History Making History Today - A Reflection

[neutrino]

Is this the first time that (normal, non-head-of-state type) people from outside the U.S. congratulated Americans immediately after a Presidential election? And on a massive scale, I might add. I see this almost everywhere; blogs, internet forums, even in messages received by non-U.S. TV channels.

EDIT: Probably it's because there haven't been too many elections in the age of the Internet.

 

[Borek]

Looking at it now - the occupation of Iraq looks a lot like the Soviet occupation of E. Europe after WWII, and it took nearly 45 years to change. I'm reading several books on the subject of Bush's war in Iraq, and one startling revelation by one general is that the US should plan to have military forces (and perhaps mercenaries) established in the region for 50 years. This draws parallels with the Soviet Warsaw pact

And don't forget that once Soviets moved from here we switched to our earlier customs, throwing socialism away. Question is if 50 years will be enough for the democracy to not be thrown away once Americans leave Iraq.

 

[Borek]

Is this the first time that (normal, non-head-of-state type) people from outside the U.S. congratulated Americans immediately after a Presidential election? And on a massive scale, I might add. I see this almost everywhere; blogs, internet forums, even in messages received by non-U.S. TV channels.

I have not congratulated, and not without a reason. While I prefer Obama I don't want to suggest I know better then Americans how to run US and who will be better.

 

[Proton Soup]

There was this article yesterday -

World hopes for a 'less arrogant America'
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_re_eu/eu_us_elections_world_view

I think Obama has a chance to repair the damage that Bush has done with respect to foreign relations.

Much will depend on how Obama moves forward with Iraq. Looking at it now - the occupation of Iraq looks a lot like the Soviet occupation of E. Europe after WWII, and it took nearly 45 years to change. I'm reading several books on the subject of Bush's war in Iraq, and one startling revelation by one general is that the US should plan to have military forces (and perhaps mercenaries) established in the region for 50 years. This draws parallels with the Soviet Warsaw pact, at least as Iraq (Baghdad) is concerned, and whether or not the US government is directly involved in who serves in the Iraqi government.

If Iraqis decided to have their country free of US forces, will that be the case? Will Iraq be allowed to independently established normalized trading relationships with Syria and Iran, or will their be pressure from the US and Sunni nations (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, . . .) to meddle in Iraqs relationship with Syria and Iran? These matters have yet to be resolved.


On the bright side and in parallel with the challenges facing the US and world:

Catholics, Muslims open landmark talks at Vatican
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081104/ts_nm/us_religion_dialogue
This is a very hopeful step in the right direction.

a 'less arrogant' america ?

that's amusing. the world cheers when the russians do exactly what everyone expects them to do, rape and pillage Georgia.

sorry, but much of it just looks like politics to me. foreign governments love to point to america as the arrogant bully to distract attention from themselves, much like many islamic governments make a scapegoat of israel for their problems.

there are some realities here that no one seems to talk about, though. that there are oil and gas reserves in and around the Caspian. and that other great powers, the Russians and Chinese would also like to control these reserves.

now, who should control it? and don't say the people who own it, because you know that isn't going to happen.

 

[Amp1]

Cyrus:

...Can you imagine how Bush must feel right now. People all over america went into the streets and started celebrating like it was new years!...

It was more like the 4^th of July and New Year's Eve here in the Bronx!

What a great feeling!

ONE

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Alex Castellanos, Rep media consultant, commented last night that Obama did something he has never seen before: Obama told Americans that he he will need our help.

This is how Obama changed Presidential politics and coordinated a miracle, and it is how he intends to change the country - he will strive for national unity and a consensus, which is the antithesis of what we have seen in recent years.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

..."I applaud the American people for their courage and the great morality that they showed," Afghan President Hamid Karzai said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy was even more glowing in a letter to Obama: "In choosing you, the American people have chosen the path of change, openness and optimism. Your election raises immense hope in France, Europe and beyond: the hope of an open America."

Nelson Mandela, as qualified as he is complimentary in his comments, gushed, "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."

Newspapers at first stumbled over each other to declare Obama the winner, and then to find the language to match the moment...

