OMG, Michelle’s dress!

Even for the most cynical among us, yesterday’s celebration cannot help but fill you with optimism and joy. While it is true that President Obama (god, it feels wonderful to type that) will undoubtedly disappoint us with some of his policies, things will get markedly better. Of course, Republicans like Rush Limbaugh can only feed on the negative but I digress…

In the past few hours, the reviews from inauguration day have slowly been pouring in- the speech was ok, Aretha Franklin’s hat was ridiculous, the Obama kids are adorable but obviously, the most important news has got to be Michelle Obama’s outfits. While it is disconcerting to note the amount of attention heaped on the First Lady’s appearance, she definitely lived up to the hype. Both the gold shift dress and matching coat as well as the one-shoulder white gown were stunning.

But, my favorite part of today’s inauguration was earlier in the day, during the benediction by beloved Rev. Joseph Lowery.

We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.

A civil rights icon rapping at the inauguration of the country’s first black president? Doesn’t get any better than this.

-Indira

The end of a long national nightmare

I thought of the many ways to write a farewell post about Bush and decided, in keeping with the hope and optimism permeating around me, to just reproduce my thank you letter to Bush. This column was written just a week after Obama’s historic win and here it is in its entirety. FYI- for those in Bloomington, there is an Obama inaugural bash at Rachael’s Cafe beginning at 7PM.

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For the past week, much ink has been devoted to Sen. Barack Obama’s improbable run for the presidency and historic win last Tuesday night.

It might have been easy to forget that just 21 months ago, many people were begrudgingly preparing for a Clinton co-presidency. The inevitable doesn’t seem so certain anymore, and the reasons for this have received breathtaking coverage.

We’re told that Obama’s campaign was incredibly well-organized and meticulous.

Youth turnout was at a record high, and it didn’t hurt that the Republican ticket included, well, Sarah Palin.

However, one individual conveniently left out of the equation is President George W. Bush. Perhaps it’s general fatigue, but I’m distressed by the silence on his end – and this after all he’s done for the Democrats. Make no mistake, Tuesday’s election wasn’t just a footnote in Bush’s illustrious career, but a representation of everything for which he stands. It should only seem fair, then, to offer heartfelt gratitude for his advocacy on behalf of liberals everywhere.

Thank you, President Bush, for demonstrating to the American public the urgent need for both moral and political leadership. Since the Republican ascendancy in 2000, the image of America has precipitously declined, largely among our European allies.

We’re now a nation that condones torture and deprives people of their civil liberties.

Our inaction on global issues like genocide, global warming, poverty and homelessness is telling. Once a moral compass for others, we’ve had to re-evaluate our image on the world stage. This election was an endorsement of a stronger, more benevolent America.

Thank you for demonstrating the need for a government that actually governs. The disastrous response to Hurricane Katrina was a watershed moment for many Americans. The images of stranded people calling for help were symbolic of the callousness that the Republican Party often represents. Years of bleeding the government dry had taken its toll, and the public was outraged. Thanks to these past eight years, however, the theory of limited government and deregulation has been discredited, and you have proven that a good government is the solution, not the problem.

Thank you for drawing attention to the fact that we need a president who respects the Constitution. Indeed, as someone who claims to detest judicial activism, the liberties taken with the laws of the land, including spying on Americans and suspending habeas corpus rights, have been stunning. What better way to repudiate your ideology than to elect a constitutional law professor?

In a related vein, thank you for highlighting the dangers of an imperial presidency.

Thank you for restoring my faith in the power of diplomacy and goodwill.

Thank you for proving that intellect and curiosity are important aspects of being a good president.

On a personal note, as a reformed conservative, thank you for ensuring that I never regret the day I stopped referring to myself as a Republican. Who would have thought that after everything, President Bush was the best thing that ever happened to us liberals?

-Indira

The Unity Pony

One of the more interesting phrases being tossed around since last Tuesday is “governing from the center.” Apparently, we’re supposed to believe that hyper-partisans like Nancy Pelosi can actually push for reform that is supported by lawmakers from both parties. Perhaps it’s just my cynicism but I get the feeling that the calls for bipartisanship is a smokescreen for probable inaction on the part of Democrats-

“We have to choose our priorities and decide what is achievable,” Pelosi told reporters this morning, adding: “A lot of it is about time.” She said that the current economic conditions and budget deficit “are going to make it harder” to do some big things dear to Democrats, like comprehensive health care reform, but said that smaller, “discrete,” initiatives, i.e. SCHIP and stem cell funding, could be done quickly.

Uh huh.

