Obama and the Imperial Presidency

Excellent article on the difficulties Obama will have dealing with the Bush administration's extraordinary claims of executive power and the fallout from them.

Justice Department Overhaul

Washington Post article about the severe problems in the Department of Justice under Bush and how Obama might handle them. A real post to watch will be the head of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) which is the office that decides on the legality of executive branch programs/policies. John Yoo was in the OLC when he wrote the memos authorizing torture and wiretapping programs, authorizations that were revoked by a later head of the OLC, Jack Goldsmith. These stories are told in fascinating detail in Goldsmith's book, The Terror Presidency, and in Barton Gellman's Angler and Jane Mayer's The Dark Side. I highly recommend all three books.

Books for Obama to Read

Two Chicago Tribune reporters put together a list of 10 books for President-elect Obama to read or re-read. I've read and agree with the top four, Jane Mayer's The Dark Side, Jack Goldsmith's The Terror Presidency, Charlie Savage's Takeover, and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. The others I haven't read. Bill Moyer's Journal blog had a long thread on this topic, too, and I started a similar discussion on LibraryThing.

Robert Reich on the Economy

Robert Reich writes in Talking Points Memo about his view of what to do about the economic crisis, or as he puts it, our Mini-Depression. He is careful to say it is him talking about his own views, not in his capacity as an Obama adviser. He is very much for economic stimulus, especially infrastructure investment that would create jobs.

Obama to Undo Harmful Bush Regulations

Good article from the Washington Post on rules and regulations of the Bush department that the Obama team has already identified to be quickly overturned. They include the Bush administration restrictions on California's attempts to deal with global warming and limitations on stem cell research, among others.

How Obama Might Use His Internet Army

Interesting article on how Obama might use the people that signed up through his various Internet activities, keeping them involved in the administration.

Another beautiful article on the meaning of Obama's win

This one made me cry.

To My Republican Friends

I know you are disappointed at John McCain's loss. But I hope that you can understand something of the hope that is felt by those of us who are energized by Obama's win, and feel that it is a fulfillment of the best of the American dream.

First, don't be afraid of Obama, and look to the man himself for the understanding the kind of leader he will be. Read and/or watch his victory speech last night. He is willing to reach out to you, to listen to you. Note that he makes no divisive remarks about his opponents or the campaign. If you watch his 30 minute infomercial that aired last week I think you will see the same thing. He is looking to the future and to helping all Americans reach their best potential.

Next, I'm convinced that his policies will be the best for the economy. He will invest in greening America's infrastructure, providing jobs and improving the environment. Deficits are a concern, but as James K. Galbraith pointed out on Bill Moyer's Journal , there will be higher deficits no matter what we do. The next President will have the choice of spending to support the economy, or the economy will collapse and the tax base be devastated.

It is also vital that we have a President who will move us towards a sustainable environment. Carbon emissions have to be reduced, and we have to stop depending so much on foreign oil. I believe Obama will work toward those things.

I believe that Obama has the best temperament to be President. He is calm, rational, he listens to advice, and I believe he will talk to the American people about the problems we face and what must be done to solve them.

I believe that he will do his best to resolve the two wars currently straining our troops to the limit, that he will better support our soldiers by seeing to it that they get the armor they need, and the medical treatment they need (including psychological help). I believe he will have a more realistic vision of the limits of American power and how to achieve our strategic objectives, and how to cooperate with other nations.

The next President faces enormous problems. He needs our help to solve them. Please give him a chance.

And Then They Wept

Beautifully written article on the meaning of the Obama win for African Americans.

Obama's Victory Speech

See here for the text of Obama's victory speech (and here for the video). I was so impressed with it last night, especially with the degree to which he pointed to his victory as a vindication of the American dream, something many of us thought of as lost, and his reaching out to those who did not vote for him, and promising to be their President and to listen to their voices.

It was also amazing to see the faces of those listening to the speech... so many beautiful emotions.

It is Done!

It is done. Barack Obama has won the race for President. What a historical election! I'm so proud of us that we elected an African American President, so that all Americans know that the great promises of this country can be extended to everyone.

John McCain is giving a gracious concession speech. I hope that now the bitterness of the campaign can retreat quickly into the past, and Democrats and Republicans can work together to move into a more promising future.

I believe that Obama is the best choice in so many ways. I believe he will appoint outstanding judges to the Supreme Court, given his background as a constitutional law professor. I believe he offers better hope for the economy. He will be far better on science policy and the future of technology. We will, I pray, get out of Iraq and restore the reputation of the United States in the world. Obama will close Guantanamo and end its shameful legacy, and hopefully restore the US to lawful adherance to the treaties governing the treatment of prisoners. And it may literally mean the salvation of the planet, with someone committed to environmental action.

Our long national nightmare will be over on January 20th, 2009.