Barack Obama's inauguration will take place with much fanfare on January 20th, with millions expected in attendance on the Mall. I will be at home watching on television, but it will still be a truly joyous occasion, a moment that could possibly top Obama's November 4th Grant Park speech in its emotional impact. I get all giddy just thinking about the potential magic of that day.
But we mustn't jump to the inauguration too quickly since a lot of official work and preparation need to be done. And I don't mean building stages for the speeches, rehearsing bands for the marches, or polishing ballroom floors for the dancing.
Beginning January 8th the U.S. Senate will hold the first confirmation hearings for Obama's cabinet appointees. If all goes according to schedule, the financial and national security confirmations will be finished by the 20th. Of course, Obama hopes that his entire group, cabinet and advisers, is approved as rapidly as possible. Once the team is set, we will have a full administration to finally implement Obama's entire plan.
In considering the impact these individuals may have on future policy, I anticipate a strong, committed, exceptional performance from each of the "team," as Obama has referred to it. I realize, however, that some may have a more extensive and quicker impact than others. So, instead of discussing everyone on the list, I have grouped them according to their potential "great" and "greater" achievements.
Great Potential
- Eric Shinseki - Veterans Administration - I hope General Shinseki will quickly address both the funding and quality of care which have slipped in the VA. It has simply been shameful under Bush.
- Tom Vilsack - Agriculture - He has an opportunity to minimize the control of our food sources by agribusiness through encouraging more organic and sustainable production.
- Ken Salazar - Interior - Will he overturn the Bush mandates that are literally raping pristine areas and finally return us to environmentally friendly practices? If so, greatness is his.
- Susan Rice - UN - The U.S. has become an embarrassment in the U.N. We need to return to dialoguing and working with the other 191 member nations, rather than expecting them to genuflect before us. I have high hopes for our new ambassador.
- Eric Holder - Justice - Morale is at an all-time low in the Justice Department. Holder's job will be to return a sense of integrity and even-handed application of the Constitution, something we haven't see for eight years.
- Rahm Emanuel - White House Chief of Staff - It will be Emanuel's job to guide and nudge in general but to be tough and pushy when necessary. There is going to be a ton of new legislation that he will negotiate through the halls of Congress. It'll be a tight rope act, but if he does his job right the change Obama campaigned on very well may become reality.
- Hillary Clinton - State - Our foreign policy and standing in the world are in shambles. Our incoming Secretary of State has an opportunity to implement tremendous change as she protects America's interests, but also uses her multifaceted abilities and stature to encourage more negotiation and less war, both from us and from others.
- James Jones - NSA - see Clinton, above.
- Tom Daschle - Health & Human Services - No program could have as immediate, visible and beneficial impact on the lives of everyday Americans as a national health plan. Daschle is staking his reputation on passing such legislation, which could become - like Social Security - a norm for our country.
- Larry Summers - National Economic Council - If Summers can set aside his deregulating tendencies from the past, he can use his economic genius as a catalyst for guiding the U.S. out of its worst crisis in eighty years. There are many great minds that Obama has brought together, but Summers could very well be the initial energy to get a working plan into action.
- Steven Chu - Energy -Speaking of energy, Chu like Summers, is a high-powered intellect. He very well may be the person with the initial vision that sets the rest of the environmental team into action. If we are on the road to energy independence in ten years, look back to Chu to see what influence he had on the process of getting us there.
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Mike - I share your enthusiasm for Obama and what he has done so far. I am less dismayed by his decision about Rick Warren than most others since I tend to view things in terms of trends and patterns, trying not to over-focus on single decisions or actions (I think life is too complex for any single decision, action or experience to define a person.)
ReplyDeleteBut I like the thoughtfulness of your comments about what Obama has done so far. Are you thinking about becoming a nationally syndicated pundit?
I also want to be careful not to set myself up for disappointment. As phenomenal as Obama is, he still puts his pants on one leg at a time. I will let history be the judge of greatness (I think history has done fine by Lincoln, for example, given the low regard in which he was often held during his presidency.)
For my part, I look forward to seeing intelligence and competence as the hallmarks of the Obama administration. That seems to be a significant enough change given the last eight years. Perhaps this combination of intelligence and competence will generate greatness - hopefully, it will not spawn hubris.
Anyway, given the current state of affairs, it seems that things can only get better starting on 1.20.09!
By the way, Matt was kind enough at Thanksgiving to not say, "I told you so" when he arrived in Rochester.
Take care,
Rick