It is going to take some getting used to, but I am going to have to change my habits when it comes to watching the President speak. Throughout the Bush Administration, I did not have television and rarely watched news online. After years of political activism (starting at age 13), I was so appalled at being represented on the international stage by someone who could not speak in complete sentences, that I stopped watching the President speak. I found it less painful to read snippets in the news after-the-fact.
I am now constantly amazed to hear the President speak, and find myself encouraged by what I hear, instead of disappointed or embarrassed.
The President has quite the task on his hands. The old battle lines between "Republicans" and "Democrat" are built on very old paradigms, and none of them yet seem to understand that the days are long gone when most of their assumptions about how the world works are no longer valid. The Democrats are going to be almost as hard for the President to bring to the table (over time) as the Republicans are.
I wish him luck and fortitude. As a very impatient person, I am constantly heartened to see how much patience he exhibits. Because he is going to need it.
And, as an aside, to the Comms Team: great job. As a career IT professional now working in the Enterprise / Web 2.0 space, I give you kudos for your committment to transparency -- particularly in light of the fact that government policies and systems have not kept up to date with change at all, and that your challenge is going to be bigger and harder than it really should have to be. Good luck!
Comments are closed for this post.
