Although Obama trounced McCain in this election, I truly believe the country is still bitterly divided.  I see many Republicans who seemingly are about to have a heart attack or spit tacks.  If McCain had won, God only knows how many Democrats would have jumped from the roofs of buildings.  What is particularly interesting is that neither McCain or Obama are that different in the base policies and plans.  They just say it with a different vernacular. 

My vote for Obama wasn;t so much a matter of policy or his voting record, as much as it was a vote for the qualtiies in him that struck me as presidential and befitting the office.  He masterfully ran a near flawless campaign and took down two powerhouse stallwarts of both parties in Hillary Clinton and John McCain.  He strategically played both of them and outmaneuverd them at every turn.  His campaign has been amazingly organized and efficient, and he has exhibited the skills to be an administrator and executive.  In remaining calm and collected during the financial meltdown, and bringing in proven commodities(Warren Buffet), he exhibited the capacity to work with other s for solutions but also t oremain calm i na crisis. McCain stormed off to DC to "save the day" and accomplished nothing, making himself look like a glory hog while trying to be a  "hero."  Ask any one in the military, and they will tell you they hate a hero.  Heroes run off half cocked and endanger the whole unit with their reckless acions.  The country doesn;t need a hero to save the day, it needs a prgmatist to not only help resolve the issues ailing us, but to help find a solution and not just a band aid fix. 

McCain lost the lection in picking Sara Palin, hate to break it to you folks.  All she did was stir up the crazed religious zealots of the party who didn;t support McCain.  Palin, although playing the attack dog role well, proved to be bark and no bite the more she opened her mouth.  After her interviews and the debate, it was glaringly clear she was completely unprepared and unqualified to be Vice President of the United States.  She scared the moderates away from McCain and brought many to question his judgement.  In picking Biden, although a boring pick and not "sexy," Obama exhibited a calm and sensible selection.  Biden is the preeminent expert on foreign policy and is exerieneced enough in DC to be able to work with Obama to bridege the gap and get things done. 

I also selected Obama because he lives his Christian faith in everything he does.  I have grown weary of hypocrits who go to church on Sunday, preach the Bible, then turn around and are hateful, bigots, and liars.  Palin talks a good game, but then sneers at those who do charitable work and projects venom and animosity at anything different than her Caribou Barbie life style.  Obama has volunteerd, he worked in the community, and he has a wonderful family that clearly loves him and which he adores.  mcCain cheated on his first wife with Cindy when he returned from Nam to find she had been nearly killed in an accident.  He then married Cindy and used her dad's money to bank roll his campaign.  Of the two, Obama has far stronger morals and his faith in God is his compass. 

He also recognizes this:  THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS GOVERNED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NOT THE BIBLE!!!  What you or I may believe in our religions and spirituality cannot be forced on other people.  There is a seperation between church and state for a reason.  People left Europe to be free of religious persecution.  They didn;t make that journey and struggle to see those freedoms washed away by those who would impose their religious ideology on others.  Those freedoms are the foundation of America, and they cannot be eroded for any reason.

I personally like John McCain and think the McCain of 2000 was a worthy candidate and he would have had my vote.  His service to his country is honorable and commendable.  His public service as Senator has been admirable.  But he ran a poor campaign, exhibited a tremendous sense of being out of touch, and attempted character assasination rather than discussion of the issues to garner support.   

Obama is not going to redistribute your money.  He will only return the taxes on those who make over 250,000$ to the levels they were under the Clinton administration.  They would go from 36-39%.  He is every bit as hawkish as McCain on foreign policy, and intends to increase the size of the military.  Although there may be cuts of certain wasteful programs, the military will not be weakend under him.   

The election is doen.  The nation has spoken, and spoken emphatically against John McCain.  Either we can all work together and share ideas, not attacks, share perspectives rather than hate, and solve the problems this nation faces.  We are all Americans.  We all love our country.  And for those of us who CLAIM to be Christians, can we please show love and temperance to each other?  It is nothing less than what Jesus would do, and would expect from his children, regardless of skin color, age, country, city, or religion. 

We have choices.  We can continue to bicker and be the problem, or be part of the solution.  What will it be?