Obama Cabinet Disappointment- HRC

While I think it's generally a good thing that Obama is picking pragmatists for his cabinet, the one disappointment thus far, for me at least, has been his likely pick of Sen. Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State.  She is a qualified politician, however, as a diplomat she might be lacking.  She will already have ins, as a result of her husband Former President Bill Clinton, yet this could be a bad thing.  People might know he on Bill's terms, as opposed to Obama's. 

My second problem with Hill as Sec of State is the fundamental differences she has with Obama in terms of foreign policy.  While Obama isn't exactly a dove, Hillary is hawkish, saying tough statements during the primary about attacking Iran, being ready to "obliterate" it.  While Iran is a dangerous nation, it seemed that there could be a sort of  thawing of relations with them under Obama, as opposed to continually keeping them under the gun, which in turn will make them more aggressive.  Hopefully, she won't hurt Obama's foreign policy plans by imposing too much of her own style into them.  While Iran certainly needs to be contained on our terms, we cannot throw around words like "obliterate", which only make the situation worse.

My final problem is what she could be doing as an alternative to being Sec. of State.  In the Senate, she could have become a true beast, wielding an incredible amount of authority almost on part with Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy.  She is not as trained in diplomacy as she is in politics, and if she were to stay put in the Senate, her influence would only increase over time.

Besides feeling a need to give Hillary a good position after what she did in the General Election, Obama might also be making a tactical move for 2012.  With his only foreseeable challenger, HRC, in his cabinet, he is almost certainly eliminating her from contention in 2012, as it would be hard to run against him after being part of the administration.

Only time will tell how this very soon to be appointment of Sen. Clinton to Sec. of State will turn out.  Hopefully, she won't be as hawkish as she was in the primary.  

Joe the Plumber Interview

I was in shock a little over a week ago when I found out that a friend of mine somehow got in contact with and interviewed Joe the Plumber.  I mean, he is Joe the Plumber, a guy who is famous for no real reason and thus probably trying to cling to the spotlight for as long as possible by doing whatever he can, but it's still crazy that my friend Michael from down the hall interviewed him.  The full interview is here .  What's even more crazy is that the interview is now making the rounds on the main stream media circuit!  The interview was cited on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, as well as on the Huffington Post.  Way to go, Mike!

Alaska

Also of note today, Ted Stevens lost his reelection bid to Mark Begich!!  No more Ted Stevens and no possibility of Sarah Palin.  Woot woot number 58 in the Senate!

AG

Breaking News: Eric Holder will be Obama's Attorney General, making him the first African-American A.G.

Letter

Obama today submitted a letter to the people of Illinois stepping down as Senator so that he can ascend to the Presidency. Here's the full text of it.  Quite a nice letter; he clearly is appreciative of the people of Illinois for helping to make him who he is and for helping him to get where he is today.  The letter reads as follows:

Today, I am ending one journey to begin another. After serving the people of Illinois in the United States Senate — one of the highest honors and privileges of my life — I am stepping down as senator to prepare for the responsibilities I will assume as our nation’s next president. But I will never forget, and will forever be grateful, to the men and women of this great state who made my life in public service possible.

More than two decades ago, I arrived in Illinois as a young man eager to do my part in building a better America. On the South Side of Chicago, I worked with families who had lost jobs and lost hope when the local steel plant closed. It wasn’t easy, but we slowly rebuilt those neighborhoods one block at a time, and in the process I received the best education I ever had. It’s an education that led me to organize a voter registration project in Chicago, stand up for the rights of Illinois families as an attorney and eventually run for the Illinois state Senate.

It was in Springfield, in the heartland of America, where I saw all that is America converge — farmers and teachers, businessmen and laborers, all of them with a story to tell, all of them seeking a seat at the table, all of them clamoring to be heard. It was there that I learned to disagree without being disagreeable; to seek compromise while holding fast to those principles that can never be compromised, and to always assume the best in people instead of the worst. Later, when I made the decision to run for the United States Senate, the core decency and generosity of the American people is exactly what I saw as I traveled across our great state — from Chicago to Cairo; from Decatur to Quincy.

