By IowaHawk
Although I have not always been the most outspoken advocate of President-Elect Barack Obama, today I would like to congratulate him and add my voice to the millions of fellow citizens who are celebrating his historic and frightening election victory. I don't care whether you are a conservative or a liberal -- when you saw this inspiring young African-American rise to our nation's highest office I hope you felt the same sense of patriotic pride that I experienced, no matter how hard you were hyperventilating with deep existential dread.
Yes, I know there are probably other African-Americans much better qualified and prepared for the presidency. Much, much better qualified. Hundreds, easily, if not thousands, and without any troubling ties to radical lunatics and Chicago mobsters. Gary Coleman comes to mind. But let's not let that distract us from the fact that Mr. Obama's election represents a profound, positive milestone in our country's struggle to overcome its long legacy of racial divisions and bigotry. It reminds us of how far we've come, and it's something everyone in our nation should celebrate in whatever little time we now have left.
Less than fifty years ago, African-Americans were barred from public universities, restaurants, and even drinking fountains in many parts of the country. On Tuesday we came together and transcended that shameful legacy, electing an African-American to the country's top job -- which, in fact, appears to be his first actual job. Certainly, it doesn't mean that racism has disappeared in America, but it is an undeniable mark of progress that a majority of voters no longer consider skin color nor a dangerously gullible naivete as a barrier to the presidency.
It's also heartening to realize that as president Mr. Obama will soon be working hand-in-hand with a former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard like Senator Robert Byrd to craft the incoherent and destructive programs that will plunge the American economy into a nightmare of full-blown sustained depression. As Vice President-Elect Joe Biden has repeatedly warned, there will be difficult times ahead and the programs will not always be popular, or even sane. But as we look out over the wreckage of bankrupt coal companies, nationalized banks, and hyperinflation, we can always look back with sustained pride on the great National Reconciliation of 2008. Call me an optimist, but I like to think when America's breadlines erupt into riots it will be because of our shared starvation, not the differences in our color.
It's obvious that this newfound pride is not confined to Americans alone. All across the world, Mr. Obama's election has helped mend America's tattered image as a racist, violent cowboy, willing to retaliate with bombs at the slightest provocation. The huge outpouring of international support following the election shows that America can still win new friendships while rebuilding its old ones, and provides Mr. Obama with unprecedented diplomatic leverage over our remaining enemies. When Russian tanks start pouring into eastern Europe and Iranian missiles begin raining down on Jerusalem, their leaders will know they will be facing a man who not only conquered America's racial divide but the hearts of the entire Cannes film community. And those Al Qaeda terrorists plotting a dirty nuke or chemical attack on San Francisco face a stark new reality: while they may no longer need to worry about US Marines, they are looking down the barrel of a strongly worded diplomatic condemnation by a Europe fully united in their deep sympathy for surviving Americans.
So for now, let's put politics aside and celebrate this historic milestone. In his famous speech at the Lincoln Memorial 45 years ago, Dr. King said "I have a dream that one day my children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Let us now take pride that Tuesday we Americans proved that neither thing matters anymore.
21 comments:
Excellent commentary! I loved it.
So now that the deed is done, and Obama will indeed be President of the United States, we have two options:
One, we could hold up our hands in helpless frustration, turn our backs on political action, condemn his presidency before it ever gets started, and hope that it fails miserably, or
Two, we can be actively involved, doing what we can, perhaps even check out his website where he purportedly seeks good ideas and input from the people of America, and work hard to see that the good ideas Obama has (there are a couple) do come to fruition. And work to get the bad ideas redirected toward better ideas.
After all, our children and grandchildren's lives will be impacted by his presidency.
And it won't all be up to Obama.
Thank God
That IowaHawk blogger sure can write.
I hear some commentators, especially on Fox say that Americans' job is to get behind the President. The last 8 years of "selected not elected' harmed us more than we know. Decrying the legitimacy of the President is not fruitful.
I agree.
We can lift ourselves up by our bootstraps and get behind what he is doing, civilly differing where ideology comes into it, through normal means and in normal ways. But is is not good to say he isn't legitimate and to oppose him on those grounds.
one caution about Obama's new website, from Michelle Malkin--
"Government domain names (”.gov”) for websites are supposed to be restricted to eligible government organizations and programs."
