People of all walks of life have had enough. They are tired of being victimized by their political, social, and religious leaders. Despair and helplessness, debt and oppression, drugs and violence permeate society.
But, two years ago, a different atmosphere was forming. Someone, who few knew, said that we had the audacity to hope. Someone, with a strange name, said our individual stories mattered. Someone, of mixed heritage, said that change comes from the bottom up and not from the top down. Thousands of foot-soldiers caught the vision and took to the streets.
Ripples formed and a storm was brewing in America.
Riding the wave
The Obama Campaign raged nonstop and changed the dynamic of political campaigning along the way. It was the most technologically advanced, skillful, and dignified presidential campaign in American history. Communication came through all modern means, facts outweighed propaganda, the message stayed the same, and it never sprung a leak.
Some in established leadership never saw the clouds forming and underestimated the coming storm. A wave was fast approaching and despite warnings, they stood firm and insolent in their resistance. Soon, like an awning, the wave would cover America.
The heavens finally opened and an economic crisis ravaged Wall Street and swept away institutions who had run amuck. The surviving banks begged Washington for a bailout, the stock market crashed, and the people rose up in defiance. The opposition’s own supporters had little faith in his capability to handle their future and his fate was sealed.
Then, as the skies began to clear, comforted by his calm in the midst of the storm and believing in his message of change, the people elected Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States.
His presidency, just like his campaign, is already poised to break the mold. He has vowed transparency in Washington and that any bill that crosses his desk will be made available online for five days for the people to review. He will broadcast his weekly Presidential Radio Address online and in video. He has set-up a new website, www.change.gov, to stay in constant contact with the American people and he promises to involve all in the political process.
But, the reality is that four years is hardly enough time for any president to right all the wrong in Washington and even eight years is a stretch. Should Obama be elected to a second term in office, half of that time is spent preparing for his departure. Thus, the term “lame-duck” used to describe outgoing President 43, George W. Bush.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, an extremely popular president, served four consecutive terms and came into office during the Great Depression and a world war. He initiated programs that are still in place such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Social Security system. He aggressively tackled economic issues, reformed the banking system, and gave American families emergency relief.
The country did not begin to recover from the Depression until his third term and even with failing health, he had earned voter confidence and they wanted him to stay. After President Roosevelt passed away during his fourth term from a brain hemorrhage, the Republican controlled Congress passed Amendment 22 which made two terms the maximum time a President could serve.
Considering the huge task of restoring America’s economy, President-elect Obama says that he will go over all government spending line by line. Internationally, he has inspired goodwill from the majority of world leaders who are eager to work with him. Domestically, he has nearly eradicated apathy toward the political process.
What will hold him back?
A major factor in pushing his agenda of change seems to be time. If the agenda does not dictate time, but, time dictates the agenda, will Obama have enough of it to change America’s course?
Should the President-elect’s popularity remain high and he achieves some notable measures of success which elect him for a second term, Amendment 22 is sure to come under public scrutiny. Looking ahead, because that’s what inspired leadership causes us to do, the people will have to decide if they want to repeal the two-term limit on presidents.
Have any U.S. laws been repealed before? Absolutely. Remember prohibition? Amendment 18 made the making and distributing of intoxicating beverages illegal. Incidentally, it was Roosevelt who had Amendment 18 repealed, the only constitutional amendment, thus far, to be revoked. Jim Crow laws, the Black Codes, and the Sedition Act of 1918 were also repealed.
But, repealing an amendment takes what is at issue - limited time. Congress set a time limit of seven years in passing a new amendment and Democrats have been quietly working on a repeal of Amendment 22 since Clinton’s presidency. Arguably, they achieved little success because Bush was the president in office and could possibly benefit.
The most recent repeal of Amendment 22 is House Joint Resolution 8 introduced in January 2007 by NY Representative Jose Serrano which was referred to a subcommittee. Former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were both reportedly in favor of repealing Amendment 22.
Launching a Presidential Commission to Repeal Amendment 22 after Obama’s first 100 days, is worth consideration. In addition to other research, the Commission would ask elected officials what their stance is and report it to the people.
Then we’ll have until 2014 to get rid of them.
My Activity Counter does not tell the story on my help with the Obama Campaign.
My newspaper has been a vehicle for Obama '08 but, there is no way to reflect it on the counter.
Just thought I'd share.
Leila
