Changing Our Politics is Hard

[drbob]

           Is Barack Obama making an effort to change the way our Federal government does its business?  I've heard some say, "Well, he's hiring a bunch of old Clinton retreads.  Where's the change in that?  Others have said the people he has appointed seem to be operating in the same manner as those in administrations before his.  Where's the change in that?  But, I think there is change.  I'm seeing things from the Obama administration that I have not seen from any presidential administration in my memory.

            First, Obama is making a sincere effort to negotiate with Republicans in both the House and Senate on the Stimulus Bill.  He actually went to their turf (Capitol Hill) to speak to them, rather than inviting them to the White House, which is the usual method for these sort of negotiations.  He's been listening to their views and has called Democrats to insist they accommodate some of the Republicans' view as they modify the bill.  Tell me when the last time you saw an effort like this.  I do not recall President Bush making this kind of outreach for any legislation he sponsored and don't think Clinton or Reagan did either.   

            Obama is making an effort to change foreign policy and bring America back to the moral high ground we lost over the last 8 years.  Instructed his generals to find a plan to pull out of Iraq and close Gitmo.  These are the only tangible actions, but there will be more to come.

            Obama actually owned up to making a mistake.  That in itself is a change.  He said that he takes responsibility for the flawed vetting of some of his appointees.  He told NBC's Brian Williams, "I screwed up."  He told Williams that the mistake was his and he was going learn from it and fix it.  In an earlier interview with Matt Lauer, he said that (paraphrasing here) he expected Americans to hold him responsible for starting the economy back on the upswing in his first four years and if he did not do that, he expected to be a one-term president. 

I'd like to point out that Presidents don't do this very often.  After eight years in office, President Bush took responsibility for only one mistake and a couple of slip us.  When asked, if he could think of one mistake he made during his two terms, Bush mentioned Katrina (not flying Air Force 1 quickly to Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina) and then he quickly rationalized that one.  He also mentioned "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED."  I only recall Clinton admitting to one mistake and that was only after he was caught red handed in a lie about Lawinsky.

            It is only two weeks since Obama has taken office and he has made a couple of mistakes.  However, he promised change and change is what we are getting.  I hope he keeps it up.