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=6189422&page=1

 

[Ivan Seeking]

One rather interesting comment on race, and the race. If it wasn't for white voters, Obama wouldn't have gotten the black vote. Until the Iowa caucusses, Hillary had a huge lead with blacks, and it was only after lilly-white Iowa voted for Obama that the blacks came on board. Before that, they generally didn't believe that Obama could win. As a middle-aged white guy, I felt much the same way. But Iowa changed everything.

 

[LightbulbSun]

Well, congrats to President-elect Obama and his supporters.

I'll have to draw hope from this part of his acceptance speech, "We may not get it done in a year, 2 years, a term..." and keep my fingers crossed that he doesn't drive us deeper into the economic ditch we're sliding into with his half-baked plans.

But, hey, when businesses downsize more or close down completely because they can't afford the higher taxes at a time when consumers can't afford to pay higher prices on their products, and the middle class wind up out of work and the formerly rich business owners are bankrupt, I'm sure he can redistribute the income to the unemployed, from... From where again?

Yeah, McCain's policies were so sound.

 

[noumed]

Dear Rest of the World,

We didn't screw it up.

- America
___________________________________________________________________________

=]

 

[Proton Soup]

he also wasn't "black enough" for a lot of black voters at first. took a while to warm up to him.

 

[LowlyPion]

Here's a tune that popped into my head last night when it was clear that Virginia was going to Obama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnS9M03F-fA

 

[cristo]

Hey, Cyrus, you don't look gold yet!

 

[Borek]

Hey, Cyrus, you don't look gold yet!

You think john16O chickened out?

 

[cristo]

You think john16O chickened out?

Could be: there are lots of witnesses though!

 

[drankin]

You think john16O chickened out?

It looks like he made me a Gold Member instead. Are you sure the deal was that he made YOU a Gold Member?

 

[Borek]

It looks like he made me a Gold Member instead. Are you sure the deal was that he made YOU a Gold Member?

Not me nor Cristo, Cyrus.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=269276&page=7

But then, let's wait, still no results from North Carolina

 

[Ivan Seeking]

With all of the enthusiasm for Obama, I had almost forgotten one of the most important ramifications of this elections:
The Supreme Court is safe!

 

[moose]

If nothing else, I can definitely say that I wish McCain had become president in 2000 rather than what actually happened.

⚛​

I was thinking the same exact thing last night.

Haven't seen that, but from your description sounds like he had hands occupied with the kid.

True, but he didn't look amused...at all. I'm not trying to draw any conclusions, just looked funny at the moment.

 

[Evo]

With all of the enthusiasm for Obama, I had almost forgotten one of the most important ramifications of this elections:
The Supreme Court is safe!

That's what I said last night, that was my biggest reason for voting for Obama. We need to keep a balance in the Supreme Court.

 

[Cyrus]

Well, congrats to President-elect Obama and his supporters.

I'll have to draw hope from this part of his acceptance speech, "We may not get it done in a year, 2 years, a term..." and keep my fingers crossed that he doesn't drive us deeper into the economic ditch we're sliding into with his half-baked plans.

But, hey, when businesses downsize more or close down completely because they can't afford the higher taxes at a time when consumers can't afford to pay higher prices on their products, and the middle class wind up out of work and the formerly rich business owners are bankrupt, I'm sure he can redistribute the income to the unemployed, from... From where again?

Come on Moonbear. "redistirbute the infrom to the unemployed'? Where did you get such nonsense from?

I don't think you even bothered to pay attention to what Obama or McCain said. Because McCain was about to hand out welfare checks to every family as a "tax break". ...yeah right. Obama gives a tax break its welfare. McCain does it, he's cutting taxes.

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obamas_welfare.html

 

[vanesch]

Dear Rest of the World,

We didn't screw it up.

... this time (one out of 3 ?)

 

[Astronuc]

More interesting views and issues from around the world.

Much of the World Applauds Obama
www.abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=6189422
From Kenya to Britain, Indonesia to Korea, Many People See Signs of Hope
By JIM SCIUTTO and ZOE MAGEE
LONDON, England, Nov 5, 2008 —

With unprecedented news coverage worldwide, this year's presidential election had already captured the globe's attention. Now, it has delivered a winner who is capturing the world's imagination. World leaders, normally diplomatic in their official statements, were unusually effusive in their praise for President-elect Barack Obama.

