What Will Obama Do?

Watching some CNN, it looks like the Republicans are taking the House and the Democrats are holding the Senate because Barbara Boxer eeked out a victory in Norcal. Interesting. Boxer is not well liked amongst the people I know who know her (she hails from Marin). But she clearly has a loyal base and is always able to raise big Hollywood and Marin money. She is a crafty politician and a bit of a moonbat liberal. In any case, she beat Fiorina who seemed like a pretty weak candidate. Can't the Republicans find anyone better than Fiorina or Whitman in all of California? I mean, do they honestly think California is going to vote for someone who is anti-abortion? Stupid. Especially because Boxer was vulnerable. Her support amongst tacit Democrats was clearly weak. A better candidate than Fiorina would have won, methinks. They ought to have found some moderate Latino or other minority on the younger side - like a Bobby Jindal - they might have won. But this hypothetical person probably doesn't exit.

It looks like Brown crushed Whitman. Maybe not all the votes were in - I thought it was supposed to be a closer race. I think people looked and listened to Whitman and they reminded her of all the shitty bosses they ever had and preferred Jerry Brown who reminded them of their crazy drunk uncles at Fourth of July BBQs and decided they'd rather listen to the drunk uncle for the next four years than hear about TPS reports and staff meetings. Chalk this up to the evidence in Freakonomics that money DOES NOT win elections - but rather - money flows to viable candidates. Whitman spent $140 million. The folks on CNN were making fun of her. Eliot Spitzer had the best line, he said "I could have lost that election for $80 million."

So how will Obama take it? Will he pull a Bill Clinton and reevaluate his policies and triangulate? Will he run against Congress? It will be interesting to see politically, but almost more interesting policy-wise. Obama has been sticking to his premise that the reason there is backlash against the Democrats (and him) is because he isn't explaining his policies correctly and how the Republicans are bad-mouthing whatever he tries to do. He's wrong, of course. He hasn't done enough about jobs. It really is that simple. However one views the stimulus - because there are arguments both ways - the fact is - it hasn't led to more jobs. Perhaps it stopped a total drop off. It doesn't matter. People are hurting. And promises for healthcare in a couple years for folks who are hurting...doesn't exactly inspire confidence. And by the way, it doesn't inspire confidence in those WHO ARE working either - because they have no idea how much healthcare is going to cost. If they are a small business or thinking about starting a small business - they have no idea what the new health care proposal will cost. If they are a taxpayer, they too, don't know how much their taxes will increase. So there is this weird uncertainty all around. And the only ones who seem to subscribe to Obama's plan are liberal elites who remain economically immune to the problems of middle and lower middle class folks, but who believe generally in his ideological mission. Or perhaps the person who currently has a shitty job with shitty healthcare who looks down the line a couple years and doesn't seem him or herself in a better place...maybe that person figures Obama's healthcare proposal will help their existence. But to me and to most Americans, I think that type of life sounds pretty damn lousy anyway.

So what will he do? I guess that's the thing about Obama - we don't really know. I still believe the guy has a head on his shoulders and has the aptitude to learn on the job. It is basically why I voted for him. Although I didn't like all his positions on things, he seemed to reason through positions and come to independent conclusions. And I suppose his general outlook reflected my own moreso than McCain. I've been disappointed so far - but don't think it is impossible to turn things around. I think he got dealt a shitty hand, but guess what: that's what being President is all about. Bush was dealt a shitty hand too. He handled some things well and others not so well.

If Obama is clever, he'll co-opt Republican ideas about tax cuts as another attempt to kick-start the economy. Then they won't have a way around him and who knows, maybe it'll work. I don't know if he can pull off another stimulus, but if he does, for godsake, make it visible and make it loud. Build a goddamn Golden Gate Bridge. Think big. Don't invest in ideological fluff. Don't toss good money after bad to crappy companies. That's my advise.

And don't let Iran get the bomb. That's basically it.