Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
How Do I Love Having Barack Obama as my President? Let Me Count the Ways!
It was barely into Day One of the Barack Obama administration that we began to see changes, including some big changes. It's been quite a ride this past week. He:
--Ended the climate in which American citizens are seen as the enemy.
--Ushered in a climate in which more truth-telling has already occurred about spying on Americans (Bush spied on everyone, even journalists).
--Ordered the stopping of last-minute deregulations by George W. Bush.
--Began the process of ending Gitmo.
--Stopped torture.
--Ended restrictions against funding stem cell research.
--Ended the gag rule, which stifled free speech and access to reproductive freedom information in countries accepting US aid.
--Ended "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
--Allowed California and 15 other states to demand higher air quality emission standards of automakers.
--Began seeking accountability in TARP funds.
--Ended the Bush secrecy about presidential papers.
--Began making medical care cost less (by standardizing and digitizing medical records)
--Let America know that the Environmental Protection Agency was back in business.
--Sent an envoy (George Mitchell) to Israel and Palestine.
--Set about to improve relations with the Muslin world.
--Worked with Congress, including the Loyal Opposition, to solve the fiscal crisis.
[I will also enter here one occurrence, a major one, that I dissent from. That is the aerial bombing incursion into Pakistan on Saturday. Nothing good can come of that. I will write more on this, much more, soon.]
It was barely into Day One of the Barack Obama administration that we began to see changes, including some big changes. It's been quite a ride this past week. He:
--Ended the climate in which American citizens are seen as the enemy.
--Ushered in a climate in which more truth-telling has already occurred about spying on Americans (Bush spied on everyone, even journalists).
--Ordered the stopping of last-minute deregulations by George W. Bush.
--Began the process of ending Gitmo.
--Stopped torture.
--Ended restrictions against funding stem cell research.
--Ended the gag rule, which stifled free speech and access to reproductive freedom information in countries accepting US aid.
--Ended "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
--Allowed California and 15 other states to demand higher air quality emission standards of automakers.
--Began seeking accountability in TARP funds.
--Ended the Bush secrecy about presidential papers.
--Began making medical care cost less (by standardizing and digitizing medical records)
--Let America know that the Environmental Protection Agency was back in business.
--Sent an envoy (George Mitchell) to Israel and Palestine.
--Set about to improve relations with the Muslin world.
--Worked with Congress, including the Loyal Opposition, to solve the fiscal crisis.
[I will also enter here one occurrence, a major one, that I dissent from. That is the aerial bombing incursion into Pakistan on Saturday. Nothing good can come of that. I will write more on this, much more, soon.]
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Welcome to Donkey Hokie
Welcome to Donkey Hokie. Though I am no newcomer to the blogosphere, I am now launching a new personal political blog to replace the old. It seems certain that since the new year approaches and a new administration waits in the wings, our long-time upside-down government under George W. Bush will finally be righted again on Jan 20th. And so, with the inauguration in sight, I take my leave from my old blog at democracyupsidedown.blogspot.com and officially launch Donkey Hokie. Donkey Hokie melds two important aspects of me: I am very proud to be a small part of a long effort to turn Virginia Blue and I am also a very proud Virginia Tech Hokie.
As a long-time resident of Blacksburg, VA, and as a Virginia Tech alum, mostly, I will talk in more glowing terms about this institution not all that far from my back yard. I'm not in the downtown 16 Blocks, but not so far away. I got my degrees a while ago, but when, jumping up and down to the tune of Metallica's "Enter Sandman," we welcome the Hokies into Lane Stadium, it seems like yesterday. Though I do not currently work at Virginia Tech, I once did. I know many good people who do. I am related to one. I am a proud parent of a Hokie as well. One day, perhaps, I'll be the proud grandparent of a Hokie.
As a long-time consumer of news and politics, I'll write articles both complimentary and not about our local and national media. And as an unmitigated political junkie, I'll write about just about anything in Virginia or national politics that strikes my fancy. I am an enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama and will give him the benefit of the doubt for some time. He's earned the presidential "honeymoon" that Clinton never got and that Republicans seem to demand for their own, but not our, side.
This New Year's Day I hope and trust that we are on our way to a more compassionate, truthful leadership, one that puts people first and reminds of what's possible if we work for constructive change. And On January 20th may a new day in politics be born.
Welcome to Donkey Hokie. Though I am no newcomer to the blogosphere, I am now launching a new personal political blog to replace the old. It seems certain that since the new year approaches and a new administration waits in the wings, our long-time upside-down government under George W. Bush will finally be righted again on Jan 20th. And so, with the inauguration in sight, I take my leave from my old blog at democracyupsidedown.blogspot.com and officially launch Donkey Hokie. Donkey Hokie melds two important aspects of me: I am very proud to be a small part of a long effort to turn Virginia Blue and I am also a very proud Virginia Tech Hokie.
As a long-time resident of Blacksburg, VA, and as a Virginia Tech alum, mostly, I will talk in more glowing terms about this institution not all that far from my back yard. I'm not in the downtown 16 Blocks, but not so far away. I got my degrees a while ago, but when, jumping up and down to the tune of Metallica's "Enter Sandman," we welcome the Hokies into Lane Stadium, it seems like yesterday. Though I do not currently work at Virginia Tech, I once did. I know many good people who do. I am related to one. I am a proud parent of a Hokie as well. One day, perhaps, I'll be the proud grandparent of a Hokie.
As a long-time consumer of news and politics, I'll write articles both complimentary and not about our local and national media. And as an unmitigated political junkie, I'll write about just about anything in Virginia or national politics that strikes my fancy. I am an enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama and will give him the benefit of the doubt for some time. He's earned the presidential "honeymoon" that Clinton never got and that Republicans seem to demand for their own, but not our, side.
This New Year's Day I hope and trust that we are on our way to a more compassionate, truthful leadership, one that puts people first and reminds of what's possible if we work for constructive change. And On January 20th may a new day in politics be born.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)