Obama - The first term

[Moonliner]

President Obama.

So what are you looking forward to from our new president? Specifically what policies or actions are you hoping to see from him? "Change" is good as a rally cry but now comes the time for specifics.

[CoasterMatt]

I'm just looking forward to proper sentence structure and grammar returning to the Presidency.

[Ghoulish Delight]

A modicum of reason from our leaders. A country where our decisions are made based on the best interests of our country and the world, not based on bravado and aggression.

And damnit, can we get marijuana legal?! I mean, come ON!

[Betty]

I'll drink to tha CP. :cheers:

[SzczerbiakManiac]

And damnit, can we get marijuana legal?! I mean, come ON!Dude, you'll see gay marriage legalized before pot. And we all know how well that idea goes over....

[Ghoulish Delight]

Here's my question.

If, by the Bush definition, losing one election + barely eeking out a second + losing party control of Congress = "mandate", what exactly does that make this election?

[JWBear]

A coup.

[€uroMeinke]

I am hopeful that we can repair some of our international relationships. Around the world people love Americans and hate our government. We had such a sympathetic outpouring post 9/11 which we seemed to squander in a bullying need for revenge. It would be nice for other countries to want to work with us again and not just play good cop to our bad cop.

It'd be nice if the economy would stabalize, but honestly I don't think Obama has much power over that.

I'm encouraged by Obmam charisma, and hope he uses it to inspire us to great things, that's where the real power of the presidency is. I have to say, his election has made me more proud to be an American in that we can go through this process and hopefully reinvent ourselves in the world.

[Moonliner]

I am hopeful that we can repair some of our international relationships. Around the world people love Americans and hate our government. We had such a sympathetic outpouring post 9/11 which we seemed to squander in a bullying need for revenge. It would be nice for other countries to want to work with us again and not just play good cop to our bad cop.

It'd be nice if the economy would stabalize, but honestly I don't think Obama has much power over that.

I'm encouraged by Obmam charisma, and hope he uses it to inspire us to great things, that's where the real power of the presidency is. I have to say, his election has made me more proud to be an American in that we can go through this process and hopefully reinvent ourselves in the world.

So what you are saying is we should not ask what Obama can do for us but rather what we can do for Obama?

[Gemini Cricket]

I'm thinking that expectations of President Obama will be enormous. If he doesn't perform miracles within his first two years, he will be neutered by people of this country voting the GOP back into a majority of both houses in 2010.

But that's being negative.

[Kevy Baby]

But that's being negative.Realistic

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm thinking that expectations of President Obama will be enormous. If he doesn't perform miracles within his first two years, he will be neutered by people of this country voting the GOP back into a majority of both houses in 2010.

But that's being negative.Yes it is, Negative Nancy. :p I'll refrain from quoting all the times you said he couldn't possibly win. :)

I don't expect miracles. Everyone else on the ground doesn't either, I don't think. I think we expect him to have dignity and intelligence and move carefully. That's about it.

[Gemini Cricket]

Yes it is, Negative Nancy. :p I'll refrain from quoting all the times you said he couldn't possibly win. :)
I'd like to see those quotes.

My opinion was that his campaign and some people on this board were being overly optimistic. Obama himself cautioned everyone not to be overconfident. I think that was one of the reasons he won. He didn't want anyone sitting on their laurels. At one point, I also thought Obama wasn't being tough enough. A couple of days later, he ramped up his campaign. I'm not saying I'm psychic, but the Obama camp and I had the same thoughts about how his campaign was going off track a couple of times. Maybe it's a Hawai'i thing.
:D

[Gn2Dlnd]

His election has already had the effect of moving America back towards the America the world wants to believe in.

[BarTopDancer]

I am looking for him to repair international relationships and implement his plan to get Iraq moving towards its self sufficiency, and bring more support to Afghanistan in attempts to stabilize that region of the ME.

I also know that despite the belief of the current administration, the President cannot make these decisions alone.

More to come, its' taken me over an hour to get this much.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

This is a really challenging post, because - like GC - *have* been a Negative Nancy. I just couldn't allow myself to believe it could happen because I didn't want to be crushed again. Today, I am stunned and happy. And optimistic - but still cautious.

