Basically, the US Government gave AIG, one of the biggest financial insurance companies in the world, billions upon billions of dollars.  The thought behind bailing out AIG not one, not twice, but four times was this: As the important insurance company that they are, if they were to go under, so would many other banks and institutions.  To keep that horrifying outcome at bay, the bailout money just kept rolling out.

While no one was particularly happy about this, it still seemed like a logical use of the bailout funds.  Until this week.

This week we learned that of the more than $100 billion received by AIG, $165 million was to be paid in bonuses to employees and top executives.  Yes, those same employees and top executives who helped to create this current economic drama and financial crisis.

The arguments for upholding these bonuses is a little too simplistic for my taste.  Basically, AIG has said that a) the bonuses were promised last year before the bailout and thus are still legally required and that b) they want to keep and retain the best people possible. 

Ok, I can sort of concede that a) creates a problem.  Yes, if you’ve legally bound yourself to a contract that includes bonuses, you should try to pay them.  Still, there has to be a loophole in there somewhere.  My biggest beef is with argument b).

Are they really telling us that the justification for spending money they don’t have is that they are rewarding their executives so that they don’t quit?

Seriously?

Let me understand this.  First, they make promises they don’t intend to keep.  Second, they help create the biggest economic downturn in more than 70 years.  Now, instead of getting rid of the people who caused the problem, we’re going to pay them extra so they don’t leave on their own. 

Isn’t that a little like saying “Hey, you borrowed my car and backed it over a pedestrian.  Let me buy you a new one that’s totally undamaged.  I’d hate to give my broken car to someone who hasn’t learned that hard way that backing over a pedestrian is a bad idea.”

Or maybe it’s like re-electing a president who had already begun running a successful country into the ground.  How many people have told me that while they didn’t care for him, they voted for a second Bush term because they wanted him to fix his mistakes. 

Instead of rewarding these people who’ve ruined things, instead of saying “God forbid you leave; here, take some more bonus money” how about we say something like, “You’re lucky you’re not getting fired or laid off like 10% of the rest of the country but I’ll be damned if I am going to give you a dime of ‘good job’ money.”

I mean, isn’t that the point of the bonus?  It’s a reward for better work, it’s a piece of the larger pie, it’s a congratulatory symbol of a job well done.  How does it make sense to give something of that nature to those people who’ve not done good work, who have helped shrink the pie, and who have not done a good job?

To the credit of our government, our administration is outraged.  They are actively working to create stricter regulations for use of the bailout money.  President Obama has called this behavior an “outrage to the taxpayers” and has vowed to try to put a stop to it.

Both Democrats and Republicans are horrified at this news.  Our Treasury Department is working with lawyers to find a legal justification to stop the bonuses.  Republicans are disgusted and throwing our new Treasury Secretary into the line of fire.  Democrats are outraged with AIG and are calling on an argument of morality to stop the bonuses.

Obama’s political capitol and high polls are slipping as a result of this fiasco.  People are forgetting that this began under a different administration which let the bailout go with no regulations at all. 

How about this?  How about instead of everyone channelling their (legitimate) outrage at various political figures and ideologies, let’s just collectively wash our hands of this bonus melarkey.

Who’s up for sending guilt mail to the execs? 

Whether you agree with what he says or not, it’s nice to know what’s happening in our capital.

My goal is to learn how to post those videos.  I’m trying, but as I’ve said before, I’m not very tech savvy.  Still, I’m working on it.

I just wanted to give everyone a head’s up on this project.  In the meantime, while I’m struggling to crack this not-too-complicated code, here is the White House link to the address:

President Obama’s Weekly Address, March 3, 2009

So please bear with me as I’m figuring out these computer details.  And let’s bear with him while we’re getting through these tough times.  (I wasn’t much of a cheerleader when I was younger, but now I have a team to root for.)

Maybe it’s because of my inability to get really riled up about my team beating your team that I just don’t understand the current political climate.

There appears to be such a huge separation of Us versus Them that our Congress is no longer two parties working together but it’s become some sort of political roller derby in which someone is probably going to lose an eye.

And it’s not just policy any more.  I understand the concept of fundamental differences in ideology.  I get that.  What I don’t get is how that can so completely define someone that he or she can’t see past it.

Yesterday I was gathering recyclables with a co-worker.  We get along well and we have a lot in common.  I’m also a bit of a left-leaner (if you hadn’t noticed) and she’s a staunch Republican. As we were walking through the hallway, a man asked us what we were doing.  When he found out we were gathering items for recycling, he took one look at my co-worker and exclaimed, “Are you a registered Democrat, too?” as though Democrat was a dirty word.  She was quick to defend herself and express her Republican loyalty.  I just decided to stay quiet. 

Here we were, doing an environmentally good deed, and he took it almost as a personal affront to him and his ideals because it was such a liberal act. Heaven forbid we do something positive for the environment if it means aligning ourselves with those greenies.

And it’s not just at work or in petty squabbles in social situations, though that certainly exists.

Party leaders and media are turning on each other.  Forgive me for bringing up a man I hoped never to discuss on this web site, but Rush Limbaugh is a perfect example.

This is a man who, for whatever reason that defies my sense of entertainment, has a following of Conservatives who hang on his every word.  Instead of encouraging them to write to their congressmen and women to make policy changes, he uses his influence to trash liberalism, the Democratic party, and the president.

I’m not saying liberals or Democrats are blameless in this, but right now I’m just flabbergasted by the hate-speech of this man.

Not only has he openly wished for the failure of the president (and please note that this is not a liberal spin, this is an actual statement he made during an interview with uber-conservative TV host Sean Hannity that I watched on Fox News), but he routinely spews his anti-Obama speech at every opportunity.

Even Republican leaders have spoken against Limbaugh in his incendiary and hateful rhetoric.  And here’s the part that really blows my mind. When he has been reprimanded for this behavior, the public anger turns to the accuser, not the accused.  No one has said, “Wow, you’re right.  This is ineffectual, insulting slander that’s serving no purpose but to spread fear and dissent.”  Nope.  Instead we hear, “If you question Rush, you question the party as a whole and you should be ashamed of yourself.”

Um, I thought part of the point was to question our parties, our systems, and our leaders.

