Looking back: Anniston Star's endorsement and the comments it provoked

In preparing for a presentation about Alabama and the 2008 election I came across this Anniston Star endorsement of Barack Obama for President:

Barack Obama is a candidate with impeccable timing. Just as the nation prepared for the quadrennial exercise in cynicism and polarization, onto the stage strode a little-known freshman senator from Illinois whose biggest claim to fame was a speech at the 2004 Democratic convention.

Obama struck a deep chord with a broad swath of Americans. He oozes optimism, calm in the face of intense pressure and a sincere offer of hope to a populace hungry for something better than politics as usual.

After President Bush’s two terms of constitutional abuse, far-right economic policies that have wrecked the economy and broad ineptitude at home and abroad, the nation hungers for what Obama offers voters heading to the polls Tuesday: change.

For this reason and others, the Editorial Board of The Anniston Star recommends Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.