Arisa Moraa, a Kenyan American, describes at Kenya Imagine her first US election being able to vote:

I never had the chance to engage in the voting process in Kenya because I left Kenya before I was of age. I stood by in 2007 as millions of Kenyans voted and felt a sadness at being of age to vote and unable to vote in my home country.

But then came 2008 and I was of age, and I could vote, and Barack Obama an AmeriKen (American Kenyan) like me was on the ballot. It was a chance for me to make history.. first time voting, and voting for a Kenyan. It is an incredible moment in history.

I couldn't sleep last night, and was up at the crack of dawn enroute to a polling station to exercise my privilege to vote. I was a mixture of emotions.. joy, excitement, anxiety, angst…. all at the possibility… the hope, anticipating CHANGE that I can believe in. It took an hour because there was a lot of people there, but I was excited as I checked in my federal selection.. Obama/Biden.. and the other numerous democrats I don't know. I am beyond myself… First time voter… in a historic election.. Obama IS my president!

Kumekucha describes the festive mood in Kenya, including a few photos from the celebrations in the Kogelo village:

Back home in Kenya, President Mwai Kibaki was not just among the first to send congratulatory message to the new President-elect, but he also declared Thursday November 6th 2008 a public holiday throughout Kenya. Almost everywhere around the country, Kenyans are in celebratory mood as people digest the fact that a man whom they share an ancestry has been elected to the helm of global political and economic power.

Jami ya Keniia expressed her happiness:

Kenyans share the joy with all the Americans that voted Barack and all the world that supported in one way or the other.

I like the spirit of unity and love seen as Mccain conceeded defeat and as Obama calls on Mccain to help in the management of the great America.

Many can still not believe it. A friend once said to me, when Obama was still fighting for nomination in his party, that a black man cannot make it in a [”Wasungu“] country. History is made in a day and that history for Obama, Kenya and Africa is made today.

Moses Kemimbaro comments on the obstacles overcome by Obama:

… he has demonstrated that anything is possible with the right strategy, message and execution. He has overcome what may have appeared to be insurmountable odds, starting with the fact that he is black, partly of Kenyan-origin, relatively young as a president aspirant and quite inexperienced in the Political Arena. This is exactly the sort of change and hope that the world needs. The status quo has been put to rest. Anything is indeed possible. Congratulations President-Elect Barack Obama! The world is with you in creating the change that we need!

Ory Okolloh of Kenyan Pundit writes about Obama's global popularity and his example for Kenyan leaders:

A lot of ink has been spilled over why Obama is popular globally and just how disappointed people will be because of high expectations - I think that’s missing the larger point. Will Obama under-deliver, probably yes. But when was the last time an individual (especially that young people can relate to) inspired THE WORLD to think that things could be different and better, and that there is such a thing as a non-crappy politician?

[…]

Now if only we can translate our aspirations for him to our aspirations for Kenyan leaders! Would Barack Obama have made it as a Kenyan politican (or even African) - almost certainly not…we excel in trashing intellectual, ethical, different, individuals who want to participate in public service. In Obama’s own words, “…For as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible.” Lets work to change this people.

The Alpha Quadrant, who criticizes Nov 6 being declared a public holiday since “In the US, the election day was not even a public holiday,” is one of the few bloggers that is not celebrating Obama's victory. In his opinion, Obama's victory is not going to bring change in Kenya:

There are still IDPs in camps by the way.

There's still the Waki and Kriegler reports that cannot be wished away.

There are still HUGE GAPING POTHOLES on a good number of our roads.

Poverty is still a major issue

Change? In Kenya? Nah? Just business as usual - with the usual over-indulgence of all things political. Boring!

And a commentor on his blog adds:

Even as we celebrate Obama’s success story, even as we with fingers closed wait for his inauguration as the 1st half black President of the USA. We need as Kenyans to ask ourselves this fundamental question. What has been our contribution to Obama Success?

His BIOLOGICAL father was a Kenyan, who however abandoned his son and escaped any responsibilities of child support. Infact Obama confesses that he learnt more form his Kenyan ‘father’ absence than from his presence. This is kenya’s EMBARASSMENT NO. 1.

On the little square in front of the Hotel Serena in Stone Town a corner for Obama has been created. Just like that! I really like when active citizens decide to express an attitude and gradually take over the public room - in this case with a bit of colourful grafitti and locally made merchandise.

Zanzibar is no exception.

By David Edenden Macedonians don't often get a chance to see people discussing the Macedonian “name issue”. This is from last March.I had not realized that McCain was so hot on Macedonia's entry into Nato. Obviously, I was not surprised by

Obama's position.I assumed McCain decided that it was not worth pandering to the Greek vote since the US has already recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name … so the damage has already been done. On the other hand, this maybe an honorable decision based on McCain's appreciation of Macedonia's contribution to the war on terror in Afganistan and Iraq.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when Obama. and Rice discuss Macedonia and Greece. Would both of them be embarrassed or ashamed because … you know … Macedonians are the “Niggers of the Balkans“.

