|
Gary Abrahams
USA
November 5, 2008

This is definitely a historical moment for America and the world. The spirit
of
America is to give our new president the benefit of the doubt. We will take
him at
his word that he will bring the nation together as a way to heal past
wounds.That he
will make all of our lives better. That he will not practice politics as
usual. That
this is a time of change for the better. That he hears the voices of all
Americans
and will be the president to all Americans. This is a great chance for
America. The
pride I have in the U.S. is that we will embrace our new president and give
him the
chance and the trust he has requested. Obama's ability to manage
relationships with
Democratic congressional leaders, with Republicans and with impatient
liberal
constituencies with agendas of their own will have a lasting impact on his
presidency. Can he, for example, fulfill his promise to govern in a unifying
and
inclusive way yet also push an ambitious progressive agenda? Recall that he
ran as a
centrist. Will he govern as a centrist. If so, will the liberals inside and
outside
of congress lethim. If so, how long will it take for the N.Y. Times to jump
him.
Some will still look from the pov of realistic skepticism. It is up to Pres.
Obama to
prove those naysayers wrong. America is still by-and-large a centrist nation.
If a
Pres. Obama tries to move it too far to the left I think he will have
problems. His
choice of a cabinet will be the first revelation. He should make McCain his
Sec'y of
Defense or Sec'y of State. If he picks a leftist cabinet we are in trouble.
I would
hope now that he has the presidency in the bag he will begin to be more
transparent
and open. If he does all of these things he can bring the nation together
and through
unity great things can happen. All of our hope is that he will "walk in the
shoes of
a servant, with the heart of a father, shedding sweat for earth, tears for
mankind
and blood for heaven." This is my prayer. I always give a man the benefit of
the
doubt and take him athis word. |