There are many challenges, particularly how to interact with Russia (who apparently moved missiles toward the western (Baltic) borders, China (one or two Chinas), India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Africa (N, S, E and W), S. America, . . . . , and of course the EU.


IMO, Obama should meet frequently with McCain and the Republican leadearship with respect to their goals in the upcoming congress. Why? Because about 56 million people voted for McCain (and likely voted for a Republican Senator and Congressperson), and they deserve to be heard too! Afterall, this is supposed to be a representative democracy, and both Obama and McCain pledged to reach across the aisle, and I expect the people to hold them to that.

 

[CaptainQuasar]

China (one or two Chinas),

Did you hear about the cross-strait joint search and rescue exercises? Evidently it's a momentous thing and is the only story that topped the Obama victory in that region. I'm guessing that's what led to this meeting today.

⚛​

 

[OmCheeto]

... this time (one out of 3 ?)

two out of three to be exact


United States presidential election, 2000
Al Gore... 50,999,897
George W. Bush.. 50,456,002

 

[Astronuc]

Did you hear about the cross-strait joint search and rescue exercises? Evidently it's a momentous thing and is the only story that topped the Obama victory in that region. I'm guessing that's what led to this meeting today.

⚛​

I heard about the meeting between Chen and Ma, and the protests. I'm hoping China and Taiwan reach a mutually satisfying and agreeable situation. That would add greatly to the security and economic stability of the region. There is much improvement needed in Xinjiang, Xizang (Tibet) and Qinghai provinces, as well as others.

Meanwhile -

Russia Will Deploy Missiles If Missile Shield Is Built.
In what's being portrayed as a warning to the new US President-elect, Barack Obama, the Washington Post (11/6, A1, Pan) reports in a front-page story that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev "warned in a nationally televised address Wednesday that he will deploy short-range missiles near Poland capable of striking NATO territory if the new Obama administration presses ahead with plans to build a missile defense shield in Europe." The "threat...appeared intended to signal Moscow's priorities to the American president-elect. It could present an early foreign policy test for Obama, who says he supports a missile defense system against Iran but has also accused the Bush administration of exaggerating the system's capabilities and rushing deployment for political purposes."

Russia Gives Obama Brisk Warning
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110502987.html

 

[CaptainQuasar]

Huh. That actually seems like a stupid thing for Russia to have done publicly. Being so high-profile about it right off the bat would appear to me to lock Obama more into the Bush administration's policy in that regard.

⚛​

 

[OmCheeto]

Russia Gives Obama Brisk Warning

I thought the agreement was that they'd wait 6 months before testing him?

Maybe GW can nuke Moscow before he leaves office.

MOSCOW, Nov. 5 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned in a nationally televised address Wednesday that he will deploy short-range missiles near Poland capable of striking NATO territory if the new Obama administration presses ahead with plans to build a missile defense shield in Europe.

Hello Dmitry! Earth to Dmitry! We didn't elect Barack because we wanted you guys to act like 3 year olds.

Gads... I'm going back to bed.

 

[vanesch]

Huh. That actually seems like a stupid thing for Russia to have done publicly. Being so high-profile about it right off the bat would appear to me to lock Obama more into the Bush administration's policy in that regard.

⚛​

Maybe that's the goal. Deep down, I don't think the Russians give a damn about any shield we might have here or not. For them, it was great that the good US of A was also a naughty boy, it diminished contrasts. It let them do similar things on moral high ground. A nice, smiling USA getting back some sympathy in the world is probably the last thing they want.

 

[CaptainQuasar]

Maybe that's the goal. Deep down, I don't think the Russians give a damn about any shield we might have here or not. For them, it was great that the good US of A was also a naughty boy, it diminished contrasts. It let them do similar things on moral high ground. A nice, smiling USA getting back some sympathy in the world is probably the last thing they want.

Yeah, good point. That's really interesting. Obviously there's the yearning in the Russian public for a return to the grandeur of imperialism, but I wonder if at this point in history it's not just about prosperity like they're getting from oil revenues to some degree, and pushing smaller countries around as in Georgia, but also a desire for a glorious struggle with a more evenly-matched national opponent.

