Hello transition. Please come in !

Obama: Mr. President, please explain what the Colombia Free Trade Agreement has to do with a decision to "bail out" the big three auto manufacturers?

Bush: Coffee and cars - people need em every day.

Obama: ug-huh..ok.. let's look at the financial relevance. Currently we export roughly $8.6 billion to Colombia, and import $9.4 billion. (mostly oil, spices,coffee, tea) A fairly even exchange, neutral to the GDP with no to little impact on the American work force. Passing a free trade agreement will likely increase exports, but not to the point of creating jobs. It's most material impact would be to sell off current excess inventory.

Bush: Ya! That's what I'm talkin' about!

Obama: ug-uhh but why use this particular agreement as a leverage for authorizing aid to one of America's largest industries. Help me with that connection. Help me see the logic. Please George, help me see the relevance.

Bush: Can't help you with the logic, Barack. But you'll soon learn that you can only work with what ya got. And this, is all I got..

Obama: OK. well what America will get without aid to the automotive industry is a catastrophic increase in job loss and unemployment costs if one or all three auto makers go down. 3 million jobs will be lost, translating to a significant hit in tax revenue and roughly $154 billion needed to support unemployment benefits and health care. Not to mention the further deterioration in housing and consumer spending. Does that make you nervous?

Bush: Nope. I'm outta here..

Obama: Right. But what about the legacy you'll leave, if the last thing you do in office is force passage of a Free Trade Agreement with a country that is murdering 1,000's of labor union members, brutally enforcing anti-labor, ignoring international standards for working conditions and trafficking drugs to America?

Bush: oh Barack...I am charmed by your energy and naivety. First of all the Colombia Free Trade thing won't be the last thing I do before I leave office. I'm fixin' to win the war in Iraq and find Bin Laden..we'll sniff him out and we'll deliver him.. I've got 60 days...that's more than enough time. And as for the brutal treatment of labor union members in Colombia, let me say this. I'm from Texas, I don't much like labor unions myself..those suckers should be happy they have a below minimum wage job...but how I feel is unimportant. Colombia needs to define its own democracy. Who am I to tell them how to treat their work force. Who am I to give the order to go in to a foreign country, occupy it, kill its citizens and try to force my ideals on their way of life...
Besides, I'm a Texas oil guy. My family has been friends with those Colombian oil/drug war lords for a long time. Loyalty. That means somethin', don't it?

Obama: Yes sir, it does. Loyalty is often associated with honor, commitment and honesty - which is why you're questioning its meaning. Thank you for the tour today, Mr President. My family and I look forward to returning to this fine house, soon.

Faint, Distant Voices

There sure seems to be a lot of wisdom flowing freely to Obama and his new team regarding fixes for the economy, job creation, recession mitigation, bail out regulation, health care, energy and priority setting.

Interestingly, almost nothing I have read, in the few days after the election, vigorously addresses military strategy. As people loose their jobs and their homes, the war in Iraq, seems almost too much to handle, and thus has fallen a few notches on the "what's important to me" scale. This is unsettling to me, as it uncovers an inward focus vs a broad perspective, but given the real pain and mounting worry people are feeling, I guess it is understandable.

I was equally surprised and disappointed to see very few reports on the reaction of our American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the election, and Obama's victory. I would have liked to hear more from our troops on the front line...Their perspective is pretty important. I would hate to have our military volunteers feel unnoticed or insignificant while they are risking their lives, following orders and potentially not fully understanding their purpose in this "war". Their voices should be heard just as loudly and as clearly as those in Grant Park. While I was watching the election coverage, I did not see one split screen depicting the reaction of Americans in a war zone along side the reaction of Americans in their comfort zone - standing on American soil. It is profoundly important to feel proud and protected as a citizen of America, especially when you are away from your country. These kids, fighting in this ridiculous war, are vessels of American patriotism. We should be checking in with them, while our new commander in chief is being elected.

Its a small but powerful gesture that I think we failed to make.

I hope and urge one of our news organizations to get back to covering this, it needs to be elevated again.

Making our win personal ...

Still basking in the glow ... Yes. Well. Kind of.

What a great moment in our history... I am very grateful to be a part of the "Obama circle of repair, renewal and compassion". It is invigorating to feel the power of a civil liberty, passionately won.

I was born in 1959.. I "just" missed, but long for, the chaos of the 60's. As the youngest of 7 kids, and really close to 10 cousins..I lived with quite a bit of chaos in my own home, and in their homes. There were so many of us co mingling, that each of our parents- graciously provided "sleeping porches" with a bunch of bunk beds for us and our friends to rest. I vividly remember my brothers (2) ,sisters(4), and cousins/friends (can't keep count) caring about stuff. They, were stubborn, righteous and boisterously - caring about stuff.

What could be more beautiful? Completely un-choreographed, but melodic.

Irish Catholic. Growing up in a quaint little suburb of Chicago, my family (intended and extended) lived a life, day to day, as dysfunctional, well maybe slightly more - than each "behind closed doors dysfunctional life of our neighbors". Jews lived right next door to us. We were friendly with them, openly. What a scandal! Archie Bunker lived a few doors down. He was unhappily our plumber. We gave him a lot of work as we had 9 people cohabiting with 2 bathrooms...one of which was designated for my parents...which meant no entry for us(the 7 kids). So we probably paid his entire mortgage month to month - but then again we dined with the "Jews". So he was conflicted. My "best" friend's father, 3 doors down, was taken away one morning in a police van...for tax evasion... See ya! Unfortunately no hiding for this family...we were in the suburbs, remember...local newspapers ate this up!

Mafia lived on the corner! What a mystery ! The Panteleno's (inflection on the "s"). I was always told to take the wide turn when passing their house. But, while learning to ride my 2 wheeler, the wide turn proved too hard for me to navigate. With my erratic front tire, I ran over one (of 4) of the miniature poodle puppies, out for a walk that day with "Grandma Mafia" I Killed it ! My god ! My father was visibly shaken. Truthfully, he was scared - out of his wits... My oldest sister, she is lovely - entered the convent, then left the convent...Ughh can you imagine the scorn in the parish of St Giles! By this time, (she entered when I was 5, she left when I was 13) I was coming into my own, and caused nothing less than "hell" for my parents. Vociferous complaints about me flipping off (in a very lady like manner), all of the nuns who ridiculed me and my family, led to me being kicked out of the Catholic school. Forcing me into the "public" school! Can you imagine the shame !

All of this and so much more, for which I am eternally grateful. I am sure you can relate.

The point is .. We can prevail and even prosper through "junk".

No one I have met, to date, can claim a better childhood than my own...My family, gave me a safe, crazy, loving space. An appreciation for humor, a passion for fighting for what is right, and a confidence and energy to seek, recognize and embrace the stuff that matters.

I guess that is why I love Barack Obama. He reminds me of those feelings. A safe place in a chaotic neighborhood. My family taught me how to be comfortable in that neighborhood. Obama brought me back to it...

So all of this is good. I will gravitate to the good and not be afraid of the "junk" I have to pass through to get there...