I think this also calls for the “woo-hoo” image, but hey. It’s official now, Barack Obama is in the race for 2008. Let’s turn things over to the man himself.

I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness - a certain audacity - to this announcement. I know I haven’t spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I’ve been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change.

The genius of our founders is that they designed a system of government that can be changed. And we should take heart, because we’ve changed this country before. In the face of tyranny, a band of patriots brought an Empire to its knees. In the face of secession, we unified a nation and set the captives free. In the face of Depression, we put people back to work and lifted millions out of poverty. We welcomed immigrants to our shores, we opened railroads to the west, we landed a man on the moon, and we heard a King’s call to let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done what’s needed to be done. Today we are called once more - and it is time for our generation to answer that call.

For that is our unyielding faith - that in the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.

I sure hope that we can change it. Things are off to a good start, but it’d be nice to see things go a little further in the right direction. We need a true uniter, and I believe Obama to be that man. When the best anyone can do is go after his name, that’s what tells me we have a shot.

He really does have the worst possible name, though. Iraq Hussein Osama is just begging to be put on posters.