Barack Obama: Effective from the Start
With American families facing an uncertain economic future, one element is clear: President-elect Barack Obama will be effective from the start. By coming forward to the public today -- while acknowledging that we have one president at a time -- Barack Obama gave a thoughtful presentation during a volatile time. Saying he is certain that a president can make a difference or he would not have run, he was calm, straightforward, and deliberate.
In substance, the President-elect was straightforward: Obama laid out 4 essentials to stabilize the economy: (1) an immediate stimulus including unemployment benefits for Americans seeking work and aid to states and localities for vital services; (2) help to keep homeowners in their homes; (3) aid to industries such as autoworkers by accelerating funds already allocated and looking at what more can be done to build green cars; and (4) scrutinizing the bailout to be sure it helps people without unduly enriching banks. Obama also reiterated his signature economic plan -- a middle class tax cut for 95% of working families and capital gains tax cuts for small businesses -- to boost the capacity of the economy to grow from the bottom up.
In tone, the President-elect was calm and deliberate: flanked by a multi-generational, multi-ethnic group of economic advisers from the public and private sectors, Obama made clear that personnel and policy announcements will be made with haste and deliberation. He was candid about the severity of the recession, the tone of cooperation needed to work through differences within and across party lines, and the fact that most Americans are hurting and need relief.
In summary, while we still have just over 70 days until his inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama is already focused like a laser beam on the economy, already looking past campaigning to governing, already pushing allies and adversaries to come together to help American families, and already trying to restore confidence in the change we can bring about together, demonstrating that he will be effective from the start.
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I'm sorry, but the Nancy Reagan joke just shattered me. I had total confidence in Obama until then. Now my mixed breed dog is hiding under the bed because he heard the president-elect refer to him as a mutt.
I fear for our nation. ;)
If you lost confidence in Obama over a joke then you have some real inner issues. Sounds like you are a liar and never liked Obama in the first place. Just come out and say it, the truth will make you feel better instead of hiding.
Sounds like you have a problem with your sarcasm detector. Perhaps you ought to take your sensa-yuma out for a walk.
This is what happens when you have a competent president. I think Americans are getting to used to incompetents.
I'm sorry, I just can't buy it yet. Bringing in Mayor V to discuss anything to do with economics is just plain ridiculous.
I'm willing to give Obama a chance to prove himself, but Villaraigosa is pretty much the wrong man to speak with. Especially regarding Budgets and Spending.
Obama did say that Labor would have a seat at the table to put forward the concern of ordinary folk.
See, one big difference between Obama and Bush is that Obama doesn't just surround himself with people who agree with him, or, in W's case, people whi tell him what to agree with.
Diversity of opinion in one's advisers is a good thing, if you're a TRUE leader.
"and (4) scrutinizing the bailout to be sure it helps people without unduly enriching banks"
It was reported today that nineteen banks taking taxpayer money from the Treasury Department have spent $32.4 million lobbying the federal government during the first nine months of this year, according to lobbying disclosure reports.
Both the chair of the House and Senate Banking Committees are and have been Democrats yet they blame the current administration for the banking problem. Were they too busy lining their own pockets with lobbyist dollars while turning a blind eye? Only 1 member took less than $1,000,000 in lobbyist money this year. There is more than enough blame to go around and you only have to look at BOTH sides of the aisle to see the problem.
President-Elect Obama, was in full form today. This is the man we elected, and he is taking off running as we thought he would.
Wow, watching Pres. Elect Obama on the TV, reading FOXNews forum comments and reading this article, there was definitely two versions of the same speech aired today. I agree that the TV showed and this article stated that Obama had substance. The forum at FOXNews was all about doom and gloom, smoking mirrors, anti-Christ, one even gave Obama's SSN which added up to 666 and many stated it was all rhetoric.
I have come to the conclusion that the Republicans (far right) will never accept Obama as their president and will do everything in their power to see to it that he fails. It's going to be hard for Obama to get bipartisan cooperation unless the "Good Ol Boys" are removed from the Senate and House. It is really sad that they would rather hate than look to the future for the benefit of all.
"I have come to the conclusion that the Republicans (far right) will never accept Obama as their president and will do everything in their power to see to it that he fails."
It's because they yearn for the cultural and moral "security" of the past, and fear the future in which their preeminent position as the "most equal" white majority is no longer a given.
I enjoyed reading your summary Christine !! I absolutely agree !!
The first african american president and the first woman speaker of the house are gonna serve this country well!
New years can't get here fast enough for me.
Your mom and Obama are going to make a great team!!
