Posts Tagged ‘Presidential Election’
Obama’s First Week
January 26, 2009 | 
Author I will tell you, I am impressed. There has been a lot of signing this last week. Now some will say that a lot of what President Barack Obama has done this first week is all show, but I entirely disagree. And some will not like some of the things he has signed, such as the closing of Guantanamo, but again I disagree. I cannot remember a president who has taken such strides within his first week of taking office.
This nation, and in fact the world, needs to see clear and decisive signs that there is change. The change that was promised in the election and the change that will refuel our economy, our spirit, and our reputation. Every thing that President Obama has done so far goes directly to those goals. From unequivocally outlawing torture to pushing through the economic stimulus plans, these are things that should not involve waffling or debate. We know how we, the US people, feel about these things and they should be acted on promptly.
I will also tell you this – I feel a change in people’s attitudes. Maybe it is just me or maybe I am just looking for it, but people seem to be encouraged even in this time of economic turmoil. There is a politeness and respect in the air that I haven’t seen since the days after 9/11. Someone suggested that this is also helped along by the good news from the Hudson River where all passengers walked away from that US Air flight. (A flight I have taken more than once, I might add.) But, whatever the reason, there is a welcome change in the air.
It is only the end of the first week though. There is still a long way to go. There are a lot of problems and a lot of hard decisions. Let’s hope we can all stick together, work hard, and put everyone back on the right track. The free bumper stickers, buttons and posters were great, but they will not get the work done. It is up to us, at the grass roots level to make sure that promises are kept and old school, good-old-boy politics does not creep in.
Posted in Religion & Politics | 
Tags: Barack Obama, free, obama, politics, Presidential Election, work | 
6 Comments »
Top 5 Reasons To Vote In South Carolina
The Race For Stability and Civility
I have to admit it; I am ready for this election to be over. As I sat down this evening to write this new blog entry, I was trying to think of what to write about. Some ideas came to mind, but they all revolved around the candidates, the issues, trust, mistrust, lies, being two-faced, and fear. I am sorry, but I am just getting tired of it all.
I am tired of the fear and the distrust from both sides. I am tired of the lies being told and the falsehoods being circulated. I am tired of the racist jokes and the sexist images. But most of all I am tired of the way I find myself getting carried away on this blog, in email, on twitter, and in person. I know I have turned some people off – not by my views or who I support, but by how vehemently I have pushed those views on others.
This extends beyond me too. Things are becoming very, very split around the nation. People who are normally friendly towards one another are turning away. The American people, who are normally a pretty good lot, are saying some awfully nasty things at rallies. Even just driving down the road people are getting honked at and flipped off because of the bumper stickers on their cars. Why should you display open aggression to someone you don’t know just because they display of support for their chosen candidates – be they McCain and Palin, Obama and Biden, or even Hillary Clinton or John Edwards?
And finally I am tired of the uncertainty. I do not think that the markets and other financial indicators will settle down until this race is over. Hopefully all it will take is the election, but it may take until the actual inauguration before some stability takes over. Now I know that everything won’t just suddenly turn around and the markets become a happy place full of clover and butterflies, but at least they should even out. When the election is over we will all have an idea of what direction the next four years are going to take, and that will help a lot.
So what do you think? Is this election making things better or worse? I know we will hopefully be better off with a new President, but is the election itself causing separation, class or race warfare, or other damage to our democracy?
The Civility Backlash
According to the evening news, it looks like the civility backlash in the election is finally starting to take effect. The news showed scenes from a couple of McCain’s rallies where the people were just fearful and hateful about Obama. It was truthfully a horrifying site and even John McCain seemed taken aback. Now the McCain / Palin campaign is in the unenviable position of trying to back up a bit and let it be known that Obama is not the anti-Christ. I see McCain doing this, but somehow I just can’t see the governor of Alaska backing down any.
The real danger of what has been going on is not just that it demonizes a good man like Barack Obama, but that it really increases the rifts in this country. Those rifts may be between black and white, or between Republican and Democrat, between rich and middle-class, or between urban and suburban. No matter what the difference, as both candidates are saying now, we need to remember that we can disagree while still respecting the other side.
If we are ever going to bring this country together and fix what ails it, from the economy to health care, we have to stop vilifying those who do not agree with us. We are going to have to sit down at the same table with each other and reach a consensus. How can you expect to be able to do that if you have just painted the other person as evil?
Posted in General | Tags: McCain, obama, Palin, Presidential Election, Say Somethign Nice | 1 Comment »
I work as a programmer at the Medical University of South Carolina and partner in DesignTechWeb. Please check over there for the latest information - including blog posts and technical advice from me and my business partner Amanda Byfield-Albertson.
 
 |