Monday, December 8, 2008

Obama Announces VA Choice

Obama formally announced Sunday that Army Gen. Eric Shinseki is his pick to be secretary of Veterans Affairs. At a press conference, he went on to say, "There is no one more distinguished, more determined, or more qualified to build this VA than the leader I am announcing as our next secretary of Veterans Affairs -- Gen. Eric Shinseki."

Obama said the nation must focus on helping troops who have served their country especially during bad economic times, and believes Shinseki is just the one for the job because he "understands the changing needs of our troops and their families. And he will be a VA secretary who finally modernizes our VA to meet the challenges of our time."

Shinseki is most commonly known for his testimony in Feburary of 2003, in which he said we would need several hundred thousand soldiers to pacify Iraq. Although this infuriated the Bush administration and Shinseki retired a few monthes later, Obama says Shinseki was right, and is excited to have someone who will put patriotism above politics.

Friday, December 5, 2008

2012

I saw this article on CNN.com, and threwup in my mouth a little...

"Barack Obama is still more than six weeks from White House, and the next Iowa caucuses are more than three years away — so naturally, it’s time to start talking 2012, as a new national poll suggests that Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee top the list of potential 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls.

In a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey out Friday that serves as an early measure of potential support for the next GOP presidential nomination, Huckabee tops the list. Thirty-four percent of Republicans and independent voters who lean towards the GOP say they are very likely to support the former Arkansas governor if he were to become their party’s nominee in 2012. Huckabee surprised many by winning this year's Republican caucuses in Iowa and seven other contests before ending his run in March.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate in this year's election, draws nearly as much support: 32 percent of those polled said they would get behind a Palin nomination. And with the survey's sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 points, Palin and Huckabee are statistically tied."

Maybe the Mayans had it right when they said the world would end, supposedly with catastrophic consequences, in 2012...

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Inaugural Package for the "Distressed"

Earl W. Stafford, the founder of a Centreville technology, bought the JW Marriott's $1 million "build-your-own-ball" offer. Included in the offer is 300 rooms, four suites, $200,000 worth of food and drink, and a site overlooking the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route. Stafford said he wants at least 30 percent of those staying in his rooms and participating in the events to be disadvantaged or needy in some way. "Our objective is to bring in a cross-section of society -- those who are distressed, those who are terminally ill, those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, those veterans who are wounded and served our country." I think it's great that someone with the financial ability to buy such a huge inaugural offer is donating it to the people who would not otherwise be able to attend, but I wonder what his definition of "distressed" is...

No More Water-Boarding...

In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Obama said "I have said repeatedly that America doesn't torture. I'm going to make sure that we don't torture. Those are part and parcel of an effort to regain America's moral stature in the world." He has put that plan into action by sending Eric Holder, his choice for Attorney General, to meet this week with 12 retired generals and admirals to discuss changing the U.S. government's current interrogation policy. All 12 retirees had endorsed the Bush administration's plan for enhanced interrogation techniques, including practices like water-boarding. They have now urged the adoption of a single- and far less controversial- standard of interrogation and detainment across all intelligence and other agencies.

I think it's great that Obama has really shown some initiative in this area and is trying to clear up America's name.

Iraq Approves U.S. Pullout Plan

Iraq's presidency council approved the U.S.-Iraq security agreement today. The three-member council- including the Kurdish president, the Shiite Vice President, and the Sunni Vice President- approved the agreement unanimously, just one week after the Iraqi parliament passed the measure.

The pact allows the presence of American troops in Iraq for three more years and sets the official deadline for all U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Iraq at June 30, 2009. The date for all U.S. troops to leave Iraq is December 31, 2011.

Obama told reporters Monday in Chicago that he still thinks 16 months is the "right time frame" for removing U.S. combat troops from the country.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Obama Names Richardson Commerce Secretary

Obama named New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as commerce secretary today, filling another top economic post and placing a second former campaign rival in his new Cabinet.

Obama seems to have high hopes for his presidency, and is speaking confidently and optimistically about the economic depression. Obama said, "We have everything we need to renew our economy, we have the ingenuity and technology, the skill and commitment — we just need to put it to work."

I have high hopes for Obama and the rest of his cabinet, and I'm starting to think this depression wont be as bad as I originally thought...

