So despite initial objections by President-elect Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and pretty much the entire leadership of the Democratic Party. Roland Burris has been accepted into the Senate.
Living proof that nothing is infallible in politics.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Obama's speech on the economy
Obama gave a speech today at George Mason University on the state of the economy (read text here). As he did during the election, Obama managed to balance a message of optimism with a more urgent message about the sad state of the economy.
In the speech, Obama basically says that he's got a plan and he's ready to take on the depression, but it's up to congress to get their act together and well, act. This speech got me thinking about the limitations of what Obama can actually achieve as president.
America may have voted in their first truly 21st century president, but considering how long many members of congress have been around, I think congress may end up ultimately weighing down the America's much needed attempt to leap into the future...
Then again, with what appears to be a growing lack of party unity in both the democratic and republican camps, some congressmen may be willing to start voting in the courageous way that they usually try to avoid.
Who knows? Stay tuned for the future...
In the speech, Obama basically says that he's got a plan and he's ready to take on the depression, but it's up to congress to get their act together and well, act. This speech got me thinking about the limitations of what Obama can actually achieve as president.
America may have voted in their first truly 21st century president, but considering how long many members of congress have been around, I think congress may end up ultimately weighing down the America's much needed attempt to leap into the future...
Then again, with what appears to be a growing lack of party unity in both the democratic and republican camps, some congressmen may be willing to start voting in the courageous way that they usually try to avoid.
Who knows? Stay tuned for the future...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The stimulus bill and political capital
John Dickerson from Slate has a great article talking about the crafting of the new stimulus bill and the pressures both publicly and politically that Obama faces on how the bill passes.
He raises some of the same points I had made in an earlier post, that Obama can't just be seen as jamming new spending bills through a majority congress much in the same way that LBJ or George Bush did, but that he is careful to include thoughtful discussion and opposition opinions.
He's treading dangerous political ground here, he could either spend vast amounts of political capital and be seen as bullying his agenda on congress, or he could gain even greater capital by treading cautiously and letting all sides put in their two cents.
The problem with option two is that consensus building takes time, and with the economy in the state that it is in, time, more than anything, is of the essence.
He raises some of the same points I had made in an earlier post, that Obama can't just be seen as jamming new spending bills through a majority congress much in the same way that LBJ or George Bush did, but that he is careful to include thoughtful discussion and opposition opinions.
He's treading dangerous political ground here, he could either spend vast amounts of political capital and be seen as bullying his agenda on congress, or he could gain even greater capital by treading cautiously and letting all sides put in their two cents.
The problem with option two is that consensus building takes time, and with the economy in the state that it is in, time, more than anything, is of the essence.
Richardson! Blago! Burris! Oh my. . .!
Chuck Todd this morning nailed it when he said that Obama's 2008 transition, which was lauded for it's efficiency, speed, and cerebral appointments, seems different from his transition going into 2009, which has seen nothing but headaches so far.
With Roland Burris, the appointed, but not certified replacement for Obama's senate seat being blocked today from joining his colleagues in the swearing in ceremony for the 111th congress, has started a media new cycle that Obama would surely have wished to avoid.
The news stories of kumbaya and harmony that permeated the majority of Obama's coverage in November and Decemeber has given way to more and more stories of disunity within the Democratic Party, even as the 111th congress begins with overwhelming majorities for them in both houses. Something they should be celebrating under normal circumstances.
But with 3(!) senate seats right now up in the air, all of them going to be Democratic seats and shrouded in negative press, it seems hard to picture a party that's ready to tip back the champagne.
Unless Obama can effictively tamp down this turmoil within his own party, it's hard to picture him being able to find more broad cooperation from Congressional Republicans, who are most likely waiting for any emminent signs of weakness to display more throated opposition at a time when it wouldn't seem purposefully obstructionist.
With Roland Burris, the appointed, but not certified replacement for Obama's senate seat being blocked today from joining his colleagues in the swearing in ceremony for the 111th congress, has started a media new cycle that Obama would surely have wished to avoid.
The news stories of kumbaya and harmony that permeated the majority of Obama's coverage in November and Decemeber has given way to more and more stories of disunity within the Democratic Party, even as the 111th congress begins with overwhelming majorities for them in both houses. Something they should be celebrating under normal circumstances.
But with 3(!) senate seats right now up in the air, all of them going to be Democratic seats and shrouded in negative press, it seems hard to picture a party that's ready to tip back the champagne.
Unless Obama can effictively tamp down this turmoil within his own party, it's hard to picture him being able to find more broad cooperation from Congressional Republicans, who are most likely waiting for any emminent signs of weakness to display more throated opposition at a time when it wouldn't seem purposefully obstructionist.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Richardson drops bid for commerce secretary
Bill Richardson withdrew his nomination for commerce secretary today due to an ongoing federal investigation into whether the New Mexico governor awarded government contracts in exchange for contributions to a number of his political committees.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Obama and LBJ cont.
