Barack Obama

Why Your Vote Counted More Than You Think

Alma Aldrich — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:13:40 -0500

Election Day is almost a month behind us, and a healthy majority of the country — even healthier in Tompkins County — has been celebrating the victory of President-Elect Barack Obama. Still, I was amazed how many Cornell students I spoke with on Nov. 4, who did not vote. In such a historical election, I cannot understand how this is possible. For those people who used the excuse "my vote doesn't count in liberal Ithaca, New York" — you were wrong. Here is why:

This year in Tompkins County, two U.S. House of Representatives seats were up for election, as well as seats in the State Senate and State Assembly. Thanks to the interesting shape of the district we are located in, several seats held close elections.

Students, Alum Discuss Future Of Sustainability Under Obama

Eve Shabto — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Last night, over 20 Cornell students gathered around a dinner table to participate in a conversation that extended beyond typical dining hall chatter. Art Purcell Ph.D ’66, an environmental policy and sustainability expert, hosted the dialogue “What an Obama Administration Might Mean for Environmental Policy and Sustainability,” provoking many students to think about the importance of the integration of environmental and economic policy.

“We’re in an era where there’s hope again,” Purcell began. He continued to say that it is a matter of “timing and an efficient use of resources” to push the country towards a more sustainable and green future.

Woke Up Nov. 5, Got Yourself A Gun

Tony Manfred — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

I’ve never understood the victim-complex gun owners inflict on themselves. Politicians of both parties pander to them shamelessly, assuring them in the condescending tone of a mother to her toddler that the big bad government would never take away their guns. We celebrate hunting as a fundamental American tradition on par with setting off 4th of July fireworks or mumbling the Pledge of Allegiance everyday before class. It’s as if shooting, skinning and bloodletting an animal for sport and going out in the backyard to throw the old baseball around with dad are qualitatively equivalent. There are over 200 million guns in this country. Gun ownership is roundly accepted.

BlackBerry Anonymous

Carolyn Witte — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

“Hello, my name is Carolyn and I am a BlackBerry addict.”

If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from BlackBerry addiction, also known as “CrackBerry-itis,” I empathize with you. So, incidentally, does the President-Elect of the United States. According to a story in this weekend’s New York Times, Barack Obama is literally tethered (via belt-holster) to his device.

Only one year ago, I visited Cornell as a pre-frosh and was overwhelmed by the mini-computer-like devices glued to seemingly every student’s hand. After witnessing conversation after conversation about BBMs, I finally got up the courage to ask my host, “What exactly is a BBM?” With a priceless are-you-serious look on her face, she responded, “Oh ... a BlackBerry Message [obviously].”

Hope and Resolution

Donial Dastgir — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:54:35 -0500

It's been over one week now.

One week since Barack Obama became president.

One week since he surmounted all obstacles and shattered many boundaries to reach the highest office in the country.

The euphoria on Tuesday night at his victory, at the collapse of one more racial barrier, and at the imminent expulsion of President Bush was tremendous. That night, Washington D.C. was ablaze. Cars raced down the avenues, horns blaring, radios loudly blasting the voice of Obama as he gave his victory speech. People were heard shouting in their homes, in the bars, even in the local CVS.

Summoning a New American Spirit

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Reid Pauly | Guest Room

There is only one window in our office on the third floor of the Rayburn Building, but it could not have been placed any more perfectly. The panes of glass frame a postcard image of the Southwest side of the Capitol Building. It is truly a sobering routine to walk to work in the shadow of two-hundred and fifteen years of American history. Two hundred and eighty-nine feet below the double dome and a towering statue of Freedom, workers have a new found sense of urgency as they throw together this nation’s 44th inaugural platform.

American Multiculturalism After Obama

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Asad Haider | Guest Room

I stayed away from the news on election night. In my stupor, all I could do was wipe my brow and listen as the classic Parliament track “Chocolate City” bumped through my brain. “We didn’t get our 40 acres and a mule, but we did get you,” declared the great musical statesman George Clinton. “A chocolate city is no dream.”

We’re Not Ready To Turn Left

Lee Blum — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:47:03 -0500

Barack Obama’s win was undoubtedly a proud moment for all Americans, regardless of where you may fall on the political spectrum. The Democratic wins for control of both the executive and legislative branches are a rebuke of the previous years of Republican control. However, let us remember that Obama elected not only as the “change” candidate, but as the pragmatic candidate.

It’s Hip to Be a Patriot

Laura Temel — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Americans love to feel good about themselves. The exhaustive yearning to connect with our leadership, our ideals, and our capabilities has been a primary driver of American electoral and cultural politics, and is perhaps one of our country’s greatest narratives. In the face of domestic or foreign adversity, Americans thirst to rid themselves of national self-doubt and to unify around national pride, the eternal stimulant of the American people. Such a mentality seems quite apposite since last Tuesday’s election as our generation — Generation Y — now finds itself at the helm of a resurgence of the ultimate restorative device: patriotism.

Mr. Obama Goes to Washington

Shaun Werbelow — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

If there was any cold blood, it was impossible to tell. This past Monday marked another step in the symbolic changing of the guard, as President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush welcomed President-Elect Barack Obama and First Lady to be Michelle Obama to the traditional tour of the White House. Although President Bush was the focus of continual criticism by Senator Obama, and despite President Bush’s publicly announced belief that Senator Clinton would be the Democratic nominee, both men were all smiles when they posed together outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Obama Wants Lieberman to Remain in Democratic Caucus

The Associated Press — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:20:48 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Obama has told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid he's not interested in seeing the Democrats oust Connecticut's Joe Lieberman from their ranks over his endorsement of Republican John McCain.

