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?