Important Update

Exclusive Interview w/ John McCain.

Drug War Update

Coming strong off of election day success and looking eagerly forward to a much more pliable and reasonable Obama administration, NORML's Deputy Director Paul Armentano tried putting a fresh spin on the marijuana legalization agenda yesterday on Congress's official blog. It should get some lively commentary; feel free to join the fray.

Iraq Check

Looks like an agreement for troop withdrawal has been agreed upon and composed. Juan Cole provides a good briefing. The agreement apparently calls for all U.S. troops and DOD contractors out of the country by 2011. Here's hoping it holds up so we can turn our full attention toward securing AfghaniPakistan.

Don't Call it a Comeback

Trying to roust myself from my cyber-slumber.

Item 1: Obama's trend of heavyweight administration recruitments continues. The important position of Health and Human Services Secretary was offered to and accepted by former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle. I tend to agree with Ezra Klein in viewing the move as another sign that Obama is selecting savvy, powerful political veterans to advise and assist him. Daschle's position is especially important given Obama's grand promises and vision for finally achieving universal health care in the United States. Personally, I'm very anxiously looking forward to hearing Mr. Daschle's plan for implementing that.

Item 2: Also on the recruitment horizon, Eric Holder is being floated for Attorney General. Again, President-elect Obama seems to have opted for progressive, experienced Washington insiders. I like the way his administration is shaping up so far. One thing I noted about Holder is his vocal opposition to the overturning of the DC handgun ban.

Item 3: Glenn Greenwald is a beast. Read him. That is all.

Obama Administration Update

As the last eight years have taught us, it's important to be familiar with the officials that the president selects to advise him and devise executive policy, lest they be a) incompetent or b) corrupt. With that in mind, I'll be making an effort to publicize and critique Obama's cabinet and administrative selections.

Let's start with his first official appointment, Rahm Emmanuel. More info here and here. I'm picturing a political Ari Gold/Chuck Norris hybrid. Seriously, though, Emanuel looks like he has the experience, savvy, and toughness to make a great Chief of Staff. As is generally the case, the tests of time will tell.

He Won! Now What?

Obama enjoyed a momentous victory at a time when the nation is (in many ways due to the previous administration) facing historic challenges. Have you checked the stock market lately? The financial crisis may be the most immediate test for the president-elect, though the state of the economy in January is tough to predict with the sort of fluctuations occurring at the moment. David Callaway emphasizes the enormity and immediacy of the financial issue. (BTW: Check out this article on sustainable capitalism - don't forget to check who wrote it.)

But Obama will likely face his toughest trials beyond the markets. He has to live up to his long-held and oft-repeated promise to leave Iraq and then turn the somewhat exhausted armed forces' attention definitively toward Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also has to deal with two uppity, collusive adversaries in Iran and Russia, both of which have recently been testing the limits of international good conduct. This is to say nothing of the perpetually insoluble Middle East "peace process" and the growing need to lead a new international regime on climate change. Domestically, the financial crisis is only the most immediate wrong to right; infrastructure, energy, governmental reform, education, the drug war, and many others await as well.

There is no doubt that Obama will have his hands full. But he comes into office with some unique advantages as well, not the least of which is the excitement and enthusiasm engendered in a great many Americans by his presidential campaign. Speaking of popularity, he's not exactly unwelcome to the international community, either, which will no doubt come in handy considering the aforementioned foreign fiascoes. And, as Obama himself noted many times, he didn't do this alone - the Democrats made serious gains in Congress, and he has already begun selecting his advisors and cabinet.

Even given the daunting tasks and tests ahead, I'm optimistic about Obama's election, and the general change in political direction for the country as well. I was heartened to hear a distinct tone of sobriety and humility in Obama's victory speech - it illustrated to me once again that he understands the gravity of our moment in history. I'm confident that his history-making has only just begun.

Victory!

Well, that makes me two for two when it comes to the candidate I voted for winning the election. I get the feeling, though, that this time will be a bit different from last. There have already been signs: My girlfriend told me every black person she saw today was smiling! :)

Kick Start Roundup III

Item 1: As time grows short for McCain, his advocates are getting more and more practice using doublespeak. McCain himself is obviously no stranger - Max Bergmann provides a good breakdown of his contradictions and contortions on one very important issue: defense spending.

Item 2: Amusing article on the DCist relating Monday night's game and Tuesday night's elections.

Item 3: I think the very fact that the rest of the world is so clearly and unanimously in favor of Obama is, by itself, a legitimate reason to vote for him. Moreover, I think time will prove him to be a far shrewder statesman than many currently expect.