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Obama will move to veto Bush laws
by Ed Pilkington
Reposted from:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/10/obama-white-house-barack
Barack Obama will move swiftly to unpick many of what he sees as the most egregious acts of the Bush administration when he enters the White House in January, including restrictions on stem cell research and moves to allow oil drilling in wilderness areas, a leading member of his transition team said yesterday.
John Podesta, a former chief of staff to Bill Clinton whom Obama has put in joint charge of his transition process, indicated the incoming president would use extraordinary powers to force through rapid change. "There's a lot the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Podesta said.
Podesta singled out restrictions applied by George Bush, in 2001, on federal funding of stem cell research, as well as recent moves by the White House to dilute environmental protections against oil drilling, as two areas in which quick action may be taken. "You see the Bush administration, even today, moving aggressively to do things that are probably not in the interest of the country," he said.
Podesta's comments could be interpreted as a warning to the Bush administration not to forge ahead with controversial decisions in the weeks of transition, a ploy used by many outgoing presidents.
According to the Washington Post, a team of about 50 Obama advisers have worked for months identifying some 200 Bush policies that are possible targets. Other areas of action may include reproductive rights, food and drug regulation and immigration enforcement.
Podesta's signal that the new administration would act quickly to negate several key provisions left by the outgoing one came as the president and president-elect prepared to meet today. Bush will show Obama around the White House, followed by private talks likely to focus on national security, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the economic crisis.
Since last Tuesday's election, Obama and his team have focused on the economy, which they have underlined as their number one priority. But by flagging up stem cells and drilling, the team has also indicated it means to move on several fronts, meeting the expectation of change unleashed by Obama's campaign. A volley of executive orders reversing key Bush policies would have the benefits of being relatively quick to implement, as they would not involve congressional approval, and of costing little money.
Stem cell research has been a rallying cause for American liberals since Bush blocked federal funding for all but a few sources of old cells in August 2001. Scientists have complained the restrictions, inspired by the Christian right, have held back US dynamism in a research field seen as a possible route to cures for conditions such as Alzheimer's.
Podesta pointed to attempts by the Bush administration in its dying days to expose tracts of public land in the west to oil and gas drilling. In recent weeks the US Bureau of Land Management has offered up about 360,000 acres in Utah to oil and gas companies, with auctions of the leases likely before Obama takes over. "They want to have oil and gas drilling in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah. I think that's a mistake," Podesta said.
The Sierra Club, the country's largest grassroots environmental organisation, said it was concerned about last-minute changes from the Bush administration. "They have consistently weakened protections over the last eight years, and we are encouraged that the Obama team plans to act to clean up the mess when they get into office," the club said.
Tony Blair, reacting to Obama's victory yesterday, said: "There is this huge weight of expectation, but it is at least possible to meet a reasonable part of those expectations."
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/10/obama-white-house-barack
Barack Obama will move swiftly to unpick many of what he sees as the most egregious acts of the Bush administration when he enters the White House in January, including restrictions on stem cell research and moves to allow oil drilling in wilderness areas, a leading member of his transition team said yesterday.
John Podesta, a former chief of staff to Bill Clinton whom Obama has put in joint charge of his transition process, indicated the incoming president would use extraordinary powers to force through rapid change. "There's a lot the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Podesta said.
Podesta singled out restrictions applied by George Bush, in 2001, on federal funding of stem cell research, as well as recent moves by the White House to dilute environmental protections against oil drilling, as two areas in which quick action may be taken. "You see the Bush administration, even today, moving aggressively to do things that are probably not in the interest of the country," he said.
Podesta's comments could be interpreted as a warning to the Bush administration not to forge ahead with controversial decisions in the weeks of transition, a ploy used by many outgoing presidents.
According to the Washington Post, a team of about 50 Obama advisers have worked for months identifying some 200 Bush policies that are possible targets. Other areas of action may include reproductive rights, food and drug regulation and immigration enforcement.
Podesta's signal that the new administration would act quickly to negate several key provisions left by the outgoing one came as the president and president-elect prepared to meet today. Bush will show Obama around the White House, followed by private talks likely to focus on national security, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the economic crisis.
