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Joe Biden, the U.S. Vice President Elect is starting to make the interview rounds. From the brief transcripts I have seen, it appears that he is pressing the point that the economy is in worst shape that everyone thought. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF Managing Director, has come stating that Governments have to do more. He is estimating that at least 1.2 Trillion Dollars have to be spent.
As I have seen this drumbeat of bad news, I am starting to be really sick and tired of it all. I am sick and tired because those of us on Main Street truly know how terrible things are. We just do not need to be reminded of it. We have to start focusing on how we are going to get ourselves out of this mess. That should be the single-minded focus of us all. I think all the leaders understand that. I urge all leaders to stop reminding us of what we already know. Let's talk about what is to be done about it.
Despite all the controversy surrounding the Governor of Illinois, The President-Elect continues his work shaping the Adminstration. He chose Arnie Duncan as his Secretary of Education. I have read that Arnie Duncan has done some amazing and innovative things in Chicago. The hope I have is that he will that sense of zeal to the Education Department in Washington. I was especially gratified to see when he noted that education is the "...civil rights of our generation". It is indeed the great equalizer which many seem to have forgotten. I wish that some of our School Districts would be as innovative and brave as Arne Duncan has been.
I was also pleased to see that Tom Vlasck, the Former Governor of Iowa, has gotten the nod to take over the Department of Agriculture. This is another great move. With Tom Vlasck's move, the only guy he has not picked is Dennis Kuccinch & Chris Dodd. I think Chris Dodd will do a lot of good staying on in the Congress. I think Dennis Kuccinch will be a true maverick choice for Labor. If John Edwards had not imploded, he would have had it for the asking.
I am very impressed with his team. His major rivals are all in: Joe Biden is his VP, Bill Richardson is his Commerce Secretary-Designate, Hillary Clinton is his Secretary of State-Designate. He promised the country and the world competence--and he has delivered. Look at his his choice for Energy Secretary, for instance. That's what my expectation has been all along.
The incoming Adminstration needs to remember that the country and the world expect swift execution. It is critical that the execution starts immediately. That's why the crap continuing over the Illinois Governor's problems is truly not needed. It is a distraction and I liked how the President-Elect dealt with it at the News Conference. The Republicans, though, are at it. I also fear that the Republicans will be obstructionists. Look at what they did with the Auto Bailout and the speech Jon Kyl made on the floor of the Senate on the Holder nomination. I hope that my fears are unfounded.
I am seeing reports that Caroline Kennedy may be interested in Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. My first question was why? Why would she want to subject herself to the rough and tumble of the political process. But, the more I have thought about it, the more intrigured I am. I continue to be fascinated with the Kennedy Family. They have made a profound impact on every aspect of American Life even before World War II. When FDR appointed Joe Kennedy the first Chairman of the SEC, it began this glorious legacy. Some may disagree. But, that's freedom, I suppose.
Another interesting and intriguing choice is Eric Shinsneki as VA Secretary. I view the VA Secretary as the most challenging job in the Obama Adminstration. I view it because of all who have returned that the country must care for for the rest of their lives. The Secretary of State and Defense may get all the press and all the publicity. But, to me, it is the VA Secretary that is one of those jobs where the rubber truly meets the road. After an idiot like Nicholson whose arrogance really blew me away, it will be a refreshing change indeed. I found Dick Morris latest thought on the Obama appointments as way out of left field, though. Morris and his friends on the so-called right seem to forget that the folks Obama has chosen embrace and understand government. They have an appreciation for the good that it can do. I want people in office who embrace the mission of Government and have the backbone to deal with the challenges. I don't want people who find Government to be the "problem". This cavalier and irresponsible view of Government has led us to the disaster we are in now.
I think the country and the world is tired of talking and continued political bickering. We need action now, though. Mr. Obama's comments this past Saturday is a step in the right direction:
It is a start. Money should not be an object. Anyone who objects to the need to get things moving again ought to have its head examined. My only criteria is that it has to help those of us in the trenches who are struggling to keep afloat and need help to take things to the next level. That's the dilema.
The wires are reporting that the National Bureau of Ecnomic Rsearch noted that the U.S. recession began in December 2007. For those of us who have been dealing with the Tsunami that has engulfed us, it should not come as a shock. It appears that it only is a shock to true blue conservatives. Some have already started calling this an "Obama Recession". As Obama continues staffing his Adminstration, it seems to me that we need to continue to look ahead and figure out how to drive ourselves out of the ditch we are in. I view Senator Clinton's appointment as another milestone. Some will disagree. But, we have to have folks of stature. I wonder who is better suited than the former First Lady of the United States who has served as a sitting United States Senator for over 8 years. The world is too dangerous and too perilous to be left to rookies.
