Election Issues Today

Former President Jimmy Carter has gone on record asserting that racism and fear are driving the anti-Obama anger, protests, and “heckling” even within the U.S. Congress.

I don’t doubt for a minute that, had Hilary Clinton won the U.S. Presidency, she would be subjected to the same anger and heckling that Obama is experiencing. That is a common acknowledgment: in surveys, white men, having to choose between a Black man in the Presidency or a White women….would prefer a Black man.

Note: The “Possibly-related Articles” below are links to other Today.com blogs which may or may not include other posts here on Grugger’s Way.

In the wake of an overseas trip, that by most all accounts was a resounding success, U.S. President Obama has many problems facing him, some inherited, such as wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the global economic emergency, and new problems that loom ahead, including a resurgent power play by North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Il.

The recent missile test, which is regarded as highly provocative by both Japan and South Korea, underscores the continuing power play that Jong Il believes will strengthen his position in nuclear and economic negotiations with the West.

Although the missile test was overwhelmingly condemned, there was no attempt by the U.S. to “shoot down” the missile, evidently, trajectory data confirmed a course that would not threaten any other country. The U.S. says the missile splashed down in the ocean, North Korea press releases claimed that a satellite had been placed in orbit.

There is also an internal power play in North Korea that is of concern to Japan, South Korea, and western nations as well. Just how long Jong Il can hold on to power in view of his health problems is a question that remains to be answered, and just how firmly he remains in control will largely determine who will hold power upon his death and if a power struggle is likely to erupt. The possession of nuclear weapons (of any sort or degree of sophistication) by an unstable government will keep the U.S. military presence nearby and on alert.

President Obama’s surprise visit to Iraq shouldn’t really have come as a genuine surprise to anyone, it simply wasn’t announced and was “unscheduled” on his travel agenda. He stated that it was time for Iraq to be accountable for its own future. A great deal depends on the leadership of Prime Minister al-Maliki, President Jalal Talibani, and the new General in Charge of U.S. forces, Raymond Odierno.

The GOP failed to support the President’s economic stimulus package.

Because the GOP consistently FAILS to support the interests of the MAJORITY of American voters, they will ALWAYS be the minority party.

Because the GOP has AGAIN put party loyalty and party line ahead of basic human needs, the GOP will again lose seats in Congress in 2010.

President Obama may have wanted to enjoy some semblance of bipartisanship, but there never was much chance that his Party would be able to bring many of the GOP stalwarts over to the other side of the aisle…not even to vote for a package that represents our “best” chance, yes, perhaps our ONLY chance to bring about economic recovery during the next two years.

And–two years from now, all those GOP Congressmen who voted against the stimulus package will have to answer to their constituents.  Why do the Republican members of Congress shoot themselves in the foot?  Over and Over again.

Did they not notice the election results?  They LOST!   American voters REJECTED their philosophies and did so overwhelmingly!

Well, thankfully, the party in power doesn’t have to depend upon bipartisanship to GET THINGS DONE.

Not everything in the stimulus package is perfect; not everything will work as touted; not everyone who wants a job will get one; not everyone will get a tax break the next two years;

BUT…AND THIS IS IMPORTANT:  the MAJORITY will.

My head is still spinning from all the excitement, the media coverage, the speeches, the parade and the personalities.  Wow, what a day!

The millions of photos of the day will become treasured keepsakes for the masses of people who assembled in Washington.  Thousands of people have shared their photos online.   Not everyone sat in front of the television for eight hours that day, as I did.  Frankly, I am pretty glad that I was not in Washington DC.  I feel confined in an airplane or an elevator.  A million people in one place?  My home State of Montana does not have that many, in 147,000 square miles.

I was moved when one news reporter reminded us all that slaves had been used in the construction of both the capitol building and the White House, and that they had been housed in a pen adjacent to the site.  

I was taken by surprise when the oath of office was flubbed, not once but twice, and was comforted by the fact that even the big guys can get nervous.

I noted that one reporter referred to Obama’s Inaugural Address as his “acceptance speech.”  I laughed at that one.

I was offended by the analogy of the “Bush family perhaps feeling like the Romanov’s.”  Not appropriate.  Very bad form.  Rude. Disrespectful, and not at all accurate.  I think more than one reporter said this on more than one occasion. I wonder how many in the USA viewing audience understood what the reporter was talking about.  Perhaps the world-wide audience is better educated.

Personally, I suspect that the new President will force members of the Washington DC news media to improve their competence level. 

The new guy is a smart guy.