By inviting former Democratic primary rivals Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson to discuss the Secretary of State job and former opponent John McCain to discuss reaching bipartisan cooperation for moving the country forward, President-elect Obama has shown a willingness to move beyond the tired, divisive political rhetoric of the past.
All Americans should be proud of his efforts in this regard.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Groundbreaking Attorney General Choice
Early reports cite Obama transition sources as saying that the President-elect's choice for Attorney General is former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder.
If true, and if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Holder, who served in the Clinton Administration, would become the first African-American in U.S. History to run the Justice Department. Barack Obama continues to break barriers.
If true, and if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Holder, who served in the Clinton Administration, would become the first African-American in U.S. History to run the Justice Department. Barack Obama continues to break barriers.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
O Come, O Come Emanuel
The swift decision by President-elect Barack Obama to name Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel as his White House Chief of Staff brings into the West Wing a true Democratic loyalist who has Obama's ear on the major policy issues of our day. With former experience in the Clinton White House, the investment banking world, and Congress, he has seen both the best and the worst of the political and financial worlds, and what the inner workings of Congress and the Executive Branch are.
He is also not afraid of building bridges with the other side of the aisle, a task which Obama must achieve for everyone's sake. And, if worst comes to worst, he is also not afraid of a fight. He knows how to take punches, and how to throw them. He is a man who will help Obama get things done.
He is also not afraid of building bridges with the other side of the aisle, a task which Obama must achieve for everyone's sake. And, if worst comes to worst, he is also not afraid of a fight. He knows how to take punches, and how to throw them. He is a man who will help Obama get things done.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Amazing Times
A Landslide Victory For Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden!
The Obama-Biden Era is about to begin.
Bravo Gentlemen!
The Obama-Biden Era is about to begin.
Bravo Gentlemen!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A Final Election 2008 Word
My final thoughts as this election day gets underway:
John McCain- a good and decent man, whose policy proposals are just ill-suited for this time in our history.
Sarah Palin- a political lightweight with very little knowledge of national or international affairs, who is a true liability without her cue cards and talking points. A 2012 candidacy? A legion of Republicans with greater experience and more to offer will line up around the block for a chance to clean her clock in the primaries. You want to be President? A word of advice-study, study, STUDY!
Joe Biden- a fine public servant with the knowledge and experience to step in as President should the need arise. A man of middle-class roots who never forgot where he came from. A man who will be a fine Vice-President.
Barack Obama- an example of one of those rare talents, a rare leader who comes along in history only every so often to steer the ship of state away from the rocks of despair, dissent, and disarray. He has already changed American History, win or lose.
My prediction- Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden will be the next President and Vice-President of the United States of America.
John McCain- a good and decent man, whose policy proposals are just ill-suited for this time in our history.
Sarah Palin- a political lightweight with very little knowledge of national or international affairs, who is a true liability without her cue cards and talking points. A 2012 candidacy? A legion of Republicans with greater experience and more to offer will line up around the block for a chance to clean her clock in the primaries. You want to be President? A word of advice-study, study, STUDY!
Joe Biden- a fine public servant with the knowledge and experience to step in as President should the need arise. A man of middle-class roots who never forgot where he came from. A man who will be a fine Vice-President.
Barack Obama- an example of one of those rare talents, a rare leader who comes along in history only every so often to steer the ship of state away from the rocks of despair, dissent, and disarray. He has already changed American History, win or lose.
My prediction- Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden will be the next President and Vice-President of the United States of America.
Obama Should Channel Legacy of Both Roosevelts
If he is elected President, Senator Barack Obama should seek to govern effectively by combining the strengths of Theodore Roosevelt, a Progressive Republican, with those of his cousin, Franklin Roosevelt, a liberal Democrat.
Like Theodore Roosevelt, Obama should seek to become "the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood," who fights with the certainty that, even if he fails, "his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory, nor defeat." In other words, TR said, "Get in the fight for what you believe in, don't be afraid to challenge the status quo thinking, and seek to make a difference without fear of failure!" Added to this should be a good dose of FDR, who as a successfull New York governor and President was a man who was not afraid of being labeled a politician. Franklin Roosevelt never shied away from his outspoken love of his political party, and he eventually redefined the meaning of partisan governance with his New Deal. While Obama talks of transforming our politics, he must also be willing to master the art of transactional politics, i.e. the ability to actually negotiate proposals and policy ideas with the Congress, which could very well have large Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate after tonight's election results.
If he is elected President of the United States tonight, Barack Obama should combine the political savvy and strategy of Franklin Roosevelt with the political courage and rhetoric of Theodore Roosevelt. By uniting the best of Progressivism and Liberalism, a President Obama could fundamentally strengthen this country against its enemies, and fundamentally reform this country's priorities right here at home.