In 1984 exhortation over the struggle between Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia was one of the means of controlling the populace... I wonder if the Soviets did the same thing so well that the Russian national psyche became acclimated to it. (And of course, perhaps some measure of the same thing happened to America during the Cold War...)

⚛​

 

[Ivan Seeking]

With all of the talk about Obama walking on water, it seems fitting that his chief of staff would be named "Emanuel".

 

[LowlyPion]

Rahm Emanuel has been named, and he has accepted, as Chief of Staff.

 

[CaptainQuasar]

Whoo hoo!

http://www.runemasterstudios.com/graemlins/images/bananadance.gif

⚛​

 

[Oberst Villa]

Belated Congratulations from Germany.

I probably have no right to tell you stuff like "Ha, finally you did the right thing on election day". It's your country, not mine. But I would like to tell you how I feel about it.

By lucky coincidence I awoke just in time to watch Obamas Chicago speech. It was really touching. Some ours before, they had on CNN an elderly black lady. She said that decades ago she had to sit on restricted places on the bus and then something like, hey even if I die tomorrow, at least I have seen this. And then Obama started his speech, that if people did not believe it yet, now there was proof that everything is possible in America. It was so great. It's really cool that black kids in the USA will see a president, a first lady and two first kids that look just like them.

And black or not, I really like the guy. It's not because of his intellectual capabilities, on the contrary. It's because of a simple message about the United States of America. You don't have to be a genius to think of such a message, you just have to honestly mean it. It's really strange that I like him, for most politicians I feel just disgust. The last German one I liked left office in the 1980's.

God bless America !

One last thing: To all of you who didn't vote for him, don't like him or whatever: I hope you do not feel too bitter these days. Hey, the whole world envies your country now, and that includes you too !

 

[Astronuc]

Some hours before, they had on CNN an elderly black lady. She said that decades ago she had to sit on restricted places on the bus and then something like, hey even if I die tomorrow, at least I have seen this.

There was an elderly woman to whom Obama referred:

106 year old honored by Obama 'ain't got time to die'
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/05/obama.centenarian.fan/index.html

At 106, Ann Nixon Cooper has witnessed pivotal moments unfold in U.S. history

She doesn't look 106. She looks no older than 60, 70 tops.

 

[Borek]

She doesn't look 106. She looks no older than 60, 70 tops.

Fake ID?

 

[LowlyPion]

... I really like the guy.

Thank you for your congratulations. As you can guess there are a lot of people in the US that really like the guy too.

Most of us only know him through his debates and speeches as you might have access to. While the debates have been grist of a sort, I think the speeches have been more polished, yet reveal someone committed to affecting change.

As far as speeches I think it has been a campaign season that has been populated with a number of very good speeches and that goes back to 4 years ago even at the Democratic Convention.

During the primaries Hilary Clinton was flogging the Reverend Wright issue and Obama met it head on in an address I only heard on radio, but I found very honorable. And even though I was thinking at the time Hilary would be more electable and maybe even more capable, I was favorably impressed. He didn't throw Wright under the bus. But he did leave his congregation. He admitted he was his preacher, but disavowed at the same time his extreme rhetoric. I think it was a disarming approach and I for one believed him and the issue never really came up much until McCain's PACs aired their ad before the election.

Then there was his rather well staged speech accepting the nomination in Denver. Another well delivered and thought out message.

Aside from his campaign stump speeches - which were what they were - repeated again and again with some small changes - I thought that his Friar's Club speech showed him with confidence and remarkably good humor and able to laugh at himself - an important quality.

The speech in Chicago was eloquent and persuasive both in its hope and the grace of its outreach that he made to those that didn't vote for him.

I am expecting now the speech on January 20 - the inauguration - to be a good one as well. And then again the State of the Union a week or so later.

In the mean time we have to hope that the economy holds up long enough that we will all have power to see it on TV.

 

[Astronuc]

An interesting interview from Freshair.

'Obama's Challenge': A Transformative Opportunity
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96694999

Fresh Air from WHYY, November 6, 2008 · Journalist and economist Robert Kuttner has reported on elections for over three decades. His latest book, Obama's Challenge, looks at the many Herculean obstacles the president-elect faces — and what it will take to tackle them.

