President-Elect Obama will be my president. I may not like his policies (which led me to vote and actively campaign against him), but he is the man the American people elected and he will treated as such. I will criticize every policy, every stance, which I do not think is right for America. But make no mistake, he will get a far better shake here than George Bush got at liberal blogs. If he does the right thing, I will applaud him for it. If he doesn't, then (metaphorically speaking) I will rip his head off and spit down his neck.
Every move he makes will be watched and studied closely. He has already made some bold moves in his short time as the victor and here is my take on those:
1. Appointed Rahm Emanuel as WH Chief Of Staff.
Some people do not like him because of his affiliation with the Clinton Administration. From WND (HT: AICS) comes this article.
While President-elect Barack Obama and his pick for chief of staff see eye-to-eye on domestic policy, they may find themselves arguing over foreign policy, especially when it comes to Israel, Iraq and Iran.
Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who served as a captain in the Israeli army, is surprisingly hawkish when it comes to fighting the war on Islamic terror.
And unlike his new boss, he supported the war in Iraq, although he criticized President Bush for missteps.
During the campaign, one of my deep concerns was Obama's commitment to Israel. He said he would continue to support the nation, despite the fact Jesse Jackson opened his big mouth to the contrary.
Make no mistake here. Emanuel is a tax and spend liberal, when it comes to domestic policy and it is expected this will not change much. But from the WND article, it would appear Israel will still have a friend in the White House, at least during the opening days of the Obama Administration. This is good news.
2. Obama is committed to the auto industry bailout.
US President-elect Barack Obama vowed swift moves to help the country's auto industry recover from an economic crisis that has brought car-making giants to their knees, after General Motors said on Friday it was on the brink of collapse.
In one respect, I am against the government getting involved in any industry or company within that industry. I do not believe that government intervention is the answer to all issues pertaining to a free market economy. From this perspective, I am not pleased.
But this is the auto industry we are talking about. It is a key component to the industrial infrastructure of this nation. To allow this industry to suffer and even risk shutting down would be a major blow, economically and militarily. If all out war were to ever break out, we need to have the capabilities of manufacturing military vehicles on our own soil and it would be utterly foolish to job it out to foreign countries, which may oppose out efforts.
The one caveat I would bring to the discussion is simple enough. If the car companies get bailout money, they must restructure their management and fire all of the bastards that have mismanaged the situation, allowing us to get to this point. Like I said, I am not thrilled about this at all. But this is a necessary evil, at this point in time, not for union jobs as much as the other reason I have stated.
3. I will be watching how he approaches the Fairness Doctrine issue.
It is my hope that he considers this a background issue for now, with other things considered to be more important. But, being the skeptic I am, I have a feeling this will generate out of Congress and be forced upon him. The question will be, how will he receive it?
As a responsible blogger, I want to ensure that I do my part to act professionally, not like the Daily Kos and HuffPo did during GWB's term. But know this, I will hit hard on issues of freedom and liberty and this area I will consider a priority, if he takes the wrong side of this issue.
4. I believe his election is in some ways positive.
For many blacks it has been viewed as a redemption of sorts, for slavery and other abuses. No one alive today lived under enslavement, but is a fact that many still harbor resentment over it. With that said, there are many good decent (key word: many) black people alive today, who did live under unfair Jim Crow laws. I work with one such woman.
I have worked with this lady for over ten years and she is the sweetest person anyone would ever meet. She remembers being out with her parents and other family members as a little girl in Louisiana; she could not eat in certain restaurants and was relegated to sitting on the back of the bus.
On the day after the election, I felt a myriad of emotions just like the rest of us that worked so hard for Obama's defeat. Some disappointment, disillusionment, and profound sadness permeated my sensibilities on that day. And when I saw her at work that morning, she (knowing I had supported McCain) saw me and was slightly guarded in the first instance of eye contact.
I immediately walked over to her and put my arm around her (in a filial way) and spoke directly to her saying, "although I didn't vote for him because of his politics, for you and especially you, I am truly happy for you. She shed a little tear and looked so relieved and gave me the biggest hug.
