The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of United States has America and the rest of the world in a frenzy.

The major news networks have been running non-stop coverage of his every move, the History Channel is running special programing called “History in the Making,” and millions of people attended the inauguration ceremony in Washington D.C.

Deciphering the power of his importance to our nation thus far has become increasingly difficult, as the media whirlwind continues. Is this moment historic because he is the first black President of the United States? Yes.

Is he going to put the economy back on track and end the war in Iraq and Afghanistan? Maybe, but the truth is he hasn’t done anything yet.

Thinking back to the inauguration in 2000, President Bush had made a lot of promises too: a non-interventionist foreign policy; a “hands off’” economic policy, and a plan to be a “uniter not a divider.”

It goes without saying that is not where we are today.

The hope we need is that the next four years are kinder than the past eight, presidents aside. The future holds all the cards — we’ll see how President Obama plays them.

Nathan Rockman

President

ISU Political Science Club