IN THE SPECULATION about President-elect Barack Obama’s incipient administration, the phrase “the first hundred days” is being repeated like a mantra, as though the success for failure of the Obama presidency will depend on its first three months.
Since Americans elected Franklin Roosevelt to his first term, the idea has taken root that the first hundred days is make-or-break time for presidents who enter office in challenging years. Roosevelt, of course, took office more than two years after the stock market crash that signaled the beginning of the Great Depression. His administration began with 100 days of unprecedented legislative and executive action — a set of laws, rules and programs that were intended to stop the economic slide and reverse it and to provide the social support that was needed for millions of people who were unemployed or under-employed.
Roosevelt’s first hundred days have come to be considered as the model of swift, effective government action in the face of great national challenges.
Well, the economy is bad again — not as bad as it was in 1932, but still bad enough for people to wish for a display of Roosevelt-like determination and activity after Obama is sworn in on Jan. 20.
The desire for radical action is understandable, but people should not allow themselves to fall into the error of thinking that Obama — or any politician — can solve the nation’s problems by three months of frenetic activity.
Roosevelt certainly couldn’t do it. Some useful programs were created in his first hundred days, but those programs did not end the depression or resurrect prosperity. Roosevelt’s New Deal accomplished many things, but the Depression did not end until World War II created an industrial boom.
Perhaps the greatest value of Roosevelt’s first hundred days was the message all that activity sent to ordinary Americans — that government understood their problems and was intent on helping solve them. Obama could do worse in his first months than send that same message.
That may not be enough for a nation of people who grow impatient in fast-food lines and require overnight delivery of every online purchase. But fixing what is broken is going to take some time.
The nation and its new president might do better to look to a more recent example than Roosevelt. In 1962, John F. Kennedy referred in his inaugural address to hundred-day expectations:
All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
Certainly, the first hundred days of the Obama administration will be a time for action — but they will also be a time for patience.
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Posted by dale011 (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Patrick there is a big difference in the expectations held for this President-elect than any other in history. The media in the US made the citizens that voted for him believe that Sen. Obama would end all their ills, heal all their wounds, and provide for them. In all the years since Nixon was President, I don't recall such a betrayal of trust in truth as we have seen in the past 2 years while Obama pulled it off while the press refused to even look into his background. While I do not believe in conspiracy theories, I do belive the media conspired to create the 100 day expectations that Obama and you are now saying are too high. Darn it, it's too late, the uneducated masses that voted for him will soon learn what they bought is not what they wanted. Any discomfort that comes from this let down will, of course, be missing from press coverage until it can no longer be denied. At that moment, with the Democratic party at the helm and the press in the bunker, the common folks will still be broke and hungry and there will be no George Bush to blame any longer.
Posted by create (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great sentiments, dale011. Nothing like hanging the president-elect before he gets even the smallest chance to serve. What a great citizen you are. And by the way, many of us will still be blaming that brilliant George Bush who stood around and did absolutely nothing from Katrina to the economy and more. "Good job, Brownie." I'll bet you supported him then too. He can't wait to hand off this spaghetti sandwich he made.
Posted by Observation (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dale011:
How right you are! Pay no attention to create as she is part of the problem "uneducated masses" that you have described, along with her hero Patrick Kelley. This nation has been in trouble for the past two years of Democratic controlled Congress and there will be at least two more bad years before the Tax and Spend Democrats can be purged from power. Great citizens like you will once again defeat these folks who choose to give away the rewards of our labor to those who don't even try. It is delightful to see the back peddling that is going on right now. They are already on their way out before they even swear Barry in. They will be back peddling all the way, wondering when the honeymoon starts.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
create, have you actually done any research into Katrina? Have you actually researched when Bush offered help, and what the response from Louisiana was? If you want to lay blame, blame the organization and efficiency of FEMA. And look what Bush has done with it since. Best of all, blame those who continued to live and build in an area where they were constantly told the dikes would not hold.
I also know you've been on these boards long enough to know who prevented Bush from adding more regulation and oversight to Fannie & Freddie way back in 2003 that could have helped prevent this financial collapse. Yeah, I blame him partly for not pushing hard enough. But I blame those who blocked him even more. Yes, those same people that all just got re-elected. Because of the widespread ignorance that the media has managed to cover so much of this country with. Now that they've succeeded, they're even coming out and admitting what they did, but nobody cares. So when you make statements like that, its really sad because I and many other here KNOW that you know better.
