Travis M. Clark

I promise that this blog isn’t being used for political purposes. But something that I’ve noticed, as Obama begins/continues to fill his new staff, is that a lot of Clinton-era names are popping up to be either considered or named to positions as part of the Obama staff. I noticed that when pondering this, there are two sides what is happening. The first side is that a candidate who ran for office under a mantra of change is bringing in a lot of players who already had a role on the country during the 90′s when Clinton was president. How is that change? Isn’t that going to be the same thing, only a different president in charge of the same people? It’s hypocritical action when you look at it from an outside perspective. But then again, isn’t politics about going back on your promises?

Then there’s the other side of the argument. Obama is a shrewd, smart, individual, who ran an extremely well-organized campaign. These appointments reflect someone who knows that he may not have the most experience in the White House, so he is surrounding himself by those who know the ropes. People who have been tried and tested, and who know how to get things done in Washington. At least get things done to an extent. And while he ran his campaign on change, how much change can someone really accomplish in a government that doesn’t seem to embrace change – ever. I’m all for the new president to succeed. I just found it odd that he’s bringing in old players who have been there before.

In truth though, that is change, because Bush is out, as are most of his Republican cronies that have set this country back in their six years of power. Not that the Democrats are absolved of anything.

Thank goodness. After three long months (much longer for those actually in the US this past year), it’s been the talk of the town. The election. Voting. Phone calls. Knocks on your door. Vote this way. Incessant finger pointing. Now on this November 5, 2008, I take solace in the fact that it is over. Now the hard stuff starts – and Fox News is so kind to point it out in this photo below (adorning their home page for the time being):

Keep in mind it’s the trouble set up by everybody’s favorite president. But I’m going to leave Bush out of this. The president at hand knows what he’s up against, and is an inspirational and unifying leader that Americans can rally around. He certainly says the right things, and delivers it in a way that will hopefully remind this country of the ideals it was founded on:

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

It’s great to see so many people excited over Obama’s win. It makes sense to have tempered optimism, because for so many people it’s as simple as not having Bush in office anymore. It’ll be interesting to see what this junior Senator from Illinois does.

Watch Obama’s former mentor, Charles Ogletree, set the bar real high for the president elect on Indecision ’08.