Back in the Saddle Again

I'm proud of Barack. There's no other way to put it; it does sound a little condescending. But this man's confounded the right wing with his balanced approach and effort to include just about every kind of philosophy in his cabinet.

After the countdown to the election, the countdown to the inauguration seems much more tolerable. And kudos to President Bush (I never thought I'd write that sentence) for the graceful way he's handled the transition.

The difference between the Bush administration and the Obama administration is clear in one fundamental aspect. Bush was insecure about being President; he overrelied on Cheney and was afraid of dissension in policy discussions. Obama, on the other hand, seems to welcome it. His team of rivals has included everyone except poor Chris Dodd.

And some in the right wing seem unable to fathom that they've lost. They talk about going into the wilderness as a transformative experience instead of a place where they've been banished.

Well, it is good to be in power again. And one thing a politician told me many years ago, "It doesn't matter what the other side says if you've got the votes."

The Parade of Obama's Nominees

As President-elect Obama marches his new nominees forward in a series of press conferences, one can't help but feel impressed. In addition to the audacity of nominating Senator Clinton, the President-elect has demonstrated superb judgement of character and qualifications. He is unafraid of admitting his lack of knowledge in many fields and has shown a propensity to reach out for those who may be wiser than he. How does this compare with President Bush who filled FEMA with political hacks and demanded strict allegiance to neo-conservative values?

It's good to have the adults in charge again. It seems like January 20th can't come soon enough. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but I was too young to remember the Camelot of the Kennedy days, and this must have been what it was like. It's amazing how much Bush and the Republicans did to mess up this country and our image in the world in just eight short years, but justice did finally come, even if it was justice delayed.

It will be a long time before the American people are willing to trust the Republicans again. I hope they enjoy their time in the wilderness.