Like Theodore Roosevelt, Obama should seek to become "the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood," who fights with the certainty that, even if he fails, "his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory, nor defeat." In other words, TR said, "Get in the fight for what you believe in, don't be afraid to challenge the status quo thinking, and seek to make a difference without fear of failure!" Added to this should be a good dose of FDR, who as a successfull New York governor and President was a man who was not afraid of being labeled a politician. Franklin Roosevelt never shied away from his outspoken love of his political party, and he eventually redefined the meaning of partisan governance with his New Deal. While Obama talks of transforming our politics, he must also be willing to master the art of transactional politics, i.e. the ability to actually negotiate proposals and policy ideas with the Congress, which could very well have large Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate after tonight's election results.
If he is elected President of the United States tonight, Barack Obama should combine the political savvy and strategy of Franklin Roosevelt with the political courage and rhetoric of Theodore Roosevelt. By uniting the best of Progressivism and Liberalism, a President Obama could fundamentally strengthen this country against its enemies, and fundamentally reform this country's priorities right here at home.
A Progressive Revival?
If Barack Obama wins the Presidency tonight, he will have a fundamental governing choice-to govern "smart left" or "dumb left."
If he moves to the "smart left" next year, he can rewrite the American Social Contract, i.e. he can reinvigorate and reestablish the moral obligations that government has to its citizens on the economy, energy, health care, education, and national defense-all areas that have been blatantly abused or ignored under the Bush Administration.
If he moves to the "dumb left" next year, however, with capitulation to interest groups and special interests, coupled with rookie stupidity and ridiculous blunders in the area of foreign policy, he will resurrect the image of Democrats as poor on defense issues and as slaves of pressure groups with no new workable ideas.
Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. once enunciated a theory of historical cycles, and that theory is still valuable today. In it, he postulated that major political philosophical shifts occur roughly every 30 years in American History. We moved in this country from the Progressive era at the dawn of the 20th Century to the laissez-faire 1920s to the New Deal to the Reagan Revolution. The modern conservative political era can be said to have started in 1978 when U.S. Congressman William Steiger won approval for a legislative proposal that cut capital gains taxes from 50 percent to 25 percent. If Schlesinger's cyclical theory holds true, we are due for a shift to a progressive political period, because 2008 is exactly 30 years later.
If he is the winner, Barack Obama will have to demonstrate the temperment and nimble dexterity he has exhibited in his campaign if he is to govern effectively from the "smart left". If he fails to do so, the country will once again embrace the center-right politics of the Reagan-Bush I years. If he does govern from the "smart left" by enacting a few positive, big ideas next year, he will have a real opportunity to take America to a new place of policy and solution-oriented governance based on new philosophical paradigms of a progressive nature.
A progressive revival? Perhaps.
If he moves to the "smart left" next year, he can rewrite the American Social Contract, i.e. he can reinvigorate and reestablish the moral obligations that government has to its citizens on the economy, energy, health care, education, and national defense-all areas that have been blatantly abused or ignored under the Bush Administration.
If he moves to the "dumb left" next year, however, with capitulation to interest groups and special interests, coupled with rookie stupidity and ridiculous blunders in the area of foreign policy, he will resurrect the image of Democrats as poor on defense issues and as slaves of pressure groups with no new workable ideas.
Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. once enunciated a theory of historical cycles, and that theory is still valuable today. In it, he postulated that major political philosophical shifts occur roughly every 30 years in American History. We moved in this country from the Progressive era at the dawn of the 20th Century to the laissez-faire 1920s to the New Deal to the Reagan Revolution. The modern conservative political era can be said to have started in 1978 when U.S. Congressman William Steiger won approval for a legislative proposal that cut capital gains taxes from 50 percent to 25 percent. If Schlesinger's cyclical theory holds true, we are due for a shift to a progressive political period, because 2008 is exactly 30 years later.
If he is the winner, Barack Obama will have to demonstrate the temperment and nimble dexterity he has exhibited in his campaign if he is to govern effectively from the "smart left". If he fails to do so, the country will once again embrace the center-right politics of the Reagan-Bush I years. If he does govern from the "smart left" by enacting a few positive, big ideas next year, he will have a real opportunity to take America to a new place of policy and solution-oriented governance based on new philosophical paradigms of a progressive nature.
A progressive revival? Perhaps.
An Election Where Anything Is Possible
As the voters make their voices heard today, it is important to keep in mind past trends:
1) Five states in the deep South voted for Barry Goldwater, the conservative Republican in 1964, the first time they had voted Republican since Reconstruction.
