Barack Obama is the Next President of the United States

It was called at about 11 PM, but it was pretty clear before that.

I have to admit to a certain level of incredulity. I remember 2002. I remember his emergence onto the national scene. I remember 2004 and his speech at Kerry's convention, and I remember 2006 when he became a Senator. All that time, I thought "he's going to be great", and I even thought "he's going to be president someday."

But this election?

THIS year?

Beating both Hillary and the absolute worst that the Rove machine could throw at him? Simultaneously marrying superb primary campaigning, flawless general election campaigning, netroot and grassroot organization, and astonishingly effective fundraising? Taking the promise of the Internet that Dean made in 2004 and taking it to the White House?

All while being a black guy who wasn't in national office 2 years ago today named Barack Hussein Obama? Incredible.

The question in my mind is what this means for American progre...no, hell with it, LIBERALISM. Yes, CNN featured lots of Republicans saying "he must govern to the center!" And yes, there is all this rhetoric about being "a president for everybody." But this was a victory for liberalism, make no mistake. The question is what liberals need to do with that victory going forward- to marry Americans' clear openness towards liberal ideas like universal health care, progressive taxation, and a sane foreign policy to an openness towards the label "liberal."

Now on to the speech, to get a better handle on what, exactly, America is in for.