I caught a glimpse of a speech by Noam Chomsky on DemocracyNow. He has always been "different". When he speaks, it provides food for thought beyond the "now". As I listened to him, I did realize the slick marketing and packaging that went into creating "Brand Obama". Everyone talked about the Republican "Brand" being damaged goods. I disagree with Professor Chomsky view that it was not a landslide. Mr. Obama has received a mandate to at least steer the country away from the destructive path of the past eight years. As I have written before, the time for rhetoric is over. It is now time for action for all. The 2010 election has already begun and the verdict will be in before Senator Obama realizes it. Here is the advise by Professor Chomsky:
The level of interest in who gets the plum jobs in the Obama Adminstration is of keen interest to all. I have a profound sense of interest because of the focus I have on foreign and economic policy. The folks mentioned are heavyweights. The President of the New York Fed is in line to be offered the Treasury Position. I saw the Dow shoot up over 200 points on the news of his pending appointment. I also view the choice of Bill Richardson at Commerce and Senator Clinton at State as also savvy and smart. We have serious problems in the U.S. and we need serious people to solve them. What Obama is doing is just that. He is truly assembling a class A "Team of Rivals". I just hope that the Republicans won't play the obstructionists and support the efforts of the incoming Adminstration to hit the ground running. I believe they will.
I have been thinking and writing about what the average, ordinary person on the street is thinking. The fear is there, but there is also hope. I know when things are tough when I see Nokia seeing a decline in sales. As we are going through this experience, I see many possiblities. One thing for sure is that we will have to learn to live within our means. We will have to learn not to want the latest and greatest gadget. We will learn to not be sold by the latest fad that is out there. This Tsunami is the start of all of us being deprogrammed.
I realize it will take a long while. I happened to be talking to the local Pizza Hut General Manager. I asked him a simple question: How has the economy impacted you? He said that his business was down 2%. But, he took comfort in the fact that out of the 8 restaurants in his region, his performance was the best of the bunch. He was resigned to the fact that it will get worst before it gets better. He was another example of staying focused on doing the best he could despite all the challenge. Hope is a beautiful thing!!! But, fear is an all-encompassing sentiment that feeds on itself. How that is overcome is the story that is yet to be written
I was out today talking to folks about the Tsunami we're faced with. One friend noted how his sister's company was forced into bankrupcy and liquidation. Right now, projects selling for 7-8 million dollars are being sold at 10 cents on the dollar. He also related a conversation he had with his banker. All the monies given by the Feds were just hoarded by the Banks. Apparently, there was no guidance given on how to spend the money. So, they spent it as they pleased. The stories about monies going for bonuses and banks buying other banks was true!!! No one should be shocked by it.
I am amazed that somehow everyone seems to be optimistic despite it all. I was glad to see reports that President Bush announced a special inspector for the bailout. I am sorry that it is too little, too late. Congress should have done it a month ago before all the monies went out. As I am hearing the stories and getting increasingly worried, I wonder how President-Elect Obama is going to pull it off. He reminded the country and the world of his committment during his weekly address
The Tsunami is in full force. I was at a FedEx Office location talking to an old friend of mine. He was telling me about how things had truly changed. He told me that he walked into the office this morning and did not even have a single FedEx Ground box. As I was talking to him, the shipments ready to be processed were basically non-existent. This is When people cut back, they stop shipping. Why is this signifcant? It is signifcant simply because it shows how truly terrible things are.
When I see the retail numbers tanking and the markets imploding, I am not sure where the bottom will hit. I also am concerned when I see the front page of the New York Times for Friday noting that the Auto Industry Bailout Plan seems to be a non-starter. Furthermore, the fact that the economic stimulus package President Elect Obama talked about at his first news conference is also running into trouble concerns me greatly. Whatever monies paid out by the U.S. Treasury's TARP program has apparently been hoarded by the banks and used to buy up rivals, pay dividends and rewards management. There is nothing for Main Street, yet. I wonder if the hotshots in Washington know that Main Street is in fact suffering when Citi annouced a 10,000 job cut and Sun Microsystems annouced a job cut of 6,000 workers. I don't think they really do. I sure know the Republicans don't
Silvio the clown (aka the Prime Minister of Italy) was in Russia. According to a report in the Times of London, the clown said that, ".... Russia and America can do business together.." He went on to say that, "...I will try to help relations between Russia and the United States, where a new generation has come to power. I don't see problems for Medvedev in establishing good relations with Obama, who is also handsome, young and suntanned".
