Day: January 27, 2009

When one examines the US Senate, now 58 Democrats and 41 Republicans with Al Franken (D) likely taking over the Minnesota Senate seat after Norm Coleman has his day in court, it looks like a projection of the 2010 Senate races puts the Democrats in a very good situation.  It is likely that the Democrats will gain a few more seats in the next election with the news that four Republican Senators will retire–Kit Bond of Missouri, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Mel Martinez of Florida, and George Voinovich of Ohio. 

At the same time, the appointments of senators by the Governors of Illinois and New York may actually endanger Democratic control of those seats.  Neither Roland Burris nor Kristen Gillebrand will have an easy time winning over the likely challengers they will face in primaries in 2010, and that makes it possible that a strong Republican nominee might grab those seats.  Colorado’s new senator, Michael Bennet, seems likely also to have challengers in the primary, particularly because he has no political experience and was a surprise choice as well. 

So under the circumstances, while the Democrats should gain seats, there will be an element of uncertainty due to the gubernatorial appointments that came about due to the elevation of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Ken Salazar to leadership of the Democratic national administration. Only more reason to pursue Senator Russ Feingold’s proposal of a constitutional amendment that would set up special elections for vacant Senate seats, taking that power away from state governors and putting it back in the hands of the people of the states.

It has been one week since Barack Obama took the oath of office as President of the United States.

As one looks back on this week, what comes across is a great sense of change and activism on the part of the 44th President.  One wonders if Obama has had time to sleep.  He has so changed the political atmosphere in Washington and certainly cannot be accused of lack of action.

Obama has banned the use of controversial CIA interrogation tactics that included waterboarding, ordered the closure within one year of the US military prison camp at Guantonomo Bay, Cuba, and begun planning for the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.  He also has declared war on typical lobbying influence, promoted a massive economic stimulus plan estimated at $825 million , and has begun trying to rescind the last minute actions on rules and regulations put into place by former President George W. Bush.

It is obvious he is trying to repudiate and roll back the actions and policies of the last eight years under Bush and Cheney.  While always very cordial to Bush during the transition,  he is attempting to change as much as possible the trend of the Bush years.  He comes across as a transformational President who is anxious to also reshape the direction of our foreign policy by sending special envoys to the Middle East and to Pakistan and Afghanistan.  His interview with an Arab news media source makes clear that we want a new approach to the Islamic world, while at the same time, he makes clear his constant and continued support of Israel and his willingness to challenge Al Quaeda terrorism.  He is not caving in to terrorism but wishes to change the dialogue and end the name calling, so common to President Bush and Vice President Cheney, regarding the Islamic world.

He is making clear his backing of science and promotion of the environment, including a strong policy on global warming, and wishes to give various states, including California, the authority to demand higher mileage standards from the auto industry in the future.  He also has begun to promote a change on family planning subsidies that will promote abortion, indicates plans to change the "don’t ask, don’t tell"  policy toward gays in the military, and to promote transparency on policy making and making  many federal government records accessible to public scrutiny.

Barack Obama will be criticized for some of his initiatives, but he has certainly hit the ground running and has already made the office of the Presidency more influential and powerful by his broad policy pronouncements in just one week in office.  He is not afraid of controversy and it is obvious his First Hundred Days will probably match the level of action of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.  Certainly, the next few months to May 1 will not be boring or unimaginative in any form!