aFlickringLight

A New Chapter

January 20th marked the beginning of a new chapter in American history as we moved away from the partisan and war-minded administration of George W. Bush to the more modern and hopeful Barack H. Obama. And, he's the first African American President elected to office, a detail retired General Colin Powell noted following the inaugural address. A southpaw from Illinois, President Obama has already signed Executive Orders and begun the undoings of the last eight years. First to go was the steadf...

MC Yogi says It’s a Brighter Day

"We have chosen Hope." ~President Barack Hussein Obama Change has come to America as former Senator Barack Hussein Obama (D-IL) was sworn in by Chief Justice Roberts just past noon eastern standard time. Festivities filled and packed with supporters and hopefuls, Capitol Hill became the stage for this historic inauguration. The 44th President of the United States Barack Obama represents more than hope, more than change. He is the nation's first African American President. He calls out to the ...

The Cabinet in a Nutshell

News continues to trickle out of the Obama Transition Team’s office in Illinois regarding officially and unofficially announced Cabinet positions for the Obama administration. Let’s take a look at a breakdown - It is widely expected that President-Elect Barack Obama will formally ask Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) to accept the role of Secretary of State. Clinton, Obama’s chief rival during the Democratic Primaries for Democratic presidential nomination, brings a lot to the table for the...

Lieberman, Back in Action

Democrat-turned-Independent Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) mended some of the tides of separation with Democratic leaders today. By a vote of 42-13, Lieberman was allowed to keep his chairmen position on the Senate Homeland Security Committee by the Senate Democratic caucus. It was not all that long ago that Lieberman enraged Democrats by speaking at the Republican National Convention, offering his public support for Senator John McCain (R-AZ). But in the new Obama-era of politics, the President-...

The Pentagon Wants More Money

In the midst of financial bailouts and failing economies, the Pentagon has revised its request for funding from the United States government. It is now asking for $524 billion in funding, a $9 billion increase in its baseline request for next fiscal year. This does not include added expenses for keeping troops overseas fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is likely to add a few more billion to the budget. What does this mean for the nation? President Bush entered the Oval office back...

At What Cost?

As the “Big Three” teeter with collapse, three million workers around the nation face the looming possibility of job loss. They have not seen economic success in several years, and are treading dangerously close with having no financial capital with which to operate their respective companies. Why? They have resisted change. Body designs, amenities, and features in automobiles certainly have changed in recent years. But the business practices have remained largely the same. Japanese and other f...

A Legacy Withered Away

Ted Stevens loses Alaska Senate Race...Developing Story Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), the longest-serving Republican Senator and a figure in Alaskan politics since before statehood has not only been indicted and convicted on seven counts of falsely reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in services he received from various companies, but has all but lost his re-election bid for a seventh term as Senator to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. This marks a dramatic shift in Senate power, moving Senat...

Where’s the Responsibility?

Banks, financial institutions, AIG, American Express, and now, the auto industry. What’s being called “The Big Three Bailout,” the major three auto manufacturers have been visiting Washington, pleading Congressional leaders for a share of the bailout which has become a trend of late. How much money are we talking about here? $25 billion shared amongst General Motors (GM), Ford, and Chrysler. But unlike the $700 billion financial banking bailout that the government began dishing out a couple of...

A Sit Down

Keeping your friends close and your enemies even closer (rivals). President-Elect Obama invited Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to his transition team’s headquarters in Illinois today to clear the air and move forward. In what began as a clearly awkward meeting, Obama’s official Change.gov website released the following statement: "We had a productive conversation today about the need to launch a new era of reform where we take on government waste and bitter partisanship in Washington," President...

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton?

Rumors are abound and support is growing for Senator Hillary Clinton. Only a week after the Presidential Election was decided, President-Elect Obama is busy staffing his administration. And as of late, rumors are brewing that Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is atop his list for the position of Secretary of State. Henry Kissinger, a former Secretary of State under both the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford administrations, as well as Chief of Staff in the Clinton administration, had the following w...