Local GOP keeping watchful eye on Obama
Barack Obama’s campaign slogan for president was about change, but Waynesboro Republican Committee Chairman Chris Darden is starting to wonder about that promise.
Darden said Obama’s early hires for key cabinet and administrative posts have included “too many Washington insiders, too many Clinton insiders.”
“It becomes partisan, it becomes stale,’’ Darden said of Obama’s roster of appointees. “These are not necessarily the best people with bold fresh ideas. Those were the sentiments he was espousing during the campaign.”
Obama will be inaugurated as the country’s 44th president Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.
Shenandoah Valley Republicans will be watching his administration closely.
Beyond partisan rhetoric, they are hoping the new president has the right plan to improve the flagging U.S. economy.
“Obama has quite an undertaking,’’ said Staunton Republican Committee Chairwoman Anne Taetzsch. “I would like to see him put together a smart team of economists who will put forth a thoughtful plan with clear solutions.”
Del. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, said it is important for Obama and Congress to get a tight rein on the economy so that the states “can follow up with policies based on their programs.”
Taetzsch said Democrats had wanted control of Congress and the White House for years and “now they have it. It is time for the Democrats to put their money where their mouth is.”
Taetzsch said the era of fiscal irresponsibility has come to an end.
She said budgets are adhered to in the regular business world, but have not been in Washington.
Taetzsch is concerned about the country’s fate if the economy is not corrected.
“If the economy collapses, it will be very difficult to stave off terrorists,’’ she said.
She said President Bush and his administration have kept the country safe, and she hopes Obama will do the same.
Darden said the hiring of former Clinton chief of staff Leon Panetta as CIA director raises concerns about national security.
“He has no intelligence background,’’ Darden said of the former congressman from California.
Darden said even Democratic U.S. senators like Dianne Feinstein and Jay Rockefeller understand what is at stake with the CIA appointment.
“This is our intelligence and our national security and we should not be playing politics with it,” he said.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
It reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw that said “ I voted for CHANGE, so why am I getting a Clinton Cabinet?”….
During the campaigns I asked several Obama supporters why they were supporting Obama and the well marketed response was always “Change”. But when I asked these 20’-somethings change from what I usually found a lack of history knowledge and only a call for “Change” from something they did not know or understand. When I asked about the economy and taxes I often heard it was “Time for the Rich to pay their fair share” but no knowledge or understanding of how the progressive tax structure already works and the high percentage that the “Rich” already pays. All they knew was that somebody had more then they did, without understanding what most people did to get their “Share”, and that the Rich should give more…
Also many of these 20’-somethings were in grade school when the attacks on the trade centers and the Pentagon happened and they have little history knowledge or frame of reference. Its usually a blank stare when you bring up the numerous terrorist attacks that happened unanswered during the Clinton administration. You should see the looks on their faces when you mention the first attacks on the World Trade Centers. The fault is not in these 20’-somethings but the fault of our education and media source systems. How long have we gone since the 911 attacks and it was determined by many of these media source systems that the images of 911 were too harsh and the people were not ready to see them yet? Many who have supported the war on terrorism have been called “Warmongers” and not willing to talk with those who hate us. Or maybe these people have seen how “Talk” has worked in the past and after the terror attacks of 911 it has now become time to respond to these attacks and go after the terrorist…
As I read the article in the NewsVirginian I noticed a advertisement on the sidebar with Terry Mcauliffe running for Virginia State Governor. Here is another Clinton “Re-tread” who also was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee and outstanding fundraiser for the Democratic party. He is also known for once playing golf with President Clinton and the top guy of a company called Global Crossing after which Mcauliffe invested $100,000 in the company which then grew into about $18 million just before the company failed and went bankrupt. Other “Politicians” also made money from this deal and I am sure somebody will post about this but why isn’t the media talking about this or educating our “20’-somethings”?… What type of “Change” will Terry Mcauliffe bring to Virginia as Governor?…
Another “Change” that has recently happened is that our Virginia State Governor, Tim Kaine, has accepted the position as the new Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and has committed to funding and electing more “Democrats” to office. Democratic Virginia Governor Tim Kaine today is now in Richmond with the opening of the 45 day legislative session when all of our elected representatives are sent to Richmond to do the states business. They are there to work on our state budget and make “Changes” to adjust for the new economic situation. They are there to represent those of us who elected them to do what is right for the state of Virginia and its citizens. They are there to deal with the transportation situation, the effects of crime on our State, the environment, the social programs, and the priorities of the State of Virginia. Democratic Governor Tim Kaine is there to preside as Governor while also being the new Chairman of the Democratic National Committee at the same time. Who do you think Kaine is really looking out for and is this the “Change” that many voted for?
That’s funny. They’re keeping a close watch on Barak Obama, but they’ve been asleep while George Bush created the catastrophe that we are now experiencing. When these partisans had complete control of the Presidency and Congress, they proved their incompetence and corruption. They have no justification for criticism.
Advertisement