I just don’t understand the feeling of “if you win, I lose.”  Given the state of our country right now, any victory is a national victory.  If we pull out of our situation by liberal ideology, how is that any better or worse than pulling out of our situation by the use of conservatism? Isn’t the end result the important part here?

Sure, I understand that people want “their side” to win.  And I understand that if one side fixes things, the other side is tacitly “wrong” as a result.  What I don’t understand is why we’re so wrapped up in that part of the issue.  Whether you put out the fire using a bucket of water or a pan filled with water, just get the fire doused!

My thinking is that instead of pointing fingers, hurling accusations, and wishing for failure of the “opposition”, maybe we could be talking about what good things are coming our way.  And if you still feel like you absolutely have to be better than someone else, try talking yourself up instead of knocking them down.

Ok, I’ll get off the soap box now.  We may need to get into it to rinse some mouths out.

Remarks of President Barack Obama — Address to Joint Session of Congress
Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Address to Joint Session of Congress
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Madame Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, and the First Lady of the United States:

I’ve come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.

I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. And rightly so. If you haven’t been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has – a friend; a neighbor; a member of your family. You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day. It’s the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights. It’s the job you thought you’d retire from but now have lost; the business you built your dreams upon that’s now hanging by a thread; the college acceptance letter your child had to put back in the envelope. The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.
(While this is all true, it was the statement about the envelope that got me.  I remember dancing around my house when I got into college.  I think if I’d had to give that up I would have been utterly devastated.)

But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this:

We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.

The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation. The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.

Now, if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that for too long, we have not always met these responsibilities – as a government or as a people. I say this not to lay blame or look backwards, but because it is only by understanding how we arrived at this moment that we’ll be able to lift ourselves out of this predicament.

The fact is, our economy did not fall into decline overnight. Nor did all of our problems begin when the housing market collapsed or the stock market sank. We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before. The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year, yet we keep delaying reform. Our children will compete for jobs in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for. And though all these challenges went unsolved, we still managed to spend more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government, than ever before.

In other words, we have lived through an era where too often, short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election. A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future. Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn’t afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day.

Well that day of reckoning has arrived, and the time to take charge of our future is here.

Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity. Now is the time to jumpstart job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down. That is what my economic agenda is designed to do, and that’s what I’d like to talk to you about tonight.
(Chris Mathews of MSNBC’s Hardball declared that this statement was a battle cry of Obama stating that he is, in fact, a left-of-center president despite his bipartisan efforts. I think that is certainly true, but I see it as less of a battle cry and more of a statement of fact. After all, he is a Democrat and as such will follow an ideology akin to that political system.  Still, I think that he’s done a fine job thus far of reaching “across the aisle” as it were.)

It’s an agenda that begins with jobs.

As soon as I took office, I asked this Congress to send me a recovery plan by President’s Day that would put people back to work and put money in their pockets. Not because I believe in bigger government – I don’t. Not because I’m not mindful of the massive debt we’ve inherited – I am. I called for action because the failure to do so would have cost more jobs and caused more hardships. In fact, a failure to act would have worsened our long-term deficit by assuring weak economic growth for years. That’s why I pushed for quick action. And tonight, I am grateful that this Congress delivered, and pleased to say that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now law.

Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs. More than 90% of these jobs will be in the private sector – jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit.

Because of this plan, there are teachers who can now keep their jobs and educate our kids. Health care professionals can continue caring for our sick. There are 57 police officers who are still on the streets of Minneapolis tonight because this plan prevented the layoffs their department was about to make.

Because of this plan, 95% of the working households in America will receive a tax cut – a tax cut that you will see in your paychecks beginning on April 1st.
(Tax cuts that came as a direct result of courting the congressional Republicans, in fact.  What was I saying about bipartisanship?)

Because of this plan, families who are struggling to pay tuition costs will receive a $2,500 tax credit for all four years of college. And Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits and continued health care coverage to help them weather this storm.

I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of whether this plan will work. I understand that skepticism. Here in Washington, we’ve all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending. And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right.

That is why I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort – because nobody messes with Joe.
(This was a particularly well-received line.  And it brought a moment of levity to an otherwise very heavy subject.  Besides, I heart Joe Biden and I was pleased to see him get a nice nod.)

I have told each member of my Cabinet as well as mayors and governors across the country that they will be held accountable by me and the American people for every dollar they spend. I have appointed a proven and aggressive Inspector General to ferret out any and all cases of waste and fraud. And we have created a new website called recovery.gov so that every American can find out how and where their money is being spent.

So the recovery plan we passed is the first step in getting our economy back on track. But it is just the first step. Because even if we manage this plan flawlessly, there will be no real recovery unless we clean up the credit crisis that has severely weakened our financial system.

I want to speak plainly and candidly about this issue tonight, because every American should know that it directly affects you and your family’s well-being. You should also know that the money you’ve deposited in banks across the country is safe; your insurance is secure; and you can rely on the continued operation of our financial system. That is not the source of concern.

The concern is that if we do not re-start lending in this country, our recovery will be choked off before it even begins.

You see, the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education; how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.

But credit has stopped flowing the way it should. Too many bad loans from the housing crisis have made their way onto the books of too many banks. With so much debt and so little confidence, these banks are now fearful of lending out any more money to households, to businesses, or to each other. When there is no lending, families can’t afford to buy homes or cars. So businesses are forced to make layoffs. Our economy suffers even more, and credit dries up even further.

That is why this administration is moving swiftly and aggressively to break this destructive cycle, restore confidence, and re-start lending.

We will do so in several ways. First, we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running.

Second, we have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and re-finance their mortgages. It’s a plan that won’t help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford, but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values – Americans who will now be able to take advantage of the lower interest rates that this plan has already helped bring about. In fact, the average family who re-finances today can save nearly $2000 per year on their mortgage.

Third, we will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks that Americans depend on have enough confidence and enough money to lend even in more difficult times. And when we learn that a major bank has serious problems, we will hold accountable those responsible, force the necessary adjustments, provide the support to clean up their balance sheets, and assure the continuity of a strong, viable institution that can serve our people and our economy.