I want him to surround himself with a cabinet that is not just intelligent, but which includes some No-Men, and opponents. I want him to take a hint from Lincoln and his "Team of Rivals." I may be firmly liberal and progressive, but I recognize this is a broad country, and I want every decision to be considered carefully, not charged into blindly. I want him to use that intelligent, cool judgment he's shown he's capable of, and I want him to use it in the oval office.

I want us to re-develop relationships internationally. I want us to stop pretending we're a empire when we're actually the broke and delusional homeless dude who's wearing his pretend superhero cape. I want us to carefully transfer control of Iraq to Iraqis. I want us not to give up on finding Bin Laden. I want us to try to fix situations with words before resorting to violence. I want us not to act without the support of our allies. I want us to ****ing HAVE allies.

I want the new administration to look seriously at the economy. I want us not to reward those who got us into this cluster****, but I want to aid those who were - granted - responsible for getting into irresponsible loans, but perhaps were duped by the greedy bastards. I want something like the New Deal for those who are out of work and struggling.

I want Obama to help the cause of gay rights, of improvement of schools, and the future of energy.

And mostly, I just want him to be the smart, capable person he's been. To follow through on that as best he can. I don't expect him to be perfect. But considering I really respect and like him, I can see that he's capable of good leadership and I want him to do his best. I think he will.

[BarTopDancer]

His election has already had the effect of moving America back towards the America the world wants to believe in.

What he said! This is what I was telling my co-worker.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I want to see the Constitutional mandate of separation of powers restored to a sane definition. I'd like the rule of law to be applied to ALL people, whether we suspect them of hating us or not. And I want to see the discourse in this country guided towards actual thought and discussion rather than hatred towards those we disagree with.

[Andrew]

Obama had to deliberately dumb himself down to win the middle-of-the-road voters. Now, as President, he'll be the most intelligent guy who's ever held the office.

[sleepyjeff]

I'm just looking forward to proper sentence structure and grammar returning to the Presidency.

I will admit, I too look forward to that aspect of an Obama Presidency.

I'm thinking that expectations of President Obama will be enormous. If he doesn't perform miracles within his first two years, he will be neutered by people of this country voting the GOP back into a majority of both houses in 2010.



To triangulate or not to trianglulate.....that is the question:D

[Snowflake]

So what you are saying is we should not ask what Obama can do for us but rather what we can do for Obama?

For me, yeah. Obama=country and my fellow citizens.

I'm not going to be very good at expressing this, but I made a personal vow right at the start of the primary season, if Obama were to win the election, I'd make it a point to step up to the plate and do something.

On a local level, community service, volunteering, something, to help someone else or something else. I've got two things in mind I can give time (and money) to, literacy, reading programs for adults and kids, and local work, I was going to go for AIDS work and education, but dammit, the Prop 8 thing has made me mad, so I am going to spend some time on this. Channel the anger about the unfairness into action, what else can I do? I cannot just let this slide.

Anyway, my who feeling about the Change and Yes We Can is just that, it's not only Obama who has made a pledge (he will do what he can in DC and around the world), at home, it's up to me to do my part.

[Alex]

No matter what the only people fully satisfied by the first Obama term will be Republicans. Regardless of what happens by the end of four years the echo chamber will make sure he is viewed within the proper circles as exactly the worst things said about him.

For people who voted for him, at some point in the next four years he will disappoint you. You may still support him wholeheartedly but the shine will dim.

And that is if it goes well for him.

[Alex]

Obama had to deliberately dumb himself down to win the middle-of-the-road voters. Now, as President, he'll be the most intelligent guy who's ever held the office.

It is a nice thought but I'm going but I'll have to disagree (at least simply in terms of intelligence; Obama may well prove himself the most politically intelligent holder of the office).

Back in 1962, President Kennedy was addressing a White House dinner honoring something like 50 Nobel Prize winners in attendance. He said the following, and I think it will remain true after Obama as well.

