First Day Props For The New Prez
By Ramsefall
23 January,
2009
Countercurrents.org
"If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking" – Buddhist proverb
After one full day on the job, President Barack Hussein Obama's preliminary actions as commander in chief are bringing my foot ever-closer to my mouth, which is really unfortunate for having just stepped in a fresh pile while strolling home. I wonder if I'm the only Doubting Thomas out there who is resisting the same phenomenon right now, with or without the poo on their shoe. I do wonder that, really.
The man with the plan actually does seem to have come to the Oval Office armed with etched intention and the Executive authority to see it through. I have to say, as an optimistic cynic who truly does his darnedest to see the beauty in all beings – upright walking or otherwise, Barack Obama is making an impressive second impression with the chrome dome on this end of the keyboard.
Any good sportsman knows that you must give credit when credit is due, almost as if on cue. Because Obama's initial presidential decrees do align with his campaign rhetoric, a respectful, left-hand of congratulations must be extended – anything else would defy the essence of good sportsmanship.
What exactly happened that causes me to slightly feel like I just accidentally collided into a waiter carrying a loaded tray of steaming plates that came crashing down upon us both as we flailed to the floor in the middle of a crowded, formal restaurant?
For starters, the president signed a draft executive order to close Guantanamo within a year, and to immediately halt any further trials of prisoners. The order reads in strict compliance with the Geneva Convention, and acknowledges all prisoners' entitlement to rights under Habeas Corpus. I'm compelled to want to believe that it's not just another mirage.
Okay, I'll admit, I was holding out for Gitmo to have the boards thrown up on the bars sooner. Better yet, it would have been encouraging to see Bush and Cheney's dark closet of torture secrets shut down immediately, especially for those who are being falsely incarcerated. For now, island jailbirds and the world are forced to wait and see whether the order's directives actually materialize within the next 365 days.
Despite the technicalities, this prompt stroke of the president's pen also sent a diplomatic message to our neighbors in Latin America, who since this past December at a regional summit in Brazil, confirmed their on-going defiance of Washington by "meet [sic] alone without the hegemony of the empire", according to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez1. A formal proposal made by Bolivian President Evo Morales went so far as to suggest that regional nations dispel all US diplomatic representatives from their respective embassies. While the suggestion was not overwhelmingly received by summit attendees, it had to have turned heads in Washington, including the astute man who has been waiting in the wings since November.
As expected, Obama also called on leaders of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to keep their schedules open for upcoming peace negotiations. In the past few days while George was packing boxes, Gaza appears to have closed all burners in anticipation of Washington's new regime. As Obama seems to have surrounded himself with Zionist hawks in his cabinet, this event will be the true litmus test of character and ideology. I'll refrain from speculation in keeping my shoe at safe distance.
So far, Obama accomplished all this by noon on day one, but the day wasn't over yet.
The 44th President kept his morning momentum on a productive roll by making a compelling statement that firmly reads:
"Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency."
This dictum was upheld by signing two more executive orders and three memoranda which will apparently ease public access to presidential records, strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, and be more stringent on ethics rules for his staff, according to Salon.com. Not only that, he purportedly froze salaries for all White House staff with an annual income greater than $100,000. Was this guy in the presidential groove or what?
Barack Obama came out in the first round swinging like a champ, dodging left and right with agility, confidence and fresh feet, accentuated by some serious commentary and actions that indicate a sincere change of not just style, but that which weighs in even heavier – substance.
Every day is a brand new day, and the Obama Brand President made the most of his first day by acting in a way that is perking the attention of at least one dissident voice in cyberspace. There may be others who are too embarrassed to step forward.
I'm definitely no John McCain or Joseph Lieberman, and there is no flip-flopping on how I perceive the Empire which is still suffering from a severe, systemic dysfunction that is long from a practical remedy. Amerika may not "waiver in defense" of its way of life, as Obama clearly indicated in his Inaugural Address; good for you say I. And, for whatever reason, it was worthy enough to point out that the US is still the country chosen by God to lead the world – ostentatious regardless of his first day's accomplishments on the job. It's exactly that kind of out-dated rhetoric, along with Aretha Franklin's gaudy-bowed coronet, that made me reach for a southing bottle of Pepto-Bismol.
The next big leap, in order to appease the international community, will be for President Obama to lift the nearly 50-year embargo against Cuba. There hasn't been much talk of this, at least outside of esoteric circles, but it needs to be right there on the table along with the economy, Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan and the rest of the country's mounting list of woes.
If the dark days of imperial recklessness and arrogance are over, then let there be light! My apologies, it's probably too premature for that kind of ambition.
Just the same, hats off and congratulations on a successful first day in the Oval Office, Mr. President!
References:
1. http://uk.reuters.com/article
/worldNews/idUKTRE4BF76F20081217