I understand that on any given day, Wall Street may be more comforted by an approach that gives banks bailouts with no strings attached, and that holds nobody accountable for their reckless decisions. But such an approach won’t solve the problem. And our goal is to quicken the day when we re-start lending to the American people and American business and end this crisis once and for all.

I intend to hold these banks fully accountable for the assistance they receive, and this time, they will have to clearly demonstrate how taxpayer dollars result in more lending for the American taxpayer. This time, CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over.
(No more fancy drapes? How will we know who the bad guys are if not for their window dressing?)

Still, this plan will require significant resources from the federal government – and yes, probably more than we’ve already set aside. But while the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater, for it could result in an economy that sputters along for not months or years, but perhaps a decade. That would be worse for our deficit, worse for business, worse for you, and worse for the next generation. And I refuse to let that happen.

I understand that when the last administration asked this Congress to provide assistance for struggling banks, Democrats and Republicans alike were infuriated by the mismanagement and results that followed. So were the American taxpayers. So was I.

So I know how unpopular it is to be seen as helping banks right now, especially when everyone is suffering in part from their bad decisions. I promise you – I get it.

But I also know that in a time of crisis, we cannot afford to govern out of anger, or yield to the politics of the moment. My job – our job – is to solve the problem. Our job is to govern with a sense of responsibility. I will not spend a single penny for the purpose of rewarding a single Wall Street executive, but I will do whatever it takes to help the small business that can’t pay its workers or the family that has saved and still can’t get a mortgage.

That’s what this is about. It’s not about helping banks – it’s about helping people. Because when credit is available again, that young family can finally buy a new home. And then some company will hire workers to build it. And then those workers will have money to spend, and if they can get a loan too, maybe they’ll finally buy that car, or open their own business. Investors will return to the market, and American families will see their retirement secured once more. Slowly, but surely, confidence will return, and our economy will recover.

So I ask this Congress to join me in doing whatever proves necessary. Because we cannot consign our nation to an open-ended recession. And to ensure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again, I ask Congress to move quickly on legislation that will finally reform our outdated regulatory system. It is time to put in place tough, new common-sense rules of the road so that our financial market rewards drive and innovation, and punishes short-cuts and abuse.

The recovery plan and the financial stability plan are the immediate steps we’re taking to revive our economy in the short-term. But the only way to fully restore America’s economic strength is to make the long-term investments that will lead to new jobs, new industries, and a renewed ability to compete with the rest of the world. The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of health care; the schools that aren’t preparing our children and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit. That is our responsibility.

In the next few days, I will submit a budget to Congress. So often, we have come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or laundry lists of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America – as a blueprint for our future.

My budget does not attempt to solve every problem or address every issue. It reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited – a trillion dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession.

Given these realities, everyone in this chamber – Democrats and Republicans – will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.

But that does not mean we can afford to ignore our long-term challenges. I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves; that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity.

For history tells a different story. History reminds us that at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry. From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world.
(The man makes a compelling case, does he not?)

In each case, government didn’t supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive.

We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again. That is why, even as it cuts back on the programs we don’t need, the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education.

It begins with energy.

We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we’ve fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.

Well I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders – and I know you don’t either. It is time for America to lead again.

Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We have also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history – an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, science, and technology.

We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines that can carry new energy to cities and towns across this country. And we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills.

But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America.

As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.

None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don’t do what’s easy. We do what is necessary to move this country forward.

For that same reason, we must also address the crushing cost of health care.

This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages. And in each of these years, one million more Americans have lost their health insurance. It is one of the major reasons why small businesses close their doors and corporations ship jobs overseas. And it’s one of the largest and fastest-growing parts of our budget.

Given these facts, we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold.

Already, we have done more to advance the cause of health care reform in the last thirty days than we have in the last decade. When it was days old, this Congress passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for eleven million American children whose parents work full-time.
(Incidentally, this bill was originally passed by Senate Democrats and Republicans 67-29 and was vetoed by the previous administration. It was, in fact, only the fourth veto of his administration. Many people from both parties were outraged by this veto. To take a look at the new version, click here.)

Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records and new technology that will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy, and save lives. It will launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American by seeking a cure for cancer in our time. And it makes the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that is one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.

This budget builds on these reforms. It includes an historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform – a down-payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. It’s a commitment that’s paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue. And it’s a step we must take if we hope to bring down our deficit in the years to come.

Now, there will be many different opinions and ideas about how to achieve reform, and that is why I’m bringing together businesses and workers, doctors and health care providers, Democrats and Republicans to begin work on this issue next week.

I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.

The third challenge we must address is the urgent need to expand the promise of education in America.

In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite.

Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma. And yet, just over half of our citizens have that level of education. We have one of the highest high school dropout rates of any industrialized nation. And half of the students who begin college never finish.

This is a prescription for economic decline, because we know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That is why it will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career.

Already, we have made an historic investment in education through the economic recovery plan. We have dramatically expanded early childhood education and will continue to improve its quality, because we know that the most formative learning comes in those first years of life. We have made college affordable for nearly seven million more students. And we have provided the resources necessary to prevent painful cuts and teacher layoffs that would set back our children’s progress.

But we know that our schools don’t just need more resources. They need more reform. That is why this budget creates new incentives for teacher performance; pathways for advancement, and rewards for success. We’ll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools.

It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country – and this country needs and values the talents of every American.
(Ok, who didn’t feel a moment of sound byte joy there?  I was moved by that statement and I wanted to see if printed on banners, laminated, and hung up in the classrooms of schools all over the country.)

That is why we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college and meet a new goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

I know that the price of tuition is higher than ever, which is why if you are willing to volunteer in your neighborhood or give back to your community or serve your country, we will make sure that you can afford a higher education. And to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations, I ask this Congress to send me the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country – Senator Edward Kennedy.

These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children’s education must begin at home.
(This has been a theme of his since the campaign trail.  Obama has often spoken of the role of the parents in education.  For instance, “we also know that there is no program and no policy that can substitute for a parent who is involved in their child’s education from day one. There is no substitute for a parent who will make sure their children are in school on time and help them with their homework after dinner and attend those parent-teacher conferences”. To see the full context of this quote, click here.) 

