Day: July 20, 2009

We are in the midst of a tense, hectic time as Congress debates President Obama’s proposal for a National Health Care Act.

This is, many observers believe, the defining moment of the Obama Presidency:  Can he get through Congress a comprehensive health care plan that offers everyone in America something that every industrial democracy, except this nation, has:  a national health care system where everyone is entitled to health care coverage at a reasonable price?

Not only is this important for the American people.  It is important to see this as a commitment to honor Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, who has spent most of his Senate career seeking just such a health care plan as the culmination of the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Great Society of Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Anyone can see that Ted Kennedy is fighting for his life in Massachusetts from the malignant brain tumor that was diagnosed over a year ago.  He has shown great courage in the interim, and has also demonstrated great enthusiasm and commitment to accomplishment of his long time goal.  He wants desperately to see the accomplishment of this legislation while he is alive. 

It would be a tragedy were to he to die before the accomplishment of the passage of this plan into law.   One can argue about Ted Kennedy’s earlier sins and foibles, and he will remain a controversial figure in American history because of the complexity of his life.  But everyone in the Senate honors him and sees him as a great friend and colleague,  Democrat and Republican alike.    When the unfortunate time comes, which hopefully will NOT be soon, that he passes away, the country will be in great mourning for this senator, who despite his negatives, is seen as one of the greatest US Senators in our entire history. 

We owe it to Ted Kennedy, as well as to ourselves, to get this health care legislation into law as soon as possible, and of course, name it after the man who has had a greater impact on this issue than any living American.    This would be the greatest honor we could bestow on a great Senator and statesman!

Today marks 40 years since the moon landing, and the walk on the moon by Neil Armstrong,  a day to be celebrated and commemorated with great pride.

I remember vividly the excitement felt all through the 1960s, as the space program united and boosted the spirits of the American people,  from the Mercury program and the original seven astronauts  (including Alan Shepard and John Glenn), to the Gemini program  (including the tragic loss of three astronauts on the launch pad in 1967),  to the Apollo program and the trips to the moon leading up to the landing and walking on the moon on this day in 1969.   We continued to go to the moon and explore through 1972,  then delayed  making further progress until the space shuttle program began under President Reagan,  and then
further space accomplishments we have witnessed  since then, but unfortunately due to end in September 2010.

I have always been a believer in space exploration and strongly opposed the stopping of the main components of the space program after 1972,  and the lack of purpose that now seems to exist in the space program after next year’s last scheduled space shuttle.  We need to go back to the moon and to plan for Mars exploration and beyond,  not just because of curiosity and intellectual interest, but because of its value scientifically.  Many advances in science and medicine have made the space program worthwhile,  and we certainly don’t want to leave it to other nations to make the advances in space while we sit on the sidelines.  If we do that, we will regret it in the future.

Meanwhile, let’s continue to honor the heroes of the space program, including those who gave their lives in the three tragedies that took place in the name of progress.  This is a time for renewal of our commitment to world leadership in the exploration of space!

Barack Obama marked six months in office at 12 Noon today.

Looking back at the halfway mark of a year,  I would continue to say that Obama has done a very good job of inspiring the American people and initiating bold action on many fronts.

He has proved to be a magnificent orator and role model for  America’s image in the world, and has shown compassion and principle in his dealings with domestic issues.

The economy may still be questionable, but realistically no one could have expected that after such a short time,  that we would have definitive results, but the indications are that things are starting to improve, although it will be a long haul to get out of what most experts call The Great Recession.  We cannot expect miracles overnight after years of mismanagement and incompetence by the Bush Administration.

Obama has not been afraid of controversy and challenge,  and while he has not been able to please all constituent groups,  no one can deny that his intention is to bring fundamental social and economic and diplomatic change, but the key word is patience, as after all,  "Rome was not built in a day!"

Obama continues to have independent support and the good will of most Americans,  and he has been helped by the complete breakdown of the opposition party, which continues to be simply the party of "No", offering no constructive alternatives in any area of policy, and allowing their party to be hijacked by the extremist, hate mongers of the far Right, meaning many of the radio talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage;  and the irresponsible, reckless rantings of TV talk shows on Fox News Channel, including Glenn Beck,  Bill O’Reilly, and Sean Hannity.  Fortunately, their propaganda is not reaching intelligent, thoughtful people who understand the horrible mess that Barack Obama is faced with, and the courage he has displayed in facing these problems with a sense of confidence and purpose.

So I say to President Obama:  Congratulations on a job well done, and I continue to give you a professor’s grade of  B+!  🙂