Upon reflection, I don't think so. Obama and Susan Rice are like lawyers who defend Mafia bosses, without a second thought, because that is their designated role in the criminal justice system.

Racist appeasement of your friends (Greece) to gain votes is part of the political process as much as appeasement of your enemies.

Campaign 2008 Conversations: U.S. Foreign Policy
Council on Foreign Relations:
March 7, 2008
JIM HOAGLAND:

… And Susan, I'll start — I'll give you the dubious honor of having the first question on this — (scattered laughter) — or the first crack at the question on the NATO summit that's coming up in Bucharest in April where one of the principle issues will be NATO expansion. …

…Would your candidate use the full force of the presidency, if he were president, at that summit, to push for membership now for Croatia, Albania and Macedonia? …

Susan E Rice (Obama adviser)

… Let me begin by making clear that Senator Obama's perspective is that NATO expansion has served our interests well, and that it is a process that ought to continue as countries come online that are ready and suited for NATO membership.

So with respect to the first three countries that are on deck, obviously, there are issues to be resolved within NATO, particularly with Greece with respect to Macedonia and its name.

And we would want to see that resolved cooperatively in a fashion that takes into account the sensitivities of our Greek allies.And yet the incorporation of those countries is ultimately in our interest and one that would strengthen Europe and, I think, enhance our ability to deal with some of the pressures that we're seeing arise from Russia vis-a-vis its neighbors. So yes, those three, we would like to find a way to move forward——-

RANDY SCHEUNEMANN: (McCain Adviser)
… On Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, Senator McCain has been strongly outspoken in support for including them. They are ready. In the case of Macedonia, they've been a membership action plan for eight or nine cycles.

With respect to the Greek concerns, the United States recognizes Macedonia under its constitutional name.

And he certainly hopes that there's not going to be this throwback to the 19th century style of Balkan politics, and the Greeks throw a red card on the membership of Macedonia.

——-
MARA RUDMAN: (Clinton Adviser)

…And so where I get a little bit concerned, Randy, is when you sound like you're issuing ultimatums in a variety of fronts without finding ways to be able to talk and discuss and work through our issues as well.

And I get a little bit concerned when I hear you talking that way with respect to Greece and Macedonia as well. I think that requires some skilled diplomacy to work out.

We absolutely need to find ways to bring Macedonia in without question. But finding the way to do that is not just by issuing the ultimatum about what can and cannot be but also working through sometimes some difficult issues that we have.

I think we've had too many ultimatums over the last seven years that haven't necessarily served us well with the rest of the world. And we need to find ways to move forward that both achieve U.S. objectives with respect to a variety of issues but also find ways to bring our friends and allies with us….

Obviously, Obama is concerned about the increased violence against women and children in the eastern part of Congo. It also seems like he's accusing the Bush administration for not addressing the war and giving concrete solutions.

As a Senator, Obama did show some initiative in that matter. In 2005, he co-sponsored S2125 The Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act, which was passed by Congress. Though it is clearly written out how the US will assist Congolese leaders with bringing about change in the country, the law remains just a piece of paper.

Despite his interest in ending the war, Obama has not been as actively involved in Congo as he was in Sudan. In addition to co-sponsoring the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, Obama has spoken out incessantly about the war torn Sudanese region. He visited Sudanese refugees and spoke at the Save Darfur Rally in April 2006. Obama has yet to go to Congo.

Based on this, I believe Obama won’t be advocating aggressively for the Congolese. On the other hand, he probably won't relegate Congo to the background like Bush did.

My hope is that Obama will care enough about the situation in Congo to take much needed action. As a peace loving man, he is probably the only person who can knock some sense into those stubborn leaders in Africa.

As reported by Penúltimos días [Es], it all started a few days ago when the media showed a Cuban flag with the famous silhouette of Che Guevara's face in a local volunteer committee to support Barack Obama's campaign in Houston, Texas. It sparked so many heated reactions, that the Obama Campaign had to release statement:

Senator Obama has made it clear that we will maintain the embargo as a way to leverage meaningful democratic change in Cuba. The office featured in this video is funded by volunteers of the Barack Obama Campaign and is not an official headquarters for his campaign.

