Jan 21 2009
President Obama Lets Everyone Know He’s the H.N.I.C.
Well our new Prez spent the day letting everyone know he was the new sheriff in town:
Earlier in the day, Obama said he would issue a pay freeze for his senior staff members.
The new president has also promised swift action on the beleaguered economy. House Democrats, at Obama’s urging, have signed an $825 billion economic recovery package that the president says will save or create up to 4 million jobs and invest in health care, energy and education.
Obama also moved fast to address a campaign promise to close the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
The administration is drafting executive orders calling for the closure of the detention facility, according to two administration officials.
He also made ethics training mandatory and has also halted all trials at Gitmo:
In one of his first official acts, President Barack Obama instituted a 120-day suspension of military tribunals held at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, naval base.
Not bad for Day 1 on the job. I’ll be keeping close tabs on these first 100 days. I’m curious to see how any “stimulus” package unfolds, even though I’m skeptical of all such plans. Any ’save the economy’ talk that doesn’t include discussion of real reform of the financial sector and creating real jobs (i.e. ones that involve us making things) that pay a living wage is bullshit and anyone with any good sense knows that. But we will see. It’s only Day 1.