Obama told Reid in a phone conversation last week that expelling Lieberman from the Democratic caucus would hurt the message of bipartisanship and unity that he wants for his new administration, a Senate Democratic aide said Tuesday. This aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were confidential.

The caucus is the meeting of all Senate Democrats and at the beginning of each Congress it chooses the body's leaders. Lieberman, a longtime Democrat mostly recently re-elected as an independent, has continued to join the Democratic caucus.

Because Oprah Said So

Nikki Nussbaum — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

In his undeniably inspirational speech after winning the race for the White House Tuesday night, Obama referred to us as “the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy.” At this, I, like every other member of Generation Y watching, felt a surge of pride at having voted and actively participated in what was one of most important elections in our nation’s history — excluding the annual votes for American Idol, of course. After the initial victory-speech-buzz wore off, however, I realized that my generation may not be as actively involved in the political process as Obama’s uplifting remarks suggested.

Let's Keep it Civil: An Election Post-mortem

Eric Finkelstein — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

I had a couple of other column ideas for this week, but I came across a column in Friday’s Yale Daily News by a Yale senior named Elizabeth Moore (entitled “You made a big mistake, America”), which, in the context of the mostly feel-good nature of American politics last week, was too astonishing to ignore.

It’s not that she doesn’t have the right to say and believe what she wants; she certainly does. It’s just that if what she says is completely ridiculous, we all (Democrats and Republicans) have the right to point and laugh at it.

I’m no political columnist, but below are excerpts of the column with some comments interjected.

“Thank you, America, for making the biggest mistake of your life.”

Letter to the President-Elect

Rob Coniglio — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:14:51 -0500

Dear President-Elect Obama:

As one of the more than 52 percent of people who cast their ballots for you, let me say congratulations. But as one humble citizen wanting to see you succeed, let me add a few words of advice. The American people have put a great amount of trust in you Barack, giving you (in terms of the Electoral College) a landslide and solid Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate. Living through these troubled times, your calls for change have resonated with us and now we have given you a chance. We’re ready to see what you can do.

Emanuel Accepts Chief of Staff Position

The Associated Press — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:37:53 -0500

CHICAGO (AP) — Barack Obama's fellow Chicagoan Rahm Emanuel, the hard-charging No. 3 Democrat in the House, has accepted the job of White House chief of staff, Democratic officials said Thursday.

One of Obama's first decisions as president-elect was to ask the Illinois congressman to run his White House staff. The selection of the fiery Democrat marked a shift in tone for Obama, who chose more low-key leadership for his presidential campaign.

Emanuel, who served as a political and policy aide in the Clinton White House before running for Congress, weighed the family and political considerations before accepting. He will have to resign his seat, relinquish his position in the House Democratic leadership and put aside hopes of becoming House speaker.

Bush Seeks Seamless Transition to Obama Administration

The Associated Press — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:34:56 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush and Barack Obama will hold their first substantive talks Monday as the transition to a new Democratic administration accelerates.

Bush, who will return to Texas soon after completion of his two terms in office, publicly directed employees Thursday to ensure a peaceful and cooperative transfer of power. The transition is a delicate dance, in which the White House keeps the president-elect in the loop, and even solicits his input, but the decisions remain solely the president's.

On Monday's discussion list: the financial crisis, the war in Iraq and the future of the country.

McCain’s Redemption

Elizabeth Manapsal — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:31:33 -0500

Though we here at Muckraking for Pennies are delighted to see Obama as the President-Elect, we hope that his massive electoral win will not go to his head. Many a ruler has fallen when his pride and arrogance gets to his head and we would hate to see the man who united the country last night succumb to such follies. But given his behavior up to this point, we have hope he will shift America in the right direction.

But in other news, McCain has already begun repairing his tarnished image, starting with his concession speech last night.

Yes We Did

Ted Hamilton — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country,” Michelle Obama said a few months back as she discussed her husband’s candidacy. The remark inspired a wave of outrage in the popular press. But after Tuesday night, I know just what she meant.

We’ve elected a black man as president of the United States. Go ahead, pinch yourself. From now on, the rules of the game have changed.

Who would have thought this moment could come so soon? Who would have thought that amidst the post-9/11 jingoism and chest-thumping we could elect someone with a name like Barack Hussein Obama? Who would have thought that after eight years of waterboarding, wiretaps and war the United States could do something to make the world proud?

Obama’s Gain is Our Own

Cody Gault — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This past Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 11 p.m. EST, the land slid tectonically; a centuries-old structure of exclusion crumbled; and the global political landscape changed forever: Barack Obama was decisively elected President of the United States.

People around the world celebrated in caves, shanties, apartment buildings and castles alike. They hugged in cobblestone streets, they cheered in pubs, they cried together in crowds of people whom they didn’t know personally but with whom they shared the most personal of feelings: the once-elusive feeling of hope.

They looked on in admiration as Americans elected the first world leader.

We live in a world where bad mortgage lending practices in the United States can cause an 11 percent one-day drop on Japan’s stock exchange.

How November 4th Will Change Your Weekend

Samantha Hartzband — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The country (read: the Electoral College) has spoken – Obama and Biden 2008. But I’m not about to write about what this decision means for social security, the War in Iraq or our public school system. I’d rather delve into what it means for Saturday Night Live.

To be frank, the show was in a Dark Age before Tina Fey donned the Sarah Palin wig and Amy Poehler dusted off her Hillary Clinton shoulder pads. Saturday Night Live was dominated by skits that weren’t funny, characters who were overused and Kenan Thompson, whose career peaked with genius alongside Kel Mitchell in Kenan and Kel. But since all the Election 2008 shenanigans began, the show has risen from the ashes as a real tour de force for sketch comedy.