After 8 years of GWB, your foreign siblings were all petrified at the thought of a possible President Palin in charge of the Big Red Button (for BRB substitute 'the economy' or 'war in Iraq' or anything similarly explosive). At least Obama's got half a chance of not disgracing himself instantly through crass ignorance.

As for the rest of it, time will tell, but hope is a good emotion for starters. Today it seems like the world is a more hopeful place.

Obama has inherited a pile of shit. Growing roses may be too much to hope for, but right now I'd be happy to see healthy cabbages.