Hitting the ground running

I think just about everyone was apprehensive about this election. The doubts raised by both sides against the other, while sometimes exaggerated to a point of ridiculousness, were nonetheless often correct. McCain's health is bothersome, even if the folks and Brave New PAC bent the truth by making it seem like he was a walking zombie. The lack of experience for Obama was even more worrisome, but often not for the reasons pointed out by the GOP. As Clinton learned quite quickly, being President with both houses supporting you, doesn't mean you have an ability to get your way most, or even some of the time. Now that the democrats have become more of a big tent party, it will be even harder for Obama as he'll often have to reconcile many divergent interests within his own party, while at the same time assuaging the fears of the still considerably powerful minority. Our current President may have had a lack of experience when it came to dealing with Washington, he at least had experience being an executive power, something Obama lacks.

With those fears in mind, I was greatly heartened by the events and headlines of this past weekend. Obama has shown quite quickly that he has a firm grasp of the abilities, powers, and most importantly challenges and limits that come with being a President. A run down of the headlines and articles:

Obama 'to reverse Bush decisions'

      "US President-elect Barack Obama will seek to reverse Bush administration policies when he enters office on 20 January, his transition chief has said...[Co-Chairman of the Obama-Biden transition team] Mr. Podesta said executive orders on stem cell research or drilling in Utah could be easily repealed as no congressional action was needed."

Obama planning US trials for Guantanamo detainees

     "WASHINGTON – President-elect Obama's advisers are quietly crafting a proposal to ship dozens, if not hundreds, of imprisoned terrorism suspects to the United States to face criminal trials, a plan that would make good on his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison but could require creation of a controversial new system of justice."

Obama Aides Tamp Down Expectations

     "But while the energy of his supporters could be a tremendous political asset as Mr. Obama works to enact his agenda after taking office in January, his aides said they were looking to temper hopes that he would be able to solve the nation’s problems or fully reverse Bush administration policies quickly and easily, especially given the prospect of a deep and long-lasting recession."

UPDATE 11/11/08.

In what is quickly developing as a giant man crush for me, Obama has announced more changes to be enacted once he reaches office:

Obama 'to curb lobbyists' reach'
     "Under the new measures, Mr Obama will not allow lobbyists who petition the federal government to do any such work while working with the transition, said Mr Podesta.

The guidelines will also prevent anyone who has acted as a lobbyist over the last 12 months from working on any policy area in the transition in which they had been active.

He added that anyone who works on the transition and then becomes a lobbyist will be barred from approaching the administration for 12 months in the area in which they worked. "

Oh yeah baby, make sweeping changes for me. What's that? You want to modernize the nation's power grid? Oh whisper it in my ear Mr. President. Yeah, increase the subsidies to alternative energy sources, increase it hard and long. Oh baby, more subsidies, Subsidize me good! Oh God! Increased service based scholarships for high school and college students! Oh yeah! Harder! Harder! OH! UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE! UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE! EMPHASIZED DIPLOMACY OVER MILITARY ACTION! TRANS-PAR-ENT GOV-ERN-MENT!

*Whew*

I'm spent.

-----------------

In other, but somewhat related news...

South Dakotans defeat a ballot initiative to ban abortions.

New Hampshire has first ever female majority in the State Senate

This particular one really excites me, because it will finally prove once and for all that the sexes are equal, and that women are going to fuck up just as much as men have for the past few millenia. Or at least one can only hope.