Madam, - As a US expatriate, I view the Obama victory as a strong apology from American voters to the rest of the world for all the damage done by the current Bush administration, as well as for our history of slavery. It is a coup, a revolution by peaceful democratic means. How nice to have something to be proud of once again. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - Watching Barack Obama's victory speech, it was easy to see why there was a record turnout at the polls. Senator Obama has a rare quality about him that can only be described as inspirational. By the same token, it is easy to see why there is a fall in the turnout for Irish elections. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - As the world's attention was focused on Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Grant Park in Chicago on Wednesday morning, your columnist Vincent Browne crept almost unnoticed on to the Obama bandwagon ("Tolerant, humorous, intelligent: Obama is different", Opinion, November 5th).
In his paean to president-elect Obama, Mr Browne revealed that he was "yearning" for this "remarkable man" to become President and says: "This guy is of a different order to anybody who has attained the White House and because of that he brings to it hopes not just of the Americans. . . but of hundreds of millions around the world. . .".
However, it was only last July that Mr Browne described Obama as "another cynical opportunist". He claimed that Obama, by fooling poor, black Americans into the expectation of profound change, was a "special disgrace".
Mr Browne had an earlier swipe at Obama in March, writing: "Barack Obama seemed different at first but then he retreated to the familiar clichés about change, changing Washington, moving forward, blah, blah, blah."
While Mr Browne's volte-face on Obama is welcome, it is unexplained - and it is extremely disingenuous on your columnist's part to omit that he held diametrically opposed views on the next US president only a few months ago.
The American elections reminded us this week that the democratic system confers on the public the right to throw out of office those who don't meet expectations. It is a pity that the same luxury is not afforded when it comes to newspaper columnists. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - In true Obama spirit, in the wave of goodwill and hope that is sweeping across the world since the announcement of his inspirational victory, would it not be wonderful to see Moneygall in Co Offaly and Kogello village in Kenya twinned with each other? What a wonderful sight it would be to see the inhabitants of these ancestral places talking, sharing a laugh and celebrating the good news. How about having children of a school in Moneygall linking and communicating with children from the Barack Obama school in Kogello village? How about the adults of Moneygall inviting the Kenyan Obamas over to their town or some Moneygallians visiting the Kenyan Obamas?
After all, we have learnt that the most unlikely places and people have more in common than they ever dreamt they would. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - Barack Obama must be congratulated on his hugely impressive victory. His clever use of the internet to amass almost $1 billion by way of small, individual donations was a master stroke which left Republicans reeling.
The election was pure theatre, American style, and it made for compulsive viewing. Mr Obama made it clear that he will embrace all creeds and colours and will strive to create good, well-paying jobs for American workers.
However, if some of the promises he made on his campaign website are put into practice, we in Ireland - and indeed Europe - might well end up on the wrong side of some unpalatable legislation. He has made it abundantly clear where his priorities lie.
His campaign website says: "Obama believes that companies should not get billions of dollars in tax deductions for moving overseas. Obama will fight to ensure that public contracts are awarded to companies committed to American workers." Three years ago, he said he would change the tax code by closing loopholes that give companies incentives to move jobs abroad.
So before we in Ireland get carried away with the smooth rhetoric that swept the feet from under a brave and gracious John McCain, we should brace ourselves for the pitfalls that sometimes accompany ultranationalist sentiment. - Yours, etc,