The reputatiion of the Dem speaker and senate leader are below Bush. If Obama is really smart, he'll let them hang around awhile and then encourage a BIG change in the top jobs. The ability to communicate with the public is so important and Pelosi and Reid do a horrible job. I am sure they are nice smart people but image and the ability to encourage your team and your supporters is very very important. It cannot all be left to Obama.
Maybe in your world.
I like Nancy Pelosi.
I can't wait until all the trash talkers yakking over Obama's supposed inexperience will have to eat their tongues because they UNDERESTIMATED this man and his intellect and judment. He'll be ready long before January 20th 2009.
Ready on Day -70!
Obama sets example by walking the talk. Did anyone else notice that today the President-Elect spent part of his day with his children's teacher (or PTA?)? This is big. Really. It is these things we have come to call "little things" that ultimately make us successful as individuals and as a nation.
Very insightful. He is a hands on type. Bolivia is telling him about the DEA's trafficking corruption, the President of Iran wished him well (they haven't done THAT in decades), Vladmir Putin is wanting to talk around Bush, directly with Barack.... it's like we've been in a wacky homeroom for the last eight years and now that the Teacher has arrived, the class is getting serious, again! Now, after we send the rethugs to detention, we're going to ACHIEVE THINGS AGAIN! (Yes. We. Can!)
It looks like the adults have come back to the White House after 8 years of "romper room" and not a moment too soon.
Yes! Now Impeachment can be put back "on the table"! Right? Hmmm? We're waiting.
We just made history and basically destroyed the Republican party in the process. Impeachment proceedings is small minded and a waste of time. We need to take back our country and begin repairing the damage done to it so we can really have something to be proud of. I think that will feel alot better than wasting anymore time than neccessary on Bush and his cronies. The less we discuss Bush the better off we will all be!!!!!
My my my... how soon you forget. You can stick your head in the sand, but it's going to happen whether you like it or NOT.
Over 1 million native Iraqi's dead.
4200 American G.I.'s murdered for an illegal war brought about on lies.
Violation of International Red Cross treaties on Torture.
Black Sites and Extraordinary Renditions.
Violation of Posse Comitatus.
Suspension of Habeus Corpus.
35 Articles of Impeachment read into the House Archives and Records.
You lose.
It's far from a waste of time. War Crimes were committed and need to be addressed. I'm sure the Dead would agree with me.
There is nothing small minded about it. These criminals will not cease to plot and recruit future exploits. They need to be kept from being able to run for public office for good. Don't be so naive. If Nixon had been impeached and Rumsfels and Cheney had been indicted too in the process we'd be in a different world RIGHT NOW.
we need to further damage the republican party by bringing out all the corruption , its imperative that the American people are not allowed to forget anytime soon all the damage the Republican has done to our country., its going to take way longer then 8 years to get this country out of the mess the Rethugs have caused and we need to insure that they don't get elected!! a full scale investigation into all of Rove, Bush, Cheney have done and then it needs to be made public they can start with Haliburtion
I am very much of two minds on this. Like Robert Wexler, I am livid about the damage Rumsfeld, Cheney, Rove, and Bush did to this country. They need to be in orange suits picking up trash, if not in the Hague to serve as a reminder to others who might have similar thoughts.
On the other hand, we need to put this country back together. We only have a limited amount of political capital and time, and unlike someone else, we realize it. The question at hand, then, becomes, "How to spend it?" I would vote for fixing what is egregiously broken while convening a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Help me sort out these feelings.
And this is in marked contrast to what Republicans are doing - fighting among themselves.
See McCain and Palin ... ha, ha, ha!!!
And more so, in a lot of different ways from this lame duck sitting president.
I just pray and hope that Democrats will deliver the promise it made to the American people.
Now that President-elect Obama has a clear mandate, let us start the work of moving forward to a greater future and peace to the world.
I so agree with Ms. Pelosi, Barack Obama has hit the ground running, and extremely sure-footed. We need him right now. He has the best ideas to get this economy and crisis moving toward solutions. He is so focused. He is just the opposite of any Republican we have seen in the arena. Now, all we need is the the Democratic Congress to fully get behind him and push for change right now.
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I am confident in Prez. Obama, I'm worried of the Dem Congress. I think many may have their own mandate/agenda. I have a really bad feeling they are going to loose focus and try to create a "Congress Gone Wild" video. President Obama may need us to write some letter, make some calls, and send some emails to let them know we are watching them....
I agree with you. And I think this is precisely why he choose Emanuel. He knows that the Dem Congress is going to try to rush in the Liberal agenda that perhaps the country is not yet ready to embrace.
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