Since last Tuesday's election, Obama and his team have focused on the economy, which they have underlined as their number one priority. But by flagging up stem cells and drilling, the team has also indicated it means to move on several fronts, meeting the expectation of change unleashed by Obama's campaign. A volley of executive orders reversing key Bush policies would have the benefits of being relatively quick to implement, as they would not involve congressional approval, and of costing little money.
Stem cell research has been a rallying cause for American liberals since Bush blocked federal funding for all but a few sources of old cells in August 2001. Scientists have complained the restrictions, inspired by the Christian right, have held back US dynamism in a research field seen as a possible route to cures for conditions such as Alzheimer's.
Podesta pointed to attempts by the Bush administration in its dying days to expose tracts of public land in the west to oil and gas drilling. In recent weeks the US Bureau of Land Management has offered up about 360,000 acres in Utah to oil and gas companies, with auctions of the leases likely before Obama takes over. "They want to have oil and gas drilling in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah. I think that's a mistake," Podesta said.
The Sierra Club, the country's largest grassroots environmental organisation, said it was concerned about last-minute changes from the Bush administration. "They have consistently weakened protections over the last eight years, and we are encouraged that the Obama team plans to act to clean up the mess when they get into office," the club said.
Tony Blair, reacting to Obama's victory yesterday, said: "There is this huge weight of expectation, but it is at least possible to meet a reasonable part of those expectations."
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008
Comments 1 - 50 of 122 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #281137 by RedPen on November 9, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Maybe now American scientists can catch up with Japanese researchers.
Fuck Bush.
Other Comments by RedPen
3. Comment #281138 by Frankus1122 on November 9, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Those laws that are fear based or the result of religious thought (God's whisper) should be the first to go. I am looking forward to reason.How can you argue with reason?
Well, you use reason.
What is most reasonable should prevail.
Yea!
Other Comments by Frankus1122
4. Comment #281139 by Cartomancer on November 9, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Good news on those stem cells and all that civil liberties stuff. Sadly no country-wide gay marriage act to scotch proposition 8 unfortunately, but it's good as far as it goes... Other Comments by Cartomancer
6. Comment #281144 by Enlightenme.. on November 9, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Watching Gore Vidal interviewed by Henry Rollins, or Frost on Al-jazeera (ok they're all a bit 'out there') it sounds like the patriot act needs looking into - as well as Gitmo & renditions.His opinion seems to be that removal of Habeas Corpus is the greatest threat since Nazi Germany.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-drWGnF6DjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QMFQ22erKI
Henry Rollins on Evolution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zgVjWs2j-w
And, though his isolationist preferred alternate history would have left us speaking German, he did mention that it came from Magna Carta!
Other Comments by Enlightenme..
7. Comment #281145 by mordacious1 on November 9, 2008 at 8:09 pm
The list of crap Bush did is so long. Where to start, illegal wiretaps would be #1 with me, but I'd also like to see something in the line of Kyoto again. Other Comments by mordacious1
8. Comment #281146 by Wosret on November 9, 2008 at 8:10 pm
All good news. I do hope to hear more good news as well. Perhaps the type of news Carto wants to hear...though somehow I am less than optimistic about that one. Other Comments by Wosret
9. Comment #281147 by Mango on November 9, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Lame-duck presidents often put forward despicable policies and grant pardons just before leaving office. For instance, Bill Clinton pardoned Mark Rich in the last hours of his presidency because Rich's wife made large donations to the Democratic party and Clinton Library. So it's great to see Mr. Obama taking these proactive efforts before he takes office, but I'll have my eye on him even more intently as he leaves. Other Comments by Mango
10. Comment #281148 by mordacious1 on November 9, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Gay marriage would have to come from the Supreme Court (fat chance with 5 catholic justices) or from Congress. Obama can only sign the legislation. Other Comments by mordacious1
11. Comment #281150 by Mr0Joshua on November 9, 2008 at 8:18 pm
How about dismantling the Office of Community and Faith Based Initiatives that was illegally created by Executive Order and funnels money into evangelical causes. Obama has pledged to keep it and put the focus on Community. But I say if your going to create an Office to support community action create through Congress and build in some real oversight.Other Comments by Mr0Joshua
12. Comment #281151 by PeeJayBee on November 9, 2008 at 8:21 pm
This article really made me smile! says Cartomancer:
"Good news on those stem cells and all that civil liberties stuff. Sadly no country-wide gay marriage act to scotch proposition 8 unfortunately, but it's good as far as it goes.."
