OK, it is day one and President Obama calls his staff in-what will be the first thing he tackles?

[bluedawg12]

I say Gitmo and torture.

My reason: He is an attorney, these may be criminal activities,he does not want one minute of shrub's crimes on his watch.

What do you guys think will be the first thing he tackles, on day one>

[my2sense]

1. I'd like him to get started on the economy first

[firedupdem]

2. I think anything related to the economy will be first. I do believe

he can do more than one thing at once, but this economy and lack of jobs is kicking our asses!

[Thrill]

3. He's doing what he said in the campaign

He is meeting with his Military Commanders and telling them to start planning the Iraq Withdrawal.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090117/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_military;_ylt=AuEa1O.c8yOXctAvR.HuVBeyFz4D

[babylonsister]

4. Military advisers to meet on first day

sounds good to me.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8097632&mesg_id=8097632

Obama aide: Military advisers to meet on first day
By JENNIFER LOVEN and CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press Writer

snip//

The Obama adviser, who would speak only on condition of anonymity because the Wednesday meeting has not been formally announced, said the session will include several top commanders and aides in addition to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[bluedawg12]

5. Knowing him his energy, and brains he will

tackle all three. Unlike the former renter at 1600, who could manage on issue a month, tops, the Oman will live very full days, jam packed with advisors and policy and he will love it.

[bluedawg12]

6. I see him working daily with the Pentagon.

Maybe his agenda will be divided into 6ths, (2) 1/6 units for rest, food and family, and the remainder 4/6 unit for work meetings.

Does he sleep? Long? Short?

[bluedawg12]

7. I expect an envoy to Israel and the West Bank sent day one,

but no later than day 6.

[comrade snarky]

8. Not one of our big problems

Can be solved in a day so there's no reason to only work on one. He can hold a bunch of meetings in about 12 hours and set a new direction in about half a dozen areas.

That said, I'm hoping he ends the stupidity of Don't ask Don't Tell in the first week. No one who wants to serve should be denied a chance. The right wing will have a mass embolism and there's nothing they can do about it. Ha- HA!

[bluedawg12]

19. I asked about the "first" thing that he will do. Gitmo is a crime scene

most likely.

He knows he cannot be party to a crime. He's an attorney, he can't be party to shrubs folly.

That's why I think the first thing he will do is issue some order towards the dismantlement of that place.

[comrade snarky]

31. Thats one of them

But it cant be the only thing and we may well not hear about the first steps.

First day demands for executive orders may be setting the bar a bit high in my opinion. Give him a week. :evilgrin:

[ZombieHorde]

9. The lack of zombies attacking our cities and small towns. Gitmo and would be a good start as well.

Congratulations, you have found the hidden message!

[bluedawg12]

17. I think he has to do something with Gitmo first,

because of the illegal detentions. Not saying they are opening the doors and sending everyone off on a cruise ship to NY. He still has to find someplace for some of the detainees, but if it is illegal, he can't be party to it.

[Starry Messenger]

10. I have to agree with the other posters.

The economy. The news in California today is not good. :(

[bluedawg12]

20. The economy is one of his top priorities and I believe

he wanted to sign legislation for additional funds the first day, but, the repugs are throwing hurdles and want "studies". Now, after 8 years, they want "studies." :eyes:

[elleng]

11. First thing he'll do, I think,

is check off all the things he CAN DO himself, immediately, by signing Executive Orders. SO he'll get a list, which has probably been prepared.

[Kdillard]

12. That is what I am expecting too. Signing executive orders to reverse some or

most of the damage that George Bush has done and then meeting with his Military guys to get us out of Iraq.

[elleng]

13. Yes.

Depending on how the list was developed, he may have someones with him (like Biden.)

[gblady]

21. it's my impression....

that he has teams of folks working on lots of things...
preparing information for him to act upon.

line by line over the federal budget...
line by line over executive orders...
are just a couple I've heard mentioned.

[bluedawg12]

38. If his campaing, and the preinauguration are any indication of management

style, and it is, I think he will have and already has a game plan for everything for then next four years.

Unlike his *cough* predecessor, who hated the job, this man will be up to the challenge and love every minute of it.

He looked young and radiant during the whistle stop through Baltimore and Philly.

He embraced the crowds in Baltimore and they embraced him and they gave he and Michelle, more energy.

I do worry about him....but....I will say no more....just crowds...dang, I want him safe.

[lonestarnot]

25. Sounds good to me!

[undeterred]

14. Purification/exorcism of the White House

Honestly, I would feel like I was working at a crime scene going in there.

[bluedawg12]

16. White House CSI.

It is a crime scene. LOL.

[mmonk]

15. You have people work on multiple things.

There will be many people with different areas of expertise that will work simultaneously.

[bluedawg12]

18. He is going to redefine "multi-tasking" so that multi-tasking will look like

sleeping by comparison.

He is young, he has lots of energy, very intelligent and he loves what he is doing.

I saw him in Baltimore yesterday ( on TV) , his speech was outstanding, he revelled in the crowds - who loved him- he is clearly a big breath of fresh air for this nation.

I always thought of dumbya as a speech reader, a prop in a suit, who thought the WH was a frat boy job of golf, dinners and reading books to 2nd graders until the WTC, then, he just fell apart totally.

