It's Obama.
If ever there was a test tube method for conceiving a President, this was the unlikely circumstances that gave us the bit of history we have seen pass this day. The test-tube was Hawaii, and a boy born of an Kenyan man and a Middle American white woman (far before this was accepted), raised abroad and in the cultural mix of the 50th state, by grandparents of the Greatest Generation. There was the self-knowledge of being different, among a wide variety of differences, and without the sting of racial-baiting so common in what we usually refer to as America, in that time period. He was taught that in this country, anything was possible, and was never given a reason to believe otherwise - so he went on to prove it.
The run for the Presidency was conceived by two lightning strikes melding into the perfect storm. The first was the howl of Howard Dean's grassroots campaign dying an ugly death on the fields of Iowa in 2004. Dean concocted the idea of an end run around the system by creating a constituency and raising funds through the internet. His experiment was successful in that, and he created havoc among the politicians still using traditional campaign methods - however, Howard fell on his face because being angry just isn't enough. The second was the audacity of a community organizer and state legislator from Chicago, believing that he could do the same - only better. From his perch in the state legislature, he made the jump to the US Senate, and from there - with no record or resume - took on all comers, including the presumptive nominee, and emerged victorious. He did so by eloquently expressing that we don't need to be angry, we can change things.
He emerged victorious, in many ways by surfing. He caught a wave at it's crest and rode it in. The wave was public dissatisfaction with Washington gridlock and partisan backbiting. It was a wave that brought forth the "New Center" - from where the Thomas Paine Project got it's voice. Obama was on time and on message - and in the politics of 2008, that was enough.
He brings to the Presidency many of the attributes of JFK, from whose campaign he borrowed, and from whose personality he morphed. It was no coincidence that he should take his lessons from JFK. Kennedy, too, was an inexperienced first term Senator, with a razor-thin resume, no foreign policy experience, no real domestic policy experience to speak of - pretty much nothing but a ghost-written book, a good deal of charisma, and the ability to whip a crowd into a frenzy. He addressed his inexperience by surrounding himself with it, most notably his Veep pick - Lyndon Johnson, arguably the most powerful man in Washington. And he addressed questions of his readiness to lead by always appearing more calm, cool and collected than his Republican rival - Richard Nixon, who oozed presidential gravitas out of every pore. It was an election decided by less than 100,000 popular votes - and legend has it that many of those votes originated in the Chicago municipal graveyard - but, as George W will tell you, a win is a win.
We're standing at the front door of history - there is all of that promise that great things can happen now. To that we need to remember the words of Alexander the Great - to paraphrase - conquering is easy, governing is hard. We have elected a man with little actual background to prepare him for the job he is about to undertake. It works out well occasionally - Lincoln and Truman come to mind. We can also pose Carter and Grant as similar washouts. It is easy to promise, but now promises must be delivered on. We must hope that President-Elect Obama takes that sizable wisdom and ambition that the majority of the electorate have given him credit for, and uses it to surround himself with experienced talent to help him deal with the challenges facing the American people in these troubled times. We place our hopes in him that he can deliver on his promise to end the partisan rancor in Washington, and once again get government working on the people's business. We all, as Americans, have a vested interest in seeing the Obama Administration succeed - for it's success, in many ways, will be our success. As history is our witness, it is easy for promise to be squandered - let us hope that our new President is as much a student of history as politics. If his victory speech is any indicator, his supporters' faith may be vindicated, and his critics may be converted. In the end, only time will tell. America has given Obama four years.
Godspeed President-Elect Obama - may you, your family, and the Bidens all have a restful sleep tonight. Tomorrow the hard part begins.
RLB
The run for the Presidency was conceived by two lightning strikes melding into the perfect storm. The first was the howl of Howard Dean's grassroots campaign dying an ugly death on the fields of Iowa in 2004. Dean concocted the idea of an end run around the system by creating a constituency and raising funds through the internet. His experiment was successful in that, and he created havoc among the politicians still using traditional campaign methods - however, Howard fell on his face because being angry just isn't enough. The second was the audacity of a community organizer and state legislator from Chicago, believing that he could do the same - only better. From his perch in the state legislature, he made the jump to the US Senate, and from there - with no record or resume - took on all comers, including the presumptive nominee, and emerged victorious. He did so by eloquently expressing that we don't need to be angry, we can change things.
