Obama’s success will hinge on his ability to bring about a new tone in American politics, starting with putting the very best people in government jobs, not just political cronies and all-star fundraisers. Starting now, there are fewer than 70 days left until Jan. 20, when President George W. Bush departs the White House and welcomes the Obamas. Barack Obama will then journey from the White House to the U.S. Capitol to take the oath of office as the nation’s 44th president. The nation and world will witness a remarkable transition, and then it’s time to get to work. Immediately.
The speed of this transition matters because the time for action is going to be front-loaded. Obama’s plate is so full he might want to consider taking a brief vacation sooner rather than later. He might also want to adopt that puppy now and get him trained because there might not be much time once he sits down at his new desk.
The economy is spiraling, with no signs of reversal. The nation is at war on two fronts: Iraq and Afghanistan. Tensions remain high with Russia, Pakistan and elsewhere around the globe. Important trade deals are still under negotiations. We’re in a deep mess. Obama must have a personnel process in place right away and policy resources to hit the ground running soon after unpacking his bags and sitting in the Oval office. There’s no time to measure the drapes or carpet.
In this time-critical environment, there will be an incentive for Obama to make crisp and quick decisions. He can, and should, employ the symbolism of action as a signal to the public that we are ending the Bush era and getting the country moving again.
The good news is that Obama has many supporters on Capitol Hill. And they must help him with this transition. The Democrats are now better positioned to enact policies that will help the middle class and working families with a new stimulus plan that also helps states facing huge budget shortfalls. With this new majority, Democrats must not become too complacent, or overreach. They must govern with humility.
With all the new energy left from the election, the Democrats must rally the American people and convert them into foot soldiers for policy changes needed to move the country in a new direction. This is what Ronald Reagan did after winning in 1980 – coalescing his electoral victory into a governing coalition that helped bring about policy changes he enacted in his first two years in office.
Campaigning is easy. But governing can be difficult, and Democrats are about to find out just how tough it is to maintain the confidence of the American people. They must get things done and bring an end to the era of partisan gridlock. The next election is not likely to have the same winds at the Democrats’ backs.
Yes, we are at a critical juncture in our history, but we are Americans. We know how to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Regardless of who you voted, we must all agree on this point: It’s time we come together as a nation.
We need to come together to rebuild our country and make it competitive again. We need to come together around a common purpose, and help those who will lead us to a better future.
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