Obama – Page 2 – Don't Gel Too Soon

The First Hundred Days and the Opposition Has Been Busy (Boy Are We Glad to See Senator Spector Over Here!)

Happy 100th day to the president. It's probably the toughest presidency on record, given the scope of challenges he faces: depression, disintegrating infrastructure, inadequate schools and devastated health care system and now, a plague (well sort of.) But you know all that. What you may not have noticed is that all those Republicans despite their "What? Who? Me?" have been very busy making things harder. I have to thank the great Nerdette, always ahead of the pack, for pointing out the evidence, below.

Politics Online Conference: The Political Speakers – A Summary

For the past two days I've been at this Politics Online Conference here in DC.

It's been around for a few years now, but this one was huge and rich. Among those who spoke: Politicians: Senator Claire McCaskill (MO), Reps. Steve Israel (NY), Cathy Morris Rogers (WA)and Tim Ryan (OH), Secretaries of State Jennifer Brunner (OH) and Debra Bowen (CA). Their panels were about the uses of mostly social media to maintain consistent and two-way contact with their constituents. It's fascinating to realize that when a congressman shows up at an event, constituents "know what books I've been reading from me Facebook page" and stop by to discuss them. Ryan had an interesting take on it: "FDR had the radio, JFK had the television, and Obama has — you." The confluence between the politician and the tool and the times seems to be of utmost importance.

According to all the speakers, these kinds of interaction have radically altered their relationships with voters, and, according to McCaskill, with staff. The communications staff has no control or prior knowledge of her tweets. As she put it, holding up her blackberry "I'm on my own with this thing." Sometimes, apparently, they aren't thrilled with the result.

The other great political panel was, to paraphrase Spencer Tracy in Pat and Mike, "small but choice." Obama Director of Online Media Joe Rospars (on the right) nd McCain eCampaign Director Michael Palmer (on the left) discussed, and disagreed, with a focus on their work online. There was lots of great information, both anecdotal and strategic, but sadly, the overriding element turned out to be the bitterness Palmer still feels about their defeat. It's tough to let go after working that hard, but, as many observed, this seemed beyond that. Even so, it was revealing to hear Rospars, as he often does, attribute their online success as much to "respect for people and treating them like adults" as to any technological parlor tricks. It's actually consistent with the Obama folks when they're on panels or appearing in public events; they never talks about "I" did this or that. They are all very careful to attribute their success to their team. When complimented for that, the response is usually "but it's true!"

To come: A riveting youth vote panel and one on mobile campaigning, and a look at some of the cool but more esoteric events.

OH and if you're wondering why this post is so late, it's because there was no usable wireless at the Reagan Center and the damn Mac Air has no Ethernet plug! How frustrating do you think that was?

From Our House to the White House: Seders and a Happy Passover

In a few hours I go "off the grid" for a combination of two days of Passover (Thursday and Friday) and Shabbat on Saturday. Then I'm back, but gone again next Wednesday and Thursday for the final days of this labor-intensive holiday. It really is a trip – lots of cleaning and cooking and using different dishes and not eating anything with five grains, wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt (except for Matzoh which has to be made from one of them. Special mustard, vinegar and all packaged foods need special "Kosher for Passover" labels. I have written about this in other years so this year felt kind of "last year" as wondered what to say before going silent for so long.

Then, thanks to the always-ahead-of-the-curve City Council Candidate Jill Zimon, I learned this: there will be a White House Seder! How cool is that? I've always felt that the Seder and its tale of redemption from slavery was a universal story; one to which anyone with either a history of enslavement or a sense of justice could respond. And now, the first African American president, himself a symbol of freedom and, hopefully, a more just America, has seized upon this universal story as a message of openness and unity.
Listen to the Post's account:

In his letter, Obama called the story of
Jews' ascent from slavery to freedom in the Land of Israel as "among
the most powerful stories of suffering and redemption in human
history," accompanied by rituals and symbols that indicate "the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails."
He also said the holiday presented a message for all humankind. "As part of a larger global community, we all must work to ensure that our brothers and sisters of every race, religion, culture and nationality are free from bondage and repression, and are able to live in peace."

As Jill tweeted this morning, I to would give anything to be there – she wants to live-blog it. I'd just like to see it in action. Either way, it's an extra reminder not only of the freedom we celebrate but also of the gift of messengers who remind all of us – Jews and non-Jews, of the many treasured ways to honor and preserve that freedom together, whatever our history. Chag Sameach.

Obama Staffing Issues: Where IS Everybody?