Those states were Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina. In 1968, those five voted for third party candidate George Wallace, and in 1972, they voted for Richard Nixon. In 1976, they voted for Democrat Jimmy Carter of Georgia.
Since then, however, only two of those five have voted Democratic at the presidential level-Georgia for Bill Clinton in 1992, and Louisiana for Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996.
2) Mississippi hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in the last 61 years.
That man was John Stennis, in 1947. Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has a chance of unseating the Republican Senate incumbent, Roger Wicker, albeit a slim chance.
3) Seven states with 60 electoral votes have voted Democratic only once since 1964: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Barack Obama has a chance to carry either Colorado, North Carolina, or both. That would be a political shockwave.
4) Eleven states with 63 electoral votes have not voted Democratic at all since 1964: Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. As this election begins, Barack Obama is currently competitive in both Virginia and Indiana, which Pres. Bush carried in 2004 by margins of 8.2 and 20.7 percentage points, respectively.
Clearly, in this election season, the only guarantee is that nothing is guaranteed.
1) Five states in the deep South voted for Barry Goldwater, the conservative Republican in 1964, the first time they had voted Republican since Reconstruction.
Those states were Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina. In 1968, those five voted for third party candidate George Wallace, and in 1972, they voted for Richard Nixon. In 1976, they voted for Democrat Jimmy Carter of Georgia.
Since then, however, only two of those five have voted Democratic at the presidential level-Georgia for Bill Clinton in 1992, and Louisiana for Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996.
2) Mississippi hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in the last 61 years.
That man was John Stennis, in 1947. Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has a chance of unseating the Republican Senate incumbent, Roger Wicker, albeit a slim chance.
3) Seven states with 60 electoral votes have voted Democratic only once since 1964: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Barack Obama has a chance to carry either Colorado, North Carolina, or both. That would be a political shockwave.
4) Eleven states with 63 electoral votes have not voted Democratic at all since 1964: Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. As this election begins, Barack Obama is currently competitive in both Virginia and Indiana, which Pres. Bush carried in 2004 by margins of 8.2 and 20.7 percentage points, respectively.
Clearly, in this election season, the only guarantee is that nothing is guaranteed.
U.S. Senate Predictions
My predictions for U.S. Senate results tonight:
Georgia: either a Runoff between Saxby Chambliss the Republican and Jim Martin the Democrat, or a Jim Martin victory.
Maine: Victory for the incumbent Republican, Susan Collins.
Virginia: Victory for the Democrat Mark Warner.
North Carolina: Victory for the Democrat Kay Hagen.
Nebraska: Victory for the Republican Mike Johanns.
Alaska: Victory for the Democrat Mark Begich.
Minnesota: Could go either way, but I expect a victory for Democrat Al Franken.
New Hampshire: I expect a victory for Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.
Colorado: A victory for Democrat Mark Udall.
New Mexico: A victory for Democrat Tom Udall.
Idaho: Victory for Republican Jim Bryse.
Louisiana: Victory for Republican John Kennedy
Good Luck to all the candidates.
Georgia: either a Runoff between Saxby Chambliss the Republican and Jim Martin the Democrat, or a Jim Martin victory.
Maine: Victory for the incumbent Republican, Susan Collins.
Virginia: Victory for the Democrat Mark Warner.
North Carolina: Victory for the Democrat Kay Hagen.
Nebraska: Victory for the Republican Mike Johanns.
Alaska: Victory for the Democrat Mark Begich.
Minnesota: Could go either way, but I expect a victory for Democrat Al Franken.
New Hampshire: I expect a victory for Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.
Colorado: A victory for Democrat Mark Udall.
New Mexico: A victory for Democrat Tom Udall.
Idaho: Victory for Republican Jim Bryse.
Louisiana: Victory for Republican John Kennedy
Good Luck to all the candidates.
Senator Obama Campaigns Ardently in Battleground Cities of Jacksonville, Charlotte, and Manassas
As the last lap approached, Senator Obama closed out his 2008 campaigning in the Bush-Backing Cities of Jacksonville, Florida, Charlotte, NC, and Manassas, VA.
Palin Makes Her Case
As polls prepared for Election Day 2008, Governor Sarah Palin campaigned in Reno, Nevada, another battleground state, telling voters that she can't wait to get to work.
Senator McCain Urges Indiana To Rise Up
Senator John McCain urged Indiana voters to help him continue to serve America as President of the United States, by turning out and voting, and by urging others they know to do so.
Senator Biden Makes Final Push
As America prepared to go to the polls on Election Day 2008, Senator Joe Biden made his final appeal to the voters in Philadelphia, PA in this key battleground state that holds 21 electoral votes.
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