I remember Obama ranting and raving to O'Reilly about the federal debt. That we were going to saddle our children with it and that wasn't fair. NOW, he says for the next 2 years we shouldn't worry about the federal debt. He promised a new direction. We're getting the Clinton cabinet. He promised everything that wasn't George Bush. But Gates is staying on for at least another year.
Don't worry Dale, the same people that have been denying that Clinton's policies and the Dems blocking Bush contributed to the meltdown - and saying "you've still got to look at who's in office NOW, and hold them at least partly responsible" - they are going to pull a 180 and be blaming Bush for a long, long, long time.
Well, he's just the pres-elect, so I'm still waiting with an open mind. Nothing means anything yet. After the coronation and his descent to earth in all his heavenly glory, then I will see and decide. Maybe I can get close enough to touch his robe and be healed - LOL
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Open..You just do not recognize the second coming. We will be "living happily everafter"!
Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was involved in some of the contigency of Katrina. You can't believe the ineptness of the DEMOCRATIC state agents who told the feds to STAY OUT. Federal law prevents federal troops to occupy domestic soil without local requests from the governor. Oh and let's not forget all the billions of dollars given to New Orleans over the last two decades to rebuild levies and flood control that basically went to graft and corruption. At first they thought 150 police officers were missing until the locals finally fessed up that they had made up the positions just to get COPS grant monies. These are first hand experience I had. Brown was no great administrator but no one would have won on that one. The Demos were so concerned about making Bush look bad they let people die. That speaks volumnes.
Posted by Rogergreen (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 3:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sad but true , We live in a Racist society that will never Change , Just reported that Obama is recieving more threats than any other President. All because he is Black. Fact Emporia is a Racist Town and will not change until many years from now . This was evident from the way the Somalis were treated. People voted not because of a conspiracy but because of the need for change. Wake up ! This situation we are in is because of those who are leading this country has of today. Yes a Black man is President , so get over it ! If he does one thing right in 4 years he will have done a better job than BUSH !!!! Sit back and complain like most of you do each and everyday ! Get off your behinds and do some work within this community to make it better , not just for white children but for all kids. The so call God you claim to love gave his Son for all . You do not have a clue what it means to Have someone in the White House that does not look like you . What it means for people of color.
Posted by create (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With regard to Bush and Fannie/Freddie regulations: "Yeah, I blame him partly for not pushing hard enough." You think?
"The Associated Press reported March 1, 2006, that film footage it had obtained, "along with seven days of transcripts of briefings ... show in excruciating detail that while federal officials anticipated the tragedy that unfolded in New Orleans and elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, they were fatally slow to realize they had not mustered enough resources to deal with the unprecedented disaster.
"Linked by secure video, Bush expressed a confidence on Aug. 28 that starkly contrasted with the dire warnings his disaster chief and numerous federal, state and local officials provided during the four days before the storm."
"In dramatic and agonizing terms, federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief that Hurricane Katrina could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans' Superdome and overwhelm rescuers, according to video footage," AP reported. "Bush didn't ask any questions during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: 'We are fully prepared'." Video tape link on page. Also see more media coverage"
(http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit...)
We shall have a new president on January 20th. I plan to support him and his efforts to lead this country. Just because I support Barack Obama does not make me "uneducated."
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love it. Part of the problem gets a "You Think?" while the biggest majority of the problem is..... ignored..... At least I got a new favorite phrase out of it.
Let's use it and play "What If".
"What If" - in 2003, the Democrats that opposed Bush had agreed with him (yes, those same democrats that all just got re-elected) and agreed that there was going to be serious trouble down the line, and agreed to put in more oversight and restrictions on Fannie & Freddie. Gee, wonder if this could have been averted 5 YEARS ago.
"YOU THINK?"
Nah, lets just ignore it and throw out the same old tired line that its all because Republicans don't have enough restrictions on things. In other words, lets all NOT "think".
As for Katrina, let's point some more fingers - plenty of blame to spread around...... and not JUST at our favorite whipping boy:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/art...
http://newsbusters.org/node/2072
http://www.cwsworkshop.org/katrinareader...
http://www.snopes.com/katrina/politics/b...
"You Think?"
You're not uneducated. Not just very objective and impartial at times. But then again, none of us are all the time.
But, at least, after not a single soul breathing a word about race, true to form, one of our local racists pops up and starts labeling everyone else a racist. (sigh). At least some things never change..... personally, I don't give a rats a$$ if his skin color is green polka-dots. As long as he does what is good and right for this country. And I'm willing to wait and see.
