PRESIDENT OBAMA - AT LAST!

Image courtesy of © Gary Barker BBC Politics Show

The eyes of the of the world were upon America to "do the right thing." Thank you for not letting us down. Never in my lifetime did I think I would see a Black Man in the Whitehouse, but Obama is so much more than the colour of his skin. A gifted orator, intelligent, charismatic, forward thinking, believable, honourable human being. We don't get many of those in power sadly on either side of the political divide now. Most importantly too, is how he inspired people to actually turn up to vote, especially the young. We have too much voter apathy in this country, the UK, but here was a guy who spurred people into exercising their right to vote in what is still we are told the bastion of democracy. Last night it really did feel like the "land of the free", "could have a dream", and a "change is gonna come" to paraphrase a little.

Politics are as you know are very important to me, especially as my partner is the Political Cartoonist for the BARKER GALLERY BBC POLITICS SHOW .The image above is his latest offering created in my house in Ramsey, Isle Of Man, displayed on the BBC website and probably sold to a genuine collector at some point in the future. Sometimes Gary creates images that are quite parochial to our political situations, other times his images will document an historical event, and be part of the news themselves. I will never take a photo as important as the historical, contorversial, poignant image such as this he created this week. Obama as President is the best thing to happen for democracy in my lifetime.

My lasting memory of the celebrations will be of Jesse Jackson's genuine tears. The man who stood beside Martin Luther King, and now Obama. He was the bridge between the worlds. Time will tell what kind of President Obama will prove to be. Times are bad, and his inheritance is poor, but he promised change and so far he has delivered the biggest change of all voter apathy into voter awareness. A one time only from me, you won't hear me say this again, but "All Hail the Chief". If only Rosa Parks has lived to see this day.

America well done and thank you.