I still remember the young woman in East St. Louis who had the grades, the drive and the will but not the money to go to college. I remember the young men and women I met at VFW halls across the state who serve our nation bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I will never forget the workers in Galesburg who faced the closing of a plant they had given their lives to, who wondered how they would provide health care to their sick children with no job and little savings.

Stories like these are why I came to Illinois all those years ago, and they will stay with me when I go to the White House in January. The challenges we face as a nation are now more numerous and difficult than when I first arrived in Chicago, but I have no doubt that we can meet them. For throughout my years in Illinois, I have heard hope as often as I have heard heartache. Where I have seen struggle, I have seen great strength. And in a state as broad and diverse in background and belief as any in our nation, I have found a spirit of unity and purpose that can steer us through the most troubled waters.

It was long ago that another son of Illinois left for Washington. A greater man who spoke to a nation far more divided, Abraham Lincoln, said of his home, “To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything.” Today, I feel the same, and like Lincoln, I ask for your support, your prayers, and for us to “confidently hope that all will yet be well.”

With your help, along with the service and sacrifice of Americans across the nation who are hungry for change and ready to bring it about, I have faith that all will in fact be well. And it is with that faith, and the high hopes I have for the enduring power of the American idea, that I offer the people of my beloved home a very affectionate thanks.

Iran

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7725951.stm

Iran scares me a lot.  Not just in terms of our security, but that of Israel and Europe.  I hope Pres-Elect Obama takes a very hard line with Iran. Meeting with them is a fine idea (diplomacy got thrown in the trash for the past 8 years) but Obama shouldn't give any ground.  He needs to be very firm with them, especially considering what is at stake.

Prop 1A passed in CA!

While California has been getting a lot of negative press for passing Prop 8, it passed a different proposition that is fantastic- Prop 1A, the High Speed Train bill!  This was the subject of my first blog post, and I forgot to check the results for Prop 1A until tonight.  As I wrote in my first blog post, this will be fantastic for the CA economy, not to mention just plain awesome (SF to LA in under 3 hours!).  At least California got one thing right on November 4th.

Palin's Push for Power (Sweet Alliteration!)

To me, it seems like Sarah Palin all along has been a desperate, power seeking, unqualified nutbag.  That may seem harsh, but lets put it all in perspective.  when she was first selected, she played the role of VP attack dog very well, yet eventually started "going rogue", according to McCain campaign officials.  She got off message, and even people on McCain's campaign claimed she was trying to maneuver herself for 2012.  Finally, after winning over a ton of middle Americans with overblown rhetoric playing on fear of the unknown and the foreign, she seemed to have found a niche following- angry white conservatives.  Her rallies grew in size and in negative temperament, with her playing the maestro.  Even after defeat, she still wanted to have much more importance than John McCain, as she, according to campaign officials, asked if she could speak after John McCain's concession speech.  

Even though the campaign is over, she has not left the media spotlight like John McCain has.  She has still been able to garner media attention, as to enhance her image, as well as her possibilities for 2012.  Even today, CNN reported that she would be willing to help out in the Obama administration, another move that keeps her on the 24 hour news cycle a little longer.  All of these calculated moves, plus her tendency of clinging to and overusing power (think Troopergate) leads me to believe she will be a force (negativley) for the next fours years before running in 2012.  Whether she stays in Alaska, or puts herself up in a special election for the potentially vacated seat left if Ted Stevens wins reelection and is then expelled from the Senate.  Regardless, people should keep an eye on Sarah.

Mobilization and the Internet

Now that the election is over and Barack Obama has won, I feel a bit of a void.  Right now, it is too early to get involved with what he will do as President, and thus makes for an awkward transition for political nuts like myself.  However, I have invested myself in a new campaign.  I have been manager for a campaign for RISD's best costume, which my sister and her friend are currently leading.  If you haven't already voted, go to risd.dailyjolt.com and vote for Christina and Alison on the right side of the page.

