1974
OPINION
5A
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 5. 2008
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Student reactions to Obama's cabinet
Has Obama really seen what the people want?
There has been much tete-
a tete about President-elect Barack Obama's prospective cabinet appointees. Many political analysts think his selection is a
Obama
strong, well-rounded group. But shouldn't we consider what the people want? It seems like no one even cares about Joe Whatshisname anymore. Seriously Barack, the American people don't want experience or qualifications. No, those things are way overrated. In this day and age, it's all about the image.
The Pitt News,
University of Pittsburgh
One need look no further than President-elect Barack Obama's transition Web site — aptly located at change.gov — to remember his promise of a new and improved presidency.
But for someone who promised us change...
Yet, as Obama begins the vetting process for cabinet-level and advisory posts, many Americans have decried his focus on Washington insiders. Such critics claim that, hearkening back to people who held positions in the Bush and
Clinton administrations, Obama is abandoning his entire platform of change.
Harvard Crimson, Harvard University
What this argument fails to address, however, is that even those experienced politicians whose names may be familiar can still produce profound change — whether it be through the generation of new ideas or merely that existing ideas are received by fresh ears.
What a repeat members could mean for Obama
Now that he no longer has to pretend to be a tax-cutting, corruption-busting, lobbyist-defying, bipartisan agent of reform, our illustrious President-elect Barack Obama has decided that he's more interested in bringing together a team of people who will ensure that he doesn't do anything stupid than he is in bringing about any sort of fundamental change.
Perhaps he's realized that he's not quite sure what exactly he supposed to do, given that he spent almost his entire time in the Senate running for the presidency.
But let's give the man a break. After all, who better, really, to ensure integrity in the White House than Bill Clinton's friends?
The Eagle,
American University
editorials about Mumbai
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Terrorists targeted fledgling democracy
New Delhi must find a way to make the defeat of terrorism a common cause among its citizens regardless of faith.
India's trauma will be measured not just by the scale of the attacks on Mumbai, but by their duration. For nearly three days, security forces battled terrorists for control of sites in the heart of the financial capital of the world's largest democracy. Compared to the instant horror of a suicide bombing, a paramilitary death squad murders in slow motion.
India was targeted not just because it is a country with an unhappy Muslim minority, but because it is a democracy undergoing rapid and potentially destabilizing economic change, and with a history of inter-faith violence. But India is also a regional beacon of cultural openness
and political freedom. The terrorists clearly think the bastion is brittle and can be blown apart. They must be proved wrong.
— The Observer, London Dec. 3 editorial
President-elect smart to make quick choices
If anyone needed a reminder about the dangers that threaten democratic nations, it arrived in a hail of automatic weapons and grenade explosions last week in Mumbai.
The lesson cannot be understated. Yes, the Obama administration must break new diplomatic ground and repair the international damage of the Bush years.
Thus far, the president-elect has quieted that criticism by making sound decisions on his national security team. His appointments, like his timing, are superb.
The Anniston (Ala.) Star Dec. 2 Editorial
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Just when I thought I'd never see her again
Columnist's Loa
DAY ONE
MARIAM SAIFAN
The night before Thanksgiving. I'm watching Rosie O'Donnell's live variety show special on NBC. My reaction to the show itself is much the same as it was when I first saw an ad for it: "Whaaaaaa?" She opens with an extended riff on Spanx, and it goes downhill from there. With invariably flat comedy bits, awkward interactions with guest stars and vaguely interesting musical acts, it plays less like a variety show and more like a low-end awards show with no awards to give out. It succeeds only by making me wish Thomas Edison had never invented live television. Not even a dance squad that prominently features Segway scooters can save the night. I cry myself to sleep.
WAS IT A NIGHTMARE?
Nope, it's just the new Rosie O'Donnell SHOW.
DAY TWO
Thanksgiving, I'm still recovering from Rosie Live. I gorge on turkey more than usual in hopes that it will help me forget about the travesty I witnessed the night before. I then realize that tryptophan does not induce amnesia. I pass out and wake up in a poorly lit hospital room. The doctor tells me my stomach was pumped. This reminds me of a liposuction joke Rosie had told on the show. I shriek in terror. The nurses sedate me.
DAY THREE
I'm back home, though not fully recovered. I read an article online: The Live Feed reports that Rosie's special drew only 5 million viewers. Only five million? That's five million people who are experiencing the same awful things I am. Five million people witnessed a talent showcase that spent most of its time talking about how little talent it actually contained. If five million people had the ebola virus,
suddenly it would be a big deal. The only difference is that Rosie Live didn't liquefy my internal organs.