This is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House -- with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

No matter what the only people fully satisfied by the first Obama term will be Republicans. Regardless of what happens by the end of four years the echo chamber will make sure he is viewed within the proper circles as exactly the worst things said about him.

For people who voted for him, at some point in the next four years he will disappoint you. You may still support him wholeheartedly but the shine will dim.

And that is if it goes well for him.I'd disagree in that there are some people who voted for him and don't expect him to part the Red Sea. I don't expect a whole lot of huge changes, and if all he does is be a dignified human being who isn't a war- and fear-monger, I'll be so happy.

Yeah, I know, all vague and simple, but still, I feel prepared for reality. I'm sure he'll support something I won't enjoy (like the bailout. I'm still not a fan). Oh hey, I just remembered - he isn't me.

I'm sure many people will be annoyed when he doesn't cure cancer but they are not smart people.

[Disneyphile]

I'd like to see our world image be repaired by approaching international conflicts with a civil approach.

I'd also like to see affordable healthcare and education for all. There was a point in my life that I worked 3 part-time jobs while racking up over $20K in student loans, while keeping a roof over my own head. I had no healthcare at that time, because I was only employed part-time. My health suffered during that time, as well as my dental care, simply because I couldn't afford it. To this day, my needed dental work is astronomical, mainly because of my past negligence due to no insurance. We really need to take care of the people in our country.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

Obama's first press conference as President-elect (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/27597527#27597527)

I'm thoroughly impressed with Obama's jump start on making the government more transparent. He has already launched a website to make public the process of his transition into office available at change.gov (http://change.gov/). It's awesome to be able to have a resource like that and I am confident he will continue to offer such information via the web once he is in office. And on a side note, all of his websites are very well designed and standards compliant. Big props to his web team!

[flippyshark]

My health suffered during that time, as well as my dental care, simply because I couldn't afford it. To this day, my needed dental work is astronomical, mainly because of my past negligence due to no insurance. We really need to take care of the people in our country.

This is exactly where I am right now - working a bunch of part time jobs, paying for incredibly crappy insurance, and I have no dental coverage at all. I have SERIOUS dental problems, and I really don't know if I have any options right now except to watch my teeth fall apart and cry. (If anyone has any helpful hints, I'm in bad need of them.)

[Morrigoon]

If anybody's looking to request a position with Obama's government, go here:
http://change.gov/page/s/application

[Alex]

I've never been shy about the fact that while supporting Obama's presidency I don't necessarily agree with him on a lot of things politically.

I've been seeing word bandied about (I don't know how seriously) that Robert Kennedy Jr. is in contention for running EPA. If that were to happen, it would be a very significant disappointment out of the gate for me.

[innerSpaceman]

Just as the rumoured Treasury Secretary picks are for me.

[tracilicious]

What I want from this presidency is a leader who will make all decisions with integrity and public interest in mind. One who will act with strength of character and a slow and steady hand. I want Obama to stick to his viewpoint that the presidential office is one of public service. He's walking into a huge mess, and we all know it's a tough one to get out of, but I'd like to see him bandage America's gaping wounds with great care and compassion for a country so harmed by Bush.

[sleepyjeff]

What I want from this presidency is a leader who will make all decisions with integrity and public interest in mind. One who will act with strength of character and a slow and steady hand. I want Obama to stick to his viewpoint that the presidential office is one of public service. He's walking into a huge mess, and we all know it's a tough one to get out of, but I'd like to see him bandage America's gaping wounds with great care and compassion for a country so harmed by Bush.


Specifically...?

[Moonliner]

So far I like what I'm hearing...

Building a good staff
An full review of all the horrid Bush Executive Orders

Anyone want to lay odds on who Time Magazine selects for their person of the year?

[Andrew]

An full review of all the horrid Bush Executive Orders
Let's hope that includes Signing Statements (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signing_statement_(United_States)) as well. "I'm signing this law because I know my veto would be overridden, but I reserve the right to ignore it anyway."

[Kevy Baby]

Anyone want to lay odds on who Time Magazine selects for their person of the year?Joe the Plumber?

[BarTopDancer]

Bush
Palin
The LDS church

[Ghoulish Delight]

David Plouffe