There is, of course, another responsibility we have to our children. And that is the responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to them a debt they cannot pay. With the deficit we inherited, the cost of the crisis we face, and the long-term challenges we must meet, it has never been more important to ensure that as our economy recovers, we do what it takes to bring this deficit down.

I’m proud that we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks, and I want to pass a budget next year that ensures that each dollar we spend reflects only our most important national priorities.

Yesterday, I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office. My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time. But we’re starting with the biggest lines. We have already identified two trillion dollars in savings over the next decade.

In this budget, we will end education programs that don’t work and end direct payments to large agribusinesses that don’t need them. We’ll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we’re not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don’t use. We will root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn’t make our seniors any healthier, and we will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.

In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. But let me perfectly clear, because I know you’ll hear the same old claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: if your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime. In fact, the recovery plan provides a tax cut – that’s right, a tax cut – for 95% of working families. And these checks are on the way.

To preserve our long-term fiscal health, we must also address the growing costs in Medicare and Social Security. Comprehensive health care reform is the best way to strengthen Medicare for years to come. And we must also begin a conversation on how to do the same for Social Security, while creating tax-free universal savings accounts for all Americans.

Finally, because we’re also suffering from a deficit of trust, I am committed to restoring a sense of honesty and accountability to our budget. That is why this budget looks ahead ten years and accounts for spending that was left out under the old rules – and for the first time, that includes the full cost of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. For seven years, we have been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price.
(The truth is that most Americans have lost a substantial amount of faith in those that govern us.  We’re tired of being told that what we don’t know is for our own good.  Even if it’s true.  Between budget lines being blurred, policies being slipped past us in the night, and even our fallen soldiers returning home on the condition that it not make the news, we have lost our belief that our government is an honest one.  Perhaps that seems harsh, but I can’t tell you how many times in the last month I’ve heard people say how pleased they are that our president has been so open and honest.  Even if they aren’t thrilled with what he has to say, we know where he stands which, consequently, means we know where we as Americans stand.)

We are now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war.

And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism. Because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.

As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: we honor your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice, and you have our unyielding support. To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned.
(The applause here was the longest lasting of the evening and everyone in the room stood. It was a good moment.)

To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend – because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. That is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists – because living our values doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger. And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture.
(Ok, I know that some of you who read this are not opposed to torture.  I know that some people are not thrilled by this, but I have to say that I am.  I am thrilled.  I feel that we’ve been living under a dark cloud with this hanging over American heads.  How could we expect to be a world power when we were in violation of worldwide laws? Knowing we have closed this chapter is an uplifting revelation.)

In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand.

To seek progress toward a secure and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, we have appointed an envoy to sustain our effort. To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty – we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power.

And to respond to an economic crisis that is global in scope, we are working with the nations of the G-20 to restore confidence in our financial system, avoid the possibility of escalating protectionism, and spur demand for American goods in markets across the globe. For the world depends on us to have a strong economy, just as our economy depends on the strength of the world’s.

As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us – watching to see what we do with this moment; waiting for us to lead.

Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tremendous burden, but also a great privilege – one that has been entrusted to few generations of Americans. For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill.

I know that it is easy to lose sight of this truth – to become cynical and doubtful; consumed with the petty and the trivial.

But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary.

I think about Leonard Abess, the bank president from Miami who reportedly cashed out of his company, took a $60 million bonus, and gave it out to all 399 people who worked for him, plus another 72 who used to work for him. He didn’t tell anyone, but when the local newspaper found out, he simply said, ”I knew some of these people since I was 7 years old. I didn’t feel right getting the money myself.”

I think about Greensburg, Kansas, a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado, but is being rebuilt by its residents as a global example of how clean energy can power an entire community – how it can bring jobs and businesses to a place where piles of bricks and rubble once lay. “The tragedy was terrible,” said one of the men who helped them rebuild. “But the folks here know that it also provided an incredible opportunity.”
(Let’s give it up for Kansas!  Way to show the world how it’s done!)

And I think about Ty’Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina – a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this room. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, “We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters.”

We are not quitters.

These words and these stories tell us something about the spirit of the people who sent us here. They tell us that even in the most trying times, amid the most difficult circumstances, there is a generosity, a resilience, a decency, and a determination that perseveres; a willingness to take responsibility for our future and for posterity.

Their resolve must be our inspiration. Their concerns must be our cause. And we must show them and all our people that we are equal to the task before us.

I know that we haven’t agreed on every issue thus far, and there are surely times in the future when we will part ways.
(What could he be talking about?  Oh right, the blackout Republican shunning of the stimulus plan.  Way to pitch in, those of you on the right.  Really.)

But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.

And if we do – if we come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis; if we put our people back to work and restart the engine of our prosperity; if we confront without fear the challenges of our time and summon that enduring spirit of an America that does not quit, then someday years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, “something worthy to be remembered.” Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

———–

Personally, I think he did a great job.  Then again, most people can agree that Obama is an excellent orator.  He’s good at speeches, but more than that we’ve already seen progress in the promises he’s made. 

I thought this speech showed a dedication to clear, concise plans; a genuine effort at expressing to both sides of Congress that getting caught in petty differences would be a waste of time and energy; and a hopefulness for our collective futures.

I’d be interested in any additional thoughts you may have on this first big address.

Personally, I’d have taken a day or two to meander through the White House.  Maybe I’d dress up the Oval Office with that poster of a kitty on a tree branch reading “Hang In There” or a perhaps a few thousand post-it notes with information I wouldn’t want to lose like nuke codes or the names and pronunciations of a few world leaders. 

Fortunately for all of us, our new president is far more motivated than I would be. 

First, within hours of his inauguration, he issued his very first Presidential Proclamation:

NATIONAL DAY OF RENEWAL AND RECONCILIATION, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As I take the sacred oath of the highest office in the land, I am humbled by the responsibility placed upon my shoulders, renewed by the courage and decency of the American people, and fortified by my faith in an awesome God.

We are in the midst of a season of trial. Our Nation is being tested, and our people know great uncertainty. Yet the story of America is one of renewal in the face of adversity, reconciliation in a time of discord, and we know that there is a purpose for everything under heaven.

