Spiegel Online: The World President To-Be

[Barack_America]

The World President To-Be

By Gerhard Spörl

Anyone who saw Barack Obama at Berlin's Siegessäule on Thursday could recognize that this man will become the 44th president of the United States. He is more than ambitious -- he wants to lay claim to become the president of the world.

...So what still sticks? That Barack Obama is a passionate politician who is fixated on and takes very seriously his desire for a bit of uptopia and a better world. That he is an impressive speaker who knows how to casually draw his audience into his image of the world -- one who doesn't have any need to resort to the kind of cheap effects that tend to prompt the uproarious applause of an audience. That he is a typical American -- an idealist in the true spirit of the American success story who is now very casually making his claim to become something akin to the president of the world.

He also could have said: We are a world power, the only one that exists on this planet at the moment, and I am going to act as if that were the case. But you're also allowed to participate in the attempt to try to save the world -- at least a bit of it. In that sense I am different from George W. Bush -- very different. Indeed, Barack Obama has his own sound -- it's more utopian, he speaks of the general human desire for better conditions for all of humanity; and he speaks of the longing for strong and dynamic presidents and chancellors who are capable of acting on a global scale. With this drive and this radiance, he managed to drive Hillary Clinton out of the campaign. It is also the way he is going to outpace John McCain on November 4. It is the way he took the hearts of Americans by storm and it is the way he is now taking Europe by storm...

...George W. Bush is yesterday, the Texas version of the arrogant world power. Obama is all about today: the "everybody really just wants to be brothers and save the world" utopia. As for us, we who sometimes admire and sometimes curse this somewhat anemic, pragmatic democracy, we will have to quickly get used to Barack Obama, the new leader of a lofty democracy that loves those big nice words -- words that warm our hearts and alarm our minds.

Let's allow ourselves to be warmed today, by this man at the Victory Column. Then we'll take a further look.

More:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,567919,00.html

(bolding theirs)

edited: typo

[SoonerPride]

1. Isn't the President supposed to be "The Leader of the Free World?"

That's what the US press always says, and now watch the pukes and our M$M bad mouth that idea as if it's too grandiose.

I love the foreign press because they see us for how we really are.

[nomorewhopper]

2. i think that people severely underestimate the candidacy of john mccain

when i read quotes like "Anyone who saw Barack Obama at Berlin's Siegessäule on Thursday could recognize that this man will become the 44th president of the United States.", I get very nervous because John McCain is a real threat to win the presidency. I'm hoping against all odds that Obama can pull this one out, but the presence of 200,000 young Berliners to listen to Obama speak does not mean that Obama has this thing wrapped up despite what the European press would like you to believe.

[Barack_America]

3. I was less impressed with the author's proclamations of victory, than with his very astute...

...understanding of Obama's appeal.

Stateside, we are all too well aware that all it takes is one terrorist attack between now and November. (I do disagree that McCain himself is formidable. His campaign is a mess)

[JuniperLea]

4. There's no question that this stirs up hope at home...

I think it's a good thing. We should remain ever vigilant, but I feel hope is on the rise.

[nomorewhopper]

5. indeed!

that crowd was simply amazing and i think it should make us all feel so proud

[Canuckistanian]

6. Seriously, can I vote for him?

Considering that the American president is the "Leader of The Free World", shouldn't I have a chance to vote for my leader?

At least THIS one won't embarrass humanity.