In a televised debate in Texas last Thursday, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were asked “Would you be willing to sit down with Raúl Castro, or whoever leads the Cuban dictatorship when you take office at least just once, to get a measure of the man?”. Penúltimos días [Es] posted the video of the debate, and The Cuban Triangle summarized their answers:

Senator Clinton sticks to the approach voiced so many times by President Clinton when he was in office: U.S. action depends on
change in Cuba. Barring evidence of a clear change in direction in Cuba, she would have no talks, no moves in U.S. policy except for an emphasis on working with allies.

Obama would meet without preconditions but only after preparation of an agenda that includes human rights, political
prisoners, free press and economic opening – “It is important for the United States not just to talk to its friends, but also to its enemies.” He would also lift restrictions on Cuban American visits and remittances. He described that as “a show of good faith.”

On Friday, Republican candidate John McCain issued a statement from Indiannapolis in response to Obama's openness to meet with Cuba's leadership.

Henry Gómez at Babalu Blog quoted McCain as saying:

Not so along go Senator Obama favored complete normalization of relations with Fidel Castro's Cuba. Last night, he said that as president he'd meet with the imprisoned island's new leader ‘without preconditions.' So Raul Castro gets an audience with an American president, and all the prestige such a meeting confers, without having to release political prisoners, allow free media, political parties, and labor unions, or schedule internationally monitored free elections.

Review of Cuban-American Blogs published another excerpt of McCain's response:

As you know, Fidel Castro announced that he would not remain as president — whatever that means. And I hope that he has the opportunity to meet Karl Marx very soon. But the point is that apparently he's trying to groom his brother Raúl [to succeed him]. My friends, Raúl is worse in many respects than Fidel was. The people of Cuba deserve to have the prisons emptied, they deserve human rights organizations working there, and they deserve free and fair elections. That's our goal for Cuba, not perpetuation of the Fidel Castro regime. And we ought to make it very, very clear that we will not provide aid or assistance until the prisons are emptied of the political prisoners… I'm very worried about people who want to extend aid and assistance now, while this regime is in power [for] that would help them remain in power. And, by the way, unless those things happen, I see no reason, whatsoever — whatsoever — to sit down and have unconditional talks with Raul Castro.

Review of Cuban-American Blogs vehemently applauded McCain's words:

[…] McCain succinctly explained the difference between morality and amorality, principles and opportunism, intransigence and
accommodation as these apply to Cuba. He also expressed without apologies, because such sentiments require none, his hope that the tyrant may soon meet his inspiration. This would surely be a greater punishment to Marx, who could not have imagined that the last Western defender of his superannuated philosophy would be a Latin American, as Marx despised all Latin Americans with a passion, from his brilliant Cuban son-in-law Pablo Lafargue whom he likened to a “gorilla” to Simón Bolívar whom he called “the most cowardly, brutal and miserable of wretches.”

Alejandro Armengol at Cuaderno de Cuba [Es], however, is less enthusiastic about McCain's declarations:

McCain is faithful to the old Cold War rethorics which have characterized the majority of Republican politicians, in dealing with the Cuba issue during the last few years. Nothing new. We can almost say there's no story. […] I wonder what type of diplomacy MacCain wants to practice if he's elected, missile diplomacy?

Phil Peters at The Cuban Triangle posted a link to Obama's returning fire to McCain on the issue.

Steve Clemons at Havana Notes, criticizes America's decades long embargo on Cuba because it “failed to alter the political path of the Cuban government” after reading an article on The Washington Post titled “Castro's departure means America has failed”:

[…] so let's drop the fiction about the US having leverage in the embargo. The only leverage America has on lifting or maintaining the embargo is with an aging, Castro-obsessed, reactionary population in Miami that thankfully is being taken over by a more rational contingent of Cuban-Americans who have either rethought their views or who just don't carry the same views as their elders in their younger portfolios of experience.

Pro-Castro bloggers such as José Miguel Vázquez [Es] also think that the embargo should be lifted and that the US policty towards Cuba should change, but for different reasons:

[…] donde debe haber un cambio es en Estados Unidos, y no el que anuncia Barak Obama en su campaña política, sino un verdadero cambio en que comiencen por renunciar a sus empeños de convertirse en gendarmes del mundo y con derecho a meter sus narices donde nadie los ha llamado.
[…] Dejar a nuestro pueblo en paz. Óiganlo bien…en paz, eliminar la criminal guerra económica contra nuestra patria, eliminar la ley de ajuste cubano, permitir que podamos comerciar de igual a igual con cualquier empresa norteamericana, en fin estos y otros muchos cambios.

[…] where change needs to take place is in the United States, and not the change that Barack Obama announces in his campaign, but a true change in which they stop insisting of becoming the policemen of the world with rights to stick their nose where no one has called them.
[…] Leave our people alone. Listen again… leave them alone, and get rid of the criminal economic war against our country, get rid of the law of Cuban adjustment, allow equal trade with any North American company. Anyway, these and other changes.