Arguably the most intriguing aspect of the 2008 election is that it signals the end of George W. Bush's eight controversial years in the White House. Bush is a born again Christian who has introduced extremely conservative legislation throughout his tenure. This has alienated him from large sections of the American electorate.
The events of September 11th changed America's relationship with the rest of the world forever. Many Americans saw this as the perfect oppurtunity for Bush to unite all Americans behind a common goal. He failed to do this. His approval ratings were at an all high following September 11th but have been in decline ever since.
The war in Iraq has proved to be a disaster. Thousands of Iraqi civilians and coalition troops have been slaughtered since Bush invaded Iraq in 2003. His foreign policy has been diastrous in general. Britain appear to be America's only steadfast ally and there is evidence to suggest that this relationship is untangling.
Perhaps the greatest challenge facing the new President will be to clear up the mess that George W. Bush has left in his wake.