How many times have you received an email with a signature including "Be the change you want to see in the world"? Gandhi said it and it's a treasured thought to many including my friend and sister blogger Catherine Morgan, who write a blog she calls "Be the Change You Want to See in Yourself." That's the feeling, the sense of purpose, that created so many committed Obama supporters, who surrendered their work, their time and their futures to make sure he was elected.

Today I read the following in the Washington Post:

This, about HHS:

After
Daschle's departure, other top prospects, such as neurosurgeon and television
reporter Sanjay Gupta, lost enthusiasm. That also may have been the case
withDonald Berwick, president of the Institute for Healthcare
Improvement, who had been talked about as a strong contender for the
Medicare-Medicaid job.

And
this, about finding a U.S. Ambassador to Mexico:

They've been trying: Clinton
administration transportation secretary and early Obama backer Federico Peña
turned down an offer, we hear, as did Clinton White House deputy chief of staff
Maria Echaveste. Given the Senate's upcoming two-week recess, there's
little chance an ambassador will be in Mexico City to greet Air Force One.

It's happening in the Treasury Department too, where is sounds like, in addition to the enormous challenges Secretary Geithner, he's also working without much substantial staff support. Between tax and other issues, several potential deputy and assistant secretary people have reportedly either dropped out or been eliminated.

Call me crazy but it seems to me that people should be knocking down doors, walls and White House fences to help. Those with great gifts should be volunteering the way GIs did in World War II. Yet at least from what's been reported, the opposite is true. People are pulling back, especially near the top.

I understand that much of this gap is not refusal to serve but instead the intense vetting process that makes it tough to get anything done. And that the Republicans in Congress are being so tough that often people wonder if it's worth it.

But this is an emergency. The Treasury Secretary is "making do" with a skeleton staff and, I''ll bet, some uncompensated patriots who are helping him until they can unscramble the nomination mess. And I'm a big girl. I understand that more than patriotism motivates many who choose to serve — or not to. But I keep thinking about my mom's funeral. I said to one of her friends, "You guys really were the Greatest Generation. You went through so much and were so brave."

His response: "We just did what we had to do. You will too." I hope he was right.

Education, National Security, Charlie Rose and Arne Duncan

The man sitting next to President Obama is our new Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Wednesday night he spent an hour with Charlie Rose. I've inserted some excerpts below; you can watch the whole hour here. Chuck Todd has summarized the interview as well, here. If you have time though, I recommend that you watch one or the other; this is not a usual man.

Maybe this position is one that allows for more exceptionally unambiguous appointments by Democrats; Secretary Richard Riley, who served President Clinton, was also extraordinary. Named by TIME Magazine as one of the ten top cabinet members of all time, he presided, along with the unstoppable Linda Roberts, over the Internet wiring of all our schools. He also worked to build up early childhood education, community colleges, parent engagement,higher standards and much more. So I admit from the get-go that I have a soft spot for this kind of education leader. Even among such excellence though I suspect this man is going to raise the bar even higher. Watch this.

See what I mean? What impresses me is not only the exceptional story of growing up in the home of a mother who ran an inner-city tutoring program; of seeing for himself what a decent education, which he calls a matter of social justice, can enable. Not only listening to him describe the educated friends from the program who "made it" and those who didn't learn – and "died." Literally.

It's his vision of serious ways to meet the obligation we have to our kids – and our economy. His belief in the school as a potential center of the community, as a resource, run, perhaps, by the school during school hours and the Y or Boys and Girls Clubs afterward, remaining open late into the evening, six or seven days a week. Recession, depression or apocalypse, we aren't going to have a very attractive 21st Century if we don't return our schools to their role as engines in the production of innovative Americans who keep us economically and creatively at the vanguard. So even if we can look away from the substandard schools, the ridiculously high drop-out rates and the lousy physical plants as someone else's kid's problem, the loss of those kids hurts us all. It's a national security issue.

Ditching the N Word: Happy Weekend

Even if this is only half true, it's pretty amazing. Next time we wonder about the impact of this election this is something to add to the equation. Just ask an anthropologist or a semanticist or semioticist — or for that matter a historian: language forms perspective on ideas and this is, well, riveting.(H/T to Ben Smith's Politico blog for this clip.)

Will the Obama Tax Cut Help YOU?

I didn’t know about this until my friend Madeleine Perry tweeted it, so I thought maybe you didn’t either. It’s the Obama-Biden Tax Cut Calculator. This video explains it. Instead of fighting over tax cuts, who gets them and how much they’ll yield, we can just figure it out here. Give it a try.

This Is Just Really Nice

President Obama: Words for How We Feel Now from Emily Troutman on Vimeo.
Produced by Emily Troutman

Why Are All Those Guys Being Mean to the President?