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Obama Chooses Economic Team

On Monday, he announced two top economic nominations that were well received by financial markets: Timothy Geithner for treasury secretary, and Lawrence Summers, for the National Economic Council. On Tuesday he named the current director of the Congressional Budget Office, Peter Orszag, as his budget director. Along with Orszag, Obama named Robert Nabors as deputy budget director. Nabors has been the top staff aide on the House Appropriations Committee, which prepares spending legislation. Obama also said he would have additional appointments to his economic team in the coming days.

Overall, I think he's made good choices in his appointees. His economic team is full of experience, and I think that by the time of his inauguration, they’ll be up and ready to go.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Obama's White House

Obama has supposedly selected Senator Hillary Clinton as secretary of state and Timothy J. Geithner as secretary of the Treasury, and it looks as if both will accept the positions. In choosing these two, Obama seems to be looking for pragmatists rather than ideologues when it comes to his cabinet.

18 Months?

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, leaders of the Pacific Rim nations seemed confident that the economic crisis would be over by mid 2010.

“We are convinced that we can overcome this crisis in a period of 18 months,” the leaders said in a statement. “We have already taken urgent and extraordinary steps to stabilize our financial sectors and strengthen economic growth.”

Although they seemed sure of this bold statement, they failed to provided details as to how this would be done, or how they planned on helping. Overall, I think putting such a distinct timeline on this economic crisis is more wishful thinking than anything else.

Rahm Emanuel

Obama's first official move was to ask Rahm Emanuel to serve as his Chief of Staff. I got this article from the New York Times, and I thought it summed up what he will bring to the White House pretty well.

An unusual hybrid of high-level experience as a top adviser to President Bill Clinton together with proven expertise as a Congressional leader and political strategist. Mr. Emanuel is also a close friend of Mr. Obama, a fellow Chicagoan.

As the No. 4 Democrat in the House and an architect of the Democratic majority, Mr. Emanuel knows Congress from the inside out after winning his seat in 2002. In the Clinton administration, he was aggressive, frequently profane and instrumental in shaping domestic policy on issues like health care, welfare and trade.

He earned the nickname Rahmbo for his determination and take-no-prisoners approach — an advantage when trying to bring a thorny issue to resolution, but a style that can be off-putting to those accustomed to gentility. In resigning his seat, Mr. Emanuel will be relinquishing a promising House career and aspirations to become speaker.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06emanuel.html

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Mac is Back?

Pennslyvania, although it has voted Democratic in the last four presidential elections, is HUGE in this year's election. Analysts say neither candidate will have an easy time winning without Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes.
Statewide polls consistently show McCain trailing Obama — though the race has gotten
tighter in the past few days. McCain is still keeping hope alive, though, saying, "We're a couple points behind in Pennsylvania. The pundits have written us off, just like they've done before. My friends, the Mac is back!!"
Personally, i dont think that McCain will take Pennsylvania, but it would mean serious trouble for Obama if he did...

We're Making History

No matter how the vote turns out, Americans will make history today. Obama could become the first black president. John McCain could become the oldest president elected to a first term. Sarah Palin could become the first woman elected vice president. But most importantly, all the phone calls and horrible TV ads and class blogs end today. I'm excited.

McCain's Final Surge

McCain completed a cross-country trek through seven battleground states before arriving at home in Phoenix early this morning.

McCain held seven rallies each in different areas, in an 18-hour quest that took him across three time zones.

McCain has planned events for today in Grand Junction and New Mexico, then a party at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix.

Not bad for an old man.

Obama Wins in Earliest Vote

Obama won the first election returns of the 2008 presidential race, winning 15 of 21 votes cast in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. A full 100 per cent of registered voters in the village cast ballots. But hey, every vote counts, right?

I Hate Politics.

The 2008 presidential campaign has been one of the longest in US history, spanning nearly two years, and the most expensive, totalling about $1.5 billion spent by 20 candidates during the primary and general elections. And I just want it to be over.
In my opinion, the next four years are going to suck no matter who gets elected. Black or white, male or female, we're still in a war and an economic crisis. Thank God it's election day.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Obama's Grandma Died

One day before the election. She was 86, and died of cancer.
Obama remembered her as "one of those quiet heroes we have across America, who aren't famous ... but each and every day they work hard. They look after their families. They look after their children and their grandchildren."