Adding on to Laura's post below, I think it would be very curious to go over some of the other similarities/complications that Obama has with LBJ, who achieved the zenith of liberalism in 1965 with his "Great Society" federal spending programs.
Obama has also announced his plans for an ambitious stimulus bill that he wants congress to have drafted and "on his desk" when he assumes office on January 20th. The roughly $750 Billion bill is focused on creating new jobs, improving infrastructure, and providing relief for state governments, three things that Obama hopes will revitalize the flailing economy.
Johnson wasn't dealing with a sputtering economy, but instead spent billions on education, urban development, and federal assistance to the poor in his "war on poverty," but after the riots that plagued the country during the mid to late 60's there was a general backlash against his spending, the new scope of the federal government and the effectiveness of his programs.
Although Obama is unlikely to see such a vast backlash towards any of his programs, and will not inherit as tumultous of a country as Johnson did, he must be careful to ensure his popular support by including Republicans and Conservative Democrats in crafting his agenda, keeping this in mind he could leave the White House with an impressive legislative legacy that would both cripple Republican opposition as well as create a better playing field for Democrats in the midterm elections as well as a possible successor in 2016.
Obama also has to deal with the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, these two wars plagued the Bush Administration and the Vietnam War plagued Johnson's administration, careful oversight of both of these conflicts as well as a feeling towards de-escalation could keep Obama from falling into the same traps that Johnson fell into, and Obama can learn from the mistakes of LBJ by maintaining a sense of transparency on how the war is handled and not downplaying any mistakes the government may have made. Johnson also fell out of favor with the press, who wrote about the "credibility gap" that he had made for himself and he faced widespread criticism on how honest he was in detailing the progress of the war in Vietnam.
Obama can also learn a lot from Johnson's successes as well as his failures, and should spend a good amount of time studying the LBJ administration and what worked, and what didn't.
Obama has also announced his plans for an ambitious stimulus bill that he wants congress to have drafted and "on his desk" when he assumes office on January 20th. The roughly $750 Billion bill is focused on creating new jobs, improving infrastructure, and providing relief for state governments, three things that Obama hopes will revitalize the flailing economy.
Johnson wasn't dealing with a sputtering economy, but instead spent billions on education, urban development, and federal assistance to the poor in his "war on poverty," but after the riots that plagued the country during the mid to late 60's there was a general backlash against his spending, the new scope of the federal government and the effectiveness of his programs.
Although Obama is unlikely to see such a vast backlash towards any of his programs, and will not inherit as tumultous of a country as Johnson did, he must be careful to ensure his popular support by including Republicans and Conservative Democrats in crafting his agenda, keeping this in mind he could leave the White House with an impressive legislative legacy that would both cripple Republican opposition as well as create a better playing field for Democrats in the midterm elections as well as a possible successor in 2016.
Obama also has to deal with the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, these two wars plagued the Bush Administration and the Vietnam War plagued Johnson's administration, careful oversight of both of these conflicts as well as a feeling towards de-escalation could keep Obama from falling into the same traps that Johnson fell into, and Obama can learn from the mistakes of LBJ by maintaining a sense of transparency on how the war is handled and not downplaying any mistakes the government may have made. Johnson also fell out of favor with the press, who wrote about the "credibility gap" that he had made for himself and he faced widespread criticism on how honest he was in detailing the progress of the war in Vietnam.
Obama can also learn a lot from Johnson's successes as well as his failures, and should spend a good amount of time studying the LBJ administration and what worked, and what didn't.
Inauguration Days
The Boston Globe ran an interesting piece today comparing Obama's inauguration to that of LBJ.
While the whole, pessimist, look-on-the-bad-side attitude typical of liberals is so 2008, this piece has me wondering whether Obama's inauguration will be the pinnacle of civic enthusiasm before a long decline into a state of public disappointment. I hope that Obama's presidency doesn't go the way of LBJ. I think Obama has done a decent job of trying to manage the public's expectations since he won the election, but there's no doubt that there will be bloc of Obama voters who feel let down by what he's actually able to accomplish.
While the whole, pessimist, look-on-the-bad-side attitude typical of liberals is so 2008, this piece has me wondering whether Obama's inauguration will be the pinnacle of civic enthusiasm before a long decline into a state of public disappointment. I hope that Obama's presidency doesn't go the way of LBJ. I think Obama has done a decent job of trying to manage the public's expectations since he won the election, but there's no doubt that there will be bloc of Obama voters who feel let down by what he's actually able to accomplish.
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