I would like to congratulate my fellow Americans for making a historic choice. At long last, the greatest barrier in America has been broken.

That’s right: for the first time in history, the President of the United States will have a rabbi for a cousin.
Mazal tov, Barak!

Not surprisingly, the election has received considerable interest over here. Last night, I was out at a movie and the gentleman sitting next to me heard my accent. He asked where in the US I was from, and when I told him Washington, DC, he said, in the mildest, most polite tone imaginable, “Tell me, is that a region that tends to trend towards McCain or Obama?”

I’ve lived here long enough to know that this is Britspeak for, “I’m dying to know who you voted for but it would be rude to come out and ask.” So, by way of answer, I unbuttoned my shirt, revealing the Obama t-shirt underneath.

The English reserve melted away. He got a big grin and clapped me on the shoulder. At that point, the movie started, so we didn’t get the chance to talk further, but afterwards, he told me he was going home to watch the results on TV.

So, random English guy who sat next to me at the movie, on behalf of America, let me say, “You’re welcome.”