Day 4: Abortion, amongst other things

Day 4 is not quite over, but it's important to take note of an oft reversed (and reversed back) executive order that Obama signed today.  The new president has signed an order that ends the prohibiting of U.S. money from funding international family planning clinics that promote abortion or provide counseling or referrals about abortion services.  In short, Obama is allowing U.S. dollars to fund abortion clinics overseas.

This was signed on the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision to legalize abortion in the U.S.  The "Mexico City Policy" as it is called, was instated by Reagan, reversed by Clinton, and reinstated by Bush eight years ago.  It has taken yet another turn.

What's interesting about this is that it almost goes against what Obama campaigned for in regards to abortion rights.  He claims that he does support a woman's right to choose, but advocates for better education about contraceptives as to decrease the number of abortions.  All in all, this is an action that has made Republican leaders very upset.  And why shouldn't it?  Abortion was a social issue in which they thought they had Obama in their corner.  Perhaps because of the previous feuding with Obama and leaders in his own party, he needed to take steps towards party unity?  Hmm???  Personally, I'm pro-choice, but in terms of overseas relations, we should be concerned about violence and disease amongst other things, but not abortion.  If this were a domestic issue, I'd probably have sided with the president.  This isn't an issue that would've taken precedence for me, but I guess it's something Obama just needed to get out of the way.

On a completely unrelated note, I think the president should take himself up on this offer:

Mr. President, I wholeheartedly agree with you.  The BCS is an awful means of determining a college football champion.  I'm a huge sports fan, admittedly not as huge on college football, but when I first found out about the president's opinion regarding the BCS on his November 3rd Monday Night Football interview, I felt that much more comfortable voting for him the next day.  Computer rankings are an absolute illegitimate judge of skill and credibility.  What if computers determined other things in life?  Ron Paul would be our president and "The Love Guru" would be up for the Oscar for best picture.  I can't imagine what U of Texas fans went through when they had the identical record as conference foe Oklahoma, beat them head-to-head, and still couldn't even play for a conference championship.  Now, since the Giants early playoff exit, the Mets second collapse in as many years, and the Islanders and Knicks being the laughing stocks of their respective leagues, it hasn't been easy being a New York fan since this happened, but at least pro sports reward and punish teams based on skill, unlike the BCS in college football.  So Mr. President, I'm creating a counter for each day it takes until you address the BCS problem for real.  You were inaugurated four days ago, so here it is:

The BCS Goes Unnoticed: Day 4.

This will happen in each entry I make until you address this horrid situation.  Until then, keep doin' what you're doin' Barack.

-JMR

Day 3: Congress v. Executive

Well folks, it didn't take long, but the power struggle has begun between Obama's team and House Speaker Nancy Peolsi/Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

"If Obama steps over the bounds, I will tell him. ... I do not work for Barack Obama. I work with him"  -Senator Reid

Pretty intense words, but let's pace back a few steps and put this back into context.  Even before Obama was inaugurated, Speaker Pelosi was vocal about her disagreement with his intent to leave the tax cuts Bush implemented for the wealthy until they expire in 2011.  Pelosi vehemently argues that tax breaks on the wealthy are one of the strongest contributors to our recessive economy.  Now, during campaign season, Obama promised to repeal tax cuts for those in the $250,000+ bracket, but with only a guaranteed four years in office, Pelosi doesn't want Obama to wait until year 3 to fulfill one of his most campaigned upon promises.  Obama's team responded by saying that you don't, in effect, raise peoples' taxes during a recession.  Pelosi then wrote that excuse off and said she heard from the Republican Congressional Budget Office that tax breaks on the wealthiest people in the country were the biggest contributors to the budget deficit.  Then from across party lines, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called that statement false.  Finally, Pelosi said she wouldn't block Obama's stimulus package, but still urges him to not just let the tax breaks expire.  Holy crap, this is like an episode of Lost!  What the hell is going on?

(For the record, not having watched the first four seasons of Lost makes it that much harder to follow.  Luckily, I think I have enough knowledge of American and Global politics that this isn't an issue for me).

Pelosi also wants to investigate the Bush Administration's handling of the Justice Department.  Not a priority for Obama.

Some say the Legislative branch is the most powerful of the three, others argue the Executive has final word.  It can not be disputed however, that the writers of the constitution created all three branches as separate, but equal parts of government.  The power struggle between the Obama administration and Congress is going to be one that lingers on throughout the early stages of Obama's term.  And whoever expects Obama to be this savior that swoops in and saves the country in peril must realize that that expectation can be fulfilled only as much as he can cooperate with Congress.

In the story of Obama's first 100 days, this will be a very interesting plot line to see play out.

-JMR

Day 2: Enaction in Action

I think it was Jon Stewart who was talking last night about how George Bush must've had the biggest smile on his face when Obama and Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed the presidential oath.

Well wipe that smile off Dubuya, because now Barack Obama is officially the 44th President of the United States, and in spite of his one verbal slip (assisted by a Bush appointee no less), I think you're still winning in that category by a nice margin.  You're right, this blog is objective.  Sorry.