He emerged victorious, in many ways by surfing. He caught a wave at it's crest and rode it in. The wave was public dissatisfaction with Washington gridlock and partisan backbiting. It was a wave that brought forth the "New Center" - from where the Thomas Paine Project got it's voice. Obama was on time and on message - and in the politics of 2008, that was enough.
He brings to the Presidency many of the attributes of JFK, from whose campaign he borrowed, and from whose personality he morphed. It was no coincidence that he should take his lessons from JFK. Kennedy, too, was an inexperienced first term Senator, with a razor-thin resume, no foreign policy experience, no real domestic policy experience to speak of - pretty much nothing but a ghost-written book, a good deal of charisma, and the ability to whip a crowd into a frenzy. He addressed his inexperience by surrounding himself with it, most notably his Veep pick - Lyndon Johnson, arguably the most powerful man in Washington. And he addressed questions of his readiness to lead by always appearing more calm, cool and collected than his Republican rival - Richard Nixon, who oozed presidential gravitas out of every pore. It was an election decided by less than 100,000 popular votes - and legend has it that many of those votes originated in the Chicago municipal graveyard - but, as George W will tell you, a win is a win.
We're standing at the front door of history - there is all of that promise that great things can happen now. To that we need to remember the words of Alexander the Great - to paraphrase - conquering is easy, governing is hard. We have elected a man with little actual background to prepare him for the job he is about to undertake. It works out well occasionally - Lincoln and Truman come to mind. We can also pose Carter and Grant as similar washouts. It is easy to promise, but now promises must be delivered on. We must hope that President-Elect Obama takes that sizable wisdom and ambition that the majority of the electorate have given him credit for, and uses it to surround himself with experienced talent to help him deal with the challenges facing the American people in these troubled times. We place our hopes in him that he can deliver on his promise to end the partisan rancor in Washington, and once again get government working on the people's business. We all, as Americans, have a vested interest in seeing the Obama Administration succeed - for it's success, in many ways, will be our success. As history is our witness, it is easy for promise to be squandered - let us hope that our new President is as much a student of history as politics. If his victory speech is any indicator, his supporters' faith may be vindicated, and his critics may be converted. In the end, only time will tell. America has given Obama four years.
Godspeed President-Elect Obama - may you, your family, and the Bidens all have a restful sleep tonight. Tomorrow the hard part begins.
RLB
THAT'S a generous assessment of the situaion. While I am proud of our abiliy to elect a black man, I would have preferred a Colin Powell, JC Watts, or even Alan Keyes. Obama has THE most liberal voting record in the senate. To expect him to govern from the center, or to moderate his core beliefs is asking more than most men could give. Sociaist was not a term that McCain was throwing around for laughs. If anyone bothered to read his books, rather than just leave them out for show, the election might have turned out better.
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Talk about dumping a cold bucket of water on history - no wonder you guys spend all of your time shouting on Fox News. Obama is a leader who comes along once in a lifetime - and he has shown up when the country needs that kind of leadership desperately. I expect that Obama will take his place among the great presidents.
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Thought both candidates made he point on election night that it might be better to tone down the rhetoric, and maybe try to work with each other for a change. All presidents moderate in office if they want to get anything done. Even Bush W started out concilliatory until he learned that the Dems wanted no part of it, because of how the election was decided. The last eight years didn't need to be so bitter. As to the greatness of Obama, how about we let him work for ths term and see if maybe he deserves another before we start carving a fifth face on Mount Rushmore? Greatness is the judgement of history, not the projection of hope, and just getting elected to office (though historical for an Arican-American) is not a qualifier. Let him accomplish something as President, then we can all judge his greatness.
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Not for nothing, but Rahm Imanuel for chief of staff? Tht's hardly a non-partisan pick. Might as well be slapping all of the "hopeful" Republicans who are buying into this right across the face. I'm bracing for a bad time.
