If there was any doubt that Americans were tired of fear, secrecy and “the dark side” it was completely erased on inauguration day. The moment President Barack Obama (gosh, that sounds nice, doesn’t it?) completed the oath of office (the first time) there was a collective worldwide cheer of joy and celebration.
Let me just take a moment to savor that again: President Barack H. Obama. President Barack Obama. President Obama. It doesn’t matter how you say it, it sounds wonderful!
The glad-handing lopsided grin of former (gosh that sounds nice, doesn’t it?) President Bush quickly turned into a stone-faced smile as he viewed the unending wave of humanity standing in the cold to support the new president and celebrate his removal. The smirk he wore after his last election when he said, “This is a celebration of the have’s and the have mores,” slipped to a grimace as he listened to President Obama issue a new mandate that quickly torpedoed the Bush years.
Amid warnings of difficult times ahead, as well as uplifting words of courage and promise, President Obama laid the blame for our current crises squarely in the lap of the Bush administration.
“That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.”
A fresh wind blew across Washington with those words and began the process of blowing out the stench of self-serving greed, corruption and fear.
On the plane ride to Texas from Washington, Bush insiders Karen Hughes and Karl Rove took offense to the speech. Hughes felt Bush should have been given credit for helping people around the world.
Oh, really? And just how did he help people around the world? By invading a country and killing their people? By ignoring the genocide in Darfur? Putting aside all that he did for the world, what exactly did he do for his own country besides leave it emotionally, financially, environmentally, and morally bereft? If he helped so many people why did the entire world exalt at his leaving office?
The legacy that Bush was so concerned about will be ugly. History will not be kind to the Bush administration no matter how much of a spin they try to put on it. His tenure will still be that of the most unpopular president in American history. If this fact did not sink in to his loyalists, it clearly smacked Bush right in the face on Inauguration Day. The message was all too clear: You are not only disliked by your own country, but the entire world.
Karl Rove wrote in the Wall Street Journal that Bush’s “critics again distorted his record, maligned his character and repeated untruths about his years in the Oval Office.” Rove also said that Mr. Bush had cut taxes (only for the top 1% of the population) expanded Medicare (making it more costly and unwieldy for those who use it) improved schools (not so that you could notice –except to line the pockets of the Bush family) liberated Iraq (ask the Iraqis about that) and protected the country (not really, since our most serious attack to our country since Pearl Harbor came nine months after he first took office, and New Orleans was practically obliterated by Katrina and its neglected levees).
It’s a repetition of the same fractured fairy tales we have been hearing the last couple of months as Bush & Co. tried to enhance his lamentable record of doing nothing really worthwhile for the country. Rove can only list 5 things about Bush’s tenure of 8 years? President Obama did more than that in 5 days!
Since taking office on Tuesday, President Obama has put a stop to sunset regulations put in motion by Bush, ordered Guantanamo shut within a year, required the closure of any remaining secret CIA “black site” prisons abroad, barred CIA interrogator from using harsh techniques (torture), presented a serious stimulus package to begin stabilizing the economy, reiterated his plans to withdraw from Iraq, reversed an abortion policy, promised his support of the Lilly Ledbetter Bill to insure equal pay, pledged to lift a ban on stem cell research, issued new ethic rules for his administration and pledged to preside over a transparent government!
Whew! And that’s not even a complete list. Even God took seven days to create the world, but then he didn’t have Obama’s crack staff to help him either.
Yup. There is a new sheriff in town with a new mandate. No longer will there be corrosive and corrupt, possibly illegal, behavior behind closed doors. No more cowboy diplomacy, shooting first and figuring out why later.
“…we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord……..those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account…..and do our business in the light of day.” (President Barack Obama, 1-20-09)
We have indeed stepped into the light of day.
Cheri Cabot, Politics Correspondent
Cheri’s column, “Personal About Politics,” published every week, will reflect on how the life of a 59 year-old, middle class woman is affected by politics, policy and the current state of the nation - a look at the personal aspects of politics. Her column is part of Gather Essentials.
Cheri is a freelance writer, living in Southern California. She has two grown children, one in Iowa and one a recent graduate of Columbia University, and is the proud grandmother of two. Cheri is also a purveyor of fine coffee, warm chatter and dry wit.
You can find all of Cheri’s columns on Personal About Politics at www.personalpolitcs.gather.com, or www.ccabot.gather.com.
