I leave London and come back to good ?ole Funcie on Wednesday. I can?t believe it. These three months have gone so fast and yet it seems like forever ago since I?ve been home. My mom and sister were here to visit over Thanksgiving so that was fun. I?m glad I got to show them how my life has been this semester. It really is just too hard to explain it. I?m going to miss London so much, but leaving is kind of bitter sweet. I want to come home and see all my friends and family, but I know I?m going to want to come back after two weeks. So I planed a trip to Seattle to see my high school friends over Christmas break to break the stagnant Indiana feel, so that should be good. Anyway? I had to write an aftermath of the election journal for my poly sci class, so I thought I would include it, as well as one of my favorite pics I've taken here.

The aftermath of the election

At times, the election seemed as if it would never be over. The early campaigning and close campaigns between the candidates during the primary season made it seem as the race for presidency was never ending. But it did end and Barack Obama won. Despite rumors and barriers the American people, with influence from people around the world, Obama won.

Now, in the aftermath, it is credited that Obama won for his nearly flawless campaign largely accredited to his campaign advisors and directors. He had a direct and continuous theme of change, he reached out to peoples not previously interested in politics and he made well-advised and educated policy decisions. He ran a savvy campaign, integrating old and new media to raise money, reach new audiences and organize grass-root volunteers. A Newsweek article credited Mr. Schmidt, a McCain strategist, saying, ?It was a perfectly run campaign; it made few mistakes.?

In terms of international relations, Obama was seen as possibly more flawless than his campaign in America. The percentage of foreigners who supported Obama as president was overwhelming. Governments from all over the world supported the change in American governments from the current Bush administration.

An example of this is Prime Minister Gordon Brown?s projected relationship with the incoming Obama administration. Brown has said that he will work closely Obama and that he supports his policies. Even with policies of war, Brown has said he supports Obama in Afghanistan and will try to encourage other nations to support Obama?s policy as well.

Obama?s main criticism might be the fear that he will not be able to live up to the expectations of his campaign and message of change. He will have to prove that he is capable of implementing and enforcing policies that reflect his expected change. So far, he is proving that he is capable of this. He has already talked about environmental policies, war plans, economic solutions and he has picked advisors that demonstrate his promise to open up to bipartisan relations for the greater cause of doing what is best for America.

I don't think we will fully know how much change he brought us until the history books are written. Hopefully, it will all be good.

See you soon!!

Cheerio,

Jill