Forget the First Term, Real Change Will Come In the Second Term.

When President Obama takes office we are all aware of the mess that has been left him by the Bush Mafia and a Republican Congress that gorged itself and it's patrons at the public troth for so many years. Two wars, an economy in shambles, loss of faith by the electorate, poor perception and outright mistrust from our allies. A new Senate that appears it will fall short of the needed 60 votes to override obstructionist GOP filibusters. President Obama in keeping his campaign promises will have to forge alliances and try to bring both parties together on issues that often divide partisans. President Obama, you are a better man then I and I would not want for all the riches in the world to be standing in your shoes.

Congress too must agree to take back it's constitutional authority and responsibility. That has been the greatest loss this nation has suffered, and during these next eight years we the people must also work and hold our Representatives responsible for their actions and/or inactions. Congressional Representatives in both the House and the Senate our, our voices eyes, and ears. WE have final judgment and say over what powers except those outlined in the Constitution, the Executive Branch may claim. My biggest regret and sorest issues with the Democrats is that they have not challenged the Bush Administration on it's illegal and unconstitutional claims. These should have gone immediately to court the minute one of George Bushie's little Prince's said "no" to a Congressional inquiry or subpoena. As result today we find that the Justice Department which seems to have forgotten totally the concept of Justice it was supposed to support, refused a Congressional subpoena for documents that may show the Justice Department engaged in criminal activity! Specifically the prosecution of Alabama's Governor Don Siegelman.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Keith Nelson in a strangely, and at best garbled response to Chairman Conyers noted the following as reported in today's TPM:

In a letter sent Friday to Conyers, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Keith Nelson writes that DOJ won't produce the documents in question, consistent with a department policy of not providing internal prosecution materials to Congress. Nelson makes the contorted argument that even though such documents in fact have been given to Congress in the past, that would not affect the decision on the Siegelman documents, because of supposed uncertainty about the facts of the other cases:

If any of you can garner what this jackass just said please respond in the comment section below. To me he just admitted that "we won't supply anything to you because we acted illegally but we don't want to incriminate ourselves". A kind of Administrative Fifth Amendment plea. So besides those conflicts to add to what will be a big trouble spot for Obama is the story out today that Bush is "burrowing" political appointees into high level civil service career positions that are protected by government personnel rules. This folks are positioned in a way so as to sabotage President Obama's initiatives. This practice has been done over the years by many Administrations but the end result is that it is designed to thwart the will of the American people who voted overwhelmingly for change, and to block a new Administration from hitting the ground "running".

Most of the personnel shifts have been done on a case-by-case basis, but Interior Solicitor David L. Bernhardt moved to place six deputies in senior agency positions with one stroke, including two who have repeatedly attracted controversy. Robert D. Comer, who was Rocky Mountain regional solicitor, was named to the civil service post of associate solicitor for mineral resources. Matthew McKeown, who served as deputy associate solicitor for mineral resources, will take Comer's place in what is also a career post. Both had been converted from political appointees to civil service status.

In a report dated Oct. 13, 2004, Interior's inspector general singled out Comer in criticizing a grazing agreement that the Bureau of Land Management had struck with a Wyoming rancher, saying Comer used "pressure and intimidation" to produce the settlement and pushed it through "with total disregard for the concerns raised by career field personnel." McKeown -- who as Idaho's deputy attorney general had sued to overturn a Clinton administration rule barring road-building in certain national forests -- has been criticized by environmentalists for promoting the cause of private property owners over the public interest on issues such as grazing and logging.

One career Interior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize his position, said McKeown will "have a huge impact on a broad swath of the West" in his new position, advising the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service on "all the programs they implement." Comer, the official added, will help shape mining policy in his new assignment.

"It is an attempt by the outgoing administration to limit as much as possible [the incoming administration's] ability to put its policy imprint on the Department of Interior," the official said.

I've been reading and commenting in a lot of diaries here recently and even managed to put out a few of my own. The Obama celebration still seems to be going strong and as a grassroots member of his campaign and listed on his blog, I still see two groups in my area sending emails about getting together for the inauguration and a celebratory party. Some of the diaries here have talked about almost mystically how in the first 90 days President Obama will transform this country. I mean look around the world, he's still the President-Elect and this country's stock has risen at least 20 points. I look forward to some of the promised and hoped for changes, yet it is here that the old pragmatist reasserts himself and says "slow down lad this isn't penny stock we just bought ahead of everyone else". Change will come, but we must support Obama, and ensure legislation is passed to give government back to the people.

I could go on including a reported revolt today inside the Bush Administration about an abortion rule change that even the legal counsel he appointed at the EEOC is opposed to. Read the story here.. However, the point here is to outline the rough future President Obama has before him, and to garner a little understanding ahead of time if things don't work out as magically and fast as some seem to believe. Barack Obama is a good man. He has the drive, the brains, the wisdom to see the needs of the country and it's citizens. We need to show the same for this man. Some battles will have to be waged at a later date. One battle that must start the minute this new Administration is sworn in, and that is we demand immediate accountability and support from our Representatives in Congress. This is not a game of chess where politicians should be allowed to jockey for position and seats in Congress. It is a game of life that has consequences for potentially millions should the Congress and the citizenry forget it's obligation to a democratic Republic.