Another older black gentleman who I have known and worked with for years, is usually quiet, humble, and overall the nicest guy you would ever want to be around. Never has his countenance shown anger and hostility, at least not that I have ever seen. Many times it has shown some measure of melancholy, with his gait slow, and his head looking at the ground while in the hallways. But when I saw him Friday, he had a spring in his step and a smile on his face; he was walking with meaning and purpose.
For him, I also am happy. But to the little snerts with their hands out, those who haven't had to endure what this man and woman experienced, I have little joy for them.
All it has done for me is confirm what I have already known and believed, for some time now. A black person can make it in America, if they work hard. Obama may not be where I think he ought to be and I may not like his background and teachings, but I cannot deny the fact that he has worked hard for what he has achieved. Running for township trustee is time-consuming in my eyes, I can only imagine how busy he has been for the last two years.
I hope that from this point forward, all blacks can truly believe they are welcome to contribute to this society and that hard work WILL get them somewhere. Dr. Bill Cosby has believed it, Herman Cain has believed it, and countless other success stories have proved this, years ago. And there is no one person in the world happier for these two and the many others, than I am.
So now, the election is over. It is done, it is finished. Now comes the time to govern and set the tone for the next election. President-Elect Obama will get fair treatment here, just as George Bush did. His actions will be assessed, evaluated, and intelligent conclusions will be drawn and communicated, based on merit or the lack thereof.
I am LASunsett and I approved this message.
13 comments:
On Nowhere Man's choice of Emanuel, allow me to offer a more cynical theory: putting this pro-Israel hawk at Chief of Staff has the effect of muzzling him at the same time it muzzles criticism of any anti-Israeli action the Nowhere Man administration might take. Remember that above all, Obama Barack is a cold, shrewd, and calculating politician.
On the auto industry bailout, I'd like to point out that one manufacturer is not headed to feed at the gov't trough: Ford. Ford learned its lesson years ago and started building more reliable vehicles with bells & whisltes that compete with the Japanese vehicles. They left their American counterparts in the dust for a reason. GM and Chrystler are money pits. Gov't money will only delay their demise unless they change fundamentally. If I were Nowhere Man, I'd tell their CEO's, "Okay, you can get a bailout. Just as soon as you resign."
"Fairness Doctrine": fascists have always had a way with words, haven't they?
Post-election Euphoria: while it's nice to see America gleeful again, I can't help but be disgusted by all the Fairweather Patriots & the Bandwagon Citizens. Also, racial pride is never something to applaud. Recall the famous picture of the frenchman shedding tears as the Nazis marched down the Champs Elysees. He wasn't shedding tears of sorrow, but tears of joy - he was a nazi.
Sorry to always be the wet blanket....
We can always expect Marxists to seize every opportunity to gain advantages for their cause. They don’t try to hide it, and they don’t apologize for it. But let us understand this, if we understand anything at all . . . socialist/Marxist ideology is a dangerously slippery slope.
Let us begin by understanding how the federal government sidestepped the Tenth Amendment. They didn’t do it by forcing states to comply with federal rules, risking a challenge in the courts; they did it by proffering federal money in exchange for compliance. Two examples stand out: highway dollars and Title I money for local schools. Now, having slipped in between the sheets with the federal “John,” states have become as whores for federal money.
Similarly, when the federal government begins to bail out corporations, they do so with the intent of regulating industry—justified, we assume, based on the assumption that since the federal government “invested” in industry, they should have something to say about company management, compliance with “green” legislation, and so on.
If the government can “bail out” corporations, then it can also force itself into our own private lives. I foresee “tax credits” extended to people in exchange for an obligation of performing some service to the government.
This may be something that most Americans want; it is not anywhere close to the direction I want to see this country moving. It is, as I said, a dangerous and slippery slope. It is subtle, like a cobra, and equally venomous to a free society. If Ford Motor Company cannot compete in a free-market environment, then they should go out of business. If the Ragman family cannot sustain themselves through worthwhile employment, intelligent family budgeting, spending less, having fewer kids . . . then as far as I’m concerned, they can starve.
