Transition to the Presidency

After a long heart felt presidential battle over the past couple of months, it was decided that Senator Barack Obama would become the new president. For nearly two weeks each nominee was doing their own thing until monday morning when they met at President Elect Barack Obama's transistion office in Chicago. Here they met to discuss the key issue's on the president elects agenda such as climate change, energy efficiency and national service.

Going into this meeting John Mccain was intent on helping Barack Obama with whatever he could in order to better the country. He and President Elect Obama were going to talk on how he could help the Obama administration, and also help the two party's get through the infamous "partisan politics". This has been one of the first times in months where the two presidential nominees were able to sit down and discuss what they could do to help one another. Before each Nominees campaign, the two were not known for working together very much exept for an ethics and lobbying bill which did not work out the way that either of them wanted. McCain wasn't very pleased with Obama when he suggested to move the bill to the Senate committees. Mccain thought this was a tactic in order to form a partisan bill. Mccain Then called Obama out on "Partisan Posturing" and wrote him a letter explaining his frustration.

http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=A72AA248-ED25-4EC1-9C20-1386B3EE960C

However, this meeting was about them coming together in order to work on the major items on Obama's agenda such as universal health-care to global warming. Obama has seemed intent on meeting with not only McCain, but also former rival Hilary Clinton. He has yet to figure out his cabinent and perhaps is looking at them to help him in the White House. Also, he has been trying to convince independent senator Joe Lieberman to stay a democrat. Lieberman was so famously known for endorsing McCain earlier in the year, which upset many democrats. Obama, is trying his best to make a easy transition into the White House, and is looking to others such as McCain and Clinton to help.

Questions

1. Do you think that so far Obama has done a good job at trying to make his transition easy?
2. What roles do you think John McCain and Hilary Clinton will play in Obama's Presidency?
3. Is this presidency going to stand out and make a big step towards bipartisan politics?

The hard parts over: Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States. Now that Barack Obama is President, he chose Representative Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff. Some Democrats and most Republicans had an uproar over Emaunel, who is being called a "veteran partisan pugilist." Many say that this man is the wrong choice for our country to "change."
The position for Chief of Staff was difficult for Rep. Rahm Emaunel to make as well. He is chairman of the House of Demorcratic Caucus, and was nervous about accepting the position when debating over leaving his long career with Capitol Hill and his obligations to his family. He would be leaving behind six years at Capitol Hill, where he quickly rose up the ranks and engineered the Democratic takeover of the House in 2006. Emanuel accepted the position after 24 hours of debate. When stating why he chose to accept, he said "I'm leaving a job I love to join your White House for one simple reason -- like the record amount of voters who cast their ballot over the last month, I want to do everything I can to help deliver the change America needs."
Although many Americans have second thoughts about Emanuel, Obama has a strong faith in him, stating "I announce this appointment first because the chief of staff is central to the ability of a president and administration to accomplish an agenda. And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel."
Picking the Chief of Staff was the first major task to be done when picking Obama's Administrative team. Emanuel, a long time friend to Obama is a complete 360 of the nonchalant attitude that Obama gives off. Emanuel is more of an "in your face" and profane speaker who takes the reigns in many situations. Emanuel has worked in the White House when Clintion was President, shaping message and policy.
However, Republicans have a strong opinion of him, so strong that they are calling this announcement a "broken promise." They feel this way because during his time under the Clinton administration, Emanuel angered Latino organizations by steering the House away from a fight over an immigration-law overhaul. "On the Hill, he came up with the strategy of how to slam Republicans and not move on immigration," said Arnoldo Torres, a past executive director of the League of Latin American Citizens and aide to California's Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, Democrats were pleased with his decisions, stating that he will provide "muscle and savvy" that the next president will need. The Democrats also believe that his knowledge from working on Captiol Hill should be a major help to Obama. "Rahm has a rare blend of talent in both policy and politics. And, contrary to popular belief, he's a guy with a heart," said Rep. John Larson (D., Conn.), the Democratic Caucus vice chairman.
My opinion is that the majority of our nation has chosen Barack Obama as President because we believe in him, and we shouldnt start doubting him now. There will always be contrasting opinions of people in power, but under Barack Obama, I feel that we are protected and that he is making decisions that are best for our country. I'm sure Rep. Rahm Emanuel will prove himself under Barack Obama's Administrative team. Having a strong voice like Emanuel's is something that can truly be needed at times. Emanuel will be a strong Chief of Staff and will get what needs to be done accomplished.

Do you think Barack Obama made the right decision in choosing Rep. Rahm Emanuel?

Will Republicans learn to accept him?

Election Day 2008

It’s over. The longest and most expensive presidential campaign in U. S. history ended last night with Barack Obama’s clear victory, both in the electoral and popular vote. His victory did not come easy; he had to outfight formidable opponents in Hillary Clinton and John McCain and persuade Americans that he had the ability to lead them in tough times. But the precision and professionalism with which he and his advisors ran his campaign made him the decisive winner and gave America its first African American president. It was a stunning moment, especially for people like me who vividly remember that less than fifty years ago, segregation was legal in the South and de facto segregation was pervasive in the North. Barack Obama’s victory does not mark the end of racism in the United States, but I think that it marks the beginning of the end.

This election galvanized voters of all parties. Everywhere I went yesterday, people sported “I Voted” stickers and were eager to discuss the election. My husband and I went to West Springfield High School at 7:15 AM to vote and found that the line was already snaking its way out of the building. But despite the early hour and the long line, people were upbeat and talkative, energized (in part) by the coffee and baked goods volunteers were selling outside, but mostly by a keen awareness that we were taking part in a historic election. Our long line moved swiftly, and in less than an hour, my husband and I were inside the school and voting. The use of scannable paper ballots made it possible for more people to vote at once, and this new voting method kept the line moving and frustration low. What about you? What happened when you went to vote?

