After the Presidential Election...

[Sunstone]

Let's assume for the moment that Obama wins the Presidency...

In doing so, he will have accomplished the first necessary step towards destroying the authoritarian conservative movement that has threatened the freedoms and liberties of Americans, plunged America and the UK into an unnecessary war, decimated the world economy, and destroyed America's prestige around the world, among other things.

Yet, that's only a first step. While expelling the Authoritarian Right from power is both paramount and urgent, Obama has much else he must do. So, what in your opinion are some of the things he must do to be an effective and worthwhile president?

 

[stacey bo bacey]

Groove, baby, groove!!!

YouTube - Barack Obama dancing on the Ellen Degeneres Show

: hamster :: hamster :: hamster :

Also......umm I don't know. I just want things to be kosher again. Can that be a good enough answer...at least from me?

 

[Valjean]

Curb America's quest for empire and mend our growing reputation as an aggressive, rogue state.

Turn back the clock thirty or fourty years to a time we had strong middle class, an economy that actually produced goods, a fairly good education system, an infrastructure in proper repair and a social safety net.

Do something about our miserable health-care system.

 

[Mister_T]

Curb America's quest for empire and mend our growing reputation as an aggressive, rogue state.

Turn back the clock thirty or fourty years to a time we had strong middle class, an economy that actually produced goods, a fairly good education system, an infrastructure in proper repair and a social safety net.

Do something about our miserable health-care system.

Everything Seyorni has mentioned above. I'd like to expand on his first statement and add get our troops out of Iraq.

 

[texan1]

There seems to be a huge portion of the population - primarily poor minorities- that is sort of left behind. And in our Capitalistic society, they have very little chance of catching up. I hope Obama can bring awareness to this issue. For example, where I live I am surrounded by primarily white, educated middle class families with access to good public schools. But if I drive 10-15 minutes away and cross the highway I am in a completely different place. The neighborhoods are primarily hispanic and black. They are run down, the schools and hospitals are not as well-equipped and don't seem to be as well-funded. Crime rate is higher. I don't understand why this continues. Hurricane Katrina brought some awareness to this problem, but I don't hear much about it anymore.

Call it socialism if you will, but we must provide support to these communities and these individuals from the time they are infants. If they were provided with equal opportunities, healthcare, schooling, etc. I truly believe it will benefit the country in so many ways including lowering our crime rate. I am willing to pay some extra taxes to ensure that we start doing a better job of this.

 

[Phasmid]

Become a leader in eco-friendly technology and clean energy.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

In all honesty, it seems to me that he is amost bound to look very good. Following Lord Bush and the one man band known as Dick Cheney is it's own reward.

Without question, he is walking into an absolute mess. On the other hand, anything short of complete destruction of the American system of self determination will cast him in the light of having delivered us from the precipice of certain doom.

 

[YmirGF]

So, what in your opinion are some of the things he must do to be an effective and worthwhile president?

Clearly, imho, the most difficult task he will have is meeting the people's expectations of him. Methinks his honeymoon period will be very short lived.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Let's assume for the moment that Obama wins the Presidency...

In doing so, he will have accomplished the first necessary step towards destroying the authoritarian conservative movement that has threatened the freedoms and liberties of Americans, plunged America and the UK into an unnecessary war, decimated the world economy, and destroyed America's prestige around the world, among other things.

Yet, that's only a first step. While expelling the Authoritarian Right from power is both paramount and urgent, Obama has much else he must do. So, what in your opinion are some of the things he must do to be an effective and worthwhile president?

It would be a significant thing if he were to publically denounce the illegal powers that Cheney and Bush stole from 2001-to the present. If he does not work to undo what Bush and Cheney did with respect to the power of the President and VP, and push that through the various legal offices that went along with it, then it is the end of the Republic in a final sense - we should not expect any other Caesar to do it afterwards.

The end of every democracy is tyranny, and Bush is not the one who will end democracy in America forever. It will be the ones who fail to undo what he did. And perhaps it will not be ironic that Dems will contribute to and sustain the sweeping powers that Bush claimed for himself - perhaps they have been lusting for it this whole time. It is simply the way of things that heads of state never give up power - almost without exception they do not unless they are forced to do so. The next President has the single oppotunity to give it up before it becomes solidified in tradition.

I will be watching it with great interest. I half expect him not to... and also half expect it to be solid proof that Obama is not controlled by his party or anyone else, because no one but a true free-dom loving American would recede Bush's policies... the Dems I am sure are looking forward to having as powerful a President as Bush, using the illegal powers that he gained (and they half-assed protested) for their own objectives.

And perhaps in doing so Obama would be signing his death certificate - whether literally or politically.