[gblady]

22. I agree...

he has a passion for what he is doing...
A vision enacted with passion is a powerful force.

[bluedawg12]

26. He has passion and smarts.

I used to listen to his speeches and think, back when shrub was still the emotional compass for our nation and we were all brow beaten and ignored, and here comes candidate Obama, making sense, and I was like, "Dang. That's what I would say, only he says it better." Really, I know he does. LOL.

It's really, reall about time for brains at the helm of the great ship of State, which @ss hat has left floundering, as predicted he would, by the late great Molly Ivens.

[suston96]

23. First things he will do? That's easy.....

He will pick the dog walkers and instruct them on how to uh, pick up after them.

[bluedawg12]

27. Oh noes. Crisis! Have they picked a dawg?

I, as a dawg, did not get the memo!!!!

What breed did they select?

Or.....is THAT the very first thing on the agenda: the first pooche??? ;-)

[suston96]

30. What on this great planet earth is more important than the family pooch?

That's our pooch - Muffin. They can get their own.........

[bluedawg12]

35. Getting a memo out to other Dem dawgs!

LOL.

Muffin is adorable.

Living with pets and caring for them is such a great thing for kids, IMHO.


The Obama's are great role models for parenting and adding a pooche to the family just confirms that opinion!

[suston96]

43. A great thing for kids....? It's great for this very, very old kid... Indescribable joy. nt

[mtnsnake]

24. I'm hoping he tackles the environmental issues & patches up what Bush tried to destroy

The environment is and always will be my top priority or pretty close.

[bluedawg12]

29. Yes, because nothing says greatness like strip mining the Grand Canyon

or deforesting our national parks.

All that danged Creation getting in the way of our roaring economy. :sarcasm:

[Arkana]

28. "Guys, help me get the goddamn Starburst wrappers out of the Resolute desk, will ya?"

[Ediacara]

32. LOL!

Seriously, I'm laughing so hard the cats are giving me funny looks!

[bluedawg12]

37. Good one! What will he do with Cheney's man sized safe?

Find Dick hiding inside? :evilgrin:

[lunatica]

33. I wouldn't dare to presume that I could tell him

But my guess is that he is a consummate multi-tasker and already has a dozen irons in the fire. His first act may be to have a meeting to get an UPDATE on the progress of his delegated tasks.

He's way ahead of the game. He might actually spend half a minute looking around the Oval Office in wonder that he's there, but then it'll be time to roll up the old sleeves... I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he's a workaholic.

[bluedawg12]

39. I imagine that he is a bit of a workaholic- which is what we need

the job will be all consuming.

Yes, he will need family time and fitness time, which is just my humble opinion, heh, in another words, I would expect him at the gym or at the girls school, or things along those lines. There must be balance in life.

I too imagine him with an ordered list of priorities and action plans, in place, months ago!

I love his speeches, and am looking forward to his historic words at the inauguration. I anticipate it to be stirring, so, the Kleenex will be near by. What can I say, even us old pitbulls, get emotional once in a while. :blush:


What a change after an anti-intellectual who came to office bragging that he does not read the paper.

[killbotfactory]

34. Pitbulls

[bluedawg12]

36. I have two of them and love them to pieces, but...

they are smart and high energy and require lots of attention (in my experience) as much as I love my pibbies, for this young family with great demands on the parents, school age little girls and let's face it a front lawn that has a rather strict policy about digging :rofl: maybe some breed less demanding than the high energy genius of pibbies?

My guys are also good around cats, just to calrify the old pibbie myth, they have been raised with cats and kittens, and frankly, some of the cats adore the pibbies. but, I digress.

On the plus, side, I imagine they are hypoallergenic.

[book_worm]

40. What they have been tackling since the election--the economy.

It's no huge surprise.

[sampsonblk]

41. Agreed

Obama is a smart guy. If he goes along with Gitmo and torture - even for a year or two - then he will be a war criminal too. And he will have no moral authority to deal with the problem later.

"Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."

[bluedawg12]

42. Well said. He is an attorney and Constitutional scholar

he knows exactly how * trampled on the law.

He cannot for one second be a party to that, if it is indeed proven to be criminal. Which, based on the latest DOJ bombshell revelation last week, by a lead (GOP selected) prosecutor who openly admitted, probably hoping to be under the radar, that one of the many detainees cannot be prosecuted because he was tortured for over 30 days.

Some may recall KO's scathing editorial about how * deprived the nation and 9-11 widows, widowers and orphans their due justice by botching the prosecuting by illegal acts.

The incoming Atty. Gen., Eric Holder, has already opined that water boarding is torture.

So, I am betting 10, yes 10 (ten) virtual bags of pop corn, that the first Presidential pen stroke will be an order to, in some fashion, disentangle the next administration and our nation from Gitmo and all that went on down there, for all of those years.

I do not contend that I know how to dismantle it, nor do I think he can simply shut it down, but, he will (IMHO) immediately disengage from Gitmo and start the closure process. He has to legally.

Beyond that, his desk will be overflowing from the incalculable mess left behind by the clown prince who will have just exited stage far, far, right, just minutes before. His task will be Herculean.