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Most of my generation came to political consciousness during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Before that we were too busy being kids to care too much about politics, and the whole business got us all more interested in blowjobs than anything else.
It wasn’t until the Iraq War in 2003 that I really became politically active. For the first time I saw my country doing something that I truly did not approve of, and with my own money. For the next 6 years I didn’t see anything from President Bush that made me proud to be an American.
So, this week marks the first time during my political life that I feel like I really have a President, and I’ve felt a surge of patriotism that I haven’t experienced since watching fireworks on the 4th of July when I was too young to know what an Executive Gag order is.
Since taking the oath of office one week ago, President Obama has accomplished more for America than George W. Bush did in his entire tenure in office.
What a Relief
1. Closing down the prison at Guantanamo Bay (which will take a year) has made the United States far more safe than at any other time during the Bush years, because it has been one of Al Qaeda’s most effective recruiting tools.
2. Officially announcing that the United States will not torture combatants in the war on terror. This undoes a great deal of damage to America’s reputation and will help us to fulfill our future foreign policy goals.
3. Letting the states choose their own emissions standards. This is probably the biggest coupe for environmentalism in a decade, and it will help US automakers become more competitive in the global economy.
4. Lifting President Bush’s global gag order. While I don’t condone abortion personally, witholding vital international aid over the issue is a serious moral fault. Women and children use family planning services for more than just abortions, and now they will get much more of the help that they need.
5. Talking to the Muslim community: when President Obama chose an Arab station for his first televised interview, he sent a clear signal to this population: the United States is not their enemy.
So there you have it.
After just one week, President Obama has made America more safe, has restored our global image, boosted the economy, and made strides towards curbing climate change.
It’s not been a perfect week. I have been disappointed that Obama and Congressional Democrats have given so much ground to the Republicans on the stimulus bill. The nutjobs in the House GOP have insisted on forcing more useless tax cuts into this legislation, taking precious dollars away from public spending. I understand that President Obama wants to strike a bipartisan tone right off the bat, but this is too important to cave in on.
The Republicans have shown absolutely no interest in bipartisanship since 1994, and the country has suffered greatly.
President Obama has more political capital than anyone since Reagan’s first term: he should use it to help the American people, whether the Republicans like it or not.
Overall though, I’m very pleased with Obama’s actions so far.
That sound you just heard?
300 Million people sighing in relief.
Great post Tim. I'm just waiting for the O'Reilly/Limbaugh fans to shoot you down but it's great to see the President's popularity at such a high percentage. Guess they no longer have a leg to stand on... it must feel particularly bitter to be on that (extreme) side of politics right now... bitter and sad.
Tim, Alex, and all of those so call do gooders. If having a "real President" means giving billions to those who do not create jobs, appointing someone to oversee the IRS that cheated on his own taxes, closing the only place in the world that someone who would kill Americans can be sent to, and spending $170 million dollars on a party for himself, then I guess you do have a "Real President". I for one though feel as if the direction Obama wants to take this counrty has already proven not to work. We are the only country in the world that is made up of all other countries. Therefore, we must continue to lead not follow in the footsteps of useless policies and practices.
“3. Letting the states choose their own emissions standards. This is probably the biggest coupe for environmentalism in a decade, and it will help US automakers become more competitive in the global economy.”
Wrong, Tim! This will add complexity (read cost) to all cars sold in the US because instead of meeting one environmental standard, auto makers will have to meet 50 individual standards. Potential costs will include larger departments to research those 50 standards and to track changes as standards are revised. This additional cost will reduce competition as some auto makers stop selling some models here or stop selling here altogether. Fewer options to the consumer usually results in higher costs and lower quality, hardly ever a good thing.
There are already a lot of urban commuter cars that are not available here because of the cost of meeting the safety and emission standard which illustrates the hidden cost of regulations.
Now don’t get me wrong, regulations are necessary but a single standard that has a predictable change process is as necessary as the standard for marking the vehicle identification numbers (VIN) so that manufacturers know what they will be allowed to sell..
The repeal of the Global Gag rule is fantastic because every administration since Reagan has been going back and forth on that, and its been proven to keep some women in impoverished countries from getting access to the proper healthcare they need -- so I'm really happy Obama took care of that right away.
And the Al Arabiya move was HUGE. I'm sure the Israel lobby isn't thrilled -- but I think it's a big symbolic step and shows a lot of respect and understanding of what kind of diplomacy it will take to re-engage the Middle East.
Alex- I think the GOP knows that the Limbaugh crowd is not doing them any favors now. Some house members told him to keep it down recently. If the GOP wants to win any elections this century, they have to come towards the center.
Mike- I don't think this stimulus plan will work, but not because it's ideologically flawed- because it's not aggressive enough. The first great depression ended because of the MASSIVE spending projects that came with World War 2. Only a new massive public spending project can get us out- I think it should be focused on the energy sector which solves a number of foreign policy problems as well.
Allen- Automakers are not going to have 50 different types of standards to adhere to. They will have to comply with the toughest single emission standard that a state chooses, so that their cars can be sold in every state market. See what Obama did? He federalized the standard by making it a state issue. Brilliant!
Nisha- Check out the National Review's take on the gag order lift if you want to get a laugh.
Tim,
Massive spending on WW2 was not the plan, just as giving $4bil to ACORN like groups should not be in any plan. If WW2 had not happened, we would have spent our way deeper into a depression.
The Trickle Down economic process is the only sure way to create long lasting jobs, long lasting businesses, and true wealth for a nation. The free market place, personal responsiblity and self reliance should be the thought process of all whom seek "success".
Hmmm...That is good that you think we have a 'real' president now. While you were being a kid I guess back in Reagan days and H.W.'s 4 years I knew we had a real President. Even the candid words you use about Clinton's poor choices while in the oval office were very real. The fact of that matter is, we have always had a real president. You may have not liked him, but he is real. He works and ages twice as fast as the american people, and may make mistakes just like you and I do daily on the job.
One thing that I would like to see generation Y'ers to do is to filter a bit more, and not let media and the crowd stir up there emotions. I for one am very inspired by Obama. Though I do not think the 1st week in office qualifies or grants Obama a status any more real than the 43 that came before him. My comments here are to ignite readers and yourself to think about the reality of the president and understand that everyone fails here and there. Obama will fail at something at some point during is 4 years. Will he still be real to you then?
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