A Bumpy Start

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  • Posted By: debbieqd @ 01/08/2009 2:19:52 PM

    Ha! Give the guy a break -- please. The country, our lives, are going down in flames. As you sit on your comfortable perch, writing, think how many things the President-Elect is doing at one time. After the past eight years, did anyone think he'd be skating on smooth ice? Yeah, it's bumpy -- and if we don't want to crash, we'd better try to smooth the way by staying on board.

  • Posted By: Mark Thieme @ 01/08/2009 2:13:47 PM

    Howard, methinks you have been to too many holiday parties in Georgetown, scooter. There is talk on the street that you have lost your fast-ball. Frankly, I disagree. From here behind home plate, it's not so much that you have ever had a fast-ball, it is more like you remind a lot of people of Tommy Lasorda pitching batting practice for the bat boys.

    You just don't get it, do you?

  • Posted By: it's about the future @ 01/08/2009 2:13:39 PM

    Comparing what the next Pres has to do to get out of the extraordinary quagmire we are in, to a game of foot-y, causes me to wonder if Howard watches the news much. The truth is that we have never seen the like of the experience, brainpower and potential of the team and bipartisanship which Obama is putting up to solve the worst economic crisis probably in our entire history. Global meltdowns and theatrical warfare, not included. He ain't the President yet folks, and he has done more to prepare for his kick-off than anyone .....probaby in our entire history. Glitches will be included.

  • Posted By: Cloudosmoke @ 01/08/2009 2:13:10 PM

    Pretty meaningless article. Bush is the office holder, so he is having a bumpy ending, but hey, I'm just a voter, what's it matter to me. Come January 20, we'll see how good of a start Obama has. I'm sure we'll see what he has stated, less government waste, no pork, stimulus for the economy and reaching for better relations across the aisle, the borders and the big pond.

  • Posted By: markci @ 01/08/2009 2:12:15 PM

    *** And for those of you who call him stupid--do you have an MBA from Harvard? Could you even pass the admissions test? ***

    And if you think there's an "admissions test" to "pass" to get into Harvard business school, then you're even dumber than Duh-bya. That imbecile got into HBS the same way he got everything - because of his daddy.

  • Posted By: markci @ 01/08/2009 2:10:22 PM

    *** Obama is eliminating all the protections and intelligence communities that have kept this country safe. ***

    Name one "intelligence community" he has eliminated, moron. You can't. Blow it out your ass.

  • Posted By: markci @ 01/08/2009 2:08:56 PM

    *** it appears his "change" is Clinton administration, Part Two ***

    It appears that you are the Original Moron, Part I.

  • Posted By: Native New Yorker @ 01/08/2009 2:06:03 PM

    HarleyisHere - your obviously were not living in NY on 9/11. God forbid it happens in your back yard! Obama is eliminating all the protections and intelligence communities that have kept this country safe. Clinton made it happen, and now it will happen again...on American soil. The man is clueless! And, while I regret the loss of life of any American, war is hell and unfortuntately there is a price to pay to keep us safe. I respect each and every individual in our military; I thank them when I see them in the ariports and I pray to God to keep them safe. This was not GW Bush's making, if anything, he has spread democracy thoughout the world. And for those of you who call him stupid--do you have an MBA from Harvard? Could you even pass the admissions test? Get a life--now you can blame Obama, as you won't have the Bush adminstration to critize anymore..

  • Posted By: wemedge @ 01/08/2009 9:31:17 AM

    1, 2090.

    It???s hard to imagine this now, but while he was in office, George W. Bush was considered by many of his critics the worst United States President in history. The 44th US President, liberator of 60 million citizens in Iraq and Afghanistan, focal point of a unique dual-nation national holiday on Bush???s birthday, and the man responsible for the birth of democratic ideals which have now spread throughout the Middle and Near east, suffered abuse from critics in the media comparable only to that suffered by America???s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Although their leadership styles where vastly different, and they were two very different kinds of men, they shared similar circumstances in that they presided over wars that were initially backed by large majorities of the American public who then turned upon them both with unprecedented savagery when the wars dragged on inconclusively for several years. Virtually alone, both men prosecuted their wars to ultimate victory, with enormous long-term successful consequences for all three nations.

