The Change To Competency

Change clearly is in the eyes of the beholder. Some viewed President-elect Obama's mandate for change to be a mandate for reconciliation and bipartisanship, or a change from politics as usual in Washington, DC.

I view the mandate for change in much simpler terms, it was a mandate for change from the catastrophic failures of the past eight years and the Bush Administration. Failures that every single day are increasingly indefensible.

Here's a post from JedL over at Daily Kos:

The Bush economy in action:

* The Dow, as Bush takes office: 10,587.59
* The Dow, eight years later: 7,997.28

That's GOP economics for ya'. You betcha'.

Change therefore is having a Secretary of the Treasury who understands basic economic fundamentals, Ben Stein's rough quote from CNN the other night, and not one who has spent $175 billion of a bailout package with the restraint and intelligence of a four-year-old in a Disney Store.

Change therefore may well be bringing back some of the Treasury team that got us the tremendous growth of the 1990s, remember budget surpluses?

Or, let's look at Eric Holder, Jr. as the likely Attorney General.

I consider it remarkable change that we have an Attorney General who recognizes international law, the Geneva Convention and doesn't condone torture. That's change.

Oh, and he would be the first African American to hold the post. Change.

Finally today we have the "news" that the Department of Homeland Security has wasted $60 billion in spending, is rudderless and I might add, clueless.

This Department was created, funded and led by the Bush Administration and its appointees. We don't need to do a long review of their failures, Katrina, the TSA, our port security, but this morning, there is good news, some might say, change on the horizon.

Janet Napolitano is being considered for the job.

Arizona's first female Attorney General, current Governor and overall, a well-regarded and very competent, smart, strong leader.

Change.

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Comments

[Michale32086]

@Woodley56

}}}}
No, your point is denial.

The Democrats are to blame for going along with the boneheaded economic policy of the Republicans.
{{{{

Sorry, but I am not going to let you rewrite recent history..

It was the Democrats who cajoled and bribed the Republicans to go along with the 700 billion dollar Wall Street bailout.

This is a documented fact.

Michale.....

[trinidadgirl]

Michale ,you have to be the most negative and depressing blogger on this site. Up the ante mich...and try for upliftment. GEEZ...I can't stand people who need to be so right and tedious all the time.

[Michale32086]

Actually, I am usually a pretty fun guy.. :D

I just can't stand hypocrisy and feel compelled to point it out whenever I see it..

Michale.....

[coreyishere]

Wow, the Department of Homeland Security wasted 60 billion dollars?? Billion?? Who'da thunk it. Geez, isn't there supposed to be congressional oversight of this department? Oh wait, that would be the committeee chaired by Joe Lieberman on the Senate side. Oops, I forgot we musn't point out his flaws during this time of magnanimous bipartisanship, affection, and forgiveness. Sorry.

[newpotusplease]

it is not just a thing of getting in people who were at treasury when the country prospered

it is also about getting people in who can deal with the many complexities of dealing with foreign nations that are on the verge of collapse-- aka Russia etc

not just about fixing the domestic financial landscape

[Michale32086]

}}}
The Bush economy in action:

* The Dow, as Bush takes office: 10,587.59
* The Dow, eight years later: 7,997.28

That's GOP economics for ya'. You betcha'.
{{{

Actually, when one considers that the most drastic falls has been under the auspices of a Democrat controlled Congress, one can't really label it as "GOP economics". At least not accurately..

Michale.....

[sf girl]

I think your first point was more accurate. You can't blame what's going on now on the Democrats who have only been in "control" for the last two years. The problems that have caused the current economic situation have been brewing for years, they didn't just happen in the last two. Paul Krugman has been warning of a looming economic crisis for at least 5 years...based on a combination of badly conceived Bush policies.

[Michale32086]

My point is that there is enough blame to go around.. Ignoring one Party's culpability while castigating the other is nothing more than political bigotry and hypocrisy...

Even President Clinton is quoted as pointing the finger at the Democrats.

Michale.....

[JoeSausage]

Actually, when one considers the 8 years of failed policies of the Bush Administration, domestic, foreign AND economic, the picture is quite clear. Republican apologists love to point to the Democratically controlled senate as an excuse for their party's failings. Considering, however, the first 6 years of the Administration forcing bad policies through congress without oversite, the backroom deals, the red herrings and distractions, the lies and incompetence; it all adds up to a recipe for disaster. Democrats aren't blameless, just a little spineless in those 6 years. But make no mistake, this mess lies at the feet of the worst President in history.