It's over, it's my turn now, move over

So according to Andrew Bolt, the US election is over.

He called it on Sunday's Insiders program on the ABC (a fantastic place to start if you want to learn anything about Australian politics).

According to Bolt, McCain's polls have plummeted since George Bush has been on TV every day talking about the economy and the bailout and the mortgage crisis. Why would anyone want to vote for a guy whose party just presided over a financial collapse?

So it looks like Obama will take the White House.

The first black president will be a big deal. It still won't prove that old cliche that anyone can grow up to be president (you still have to be born rich and upper class, you just don't have to have white skin anymore), but it will go a long way to giving a few people hope.

I thought I'd offer some advice to Americans on what to expect when a new, inexperienced leader takes over a country. We've just been through it in Australia, so I feel qualified to speak.

- Expect reviews. Lots and lots of reviews. Every decision will be put on hold for at least six months while the new bosses decide what to keep and what to throw out.
- He's going to look stupid/arrogant/clueless at least several times in his first 100 days. Some of this will be because he is those things, and some will be because other people are doing their best to make him look bad. Like people from the previous regime. Or incompetent members of his staff who don't know how to do their jobs yet.
- Expect gloating. We had 11 years of Conservative government in Australia. It was a long, hard, painful road for people who like their handouts/arts grants. So expect to see a LOT of very, very smug Democrats. It will be hard to watch for reasonable people from BOTH sides of politics. Resist the urge to smack the smug ones in the face.
- The Republicans will need to do some soul searching. They're not in the White House, and the Speaker of the House is Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who is two heartbeats away from the Presidency (I love that phrase, cos it's ridiculous but also somehow scary!). So expect to see some public recriminations from across the GOP.
- Don't expect too much. Obama will disappoint, just like every candidate does once they actually get to office. As long as he doesn't send the country broke, keeps his dong in his pants, and doesn't appoint any of his radical terrorist friends to key policy positions, that's enough. Anything else will be a bonus.

Last of all - please enjoy this video blog from Ill Doctrine. He talks about the economy in a funny and enjoyable way. He usually talks about rap, but this is a detour in politics. I recommend it (and the rest of his blogs. They're funny and easy to follow). Thanks to Nick for putting me onto him.