    Lincoln, of course, had much the harder job. The American Civil War ultimately cost the nation 650,000 lives, 2% of her population, an equivalent of 8 million lives today. The total American deaths in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan stood at just over 5,000 at the close of major hostilities in 2009. It became public knowledge at the end of his term in office that Bush personally visited with the families of fully a quarter of the war???s fatalities, personally composed and signed letters of condolence to the families of each soldier lost, and quietly visited the wounded in military hospitals hundreds of times. This exacted an enormous emotional toll on the 44th president, and almost certainly contributed to his death of heart disease three years into the one term-presidency of his successor, Barack Obama.

    The addition of Bush???s visage to that of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan is expected to be completed in time for the celebration of Bush???s 150th birthday on July 6th, 2096.

    • Posted By: BamaBoy @ 01/08/2009 2:03:20 PM

      Lovely fiction. Keep on dreamin', lil' Bush-omaton. You should write articles for Fineman. You both seem to live in a false reality.

  • Posted By: Citadelgrrl05 @ 01/08/2009 2:02:38 PM

    The Obamanation is an clueless empty suit. it appears his "change" is Clinton administration, Part Two. More governement, more spending and the total erosion of our rights and freedoms as provided by the constitution. My biggest fear is his total lack of understanding of the world's terrorist community; he obviously is opening our doors, and borderes and eliminating our protection. You can say alot of things about George Bush, but he kept us all out of harm;s way for eight years. We are all in huge trouble.
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    HEY ATAIN OBVIOUS WHERE AHVE YOU BEEN LIVING THE PT EIGHT YEARS, YOUR DUMB BOY BUSH HAS DESTROYED THIS COUNTRY AND NOW OBAMA AS TO FIX HIS MESS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROCK OU HAVE BEEN LIVING UNDER, BUT YOU NEED TO COMNE OUT FROMUNDER IT, NEWS FLASH: WE ARE ALREADYIN TROUBLE IT IS YOU PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE HELD JUST AS RESPONSIBLE AS GEORGE BUSH FOR SUPPORTING HISNON-SENSE, YOU MUST BE PART OF THE 20% THAT STILL SUPORTS THIS NIWIT, I CAN'T WAIT TILL 1/20/09.OH FYI OBAMA DID NOT GET ELECTED ON RACE B/C ALL PEOPLE ACROSS RACIA LINES VOTED FO HIM B/C HE IS SMART. CALM, AND VERYMUCH IN CHARGE OF HIS IDEAS, UNLIKE YOUR 20% C STUDENT PRESIDENT WHO ONLY GOT INTO YALE B/C OF HIS DADDY WE WILL STICK WITH OUR MAGNUM *** LAUDE HARVARD PRESIDENT THAT USES COMMON SENSE. OH IF BUSH KEPT US SO SAFE, WHY DID HE IGNORE THE MEMO THAT SAID BIDEN LADIN DETERMINED TO STRIKE IN US 9 MONTHS BEFORE 911. SO MUCH FOR KEEPING US SAFE RIGHT. NATIVE NW YRKER, YOU ARE A JOKE AND NO TRUE NEW YORKER WILL EVER SPEW THAT NON-SENSE!!! GET A LAUGH AND GET USE TO THE FACT THAT YOU WILLHVE A PRESIDENTBARACK HUSSEIN OAMA EAT YOUR HEART OUT MOTHER SUCKER!!!