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I'm not feeling all too hopeful with Rahm running day-to-day either. It would be like McCain winning and promising to work with the Democrats and appointing Newt Gingrich as COS. How does that look?
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I'm willing to take Obama on his word that he wants to work across the aisle. Here's a possibility you haven't thought of - Rahm is the guy who orchestrated the Dem comeback in 2006, putting Reid and Pelosi in power. Rahm is the one guy whose call they will take immediately. What better person to tug on their leashes when needed, and bring them back to the table on negotiations? The pit bull does what the master says - in this case, he is the best tool to keep the House and Senate in line while Obama cuts a deal with the Republicans. It's a pretty shrewd call for someone who keeps getting called naive by the other side.
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That's a leap of faith that I can hope for, but I'm not willing to take just yet. I'm waiting to see how the rest of the staff shakes out before I either feel better or go completely off the deep end. Like it or not, we've got him for the next four years (Biden will keep him safe... no one wants to see the gaffemeister take over), so as long as he doesn't load up staff from Communist Central, we'll be okay. We survived eight years of Clinton, and eight of Bush. Really, what can Obama do to us except bring some dignity and respect back to the office? Let's see who else shows up in the administration.
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I'm perfectly happy with the result of the election. Obama is a good man with steady judgment. McCain was all over the board in the last weeks, and seemed more than a little desperate in his attempt to win - no very presidential. As to the socialist charge - wouldn't this country be a little better off if we did a little more to care for those on the bottom, instead of just let Darwin economics rule? I'm not saying that we should limit salaries or how high that you can go - just that if you get up that far, reaching back and helping others up is the right thing to do. Doing the right thing is what separates us from the animals
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I wound up going for Obama, and maybe for all of the wrong reasons, but that was my vote. He seemed the most like me, and that he would understand my problems better. He was raised a little different, but he understands having to scrape by, as well as what success feels like. He may not be a POW or war hero, but the path he took gave him a different kind of toughness - that every day show up and do it again toughness. Sometimes that's the harder way to go. Anyhow, as I've said, policy wise neither spoke to me very well - I just had to go with my gut. I hope for all of us that I was right.
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I think it was Franklin that said "He who would trade liberty for security deserves neither". I'm stuck with Obama, and there's nothing I can do about it, but as for surviving Clinton, my taxes nearly doubled - as the working class dog that I was at the time. He promised a middle class tax cut too, as well as lurched the country hard to the left. The only good thing to come of his election was to hand Congress back to the Republicans in 1994. Then they got fat and happy and spent us into oblivion under the W. It's time to get back to the traditional Republican ideals of limited government, and a sufficient tax cut to make that possible. According to the Constitution, the Federal governemnt function is to mediate between the states, enter into treaties, provide national defense, and act in the common good of all citizens. Even under Bush, we have this monster intruding into every aspect of our lives, including matters of personal conscience. It's time to get back to the basics, and allow individuals the choice in how they help others. Increasing my taxes to give my money to someone else should not be the law of the land - it should be my choice to give as I see fit. And I do - I give generously to local and national charities. Put my tax dollars in defense and infrastructure. As for spreading the wealth around, provide opportunity - it's not the government function to provide everyone with a "happy life". The quote is "the pursuit of happiness" not the guarantee of it. I should not be penalized so that some lazy 300 lb couch potato can afford a half dozen super-sizers a day at McDonalds while he watches Oprah or Cops on his Plasma TV in his crappy apartment. If he wants to do that fine - he should have to pay for it.
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Tell us how you feel - really... Hey, I'm not particularly happy about the results of the election either, but even if McCain did get in, he wasn't my first (or even second) choice. So we lost - we can be bitter and vengeful - like the Dems on 2000, and since - or we can take the new President at his word and see if he can be worked with. If he can be, let's work with him - there's a lot of stuff that hasn't been attended to for years. If he stiff arms us, we hold together as the loyal opposition and keep him from flushing the country. We still hold enough seats in Congress, at the Court is still majority conservative. As a party, the Republicans can still keep things from getting out of hand. Remember - once Clinton was weakened, he came to our side on welfare reform and the balanced budget. Obama in charge may be the polar opposite of Obama the partisan. I'm willing to let him try pragmatism before I lock him into idealism by blocking him at every turn.
