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H.O.D. (Happy Obama Day!)
Jan. 20th, 2009 09:28 amHappy Obama Day, everyone!
At last, America's long national nightmare is over. Bush Jr. has done an amazing job of showing just how much damage a single president can do. Of course a lot of what ails America isn't his fault, but just happened to occur on his watch. But a lot of his direct decisions have proven to be disastrous.
It has always been easier to destroy than to create. Obama's got a big job ahead of him, and frankly I don't expect him to fix everything. But I do have a few specific hopes:
America's international reputation: Perhaps Bush's most damning legacy, he's engaged in a go-it-alone war, snubbed just about the entire world including our closest allies, and generally been an international dickhead. I think this is the single area Obama can do the most to repair, and quickly.
The environment: Bush and his allies have done an awful lot to inhibit policies to improve America's impact on the environment. It seems only in recent months have they recognized that the tide of public opinion turned against them on this issue. I fully expect Obama's administration to be environmental-friendly. I don't expect them to solve global warming, but I do want them to play nice with other countries and America's environmental lobby.
War: I'm really torn on this one, since I think this is one area where McCain may have had the better approach. Iraq is a mess, and I think it's hard to say if getting out or staying in is the better way to go but I suspect it'll be better to stay in. What I want Obama to do is commit to Afghanistan, and to only enter into military conflicts that are wise and necessary.
Peace: Bush's fiery rhetoric hasn't made any friends; instead it's pushed countries like North Korea, Iran, and Russia even further from us. I want Obama to extend olive branches, not flaming swords.
There are a host of other issues I want Obama to act on: immigration, health care, education. One area I'm not specifically calling out is the economy. America's economic problems are something that Bush didn't really cause, and I doubt Obama can fix.
The era for hope began long ago. Now it's time to start seeing some of those dreams get realized.
At last, America's long national nightmare is over. Bush Jr. has done an amazing job of showing just how much damage a single president can do. Of course a lot of what ails America isn't his fault, but just happened to occur on his watch. But a lot of his direct decisions have proven to be disastrous.
It has always been easier to destroy than to create. Obama's got a big job ahead of him, and frankly I don't expect him to fix everything. But I do have a few specific hopes:
America's international reputation: Perhaps Bush's most damning legacy, he's engaged in a go-it-alone war, snubbed just about the entire world including our closest allies, and generally been an international dickhead. I think this is the single area Obama can do the most to repair, and quickly.
The environment: Bush and his allies have done an awful lot to inhibit policies to improve America's impact on the environment. It seems only in recent months have they recognized that the tide of public opinion turned against them on this issue. I fully expect Obama's administration to be environmental-friendly. I don't expect them to solve global warming, but I do want them to play nice with other countries and America's environmental lobby.
War: I'm really torn on this one, since I think this is one area where McCain may have had the better approach. Iraq is a mess, and I think it's hard to say if getting out or staying in is the better way to go but I suspect it'll be better to stay in. What I want Obama to do is commit to Afghanistan, and to only enter into military conflicts that are wise and necessary.
Peace: Bush's fiery rhetoric hasn't made any friends; instead it's pushed countries like North Korea, Iran, and Russia even further from us. I want Obama to extend olive branches, not flaming swords.
There are a host of other issues I want Obama to act on: immigration, health care, education. One area I'm not specifically calling out is the economy. America's economic problems are something that Bush didn't really cause, and I doubt Obama can fix.
The era for hope began long ago. Now it's time to start seeing some of those dreams get realized.