I’ve written before about the failings of bipartisanship but I’ll say this again- repairing the damage caused by the last 8 years will require strong and bold steps, not kowtowing to centrist demands. Our political system, for better or worse, is predicated on two sides offering different policy proposals. To say that bipartisanship can actually lead to reform is to underestimate the influence that one’s political philosophy has on issue positions. It’s virtually impossible to make meaningful change when the two parties are guided by differing philosophies- one thinks the Government is the problem, the other the solution. Where is the common ground?

This nonsense about bipartisanship has been my major problem with Obama and explains my reluctance to back his candidacy. And you know what? Many years ago, when Obama was a lowly college professor, he actually agreed with me-

On the national level, bipartisanship usually means Democrats ignore the needs of the poor and abandon the idea that government can play a role in issues of poverty, race discrimination, sex discrimination or environmental protection.

Funny what an election does to people.

-Indira

I’m not a vengeful person but…

…Joe Lieberman needs to go. The Connecticut Senator is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party and everything they stand for. Admittedly, the party’s relationship with Lieberman was a marriage of convenience- they needed him to balance the fragile majority in the Senate. But now, Lieberman needs to go.

What I find objectionable about him is not so much that he endorsed John McCain for President. I don’t doubt that Lieberman sincerely believed in McCain’s ability to unite this country or deal with the Iraqi invasion better. What I find offensive is the smear attack on Obama, including questioning his patriotism, and the general fear mongering about a Democratic victory. Party loyalty isn’t the issue here- it’s the fear and baseless attacks that hurt.

Now, there is a small section of the Democratic Party that is calling for reconciliation, including our very own Sen. Evan Bayh-

I don’t think there should be retribution. We have an opportunity to make a fresh start in this country. And I think reconciliation is in order, not revenge or retribution…He said some things that perhaps crossed the line in terms of questioning Senator Obama’s, you know, patriotism or things like that… I think we had to just let bygones be bygones. We’re going to need him on healthcare and energy independence and education and a whole lot of other things.

Again, this is not about Lieberman’s support for McCain. However, there are many ways to support a candidate without belittling the other side- Colin Powell’s endorsement is a good example. You can’t relentlessly attack the Democratic Party and then pretend that it was all in good fun. No, that’s now how politics works. There are consequences for actions and Lieberman needs to learn that- even if it’s the hard way.

-Indira

Thanking Hillary

It’s interesting to note that one person conveniently absent from all the election platitudes is Sen. Hillary Clinton. While it’s true that Sen. Obama’s campaign was very well-organized and disciplined, some of the credit for his win should be attributed to Clinton. Thanks to the extended primary, Obama was forced to consider states like Pennsylvania and Indiana, states he might have otherwise discounted. He was forced to confront the inadequacies of many of his policy positions (like mandates for health care) and this only made him a stronger candidate-

Hillary ought to get a bit of the acclaim now that Obama has won. She was a tough competitor – and Obama emerged from his primary ready for a challenge, while McCain emerged from his as the hapless default victor of a dismal field of candidates, not the strongest contender, just the only dude left standing when the rest fell away…More democracy was good for Obama, good for the Democrats, good for everyone who voted for him in the general election. Let us never suggest again that better candidates are forged in less democracy.

Hillary’s presence in the campaign also ensured that women’s issues, particularly reproductive rights, got a fair deal of attention. For too long, Democrats have pandered on abortion but this election, candidates were actually arguing over who was more pro-choice and pro-woman. And it was all because of Hillary. Now, Obama must repay the favor and ensure that Larry Summers gets nowhere near the Treasury.

-Indira

Hate wins out

I was initially going to say a bit about the significance of yesterday. Obama’s win, in a very small but necessary way, attempted to heal the racial divide that has plagued both Republicans and Democrats this election cycle. His win is also an acknowledgement of the civil rights movement and everything MLK fought for and for that, we should all be proud.

That being said, this news is a little bittersweet. California voters yesterday approved Proposition 8, effectively banning equal marriage rights and legalizing hate (which is what the prop. represents). Opponents of the proposition are beginning a legal fight but I’m really not sure how successful that will be. Sadly, California isn’t the only state that passed some hateful legislation yesterday. Anti gay-marriage initiatives were approved in Arizona and Florida and now, it is illegal for gay couples in Arkansas to adopt children.

The ultimate irony is that while African-Americans turned out in record numbers to vote for Obama, they also overwhelmingly (70-30) backed Prop 8. The disconnect here is mind numbing and illustrates precisely why basic human rights shouldn’t be decided on by voters (or politicians, for that matter). That’s the Courts’ role.

Andrew Sullivan has a very moving piece about his reaction to Prop. 8 and what this means for GLBT equality. Read it all here.

-Indira