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I've been waiting for the dust to settle - not sure what to make of things right now. On policy, I agree that Obama is more of a socialist than most - what he has of a legislative record speaks volumes about that. The absolute inertia of government will tend to hold that in check though. Barring a catastrophe, not much happens in Washington fast. On the other hand, it's a proud moment for the country that puts the American ideal out there for all the world to see. There is no place else on earth where a man like Obama could come out of nowhere and ascend to the presidency. Combine that with how a mere 40 years ago MLK Jr was just gone, and segregation was still in many ways, the practice in the land. I can't agree with the guy's politics, but at the same time, I'm amazed by what the founders laid the basis for back in the 1700's. This is a land of limitless opportunity, and now we see that it is for everyone.
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So if I have this right, we have a community organizer with 1 term in the state legislature, and who has been running for President since the day he got elected to the US Senate, as President. Now granted, Lincoln had roughly the same resume, minus the US Senate, but ... As John McCain might say - "I knew Abe Lincoln, Abe Lincoln was a friend of mine - you, Senator Obama, are no Abe Lincoln". Hell, he would have gotten a laugh, and maybe some votes. With economy as the top issue, I'm worried - his priorities are counter-productive (wage parity for the sexes regardless of market effect, limiting compensation, union voting without secret ballot, further erosion of healthcare so that the single-payer system must be invoked, no stomach fo oil-drilling or nuclear, it goes on and on). I'm sure a year or two as President will beat the naive out of him, but I'm worried about the damage his one or two victories might do. The difference between recession and depression is not spreading the wealth, but spreading the pain. The GOP needs to start work on putting together a message America relates to next time. And shame on them for squandering this campaign cycle.
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Wow, lots of sour grapes on the right wing - can't you just be happy for us that we won? We ran the better candidate, with the better message, and he connected with the American people better that yours. I am looking forward to a President who takes the time to understand a situation instead of going off half-cocked and unprepared. George W spent most of his time reacting and playing catch up, and McCain was doing a fine imitation running around aimlessly trying to address every problem in the world. There's a lot to be said for acting, rather than reacting.
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No sour grapes here, just the sinking feeling that once again the smooth talker who dresses well beat out the guy with the answers - even if he didn't articulate them particularly well. The wage parity issue is only the tip of the iceberg - and as all of those smooth answers get examined for what they are - which is a bunch of stuff that gets applause but cannot be sustained. Energy independence is already sliding off of the radar as gas prices come down - just as they did during the Clinton years. We'll soon forget about it and the Saudis will take another piece out of us in another 10 years. Obama is so fixated on the 10 billion a month going to Iraq, he doesn't see why it's needed - to avoid a bigger costlier war. The promised tax cut will evaporate for the same reason it did in 1993 - the candidate didn't really mean it. On the international front, Russia is already challenging our new President by announcing a plan to deploy missiles along the Polish border, and Obama has yet to reply. There's no sour grapes - just a real concern that Obama, while talented, and maybe a fine future president, but isn't up to the task yet. Isn't it you guys who say that dissent is patriotic?
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Seriously rightwingers - get with the program. Your guy lost - he was a good guy, and a patriot, and he served and suffered for America - we get it. But, the voters have spoken and, whether you like it or not, it's President Obama come January. You can keep complaining, or you can be part of the solution. Whether you want to help implement Obama's policies, or push your "better way" really doesn't matter. What matters is that this is the reality today, we need a better tomorrow - complaining is not contributing. Use your voice in a positive way and be heard. If it helps you to come around, the only thing that will overcome Obama is better ideas. Come up with a few.
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Well said alchemy - it's no secret I lean right, but reality is reality, and we came up short on this election. All we can do is what we used to be good for - put out a winning argument in the marketplace of ideas. That needs to start today, otherwise we risk looking like the lefties whining over Al Gore for the last eight years.
