The Obama Revolution

[ramapo]

I believe it is coming.

Look at his approach to communication and openness. His Youtube addresses are great. This week I've received a questionnaire on how we think we can help going forward and looking for my feedback on energy and jobs. Does anybody read what you send in? I think so! Today there's an email with a short video from somebody on his energy team discussing some of the feedback!

Jobs! I believe the administration is going to put together some great programs and investments that get people working doing productive jobs.

Energy! The Obama team is going to attack our energy and transportation needs quickly and aggressively.

The Cabinet! A team of amazing talent and experience that will put Obama's vision into practice.

Foreign Policy! The US will be worthy of respect. Closing Gitmo, no more torture, embrace the Geneva Convention. Might we even see a sane Cuba policy?

Health Care! It is going to happen this time and we'll all have less to worry about.

The list just goes on and on. I am so impressed with what I see happening. The next four years are going to be a whirlwind of progress. I've been waiting for this for forty years and it is going to happen!

Gobama!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. GOBAMA! I am so happy. Sometimes I get down with this economy....

... and the Lieberman issue had me NUTS. However, I've realized that this is the best possible thing that could've happened.

[depakid]

2. If you're expecting meaningful healthcare reform you're going to be sorely disappointed

[democrattotheend]

4. What makes you say that?

Isn't it a little too premature? If you define meaningful as only meaning single payer you're probably right, but I think we will probably see some form of meaningful healthcare reform, though i am less optimistic than I was before the financial crisis.

[Honeycombe8]

6. Obama never proposed a single payer system. No candidate did.

He will proceed with the plan he proposed, probably changed in some ways. But like you, I am less optimistic because of the financial crisis.

But health care is #1 after the economy, so there's a good chance he'll at least get started on it. He also said (or someone in his camp said) that all these things (economy, healthcare, energy, environment) are related...one can't be "fixed" w/o the others.

[depakid]

7. None of the plans set out by the three major primary candidates will solve

the fundamental problems underlying America's fragmented health care "system," and Obama's was the least ambitious of them all.

So, what we'll see is some incremental improvements- hopefully some movement to limit denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions and some limitations on adverse selection- but in terms of affordability and access (and rising costs) none of the plans (other than HR 676) will be much of an improvement- even though getting the monkey off of the backs of American businesses ought to be something that the finacial crisis militates for- not against.

(though I doubt the health and insurance lobbiests will see it that way).

[laugle]

3. Be positive but have realistic expectations.........

[Honeycombe8]

5. It IS beginning to look pretty good. I just feel (and have felt all yr) that he has

the ability in his bones to be a great President.

It'll be tough, no doubt about it. Bush Jr. sure screwed up the country in almost every way possible.

But I'll be happy if he and his admin. just slowly rotates the big ship toward the right direction, and puts the brakes on the bleeding of jobs, and the loss of retirement accounts in the first year. If he ALSO tackles healthcare and the energy/environment issues, even if they're not resolved, I would be ECSTATIC! (do I dare to dream that that's possible?)