According to the report, he said that he had intended the remark as a compliment and those who failed to understand this were "imbeciles". The clown is the imbecile. He is the idiot. I am sorry that President-Elect Obama has to deal with such a fool.
As I write this, Thursday has arrived. I am personally still coming to grips with the
historical nature of the election in the United States. I had been reading up on the analysis by all the pundits and the world reactions so far. The entire world seems to have embrace Senator Obama's election. From the reports I have seen, it appears that Senator Obama has hit the ground running. He got the job because he did run a superb campaign and did not lose his cool no matter what. But, as he begins to get ready, he sure has his work cut out for him. The market lost 5% on Wednesday alone. I am still trying to figure out why anyone would want this job.
I was out all day today serving as an Election Coordinator. I saw Democracy at work. It made me proud of what is truly possible today in America. It was quite a night. I also went out to check out some of the celebrations going on as Barack Obama won this election. Although I am tired tonight, I am also very happy for an America that has come a long way. America is to be congratulated for the road it has traveled. The Pundits have been at it and will continue to be at it throughout the ensuing days, weeks and months. Over the next day or so, I'll be reporting on my experience on this historic day. Although November 4, 2008 is to be celebrated, the real work does begin on November 5.
The first result is in: Dixville Notch, New Hampshire is the first in the nation to cast its vote for Barrack Obama. Although this one was lopsided, I think the results will be a lot closer. The candidates have been at it and at it hard. Right now, I am awaiting to see John McCain to appear at a rally in Phoenix. CNN is reporting that he will be going on to Colorado and New Mexico later on today to gain that final vote. It appears that Senator Obama may pound the pavement as well. I suppose if I were in their shoes I would do th same. I was also sorry to hear that Senator Obama's "Toot", her Grandmother, passed away. May her soul rest in peace.
I had a chance to meet my local candidate for Congress. He was working to canvass his local neighborhood to urge folks to get out to vote. He also had a GOTV operation at his campaign headquarters which was in full swing. It was great to see Democracy in action
Throughout Sunday, I checked out what both campaigns were up to. I have had a blast. Both candidates, it seems, will continue to go all out until the very end. I am kind of saddened that it is all ending. I wonder what SNL, Letterman and all the rest of them will find once this is all over. As we have learnt to live with 24-Hr Newstainment, now we have entered the edge of the permanent campaign.
Whatever happens on November 4, all of us have a lot to do to help bring America back from the edge of the abyss. Tomorrow does start November 5. I hope it is a brighter tomorrow for the sake of us all
America and the world has been subjected to the Greatest Political Show on Earth. Many came and criss-crossed the country for votes. But, only two were left standing. It has been quite a ride for us all.
Thanks to the power of the internet, I have been attending campaign events and enjoying myself. I was witness to a major Presidential candidate being called a socialist and even a Marxist. But, this was also an election where it appears that the people understood that change was in the air. This was also the election that is the first billion dollar election. We were also introduced to Joe the Plumber. The sentiments it arose was one of the final acts of the campaign
As the campaign draws to a close, I wanted to get a sense of what the conservatives thought about. I read about Bill Kristol's opposition to John McCain. But, being the loyal conservative he is, he went on the Daily Show and spoke up for John McCain. I thought he was as effective an advocate for Senator McCain and the Conservative cause as any. After Senator Obama's interview, I thought equal time was in order:
As Senator McCain has been telling us about going on the offense in Afghanistan, we have Senator Obama who seems to have seen the light. I have been agitating against the useless Government of Afghanistan for a long time. I am very, very glad to see that he understands and realizes the problems in Afghanistan. He talked about this in the interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow:
The candiddates are going all out. I would not have it any different. Senator Obama found time on Wednesday to get on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Here it goes:
As I thought about Barack Obama's informercial, I really thought about America. I really thought about how he was indeed America and lived the life that is America. The America that Sarah Palin and John McCain talk about is not the America that I have come to know. As I heard Sarah the attack dog yet again, I got another interesting bit of news: Senator McCain was the head of an organization that gave $ 500,000 to an institute founded by the same Rashid Khalidi. If he was OK then, then why is he all of a sudden a bad guy now? I am not smart enough to explain it.
Now, as I write this, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have appeared at a late night rally in Florida. I also caught a glimpse of Jimmy Smits who was on West Wing and played the last Democratic President. The campaign depicted on the West Wing in large measure was played out during the past twenty months. Barack Obama just finished speaking. Bill Clinton, as always, made one of his ever-eloquent speeches a
Mike Pouraryan
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