Rosie announces on her blog: "there will b no more. no ratings. bad reviews, yet still — a thrill 4 me." The No.1 threat to America — a regular Rosie variety show series — has been vanquished. But I hope this doesn't put an end to the attempt to revive variety shows altogether. All they really need is a host who isn't divisive, wholly unlikable and bereft of talent. Variety shows used to be the territory of huge stars like Johnny
DAY FOUR
The day passes without incident, but when I close my eyes, I can still see the nonsensical closing number: Rosie and Gloria Estefan sing about Thanksgiving (or something) as grown men dressed as various desserts prince about. I shiver.
DAY FIVE
Cash and Dean Martin, comedic genius like the Smothers Brothers and lovable couples like Sonny and Cher or Captain & Tennille. The only way Rosie has stayed visible in recent years is by feuding with a hairpiece-wearing real estate mogul/reality show purveyor.
There's still hope. This summer it was announced that Elvis Costello would have his own variety show on the Sundance Channel. Although it's a shame that it will air on a channel almost nobody gets, at least it will have an opportunity to show kids these days what a real variety show shows like.
DAY SIX
It's a struggle. But we can get through this.
Although I'm getting better every day, my newly hired therapist said I should work through my trauma by writing about it. So I wrote this column.
Nichols is an Overland Park sophomore in creative writing.
How Republicans can make the transition
Twenty-five percent. That is President Bush's current job approval rating, a striking drop from his high of 90 percent following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Now, the only approval ratings lower than his are of the Democratic Congress, (18 percent) and Michael Vick — barely.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
During troubled times, Americans look for someone to blame. The easiest target, whether he is actually responsible or not, is the president and the Bush administration and it has seen its share of troubled times.
As a Republican, I am often asked for my opinion of Bush and, like many Republicans, I haven't always been terribly enthusiastic about some of the president's policies. He has gotten a bad rap and, now that his term is coming to an end, I'd like to offer some fair criticism of the last eight years.
Bush has not been the perfect president or the perfect Republican. I am truly looking forward to hearing a president properly pronounce the word "nuclear." The treatment that others have afforded him, however, has been ignorant at best, sometimes diseraceful.
the War on Terror was handled poorly in its first years but rather than criticizing our management, many on the left insisted that we should never have gone, even going so far as to call it a war for oil.
This would be a fair debate if the war were over, but until then it is vital that we stand together as one nation. History will judge the legitimacy of the war, and I believe that it will be much fairer than we have been. In the meantime, we must ensure victory and our security.
For example, the Iraqi front in
I am encouraged to see that Obama has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay on the job in the new administration. They will, no doubt, be at odds on occasion, but with Gates on the job, I hope that our withdrawal from Iraq will be conducted at the proper time.
In any event, I am prepared to get behind the next president for the sake of our nation and am confident that Republicans will
So, how will things be different in the next administration? In an interview with CNN, Bush said that "It is good for our country that people have hope in the system and feed vested in the future and President-elect Obama has a great opportunity." He is quite right.
be more decent in our criticisms of Obama than many Democrats have been of Bush these past eight years.
Whether deserved or not, Bush's low approval ratings have made it difficult for him to be an effective leader. Obama, on the other hand, will enjoy a great deal of goodwill and, to quote Bush once more, "I really do wish him all the best ... it is good for the country that the president succeeds"
Poole is a Wichita senior in psychology and political science.
To contribute to Free for All, visit Kansan.com or call 785-864-0500.
Man, I could've just bent over and pooped through a hole.
--defective.
If I said you had a beautiful body, you would hold it against me.
--defective.
Holler to the girl at The Rec running 10 mph on the treadmill while talking on her
I would just like to say I am not an alcoholic but an alcohol enthusiast. I would also like to put out an ad for anyone with type B blood who would be willing to sell me their liver. I think mine is
'90s Night was so awesome at the Granada. I'm so sick and tired of '80s night.
Thanks DJ Chef!
Speaking of 90s night, I love how the DJ showed clips of Power Rangers.
I'm stuck in a relationship. I just want to have fun.
I woke up to a Christmas tree on my driveway. Maybe I should sell it, but to who?
I forgot how immature you were. Really? Block me from Facebook? Clever. Grow a pair, please.
--very well.
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Yes, maybe Facebook ads do know me most of the time, but I just saw one for "Do you want to be a cop?" And the answer is a solid hell no, so maybe it doesn't know me
Anyone wanna go on a date ... to McDonald's?
Detroit should have named their hockey team "The Bears." Then they would have Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!
The sexy bus driver is back Yeah!
Hey, Lawrence, here's a novel idea. How about you fix the potholes that are all over town?
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The hot bus driver's band got robbed in California. Their trailer got stolen.
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Apples to apples. Best to best
You don't suck. You're amazing and strong and are doing what's right for you.
Fun fact: Shut the hell up.
That's creepy.
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