Could Obama veto the Gay marriage act if he wanted to? I'm not from the US and unsure of exactly how much power the president really has.
Other Comments by PeeJayBee
13. Comment #281153 by mordacious1 on November 9, 2008 at 8:24 pm
"Could Obama veto the Gay marriage act if he wanted to?"
Nope
Other Comments by mordacious1
14. Comment #281154 by Enlightenme.. on November 9, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Carto's sort of proposition'll probably have to wait till second term I reckon, he doesn't sound like he's into burning bridges.But full gay equality, in every way, including 'whatever necessary' 'enwidening' to the definition of the word marriage, nothing less than this is the rubicon I hope he could lead us across eventually.
I have heard, that Prop 8 had a heavy black vote, so, if some people like Jesse Jackson want(-wanted) to suggest 'he wasn't there' in the 60's then lets see them on board. (or does that sound all rong. I dunno)
I already hate having to live in a world where we are made to live with 'special' words like 'civil partnership'.
Other Comments by Enlightenme..
15. Comment #281158 by ~manic-depressive on November 9, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I have heard, that Prop 8 had a heavy black vote...
I have heard this too. I was both unsurprised and disappointed. If anyone can identify the source of this piece of information, that would be useful.
Other Comments by ~manic-depressive
16. Comment #281159 by Wosret on November 9, 2008 at 9:00 pm
The oppressee has become the oppressor. As they said on the daily show. Other Comments by Wosret
17. Comment #281160 by Enlightenme.. on November 9, 2008 at 9:04 pm
"source"Uhh..
Telemedia
It's complex.
Liberation theology (I s'pose) and films like the fantasticly entertaining and yet, and yet, rather unfortunately 'burdened', 'Amistad'
Other Comments by Enlightenme..
18. Comment #281163 by mordacious1 on November 9, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Comment #281158 by ~manic-depressive
Here is a good article about the black vote and Prop. 8:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gayblack8-2008nov08,0,1601616.story
Some exit polls are reporting that blacks voted up to 70% for Prop 8 . As I discussed earlier, the black vote is a small % of the voters in CA, but it is sad that people who are discriminated against themselves can support such a Prop. It is said to be a church thing, more blacks attend church by % than whites.
As an aside, my wife's supervisor in a mormon and said she contributed $3000 for Prop 8 . I'd like to tell her what a bigoted c*** she is, but we need the paycheck.
Other Comments by mordacious1
19. Comment #281173 by mordacious1 on November 9, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Have you guys read this?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081110/ts_nm/us_usa_military_report_1
Other Comments by mordacious1
20. Comment #281176 by Raynor on November 9, 2008 at 11:02 pm
@ Carto: The ACLU has a good chance (as far as I can tell, but I'm no constitutional lawyer) of winning their case reversing Prop 8:http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/relationships/37706prs20081105.html
Also, I heard whispers a while back of Obama wanting to abolish the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy so that we stop losing talented men and women in our armed forces.
I have a friend who would, the day that Obama abolishes it, re-up.
Edit: typo
Other Comments by Raynor
21. Comment #281184 by Stafford Gordon on November 10, 2008 at 12:01 am
It will be interesting to see what cunning stunts the cunning stunt pullers will pull trying stop the rescinding or reversing of the antediluvian legislation put in place by by the chief cunning stunt puller and his cunnung stunt pulling friends.What was a "hanging chad" anyway?
Other Comments by Stafford Gordon
22. Comment #281186 by mmurray on November 10, 2008 at 12:05 am
What was a "hanging chad" anyway?
A chad is the name given to the bit of card punched out of voting cards by some automated voting machines. Part of the Florida, Jeb Bush fiasco in 2000 was an argument over hanging chads -- which were chads which had not been completely punched out.
