IGM Obamas First Week

Inter-Galactic Memo

To: Self-selected personnel
Fr: W. Leavitt, crack political analyst
Re: Obama’s first week



Ha! You thought you’d have heard from me before now, didn’t you? Well, I’ve been doing my best to welcome the new president and allow him the benefit of the doubt. I am a great respecter of the office and have absolutely nothing against Obama personally, as I have stated in past.
But he is off to an uneven start, and it is always the oppositions job to point out flaws in plans, missteps, and poor fashion coordination.
In one of his first decisions as president, he decided to re-introduce federal funding for abortions, and advice on abortions (as well as other family planning choices) for Planned Parenthood outlets in other countries. In consecutive fits of partisan politics, Reagan banned the use of federal money for out-of-country abortions, Clinton un-banned it, and the Bush’s re-banned it. Now Obama feels it necessary to mess around in the affairs of other countries—something we never do. [insert sarcasm here]. Seriously though, in a time of economic stress, one could argue for spending what money we have here at home. Except for those two wars, obviously, and the normal foreign aid we spend every year. And tourism commercials.
Regardless of how we feel personally about abortion (and there’s only one right answer here . . .) what is the logic behind spending money for it overseas?
Let’s see how other countries feel about it.
“I think it’s a travesty!” Oleg P., Sweden. “We can fund our own abortions, thank you!” Jacques Chirac, France. “Abortions? We don’t need no stinkin’ abortions!” Carlos Baca, Mexico.
You get the drift, I’m sure. Gary Bauer had this to say about the abortion decision:

But despite his efforts, the reaction was brutal. Family groups accused him of plotting the "infanticide" of African children. Former presidential candidate Gary Bauer, president of the American Values pressure group, said: "It is both sad and infuriating that in the same week President Obama extended new rights to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and began planning to release men whom we know have murdered Americans, he is preparing to sentence innocent children to death through abortion." (UK Telegraph)

Obama seems to be having a bit more trouble with his stimulus package as well. We quote the UK Telegraph:
He faces mounting criticism over his $825 billion economic stimulus plan, from Republican leaders who say the legislation has been drawn up without the input which Mr Obama had promised to allow them.
Apparently the assumption that ascension to the White House would bring the country together was a little short of the mark. Now he’s picking a fight with Rush Limbaugh. Presidents should completely ignore radio personalities—everyone knows that. But instead he said:

“You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," Mr Obama said.

This was in response to Limbaugh’s statement that while he wished the new President well, he hoped his policies failed. My sentiments exactly. I can’t imagine why so many people thought everything would be wonderful and we would all discover consensus when Obama stepped into the Oval Office. Nothing has changed. Those of us who oppose socialism will continue to do so. Those of us who accept the various forms of socially democratic programs will love his ideas. Those of us who decry abortion will continue to do so. Those of us who believe that the Gitmo detainees are prisoners of war will continue to do so.
It seems that President Obama is not going to enjoy the traditional honeymoon of his first one hundred days, either. Again we quote the Telegraph:

The president responded with a clear signal that he is prepared to ram the bill through without the bipartisan consensus he promised to construct, telling Republican leaders from the House of Representatives: "I won. I'm the president."

Not exactly you’re “hope and change” kind of thing to say. But it’ll be fun to watch, won’t it?
After the pomp and circumstance of the inauguration (or, as one of my students misspoke—the “eggnoguration”) one would have thought we were in Shangri-la. I guess we’re not so lucky. We’re still here in the good ole US of A.
To be fair, the new President did say he wants to put a good amount of the stimulus package into science and tech companies, citing several studies that show money is generated faster and over a longer period from these kinds of ventures, so I’m happy about that. See, it isn’t all bad.
The point is, and it’s hard to believe I’m having to say this, conservatives and conservatism is not going to go away. We aren’t going to suddenly and miraculously see the “error of our ways” any more than liberals will. We are going to speak up and speak out. We are going to criticize when called for and praise when we can. The only difference I can think of, in fact, will be the lack of naked vitriol and hatred characterized by certain factions of the liberal movement during the Bush presidency. There won’t be a lot of that.
But I promise to be fair, and inject as much humor as I can find while we struggle to maintain out national identity. Anybody else feel like wearing a mask for the next four years?