Our messenger this year was not able to get the confidence of a majority of Americans. We need to do better next time. In the meantime, we need to get back to the basics of promoting who and why we are. There is not a government program on the planet that is as effective as one person determined to achieve a better life for the future. We promote opportunity, and taking that opportunity to whatever level an individual can rise. We realize that some cannot rise, and the right thing is to provide them with assistance, but institutionalizing that assistance over generations can disable whole segments of the population. We believe that the "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" enshrined in our founding documents, is who we are, and what makes us unique among the peoples of the world. It is why people continue to risk their lives to come here. It is an ideal worth preserving. Let us carry that message forward, and find new standard bearers for 2010. And let us help President Obama where he is right - he will be sometimes.
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I really want to give Obama a fair shake, but he just isn't making it easy. To hear him tell of his meeting with PresBush yesterday, you would think O dressed him down, called him on his manhood, and trumpeted his failures. Talking smack is fine on the south side, but it's hardly a presidential trait - especially when the smackee has been nothing but gracious and helpful to you (which is in direct opposition to how his predecessor treated him.). This is when the big O comes off not as a man of the people, but as a puffed up hooligan. I would have thought your grandmother would have raised you better.
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The fires are still burning hot from this... OK Obama made a few rookie mistakes and spoke way out of school today. Conversations between Presidents have always been held confidential, but the new guy is - well- new at this - and wanted to leave his mark, GeorgeW isn't making a stink about it, so maybe we can all be grownups and follow his example, and hope that Prez Obama has a little more discretion than candidate Obama. Ripping this guy down "just because" doesn't serve us well internationally, or even on these shores. How about we let him get up to speed, learn his lessons, and start his administration. It's easy to call him on rookie mistakes, and be blown off as partisan. How about we hold our objections til he introduces bad policy and fight him on those grounds? There's more reward in winning on policy than in winning on calling the new Pres a doo-doo head for silly stuff that really doesn't matter.
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All on board adman12 - We need to argue the differences on policy, not personality - and we need to start now to get Congress back on our side. We need to do in 2010 what we didn't do this year, which is to explain why soothing words are not a magical answer to the country's problems. We need to state clearly and boldly what must come to pass for us to get out of this mess. I only hope we can do it before the situation is made worse by ill-advised policy changes to "spread the wealth".Robbing Peter to pay Paul only angers Peter, and does no real service to Paul the next time he needs cash. Better to educate Paul so that he can earn at the level of Peter, or beyond. This really isn't a zero-sum game - everyone can prosper if they work hard. It's what makes America a beacon to millions of people all over the world.
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Seriously, I'm shaking my head in disbelief... now the idea is coming out of a Department of Peace? WTF? Really??? Do we really need a cabinet level position to search for peace? Isn't that what the State Department is for? Top that off with the news that the bank-bailout really is a bank bailout, and no money is going to buy bad mortgage paper... And the Russian missiles showing up on the Polish border for the first time in 20 years? I don't think it's unreasonable to think some of this might be related to the new guy on deck... The learning curve is a lot steeper this week than it was on election day... hit the books Obama.
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Dept. of Peace is the smallest of our worries. The scuttlebut out of Obama HQ is that Hillary is up for SecState. I'm having trouble believing that because I can't imagine Obama inviting the hell that is Bill Clinton anywhere near the White House, but it does come from way up the food chain. If judgment wasn't an issue before, it's becoming one now.
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That's not my info, and I have people in a place to know. SecState is not settled but the frontrunner is Wesley Clark. According to my ears, Harry Reid gets to step down and Hillary gets Senate Majority Leader until the first Supreme Court vacancy happens, and she goes there. I'm told that deal is done. I'm also told that the Department of Peace is a metaphor at best - not a serious suggestion. Obama is looking to emphasize peaceful resolutions among nations rather than relying on military muscle. Jesus, it's amazing any truth can get out with all of the fear and rumor mongering. Obama is not an idiot, Bush was not an idiot - all either did was articulate a plan and a vision. It's the media feeding frenzy that makes a reasoned position look like idiocy. Back down and let the guy work.