Google knows all
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_(paper)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_United_States_presidential_election
Michael
Other Comments by mmurray
23. Comment #281188 by Madphatcat on November 10, 2008 at 12:06 am
Uh yeah. The title of this submission is *wrong.* There is no 'veto' here. A veto is when the President overrides Congress. You know, actual legislation? A President can sign off on legislation and have it become law, or veto it. A President *cannot* override laws by veto that are already on the books.BUT, and this is a big, there are things called executive orders which have nothing to do with Congress. Whatever executive orders that Bush has made that are not enshrined in any actual statutes can be overridden by Obama making executive orders of his own.
Other Comments by Madphatcat
24. Comment #281190 by Fuller on November 10, 2008 at 12:12 am
This is great to see, a similar feeling for me as when Rudd came into power here in Australia and made a couple of swift moves. Signed the Kyoto protocol, and apologised to Indigenous Australians.Nothing much appears to have happened with our government since then though...oh well
Other Comments by Fuller
25. Comment #281191 by dochmbi on November 10, 2008 at 12:15 am
What is the lesser evil? Drilling for oil in your own country causing damage to your own environment, or invading other countries to gain control of their oil? Other Comments by dochmbi
26. Comment #281195 by Thor'Ungal on November 10, 2008 at 12:40 am
Comment #281191 by dochmbi
False Dichotomy. Do neither, ween your country off oil altogether, pay market value to other sovereign nations for what oil you still need.
reminds me of a similar question:
"which is the lesser evil. Beating your wife or abusing your children."
Neither, get help.
Meh,
Thor'Ungal
Other Comments by Thor'Ungal
27. Comment #281197 by dochmbi on November 10, 2008 at 12:57 am
Ok fair enough. But I was under the impression that the reason the US invades those countries in the middle-east is for oil, right? But at the same time they don't drill their own oil. Other Comments by dochmbi
28. Comment #281209 by Stafford Gordon on November 10, 2008 at 1:45 am
I'm sorry! My hanging chad question was rhetorical; but thanks anyway.And of course "cheif cunning stunt puller" should have read "cunning stunt puller in cheif" I do apologise.
Other Comments by Stafford Gordon
29. Comment #281228 by Corylus on November 10, 2008 at 2:28 am
Rachel Maddow on the black vote and prop 8. Other Comments by Corylus
30. Comment #281232 by Dhamma on November 10, 2008 at 2:30 am
Obama seems so reasonable, he may actually become an atheist. So, whenever the highly disguised member-name "Amabo" shows up, we should be extra helpful!
Other Comments by Dhamma
31. Comment #281233 by mmurray on November 10, 2008 at 2:31 am
Ah sorry Stafford I missed that :-)Your comment did remind me of the old joke about the magician and the row of chorus girls ...
Michael
Other Comments by mmurray
32. Comment #281248 by Vinelectric on November 10, 2008 at 3:21 am
Naturalist1
One Guantanamo proposal coming up...!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081110/ap_on_el_pr/obama_guantanamo
Other Comments by Vinelectric
33. Comment #281253 by ObeseBuddha on November 10, 2008 at 3:32 am
the incoming president would use extraordinary powers to force through rapid change
Jedi powers?
Other Comments by ObeseBuddha
34. Comment #281255 by DamnDirtyApe on November 10, 2008 at 3:39 am
Let's not get carried away with unreasonable expectations here.I hope he does repeal a lot of Bush's actions. He needs to. bin the Patriot act, close guantanamo, restore the corpus, support research... I don't realistically expect him to leave Iraq and Afghanistan though. that could be a bad idea if rushed.
What worries me especially in Iraq is how the US is essentially paying off the local militias to stop them fighting each other.... How are they going to manage to stop paying them and keep them from fighting?
...Heck, there's so much of a mess to clean up, I don't realistically expect him to fix all of it. I'd settle for the legislation being fixed. Some things are going to get screwed up I'm sure, like the proposition 8 thing.
