History Making History Today - A Reflection

[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.

 

[Borek]

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

Still nothing.

 

[Astronuc]

And he's off!

Obama discusses finance crisis with world leaders
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081107/ts_afp/usvote

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) – Incoming US president Barack Obama discussed the financial crisis and other problems with top world leaders ahead of his first public comments Friday since his election triumph.

After making the first key appointment to his administration, Obama spoke by telephone with the leaders of Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico and South Korea, hastening the shift in political gravity away from President George W. Bush.

The financial crisis, the Afghanistan war, climate change and the North Korean and Iranian nuclear crises dominated the talks, according to accounts from the various capitals.

Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak agreed to work together to tackle North Korea's nuclear disarmament and the financial turmoil, said Lee's spokesman in Seoul.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that he and Obama discussed "our resolve to act together on dealing on the global financial crisis and also working closely together on the great challenge of climate change."

Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to work "closely" on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, Afghanistan, climate change and the financial crisis, her government said.

Reforming the financial system also featured strongly in Obama's talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain and a 10-minute telephone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, their spokesmen said.

Aso also raised Afghanistan, climate change and North Korea, the Japanese foreign ministry said.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon and the US president-elect discussed immigration and drug smuggling on the restive southern border, the Mexican foreign ministry.

Most of the world leaders will attend the emergency summit on the economic crisis in Washington on November 15, but Obama has not yet announced whether he will take a role in the event.

. . . .

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Still nothing.

Cyrus got stiffed by one of his Johns.

 

[Ben Niehoff]

Cyrus got stiffed by one of his Johns.

So much for the image of the GOP as the party of loyalty and honor...where did John go?

 

[Evo]

Not looking good, I must say. tsk, tsk

 

[Astronuc]

Don't know if this is worthy of a separate thread but -

How Obama's Win Will Affect Middle East Elections
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1857351,00.html

Four elections to be held over the next year in the Middle East and its outer fringes — all of them potentially affected by Barack Obama's historic win on Tuesday — could substantially alter the region's troubled dynamic. Obama's victory will be, rightly or wrongly, viewed by many abroad as heralding a tectonic shift in U.S. foreign policy. And that perception could shape the outcome of a number of different races across the troubled region in ways that could affect long-term U.S. goals, for better and worse. (Read "The World's View of Obama's win.")

Israel goes to the polls on Feb. 10 to elect a new Prime Minister and parliament; voters in Iran will choose a new President on June 12; and Iraq will hold provincial elections next January, followed by a national election late in 2009. Afghanistan is slated to hold new presidential elections next fall.

. . . .

Should be interesting to see what develops in terms of the leadership and popular expectations in those countries.

We need to find a nice deserted area in the world where anyone who wants to shoot someone can go and participate, and the rest of us who would rather live in peace (and not shoot anyone) can do so.

 

[Astronuc]

Obama, Candidate of Change, Looks to Old Hands From Clinton Era
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/au5kqtuqgkhu

Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama, elected president as an agent of change, is building his new team with old hands from the Clinton administration.

His first appointment, chief of staff, went to Rahm Emanuel, an Illinois representative and veteran of the last Democratic White House. Leading Obama's transition team is John Podesta, who was President Bill Clinton's chief of staff.

Obama's most dramatic step would be to name New York Senator Hillary Clinton, his defeated rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, as secretary of state. Two Obama advisers confirm the idea has been discussed, though they say they don't know how seriously the president-elect is considering it or whether Clinton would accept it.

Faced from day one with an economic crisis and two wars, Obama's campaign theme of changing the way Washington works is about to be overtaken by getting to work in Washington. For that, experience helps.

. . . .

From his transition team to his economic advisers, Obama, 47, has surrounded himself with both loyalists new to government and a group of familiar Democratic Party figures who formed something of an administration in exile during Republican President George W. Bush's administration. Some of those who have advised Obama reach back to Jimmy Carter's administration, such as Paul Volcker, 81, the former Federal Reserve chairman.

. . . .

I'm hoping Obama retains considerable independence. We don't need a repeat of the Clinton administration.

 

[mheslep]

...Obama's most dramatic step would be to name New York Senator Hillary Clinton, his defeated rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, as secretary of state.

If the Pres. elect goes w/ Clinton everyone will pretty much have to scrap 'Change' logos and bumper stickers.

 

[Cyrus]

Richard Holbrook.

Im going to say his name over and over again until I am blue in the face. Give him a good position.

 

[chemisttree]

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.

Can you guess who said this after winning the presidential election?

...So today I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent: To make this nation stronger and better I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.

It appears that any Tom, Dick or Harry can call themselves a Rep media consultant.

 

[Evo]

Can you guess who said this after winning the presidential election?


It appears that any Tom, Dick or Harry can call themselves a Rep media consultant.

How about "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." That was the President asking Americans to help him.

 

[chemisttree]

Exactly, Evo.