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Methinks the honeymoon is starting to be over. At least members at OEN seem to wonder. If the President changes his mind about those horrific pictures, he gets picked on. Musical generals bring out the armchair variety. How many different ways are there to say "single payer" without being called a socialist? So what did the Obama administration accomplish this week? For one, the car companies are facing a new reality. For another, a credit card regulation bill gets some respect. And the president continues to make speeches and take trips. He also sat down with the new Israeli leader. Obviously he is preparing for more socializing in the Middle East.
Just a thought: Isn't this tiff between Cheney and others (for example, Speaker Pelosi) just the Republicans' way of stirring the pot to keep it from cooking?
Statistics are not on the side of happy talk. Millions unemployed, and that's just an official number which doesn't include underemployed and "not eligible" for compensation. "The Market" is sidling along. At least, the Dow hasn't been back down in the seven thousands. And, oh yes, it's a matter of record that Pakistan is having a refuge problem in their own country.
I tend to think that foreign policy is what demands the most attention. Not that better health insurance and other social issues aren't important. It's just that the "meltdown," which has plagued many of us for so long , will continue slushy until proper trade between nations can return.
By mid-June we will have a better feel for how the Obama administration will deal with American attitude toward Moslems. At least that's the way his trip to Cairo is being billed. Around the same time, John Conyers is giving a speech in Cleveland for the general conference of the United Church of Christ. I wonder? Do our elected officials make policy statements to religious bodies, because they know it's good (and cheap) advertising? Tell a preacher and enhance the oratory. Well, I see nothing wrong with that. I remember how it worked during the Vietnam war. The ten Commandments--especially "thou shalt not kill" got quite a workout.
I caution insight on the issue of who gets to do what in which nation. That's code words for "isolationism." Trading is essential--how to do it to keep the human equation in with the "bottom line" is the challenge.
As I have the pleasure to edit articles from the queue for publication, I am seeing a better kind of writing. Some, like the investigative essay on what happened at Chappaquiddick, is notable. After I put this diary to bed and before I go, I'm going to finish listening to Rob Kall's entry about how to get to Carnegie Hall. Also it seems more reviews on books are cropping up. Now that the contention of elections has subsided for the time being, apparently we, the citizens, are thinking of deeper issues than polls or which house seat will be lost by a Republican. I like the new mode. It will put the Cheney/Steele/Rove/Limbaugh/Gingrich palaver where it should be--the back fence or barroom, depending upon individual preference.
It's true that I don't watch television much. I surely enjoyed Moyers Journal on health insurance (single payer). I follow Brian Lamb on Q & A. If you google, use "qanda" or just go to C-Span and look for Q&A.
By the way, as if there isn't enough coverage of terrorists in US prisons, go to click here It will take you to a Las Vegas newspaper, which I read, but can't forward here.