Other Comments by DamnDirtyApe
35. Comment #281266 by Invalid Username on November 10, 2008 at 4:09 am
Yes, there are many policies the new President should try to undo... one of them that hasn't been mentioned yet should be eliminating NSPS, the new pay system for Federal employees in the Dept of Defense ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Personnel_System )... it's lousy...!http://www.unionvoice.org/ifpte/alert-description.tcl?alert_id=1098739
Other Comments by Invalid Username
36. Comment #281268 by irate_atheist on November 10, 2008 at 4:15 am
28. Comment #281209 by Stafford Gordon -Cupid stunt.
(Thanks to the late lamented Kenny Everett)
Other Comments by irate_atheist
37. Comment #281284 by nickthelight on November 10, 2008 at 5:02 am
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2008/nov/10/science-weekly-podcast-barack-obama Other Comments by nickthelight
38. Comment #281293 by Stafford Gordon on November 10, 2008 at 5:18 am
irate_atheist 281268I'm not quite sure how to take that.
Other Comments by Stafford Gordon
39. Comment #281295 by shemp333 on November 10, 2008 at 5:20 am
Dhamma,
Obama is possibly already an atheist. Of course in America he cannot say this... He has to be Christian to be palatable to the electorate. He has some wonderfully negative comments about the bible somewhere on youtube. He is a fer sure rational and intelligent man and I'm happy to say he is our President. Obamamania runnin' wild!
Other Comments by shemp333
40. Comment #281298 by Serdan on November 10, 2008 at 5:28 am
Black vote?
You people are so damn racist...
Other Comments by Serdan
41. Comment #281307 by Edouard Pernod on November 10, 2008 at 5:42 am
Out of all the concerns facing America, all so many of you care about is whether Obama is actually an atheist? I'm proud to be an atheist, but let's not put the cart before the horse. A man can be a believer and still be reasonable for the most part, and Obama fits into that column (some people are OK with cognitive dissonance). The guy wrote a prayer and stuck into the wailing wall in Jerusalem, for chrissakes. He's a Believer. But lucky for us he's a Christian that views it mostly metaphorically and doesn't mix policy and religion. Even though he personally is against gay marriage because of his religion, he was against proposition 8 and doesn't think government should legislate religious ideology. Having someone like that in charge in America after 8 years of Bush is like winning the lottery. I'm happy enough with Obama as-is to not care in the slightest whether he's an atheist or not. I'll continue to be anti-religious, but the point of the matter is that while Obama is religious, he is still very rational and wise about most things.
In Bush's last days, he plans to allow Uranium mining in Utah which could poison ground water, and plans to allow miners to dump what they dig up into nearby streams, thereby destroying entire ecosystems. I'm elated to hear that Obama will probably revoke all that rubbish, in addition to our retarded ESC research policy.
Other Comments by Edouard Pernod
42. Comment #281321 by NewEnglandBob on November 10, 2008 at 6:26 am
Slow down, people. All Obama can do by himself is to undo the executive orders done by Bush. These include the ban on stem cell research and many anti-environment orders.
He can not do anything about the Patriot act or any other law passed by congress and signed by a President.
Obama can not do anything about laws that are not from the Federal government such as the California Proposition 8 concerning Gay marriage.
Other Comments by NewEnglandBob
43. Comment #281323 by irate_atheist on November 10, 2008 at 6:31 am
38. Comment #281293 by Stafford Gordon -It was done in the best possible taste.
(Again, thanks to Kenny E.)
Other Comments by irate_atheist
44. Comment #281324 by Ai Deng on November 10, 2008 at 6:34 am
I can't tell you how happy I am to hear Obama is taking these actions. If all the Christians I met could be so reasonable in their religion, I would breath a big sign of relief. That said, the dangerous element remains strong in voice and has a very big population. I fear its future actions. These people apparently cannot be reasoned or swayed. The best I can see hope for is that their stubborness dies with their generation and is outweighed by the reasoning of the newer generations. Other Comments by Ai Deng
45. Comment #281328 by FillipiBittencourt on November 10, 2008 at 6:45 am
well, we at brazil (at least the people that i usually talk about that) were hoping for thaT, the election of a new united states president (kindly: "New World Ruler", we call him that because we live in a third world country, so you're going to understand me) is really great, people around here really hates bush, he's a crazy capitalist all his government seek is profit and in a country with a great social conciousness, like ours, he has no sympathy from our population.i would love to read a comment about it from richard dawkins...
