings.

Thank goodness Bush is gone so that now we won't be pointing fingers at others shortcomings and using that as an excuse for everything that is wrong with the country. Yeah ... right.... Don. Wouldn't want to be pointing fingers at others would we?

I was excited listening to Obama speak; wonderfully new ideas a new direction, transparency, accountability but then the hick-ups with his cabinet appointments, so what everyone makes mistakes, right? And then Geithner (Touted as the only man in the United States that can lead us out of the financial 9-11) appoints Mark Patterson as the Treasury Department’s Chief of Staff…who was a lobbyist for Goldman Sachs; what the heck? Then Lord Geithner addresses the nation. He would have been more effective if he had addressed the nation in his skivvies because his sugar peas would probably have had more substance than his financial rescue plan. Today President is poised to sign into law the country’s most expensive, expansive government increase…what…???...is Bush back in office? Are any of you starting to catch on, because big bank management, congress and the White House are all in bed with one another, that we American tax payers are in serious trouble? Democrat or Republican it makes no difference. They are all up on the hill in the big Washington DC big club house laughing at us. These folks belong to the World’s most exclusive country club and will do anything and everything to hold onto their lifelong membership cards.

Call me crazy but before you do…do yourself a favor and research how we arrived at where we are. Simon Johnson’s Blog is a great place to start: (link...)