Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in anyway.
So last night I spent my evening relaxing with my feet up, and massaging my calves. And yet somehow, I totally forgot that the Democrats were debating on MSNBC. Go figure. Did you remember? Did they advertise at all? How sad is this country... really? Anyway, I found this part of the summary to be quite interesting:
At the conclusion of the two-hour debate, the candidates were asked what their top priority would be for their first 100 days in office: Edwards: "travel the world" and "re-establish America's moral authority." Clinton: bring home U.S. troops from Iraq. Obama: bring home U.S. troops and push for national health care. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: upgrade U.S. schools and push a $40,000-a-year minimum wage for teachers. Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: end the war in Iraq and defuse tensions with Iran and North Korea. Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: help "reshape the world for peace" and end all nuclear weapons. Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel: Remind Congressional leaders they can end the war in Iraq now. Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: "Restore constitutional rights in this country."
At the conclusion of the two-hour debate, the candidates were asked what their top priority would be for their first 100 days in office:
That's quite a list isn't it? Shockingly, I think Sen. Clinton is the only one that actually mentioned something that the President can actually do... and that's bring the troops home. The Commander-in-Chief can do that. Whether you agree that this is something she ought to do or not is totally different.
For someone who spends as much time primping and preening as Edwards does, it was not a shock at all that he would want to travel the world. Most likely this will be on Cruise Ship 1 while catching some rays. His first stops will mostly likely be to Italy, Greece and Spain which amazingly all are on the Mediterranean Sea. A for the restoring America's Moral AuthorityTM... please recall that you would represent the people of the United States of America, not the World Senator Edwards. Our interests ought to come before theirs.
I suppose Obama can "push" for National Health Care all he wants, but like every other candidate, he needs to remember that the President doesn't get to write laws. He just gets to sign them. I'd blast him more for this, but I've discussed the real solution to the health care problems in this country enough lately, and don't feel like writing a one liner for this one. Forgive me please.
Bill Richardson has decided that foreign policy isn't nearly as important as something that the federal government has no constitutional right to control... our schools. I guess I could cut him some slack since he's a governor of a state, and states have say over their own schools, but since when do I cut people slack? But if he wants a minimum wage for teachers, does that mean that there will be a federal property tax to pay for it too? And will the bad teachers get the same pay as the good? The Constitution... read it... understand it... love it.
I'm really curious how Rep. Kucinich is going to "reshape the world for peace" in 100 days... and especially get rid of all nuclear weapons in all countries. I suppose if God can create the heavens and the Earth in just 7 days, than a mere mortal ought to be able to handle this relatively smaller task in only 100. Don't you?
Sen. Gravel has really set the bar low. Hell, he can remind Congressional leaders that they can end the Iraq War right now without even running for President at all. Write a memo dude. As President, you could actually do it. Hell, reminding people of something shouldn't take 100 days. 100 seconds ought to do it. Do you not understand the office that you're running for?
And to Sen. Dodd... I'm curious which rights you'd restore. Freedom of Speech? The Right to Bear Arms? The Right to not have your property stolen by the government for private use? Enumerate please.
I find this whole fascination with "the first 100 days in office" to be kind of strange actually. But this does remind me to ask one person not in the debate... Nancy Pelosi... How'd you do on your list of things to get done in 100 days? Yeah... that's what I thought.