"Does Barack Obama’s transition website, www.change.gov — which is basically a souped-up version of his campaign site — qualify? As Ed Morrissey pointed out yesterday, “The incoming administration technically has no status as a government organization or program until January 20, 2009. The “Office of the President-Elect” doesn’t exist within the government.”
"The primary goal of the transition site seems to be to collect e-mail addresses and personal information — for future fund-raising and political organizing projects."
"Did the GSA, which administers the rules governing .gov websites, vet this site? One industry exec doesn’t think so, and has sent a complaint."
"who’s operating Obama’s .gov site? It’s being run by Blue State Digital, the Internet fund-raising company that presided over the credit card fraud-friendly Obama campaign site."
More info here, with proof and links:
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/11/07/wwwchangegov-smells-like-a-fund-raising-front/
Obama was just elected President of the United States. Pretty sure that qualifies him for a .gov domain. And, yes, the President elect DOES already have status within the U.S. Govt. Obama is already receiving the same daily intelligence briefings that George W. Bush receives.
He is President-elect, he is not part of the government yet. Not until January 20 2009 when he is sworn in.
It may be a violation of the Domain Naming Conventions Summary located at https://www.dotgov.gov/dnc.aspx. The domain does not appear to meet the criteria outlined on that page.
Check the site and decide for yourself if the conditions and criteria for a .gov domain were met.
He is not President until 1-20-2009 when he takes the oath of office.
Here are the domain eligibility requirements. See for yourself if you think Obama meets them.
Registrations that qualify for a .gov domain
* U.S. Governmental departments, programs, and agencies on the federal level
* Federally recognized Indian Tribes (-NSN.gov domain)
* State governmental entities/programs
* Cities and townships represented by an elected body of officials
* Counties and parishes represented by an elected body of officials
* U.S. territories
The website naming criteria is here
https://www.dotgov.gov/help_qualify.aspx
After eight years of out and out lying and trashing the Constitution, perhaps our standards have changed. Bush relied on signing statements to exempt himself from laws. He ok'd torture, spying, rendition, and a whole host of other illegal activities. I didn't realize my perception had skewed until I found myself wondering "so what". After so many major violations, this seems almost petty. Perhaps some day we'll get to the point where we can be outraged but not yet.
I also just read the authorization portion of the naming conventions website. "In addition to your registration form, authorization from your highest-ranking elected official is required. Letters received from someone other than the authorities described below will be rejected."
"Federal Authorization
At the federal level, the authorizing official is your parent agency or cabinet-level CIO"
So who was the highest ranking elected official that signed Obama's authorization letter?
true, it is a small thing, but in my opinion it is significant. Obama already has violated the standards of the DNS conventions...the day AFTER he was elected. And so it begins, another President who just does what he wants? This is not change. It is more of the same.
The other piece of it is how did it get approved? Have we no checks and balances in place anymore, nobody who reads the fine print, follows the rules, and makes sure others do? Surely he couldn't just enter his own html and call it done, could he? Wouldn't somebody have to set this up?
Yes, the outline of how it is done on the DNS website says that he has to propose the domain name, and a higher elected official than him has to sign for it. And the DNS people check it out and then Obama gets a letter back saying it has been approved. Sounds like it takes a bit of time to me, not just overnight.
So who is the higher elected official that signed Obama's authorization letter?
And another interesting thing: At Obama's recently conculded Press Conference he had a sign on his podium stating "Office of the President-Elect". There IS no such office.
Look at the podium here, complete with official looking seal!
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/11/07/what-the-hell-is-the-office-of-the-president-elect/
Is that the official seal of the U.S. on the sign? Do they have authority to use it? What other make-believe offices are they going to invent between now and Inauguration Day?
The Office of the President Elect is a legitimate part of the U.S. Govt.
Also, Obama is a United States Senator, not just a branch of the U.S. Govt., but a pretty powerful one at that, so he certainly qualifies to establish a .gov domain name as a Senator if you don't think winning the Presidential election is enough.