How easy it is to institute communism when the people are brainless sheep. Government is evil, people. More government is more evil. Get it?
Mustang six-actual out
Hi LAS !
/// But from the WND article, it would appear Israel will still have a friend in the White House, at least during the opening days of the Obama Administration. This is good news. ///
What is very, very bad news is that Rahm Emanuel’s loyalty seems divided.
/// …/… At some point during his high school years, while working at an Arby's restaurant, Emanuel severely cut his right middle finger. He sought medical attention only after suffering severe infection as a result of the wound, resulting in the partial amputation of the finger. …/… //
Several (3-5) American Jews that Amerloque went to school with did exactly the same thing. The result is that the individual apparently cannot play a combat role in the Israeli Army.
Emanuel served as a civilian volunteer in the Israeli Army by choice. Hence his loyalty is somewhat divided, even though he renounced his Israeli citizenship when he was 18.
A man with obviously divided loyalty who has access to the US nuclear codes, as well as to the vast range of top secret defense (military and homeland security) past, present and future information ?
No thanks, LAS. May God help America.
Note, finally, that Rahm is the son of a "terrorist", aka a "freedom fighter".
/// …/… Emanuel's father, the Jerusalem-born Benjamin M. Emanuel, is a pediatrician and former member of the Jewish militia Irgun, which operated from 1931 to 1948 during the British Mandate of Palestine, before the founding of Israel and was regarded as a terrorist group by the British authorities. …/…
While one should obviously not visit on the sons the sins of the father, the future will tell whether the Israeli/AIPAC tail will continue wagging the US foreign policy dog. Amerloque is not taking any bets, nor, with this appointment, are millions and millions of people in Europe and throughout the world. Obama’s international credit is dropping as Amerloque writes this post:
/// …/… Many Arabs and Palestinians were angry over Obama’s appointment of Emanuel, especially after his father Benjamin Emanuel was interviewed by the Hebrew daily Maariv in an article entitled “Our Man in the White House.” He stated: "Obviously, he will influence the President to be pro-Israel. Why shouldn't he do it? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floor of the White House." Palestinian American Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada speaking on Democracy Now! said Obama’s appointment of Emanuel sent the signal he would not be taking “more balanced, more objective, more realistic advice that could change the course from the disastrous Palestine-Israel policies of the Bush and Clinton administrations.” John V. Whitbeck, an international lawyer who has advised Palestinian negotiators in talks with Israel, wrote that Obama’s appointment of Emanuel sends a “contemptuous message" to Muslims who have a “profound loathing and hatred” of the the United States because of America's unconditional support for injustices inflicted on Palestinians.…/… ///
All snippets above from Wiki at http://tinyurl.com/57mpb7
/// (Obama) …/… has worked hard for what he has achieved. …/…///
Perhaps, perhaps not. An Affirmative Action individual will always (i.e., forever) have the AA cloud hanging over his/her head. Obama could dispel some of the scorn (make no mistake, it is scorn in the minds of many, many people -- and not just white people -- whose finances, education and advancement have been halted or injured by “affirmative action” …) by releasing his college and university transcripts, for starters.
Amerloque, too, notes that a black man can be elected to the US presidency. It is a double-edged sword. Amerloque hopes that, if Obama is not supposedly ‘clean’ (as Joe Biden said), if he’s not just another corrupt politician from the Chicago machine, Americans will not hold all the US blacks in contempt for the sins of one man when the truth about Obama’ past is finally known.
That would indeed be a catastrophic step backward.
Best,
L’Amerloque
Greg,
Having been a young man your age once, I can understand the passion you have for your beliefs (which, for the most part I agree with). It's still a bit upsetting to me that the American people fell for the ruse.
But in the time that Obama is in charge, there will be no more armchair quarterbacking, no more second guessing, and no more blaming GWB. It is a job that will require serious thought and reflection, it will not be easy.
I am an American first and foremost. I will be anxiously waiting and hoping he will do some things right along the way. And as the time passes, we will see just much he gets wrong and how wrong he gets it. We can still wage a fight, as he fails.
