The+Politics+Change

Following the 2006 elections, George Bush’s popularity dwindled. Citizen’s grew more and more dissatisfied with the government and the way Bush’s ministration handled problems like the war and Hurricane Katrina. The people wanted change. The results of the 2006 general elections saw the Democratic Party take control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. That following year, the House elected Nancy Pelosi as the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. Prior to this, the Republican party (Bush’s party) held majority in both Houses of Congress for twelve years. It was obvious that people wanted a change, in the country’s politics and the people who run it.

All of this built up for the 2008 presidential elections. The major candidates highlighted Republican Senator Jonathan McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama. While both had a strong, loyal support following them, it was bi-racial candidate Barack Obama’s campaign that truly shone. After a long battle with fellow Democratic candidate hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton, the young senator from Illinois had won his party’s vote to represent the party for the presidential elections. Behind Obama were a people unified by the prospect of change in Washington.

Obama’s expertly run campaign amassed many people across party lines using John McCain’s ideas tied to Bush’s unpopular presidency. He rode on the prospect of real change that only he could bring commenting in a speech at the Democratic National Convention, “Well it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America…Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work. That's the promise of America - the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper. That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now. So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am President.” Obama promoted a government that truly serves its people. Citizens were inspired by the orator and around him seemed to stand a country unified.

Conversely, John McCain held on to loyal Republican promising to lead them out of current issues through his years of experience. He convinced many that with him at the helm of the oval office, he would lead the United States to “win” the war in Iraq, and to overcome the financial and economic problems. While much of the country were steadfast in who they’d vote for, many remained undecided and much like the election prior, it would all come down to them. After months of campaigning, debate, and controversy, the people of the United States elected its first African-American president, Barack Obama.

Simply winning the election didn’t slow Obama and his team. He quickly collected his cabinet, and began trying to solve the issues plaguing Americans. For the next two years, Obama tackled problems such as the economic recession, the bureaucracy in Washington between political parties, and most troubling the issue of universal health care.