Inaugural Thoughts

Apparently because I'm the only Vermonter known to have voted for John McCain, local station Fox 44 came by my house to do an interview asking what concerns I have about President-elect Obama. You can see a small part of it here and see what I look like while blogging if you've ever been curious.

First and most important point is that I want Obama to succeed. The country needs good leadership. His eloquence and apparent thoughtfulness are reasons for hope. He ran a great campaign; he inspired people; he (we) broke the race barrier. He demonstrated an understanding of the use of modern technology (important at least to us nerds).

Second it's no longer time to be debating whom should have been elected. The election's over; it was thankfully decisive. The issues going forward are important ones of what our government should do and not do in the midst of foreign and domestic crises and in the context of debate over climate change and its causes and possible remediations.

My concerns now are still the concerns I had before the election. Other than an international upbringing (which does count for something), there's nothing in Obama's background which prepares him for the real and scary world that we live in with our friends and enemies. His campaign talk about engaging the murderous mullahs of Iran in discussion was, at best naïve. There's a danger that he'll be tested by those who doubt his resolve and that those tests themselves will be a danger even if his resolve holds up. It's likely that both Hamas and the Israelis were influenced by the timing of the coming transition. However, the election is over. Obama's been wise to stick to one President at a time during the seemingly endless transition. He should be allowed both latitude and leadership as he starts out. Historically underestimating American resolve is more dangerous to those who make the mistake than to anyone else.

Domestically I'm concerned by the debt that Obama owes to unions – especially the teachers' union which is an obstacle to the better educational system we need to have. Allowing forced union representation without a secret ballot is a bad idea that is likely to get through this Congress and be signed by the new President.

Republicans have certainly acted as if they had a huge debt to bankers. In my view that's been a mistake and every bit as harmful if not more than a tilt towards unions. During the campaign I gave Obama a zero on economics – but McCain earned a minus twenty. I would have at least as much economic policy trepidation if it were McCain being inaugurated Tuesday. So far Democrats have also been acting as if they have a debt to bankers, who did, after all, shift their contributions towards Democrats as it became apparent who was going to win the election. Would be nice if someone would take a stand against serial bailouts.

Tuesday will be a momentous day. Here's hoping that it's the start of a very successful presidency.