Posted by Observation (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rogergreen:
You say;"You do not have a clue what it means to Have someone in the White House that does not look like you . What it means for people of color."
And, you call other people RACIST? You Think?
Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know, I could lay out one hell of a counter argument about the Republican controlled Congress from 1992 to 2006 and their failures, I could contribute that McCain had a huge hand in deregulating Wall Street and that a recent article on the Bush Administration showed they had more of a hand in not reigning in Fannie and Freddie than previously thought. Bottom line, Bush has been a massive failure, Iraq, No Child left behind, he was incompetent in Katrina( he was briefed on what was going to happen yet did not take the proper precautions) list goes on. I could do all this, source it nicely but really the only one here that can appreciate it would be Openeyes, then we would commence in a debate while people like Observation run off to Ann Coulter's book signing events and disappear when it comes time to take the time to source and backup their arguments. Hence, its just not worth my time anymore. Too many people here just make outlandish claims and statements here and fail to supply any sort of facts, and they say Create is uneducated lol.
One thing we can all agree on, this President has a colossal mess on his hands and getting it all resolved in one term is preposterous.
PS attacking create on her education is poor form, she has proven time and time again to be an eloquent and well written poster. I'd love to find out how many people here actually hold a college degree or can actually comprehend topics on that level yet call others "uneducated" .
Posted by Observation (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
goodoleboy:
You said "Hence, its just not worth my time anymore." Sorry to see you go! I doubt that you really mean that either. I bet you will be back real soon, trying to puke up more of that leftist garbage from your liberal internet "sources". But if you must refrain from commenting on these posts in the future, it is OK with me. I never did pay any attention to anything you put out anyway. Have a nice life!
Posted by seriouslyfolks (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe when Bush is gone you can put your education to use and realize that the other branches of the gov. had a say in what went on for the past 8 years. Blaming one man, Bush, for EVERYTHING does sound uneducated. Calling that line of thinking "uneducated" is actually a complement compared to what it really is.
The reason people have such high expectations for future Pres. Obama is because they actually believed that one man, the president, has the power to fix or destroy anything and everything.
They, of course, got this idea from the "blame Bush" mentality.
They think if Bush had the power to destroy everything then they must also believe Obama will have the power to fix everything.
Bubbles will burst even if Obama does a great job because people have a blind faith in this power that doesn't exist.
I will support him as our Pres. and hope for the best. The wait and see approach is the only intelligent way to go.
I also hope that this idea that you're a racist if you disagree with Obama in any way won't rise to the level of absurdity that the "blame Bush" game did.
Just a few thoughts from a truly uneducated man.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Attempting to agree to disagree is sometimes difficult here - LOL
NOBODY in gov is completely blameless in our financial collapse. THAT MEANS, if you understand what it says, is that you CANNOT lay ALL the blame on ONE person. As many love to do. And those who say Bush has not done 1 single good thing in 8 years are..... well, never mind them. Not worth it. But as close to being truly "uneducated" as anyone here. Just because you disagree with someone does not make them uneducated - but alot of people here are certainly biased, and not impartial, and not objective much of the time (me included). What makes for good debate :)
You're right, alot of people here would run off to Ann Coulter's book signing and then disappear when it's time to back things up - approximately as many as run and tune into MSNBC, or read the HuffPost or DailyKos - and then they also disappear at crunch time. Oh well, we all gotta go raid the fridge sometime - LOL.
Seriouslyfolks, I think you nailed it thru and thru. Bush is Satan, Obama is the Messiah. Both are so far from the truth is is laughable. But, I've already seen alot of the "blame Obama and you're a racist". Well, I'm striking back. Blame Bush, and you hate all white people and Texans - LOL
Hmmm.... Paul Volker, part of the "change"..... didn't he have alot to do with a little thing called "Reaganomics"???.....
Posted by LifeGoesOn (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All I ever hear out of most of you anymore is BLAH BLAH BLAH, BLAH BLAH. When I read you all picking at each other it reminds me of pre school kids, My toy is better than your toy! or My picture is prettier than your picture!
Do you all ever READ the crap you post? Nothing but Sarcasm, put downs and insults.
It does not really matter if you voted for the new President or not, he will take office and he will do what "he thinks" is best for you and the country, your opinions mean little in the big picture. So I'll be praying for the best and doing my best to make my home a happy place to be. Good luck with your pissin match!
Posted by Observation (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Life Goes On
You say, "Do you all ever READ the crap you post? Nothing but Sarcasm, put downs and insults."
I think you made your point with the rest of your comments, and good luck with your ...... match too. You are going to need it.
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