My thoughts on Obama so far...

Let me see, I'll just tick off a list:

Tax Rebates on the huge 850 billion stimulus package: The Repubs want tax rate cuts. I would tend to agree, however I suppose sending out checks would be quicker. Problem is I hate seeing people who pay no taxes get checks anyway! Hope it "stimulates" better than the last gift!

Meeting with Republicans and Conservatives: Good! But adopt at least a couple of their better ideas.

Giving interview to Al Arabia: Excellent! (He should have expressed more sympathy for Gaza civilians, however.)

Closing Gitmo: Fine, but problematic. He probably should have not been so firm on a closing date. As long as the hard core terrorists get some kind of due process and aren't tortured, I think they could be there for a while. Meanwhile we could examine all the detainees to find the ones who just got swept up, but aren't really terrorists. They should be the first to leave there.

Car mileage standards: He wants to let states (California) set their own standards if they exceed the federal ones. This could add expense to car manufacturing. Also, he set federal goals for mileage standards. Well, I think this is a laudable goal, but car manufactures cannot have to rigid of a standard to comply with or they will fail. Government does need to find a way to steer them towards a greener future.

Middle East envoy: George Mitchell is excellent. Obama seems to use the language indicating they will get involved immediately and stay involved! But, again, PLEASE EXPRESS SOME SYMPATHY FOR GAZA CIVILIANS AND OFFER WHATEVER WE CAN IN HUMANITARIAN AID!

Hope...

This is what I cling to tonight... I made a point of getting up to watch the Innauguration of our new President. I have no delusions that this will be easy! The country is a mess and should he leave with it being more of a mess, well then America could slip into facism.

I'm not thinking about this, some people's cynical comments or the fact that (ouch!) the stock market tanked today... I'm thinking of the bright young President, who might just surprise us with his success in leading us out of this mess. He just might have the ability to inspire us out of this mess!

The world really seems to want a new start for America!

Bush commutes sentences of former Border Patrol agents

Hmmm.... I was beginning to wonder! Well, better late than never. But I really would have preferred a full pardon for those two agents.

All in all, this is probably the best thing Bush could have done on his last day. I know that none of the foreign leaders he called really cared to hear from him. Time to ride off into the sunset!

Men stoned to death for adultery, murder in Iran

So, what's new? Until the fucking mullahs are run out of town... or better yet, given this punishment, this crap will continue.

I have to laugh when conservatives here rail against anything secular. Does Bill O'Reilly really want us to end up like a Christian version of Iran? Talk about morally corrupt and evil leadership! And don't think that because people are "Christian" or "Jew", they can't be capable of such radical actions: take a look at some of the stuff in the Old Testiment!

I believe Islam will survive, but not in such a radical form. People won't stand for such an oppresive governing force for too long. Religion in America is strong - but will only stay that way with a wall between church and the state.

Getting used to Pres. O....

Things are going to move fast and furious when this guy gets started. I have to say I approve of most of his pre-inauguration decisions so far. I'm a little unsure about Leon Panetta as CIA chief, but probably his management skills will contribute something to the Bureau. Also, I think he should move carefully to close Gitmo. There's a lot of hardened terrorists there and I am not too excited about them going to U.S. facilities. This is not to say that I don't wish to see Gitmo closed soon. Just go slowly with it and carefully move the "detainees". Get them trials and due process.

Now he is handling the flap over Pastor Rick Warren and the Inauguration just fine: he has picked (gay) Bishop Gene Robinson to issue a prayer at another event. So, I hope everyone will be happy!

He has requested Bush to release the other $350 Billion.... hmm.... I'm still not too sure about these massive expenditures...

Haggard to go on Larry King Live Jan 29th...

I'll be sure and NOT watch! Who cares about this idiot? It just goes to prove my theory: make an ass out of yourself and you can be rich! Of course I understand Pastor Ted is in debt now, but I sure as hell won't read his book! I would not direct even one red cent his way!

But I'm sure that many would wish to be titillated by his sordid story... Gawd, he looks creepy! Go behave yourself and disappear from the limelight FOREVER, fool!

Bombing the shit out of Gaza won't solve anything!

What is the score now, 360 Gazans to 4 Israeli? O.k., I'm no fan of Hamas, but Israel is not winning any friends, either in Palestine or throughout the world. I'm afraid that if ever the tiny Gaza Strip has time to regroup and any movement occurs through borders or their ports... well, uh, the portable rocket launchers will soon reappear.

What is Israel to do? I suspect they will try an invasion and re-occupation of the strip. This will probably stop rockets for a while. But this will not build any permanent good will. Then there is the grave humanitarian crisis brewing. Hamas clearly operates among civilian populations.

This will be an important test for President Obama. If he is lucky, Israel will have completed it's military operation. Then it will be up to the new President to deftly maneuver through this crisis... AND, I might add, show a bit of neutrality in this conflict. Next, the U.S. has to head efforts to help the humanitarian crisis. Gaza is being turned into a giant prison camp. I don't believe that Americans, or even most Israeli's for that matter, want it turned into a concentration camp!