Adil Najam
Even though much of the U.S. and world media seems to have already decided who will win the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, the fact remains that the elections are determined by votes, not by polls.
Much can happen between now and Tuesday. Including the (re-)discovery that the opinion polling is not an exact science. I doubt if that will be the case, but part of me is now fed-up with the over-polling in this election.
That means that maybe we should do an ATP poll of our own :-)
As has been evidenced in other posts of this blog there are Pakistanis who strongly feel that a President Barack Obama will be be more dangerous for Pakistan than a President John McCain. 
There are also many who think the exact opposite. And as the question in the poll suggest there may also be those who feel that no matter who wins things will get worse or, maybe, will become better for Pakistan.
Without losing sight of the fact that Americans will, and should, elect the President they think is best for America, not for Pakistan – and not withstanding my own expressed view that Pakistani-Americans will also be voting this time on their own domestic policy concerns and not on Pakistan’s foreign policy preferences – one does wonder how a new administrtaion in Washington (now that there is already a new administration in Islamabad) might impact Pakistan.
So, please do tell us what you think. And why.
Americans have once again shown to the world why they are a great nation.While we all copy any thing that comes out of this great country somehow we have failed to copy it for its principles of democracy and individual freedom.It had deviated from these principles in the last eight years and Americans have voted for a change;a change to revert back to its original image.I am sure this will receive top attention from the new administration.The entire pre election environment in a hard fought two years of campaigning has culminated in the most civil and honorable fashion unlike in countries like Pakistan.Once we learn to copy this aspect of politics we would succeed.We need a change too and we need to change too.
It took the USA almost 300 years to get a President like OBAMA!
We, need 50-odd years, however & in the time being have to make do with the likes of ZARDARI & Company!
I would echo the comments made earlier: Pakistanis should look within our borders for what’s good for Pakistan. Even if the rest of the world somehow adopts an extremely favorable attitude towards us (don’t hold your breath), it won’t make a difference unless our OWN political system takes charge.
Personally, I am hopeful that an Obama administration will bring, if not sensitivity to our country’s sufferings, strategic vision for America’s own success, which has been sorely missing during the past eight years.
Pakistanis should get ready for a rough ride with President Obama and a Democratic Congress. Obama’s rhethoric of “building relationship” with the people is just campaign fluff, means nothing in reality.
Obama it is. McCain conceded just seconds ago.