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Comments: 67
I would not be surprised if Obama commits much more to humanitarian aid in his first year than Bush did during his whole presidency. Basically, Obama would have to do very little to do more for our country than Bush did. But Bush's legacy will force him to do more than most in order to correct all the bad Bush has wrought. Luckily Obama is capable of doing so and up to the task.
Nice first week, President Obama!
Great article, Cheri.
Let's hope the good old boy network can find a new game to play.
Not hardly. Several senate Republicans have already been vocal about their opposition to most of Obama's plans. We still do not have a filibuster proof Senate, and I wouldn't expect too much in the way of cooperation. It does not benefit the Neocons to let Obama emerge as the savior of our country. It would be more to their liking to see him fall flat on his face, and I fully expect they will do all they can to make that happen.
We know Jeff, we've been watching for the past eight years.
And even stupider ones type comments like yours, Jeff.
Cheri, this is a wonderfully written article. We've let out that sigh of relief and moving forward.
Yeah I have to admit that stating an opinion that differs with left wing kookdom is "stupider" that blowing your head off because Bush got re-elected. Even if four years later the world would be saved by the savior Obama and his fearless democrat do-nothing congress.
Seriously though I can't think of a better way to get rid of kooks than to get republicans elected.
"One of the first fights will be around President Obama's moves to restore the constitution. Our featured action this week targets Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). Cornyn is leading the charge to block the confirmation of Eric Holder, President Obama's Attorney General nominee. His rationale? Sen. Cornyn objects to the fact that Holder will not rule out prosecuting Bush Administration officials for enaging in illegal torture.
Some of the most important votes of this Congress will be more under the radar — particularly those votes taking place at the Committee or Subcommittee level.
I have hope that the American people will follow our new leader's example and learn from him. I know he appreciates prayers and good wishes.
I'm not so sure he's going to get an extended honeymoon nor expects one. He has known he would need to hit the ground running and has made a quick beginning. He just got a huge mess of problems dropped in his lap and hurricane season is coming.
You could tell how pissed Bush was. He never smiled. Wonder if he finally get how bad a job he did.
Might I suggest slitting your wrists? ;)
Nope no fear mongering going on today.
Well if I was an emotional moonbat, distraught about not getting my way I suppose slitting my wrists would be an effective way t eliminate another democrat from the voting pool. Your point?
Here's a thought: How about not discriminating in pay, then you won't have to worry about a lawsuit?
Although many jobs have been lost, if we change course in medicine, energy, and education, just to name a few, new jobs will develop in these new areas.
It's an exciting time. Time for innovation and invention.
As a matter of fact, not only stem cell research have been facing problems for 8 years but , as well, R&D in general and in new fuels! Such "lack of support" to say the least, on top of a fake real estate based economy, deregulated to support the Iraqi war, are the basis of the actual crisis. USA has presently to recover the lost years in R&D, the engine of any economic development.
Very good article Cheri.
Very nice article, we do have a new future outlined by our new president! Obliviously, now is the time to see if the action is as good as the rhetoric but I'm certainly betting on Obama!
I love the idea that the legacy that so obsessed GWB during the working-his-notice portion of the presidency (his notice ran for about a year and a half, when you look at what he "worked" on) will judge him even more harshly than the present. Most of America is only now coming to understand the damage wrought by Reagan and Bush I; it'll probably be a few years before the fallout is accurately measured from this wretched occupation as well. And another part of the legacy -- I seriously doubt that most Americans will answer honestly if their grandchildren one day ask them, "Did you vote for that guy?" I imagine only the most egregious fools, a few of whom have weighed in above, will tell the ugly truth.
For what it's worth, I'm surprised that Jeff had the restraint to use the word "negro" above, instead of the term I'm sure he uses when he's among friends.
Cheri, have you read any of Invisible Hand as yet. It provides an even more hopeful future.
I think people will become bolder with their bigotry as time passes . I know my past and can change . We all have a past we need to get over . Get over it .
there is never enough time to read it all.....I do try however.
Doesn't that make sense?
I hope he tells us soon what he will do with those at GITMO. I believe it is an international problem as we will capture more of these folks in the future who are not soldiers and cannot be dealt with in the civilian system. A Geneva like treaty for terrorists.
At any rate, it (The GITMO decision) sends a CHANGE signal to the rest of the world and that's important.
