Topic for the Week: Dec 15

With Christmas in the air, I have been feeling nostalgic, so here is a question in that line:

What is a favorite memory of your childhood? Or, what was your favorite toys or thing to play when you were little? Does not have to be Christmas.

Topic for Week of Nov 29: The New National Security Team

So I think it is interesting to have watched both the process and the outcome of the new National Security Team for the new Obama White House. I don't know if I have ever seen more experience and a bipartisan approach in the formation of such a team. Both Republican and Democrats are there, both with lots of international experience. So I would be interested in hearing from others (on both sides of politics) regarding your thoughts.

It seems that Gates was a very good pick for now as he has really helped stabilize things out of the chaos in Iraq (still bad, but better than it was). There has been some criticism about bringing the Washington folks in when Obama implied otherwise...but I believe it is about leadership and the provision of strong advice so that very informed decisions can be made about very difficult issues (for example, Middle East and Israel, Russia and its more aggressive behavior, Pakistan and India and instability there, Al Qaeda and how do deal with issues related...can the leader be found?, making the UN a much more effective entity, engaging with Iran, N Korea and Venezuela rather than ignoring their rantings, dealing with America's lower stature in the world which resulted from decisions of the Bush White House, issues about the Geneva Convention, cell phone tapping of Americans, undocumented workers from the Central and South American countries, the immoral prisons in which so many people are still held without charge, some for over five years...lots of issues).

So I am very very impressed with the new team at this point. Lots of experience, lots of motivation to do well... What do you think?

What about Hillary (I know the Republican side of politics has not really been in favor of her in the past). But what about for Secretary of State? Also we now have a third female Secretary of State out of the last four...wow and no white males there since 1992, I believe...is this saying something (or not)?

See the following news items regarding the team and their backgrounds:

Obama Introduces Clinton, National Security Team

Obama taps Clinton, Gates for US 'new dawn' abroad

Any thoughts are welcome as long as they are respectful of other's comments...

Cheers...

Topic for week of Nov 15 - The New President

Aloha

My first try of putting a post on the RFN blog didn't work so well...so I am updating the first post with the following...

I have created a topic area called "New President" where we can possibly have postings and comments about the politics of the "44th" president. So I have put one in which I invite comments or other postings.

Just a few more thoughts on the new directions our country may be taking. There were many many articles written in this last week's Newsweek on "44." I thought a few captured quite well the sentiment. I also thought the Richins Blog might be interested in these. Any thoughts would be interesting to hear. See the following:

An Epic Moment, Yes. But Transcendent? No.
Which discusses the important message Obama offered to the voters.

Bring On the ‘Reality- Based Community’
A key article articulating the importance of science vs creating our own reality.

With a Little Help From Our Kids
Which talks about the changing demographics and shift in the makeup of America and its people and the importance this had on the election.

Obama's Third Way

Which discusses how most "Americans still identify themselves as conservatives than as liberals" but that there is a shift of how this is viewed toward the future.

Cheers...