Besides, let's assume he isn't qualified to establish a .gov domain name. It's not his fault, it would be the fault of the domain registrar who sold the domain name.
I live the change.gov website. Obama just won the election and he has already accomplished something the George Bush didn't accomplish in 8 years...he is asking for the input of the American people. Pretty darn noble if you ask me.
Bill CLinton signed an executive order establishing this office. It's legit. November 2000.
That is Order 13176, signed Nov 27 2000, I beleive you are referring to.
I read it in its entirety and no where does it establish an "Office of the President Elect"...unless I missed it, the Order extablishes a council to aid the President Elect in the transition:
Section 1. Presidential Transition Coordination. (a) To assist and support the transition efforts of the President-elect, there is established a Presidential Transition Coordinating Council (Council).
I dont' see where the President-Elect has an office ...but you can see for yourself here, and if I am mistaken let me know
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13176
Either way, doesn't matter. As someone pointed out, Obama is a U.S. Senator so he is well within his authority to establish a .gov domain.
Why is this such a big deal? It's just a website - who cares if it's .gov or .com or .org?
Congress never declared war, yet, Bush sent troops into Iraq and Afghanistan and constantly reminds us we're "at war." We aren't at war; only Congress can declare war. While you're busy splitting hairs about separation of powers and government you may want to spend some time on ones that matter, not domain name suffixes.
'yawn, Obama skirted the rules again, overstepped his authority, created a non-existent office...no big deal. Move along. Doesn't matter.'
Oh boy, 4 years of people with blinders
I just skimmed it but does the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 set up such an office? The one Clinton signed in 2000 amended the 1963 act but these items still stand:
"Sec. 3 (a) The Administrator of General Services, referred to hereafter in this Act as “the Administrator,” is authorized to provide, upon request, to each President-elect and each Vice President-elect, for use in connection with his preparations for the assumption of official duties as President or Vice President necessary services and facilities, including-
(1) Suitable office space appropriately equipped with furniture, furnishings, office machines and equipment, and office supplies as determined by the Administrator, after consultation with the President-elect, the Vice-President elect, or their designee provided for in subsection (e) of this section, at such place or places within the United States as the President-elect or Vice-President-elect shall designate;
(2) Payment of the compensation of members of office staffs designated by the President-elect or vice-President-elect..."
change.gov would seem to fall clearly under paragraph 3.a.5 of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, which provides for communications services found necessary by the President-elect or Vice-President-elect (http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?noc=T&contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=24780)
As to whether change.gov in particular is proper, specifically with respect to the .gov domain name:
p1) registrations of .gov domain names must be cleared by the GSA
p2) Obama/Biden has a .gov domain name
c) therefore, they have been cleared by the GSA
Any speculation to the contrary carries the burden of proof.
-d
Perhaps it's in the perspective. While your site is dedicated to the "end of days", other of us celebrate and use what time we have here on earth without concentrating on the fact that the end is near. You may choose to apply a standard that ensures you view the new administration as a failure and that is your choice. It is my choice to view it as joyous and hopeful.
We are in the end of days but that is not a bad thing nor is it negative. I celebrate life with everything I’ve got, through my ministries, through my church, through my relationship with Jesus, through my daily routine. There is much joy in life and I do celebrate it because Jesus gave me the saving I needed to be with Him always.
Jesus said that His coming will be a surprise to many, they will be drinking and dancing and celebrating and marrying and all of a sudden He will be there. He admonished His children to watch. in 2 Peter 3:11 Peter writes
"You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."
so that is what I am doing.
However, if a person is celebrating life without Jesus, it is a Christians’ duty to explain, warn, exhort and share the Good News of Him and the fact that He is coming soon.
For me, it is not 'either-or'. I can celebrate life while watching for His return.
As for Obama, I tracked him through the primaries and the campaign and read what he believes and heard what he said and watched how he acted, all with due diligence, and it is my conclusion that he will be the ruination of the country. I say this as a dedicated, informed citizen. As is my duty and my right.
I’m glad you feel joyous and hopeful. Many people who feel joy at Obama’s election did [i]not[/i] feel joy when Bush was elected and said so. Continually. As was their right.
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