United State of Purgatory

Now, I'm no political reporter, in fact to be honest I think politics are best left to the politicians but, in light of the events of the past week, as our friends over the pond celebrate history in the making, having elected Barack Obama as their new President, I feel that this quote from our greatest of leaders is really quite appropriate.

In fact, as the President Elect gets set to take on what can politely be described as the biggest clean-up job of all times, and, as I checked the internet - to be doubly sure that I was not miss-quoting Sir Winston - I discovered to my amazement that T-Shirts, with this quote emblazoned on the front, are actually available to buy from www.zazzle.com!

Clearly this quote has a profound meaning for many then.

As the furor surrounding Barack's election success dies down, and I wonder if perhaps the expectations that will be laid at his new front door might be just a little bit too high, I hear some are even questioning what experience he has to tackle the mammoth job before him.

Although, lets be honest, what experience did Ronald Reagan have?

He was a one-time 'B' movies actor, and he couldn't have done too bad a job because he was re-elected and went on to serve a second term.

Still, it just goes to show...'All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players', and all that....

What does it take, after all, to be a great leader? What real experience can anyone possibly have when it comes to a position as exalted as the President of the USA?

You can hardly have been the President either there, or anywhere else for that matter, can you?

You can't turn up for a job interview at the Whitehouse, present your CV and say, 'Well look, I know I don't have any experience as President of this country, but you know I made some mover and shaker decisions during the time I was President of Purgatory, which really turned that country around. I made real progress there, but once the new President took over it rapidly went into decline.'

Come to think of it, isn't the dire economic mess which the world currently finds itself in predominently down to our allies? Aren't we all in a united state of purgatory, desperate for the forty forth President of the USA to set the wheels in motion to drag us out of it?

And it's not like you can give a President a three month trial run is it? You know, to see if it works out - to see if the citizens like him and he likes them sort of thing - before drawing up a permanent employment contract.

In fact, if Sir Winston Churchill were to be believed, it seems that a crystal ball and the gift of the gab is all that's required to make it in the top political jobs, as his thoughts on the subject were:

"Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen."

And, as President George W and his wife Laura get ready to set the table for tea with Barack and Michelle at the Whitehouse on Monday, I wonder what will be said over English muffins and cheesecake.

Will Barack say something along the lines of, 'Well, this is a fine mess you have gotten us into Georgy.'

And George, minus the help of a cue card or two, will reply, 'Ah shucks, you know, I really can't take the credit - er or should that be 'debit' card? - for that, because you know I had nothing to do with any of it..... you know, I only ever did what I was told.'

All joking aside, Barack Obama's new 'job', mind boggling at the best of times, can only be undertaken by someone either barking mad or extremely dedicated to the cause - who else in their right mind would even consider taking it on?

Not only are the eyes of the USA and the rest of the world trained on him to help sort out the global economic situation, there's also the little matter of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; Iran's nuclear missiles; and aren't Russia a bit cheesed off with the Yanks for what they believe to be their interference in their business?

Then there's the CIA air strikes in Pakistan - what exactly IS that all about?- Bin Laden, terrorism......Oh and what looks like the demise of the American auto industry as General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all face bankruptcy!

Not much in Baracks 'in tray' is there?

His victory speech the night he won the election seemed to be spoken straight from the heart by a man who appears to be gracious, down to earth and inspirational - and who clearly knows what's facing him is anything but a walk in the park.

He said 'Change has come to America', lets hope it's for the better.

At the end of the day, as he takes on that massive responsibility, the proof will be in the pudding - he is fully aware that he's got his work cut out.

And with this thought in mind I'm compelled to add one more quote from Sir Winston: "The price of greatness is responsibility."

Now, all we need is to find someone like Barack Obama to run our country, to inspire and sort our own mess out....