While the over 2-to-1 electoral and 6.5 percent popular vote margins are impressive, other markers bespeak his more extraordinary accomplishments.

Obama changed eight Republican states from 2004 to Democrat, including startling victories in Indiana, Virginia and North Carolina. His western strategy provided dramatic dividends in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. He covered every possible electoral path to the presidency and fully exploited Howard Dean's brilliant 50-state strategy.

Particularly remarkable is the New York Times "voting shifts" map that reveals a sea of blue permeating the entire country, except for isolated spots and a narrow band extending across Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Even Kansas is covered by blue and gray, indicating a decided Democratic shift -- except, of course, in my part of the state.

Perhaps most important for our country and our democracy is the incredible turnout among young voters (18 to 29), who chose Obama over 2-to-1, revealing a generational shift that might last for decades, as happened with Ronald Reagan. Only time will tell, however, if this shift is politically motivated or driven by personality.

Enough of the exultant rhetoric, Obama immediately got busy with his transition and named Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff. Conservative pundits quickly bastardized Emanuel, suggesting he was a "radical liberal" rather than honestly assessing his centrist record. Even McCain's pally Lindsay Graham celebrated the choice.

Transition co-chair John Podesta announced they were reviewing George W. Bush's executive orders to determine which should be reversed, especially those on oil and gas drilling and stem-cell research limits. Bush's scorched-earth environmental deregulation strategy will be more difficult to overcome.

High on the agenda, hopefully, will be closing Guantanamo Bay and an honorable return to the Geneva Convention as our guide for treatment of prisoners, which would spell an end to the despicable program of torture endorsed by Dick Cheney and Bush.

A vital part of Obama's mandate for change is an end to the Iraq occupation and a smooth transition to Iraqi control, now supported there by a substantial majority. If any troops are left behind, they should be held accountable to Iraqi law, not receive an imperial exemption.

Obama is wrong about the Afghanistan surge suggested during his campaign. Bush is wrong that funding humanitarian efforts like schools and clinics will sway Afghans. America is wrong about upcoming Afghan elections, which will do little to solve the crises there.

Negotiations with the Taliban afford us a greater opportunity, argues Nir Rosen, New America Foundation research fellow. After all, twice as many Soviet and Afghan troops could not secure victory against their indomitable resistance. Direct negotiations might splinter the Taliban, explains Rosen, presenting us with an opening.

Health care, job creation, economic stimulus, green energy, fairer taxation and education reform likely will all be part of his "big bang" policy agenda early in his administration. Strike while the iron is hot, exhorts the old adage, and the iron is steaming. America's economic woes are bundled tightly together. Their solution must be comprehensive, not incremental.

Obama was not elected for his timidity or paucity of vision.

Despite my own political predilections, I think Obama should govern from the center-left initially and build coalitions with pragmatic, moderate Republicans in Congress to accomplish desperately needed reforms in the short-term, thus sowing the seeds for subsequent, deeper shifts leftward.

Too sharp a turn to the left too quickly, however desirable, risks the generational momentum evident in this monumental election. Cultivating the younger generation and preparing the older electorate for further liberal reform across time is more in line with Obama's personality anyway.

The delusional, conservative attitudes of the last 40 years cannot be eliminated through executive fiat. The destitute fiscal and monetary policies of Reaganomics that have defined mainstream politics and invariably produced the present financial tsunami must be dismantled carefully, but post-haste.

Hope abounds. America's reputation will rebound. Salvation awaits the working "poor" and middle class. We shall climb the mountain together, though we all must be vigilant. A great leader is poised to take office. One of the worst is leaving.

Only 70 more days until Cheney, Bush and his cronies of death depart. Thank God almighty, we are (almost) free at last!