I can't imagine any worse timing.

Campaign Finance

For the first time ever in U.S. history, the candidates for president have raised more than $1 billion.

Here's a list of the top donors to Obama and McCain. The organizations themselves did not donate , rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners.

Obama
University of California $909,283
Goldman Sachs $874,207
Harvard University $717,230
Microsoft Corp $714,108
Google Inc $701,099
In total- and according to opensecrets.org- the Obama campaign has raised $639,174,281.

McCain

Merrill Lynch $359,070
Citigroup Inc $296,151
Morgan Stanley $262,777
Goldman Sachs $228,695
JPMorgan Chase & Co $215,042
The McCain campain has raised a total of $360,167,823.

It all seems a little ridiculous given the fact that we're in an economic depression...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Last Debate

I think that last night was McCain’s best performance yet in a debate. He finally came out swinging, while Obama just played defense. Although McCain was good, I don't think he was good enough. With the recent polls putting Obama a good four points ahead of McCain, McCain needed to blow the voters away and I think he came up short.
McCain did a good job of clearly stating the issues, and separating himself from President Bush, but he had some downfalls as well. For instance, he repeatedly tried to call Obama's character into question and link him to Bill Ayers and, contrary to McCain’s belief, those "facts" were not facts. I was also disappointed to hear McCain imply that the health and well-being of the mother should not be a deciding factor in whether or not to perform an abortion.
Most of the polls I have seen have just barely given Obama the victory in this debate, but then again, I don’t watch Fox news. I'm sure McCain took that one in a landslide. In my opinion, I'd call it a tie.. or give the victory to Joe the Plumber...

Friday, October 10, 2008

The Bailout in Action

AIG recently received an $85 billion loan in order to avoid bankruptcy, but instead of using the money to keep their company alive and help pull the US out of this economic crisis, they decide to take a little spa trip.



But hey, don't you think they all deserved a little vacation?
Seriously, it disgusts me.

"That One" is NOT a Terrorist.

Personally, I think the way that McCain and Palin have been running their campaign this last week is appalling. Spreading lies about how Obama is around cavorting with domestic terrorists just doesn’t seem like an honorable campaign strategy to me.

Obama and Ayers, now a college professor at the University of Illinois, served on the same education board and live in the same neighborhood. Obama can’t help who his neighbors are, hell my neighbors could be serial killers, does that make me one to?

The fact that people at a recent McCain rally were all calling Obama a Muslim terrorist just proves how naive the American public is, and how quick we are to jump onto the bandwagon without giving the facts a second thought.

I respect McCain for telling all the crazies at his rally that Obama is a respectable man and that they shouldn’t be scared of him, but I think its too little too late. McCain supporters literally booed him when he said that Obama was a decent person.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Presidential Debates

The face-off starts friday! The focus should be on foreign policy and national security, and regardless of your opinions, I think it's important to listen to each candidate and keep an open mind. All of the broadcast and cable news networks will carry the four debates (three presidential and one vice presidential), and I think this election's debates will be more crucial than ever. These debates afford candidates an opportunity to win votes, lose votes or just seal the deal. One bad line could end it all, and one good one could give the little push needed in such a close election.

Wall Street Woes

Obama and McCain finally agree on something- that the economy is in ruins, and it's going to take $700 billion to fix it. Both Candidates put out strikingly similiar plans, both calling for greater accountability and independent oversight, a path for taxpayers to recoup the money, and a cap on the executive pay of those companies that take part.

McCain stated that his plan essentially requires a ten thousand dollar tax increase per household.


Obama has been unclear in how he plans to raise the money while keeping his same tax plans, but he is also proposing a second stimulus package that would pump $50 billion into the economy -- $25 billion to the states and another $25 billion for infrastructure projects. His plan also calls checks of $500 per individual or $1,000 per household to offset higher gasoline and other energy costs. Obama would pay for those checks with a windfall profits tax on the oil industry



No matter what happens, or who wins, something has to be done, and it has to be done soon.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Obama!

