The traditional act of giving clemency by the US president happened again on Tuesday. 19 convicted criminals had their slate wiped clean. 24 hours later president Bush took a quite remarkable step, and reversed one of them. One last mishap for Bush?
Joe Biden visited Larry King on Monday, and much of the interview he talked about the move into the White House. Biden said that domestically he isn’t worried about the soaring expectations to the president elect, but internationally he is. He told Larry King that he had been contacted by several world leaders who were excited to finally have an American leader who they think has a policy that reflects their own, and who will listen and work with them. Biden’s worries for Obama.
GOP, a.k.a the Republican party, did not fare well in this years elections. Lost the White House, and lost majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Could it be that this Grand Old Party is just that? Old? GOP to be saved by youngsters?
The US senate failed to give support to the proposed $14 bn bailout plan to the struggling US car industry. ‘We were three words away from a deal’ said Republican senator Bob Corker. He has been a key negotiator on the failed package, and he is now blaming the White House, saying it undermined attempts to reach a deal. But why should American tax payers save this industry who sends it’s beggars in a private jet? Will Bush finally get one thing right?
Hillary Clinton is Barack Obama’s nominee for the post of Secretary of State. This is a high profile job, one very much suited to her, but what will become of her even more famous, ex-presidential husband Bill? How will he adjust now that the tables have been turned, to a life in the shadows of his wife? Will he get involved or tell her what to do? Will he try to influence her decisions to favour his charitable work? Can Bill be happy in the shadows?
George W. Bush has been speaking to the media, stunning a whole lot of people when saying ‘I hope they feel that this is a guy that came, didn’t sell his soul for politics, had to make some tough decisions, and did so in a principled way.’ Really? His approval ratings are lower than those of Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal, and his politics and decisions criticized by many, but he insists he will leave the office with his head held high. Bush has just a few regrets…
So it’s official. Barack Obama has named Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State, making the worst kept secret in current US politics public. And he really couldn’t have picked anyone else, could he. She has it all; experience, connections and the know-how. Great news for the US and for the rest of the world. No surprise I am an avid supporter of Hillary, I just don’t know why. Best of both.