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My guy is sticking with the Hill for State. I think it's nuts and will play out badly if it happens. The new White House is starting to look like a "L'il Rascals" short - let's see how many bad ideas that we can fit into one good intention. Only when it happens in real life, real people wind up hurt. Leave Hillary on the hill, and put someone with actual foreign policy cred in State. It's not like there's a shortage of talent out there. Biden would have been a better choice - even with the gaffes. Obama's got his own Dr. Rice advising him who is perfectly qualified. A show horse in a critical position soon turns into a bull in a china shop.
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What is this? Anyone but Hillary day? Why do you want her to just go away? She is a patriot, a role model, and a great servant to her country. If the Republicans won would you be spending so much time grousing over McCain's pick, if it was his principal rival for the presidency - I think not.
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It's not about Hillary, it's about the fact that Obama is unqualified for his job, and so far the rumors are leading down the road to him being more concerned with diversity and looking good than in anyone actually being qualified for the post they are tapped for. Hillary has NO qualifications for being SecState other than being Bill's wife and a senator for a few years (because she is Bill's wife). Give SecState to Bill - HE'S QUALIFIED. As to the McCain rivals - Romney - eminently qualified; Huckabee - no; Giuliani - no; and just to cool your feminist sails - Palin - God no! The American people somehow bought into the fantasy that Obama's change will be a good substitute for a resume. That's done, and there's nothing anyone can do about it for four years. My point is that if he's going to be the "vision guy" and nothing else, to govern effectively he needs to hire people who actually know what they're doing. Vision without skills is wishing - which is no way to run a country.
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Just checked with a friend well up in the Obama structure, and he is sticking with Hillary as Senate Majority Leader. Obama and Hillary did meet, and the rumors were brought up, and during the course of the conversation he asked if she would be interested, as the rumors suggested. This is the first conversation that they had regarding the position, and it was clarifying things already discussed. He insists that the press is on the wrong track according to all he knows. For me, I know him and I know CNN, and given that knowledge, I'll believe my friend.
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Looks like the Blll and Hlll show is falling apart. Obama is putting way too many restrictions on what Bill can do or say, and Hlll is already backpedaling to the Senate. I'm sorry for running wth that rumor. Let's see if bawlmerrep delivers. Also in the news - Al-Qaida's number 2 - Zahwihiri became a friend of Obama today by calling him a "House N*****" - there goes the rumor about him being popular with the terrorists. Wonder how the Big O feels about Osama now...
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So Hill is SecState? What gives bawlmerrep? I thought your source was golden? Can't wait to see who the next pick is so that my head can explode.
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The one I don't understand at all (though I do agree with the choice) is how O complained ceaselessly about the Iraq war, and then settled on keeping Gates around. Granted I agree - there should be someone in charge who actually knows whats going on, and he and Jones should make a good tag team - but what the hell kind of logic did the big O have bouncing around in his head to come up with making that decision. "war bad, surge bad, lost cause, pull out troops, keep Gates" - I don't get it.
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Oops! The Great Obama moves in mysterious ways - and I guess between Hillary, and the Gates decision, we can all rest easier knowing that the ways of Obama are beyond the understanding of us mortals. Hell, my guy got it wrong - it happens. There's always next time.
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Not for nothing, but the O being an unknown quantity is already starting to bite us in the behind. As the O would say "My good friend, Gov. Bloggo"... is apparently trying to sell the empty Senate seat - now that's Chicago politics. Hope you nose is clean on this one Barry!
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And now Rahm Emanuel is caught on tape haggling price with Bloggo. We've got the Big O Bloggo Show in full swing - ain't Chicago politics grand... all that's missing is Rev Jackson complaining that he offered a million to get his son appointed... It's hard not to make fun of these clowns.
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I would find it hard to believe that Obama - campaign genius that he apparently is, would not have the resources to handle Gov. Blago. In his rocket-rise through the Chicago machine, he must either owe everyone, or know where all of the skeletons are hidden. In any case, he will protect himself at all costs, and I'm sure he learned that "ruthless" is how you advance in the windy city. My guess is that when Gov Blago asked for some consideration, Obama went directly to the Feds and turned him in. Rahm Emanuel is probably giving a statement as we sit here.
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Well, that certainly isn't treating your friends well... such ingratitude...
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