  • Posted By: voicecryingoutinthewilderness @ 01/08/2009 1:51:35 PM

    Ii DO COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT BIBLE PROPHECY IS COMING TRUE BEFORE OUR EYES. OUR WHOLE PURPOSE IN CREATION WAS SO SEEK GOD AND LOVE HIM. WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MAN SKEWS THIS PURPOSE AND TRIES TO FILL IT WITH WHATEVER HE/SHE SEES FIT. THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD HAVE BEEN CREATED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NEVER CONTENT WITH WHAT THEY HAVE, BUT RATHER SEEK ANYTHING TO SATISFY. WHEN THEY GET WHAT THEY SEEK AND STILL ARE NOT SATISFIED THEY SEEK MORE AND ARE STILL UNSATISFIED. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEEK AND LOVE GOD. THEN ACTIONS WILL CHANGE, AND PERHAPS WE CAN ALL RECONCILE THE LOSS OF MORALITY IN AMERICA. UNTIL THEN, EXPECT THE WORST.

    • Posted By: dnbro @ 01/08/2009 1:59:40 PM

      Ya and the universe is 5800 years old right?

  • Posted By: dnbro @ 01/08/2009 1:56:22 PM

    The biggest problem of the USA is the dod eat dog ( rich get richer/poor get poorer) "GOP".Thanks McCain and Sarah pit bull for decimating that party !

  • Posted By: scottbatson @ 01/08/2009 1:54:25 PM

    So what is this story about other than a recap of news events over the past several weeks. I mean a fifth grader can write a recap piece like this. What a waste.

  • Posted By: BamaBoy @ 01/08/2009 1:53:12 PM

    What a stupid article. The guy isn't even potus yet. God damn... Let the guy *** up as potus already before you bash em. <rolling eyes and shaking head>

  • Posted By: Native New Yorker @ 01/08/2009 1:51:58 PM

    The Obamanation is an clueless empty suit. it appears his "change" is Clinton administration, Part Two. More governement, more spending and the total erosion of our rights and freedoms as provided by the constitution. My biggest fear is his total lack of understanding of the world's terrorist community; he obviously is opening our doors, and borderes and eliminating our protection. You can say alot of things about George Bush, but he kept us all out of harm;s way for eight years. We are all in huge trouble. We have no leadership - just a guy that's never held a job, elected soley on race. The white house is not a great place for "on-the-job" training.

  • Posted By: bobtugs @ 01/08/2009 1:46:05 PM

    I have great respect for Howard Fineman as fine journalist. I think he's getting tired after many months of exposure to one the most horrendous eras in modern history. Obama's current silence on Isreal-Hamas conflect spooks liberal forces, but some of us fair minded people are giving him some space. Put yourself in his shoes.

    • Posted By: dnbro @ 01/08/2009 1:51:39 PM

      Yes, its just too bad that too many folks don't realiaze that Israel has been under foreign attack for 60 plus years

  • Posted By: dnbro @ 01/08/2009 1:49:20 PM

    12 more horrifying BUSH days left !

  • Posted By: jazzmanjim @ 01/08/2009 12:22:34 PM

    Oh it's gonna' be fun to watch in a sick sort of way. As a consertative (not Republican) can we come back in two years and say 'we told you so'? We've elected a very inexperienced President and a Democratic congress. with Speaker Pelosi removine all the ethics reforms put in as part of the 'Contract with America' we will be back to the days of (proveribal_ smoke-filled rooms. Whe this don't go as planned and actually get worse then please vote consertative in 2010 (& 2012).

    Hope and change means I hope I have some change left...

    • Posted By: blackd @ 01/08/2009 1:45:58 PM

      Hey people wake up! if obama fail's we fail! i dont care what your party is this garbage has to stop! He is the president now! support him ! put aside your political views and hope for the best for all of our sakes! This party garbage is what got us in this mess in the first place!

  • Posted By: glorycap @ 01/08/2009 1:38:31 PM

    Howard,
    Bumpy start is what Bill did....that was bumpy. The confirmations were bumpy. The Hillary med plan was bumpy. I do agree that the CIA nominees do not seem to have been handled well and how did the Richardson thing get through the 18 pages of vetting? But this is still a pretty smooth startup especially remembering how Bush left thousands of posts unfilled for so long.

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