Has a newly elected President of the United States ever taken over quite the mess that Barack Obama has waiting for him on inauguration day.
        To add to Obama’s lengthy list of plentiful problems Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been found out in his attempt to turn the Illinois Governor’s office into his own personal cash minting machine. Sore loser Republicans are doing their best to drag either President Elect-Obama or some of his associate Democrats into the Illinois mess. What a coup that would be for the Republicans – to bring down our newly elected president. Just what the country needs.
        Look, if President Elect Obama has done something wrong then nail him, but if he hasn’t – just back off and let him begin working on the messes that he will soon inherit.
        The farrago of our country’s ailments are growing by the hour. It will never happen, but wouldn’t it be nice of Democrats and Republicans would shake hands and call a truce for, like for six months or a year. Wouldn’t it be nice if Democrats and Republicans would realize that our country has fallen into severely bad times. The list of problems we all face, either directly or indirectly, has grown to massive proportions.
        The knotty issues facing President Elect Obama on foreign and domestic fronts are greater than those that faced Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he took office in the midst of the Great Depression.
        His ability to lead will be sorely tested from his first day in office.
        He will be saddled with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that he inherited from the current president. He will also face…
        -A worsening recession in the U.S. in addition to a lengthening global financial crisis.
        -America’s automotive industry close to the brink of collapse.
        -A record, and growing, national debt.
        -Unemployment that is growing worse every month.
        -Terrorism that is growing in frequency and intensity.
        -The Hamas/Israeli conflict.
        -Global warming.
        -Cleaning up government
        -Overhauling the health care system.
        -Developing alternative energy sources.

       

        Obama has promised to move forward on most if not all of these topics. A question is how quickly he can move forward to accomplish his goals at the same time facing a growing list of problems. It’s almost as though the ship is sinking before he takes over as captain.
        The list of immediate problems is partial. There are ongoing difficulties that will confront the new president.
        He will also face…
        -The problem of guns in America. 25,000 Americans killed by guns every year. If you live in America you are              40 times more likely to die of gunshots than if you lived in Great Britain.
        -Education. Ours is the most expensive and one of the worst in the developed world.
        -The stock market decline.
        -Illicit drugs.
        -Immigration laws.
        -Pollution.

       

         Our new president will have to energize the nation. He will have to build our national morale.
         If, when he takes office, Obama succeeds in changing the downward spiral he can claim the change was due to him and his administration. If matters deteriorate he can justly say he inherited a mess.
          It would make things a whole lot easier for President Elect Obama and for all of us Americans if the Republicans and Democrats shook hands and called a truce until our country gets back on its feet.
        However, in my heart of hearts I can’t see that happening.