Weve been watching Barack Obama for two years now, and in all that time there hasnt been a moment in which he has publicly lost his self-control. This has been a period of tumult, combat, exhaustion and crisis. And yet there hasnt been a moment when he has displayed rage, resentment, fear, anxiety, bitterness, tears, ecstasy, self-pity or impulsiveness. More →

Mr Obama's father came from the same Luo community as Mr Odinga. The Kenyan leader made the statement in an interview in which he discussed foreign interest in the political turmoil in his country. He said Mr Obama had on Monday taken time out of campaigning for the New Hampshire primary to call him twice, to express his concern, and to say that he would also be calling Mr Kibaki. Mr Obama's parents separated when he was two and later divorced. His mother subsequently married an Indonesian, and the young Barack lived in Jakarta for some years before returning to the United States. He saw almost nothing of his birth father, who moved back to Kenya and later died in a car crash. More →