New Era of Civility

Always rather (pronounced "raaah-ther" because I'm British nobility, as far as you know) genteel, the United States Congress and its members are taking great pains to restore an era of civility and respect to Washington. In the immediate wake of President-elect Obama's historic election, members of Congress of both parties have been falling all over themselves to speak in gracious and conciliatory terms about working together, rising above petty differences in this hour of national if not global crisis, and working together to get America back on track. Then there's this guy.

Rep. Paul Broun (brace yourself, because this might come as a bit of a shock -- he's a Republican from Georgia) said on Monday that he fears that Obama will establish a Gestapo-like security force to impose a Marxist or fascist dictatorship. Yes. Really. Citing a July speech by Obama, in which the then-Democratic presidential candidate called for a civilian force to take some of the national security burden off the military, Broun sagely noted:

"That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did," Broun said. "When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist."

Just to make sure no one missed it that the sitting Congressman actually compared the President-elect of the United States to Adolph Hitler, he added for good measure:

"We can't be lulled into complacency... You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential."

Oh, so you're not saying saying he is Hitler, only that he might become Hitler. Well, yeah, that's muuuuuch better. Thanks for clarifying. Wurzelbacher/Broun '12 can't be far off. Sarah Palin for Secretary of State?

The Executive Balm

President-Elect Obama will apply his politically mandated salve on the open wounds from certain Bush administration policies using retaliatory executive orders:

Barack Obama will assume the U.S. presidency with "a real mandate for change," and likely will use his executive powers to make quick changes, perhaps reversing Bush administration policies on stem cell research and oil exploration.

John Podesta, who's handling Obama's preparations to take over in the White House on Jan. 20, said on Sunday that Obama was reviewing President George W. Bush's executive orders on those and other issues as he prepares to put his own stamp on policy after eight years of Republican rule.

Though sheer speculation at this point, one Bush administration executive order seemingly ripe for reversal is Executive Order 13435. Signed on June 20, 2007, EO 13435 supports alternative means of creating new lines of stem cells, but at the expense of readily available cell lines yielding the most promising medical research. As head of Obama's transition team, Podesta concedes as much in an interview with Fox News: "I think across the board, on stem cell research, on a number of areas, you see the Bush administration, even today, moving aggressively to do things that I think are probably not in the interest of the country."

President Bush issued a total of 262 executive orders during his two terms and still counting. Some of them were doozies.

The Realization

Two ongoing, exorbitantly priced wars; thousands of U.S. casualties. An economic collapse now crowning above the surface of the murky, fiscal depths. A $10,000,000,000,000 escalating national debt. The indefatiguable threat of Islamofascism. Iran's distemper, still pursuing nuclear capabilities. Russia champing at the bit to be a world player again, dusting off Cold War rhetoric and chest-thumping. A 6.5% unemployment rate as of this morning - the highest in 14 years. The unrealistic expectations of a country all-in on your streaming concepts of change and hope.

It must be a hell of a thing, that moment you realize the American people have accepted your application for employment. Congratulations! You've just been hired for the loneliest job in the world. In Thomas Jefferson's words: "The second office in the government is honorable and easy; the first is but a splendid misery."

Welcome to your two-month orientation program, Mr. Obama. Splendid, miserable work begins on January 20.

Not Wasting Any Time

From the Obama campaign this evening to donors:

I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first. We just made history. And I don't want you to forget how we did it. You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change. I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next. But I want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you. Thank you, Barack.

I look forward to hearing from you, President-Elect. Enjoy your monumental evening. There is work to do tomorrow.