111th Congress Convenes Monday: Let the Games Begin 13 comments
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The 111th Congress convenes on Monday. If you are in any sort of business, in fact if you are a citizen of this country or you happen to be a citizen of the world and believe that what happens in the U.S. has more than a passing impact on you, then you might want to watch the next few weeks, months or year very carefully. This is one of those moments in time when politics and resultant policies will have an immediate and substantial impact on the fabric of society.
The new Democratic Congress is set to begin framing their program for the reconstitution of the American economy. While President-elect Obama and the members of his administration will have input, the edge in time clearly belongs to the legislative branch, where some of the most senior members have waited a political lifetime for this opportunity.
Old bulls like Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Charles Rangel and Henry Waxman, to name a few, stand much to the left of what appears at first blush to be a cautious, centrist Obama Presidency. They have been thwarted by circumstances and Presidents past but have nothing obvious in their path at this point in time. The opportunity to legislate and reform an American system in their vision is at hand and I doubt they intend to let it pass.
The U.S. finds itself at a rare historical moment. Roosevelt in the 1930s, LBJ in 1960s and Reagan in the 1980s found themselves in similar circumstances. Those presidential administrations seized the opportunity and the legislation they produced continues to this day to impact the country. It remains to be seen if the Obama administration’s actions will result in a similar legacy. If not, then circumstances dictate that it will be the Congress that will leave its mark. For make no mistake about it, changes instituted by one or the other are coming and those changes will shake this society to its core.
Detest politics if you choose but realize one thing. Your future, no matter what you do, is going to be seriously shaped by the actions of politicians in the next twelve months.
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American politics at second, world politics is my main focus.
I wonder if some commenters can supply me/us with a focus board group or blogspot where people like I can join the debate about problems and issues that affect us all. It would be a great learning experience in these unprecedented times surrounding us.
Anyone who cares to share a distinguished discussing group/board/blog with me?
Thanks in advance.
Good article! Concise & right to the point. I concur that we are at the juncture of a rare historical moment, one that may shape our future for better or worse. While I tremble for the republic, I am very hopeful for our new President.
My very best wishes to you, my fellow readers and, to the President-elect & all members of Congress. May we all have a very productive, prosperous and, safe new year!
There is now a think tank of about 20 very bright minds that participate in a one per month teleconference. We do now have a specific agenda and are in R&D mode. Call that objective facilitating the voice of the U.S. citizen as am open source software project.
The article and you are correct De Graaf. Washington is going to be making decisions that will be effecting the entire next generation of how the global citizen lives.
On Jan 02 08:19 AM De Graaf wrote:
> As I feel myself very attracted to macroeconomics and intermarket
> relations I will be very intrigued by these developments of the coming
> twelve months.
> American politics at second, world politics is my main focus. <br/>
>
> I wonder if some commenters can supply me/us with a focus board group
> or blogspot where people like I can join the debate about problems
> and issues that affect us all. It would be a great learning experience
> in these unprecedented times surrounding us.
>
> Anyone who cares to share a distinguished discussing group/board/blog
> with me?
>
> Thanks in advance.
Wait until Congress finds out Barry Soetoro, aka Obama isn't a US Citizen, and isn't eligible for the Presidency. That should throw a nice wrench in the works. What a shame.
What is to be done? Change the "minor mother" rule. It is invidiously discriminatory and unconstitutional.
There is documentation that the Supreme Court has right now, and they will conference on the 9th. No changes will do anything at this point. he was adopted by his Indonesian Stepfather, Lolo Soetoro, when he was 6, and never got his US Citizenship back. This is a massive problem right now.
> Re: Secmaven
> he was adopted by his Indonesian Stepfather, Lolo Soetoro,
> when he was 6, and never got his US Citizenship back. This is a massive
> problem right now.
It's actually not a problem at all -- the (non)issue has been settled in the minds of 99% of Americans for months now. Even the courts are done with it. The 'problem' effectively evaporated minutes after it was introduced.
But here's a real problem: The only qualification you need to serve in the U.S. Congress or White House is a fabulous skill at fund-raising. Hell, we just traded a bunch of fund-raisers from one party for some from the other party.
We have no thinkers in Washington (or in most state and local government) from either party, and haven't for years. Instead we have fund-raisers.
It shows.