Now, Alex touched on a few things, such as Obama's plan to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility, the proposed $825 Billion recovery package, and the freezing of senior White House staff pay.  What Alex forgot to mention, I think simply due to a lack of time and not a lack of importance, was Obama's proposal to draw troops out of Iraq in 16 months.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that Obama has come out with these statements, especially this early in the game.  Obama perhaps has the smallest margin for error and highest expectations for any incoming president in recent history.  In spite of this, he's come out of the box swinging and it doesn't seem as if he's going to let up anytime soon.  While he hasn't had a heart-to-heart with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he's already reached out to King Abdullah of Jordan, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Hillary Clinton was officially sworn in...as Secretary of State.  Sorry Hil.

Who will be the other United States Senator for New York???  Caroline Kennedy?  Not Caroline Kennedy?  All I know is that it's getting lonely for Chuck Schumer down in Washington and eventually someone's going to have to keep him company.

Anyway, it's clear that Obama is going to do his best to fulfill his promises and he let the American people know that today.

-JMR

Already

In only his first full day Obama made strides towards some of the cornerstone goals he outlined during his campaign and transition. Here is a round up of his days activities:

After meeting with Chief of Staff Emanuel to go over the daily schedule, Obama placed calls to several key Middle Eastern leaders. Later on he met with his economic team, several members of Pentagon leadership, and finally the point staff on American affairs in Iraq.

As for policy issues, Obama is already moving on the economy, working to freeze pay for senior white house staff and push his $825 billion recovery package through congress.

Most impressive of all was Obama's swift move to follow through on his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. According to administration officials, executive orders are already being drafted to settle the matter.

It didn't take long for Republicans to knock on Obama's door. House minority leaders have already asked to meet with him to propose major changes to the recovery package.  More on that after their meeting on Thursday.

All in all, I'd say a very effective first day. Especially since he also made time to retake the presidential oath, putting any questions of legitimacy to rest.

Off to a fresh start, and 99 days left to prove his worth.

-Alexander Pagliaro

Obamanauguration

Finally, all those "1/20/09: Bush's Last Day in Office" groups in Facebook have served their purpose.  Today, Barack H. Obama was sworn in as the 44th, and first African-American, president of the United States.  He ran on a platform of hope and change and now that he's (officially?) assumed the highest office in the most powerful nation in the world, it's time to see what he can do, specifically in his first 100 days.

I'm not going to hide it from anyone, I'm an 18 year old white Jewish male from an upper-middle class Long Island family who goes to Binghamton University and I am a Democrat, but I think today Barack Obama gave all Americans a reason to unite, which brings me to what I thought was the most politically powerful part of his inauguration address:

"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government."

Obama seems focused on erasing the party divide in Washington.  And as he says, it shouldn't matter how big or small government is (a commonplace for dispute amongst Dems and Reps), but that it should work; which is evident that it does not based on the current state of the economy.  His promise of bipartisanship is one that sticks out to me.  Unity is essential towards fixing this nation's economy and making sure all the money spent by government and citizens goes to the right place. Not unlike Obama's favorite role model, Honest Abe, who believed unity was essential towards sustaining the United States of America.  Funny coincidence.

Regarding the day's events, I took notes of a few things.  As I was watching the coverage on NBC (huge Brian Williams fan), and as they panned out onto the mall, it was a majestic scene.  Two million people were there for the inauguration ceremony.  Two million.  There are only 591,000+ people living in the District of Columbia.  It was just a scene to behold.  Another interesting moment was the departure of W.  He and Laura quickly embraced Barack and First Lady Michelle and he darted onto his helicopter with his family and they left for Andrews Air Force Base, and eventually his new house in Dallas.  The Obamas and Bidens stood on the steps of the east side of the Capitol building, waving, with almost smug looks on their faces as Bush flew off into obscurity. It's kind of like mom and dad going away for the weekend and now you get to invite all your friends over for an awesome kegger.  Instead, it's the Bush regime going away for a few years and Obama getting his Senate and House majorities rounded up to shake up a house of his own.  A third thing I'd like to point out is how today is one of those rare days you get to see all the biggest names in politics come together and be cordial with each other.  You had all the living presidents come together and it was just nice to see some unity in Washington for once.

It's clear that Obama has the poise, he's got his Democratic Congress, he's got his bromantic VP Joe Biden, and he's got his promises.  Now, it's time to see if he can put all his attributes to work as he attempts to steer this country in the right direction.  But Democratic or Republican, black or white, it's hard not to admire Obama for what he's done up to this point.  For the way he's able to rally people together, how he's an upstanding family man, and how he just likes to enjoy a nice game of hoops every now and again, we should give him our full, cooperative effort.

I guess the only negative part about today is that Scrubs isn't being shown due to coverage of the inaugural balls.  Oh well.

More to come from the play-by-play man Alex Pagliaro.

-Jordan M. Rabinowitz

Today It Begins

Shortly after twelve o' clock noon today Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. Like every president before him going back all the way to Franklin D. Roosevelt, the first one hundred days of a presidents administration are often scrutinized as an assessment of the ground upon which a president and his administration will stand. For Obama, these hundred days may well be the most difficult of his life, and the most trying for any president in recent history. Running on a campaign of hope and change during a time of economic hardship is a powerful and inspiring tool. It also, however, creates very high expectations which Obama will now be held to.

Our goal here on this blog is to collect all news regarding the efforts of Obama and his administration over the next one hundred days and provide an objective evaluation of how his efforts match up with his promises and the public's expectations.

Coming soon: a collected list of those promises and expectations and a commentary on the inauguration ceremony.