Right now, our campaign is winning with about 60% of the vote, and the way we are doing this is very relative to how Obama won six days ago; both campaigns have mobilized supporters using new, high-tech ways.  While all I have done to help Christina and Alison win is set up a facebook group and invite everyone in my social network to join, Obama's campaign was able to do this but on a huge, nationwide level.  Using traditional methods of door-to-door canvassing and phone banks along with setting up a social networking type site on barackobama.com and using text messages to reach the more tech-involved generation, Barack was able to generate a lot of votes by using the power of the web to reach people. Also, this excitement created online led to people wanting to get involved, a major component in his advantage of sheer manpower during GOTV weekend.  His website allowed supporters to make contacts with each other and find ways to volunteer that helped push him over the top both in the primaries and in the general election.  

Barack's model for a campaign will be used for years to come, but it is dependent on the expansion of the Internet and New Media.  If anyone wants to get popular support for something, all they have to do is set up a website, blog, or facebook page, and they will automatically generate some buzz via the web.  That's what I did with my facebook page for Christina and Alison, and just because we were able to mobilize supporters to go vote means we are winning in the polls right now, in a similar fashion to how Obama won last week. 

What will be interesting to see in the coming four years is how Barack will be able to keep supporters in the fold and if when he goes public for something he wants passed, will he use new media and the network he has built up, or go the traditional route?  If so, his presidency will have access to and be directly connected via the web to millions of supporters who contributed or volunteered during this historic election. 

And by the way, if you haven't already, go to RISD daily jolt and vote Christina and Alison!!

Intelligence

Everyone should read Nicholas Kristof's op-ed about Obama as an intellectual.  It is a sad fact, that in National politics, being labeled as "intellectual" has generally proven to be a bad thing for one's candidacy.  Obama is our first true intellectual president since JFK; one who rather than shying away from being known as an Ivy League educated scholar, has in fact embraced it as a major part of his candidacy.

It really is a sad thing that when a candidate who is smart runs, he gets labeled "elite" and "out of touch".  Isn't running for President in-fact the most elitist job out there??  One has to have a pretty big ego to think they are qualified to run the free world.  Also, isn't being the President a job we should entrust to someone elite and intellectually qualified for the position?  I'm so glad that this time around, our country chose a former professor, as opposed to the ticket that had as VP someone who wanted to include creationism in the science classroom.  

Thank God America chose the person they would rather be their child's teacher, as opposed to the one they would want to have a beer with.  We need as much brains in Washington as we can get right now, especially to make up for the intellectual deficit of the past 8 years.

Lost

Wow, the GOP has never looked this defeated and disorganized.  Before party leaders haven't even met to discuss the future while accusations are flying like mad.  Just on CNN alone are two stories about whom is to blame for the loss.

 http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/07/mccain.palin/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/07/conservatives.election/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

After all the blood is shed in the GOP, the conservatives will probably win out.

Speaking of conservatives, how is it that Prop 8 passed in California??  I always though California to be up there in liberal-ness with MA and NY.  People are really mad about the ruling, as there are now huge, 100k+ groups on Facebook against Prop 8, and there have already been protests in LA and San Francisco.  The fight for equality continues, maybe with another CA Supreme Court ruling.  Who knows what's going on in the wacky state of California...

November 6th, two days since the making of history

"When you have to be cheerful all the time and try to perform and act like [the tape is unclear; Obama appears to be poking fun at his opponents], I'm sure that some of it has to do with nerves or anxiety and not having done this before, I'm sure. And in my own head, you know, there's—I don't consider this to be a good format for me, which makes me more cautious. When you're going into something thinking, 'This is not my best …' I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me … answer it.' Instead of being appropriately [the tape is garbled]. So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking aboutpersonal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f–––ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'."

