From the Stimulus to the Omnibus, from the specter of climate change to the change of Specter, from the economy to confirmations, in terms of the new administration, are you satisfied?
Optimistic?
Worried?
Uncertain?
Disappointed?
Scared?
Hopeful?
Share your perspective in comments…
April 29th, 2009 at 10:13 am
There is so much uncertainty about so much in our present, that to have such an intelligent, articulate, energy-filled leader to help guide us, finally, is really a ‘feel good’ and comforting hope.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Obama often sounded almost like a scientist with a good handle on the details while delivering his address to the NAS.
The overall note in the 100 days is certainly optimistic but there is so much in our world today that is beyond the abilities of any single man, no matter how capable or well-placed. Let us hope once again friends, that fate does not trump our abilities. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I am impressed with Mr. Obama’s first 100 days. He seemed to be overly ambitious at first but he has succeeded in most of his efforts. He has made no serious mistakes and in fact has been building political momentum. Unfortunately, the most important factor is beyond his control: the performance of the economy. But I believe that the economy will in fact begin its recovery this year and that this turnaround will give Mr. Obama huge political benefits. Thus, I see him going from triumph to triumph.
EXCEPT for the fact that there’s always bad luck. Who knows what it will be: a terrorist attack, an assassination, a scandal, or Bo peeing in the Oval Office. There will surely be something like this happening this year and it could well upset everything.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Obama is providing this country with nothing less than I expected. His extreme leftward slant is as to be expected from someone whose major experience in leadership is based in community organizing.
He is no patriot. He blames us for most of what is wrong in the world when we are the hardest working, most productive segment of the modern world. We produce the drugs that save humanity from wretched disease. We are major scientific innovators through industry in large part.
He is a true fascist, believing in the superiority of the state over the liberty of the individual.
It is sad to me that this country, the world’s last best hope, is being run into the ground. There simply is no place left to turn.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:39 am
UP – smart, articulate, engaged, science oriented, encourgaes internal debate.
DOWN – still can’t protect civil liberties; too willing to have finance industry insiders working on economic issues;
UP/DOWN outcome – better then the last one, not quite up to his own hype.
Discuss!
April 29th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Down- appointed Chuck Hurley as head of NHTSA
Down- Still hasn’t passed sound drug laws
Up- Sound negotiation with Iran, Venezuela and Russia on strategic weapons
April 29th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
President Obama gives rise to hope…..
At the crux of many discussions, two groups of people make their appearance.
In one group, we recognize the “people of the economy” who have managed to institutionalize the ‘goodness’ of greed and arrogance associated with their idolatry of wealth consolidation and the power to continue accumulating filthy lucre. These people will uniformly say that their drive for economic growth and the power wealth purchases is not only good but also primary. They make it crystal clear that the protection of the Earth from industrialization and big business is secondary. In the other group, we have “people of Earth’s ecology” who see, as you do, that the preservation of the Earth needs to be primary and the growth of global economy secondary because there can be no such thing as a manmade economy without the resources and ecosystem services the Earth, and only the Earth, can provide.
The Earth can get along quite nicely without the Masters of the Universe and their idolatrized global economy; but I do not think anyone can sensibly argue with the point that the economy cannot exist without a planet to provide for its viability. Even so, most of us recognize that there are many ideologues who do voceriferously argue that the human economy can exist independent of the Earth. I call it “money for nothing” thinking of do-nothing people. We also know that these ideologues are the very people who actually produce nothing, but end up with most of the world’s wealth. In our time timorous emasculated, absurdly high-paid “talking heads” in the mainstream media support this perverse situation. People who are actual producers lose their jobs, health care, pensions, etc while the Masters of the Universe, who produce nothing, walk away with millions of dollars in neatly packaged “golden parachutes” into carefree lives of effortless ease.
As I see it, this is a problem. The institutionalized power of a few million selfish people who currently organize and manage the global political economy {for their own interests primarily} is much greater than the power that belongs to the billions of people who have very little wealth but hold a priceless vested interest in the preservation of the Earth as a fit place for human habitation by our children and coming generations.
The struggle today between the “haves” and the “have-nots” — between the self-proclaimed Masters of the Universe and the people these masters call simpletons — can be likened to the Biblical confrontation between Goliath and David.
Let’s make no mistake about it. The duplicitous, avaricious Masters of the Universe among us are a modern representation of Goliath and the people these masters have dubbed simpletons, the ones who are honest, transparent, productive and accountable for their actions, are living examples of the courageous David.
Steven Earl Salmony
AWAREness Campaign on The Human Population
established 2001
http://sustainabilitysoutheast.org/index.php
April 29th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
He seemed to be overly ambitious at first but he has succeeded in most of his efforts.
I think this was a Republican talking point. This is the way ya gotta do it. First hundred days. It goes back to FDR. I think a conservative Canadian writer recently called it a “blitzkreig.” That’s how Reagan did it. That’s how FDR did it. If you take too long, everyone organizes against you.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
So far much better than Dubbyah – but 100 days is hardly enough time to get anything done.