I haven't written much about the Inauguration or the first week of the Obama Administration. Partly it just hasn't sunk in, I think. Partly, like many people, we never got into our ticketed section. That wasn't so bad; we were there and that was what mattered.

After the swearing in though, we had a tough time getting off the Mall: lots of pushing and shoving and none of the spirit of earlier in the day. We were cold and exhausted like everyone else and felt really sad and beat up. I just didn't want to talk about it. Still don't.

But now, as I get used to hearing "President Obama," watch the Robert Gibbs briefings and listen to various cabinet members as they emerge, as I struggle to believe that George Bush is really gone (my husband refused to leave the TV at the reception on the Hill where we watched the actual swearing in until we saw the chopper take off) and that we have a smart, classy, competent and deeply pragmatic president, I want at least to weigh in.

It was a beautiful day. I don't know anyone, either personally, among the crowd or just around town, who isn't proud. Those I know who live abroad report the international excitement you've seen reported. We've done something wonderful. But you know that big cliche "now the hard part begins." Well, it's true. Just like it's easier and more fun to work on a startup than a big, established company, it's easier to campaign than to govern. Instead of one goal – getting elected, there are countless tasks and crises and they all happen at the same time. No news bulletin in this.

I wonder though if people are scared enough about our problems to give him time to make his way. From the first day there were people on the Hill blocking nominations and it felt to me that it was just because they could. I know that Americans don't want that to be happening but all three of the major roadblock Senators were men up for re-election so I guess they think it will benefit them at home. Reporters call it "red meat" and it's what's been troubling Americans for the past eight years; I can't imagine what these men think they're accomplishing, particularly with Eric Holder, the Attorney General nominee and widely praised including by his former Republican colleagues. Yet his confirmation was put off a week – and he, Tim Geithner (Treasury Secretary) and Hillary Clinton were all kept from early briefings where security was involved and from being an official part of the Inaugural because these guys decided to make trouble. Petty, huh?

So let's hope they come to their senses and that all of us are strong enough to hang on until the planned economic and diplomatic initiatives have time to move into place. It will all happen faster if we wait to fight until there's really something to fight over.

Pete, Bruce, Beyonce and Obama: the Changing of the Guard

There they are: two of the cultural icons of my political life. Pete Seeger, close to 90, peer and colleague of Woody Guthrie, creator of We Shall Overcome and Turn Turn Turn, of Abiyoyo and Sam the Whaler, leader of The Almanac Singers and the Weavers. If there was a civil rights rally or a labor rally or an anti-war rally, he was there.

Beside him, Bruce Springsteen, a modern troubadour whose songs speak for many Americans whose opinions are never sought, whose voices are seldom heard.

As they stood together at the Lincoln Memorial in celebration of the Inauguration of Barack Obama, they represented, to me, all that I had believed and tried to help bring into being. To many, though, they were “the ultimate in subtly old-left populism.” Speaking about the concert early Sunday before it began, I kept talking about Bruce. A younger friend gently suggested that he was probably not the day’s headliner. That would be Beyonce Knowles, she said. I’m sure she’s right.

As one who was present the last time “the torch was passed to a new generation;” as a strongly defined Baby Boomer, it’s painful to hear anchormen celebrate the fact that “there will never be another Baby Boom President.” It’ s not that I mind the fact of that; it’s just painful that it seems to be something to celebrate. So many of us have tried so to be productive agents of change, have spent our lives working either full or part of the time to see that our country offers more to the least powerful, demands quality education, justice and maybe, even peace. So to hear Joe Scarborough revel in the fact that “16 horrible years of baby boomer presidents is over” really hurts. All my adult life we’ve been tarred by the brush of the least attractive of us while the work of the rest of us went unnoticed. For most campaigns, as I’ve written before, we were the secret weapon of the right.

So as exciting as all this is, especially for one who has supported Obama for so long, it’s also bittersweet because I feel the shadow of the disdain in which so many of us are held. I really don’t know how to respond. If I were to try, it might be by offering some of the words to Si Kahn‘s They All Sang Bread and Roses. It’s better with the music, but it does the job.

They All Sang “Bread and Roses (Si Kahn, 1989,
1991)

The more I
study history,

The more I
seem to find

That in
every generation

There are
times just like that time

When folks
like you and me who thought

That they
were all alone

Within this
honored movement

Found a
home.

And ‘though
each generation fears

That it
will be the last,

Our
presence here is witness

To the
power of the past.

And just as
we have drawn our strength

From those
who now are gone,

Younger
hands will take our work

And carry
on.