This is a quote from Senator Obama early in his primary campaign, one of many collected by Newsweek for their insider issue on the Presidential campaign.  I find it refreshing to see that, though Obama was considered too professorial by some, in reality, he is still, on the inside an average guy (well actually, much more than average, considering he just won the presidency).  I totally agree with him about the debates.  They really were way too restricting, or they did not require the candidates to actually engage the subject matter, but rather just spout out talking points.  The good thing is, no more televised political debates for two years...

Of note today is that now, after being reported yesterday by Fox News, Rahm Emmanuel will be Obama's Chief of Staff.  This was an intersting move, as Emmanuel has been a long -time ally, as well as a fellow Chicagoan.  Emmanuel, the fourth ranking Democrat in the House, is seen as both pragmatic and forceful, someone who can really get the job done and push things through.  While Obama's style is often a bit lofty and idealistic, Emmanuel is a tough guy who will be able to get things done.  In CNN's coverage of the selection, they got a quote from David Gergen, who said "They are obviously setting up a good cop/bad cop routine in the White House. ... Barack Obama can be the good guy."  

The last votes are just about all in from different States' congressional races and a few interesting scenarios are sure to arise. Oregon's Senate race has now been called for Democrat Jeff Merkley over incumbent Republican Gordon Smith.  We are all still waiting on what will happen now that CONVICTED FELON Ted Stevens has won re-election in Alaska.  Will Sarah Palin potentially appoint herself to the Senate seat?  It is a sure bet that the newly controlled Democratic Senate will not allow Stevens back.  Also of interest will be the run-off election in December between Jim Martin and Saxby Chambliss in Georgia, as neither were able to receive 50% of the vote total.  Will the Democrats be able to pump money into the state to pick up seat 58 (or 59, if the recount in Minnesota puts Al Franken ahead of Norm Coleman)?  We will see what happens in the weeks ahead, as we enter a hugely important transition period.

"This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment."

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

Yesterday was a historic night for this country, and everyone can agree on that.  Whether you voted Republican, Democratic, or did not even vote, we will all think of November 4th, 2008 as a pivotal day in our nation's continually unfolding story.  The power and history of the evening will be written about in history books and discussed at length until inauguration day, the next step in this incredible journey of Obama's.  While this incredible landslide victory by Barack Obama does not mean the end of racial issues in this country, it is a major step showing how far our country has come.  There has been prejudice since the founding of Jamestown 400 years ago- and there is clearly still some today, as shown by some of the awful things said during GOP rallies, and even by some supporters who decide to vote for him, but describe him to canvassers and volunteers using racial slurs.  Yet, today, only 43 years since the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which, 100 years after the Civil War, truly enfranchised all Americans, we have finally elected someone of minority background to the presidency.  This election shows that Americans were able to, for the most part, look past race when voting.  Though we all are still cognizant of race, in general, people picked the candidate they thought would be the best for our country at this time. This election just shows the steps that this country has taken, only 4 decades removed from George Wallace running for the presidency (speaking of George Wallace, there's an interesting article on CNN written by his daughter)

 What started for me on a weekend morning two Feburarys watching Obama announce his candidacy for President on CNN ended last night with celebration.  In-between those days, I voted twice (Feb 5 primary and General Election), worked for the campaign in three different states (IN, MT, NH), went to three different rallies, donated to the cause, made thousands of contacts with complete strangers, and shook Obama's hand once, last February in Hartford.  It was truly a roller coaster ride through the end- one that I'm truly glad ended, and even more ecstatic that it ended so positively.  I can definetly say that volunteering for the campaign, both in the primary and this fall, changed my life both in my perception of service, and my understanding of America.  We truly live in a nation in which WE, not just a few, get the chance to, as Obama said, referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "put [our] hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."  The victory last night had a lot to do with now President-Elect Obama's skill as a politician and as a unifier, but was more the result of the work and contribution of millions of average Americans.  