"If he is able to rise to the moment," Kuttner writes, "he could join the ranks of a small handful of previous presidents who have been truly transformative, succeeding in fundamentally changing our economy, society, and democracy for the better."

Kuttner's previous works include The Squandering of America: How the Failure of Our Politics Undermines Our Prosperity, Making Work Pay: America after Welfare and The End of Laissez-Faire: National Purpose and the Global Economy after the Cold War.

He is co-editor and co-founder of The American Prospect.

Challenges facing Obama (according to Kuttner):

• A deepening recession caused by both a traumatized financial system and weakened consumer purchasing power.
• A banking system that will lose between $1 and $2 trillion of capital.
• The worst collapse in housing values since the Depression
• A simultaneous outbreak of worldwide inflation.
• Global constraints—a weak dollar and high foreign debt—on a recovery program reliant mainly on low interest rates (our key policy to date).
• Pre-recession budget deficits already at fairly high levels.
• Widening income insecurity and inequality.
• State and local governments that are short of revenues because tax receipts fall in a recession—at just the moment when demand for public services rises.
• An energy and environmental crisis that demands a dramatically different course.
• A health system that is becoming less reliable and more expensive.

 

[leright]

For our generation, this was like watching Louis Armstrong land on the moon.

I assume you're joking about the louis armstrong thing.

 

[leright]

I know

sure you do.. lol

 

[Integral]

An interesting interview from Freshair.

'Obama's Challenge': A Transformative Opportunity
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96694999

Fresh Air from WHYY, November 6, 2008 · Journalist and economist Robert Kuttner has reported on elections for over three decades. His latest book, Obama's Challenge, looks at the many Herculean obstacles the president-elect faces — and what it will take to tackle them.

"If he is able to rise to the moment," Kuttner writes, "he could join the ranks of a small handful of previous presidents who have been truly transformative, succeeding in fundamentally changing our economy, society, and democracy for the better."

Kuttner's previous works include The Squandering of America: How the Failure of Our Politics Undermines Our Prosperity, Making Work Pay: America after Welfare and The End of Laissez-Faire: National Purpose and the Global Economy after the Cold War.

He is co-editor and co-founder of The American Prospect.

Challenges facing Obama (according to Kuttner):

• A deepening recession caused by both a traumatized financial system and weakened consumer purchasing power.
• A banking system that will lose between $1 and $2 trillion of capital.
• The worst collapse in housing values since the Depression
• A simultaneous outbreak of worldwide inflation.
• Global constraints—a weak dollar and high foreign debt—on a recovery program reliant mainly on low interest rates (our key policy to date).
• Pre-recession budget deficits already at fairly high levels.
• Widening income insecurity and inequality.
• State and local governments that are short of revenues because tax receipts fall in a recession—at just the moment when demand for public services rises.
• An energy and environmental crisis that demands a dramatically different course.
• A health system that is becoming less reliable and more expensive.

And that list does not even mention the war.

Many of the people who voted for him now hold what could be nearly impossible expectations. I hope that they do not become disillusioned if he cannot solve all of the problems confronting the country at this time.

I voted for him based solely on his obvious intelligence and his name. His name alone is an olive branch to the rest of the world, especially the middle east. Unfortunately, a Olive branch may not be enough, we need the whole blooming tree.

 

[LowlyPion]

And that list does not even mention the war.

Many of the people who voted for him now hold what could be nearly impossible expectations. I hope that they do not become disillusioned if he cannot solve all of the problems confronting the country at this time.

I voted for him based solely on his obvious intelligence and his name. His name alone is an olive branch to the rest of the world, especially the middle east. Unfortunately, a Olive branch may not be enough, we need the whole blooming tree.

Not likely to ever be disillusioned. Consider the alternative.

 

[CaptainQuasar]

Yesh, yesh *hic* we can.

Itsh like washing Louie Anderson land on the moon.

⚛​

 

[Cyrus]

sure you do.. lol

Dooo dooo be do do doot dooo ahhhhhhh. Chuckle chuckle chuckle.

 

[Cyrus]

Yesh, yesh *hic* we can.

Itsh like washing Louie Anderson land on the moon.

⚛​

tisk tisk tisk, the boozer is bush.

there are *hic* wmds there, I promise!