On this Inauguration Day, we are reminded that we are heirs to over two centuries of American democracy, and that this legacy is not simply a birthright—it is a glorious burden. Now it falls to us to come together as a people to carry it forward once more.

So in the words of President Abraham Lincoln, let us remember that: “The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2009, a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation, and call upon all of our citizens to serve one another and the common purpose of remaking this Nation for our new century.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

Not a bad start, huh?  Particularly given that a big part of his speech focused on uniting the nation.  Seems a positive step forward.

In addition to his first proclamation, we’ve also seen two executive orders sent out in these first few days.

First, he set up a new policy on presidential records.  Obama promised up a certain amount of transparency to observe what our Government is actually up to these days.  His order gives us more access to the workings of the White House.  He’s not setting up a webcam in the Oval Office and he’s certainly still providing the necessary blockades to keep us from having too much information (like those pesky nuke codes!), but he’s encouraging open governing.  If you want a closer look at the text of the order, you can read it here or at www.whitehouse.gov (which is my new favorite Web site right now!). 

But let’s not forget about Order #2.  Yep, Obama just kept going! First, he tackled the issues of letting us look at the Government.  Now he wants us to see them all on their best behavior.  To ensure that fact, he enacted the Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel order.  This is a slew of requirements by which Executive Branch workers must abide*.  Among them are the ban of gifts from lobbyists, restrictions on how soon after being a lobbyist one can work in the White House, and guarantee that employment decisions be based solely on qualifications and not political affiliation or any outside advantages.  You can read the entirety of this order here.

Seems like an effective use of one’s time, huh?  A proclamation to move citizens to unite, an executive order giving us access to the gears of the Government, and an order which tightens up policies on ethics.  Still, while I would be impressed to have crossed those things off of a to-do list, Obama pulled an Energizer Bunny and kept going.

He has instituted a salary freeze for top aides (including the chief of staff and press secretary). He’s capping off the amount of money you can make as an aide in his administration.  Obama is quoted as saying “families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington.”  Amen to that, my friends.  Here’s an article from the Associated Press with more details.

He has also signed another Executive Order (not yet posted to the Web site) promising to shut down the prison at Guantanamo Bay within one year.  He has called a halt to all of the military tribunals currently in progress there until they can be reviewed by his administration.  While I don’t yet have a link to the order, I can provide you a link to an article posted on MSNBC.com about this decision.

And just for good measure, to allay any fears people may have had the oath didn’t take, Obama even managed to re-do the Oath of Office this week.  For your viewing pleasure, here’s an article about this do-over.

So that’s just what I know about in the last two and a half days.  No telling what other stuff is going around that just hasn’t reached my ears yet.

I will say that I am impressed by the speed with which our new president is taking the country by the reigns.  He is doing his utmost to live up to the alarmingly high expectations held to him by the nation and the world. 

Many of us are praying for his success, while there are those who just as fervently pray for him to fail.  Let’s just put our collective energy into hoping the nation is on a path towards healing and that these proactive steps are leading us in that important direction. 

*I would just like to point out that when speaking about president-y things, I did not end one sentence with a prepostion.  Don’t I seem smart?

This morning our nation changed forever. We’re moving into a new era of untold change and enthusiasm. When in our nation’s history has an inauguration meant so much to so many? I would love to wax philosophic about President Obama’s inaugural address, but truthfully unable to say anything other than “Wow.” I was riveted for the entire speech and found myself nodding along with those next to me. To hear him address our concerns directly, acknowledge our troubles bravely, and still manage to finish his address with a sense of hope and purpose amazed me. When we could be feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of what we face, he spoke of an America capable of anything.

Like many of you, I watched the ceremony this morning with a heart full of pride for my small part, full of hope for the future, and full of joy at the coming together of a nation that has been so divided for so long.

Never in my lifetime did I think I would see this day. In fifty years, I hope to retain the same joy when I speak of how it felt to see this occasion. We are part of something big and we are all invested in its future. Let’s continue to work together to keep our momentum going. We are part of a movement now and if we stay united, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.

Recession? War? International distrust? Give us time and we will, as America has always done when captained by a true leader, rise above our strife and move back into a position of power and strength.

Thank you all for your help and support and thank you for letting me be a small part of it.

And now, rather than give too much of my own opinion, I will let his words* speak for themselves:

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: “Let it be told to the future world … that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive … that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].”

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

*text from TIME online

WHOO HOOO!

Please don’t get me wrong.  I am well aware that the battle is far from over.  We’re entrenched in two wars, the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, a division of party affiliation and derision, insanely high unemployment, and a general feeling of distrust from the rest of the world.  It’s not going to be easy to fix this.  We have so much to do that I find myself getting nervous just thinking about it.

What is encouraging, however, is that I feel, I hope, I believe, we’re putting a leader in power who will help to correct this.  I don’t expect Obama to pull a wand out from his coat pocket tomorrow and make America better.  What I do expect is that he will make changes. 

Only time will tell how effective his presidency will be at healing the wounds in our nation.  To be frank, I don’t envy him at all.  Name another president facing such difficulties at the time of his inauguration.

Washington gave the very first address, in which he thanked God and the people of America for giving him the opportunity to lead the nation.  He also expressed a great fear of being unable to complete the task set before him.  He explained “the magnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my country called me, being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most experienced of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not but overwhelm with despondence one who (inheriting inferior endowments from nature and unpracticed in the duties of civil administration) ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies.”  Washington was awed by his responsibility.  Who could blame him, really?

Thoma Jefferson, a favorite former president, was also aware that the office to which he was ascending was a tricky one.  He knew that the burden he accepted would be unique to his office.  As he said in his first address “I shall often go wrong through defect of judgment. When right, I shall often be thought wrong by those whose positions will not command a view of the whole ground. I ask your indulgence for my own errors, which will never be intentional, and your support against the errors of others, who may condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts.”  He acknowledged that the country, new as it was, already saw division: “every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.”  This mentality of unifying a nation divided is still seen today.  Obama’s message of a United America rang through his campaign as he sought to heal wounds between “red states” and “blue states” hoping, instead, for a nation that spoke to each other, not at each other. 

