#1 · Nov 07, 2008 23:11 UTC
Enough has been said about the election,
but moving on to his presidency
What do you foresee ?
off the top of my head - so just opinions and open to change by events.
Race
Elephant in the room
On the fence in racial politics, rising above it and balancing it with all the other pressures.
He is a post race president.
He will guard that independence highest of all as racial politics is incendiary.
He also has a far deeper understanding of this than anyone else has,
War
Mammoth in the room
Change the mood music, rearrange the priorities and use soft power more.
Islamicists will be striken by this election result -
racial nationalism is a major element they exploit and appropriate in the name of religion.
And Obama presents them with a big problem.
Obama will not let up on the military pressure on them while simultaneously taking away a large part of their support which was motivated by a big fuck you we can all be tough guys to the Bush doctrine.
He will be able to talk softly and carry a big stick on this issue.
Economic
T-rex in the room
This will be his immediate concern now, followed by security concerns as this is the classic time for an attack, the low blow.
Obama will be sure to make it clear that he is dealing with a legacy from republicans.
But even so, the reality is that republicans will now ruthlessly seek to pin their mistakes on him and let him take the rap for their incompetence.
But that aside - the partisan viper pit.
Economically, the situation is so extraordinary that it is impossible to say - at least in a usual suspect sense of right and left politics.
The banking system has been nationalised pretty much worldwide, even the banks that aren't are under the regime.
His immediate consuming task will be about creating the conditions where it is all un-nationalised as soon as possible at a profit for the tax payers hopefully.
I doubt he will have much time to devote to other things in the first year at least - probably two he will be firefighting.
If Obama is competent then he will do what is right regardless of popularity.
My only real reservation with Obama is with free trade and protectionism.
If it is a nuance of policy - fine, but if it is protectionism it is a negative sum game and potentially disastrous
Trade wars are to be avoided - in the current situation China has the money to pull a financial US plug into mutual chaos.
Overall
I think and hope Obama will be nuanced, clever and skilful in leadership.
Which will make a welcome change :)
but moving on to his presidency
What do you foresee ?
off the top of my head - so just opinions and open to change by events.
Race
Elephant in the room
On the fence in racial politics, rising above it and balancing it with all the other pressures.
He is a post race president.
He will guard that independence highest of all as racial politics is incendiary.
He also has a far deeper understanding of this than anyone else has,
War
Mammoth in the room
Change the mood music, rearrange the priorities and use soft power more.
Islamicists will be striken by this election result -
racial nationalism is a major element they exploit and appropriate in the name of religion.
And Obama presents them with a big problem.
Obama will not let up on the military pressure on them while simultaneously taking away a large part of their support which was motivated by a big fuck you we can all be tough guys to the Bush doctrine.
He will be able to talk softly and carry a big stick on this issue.
Economic
T-rex in the room
This will be his immediate concern now, followed by security concerns as this is the classic time for an attack, the low blow.
Obama will be sure to make it clear that he is dealing with a legacy from republicans.
But even so, the reality is that republicans will now ruthlessly seek to pin their mistakes on him and let him take the rap for their incompetence.
But that aside - the partisan viper pit.
Economically, the situation is so extraordinary that it is impossible to say - at least in a usual suspect sense of right and left politics.
The banking system has been nationalised pretty much worldwide, even the banks that aren't are under the regime.
His immediate consuming task will be about creating the conditions where it is all un-nationalised as soon as possible at a profit for the tax payers hopefully.
I doubt he will have much time to devote to other things in the first year at least - probably two he will be firefighting.
If Obama is competent then he will do what is right regardless of popularity.
My only real reservation with Obama is with free trade and protectionism.
If it is a nuance of policy - fine, but if it is protectionism it is a negative sum game and potentially disastrous
Trade wars are to be avoided - in the current situation China has the money to pull a financial US plug into mutual chaos.
Overall
I think and hope Obama will be nuanced, clever and skilful in leadership.
Which will make a welcome change :)
