Olive Branches and old shoes.

Not to continue the white glove inspection of the always headlined every move of President-Elect Barack Obama, but...

Let's start with a couple of questions... Can anyone name (no googling) the current secretary of energy, secretary of agriculture, or head of the EPA? Who gave the invocation for either of junior's Inaugurations? Were there any progressives on the Clinton team? Clinton did have Maya Angelou speak at his Inauguration. That certainly counts for something. I've been saying all along that Barack Obama would do some things I would not like. Olive branches to Presidential primary opponents Biden, Clinton, Richardson, and Vilsack are understandable and justifiable. They are more than capable, have proper experience, notoriety, and are high profile nominations in what might be the highest profile cabinet ever seen. Former Iowa Governor Vilsack's understanding of agriculture and its connection to business is a plus, but his work with bio-engineering is a Minus. There are two republicans are on the team. There are military men at National Security and the CIA. But though there are Environmentalists at the EPA, Labor, and the New Cabinet level "Coordinator of Energy and Climate Policy", there have been no olive branches extended to the real progressives who worked so hard to get an African American one term Senator named Barack Hussein Obama elected as President.

The evangelical leader of the 22,000 strong saddlebrook church, and maybe the biggest preacher since ted haggard (who went to a gay prostitute for meth), is rick warren. His giving the invocation at Obama's Inauguration is no doubt meant to bring "religious right" social conservatives into the fold or at least into the ceremony. Seen by some as a "Be the bigger man" move to help create an environment where government can actually work, it remains a direct slap at Americans who voted and worked for Barack Obama for President. This intolerant "christian" considers homosexuals equivalent to pedophiles and the incestuous and to add insult to injury Obama hasn't tapped anyone from the other extreme to balance him out. In a related note, the pope recently called homosexuality "a wound" on humanity. I do wish people were paying as much attention to Obama's Inaugural benediction preacher pick, Civil Rights icon Rev. Joseph E. Lowery.

Barack's nod to warren brings up a situation similar to the Left watching him nominate centrists, those just left of center and republicans without any Real progressive representation. The ideas of universal health care, aggressive environmental stewardship, and investment in alternate fuels are there, but the nominees and/or appointments are not. If the Obama administration truly works towards these ends (there is little doubt of him agressively working on climate change), while helping the middle class, these nominations will be considered wise and animosity towards them will be forgotten. I know we're a long way from Secretary of Defense Kucinich or Head of the SEC Nader, but it would be nice to know that when "everyone will have a seat at the table", that means progressives too, especially when We worked so hard for Change.

It's also important to remember that the oil man in chief and his oil man/halliburton vice dick nominated a National Security Advisor that exxon named a tanker after. Almost all of his cabinet picks came out of the CEO washroom, or were friends with dick. There were few, if any, olive branches offered by the failure. And we all know, and will be reminded, how that has worked out.

On the fallen prince, I'm sure by now most have seen (here's video and here are some funny adaptations) or at least heard about the shoe attack of a reporter from a Iraqi owned newspaper on the great liberator of Iraq and failure in chief who has spent 4,819+ American military lives and $580,000,000.00+ of US taxpayers money mishandling an unnecessary war he mislead us into. Striking someone with your shoe is seen by many in the region as a big insult (remember the striking of saddam posters and statues). Not to worry, it sounds like the assailant has been more than adequately punished already by the new iraqi penal system and he faces two years in jail. The Rude Pundit and others (a lot of others) have begun to mail the president shoes in their own "This is a goodbye kiss, you dog".

To be fair it wasn't the only story of interest when it comes to the, the still nimble, lamest duck ever. He also admitted that al qaeda wasn't in Iraq until after the "invasion". Of course, when asked, the pathetic one refused to be held accountable or responsible for any of his signing statement unitary executive actions as president. Junior didn't "play the blame game" and admit that his foreign policy put al qaeda there, he simply responded "So What?"

In ever so often reminders, the 43rd president has been abissmal. The failures, scandals, and illegalities come so fast sometimes it's been hard to keep track. Which got me thinking, we should come up with a list.

Any suggestions?
I'll start....
How about...

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended" May 1, 2003

Your turn.

Peace on Earth.
Goodwill towards Men.
David Calamoneri
Hoboken, NJ