Throughout his address, Jefferson said “my fellow-citizens.”  He wanted to impress upon the nation, as best he could, that while he’d be waging battles most of the country would never even learn about, while he’d be under pressures unique to his office and his position, and while he was truly in power in the largest sense possible for our country, he was still one of us.  He was still a citizen of America and he asked that we remember that in our judgement of him.

I’ve been reading through several past Inaugural Addresses this week.  I’m fascinated by how the men who’ve taken charge of the country have tried to impress upon us their goals, their drives, and their ambitions while maintaining an honest look at the conditions of the country.

Herbert Hoover claimed to better enforce the 18th amendment.  It was so important that he added it to his speech.  For those keeping score, that was Prohibition – the no alcohol amendment.  Interesting, don’t you think?

Everyone knows Kennedy’s famous words calling the citizens of the nation together to stand for their country.  Who hasn’t heard “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”?  He spoke of his hope for the UN and our role in the world. 

Lincoln, who came to his office just before the war and was assassinated just after, spoke of unity within the nation and civil rights for all people.  His second address, which is now carved into the Lincoln Memorial, was short and direct, expressing his hope for the future of the nation and his charge to the American people for the future: With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

Think of the trouble waiting for Roosevelt, taking on the nation a few years into the depression and guiding us further through and out of a world war.  As he took the reigns on that first Inauguration Day, he faced a nation in turmoil.  His words still hold meaning for us as we wait to finally hear good news about the health of the country.  With his frankness and unmatched presidential candor, he began with conviction that we could triumph:

I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our Nation impels. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

With words like these before him, trials like a depression, a civil war, the very birth of the nation itself, Obama has a wealth of wisdom upon which to draw.  I do not envy him, but I am certain that he will join their ranks as a man of courage and vision.

Yes, there have been presidents [cough] who have not done well for the nation [cough]. Whether the problems were the result of their own doing or simply unfortunate timing in which the proverbial poo hit the nation’s fan, these men will still be forever associated in this elite fraternity.  Think about it—in more than 200 years, only 43 other people have ever had the pre-Inaugural Address jitters. 

I am excited to see Obama take the stage tomorrow and leave his mark in history.  I pray with all my heart that he is up to the tasks set before him and I hope that he receives the national encouragement a man in his position so desperately needs. 

I set out to celebrate the end of the Bush era and the ushering in of the Obama years.  Instead, I find myself reflecting on how fortunate we are as a nation to have had so many strong leaders.  Not all of them; certainly not all of them.  But we have had our fair share of brilliant men whose genuine love for the country moved them into greatness. 

Let’s hope that as we move out of an era led by a man with a questionable track record* we are moving into an era of change, hope, and determination.

Pro-bama!

* Ok, I can’t stand Bush, I’m super-glad he’s leaving, and I think he may be one of the dumbest presidents we’ve ever had in the history of the nation!  I’ll take Taft (who got stuck in a bathtub because of his weight), Hoover (who actually thought that liquor was important enough to discuss just before our entire economy collapsed) or even Garfield (quick—name one thing he did, ever!) over George W. Bush any day of the week and after tomorrow I don’t have to deal with him again.  Ok, so I have to deal with the ramifications of his bad choices, but at least he will be out of my living room.

As a politico neophyte, I thought that before jumping head first into my thoughts on the selections and the cabinet positions themselves, I’d do a little research to get up to speed.  Now, I realize that all of you know this already, but please bear with me.

According to the White House Web site:

The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. One of the principal purposes of the Cabinet (drawn from Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution) is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of their respective offices.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments-the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General. Under President George W. Bush, Cabinet-level rank also has been accorded to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Director, Office of Management and Budget; the Director, National Drug Control Policy; and the U.S. Trade Representative.

And you thought your cabinets were full.  What this means for us is that President-elect Obama has his work cut out for him to fill these positions wisely and pull the country out of the morass of crap we have been getting into for the last few years.

Some of these positions have been filled.  Some positions are showing heavy leaning to one candidate or another.  Then again, some positions are sitting out in the cold waiting oh-so-desperately for a little love and attention.  I’ve put together a list of the official selections as well as a few of the likely options for you.

Agriculture – I have not been able to find much in the way of a Secretary of Agriculture candidate.  As he did for much of his campaign, Obama is keeping his cards close to his vest. 

Commerce – Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico (D) has accepted the position as Secretary of Commerce.  Gov. Richardson was among Democratic candidates for president and made history by being the first Hispanic American to be included in that group.  Though he fell out of the race fairly early, Richardson was heavily involved in the election as a proud supporter of Obama’s.  And let’s not forget that he’s been nominated for a Nobel Prize a whopping five times! According to a recent article from the Associated Press:

The Commerce secretary’s job includes selling America to the international business community and dealing with trade issues.

Given the fact that our economy has drastically affected the global economy, commerce and trade with our friends must be at the top of a list of priorities and Richardson’s dealings with the UN and other nations has been favorable.  Let’s hope they stay that way.

Defense – Dr. Robert Gates is a presidential appointee from the Bush administration and the only Republican so far in the cabinet. He has served in this office since December 18, 2006.  There has been some controversy about Obama’s message of change conflicting with holding onto anyone from the Bush administration.  Despite some concerns it is important to note that the first concern and issue the president-elect must tackle is the economy as we continue our downward spiral.  By leaving this position in the hands of a man who understands where we are and what our situation is, Obama can trust that Gates will keep (or attempt to keep) the nation on an even keel until the wars can be addressed. 

Education – Former Secretary of State and retired 4 Star General Colin Powell has been mentioned as a potential candidate for this position.  During his endorsement of Barack Obama, Col. Powell mentioned that the incoming president would have to focus on education early in his presidency.  Despite his own efforts to encourage educational growth in this country, Col. Powell has not agreed to this position, nor has it been officially offered (as of yet).  As I warned you earlier, I am merely taking a look at where we may be headed.