On Mason’s campus, the weather was dreary and damp, but spirits were high.

Student Government ran vans to the Woodson High School polling place, and volunteers promoted this service by becoming “human advertisements.”

Rain apparently, does not damper revolutions!


This guy stole my heart!

Our university was not without its own drama. Yesterday morning, a hacker broke into the Provost’s email account and sent out a fake message announcing that the election had been moved to November 5th. Rumors circulated that Mason students who voted could lose their financial aid.

But such lame attempts proved ineffective against the smart and savvy youthful voters who went to the polls in record numbers. Your demographic – voters between the ages of 18 and 25 – voted overwhelmingly for Obama and helped power him to victory. Now it’s your turn to act upon that mandate and consider how you will help him guide our nation toward economic recovery, energy reform, and improved security both at home and abroad.

How will you meet the challenge Obama made to all Americans in his victory speech last night that change can’t happen without “a new spirit of patriotism, a new spirit of sacrifice?” How has this election influenced your outlook on the future and the role you will play in it as a working professional?

Obama, McCain Trade Jabs Over Taxes, Tone of Campaign

The final debate of the 2008 election campaign was a tension filled debate to say the least. Obama and McCain talked about many issues such as taxes, abortion, the negativity of the campaign, etc. The beginning of the debate surrounded a man dubbed “Joe the Plumber” (whose real name is Joe Wurzelbacher) who attended a town hall meeting in Ohio where he asked Obama about raising taxes for people who earned over 250,000 a year. Obama responded by stating McCains tax plan will give tax cuts to big corporations while Obama’s tax plan will cut taxes for the middle class, “Perhaps Joe will pay more now, he said, but his tax plan would have helped him when he was just getting started.”

One of the key things most people remember from the final debate is where McCain boldy disputed Obama’s constant attack on McCain by claiming he is just like President Bush by exclaiming “"Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush….. you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago." Obama responded by saying on the core economic issues that matter most to the American people McCain has strongly supported President Bush on.

McCain and Obama also talked about how the campaign has turned negative. McCain also raised suspicions about Obama’s ties with William Ayers and a organization called ACORN.

Personally, I feel whole debate was about John McCain taking jabs at Obama. As in other debates I felt I didn’t really learn anything new or feel swayed any particular way. More than anything I learned more about their personalitys. I feel like for McCain this debate was the last one for him to prove himself as someone who could lead America. I could tell he knew this was the last time he’d be able to win people over, and he really gave a lot.

Questions to consider:

Who do you think won the debate?

What did you think of John McCains use of “Joe the plumber”? Did it work for him or did it end up hurting him in the end?



What did you think about what he told Obama that he “was not President Bush and if he wanted to run against President Bush he should have run four years ago?”




What did you think of Obama’s reactions? Should he have been more aggressive?




Do you think this debate helped sway undecided voters?




Do you think this campaign has turned into a negative campaign?

How Will the Bailout Affect the Candidates?

The federal government has recently attempted to resuscitate the investment banking firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs as these companies seem to follow a general trend of failures in the investment banking industry. This bailout leaves many Americans wondering if it will work, and how to best implement the new changes. With the impending Presidential election at stake, it is critical for the candidates to provide America with their best arguments, and even more importantly for America, that they be correct in their judgment.

View Trailer of IOUSA

A recent article by Laura Meckler, Elizabeth Holmes and Nick Timiraos in The Wall Street Journal entitled, "Candidates Keep Their Bailout Stances to Themselves," indicates that thus far, the candidates have not said much---or enough---about their stance on the issues at hand. Both candidates and their running mates must be very careful in their strategic assessment of the situation. One wrong move could leave either John McCain or Barak Obama in dangerous waters. The article argues that while it would seem "irresponsible" to oppose the plan, all-out support would create the image of an excessive spending policy. A bailout of such titanic proportions will leave lasting impressions on taxpayers for years to come. Americans wonder if or why their tax money should be spent to save these companies, and if it's worth adding so much to the already massive national debt.

The candidates agree that there needs to be substantial governmental observation of the rescued companies' finances They also agree that the government should not, and cannot, afford to give these companies or their executives a blank check (View Senator Obama's statements here). The article notes that Senator McCain seems unlikely to vote in favor of the plan unless there is a public disclosure of the American International Group Inc.'s assets---ensuring that in the event of a rebound the company would refund taxpayers (View John McCain's ad on the financial crisis here). Senator Obama, in alignment with his Party, would seem to be more supportive of the rescue mission. The Democratic Party's policy of big spending and closer governmental control would likely align Senator Obama with a vote in favor of the bailout. Their votes as individual Senators, however, should reflect their personal feelings on the subject.


How will the candidates develop their arguments, stances and future policies? How will their projected policy affect you in the days, months and years to come? This is an issue which spans across every racial, educational, religious and economic background. Do we want to inherit the worst debts in American history? Can we afford to allow the government to interfere with private companies? Will our children inherit or be burdened with these troubles in the decades to follow? These are all things to consider when we learn more about the candidate's stances in the coming days. We all must ask ourselves these questions, and more (for more information, visit The Wall Street Journal website). The answers should help you make an educated vote in November. The legacy of these economically and socially troubling times may outlive our generation. The first step in any direction will be the Congressional vote in the coming days. How both candidates vote, and why they do so, will certainly be up for debate in the coming weeks. The vote, without question, will be a fabulous window for the American public to view and assess its candidates actions in an economic, political and fiscal crisis.

Posted by Alex Katzenstein at 4:00 PM 0 comments