By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
Barack Obama pushed some really important buttons today in his remarks as he introduced the nominees for his security team.
What I most appreciated:
1)"I will be giving Secretary (Robert) Gates and our military a new mission as soon as I take office: responsibly ending the war in Iraq through a successful transition to Iraqi control."
Supporters of the current strategy will say that's the current mission. But Obama is putting some urgency behind it. He went on to say that a new focus will be placed on a strategy and resources to succeed in Afghanistan.
2)"Let me be clear: the Attorney General serves the American people. And I have every expectation that Eric (Holder) will protect our people, uphold the public trust, and adhere to our Constitution."
This is a pointed departure from the mindset that got Alberto Gonzales run out of the attorney general's post in George W. Bush's second term. Gonzales never made the transition from being a political operative to a guardians of the Constitution and the rights of U.S. citizens.
3)"She (Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security secretary nominee) insists on competence and accountability."
There's a concept. It sounds like a rebuke of the good-old-boy hiring that led to the disastrous response to Hurricane Katrina.
4)"America must also be strong at home to be strong abroad. We need to provide education and opportunity for our citizens, so every American can compete with anyone, anywhere."
Education at the K-12 level is primarily a state responsibility. But Obama talks about it often, raising hopes that he'll use his stature to take on the culture of failure that hangs over too many school districts, schools and students.
5)"My dear friend, Hillary Clinton."
What a different a few months make.
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Obama said: "Let me be
Obama said: "Let me be clear: the Attorney General serves the American people. And I have every expectation that Eric (Holder) will protect our people, uphold the public trust, and adhere to our Constitution."
And what he didn't say was: "...and if he doesn't like something in the constitution, we'll put in new judges that will legislate from the bench!"
I hope he doesn't, but fear he will.
wbahner-you missed his
wbahner-you missed his point, although probably intentionally - that due to State and local leadership failures, without a request, they would be usurping the governor and the mayor. But never let an opportunity to trash Bush get away! We'll see how Obama is treated in a natural disaster. Some how, I think blame will be placed elsewhere.
The big 0 Helping
The big 0 Helping Education...
Sorry kenm, the big 0 is helping education by sending his children to private schools, while the rest of the huddled masses go to shit holes like in KC ran by a bunch of liberal idiots......
Wonder if this is called compassionate liberalism?
Most Liberals, scourge of the earth.
"By the way the federal
"By the way the federal response to Katrina was acutally pretty good."
Really?
By that account, then, the Chiefs are having a "pretty good" season...
More urgency in Iraq? Did I
More urgency in Iraq? Did I miss something or did the government of Iraq sign an agreement with the US that sets out roles, responsibilities and timelines to end the war. The timeline for three years is still necessary because the Iraqi's are not in position yet to secure themeselves. I guess Obama is sticking to his 16 month withdrawal and is the urgency he is talking about, meaning he still wants to leave a country with vital national interest to the US regardless of the conditions on the ground and send more money and troops to a theater, Afghanistan, that has no vital interest to the US.
I guess the new AG will secure the pardons for republican donors to ensure he is serving all the people.
Napolitano will ensure amnesty and to all illegals, I guess that is accountability. By the way the federal response to Katrina was acutally pretty good. Now if you want the president and federal bureaucrats to break laws and usurp state and local powers than yes it was a disaster.
I am sure the first thing Obama will do to ensure better education is get rid of the NEA, get rid of mandatory testing, and throw more dollars at the problem.
Hillary at state and Obama in the oval office, i can hear the knees of our enemies shaking.
When will he get to the
When will he get to the important stuff ... like whether or not Funkhouser should just go ahead and resign now or wait to be recalled.
I am all for a stronger USA.
I am all for a stronger USA. I hope that means beyond the investment in education and opportunity, that we'll take back some of the manufacturing and job industry with it- that way we CAN truly compete with anyone anywhere.
Well see.