Last night, after both candidates gave their speeches, the atmosphere here on campus was incredible.  Students gathered in the streets by the hundreds, chanting "Yes we can!" and "Obama!", along with singing the National Anthem, while hugging and high fiveing fellow supporters and friends. It was a raucous and jubulant celebration, however,  It is unfortunate to see that out of the hundreds celebrating, at most 150 actually went up to New Hampshire to work for his General Election campaign.  While this apathy is what has generally been expected of us, the youngest voting age generation, it is still annoying considering that we could have done even better, maybe even have picked up those senate seats in Alaska or Minnesota, had people just gone and made 20 minutes worth of phone calls.  

While many who were celebrating last night must have felt it was the end, they were wrong- it was only the beginning.  President Obama will take office in a little over two months, and that is when the real work begins.  We are facing an economy in crisis, two wars overseas, an energy crisis, and potentially catastrophic global warming.  If young people do not stay as involved or informed as they have generally been over the past several months, President Obama will face an uphill battle from his inauguration onward.  We, as citizens and the future leaders of this country need to put as much stake in Obama's presidency as we did in his candidacy.  Though he seems like he could be Superman, really he can not do it on his own.  He needs the input and hard work of every American to help us solve the problems that all of us face.  If we do not get started now, things will only get worse, and we will have to deal with it later.  If there is one thing that would crush my belief that "Yes We Can", would be to find all of my peers suddenly apathetic, willing to celebrate the chance to make change, yet not actually be a part of that change themselves.  We will all need to be on-board to alter the direction our country is heading in; Barack can only steer the ship if we give him our full effort and backing.

What really summed up my night was a text message I received from the campaigns automated text system.  It read "We Just made history.  All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion to this campaign.  All of this happened because of you.  Thanks, Barack"  I got this text right after he finished speaking to the world as the newly elected President of the United States, and I actually started to get teary eyed (third time of the night- first was when the networks called the election, second was when he walked on-stage with Michelle, Sasha, and Malia).  It was such a hard fought contest that I have cared about for so long, that even that automated thank you was enough for me.  Now, I can't wait for the day when we all can somehow express our gratitude to President Obama, for being an inspirational leader that has unified the country, and for being (knock on wood) an excellent president, one that will change this country and solve the current problems we face.

Getting closer...

199-78

Ohio just called a few minutes ago.  McCain cannot make it to 270...

Senate Results

Pickups so far-

Kay Hagan

Jeanne Shaheen

Tom Udall

Mark Warner

Mitch McConnel is still within grasp....

PA WIN

CNN has just projected that Obama will win Pennsylvania!!!!!  HUGE WIN FOR OBAMA.  McCain spent much of his final time and resources to try to pick-off Pennsylvania.  This could mean the end for John McCain.

State of the Race right now!!!! (as of 8:36)

81-34 Obama

Obama projected to win New Hampshire (eeee!  I was working there today!).  Also, Florida, North Carolina, and Indiana are all very close, all states McCain needs to win.

Will tonight be historic?  Clearly, as a win for either ticket would be history making.  We will see as the night goes on.

My advice to anyone out there- watch to see how Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and Ohio go.  If McCain is not able to win PA (as the exit polls seem to indicate that he lost right now) a loss in any of these states will basically assure an Obama victory.

Time to continue watching.  Tonight will be big.

Intolerance

Paul Krugman really calls a segment of the GOP out in his Op-Ed this morning- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/opinion/03krugman.html?ref=todayspaper

The Republicans will probably be shattered after tomorrow, and John McCain (if he loses) and others in his mold will be the ones losing power in the party, while the fringe elements will be there holding the axe.  The base was never happy with McCain, and if he loses big, which is what it looks like right now, then the GOP will move even more to the right, which is dangerous considering some of the awful things coming from the Republican Party already.