Like the rest of the 6000 people at Cross Orchards, I was pumped. The six hours of standing in line was very worth it to be that close to a national icon. I’ve watched tons of his speeches before, but watching him in person was AMAZING. The speech was nothing new, but he did touch on some important points, especially for Colorado. I thought it was great how he laid out his plan for our water rights, and how he commented on how the republican economic plan was out of touch, but then again he could have gone up there and sang the Itsy Bitsy Spider and I would have been amazed. I think it's that smile. Overall, it was the opportunity of a lifetime and I'm sooo glad I got to be apart of it all.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Formal vs. Informal Amendment

The founders of the Constitution realized that change was inevitable overtime, and that in order for a government to succeed, it needs to keep up. They thereby constructed the Constitution as an adaptable document, one that would be able to grow and change along with the people it governs. Therefore, the Constitution can be changed both formally and informally.
The formal amendment process of the constitution consists of two phases, proposal and ratification, each of which can be carried out in two different ways. An amendment can be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress, or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Once it has been proposed, the amendment moves on to the process of ratification. In order to be ratified, the amendment must either be approved by three-fourths of the states’ legislatures, as in the case of all amendments except for the 21st, or by a special convention called for by three-fourths of the states. If the amendment is ratified, it then becomes part of the official US Constitution, and is made into law.
The Constitution can also be modified in a less official manner. The Constitution can undergo change through judicial interpretation, changes in political practices, changes in technology, and as a result of the increasing demands on policymakers. The most distinct of the informal processes is the practice of Judicial Review, as established in the 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison. Throughout the years, Judicial Review, although not clearly outlined in the constitution, has become an essential part of the Constitution, as evident in cases such as Roe v. Wade and Brown v. Board of Education. Political parties are another informal yet influential aspect of the Constitution. Although they are not mentioned in the constitution, they have come to play a key role in American politics. Advances in technology have also managed to informally change the way we follow the constitution. When the founders originally drafted the constitution, things such as atomic bombs, abortions, and the internet were not even fathomable. As a result, we have come to follow somewhat of an unwritten constitution, in which the rules for the use of new technology are set. Lastly, the increasing demands that are currently placed on policymakers have also affected the way the Constitution is interpreted. America started off as a meager country that barely had the power to rule itself, let alone the world, but as time went on and the US grew, it gradually emerged as a superpower. As the power of the country grows, so does the power in the hands of the president, resulting in increasing demands on all policymakers involved in our government. As you can see, the Constitution originally given to us by the founders of this country has changed a great deal, and will continue to change as time goes on.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Madisonian Model

The Madisonian Model of government established a successful system of government by distributing the powers of the federal government, creating a system of checks and balances, and limiting the control the majority factions held over the government. Madison created a model of government that effectively eliminated the threat of tyranny, and that model is still evident in the Constitution today.
James Madison believed that, in order for a government to succeed, the power of government must be outside the hands of the majority factions. Madison’s idea of restricting the amount of power the people have in government decisions is evident today in the electoral process. The American citizens can only directly vote for the members of the House of Representatives, the President is elected by the Electoral College, and the Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President with the help of the Senate. Therefore, government officials are elected by a small minority, not the people themselves, making it impossible for the majority factions to takeover. Although Madison’s main idea of limiting majority control is still used today, it has changed over time. The seventeenth amendment established the direct election of senators by popular majority, giving the people more power over government officials.
Madison’s proposal of separating powers is also depicted in the Constitution today. The doctrine of separation of powers creates three main branches of government, the Judicial branch, the Executive branch, and the Legislative branch. By dividing the federal governments power equally among the three branches, the power is separated, eliminating the threat of one group having total control.
Madison also created a system of checks and balances in his model to prevent political corruption from forming in anyone of the branches. The system allots each branch the power to check and balance each other. For instance, the president can veto congressional legislation, but the Senate can override that veto. Also, the Supreme Court was given the power of Judicial Review through the case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803, and therefore can declare laws and rulings made by the other branches of government unconstitutional.
Although Madison created a successful model, as with all governments, it has its problems. While the separation of power and the system of checks and balances eliminates the threat of tyranny, because the separate branches have the ability to check each other, political interests may get in the way, resulting in a political gridlock and a very slow legislative process.