Day 2 Report
1:02 AM
Incoming presidents are typically judged most critically on their first 100 days in office. After that, they are focused on the Midterms (not screwing up so badly that their party loses seats in Congress), and then they immediately dive into their own re-election campaigns. So, 100 days is usually the end zone for real governing.
Today was Day Two. How are we doing so far?
First, let it be said outright - yesterday's inauguration was largely without incident, and was fairly inspiring even to us staunch skeptics. Watching the ex presidents of both parties come together to celebrate the harmonious transition of power is truly a testament to idealized Democratic principles and one way in which we definitely lead the world by example. Though I vehemently disagree with many of Obama's approaches, I couldn't help but be moved by the joyous tears and chants in the crowd at the admittedly historic transition of power in this country. Bravo, America.
That being said, yesterday was an example of the Obama honeymoon. Eventually we have to come back from Tahiti and go back to work. The bills will come due for that new house we just bought, and we will realize that our new bride isn't wearing a white dress and being professionally made up every day. The media intoxication over Obama will fade, and -as it always has - it will slowly turn into a hangover. Hard questions must be asked, and accountability must be assured. That's bad news, Mr. President.
As an example of the news you don't hear versus the news you do, consider this: Top headlines yesterday included the Obama dance, celebrity attendance to the inaugural balls, and a little kid from South Florida who attempted to interview Obama but instead landed Oprah. Quite an Obama news-lovefest, no?
What they didn't tell you, or rather buried back on page 9 were these two stories:
Hope, Change Won't Pay off Outrageous Inaugural Bill
and
Dow Posts Worst Inaugural Day EVER
Today's news? Well, you might hear crickets if you listen to the music.
Hillary Clinton was confirmed 94-2 as Secretary of State. This is good news not just for the Obama administration or the country, but indeed for the world. A heartfelt hat-tip in congratulations to President Obama for this choice and this victory.
Obama to Close Foreign Prisons and Guantanamo. That sounds just great, Mister Obama. Now, I look forward to your genious plan to do with the warlords, informants, aiders, abetters, and terrorists that we're holding there. Are you going to let them free? Thier own countries don't want them back, but Al-Qaeda would sure love to have them. Are you going to let them in our country, so they are subject to the same rights and comforts that we give people who run stop-signs? Senator Brownback has already loudly and proudly declared he'll fight if you even think about putting them in Levinworth. I imagine nobody else wants their constituents to become neighbors with these clowns either. How are you going to answer the family of the first American who gets hurt by someone you set loose?
All-in-all, it's a mixed bag for Obama so far, but I'll hope he gets traction soon. Will his stimulous package be big, with narrow support in Congress, or smaller with wide support? What will happen to our taxes? To jobs? To the Dow? To the auto industry? To the banking industry? To people losing their homes? Will we see deflation or inflation? These questions will all need an answer, and quick.
Mr President, it's two days down and 98 to go. Good luck.
Today was Day Two. How are we doing so far?
First, let it be said outright - yesterday's inauguration was largely without incident, and was fairly inspiring even to us staunch skeptics. Watching the ex presidents of both parties come together to celebrate the harmonious transition of power is truly a testament to idealized Democratic principles and one way in which we definitely lead the world by example. Though I vehemently disagree with many of Obama's approaches, I couldn't help but be moved by the joyous tears and chants in the crowd at the admittedly historic transition of power in this country. Bravo, America.
That being said, yesterday was an example of the Obama honeymoon. Eventually we have to come back from Tahiti and go back to work. The bills will come due for that new house we just bought, and we will realize that our new bride isn't wearing a white dress and being professionally made up every day. The media intoxication over Obama will fade, and -as it always has - it will slowly turn into a hangover. Hard questions must be asked, and accountability must be assured. That's bad news, Mr. President.
As an example of the news you don't hear versus the news you do, consider this: Top headlines yesterday included the Obama dance, celebrity attendance to the inaugural balls, and a little kid from South Florida who attempted to interview Obama but instead landed Oprah. Quite an Obama news-lovefest, no?
What they didn't tell you, or rather buried back on page 9 were these two stories:
Hope, Change Won't Pay off Outrageous Inaugural Bill
and
Dow Posts Worst Inaugural Day EVER
Today's news? Well, you might hear crickets if you listen to the music.
Hillary Clinton was confirmed 94-2 as Secretary of State. This is good news not just for the Obama administration or the country, but indeed for the world. A heartfelt hat-tip in congratulations to President Obama for this choice and this victory.
Obama to Close Foreign Prisons and Guantanamo. That sounds just great, Mister Obama. Now, I look forward to your genious plan to do with the warlords, informants, aiders, abetters, and terrorists that we're holding there. Are you going to let them free? Thier own countries don't want them back, but Al-Qaeda would sure love to have them. Are you going to let them in our country, so they are subject to the same rights and comforts that we give people who run stop-signs? Senator Brownback has already loudly and proudly declared he'll fight if you even think about putting them in Levinworth. I imagine nobody else wants their constituents to become neighbors with these clowns either. How are you going to answer the family of the first American who gets hurt by someone you set loose?
All-in-all, it's a mixed bag for Obama so far, but I'll hope he gets traction soon. Will his stimulous package be big, with narrow support in Congress, or smaller with wide support? What will happen to our taxes? To jobs? To the Dow? To the auto industry? To the banking industry? To people losing their homes? Will we see deflation or inflation? These questions will all need an answer, and quick.
Mr President, it's two days down and 98 to go. Good luck.
Posted by Nick Stone
on 1:02 AM.
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Thanks for issuing the correction on your swipe towards Obama, regarding his "flubbing" the oath. When it clearly was not Obama's fault. This blog is turning into an Ann Coulter-type column. Egregious errors without any need to correct them. It's a small point but you should at least strive to be accurate and admit your mistakes.
Also, while I agree with you that Obama does need to find a viable solution to handling terrorism suspects, I think closing Guantanamo is a much needed act. Obama has managed to give the US a needed boost around the world, a fresh face, if you will. Similarly, it isn't so much about releasing the prisoners, as your doomsday scenario points out, but rather Guantanamo has become a symbol in so much of the world's eyes. Reports point out that Guantanamo is a well handled and maintained prison nowadays, but that doesn't matter. It's still the stigma around it that needs to be wiped away.
Obama will certainly not release prisoners who are a threat to the United States. But holding people without any evidence for five or ten years on end is also not acceptable.
I don't think that anyone is suggesting that BHO will just release these people into the general public, however, we are only able to speculate when the great one continues only to tell us what he wants to do and not how he plans to accomplish it. Hope and Change are GREAT campaign slogans, however the election is over so its high time to start laying out a plan. One of his first messages called for transparency and accountability in the new administration. I think we are all waiting waiting to see that policy go into place. Get to work Mr. President.
During the transition period, unknown to the public, Obama’s legal, intelligence, and national-security advisers visited Langley for two long sessions with current and former intelligence-community members. They debated whether a ban on brutal interrogation practices would hurt their ability to gather intelligence, and the advisers asked the intelligence veterans to prepare a cost-benefit analysis. The conclusions may surprise defenders of harsh interrogation tactics. “There was unanimity among Obama’s expert advisers,” Craig said, “that to change the practices would not in any material way affect the collection of intelligence.”