Energy – Whether you believe or not (and I didn’t until the fifth or sixth article that mentioned this could be a real possibility), Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governator, may be asked to take a role as the Secretary of Energy.  I have to confess something here.  I’m not too pleased with this notion.  I have never been a big fan of Arnie’s.  I was really over the Schwarzeneggar-craze some time after the release of Junior.  I was not too wowed when he won California.  I have yet to be really impressed with him as a person in his dealings with women, with the gay population in California (um, Prop 8 anyone?), and in general he creeps me out.  I will say, however, that California has been among the most progressive states in clean energy options.  While some of the proposed measures didn’t pass, California is looking to make significant cuts in its use of finite resources.  Maybe this wouldn’t be the worst idea, but it still makes me nervous.

Health and Human Services – Tom Daschle, former senator and Senate Majority Leader (and early endorser of Barack Obama) has accepted the position as Secretary of Health and Human Services.  Both men share a common view on an aggressive stance to change the current health care system in America.  Some see this decision as proof of Obama’s dedication to making his campaign promises come true.  With the economy in a downward spiral and the wars still raging, health care may not be at the top of the list of concerns for most Americans and may, in fact, be pushed down on the president-elect’s To-Do list.  Still, by selecting a Secretary with whom he shares a common goal, Obama has set wheels in motion to revitalize the health care culture in this country.

Homeland Security – Janet Napolitano (D), current governor of Arizona, has been selected as Secretary of Homeland Security.  This is a fairly new department and Gov. Napolitano would be the first woman to hold this position.  Obama has stated that she has a record of protecting people in her previous roles as an attorney and as a governor.  While introducing her as his selection he mentioned not only man-made homeland catastrophes, but natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone on top of those issues?

Housing and Urban Development – As I warned you earlier, there are about half of the cabinet appointments still vacant.  Given that Obama still has nearly two months left, we have some time for these other appointments.

Interior – Yep, another not-yet cabinet position.

Labor – I’m sure he’s getting to this one soon.

State – I don’t know if you remember or not, but a few years ago we had a young Democrat in the White House named Bill Clinton.  Nice enough guy if a little slimy around the edges.  Remember him?  Did great things with the nation?  Gave us a huge budget surplus?  Married to a “women’s libber” by the name of Hillary Clinton?  No?  Well, how about the primary election?  First woman to ever be in the running for the top of a major party’s electoral ticket?  Senator from New York?  That’s right.  In case you hadn’t heard, Hillary Clinton has been offered the position of Secretary of State.  I have some interesting thoughts on this one.  For example, I think that this may be a first.  The first former First Lady who has been offered a position in the cabinet.  That meant vetting her husband, former President Clinton, and getting back into any of his potentially politically awkward mistakes.  Secondly, let’s not forget that Clinton and Obama had one major issue on which they disagreed in the primaries and that was foreign policy.  Foreign policy?  As in what the Secretary of State is for?  Yes, that foreign policy.

Still, this does have some interesting and positive results.  First, the Clintons certainly went out of their way to offer their unified support to Obama during the general election and this is far more than an olive branch the Obama administration is offering.  It is, in fact, one of the highest ranked positions in the country.  Second, Obama has said often that he will strive to listen to those in his cabinet and those in Congress to create stronger policies and make better decisions, even (and especially) when those other opinions differ from his own.  By selecting a person who, though certainly qualified, has differing views on these policies, Obama has illustrated that he is maintaining that promise of seeking the best possible resources and advice from those do not fall into the category of “yes men” (or women). 

Transportation – Though nothing has been officially offered (that we know about) and there have been conflicting reports about whether or not he’d even accept the position, Congressman Jim Oberstar’s (D) name has been bandied about as a possible Secretary of Transportation.  Congressman Oberstar is currently the Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure so this is a man on familiar ground.

Treasury – A non-politician in the cabinet, Timothy Geithner is the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.  He’ll be acting as the chief economic advisor to the new president and while Obama doesn’t take office until January 20, Geithner is already fully ensconced in the economic poo storm.  While every position in the cabinet is important, most voters were in agreement before the election that the economy was the biggest concern on their mind.  And that was before the “recent” recession.

Veterans Affairs – Major Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq war where she lost both legs, has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Veterans Affairs position.  Duckworth and Obama shared a moment to honor our nations soldiers on Veterans Day by placing a wreath on the Bronze Soldiers Memorial in Chicago.  After an unsuccessful bid for congress in 2006, Duckworth is well known to many powerful democrats, has a unique understanding of veterans’ concerns (um – Iraq war, missing legs, current director of Veterans Affairs for Illinois), and would also be expanding the notion of diversity being both an Asian American and a disabled American.

Attorney General – The last position that has been filled is that of the Attorney General. Eric Holder worked as the assistant Attorney General during the Clinton administration and has been an attorney and judge.  As with many of the positions in the cabinet, Holder faces the challenge of not only fulfilling his role as Attorney General, but rebuilding the confidence of the nation.  Alberto Gonzales didn’t exactly leave the position with a glowing reputation, or do you not recall that event and all of the crap that went with it? 

So there we are.  All of the positions that have been appointed so far are ready for your review.  As I mentioned, some are guesses based on articles and opinions gleaned from a variety of sources about potential appointees.  Then there are those positions about which I just haven’t a clue. 

While Obama still has quite a bit to accomplish in the naming of his appointees, I feel we’re off to a good start.  His cabinet members have quite the task before them.  Americans don’t trust Hank Paulson and many are now wary of the new Secretary of the Treasury for fear that he won’t be able to make things any better.  We have two wars with no end in sight and veterans who are not receiving the care and attention they deserve.  Our Veterans Affairs and Defense secretaries will have large challenges just in proving to the American people that our soldiers matter and we want not just to bring them home, but to bring them home and provide them with the care they deserve.  Three years after Katrina and months after Ike the southern coast is still suffering.  How will our new Secretary of Homeland Security reassure the nation that disasters, both man-made and natural, will be addressed in a timely and effective manner?  I’d rather not even start talking about our position with the rest of the world because I currently feel that Clinton has enough to worry about without my two cents.  But seriously folks, that’s going to be an up-hill battle. 

The new cabinet is facing a country in turmoil that has lost its faith in most of our elected officials and government offices.  With the election of Barack Obama, there has been a renewed sense of hope (not just a bumper sticker slogan, people) that those we put in office to serve and protect us will once again serve and protect us.  Let us continue to hope that he will make good choices in filling out his cabinet.

