New boss, same as the old?

A note to the American citizenry: Drinking the blue Kool-Aid is just as bad as drinking the red Kool-Aid. Wake up, America.

Welcome back, Mr. Thompson.

We were had before the election where the voters were given two choices for the White House. The first was an extension of the Bush Administration and the second an extension of the Clinton Administration. We must never forget the reaction to 9/11 that brought us into a war in Iraq, leaving Al Qaeda/Taliban to continue what they "supposedly" started. How the hell can we even think of a decent future?

The Republicans and the Democrats had to first prove their litmus test that pro-life was a main force for the White House. It lost! The voters were annoyed by the religious right and took the courage to elect the first African American into office. This took courage and should never be overlooked by anyone.

President Elect Obama was not my candidate as I gave up voting for the lesser of two evils in 1992 when Perot tried again to return America into a nation of a better economy. This was the loser for all Americans but it is spilt milk.

The Conservatives will not allow Obama an inch and this constant slander that he was born in Kenya will be forever used against any Liberal. Rush, WND, NewsMax, Fox and CNS will never drop this issue and I fear they will stir up trouble for America. The election is over, but the war for power by the Social Conservatives has just started.

Take care of yourself.....

Malcolm

This all reminds me of a high school rally a few years back in Bumbump, Virginia. The principal called in the entire student body (all 57 of them) and told them that Johnny, the sole graduate from the prior year, was going to show them the value of an education.

He turned to Johnny and asked, "Johnny, how much is 21 times 21?"

Johnny's brow furrowed and he mumbled to himself for a minute, then said, "449." The principal's shoulders slumped, and the crowd began to mutter, "Give him another chance."

So the principal turned to Johnny. "How much is 21 plus 21?" Johnny thought for a minute and said, "32." The principal's shoulders slumped further and the crowd grew louder: "Give him another chance, give him another chance."

So the principal said, "Johnny, how much is 2 plus 2?" Johnny's eyes brightened; he held up two fingers on each hand and counted them to himself. "Four," he responded. The entire crowd rose to its feet and screamed, "Give him another chance."

Obama hasn't even had one day in the Oval Office and we're already excoriating him. Give him a chance to lead and see what happens.

In a perfect world, I think Doug would still find something to complain about.

Anyway, Obama has certainly ushered in change -- at least trying something that hasn't been tried since Lincoln.

Granted, it may not be the kind of change people were expecting. But, it certainly is different and defies conventional wisdom.

It is refreshing to have a president who actually knows and appreciates history. And even better to have one that isn't so arrogant as to pretend it has no relevance to today.

I, for one, am willing to give this sort of change a chance to prove (or disprove) itself.

I, like Doug, reserve the right to be cynical. And, I will be one of the first to go negative should all of the pre-inauguration doomsday scenarios pan out.

But, for now, I'm keeping my powder dry.

Mafia maxim: New capo...old capo...same capo?

And I cannot help but be reminded that:

No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby. - H. L. Mencken

Never were truer words ever spoken, except by a line (mis)attributed to P. T. Barnum about there being a sucker born every minute; however, he did grossly underestimate the birth-rate.

Most sincerely,

T. J. Flapsaddle

Doug's back..thats great. The nation has elected a new president to replace Bush...this is momentous. Finding fault in the new president even before his inauguration is...priceless!
Some things will never change, unwarranted complaining is merely one of them. Obama may not have been your choice, but he was elected by a clear and uncontested majority. Cut him some slack and give him a chance and remember, he is about to take on the biggest mess this nation has ever handed over to a new president. His work is cut out for him and the promises he made will not be fulfilled without the experienced insight of others, and most definitly will not come over night.

"Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future"

It appears that Obama has already "sold out." The question is to who?

Listening to you guys complain gives me heartburn.

That Obama has selected people for his staff and his cabinet who are experienced, why that is a change to celebrate, given what we've just gone through over the past 8 years.

"Experience" often means learning what not to do in order to effectively make things happen. Eric Holder has made some mistakes. Susan Rice has made some mistakes. Hillary has made some mistakes. As good learners, they have a chance to learn from them.

I feel confident they will.

Give the man a break already!!!!! Would you have him pick newbies like Carter did and fall flat on his face? At this time in our history, we can hardly afford that. Where else can a Democratic president go for experienced governmental hands but the Clinton adminstration??????? I know you didn't like Bill Clinton, but there are still an awful lot of people who do, and who remember how well the economy did under his stewardship. Would you rather that Obama picked other members of the Bush administration, other than Gates?

Please also remember: THESE PEOPLE WILL ANSWER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA, NOT FOLLOW THEIR OWN INITIATIVES. IF NOT, THE DOOR WILL UNDOUBTEDLY HIT THEM IN THE REAR!

Hillary would never have given up her Senate seat if she had any intention of jeopardizing her job by plotting her own course at the State Department: this is a great opportunity for her to leave a permanent mark on history, and she knows it. Before you get too judgemental, look at the reactions of our allies overseas to her nomination: they are very enthusiatic and approving.

Would you also rather have a president, like Bush, who picked nothing but yes-men (and women), or who picked people with strong, sharp minds and opinions, who won't always agree, but in doing so will undoubtedly give our president many different options and every side of an issue, not just the 'my way or the highway' we've had for 8 years? Bush was not known for appointing deep thinkers to ANY position; Obama seems determined to do just that. He's appointing people who are smart; perhaps, being as smart as he is, he simply can't work with inferior minds. With George Bush, that wasn't much of a problem.

Give him a break already. Barack Obama is perhaps the smartest man we've elected president in maybe a century. I have to believe he's smart enough to know what he's doing; he's been ahead of everyone else's thinking so far. What makes you think that ends with an election?

There Is No Consensus About Anything!

I can't think of any job on earth that would be as difficult as President of the United Sates. I can't think of any job on earth that carries with it as many critics and criticisms as there are people who have the ability to voice an opinion.

Obama’s cabinet and staff choices to some may seem like a total disaster. But, as Doug pointed out, to others, they see individuals chosen who are experienced and have willingness to do whatever the hell their boss says.

I can’t say that I’m overly joyed at all of Obama’s selections. But regardless of our personal opinion, we have to accept his choices and hold him responsible for their performance…or lack there of. He said in his announcement today that the Buck Stops With Him. Let’s all hold him to that.

If we are to condemn Obama as a failure and/or as a promise breaker because we disagree with him for his choices in his cabinet and staff… and even before he officially takes office…then all is lost. There is absolutely no hope for America.

We must accept that there is no single one Savior among the American people who can step into such a horrendous set of circumstances and do the laying on of the hands…and all will be right with the world. There is no single human being who has the ability to satisfy all of the pundits of the world…or even electorates…since no elected official has ever received 100% of the vote from all citizens.

The vast majority of folks who voted for Obama did so because they trust him to do what he said he'd do... So is he already a geniune failure?