Other Comments by FillipiBittencourt
46. Comment #281329 by cerad on November 10, 2008 at 6:50 am
Just wanted to point out that Obama has one major overriding goal and that is to get reelected for 2012. Everything else pales in comparison. Sure he will try to make a few dramatic changes when he first takes office but the notion that he will take any action against Bush's fake based initiatives is absurd.By the way, while troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan may drop slightly the United States military will still be there playing the same role when Obama leaves office in 2016.
Other Comments by cerad
47. Comment #281335 by LaurieB on November 10, 2008 at 7:13 am
NewEnglandBob
Hey, if you're still out there, did you happen to catch the Boston Sunday Globe yesterday? There is a short article at the bottom of page K3, Ideas section about RD and his upcoming book for children. The tone was disparaging in general. You know, the usual comments; strident, off-putting, blah blah on and on. The writer, Christopher Shea has an email address for response: braniac.email@gmail.com which I will most definitely be sending my opinion to imminently.
Other Comments by LaurieB
48. Comment #281336 by Eshto on November 10, 2008 at 7:13 am
@Enlightenme..:Enlighten me. In what way is Amistad "burdened"? Was there a homophobic scene or something?
I read this blog comment last night by a black lesbian who says basically "don't blame us for Prop 8, the white gays didn't reach out to us, they don't understand black people." And she said we need to understand that for them, civil rights is rooted in religion, and the two are inseparable.
That's... insane. They really have no other basis for their claim to civil rights than mythology? Problematic to say the least.
And it perfectly sums up why homophobia is running rampant in their communities. Of course it is, after being conquered by Christians and forced to convert, black communities have so perfectly assimilated to Christian beliefs and values that they now act exactly like their oppressors. They hate the gays just like Yahweh does.
Well I responded to her by saying no, sorry, she's the one who needs to reach out to her community and explain gay rights to them. It's her family, her friends, her churches. I'm a gay atheist honky from northern Wisconsin. I can't just waltz into a closely-knit black church and hope to start a rational dialogue about a topic that churchgoers feels so strongly and utterly irrationally about.
It wasn't the most PC thing to write and I'm sure she and other black people will take issue with it, but I still think it's the truth.
It will be interesting to see how Obama will deal with these social issues. My guess is he will tackle stem cells and Don't Ask, Don't Tell; he may push for a separate-but-equal federal civil union, but he tends to push for things that he thinks have universal support, so I think he'll stay far away from full gay marriage equality.
Other Comments by Eshto
49. Comment #281341 by al-rawandi on November 10, 2008 at 7:17 am
Eshto,
Of course it is, after being conquered by Christians and forced to convert, black communities have so perfectly assimilated to Christian beliefs and values that they now act exactly like their oppressors. They hate the gays just like Yahweh does.
You must be joking. The African slaves were often Muslims (many hailing from the kingdom of Takrur), so in that sense it was a trade across not down. They could have the Muslim attitude to homosexuals if you would prefer it.
Other Comments by al-rawandi
50. Comment #281352 by paceetrate on November 10, 2008 at 7:51 am
"Dochmbi: Ok fair enough. But I was under the impression that the reason the US invades those countries in the middle-east is for oil, right? But at the same time they don't drill their own oil. "No, actually, oil is apparently not the main reason we invade those countries. At least we haven't seen a drop of it. :P
We DO drill our own, we just don't (can't?) drill enough. The thing is, most of us actually give a shit about the ecosystems we would be destroying if we did drill there.
Of course, the real answer is for people to find better sources of energy, and to get their fat asses out of their gas guzzling SUVs and walk a bit.
Other Comments by paceetrate
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1. Comment #281136 by Naturalist1 on November 9, 2008 at 7:40 pm
For me the list is long. There are many things Obama should get rid of right away. Besides the above listed should be, Guantanemo Bay Prison, large portions of the Patriot Act, scrapping of the department of homeland security,restrictions on American media prohibiting them from showing things like flag drapped coffins etc. and general restorations of the rights Americans had before 911.
I have a theory which may explain why the world has become such a crazy, nuts, dangerous and demented place.
The reason is that G.W.Bush has lowered the collective IQ of the world by about 3 points.
There got it out...GO OBAMA!
Other Comments by Naturalist1