The elections are finally over and it will be nice not having to watch political TV ads every two minutes. It’ll be interesting to watch the new administration over the next few years. As I can only base my observations on Obama’s actual voting record and political and personal associations in the past, I’m not overly hopeful.
Unfortunately, his first significant decision since the election bares this out. Obama has run his campaign under the mantra of change and NOT Washington politics as usual. So what does he do? His first political appointment to Chief of Staff is a hard-line, liberal political hack, Rahm Emanuel. Talk about a Washington insider. He’s a former political and policy aide to Bill Clinton. And guess what? He was also on the board of directors for Freddie Mac. Guess who gave him that job? Surprise, Bill Clinton! This is a guy who once mailed a dead fish to someone because he didn’t agree with him. There’s some real “change”, Obama style.
I don’t trust the guy. He lied when he said he would accept public funding for his campaign. He’s been dishonest when talking of his past and present associations with unsavory people and organizations. My guess is that he will continue to surround himself with more sleazy Chicago politicians and past Clinton hacks. I’m sure he’ll offer a token job or two to some Republicans so the liberal media can show how bipartisan he really is. Maybe it won’t be Washington-style politics. However, I don’t think Chicago-style politics is a whole lot better, either.
I hope I’m wrong. Maybe he’ll have some kind of epiphany and will govern in the best interests of the country. The liberal left-wing organizations and media had a big part in getting him this far. Does he have the intelligence and strength of character to do the right thing? Time will tell. Until then, many Americans will look at him with suspicion and distrust.
