What a very sad end to the presidency of yes-we-can Obama

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”

Senator Barack Obama speaking at Grant Park in Chicago on November 4, 2008, after he had won America’s presidential election

IF charm, charisma, a seismic smile, natural, unfeigned grace, a singular talent as an orator and a communicator of emotion and empathy allied to a powerful intellect and a character determined to do the right thing, to change millions of lives for the better; if the determination to make hope a template rather than a foggy maybe, and all delivered in a voice so duvet-warm it might make a Sinatra sit up and listen, could indeed change the world then what a better place it would be this week as Barack Obama prepares to leave the White House after eight years as America’s president.