Obama's speech to Congress and the Nation

I loved it. I thought it was inspirational, logical, rational, struck the right tones - optimistic, challenging, uplifting... a great speech. The right speech for the right time.

I liked what he said - about not quiting and that the seeds of recover are in our hands if we don't succumb to cynicism and self-doubt.

"The answers to our problems don't lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities, in our fields and our factories, in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth," he said. "What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face and take responsibility for our future once more."

Don't give up. We can come back from this. We need to learn what went wrong and move on. We need to work together etc..

I also hope that other nations - esp. the ones in Africa and Indonesia - will take heed of Obama. And perhaps his actions will inspire a new generation of leaders who will emulate his example.

Let's be hopeful now.