He Won! Now What?

Obama enjoyed a momentous victory at a time when the nation is (in many ways due to the previous administration) facing historic challenges. Have you checked the stock market lately? The financial crisis may be the most immediate test for the president-elect, though the state of the economy in January is tough to predict with the sort of fluctuations occurring at the moment. David Callaway emphasizes the enormity and immediacy of the financial issue. (BTW: Check out this article on sustainable capitalism - don't forget to check who wrote it.)

But Obama will likely face his toughest trials beyond the markets. He has to live up to his long-held and oft-repeated promise to leave Iraq and then turn the somewhat exhausted armed forces' attention definitively toward Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also has to deal with two uppity, collusive adversaries in Iran and Russia, both of which have recently been testing the limits of international good conduct. This is to say nothing of the perpetually insoluble Middle East "peace process" and the growing need to lead a new international regime on climate change. Domestically, the financial crisis is only the most immediate wrong to right; infrastructure, energy, governmental reform, education, the drug war, and many others await as well.

There is no doubt that Obama will have his hands full. But he comes into office with some unique advantages as well, not the least of which is the excitement and enthusiasm engendered in a great many Americans by his presidential campaign. Speaking of popularity, he's not exactly unwelcome to the international community, either, which will no doubt come in handy considering the aforementioned foreign fiascoes. And, as Obama himself noted many times, he didn't do this alone - the Democrats made serious gains in Congress, and he has already begun selecting his advisors and cabinet.

Even given the daunting tasks and tests ahead, I'm optimistic about Obama's election, and the general change in political direction for the country as well. I was heartened to hear a distinct tone of sobriety and humility in Obama's victory speech - it illustrated to me once again that he understands the gravity of our moment in history. I'm confident that his history-making has only just begun.