Monday, November 17, 2008

In my humble opinion.


We as a people are currently facing what appears to be the worst worldwide financial disaster this planet has ever seen. You may as well call it by its name "The Economic Threshold of Hell" Now maybe I'm being pessimistic in labeling it the way I have, but it sure seems that is how these things are going. The silver lining on all of this, is that when your all the way down, the only way to go is "up up and away." (I know lame superman Quote) But thankfully, we have truly elected hope for change, and for a change, I feel a great deal of hope.


I am confident that if we will stay the course as a people, and follow the lead of our soon to be great leader, we will come forth triumphant and be proud to tell future generations that WE were the ones who helped form a New America. We were the ones that answered the prophetic call from JFK "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"

In record numbers we have voted, as well the young voters of this nation have made their voices heard loud and clear. It is truly a great day and age to be alive in the history of mankind, let us leave a noble legacy to those who will come after us for all generations to come. We can only accomplish this great task if we once again answer the call of our new President-elect and show our true colors, RED, WHITE, and BLUE...

Obama blips on the Economy...



"I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington... I'm asking you to believe in Yours"

-Barack Obama


-Barack Obama will provide a tax cut for working families:
Obama and Biden will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 95 percent of working Americans the tax relief they need. They will create a new "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family.


-Provide tax relief for small businesses and startups:
Obama and Biden will eliminate all capital gains taxes on startup and small businesses to encourage innovation and job creation.

-Fight for fair trade:
Obama and Biden will fight for a trade policy that opens up foreign markets to support good American jobs. They will use trade agreements to spread good labor and environmental standards around the world.


Obama to tweak Bail-out Plan



US president-elect Barack Obama wants changes to the way some of the nation's biggest economic problems are handled, from helping the troubled car industry to aiding homeowners fighting repossession.
While he has said there is only one administration in power right now, Mr Obama - in a pre-recorded interview with CBS's 60 Minutes show - admitted that there were some changes he would like to see.
"For the auto industry to completely collapse would be a disaster in this kind of environment," Mr Obama said. "So it is my belief that we need to provide assistance to the auto industry. But I think that it can't be a blank cheque."
Mr Obama said he hoped the White House and Congress would develop an assistance plan with input from all players in the industry -- from management to unions and lenders -- to develop "a sustainable US auto industry".
He also wants to see more of a focus on the needs of homeowners in the bail-out plan.
"We have not focused on foreclosures and what is happening to homeowners as much as I would like," Mr Obama said. "We've got to set up a negotiation between banks and borrowers so that people can stay in their homes. That is going to have an impact on the economy as a whole."
Mr Obama praised the work of Treasury secretary Henry Paulson, but said he would be making some suggestions on how the bail-out plan could be adjusted.
"Hank Paulson has worked tirelessly under some very difficult circumstances. I think Hank would be the first one to acknowledge that probably not everything that's been done has worked the way he had hoped it would work," Mr Obama said.
"You know what we've done is we've assigned somebody on my transition team who interacts with him on a daily basis. And, you know, we are getting the information that's required and we're making suggestions in some circumstances about how we think they might approach some of these problems."
When asked "Is the Bush administration listening?", he replied: "We'll find out."


ELECTION 2008 MAKES HISTORICAL CHANGE



President-elect has been swift to begin transition process as McCain considers future role. It was a day of pride and disappointment, tears of joy and defeat Wednesday as the historic election of Barack Obama also meant the failure of John McCain to become the 44th president.
“It’s amazing how so many people were so excited about Obama as president even around here, where most people are republican and conservative,” said Micah Schluter, a senior civil engineering major.
From Washington, D.C., and Atlanta to Detroit and Las Angeles, crowds danced in the streets, wept and halted traffic as they reveled in Obama’s success at massive rallies that took place across the country.
The election of Obama as the first black president drew many to celebrate the day as a racial milestone for the country, and many said it could lead to the racial wounds in the US to heal.
“I’m way happy,” said Thomasina Wright from New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. “It means that I can tell my seven grandchildren that they have a chance to be president.”
For those who experienced the civil rights movement - struggling for the right to vote - seeing a black man elected president meant seeing a long standing dream come true. “To see this happening is unbelievable - we’ve got the first black president. A black president!” Said Mike Lewis, whose eyes were welling up with tears as he watched election results at Cincinnati’s fountain square. “It’s not cured now, but this is a step to curing this country of racism. This is a big giant step forward toward getting the country together.”
Rep. John Lewis D GA, a leading figure of the civil rights movement, said that after being beaten and bloodied in a march 40 years ago, it was hard to fathom that he voted for Obama.
This is a great night,” Lewis said at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Rev. Martin Luther King had preached. “It is an unbelievable night. It is a night of thanksgiving.”

For some however, it was a night of ambiguity over the future. Schluter has doubts over Obama’s experience, because he enters with 4 years in the senate. “His biggest experience he’s ever had is 2 years in the senate and 2 years running for president.” Schluter said. “I don’t know if that’s enough experience to be president.”
Kelvin Singleton a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said the election became too focused on the history - not the present events affecting the country. “History is great, making history is great, but it did become more or less about the history and other causes more so than the actual politics,” he said.



Obama did not take much time to celebrate his victory as he quickly began executing his transition into the white house. He began by offering the position of Chief of Staff to Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Illinois, on Wednesday, according to several democrats.
In selecting Emanuel, Obama would bring another Chicago democrat with him to the white house. Thought he has represented Chicago in the house since 2002, Emanuel has a reputation as a strategist. He is widely credited as the orchestrator of the democrats congressional takeover in 2006 and was an aide to former president Clinton.
Emanuel has accepted the post.
The Obama team faces a formidable task in the transition, having to decide who will fill hundreds of positions with the inauguration looming 10 weeks away. The team is lead by John Podesta, President Clintons former Chief of Staff; and Valerie Jarrett, a long time friend and advisor to Obama.
In his concession speech McCain said of president-elect Obama “I pledge to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.”