"Have you ever noticed that when you look at all the people who are against abortion, you wouldn't want to "F" any of them anyway?"
Bryan, you are right....and I usually do ignore such stupid comments....but sometimes.....
Alan, I agree...just making the statement that GITMO will be closed in a year and no torture will be allowed reverberates around the world. It sends the message that we are once again in the business of diplomacy.
obama has created a pervading feeling of safety and calm in this short time. I am not in fear and trepidation over what some sneaky, greedy Repub is doing behind mine, and the country's back.
Great article Cheri.
And great comments, too.
I am perfectly happy with what Obama has accomplished in his first week.
I was actually wondering during the inauguration (which was shown live in all the pubs here) how it must feel to have so many people turn out to celebrate the end of your power.
But then I figured that probably the neo-cons don't care, anyway, given as they never made any attempt to do anything "for the people" in the first place. It was all about using fear to hold on to the power necessary to promote their own agenda unimpeded. The approval of their own citizens was never a priority, so I doubt that the manifestation of its lack will even remotely hit home.
One man will never change the world by himself, but at least the complete insanity of the Bush years is at an end.
I'm pretty suprised to hear Obama referred to as a "negro"...isn't that just a shade offensive as a historically loaded term? It's just one of those dehumanizing things, like calling people "Jew" instead of "Jewish", which makes one characteristic of a person into a noun which somehow now suffices to describe them.
Where it belongs!
"Hughes felt Bush should have been given credit for helping people around the world."
HAHAHAHA!!!! Seriously...*chuckle*...I'd recommend Lithium.
"Karl Rove wrote in the Wall Street Journal that Bush’s “critics again distorted his record, maligned his character and repeated untruths about his years in the Oval Office.” "
Wow. Talk about getting it 100% bass-ackwards! It's actually the Deserter-in-Chief and his vile, corrupt administrative henchmen that are distorting his record, maligning true Americans and repeating untruths about their occupation of the Oval Office.
" No longer will there be corrosive and corrupt, possibly illegal, behavior behind closed doors. "
I object to your use of the word "possibly" in this context. Coddler. That's you, isn't it? Cheri Coddler. You can fix shoes or sell pies....Coddler's Cobblers or Coddler the cobbler...or you can choose instead to coddle this criminal. For shame! [*hangs head*].
"Cheri is also a purveyor of fine coffee, warm chatter and dry wit."
Dry wit? Hey! I think I might be something like that. So...ummm...I'm a purveyor of dry wit too. I should get a card, huh? But I'm not too sure it's dry wit. Perhaps more snarkcasm? Snarkcastic distributor? Purveyor of perspicacious snarkcaliciousness?
I dunno. But you know what? President Barack HUSSEIN Obama has already done more good for this nation than the Weasle-in-Chief has ever done for any nation, state or company during his entire life. And I was torn at which was more wonderful...seeing President Obama sworn in...or seeing the filthy criminal leaving the scene of his crime, the Capitol.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Doyle, Doyle, Doyle.....you know me well enough to know I truly believe Bush & Co. are guilty as hell on some counts. I use the word "possibly" because I feel there is much much more to come out. Guilty when it comes to condoning torture, yes....but what else have they done? We don't really know the gist of it yet. It will take months, probably years to actually find out all the illegal stuff they have done, and some we will never know about. And what good does it do if none of it is prosecuted?
As for Karl Rove. What a joke he has become. But wait....he is now a correspondent for FOX NEWS! That makes him legit, right? He will try until his dying breath to rewrite the Bush legacy. Only problem with that, we are not that stupid (anymore) and with instant recording viz cell phones of everything said and done....not so easy to try and change things.
As for your wit. I would call it downright acerbic. You're welcome.
Check out the op-ed piece in the NY Times today by Paul Krugman called "Bad Faith Economics and addresses this very issue. He says " many of plan's opponents aren't arguing in good faith. Conservatives really, really don't want to see a second New Deal , and they certainly don't want to government activism vindicated. So they are reaching for any stick they can find with which to beat proposals for increased government spending."
And that's just the first paragraph! It's an excellent piece.
Did you hear what Obama told the Republicans in the ecomonic meeting yesterday? He told them they needed to stop listening to Rush! I love it!! Finally some heavyweights...and they don't get any more heavyweight than the President - are starting to call those idiots just what they are...liars!