 

[Wandered Off]

What Ymir said... As if the President could fix all our problems. "Candidate Blarfo will stop the scourge of continental drift by impaling the state of Kansas with a huge nail." *crowd cheers wildly* What's sad is that so many voters appear to buy into this as well.

 

[Ringer]

Clearly, imho, the most difficult task he wil have is meeting the people's expectations of him. Methinks his honeymoon period will be very short lived.

I agree with you here, Paul. Whether Bush left him with the biggest pile of crap is irrelevant. Lets hope that his effectiveness as president will be comparable to how many perceive him and we aren't placing our trust in somebody just because he's better than the alternative. America has given him a big shoe to fill.

 

[YmirGF]

I agree with you here, Paul. Whether Bush left him with the biggest pile of crap is irrelevant. Lets hope that his effectiveness as president will be comparable to how many perceive him and we aren't placing our trust in somebody just because he's better than the alternative. America has given him a big shoe to fill.

Thanks Ringer and Wandered Off, I do appreciate the support. You know my last boss used the phrase, "Under-promise and over-deliver"; Obama is over-promising and simply cannot deliver.

 

[Sunstone]

The question in the OP is not whether Obama can do enough to satisfy the expectations of each and every person who votes for him. No president has ever managed to do that, and Obama will not be the first.

The question in the OP is what, in your opinion, Obama should do.

 

[Sunstone]

It would be a significant thing if he were to publically denounce the illegal powers that Cheney and Bush stole from 2001-to the present. If he does not work to undo what Bush and Cheney did with respect to the power of the President and VP, and push that through the various legal offices that went along with it, then it is the end of the Republic in a final sense - we should not expect any other Caesar to do it afterwards.

The end of every democracy is tyranny, and Bush is not the one who will end democracy in America forever. It will be the ones who fail to undo what he did. And perhaps it will not be ironic that Dems will contribute to and sustain the sweeping powers that Bush claimed for himself - perhaps they have been lusting for it this whole time. It is simply the way of things that heads of state never give up power - almost without exception they do not unless they are forced to do so. The next President has the single oppotunity to give it up before it becomes solidified in tradition.

I will be watching it with great interest. I half expect him not to... and also half expect it to be solid proof that Obama is not controlled by his party or anyone else, because no one but a true free-dom loving American would recede Bush's policies... the Dems I am sure are looking forward to having as powerful a President as Bush, using the illegal powers that he gained (and they half-assed protested) for their own objectives.

And perhaps in doing so Obama would be signing his death certificate - whether literally or politically.

Brilliant analysis, Angellous!

 

[Ringer]

The question in the OP is what, in your opinion, Obama should do.

To be somewhat nieve, he should fulfill his promises. If I had to pick which issues needs his immediate attention, I would think the economic situation and taking measure to prevent this from happening in the future, dealing with Iran, keeping pressure on furthering legislation to develop renewable energy sources, and planned exit timetable for Iraq. I'd like to add having a vision for reforming the educational and healthcare system but, come on, the guy potentially only has 8 years.

 

[Mojopalin]

Pressure Congress, allow the USA Patriot Act to expire. No more illegal wiretaps (duh). Decriminalize all drugs. Pressure state and local officials to release all non-violent drug offenders. End the death penalty. Raise taxes on the wealthiest in order to finance public housing, public transportation, public schools, socialized health care, social security, etc. Pressure scientists to actually find cures for diseases rather than making profits off of this American disease industry (see socialized healthcare). Dennis Kucinich had a good idea; We have a Department of War. Let the US have a Department of Peace. Since religion is playing such a big roll in politics these days -- tax religion and use that tax money for sex education, art and music. Pressure farmers to stop using Monsanto pesticides. Bring back the fairness doctrine. Reform the voting system. I could go on forever.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

... Obama is over-promising and simply cannot deliver.

Well, at least it's good to see that you are keeping an open mind, and not judging the man before he even gets a chance to take the oath of office.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

... come on, the guy potentially only has 8 years.

Bush certainly did quite a bit during his eight years. We can only hope that his record will never be equaled.

 

[Sunstone]

I'm glad Obama seems able to do more than one thing at a time.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

Pressure Congress, allow the USA Patriot Act to expire. No more illegal wiretaps (duh). Decriminalize all drugs. Pressure state and local officials to release all non-violent drug offenders. End the death penalty. Raise taxes on the wealthiest in order to finance public housing, public transportation, public schools, socialized health care, social security, etc. Pressure scientists to actually find cures for diseases rather than making profits off of this American disease industry (see socialized healthcare). Dennis Kucinich had a good idea; We have a Department of War. Let the US have a Department of Peace. Since religion is playing such a big roll in politics these days -- tax religion and use that tax money for sex education, art and music. Pressure farmers to stop using Monsanto pesticides. Bring back the fairness doctrine. Reform the voting system. I could go on forever.

Ditto.

: hamster :