 

[CaptainQuasar]

tisk tisk tisk, the boozer is bush.

there are *hic* wmds there, I promise!

That reminds me, during the 2000 election I said to one of my friends, "Don't you think it's important that the guy had a DWI and got out of it? Doesn't that say something about his character, especially next to all of the other stuff?" and she just flat-out said, "No."

I should, I dunno, track her down and shake my finger in her face vigorously.

⚛​

 

[Cyrus]

That reminds me, during the 2000 election I said to one of my friends, "Don't you think it's important that the guy had a DWI and got out of it? Doesn't that say something about his character, especially next to all of the other stuff?" and she just flat-out said, "No."

I should, I dunno, track her down and shake my finger in her face vigorously.

⚛​

Just slap an Obama Biden Bumper sticker on her car. She'll wonder why everyone honks and waives and smiles at her.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Belated Congratulations from Germany.

I probably have no right to tell you stuff like "Ha, finally you did the right thing on election day". It's your country, not mine. But I would like to tell you how I feel about it.

By lucky coincidence I awoke just in time to watch Obamas Chicago speech. It was really touching. Some ours before, they had on CNN an elderly black lady. She said that decades ago she had to sit on restricted places on the bus and then something like, hey even if I die tomorrow, at least I have seen this. And then Obama started his speech, that if people did not believe it yet, now there was proof that everything is possible in America. It was so great. It's really cool that black kids in the USA will see a president, a first lady and two first kids that look just like them.

And black or not, I really like the guy. It's not because of his intellectual capabilities, on the contrary. It's because of a simple message about the United States of America. You don't have to be a genius to think of such a message, you just have to honestly mean it. It's really strange that I like him, for most politicians I feel just disgust. The last German one I liked left office in the 1980's.

God bless America !

One last thing: To all of you who didn't vote for him, don't like him or whatever: I hope you do not feel too bitter these days. Hey, the whole world envies your country now, and that includes you too !

Thank you for saying that. Many Americans are thrilled that virtually the entire world celebrates with us. It was a momentous day - a miracle made possible by the shear force of will of the American people who supported him, the power of the internet, and a legendary campaign. Three years ago, if someone would have posted here that a black man named Hussein would be the next president, they may have been banned as a crackpot!

Techtonic political shifts don't happen very often, but that is what we have seen. Obama can't solve all of our problems or heal the world in two terms of office, but, freedom, responsible and sane government, and the US Constitution, scored historic victories this week.

 

[Gokul43201]

No, we didn't!

Remember, it's only the "un-American" parts of America that voted for this guy. The patriotic parts - the small towns and rural areas that make up the "real America" - completely rejected him*.

This is a triumph of anti-Americanism, if anything!
*Note: Exit polls may disagree, but what do they know about real America? They are, after all, run by, the liberal elite media types (i.e., pinkos).

 

[Astronuc]

And that list does not even mention the war.

Many of the people who voted for him now hold what could be nearly impossible expectations. I hope that they do not become disillusioned if he cannot solve all of the problems confronting the country at this time.

I voted for him based solely on his obvious intelligence and his name. His name alone is an olive branch to the rest of the world, especially the middle east. Unfortunately, a Olive branch may not be enough, we need the whole blooming tree.

I think Kuttner is focusing primarily on the internal economic, political and social challenges of the US. Certainly there are equally enormous external challenges, e.g. wars in Iraq and Afghistan.

Removing Saddam Hussein and his sons removed one problem, but the act created other problems.

I agree on the olive tree and the nearly impossible expectations put on Obama.


Meanwhile - Obama meeting with advisers as economy sputters
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081107/ap_on_el_pr/obama

CHICAGO – President-elect Obama is seeking some economic advice from leaders of business, government and academia, making the struggling economy — the nation's No. 1 concern — his first order of public business.

Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden were to meet Friday with 17 members of their transition economic advisory board. Members include former presidential Cabinet officials and executives from Xerox Corp., Time Warner Inc., Google Inc. and the Hyatt hotel company. Investor Warren Buffett was participating by telephone.

Obama also was holding his first news conference as president-elect after the meeting.

. . . .

Obama does seem to be the right man at this time.