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President Obama has removed the restrictions on the use of embryonic stem cells in research that had been imposed by former President Bush. This is an important sign that in the Obama administration ideological passion will no longer overcome scientific reason.
At the same time, President Obama issued a stern warning to all Federal agencies not to follow any signing statements issued by the former president unless authorized to do so by the attorney general. Just a few days before that, he ordered the release of seven secret memos that had authorized the use of surveillance and interrogation techniques widely seen as constitutionally suspect, thus shedding light on a dark corner of American history.
Taken together these measures tell us that elections do indeed matter. President Obama is different. But the new administration is just that "- new. Some patience and faith may be in order during these early days. I believe the president is doing what he can as fast as he can to undo the worst excesses of the Bush administration. Could he move faster on a wider range of issues? Sure. But politics has been defined as the art of the possible, and I believe the President Obama is doing what is possible with razor-thin margins in both houses of Congress.
I remember the Kennedy assassination. I also remember that Jack Kennedy was subjected to a relentless stream of criticism from both the right and the left. And then just like that, one morning in America it was all gone.
The point that I am trying to make here is that historic moments like this don't come along every day. Most of us alive today may very well never see another president like this one in our lifetime. We need to use this opportunity to build something positive for our children and grandchildren and yes, right what wrongs we can. For me, this is literally the last chance of my lifetime. I don't want to blow it.
