Monday, November 17, 2008
I’m getting the feeling that I’m the only Republican out there who’s not terrified of the next four years.
I have spent the last two weeks being entertained by all my Democratic friends who very thoughtfully called and texted me, just to make sure I had heard how the election went while friends and family on my side of the aisle beat their chests and agonized over the inevitable destruction of our great nation. The “South Park” episode called “About Last Night” has never been so spot on.
Although it has been a real treat, it’s about time somebody offered some clarity on what we can actually expect from President-elect Barack Obama.
Sure, he may talk like a Marxist at times and has the quasi-socialist economic policies to back it up. He may be one of the most liberal senators ever to grace the halls of Capitol Hill. Heck, he may even be best friends with the reputable William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and Tony Rezko for all I know.
He also has an awful lot of campaign promises to deliver on. And I’m not just talking about his brilliant and substantive promises like “change!” and “yes we can!”
No, he already addressed those in his victory speech where he lowered the bar for himself: “Change is on the way! Just don’t expect to see it any time real soon.”
But let’s not forget that he may be capable of doing some things well. A man who is popular in Europe must be just the thing America needs now, right?
Joking aside, it never hurts to have international approval, and Obama will be keener about it than what we have become accustomed to these past eight years. This ought to help mend some relationships with our allies throughout the world — and yes, some of their opinions do matter — just as long as we don’t begin catering to them.
Some troubling things we have to look forward to other than his tax plan include closing Guantanamo Bay and shutting down the missile defense program.
Although I can appreciate the PR value of both ideas, the possible consequences for our national security are disturbing. I am not worried about his healthcare plan as even he has come to admit that, after the bailout, our government simply cannot afford socialized medicine.
My real worry for Obama is that he will turn out to be a good motivational speaker, but a weak and ineffective president. Although I would have preferred to see a Republican in the White House, we have nonetheless witnessed an extraordinary point in our nation’s history , and it would be a shame if our first minority president turned out to be no more than another Jimmy Carter.
This is a real concern. There are already so many comparisons between the two. On the bright side, Jimmy Carter brought us Ronald Reagan, and there are plenty of rising stars within the Republican Party today.
My prediction is that he will try to deliver on his promise to unify the nation. This means — and I’m really keeping my fingers crossed here — that he will not give Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid free reign over Congress. He knows that the majority of the country leans center-right, and he, like Bill Clinton before him, will do what he can to appeal to that majority while staying true to his liberal roots.
— — Poole is a Wichita senior in psychology and political science.
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Comments
Poole: Don't be afraid of the next four years
In his own words, Obama has said, "The only bills I voted for, for the most part, since I've been in the Senate, have been introduced by Republicans or George Bush." Also, the broken health care system is leading companies across America into bankruptcy--notably those like G.M. According to the company itself, it does not have enough money to make it through 2009. It will go bankrupt unless the government bails it out--"socialism bailing out capitalism."
As for the majority of the country leaning center right, this is not true--at least with regard to economics, which is what drives this country. The majority support universal health care, a progressive tax system, clean water, clean air, more money for alternative energy, etc. However, the misconception remains because of the way the issue is framed and how the elites pit one side against another when there are really many more sides battling for support.
Poole: Don't be afraid of the next four years
"Some troubling things we have to look forward to other than his tax plan include closing Guantanamo Bay and shutting down the missile defense program. Although I can appreciate the PR value of both ideas, the possible consequences for our national security are disturbing"
You're right, shutting down a quasi-legal internment camp, freeing innocent people, and giving those who can be charged with a crime some semblance of human rights and a fair trial, that's disturbing. Also, shutting down a costly, ineffective program that has only served to provoke mistrust and aggressiveness abroad is terribly disturbing as well.
Poole: Don't be afraid of the next four years
This piece might exaggerate a bit, but it holds a good bit of truth. Without the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, Democrats will face tough opposition from a party looking to regroup with some unity.
I think many college students think that the rest of the country is left leaning because students are mostly surrounded by more liberal people. The truth is, most of America doesn't really care much about clean air or water. Most people are very much either ambivalent or oblivious to this argument. They just aren't tuned in enough to care.
This is precisely why we shouldn't take the average American's belief on how the economy should be run and just go ahead and implement it. Sure, when Obama tells people he is going to help them financially, they like that and they will vote for that. But, those people don't have much concept for the consequences that they face elsewhere in their lives (less federal funding for civil projects, less financial aid for students, decrease in the ability to defend the country militarily along with a slue of other cut back we will face).
Clinton tanked in his first 100 days. He looked awful in part because we expected so much. He promised the moon and gave us "Don't ask don't tell" and a gaffed gun regulation bill. Obama is not the miracle working many people think they have elected.
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