Take for example the latest point pushed by Governor Palin at a rally -http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/03/happening-now-palin-in-jefferson-city-missouri/   Once again, Republicans are trying to link Democrats to being soft on something, whether it's crime, communism, or now, terrorism.  She even says "Do they think the terrorists have become the good guys?"  This continued pressure to create a false link between Democrats, particularly Obama, and terrorists has become utterly sickening to me.  It is low, and even has some slight racial tinge to it- once again trying to portray Obama as "foreign" and linked to terrorists.  What started as targeting his casual associations with William Ayers then moved on to a professor from Columbia, and has now just become sympathies with generic terrorists.  This brings up racial fears, as when a woman at a McCain rally in Minnesota got up and said over the mic that "He's an arab and a muslim"  While really, Obama's religion or ethnic background should not even be part of the picture, some in the GOP still attempt to subtly make it an issue, playing on people's lowest fears of "others".  It is an attempt, though weak, to make Obama not an American, and definetly tries to paint him as not from "real America", Palin's label for small towns as opposed to big cities.  

It's bad when fear-mongering occurs through viral emails and on websites, but it is truly despicable when it goes on during political rallies and directly from the candidates' mouths. While people have the right to say what they want under the 1st Amendment, people also have the right to call out when that speech is intolerant, as Krugman does so effectively in his piece. We all have that right, and thus a responsibility to refute and expose words of prejudice and hate.

Predictions!

Here's my prediction for how the race will shakedown tomorrow.  We’ll see if I’m close at all.

States for Obama:

Safe: ME, VT, MA. NY, CT, MD, DE, MI, MN, WI, IL, IA, WA, OR, CA, RI (thanks Seth!)

Swing State Wins:

VA- Strong showing in Northern VA plus a huge African-American turnout will push Obama over-the-top in once solidly red Virginia

PA-  I never really doubted that PA would go for the Republicans, however, the McCain campaign has played up that it is their major target in the election.  Huge turnout in Philly, plus connection made to more rural, Hillary Democrats will make Pennsylvannia crush John McCain’s dream for a comeback.

FL- Collapse of the housing market, fears over retirement funds, and a huge number of foreclosures, plus strong youth and minority showings (not to mention a ton of campaigning by the Clintons to assuage older voters’ initial discomfort with Obama) will make the state of infamy in 2000 a solid 27 electoral votes in the bank for Obama. 

CO, NM, NV- Changing demographics, plus a commitment by the Obama campaign to these states that began in the primary, will ultimately make the “purple West” into new Democratic territory.

NH (Again, thanks Seth, and epic fail on my part for somehow missing this one)- New Hampshire will go blue as it did for John Kerry in 2004.  New Hampshire Republicans tend to be pragmatic and moderate.  Though having an odd affinity for John McCain (saving both his 2000 and 2008 primary campaigns), they, as with most moderate Republicans, are not exactly pleased with the party brand right now. A good ground game by the Obama team will bring home the bacon in the Granite State.

Total for Obama: 318

States for McCain

Safe: ID, UT, AZ, WY, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, AR, LA, MS, GA, SC, TN, KY, WV

Swing State Wins:

MO- Generally considered a true bellwether, MO will get it wrong this time around.  Claire McCaskill won by a very narrow margin, and she had a better connection to the voters in between Kansas City and St. Louis than Obama does.  Strong showings in the city by Obama will not overcome McCain’s strength in “Real America”, as the campaign likes to say.

IN- A state I would never have thought would be a swing state this late in the game, or at any point during the General Election.  A great ground game set up during the primaries and huge margins in Lake County and Indianapolis will make it competitive, but it will still go red. 

NC- Another state that is competitive mostly because of the huge primary operation the campaign set up here.  The Tarheel State, though becoming more liberal because of the movement of jobs into the cities, and because of the major universities in the area, still is going for the GOP, though I believe Kay Hagan will beat out Elizabeth Dole in the Senate race.

OH- The one that decided it all in 2004 will likely have the same result in 2008.  The McCain campaign has been focusing on Ohio, as shown by a bunch of rallies and their use of “Joe the Plumber”, and it will go red by the slightest of margins. 

Total for McCain- 220

Final Score 318-220 

GOBAMA!