I’ll be updating what I can as I learn about new appointees.  If you have better information about potential candidates, please let me know.  I’ve bolded the offices of those positions that are confirmed, but with half the cabinet left to appoint and less than 55 days before the inauguration, the upcoming few weeks will be littered with new appointments and revelations about the new administration.  In the meantime, we’ll be waiting with baited breath to see how this all works out. 

Fingers crossed, everyone!

It’s been three weeks since the election and it’s yet another 55 days until the inauguration, but President-elect Obama is already up to his eyes in press conferences, advisors, and economic gloom. 

The future prez is facing an unusual situation. Traditionally, the incoming president takes a back seat during the lame duck session as the outgoing president finishes up his duties, ties up loose ends, and pardons whomever he so chooses.  This distance between the two presidents is even greater when the transition is between different parties.  The president-elect traditionally takes his (or in the future, her) time to select advisors and cabinet members and enjoy the last hint of a normal life before plunging head-first into the presidential world.

Not so in 2008.  With the economy in crisis (as evidenced by commercials telling us that the economy is in crisis – like we hadn’t noticed), the auto industry hanging on by the thinnest of threads (though of course, they are hand-woven Japaneses silk threads – flown in on one of GM’s private jets), and unemployment at 6.5% (the highest it’s been in more than 10 years), President-elect Obama is on the verge of taking the wheel of a country in turmoil. 

Ever see two dumb-asses on the highway where the driver turns to his buddy and says, “Dude, take the wheel.  I’m tired”?  The buddy says, “Dude, pull over.”  The driver says, “No, man.  We’re running late.  Just take the wheel.”  At this point, while the idiot who is driving decides to move to the passenger seat, the guy who was waiting patiently for his driving shift to start suddenly has to take the wheel before the car veers into oncoming traffic.  He can’t move into the driver’s seat yet because the guy driving is blocking the way and the stick shift is jabbing him most uncomfortably.  Meanwhile, both men’s hands are on the wheel and the gas and break are being neglected as momentum is all that’s moving the car forward.

So here’s the brilliant explanation of this clever analogy.  Bush is still driving and Obama can’t get to the pedals until January.  Despite that, he’s been asked to help steer the country in the mean time.  For a man who technically has no power yet, he has given us a surprising number of press conferences to reassure the American public that he will be ready to lead when the moment is right.  He is trying to push some economic measures through under the Bush administration.  While this has received some criticism and may also carry some political repercussions (if it tanks, he’ll be associated with the final Bush action and if it works he’ll have given his first big presidential push to Bush), Obama is trying to calm the public and promises us change. 

Frankly, as the backseat passenger in this highway ride to economic traffic court (lots of people standing around pissed, poor, and making deals that have nothing to do with actually sent them there), I just want to know that we’re still on the road and we haven’t set a course to crash into a mountain.

It’s no secret that I’m not Palin’s biggest fan.  In fact, you can probably find nearly a half dozen entries on this site talking about what I don’t like about her.  I thought choosing her was a mistake from the McCain campaign and continuously over the course of the election she proved my opinion right.  She was a mistake. 

Still, the election is over and it’s time to let the nation focus on the new, positive direction that President-elect Barack Obama (I love saying that!) is now taking the country.  Let’s move on. 

My beef is that in the last week, or at least since the election results, suddenly people are talking about how incompetent Sarah Palin is.  I’ve heard about her lack of knowledge of civic structure, government, geography, and basic treaties.  She’s been accused of not knowing that Africa is a continent, not knowing which countries are in North America (a real problem given that she’s part of one and attached to the other leaving just Mexico), and she’s been accused of throwing tantrums, fighting with her “handlers” (a term I find more than a little insulting), and basically being a terrible pick for Vice President.

Um…. Duh!  We knew that.  We’ve known that for months.  It has not taken long for the same Republican supporters and conservative pundits who’ve been singing the praises of Palin to suddenly turn on her like a pack of ravenous wolves attacking a baby gazelle.  Well, this is Sarah Palin so it’s less a baby gazelle than a big ass moose with anger management issues, but still. 

We’ve already heard that she and McCain fought over campaign strategies (see article about opposing plans here, and another article about opposing plans here).  We knew she had a hard time understanding how the US Government works (tell us again what the VP does, Sarah).  We knew all of that, yet while the race was going on, any questions about her abuses of power (Trooper-gate, anyone?) or controversial record (a bridge to where?) were swept under the rug like so much laundry lint. 

Despite my issues with Sarah Palin having been a terrible choice and someone I don’t feel comfortable with as a tourist in DC, let alone as someone “in charge of the Senate,” I also think it’s time to let sleeping dogs lie.  The election is over. 

The time to have discussed the issues with Sarah Palin was during her candidacy as Vice President, not in the days that followed.  She did not win that post and now it is time to leave her alone. 

My other complaint about this is that while the media and her Republican supporters have attacked her in the last few days, no one has criticized John McCain for making what should be considered on of the biggest mistakes of his political career.  This man has served his country, has been involved in the Senate, and has worked closely with some of the finest minds in America, yet when push came to shove he made a hasty and reckless decision that may have cost him the election.  Where is the criticism of that? 

He knew going in (or should have known) that Sarah Palin was in no way prepared to be Vice President.  He allowed her poor choices to redirect his campaign and he lost control of his own race.  While Sarah Palin is certainly at fault for her own mistakes, it was the mistake of John McCain to put her into the spotlight without properly preparing his running mate or, better yet, choosing a running mate who needed so much preparation. 

Please don’t misunderstand me.  I’m a fervent Obama supporter and I could not be happier at the results of the elections.  That said, I also want to put the campaigning behind me and focus on the future.  Sarah Palin was a mistake, but the time to dwell on that has passed.  When she gets her own talk show, we’ll discuss her again.  In 2012 when she’s running for president, we’ll discuss her again.  In the meantime, can we please let it go?

So what do Sarah Palin and Brittany Spears have in common?  They were both popular, down-homey, and a little nuts.  They both have children who really deserve to be kept out of the spotlight.  They both have men trying to run their lives and doing a rotten job.  And, most importantly, they are no longer an important part of my daily life.  Can we leave the gals alone if only for our own benefit?