With this patience that I will be exercising, rest assured that I have no misconceptions about the way I think he will govern. When he makes a mistake, I will pounce. I will not be s shill for the man, unless he miraculously has some kind of epiphany and totally forsakes the path he will travel.
We lost the debate on his background and his socialist ideology. Americans proved that they just didn't care. One can only hope that he was playing to his base and will scale back his multitude of spending schemes, he campaigned on.
Meanwhile, conservatives need to re-evaluate much and it starts with how they intend on gaining back some ground in the 2010 mid-terms. By that time, the mess will probably be worse if he implements the things he campaigned on. It will be much clearer to you and the many others that feel some well-justified bitterness, why this defeat was necessary.
If McCain would have won this election, they would have thought everything was okay and that no changes needed to be made. This would have put off the inevitable, which is the need for conservatives to reacquaint themselves with conservative principles.
As it stands now, I think they are forced to do this, in the face of such a stark defeat at the polls. My fear is that McCain would have tried to out-democrat the Democrats, and that is impossible given the present state of that party.
If Obama doesn't deliver, he will lose support from those that thrust him into this role to begin with. If he doesn't deliver what they want, it means he is thinking more clearly and the country will be better off for not going the radical route, we all believe he will. If he does do it, it will screw things up so bad, the moderates that voted him in will turn on him and provided the GOP has reformed their errant ways, they will capitalize. Either way, it's win-win for the country.
Remember the pendulum, it will swing back. We will prevail, again. When Reagan won in the dismal climate he inherited, he changed the face of America for almost a quarter century. It will happen again, I guarantee it.
Shall prove to be an interesting 4 years. I hope we survive it...
//They didn’t do it by forcing states to comply with federal rules, risking a challenge in the courts; they did it by proffering federal money in exchange for compliance. Two examples stand out: highway dollars and Title I money for local schools. Now, having slipped in between the sheets with the federal “John,” states have become as whores for federal money.//
I totally agree with you on this. Sadly, the majority of the electorate did not. But if Obama increases this (and I am willing to bet he will), it will become more apparent to a lot of people just how much control the federal government wants over the states.
In the case of the auto industry, if the auto industry is smart, they will ask for loans like Iacocca did for Chrysler way back when. Like I said, I am not too hip on this, but the industrial infrastructure is far more important to me, than the securing of union jobs or someone's personal stock portfolio. I do not think foreign governments will want to accept contracts for us to buy military vehicles from them, if the reason we want them is in conflict with their interests. It's a double edged sword.
We need that independence and I would rather it go to them, than the paper pushing pukes that produce nothing in return for the betterment of the nation, as a whole.
//Amerloque, too, notes that a black man can be elected to the US presidency. It is a double-edged sword. Amerloque hopes that, if Obama is not supposedly ‘clean’ (as Joe Biden said), if he’s not just another corrupt politician from the Chicago machine, Americans will not hold all the US blacks in contempt for the sins of one man when the truth about Obama’ past is finally known.
That would indeed be a catastrophic step backward.//
Indeed it would be. But the blood is not on our hands, if we voted for McCain. As you know the PYY regulars spent a lot of time, making our cases here and on other blogs, with the hope that someone would read it and give it some strong consideration. They didn't.
But like a parent who sees his/her grown children get themselves into a marriage that is not right, all we can do is sit, wait, and be ready to pick up the pieces when it fails.
As for the blacks feeling they cannot make it in this country, there are no excuses now. None, Nada, Zilch, Zip. If anyone gives one here on the blog or to me personally, I will be very quick to respond.
As for Emanuel, you may be right (as you have been so many times in the past). I have no delusions here and my cautiousness will be evident, as events unfold. I am not sold on any of this, just trying to make some reasonable sense of it all and hope that I have been wrong, only for the sake of the nation I love.
//Shall prove to be an interesting 4 years. I hope we survive it...//
So do I, Tom. That is why we bloggers much be vigilant and ready to get our messages out, when the time comes.
