From Chicago, a couple of hours ago, Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America:
And congratulations to Malia and Sasha: a new puppy! You deserve it.
(h/t: Greg Sargent/TPM)
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
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9 comments:
I only hope his administration runs like his campaign and speeches. Did you notice how choreographed the whole performance was? I can hardly wait to hear the first press conference when he doesn't stutter through a performance like President Bush does.
Fantastic night for the world at large. Thank you, America.
Good to hear from both of you! Long time.
I'm glad we finally did right by the rest of the world.
"I'm glad we finally did right by the rest of the world."
It's the honeymoon period. With a New Democrat, Rahm Emanuel, as bad cop, how long before both lefties and rightwingers start complaining of the rude treatment?
About seventeen more seconds, to judge by you and everyone else who's ever heard of Rahm Emanual.
Jesus Fucking Christ, give it a rest, will ya? We got engaged last night and won't be married until 20 January. We can start looking for reasons to declare the death of the honeymoon starting then.
"...to judge by you and everyone else who's ever heard of Rahm Emanual."
hey, I like Emanuel. I feel even better than election day now that he accepted the Cofs job. It makes me think Obama has actually considered what undid Carter, Clinton, and Bush II - insiders do need a map to Washington. And, he's a moderate which also makes me hope the slander, that Obama was a closet radical who placates the leftwing as Clinton did in late '92, will also be proven untrue.
But, the pitbull buzz on Emanual has started already. It will only make Obama that much more presidential.
"We got engaged last night and won't be married until 20 January."
Elections are getting longer, and transitions start earlier. I expect the cabinet will be named by next week.
And, why do we need to wait? Call the Electoral College on Friday, and take the oath next Tuesday. America is no longer an agricultural state run on horsepower.Make that the first section of an Election Reform bill.
I plan to cover domestic issues more, if only to make sure Obama keeps his promise to govern from the center.
Okay, sorry for my snappish reaction.
I care less that RE is a moderate than that he knows where the bodies are buried and how to work the system in D.C. I've long thought that Obama was going to need the real-life equivalent of Leo McGarry. And you're right -- having a pitbuil/bad cop lets Obama maintaing an above-the-fray bearing.
Don't agree with you that inauguration should follow as quickly as all that. I think it's good to have a substantial transition period for three reasons, at least: to allow for proper time for the outgoing administration to brief the new one; to allow time for vetting, security clearances, etc., so that this sort of stuff doesn't have to be done (as much) while the campaign is still running; and third, to allow the president-elect at least a little time to catch his breath and recharge his batteries.
Glad to hear your coverage plans. I look forward to that.
It took a year to get my security clearance. That means a dedicated staff could investigate candidates throughout the primary and general seasons. And, with many officials returning from previous duty, and many campaign staff becoming WH staff, there should be fewer newbies at this point. At any rate, the process needs to be streamlined, because good personnel are refusing because of that process. Every administration appoints staff later than the last one. it's worth askng how parliamentary systems, like Canada's, start running so quickly.
I agree that the process of clearing the staff could start earlier, but the reality of campaigning in the US is that the very process of ongoing background checks would mean the staffers' names would leak. This could be a hindrance to a campaign, and could cause more picks to be made (or avoided) for political reasons; i.e., the new president might hesitate to pick someone (s)he wanted who was skilled but controversial, or might choose someone less skilled but with better approval ratings.
Agree that many good people avoid political life because of the vetting process, among other annoyances. I have no good ideas about rectifying that, though.
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