The highly acclaimed new President has taken office, but things haven’t exactly gone smoothly, as there has been plenty of controversy.
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached, and this week the State Senate voted unanimously to remove him from office. Ongoing investigations could be troublesome for the new President, whose Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel reportedly engaged in discussions with Blago to appoint an Illinois Senate replacement.
One of the impeachment charges was also an FDA violation of drug importation, and Blago is alleging that Emanuel was behind the issue.
The President’s nomination of Eric Holder for AG was controversial, though Holder has had a surprisingly easy path, and is expected to be confirmed next week. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner was not as fortunate, facing criticisms for failing to pay taxes. Geithner was ultimately confirmed this week.
Obama took some criticism from the anti-war left when he made a somewhat strong statement about national security during his inauguration speech, which we noted, and which drew the approval of many on the right. He then gave his first Presidential interview to Arab network al-Arabiya, where he apologized to the Muslim world and assured them that Americans are not their enemy.
The interview has drawn mixed reviews. While the MSM is surely jealous and disappointed that they didn’t get the interview, they’re spinning it as a positive anyway.
Others didn’t see the interview as constructive. Charles Krauthammer doesn’t think the apology was necessary. Victor Davis Hanson wrote that the interview was dangerous, and he told Hugh Hewitt the same on the radio. Mark Steyn also expressed his displeasure on Hugh Hewitt’s show as only Steyn can.
Meanwhile, the stimulus battle has taken center stage. As House Republicans united against the pork-filled stimulus that will not work, their strategy is unfolding. The House GOP has correctly painted the House Democrats as partisan, and by exposing provisions of the legislation and reaching out to the President, they’ve put Obama in a tough position.
Unless the President can get out of this, surely with the help of the media, he’ll likely appear to be taking sides with unpoplular House Democrats whose legislative priorities may drag him down, or he’ll have to stand up against his own party to look “bipartisan.”
There are rumors that Senate Republicans may unite to block a bloated stimulus, which may delay the passing of a major legislation or could force serious Democrat concessions. Obama must accept any GOP offers to work together to appear bipartisan, but the GOP has the advantage; Republicans don’t have to budge as long as they point out the absurd provisions pushed by Democrats.
The honeymoon is over.
EDIT: I forgot to add Obama telling off Republicans questioning the stimulus, saying “I won.” This doesn’t sound like bipartisanship. In fact, President Bush was criticized and ridiculed repeatedly for emphasizing that he was “The Decider.” Hugh Hewitt explains what Obama’s words may mean and what Republicans should do about it.
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