//Obama’s international credit is dropping as Amerloque writes this post: //
He did make the statement during the campaign that he would support Israel. Did the international community expect him to go back on his word? If so, they were of the belief that he was lying.
Once his programs break the country and in the process not help those he said he'd help, he will lose even more credibility here at home. Someone is not going to be happy with Obama as President, there is no question in my mind about it. The only question that has yet to be answered is, who will be disillusioned by his failure to deliver?
Will it be the millions of people that didn't take the time to consider whether his plan (or lack thereof) will miraculously produce success? Or will it be us who knew all along this was not the best choice for our nation, right now. I doubt it will be those of us that saw through the facades a long time ago, so I would hedge my bets towards the former.
Good grief L’Amerloque, I was thinking similarly to LA about Emanuel until I read your post. Whew. I believe Axelrod will also be a Karl Rove-like figure in the White House, but unlike Wolfowitz and Feith, I guess they will be "good Jews". Confusing.
As to the racial angle, I've got my own similar anecdotal story here, LA and I certainly understand the black euphoria over el Uno. But we are talking about the CIC and it appears, at least, that we've chosen symbolism over substance. I won't pray for Obama's success, I will pray for America's prosperity under president Obama.
Poor leadership is a heavy price to pay for some vague sense of redemption.
Hi a.c. mccloud !
/// I believe Axelrod will also be a Karl Rove-like figure in the White House, but unlike Wolfowitz and Feith, I guess they will be "good Jews". Confusing. ///
Yes, very. (sigh)
Opinions differ as to what is a “good Jew” or “bad Jew”, just as for “good American”, “bad American”, “good German”, “bad German” and so on … depends on the perspective of who is opining, Amerloque has found.
Amerloque’s phrase : “While one should obviously not visit on the sons the sins of the father, the future will tell whether the Israeli/AIPAC tail will continue wagging the US foreign policy dog” sums up the problem. There is no AIPAC here in France, so the take on wagging dogs and tails is quite different (not “better” or”worse”, just “different”). Over the past eight years Amerloque has fielded quite a few questions and comments about US foreign policy, thanks to 9/11 and GWB and so on … but for the past forty years, Amerloque has been asked the same question countless times: “Why does the US always come down on the side of Israel ?” This issue is like the Loch Ness monster.
In an extended post about the Dreyfus Affair here at PYY over two years ago (http://tinyurl.com/5j93sj), Amerloque said:
Not all "Jews" believe the same things in their personal "Judaism" as other "Jews" do.
Not all "Jews" are necessarily "Zionists".
Not all "Zionists" are necessarily "Jews".
Not all "Zionists" are necessarily in "Israel".
Not all "Israelis" are necessarily "Jews".
Not all "Jews" agree with the policies of the "Israeli" government.
Not all "Israelis" agree with the policies of the "Israeli" government.
One wonders which category Rahm Emanuel might or might not fit into, if any.
Best,
L’Amerloque
I disagree with the notion that AIPAC controls our foreign policy or that Emanuel is a danger due to perceived divided loyalty. However, I think the real Obama Barack thinks the jews control our foreign policy. I think he is anti-Israeli at the core, and I believe this due to the long list of anti-Israeli/anti-semitic ideologues he has surrounded himself with (Khalidi, Wright and Farrakan are just the beginning; his official team includes many).
Someone such as this will want to silence AIPAC and other pro-Israeli groups & individuals. That's one role that Emanuel plays. His presence blunts future criticism of anti-Israeli policies and actions. In fact, I predict Obama's anti-Israeli policies and actions will be cloaked in the rhetoric of "tough love" and "showing Israel the tough choices it has to make for its own good." Eg., Obama will hold a news conference explaining why he has cut off all aid to Israel until it submits to several Palestinian demands (right of return, split of Jerusalem, etc); he'll have Emanuel at his side; he'll explain this is the real road to peace. This false rhetoric is something Obama uses everywhere, btw, and we should start recognizing it now.
Also, Emanuel will not have the nuclear codes, AFAIK.
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