“Watching President Obama address our nation — and feeling the pride that is in every American’s heart — it’s worth pausing to celebrate our nation’s achievements. Yet even as we mark this historic event, we recognize the deep problems that continue to face our nation. Republicans are eager to work with President Obama on the challenges he discussed, especially restoring fiscal responsibility and growing our economy.

“After last year’s State of the Union, then-candidate Barack Obama asked the nation to imagine a time when a President’s agenda would draw standing ovations from both sides of the aisle. That sort of bipartisanship is an admirable goal — and one that unfortunately continues to elude Washington. The Democratic leadership in Congress must be willing to work with Republicans to stop out-of-control spending, promote the creation of jobs, and to keep our troops properly funded.

“Now would be a good time for this young Administration to ask the Democrat leaders in Congress to actually consider working in a bipartisan way to solve the real problems Americans are facing.

“I am more confident than ever that the American people will stand up for the principles our nation was founded on and will hold their representatives accountable to overcome the challenges that this nation faces.”

• Four years is a long time. By the time Obama leaves office his personal technology will be outdated.  It will be equivalent to President Bush getting a cassette player on exit.
• SMS will be an essential tool in keeping in touch with his family . . . I would love to follow an Obama Twitter!
• If Blackberry can’t protect the President . . . Blackberry can’t protect you.

White House Changes I Want To See

Public Transportation

Washington DC Metropolitan area has an excellent public transportation system, although the hours are limited to 5:00 am – 12:00 am (M-Th), 5:00 am – 3:00 am (F), and 7:00 am – 3:00 am (S & S).  The Metro should be opened 24 hours a day.  The White House should require all (except those who require a security detail) to use public transportation.  The US Government supplements all employees who use public transportation to pay actual or the monthly maximum permitted by law – currently $110/month.

Modified Work Week

Do not be mistaken by the television rendition of “The West Wing” with overworked; socially stunted; emotionally distant; and no time for family, friends or relationship staff.  “The West Wing” was not a reality show or documentary. With that being said any government position requires a strong sense professionalism and servitude . . . but they do have rich and fulfilling personal lives in which their careers do not monopolize.

The White House should start a modified work week of 4 days / 9-10 hour work week.  Most people can do their work within 4 days and 1 day to be on call (if needed).  This will not only create jobs but it will set the standard for quality work and citizenship via persona life.

Energy Efficient

President Wilson had sheep to cut the grounds, sold the wool (profits going Red Cross).

The White House complex has progressed, starting with President G Bush, to be efficient buildings. But it is not enough.  The standard should be self sustaining.  Here are some ideas:

• Solar Panels – It would not only make a statement to oil dependency and the direction of the US if the back lawn is filled with a solar panel farm.
• Wind Turbines
• Bio Diesel Automobiles
• Electric Segways/Cars (for transportation of non secure personnel to and from Capital). It is only 1.8 miles to and from White House to Capital Complex, easily within walking distance.  Washington DC has an average of 202 days without any precipitation, which are friendly to Segways.
• Laptops – There are allot of computers in the White House, each soaking up electricity.  Converting all computers to laptops will not only save money but with the use of secure technology using encryption, identity embedded bios, and hardware tracking will make it a smarter choice.
• Solar Charging Stations – Security needs a constant use of portable technology, this can make a huge dent in the executive branch budget.

Buying Local

Washington DC is central to Maryland, Virginia and Delaware farms.  There isn’t anything that should be ‘shipped’ into any White House kitchen.  The 100 mile diet should be maintained by all kitchens including staff cafeteria, personal kitchen, public eateries, dinners, ceremonies, and/or events should be supplied by food withing 100 miles of the event.

Setting the standard would promote local farmers, build local economy, and lead the US into provide for themselves.

Telecommuting

80% of office jobs do not have to take office space in one particular location. Technology has advanced so much that wasting energy to commute is not particularly the smartest pattern in US History.

• VPN
• File Servers
• Secure Groupware
• MS Office Online
• Project Management Online
• Time Tracking

Transferring positions into telecommuting will open up the entire United States as potential employees.

Here is a simple question:

Why does any agency have to be located in Washington DC?

We have bases and local agencies throughout the 50 states why not spread out US Federal?   Don’t be fooled with security issues or communications needs;  The United States has more consulate, posts and embassies throughout the globe connected by modern technology.

With Homeland security constantly worried about security and attack on Washington DC why centralize government in Washington DC?

With the slow death of Major Cities (Detroit) it would benefit the entire nation to spread the Cabinet and Department all around.  Washington DC should stop hogging employment.

These are changes that the Nation can tolerate and appreciate.  It is time that our leaders lead . . . let the nation follow Obama’s example.  Start with a telecommuting webmaster.

I found much humor in the first 2008 Presidential Debate between McCain and Obama.  It was all about Jim Lehrer.  Here is a man that began his news career at The Dallas Morning News and Dallas Times-Herald, covering the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and a retired Marine.

Lehrer was considered an ‘Anderson Cooper’ of his generations.

He should have kicked debate ass!  But, he was all comic relief. Here are the reasons that Jim Lehrer,  the first 2008 Presidential Debate Moderator, made me laugh.

1. Treated McCain and Obama like a Gay Couple in Marriage Counseling

“I’m just determined to get you all to talk to each other,” Lehrer said. “I’m gonna try.”

Lehrer cut in: “Say it directly to him! Say it directly to him!”

Obama was the only one directly speaking to McCain and doing everything the counselor, Lehrer, suggest.  On the otherhand, McCain was the stubburd one. McCain did not turn his eyes or head towards Obama but did have the muscle control to look down at his notes sometimes with an added salty grin.

Lehrer even tried jump starting a conversation for them

“Do you have something directly to say, Senator Obama, to Senator McCain about what he just said? “

Apparently Lehrer wanted Bette Davis and Joan Crawford like characters for the television ratings.

2. Too Complimentary

It was a debate, I believe, a waste of time.  We know nothing more of either candidate except we now know how to time manage a debate. Lehrer wasted no time in complimenting them of their abilities to keep within their time limits.

LEHRER: I have some good news and bad news for the two of you. You all are even on time, which is remarkable, considering we’ve been going at it …

OBAMA: A testimony to you, Jim.

LEHRER: I don’t know about that. But the bad news is all my little five minute things have run over, so, anyhow, we’ll adjust as we get there. But the amount of time is even

Geez, take a compliment Jim!!!

Too passive.

3. Did not have control

Pet Peeve : When two people are talking at the same time.

Lehrer had no control . . . none.

LEHRER: We’re going to go to a new… (CROSSTALK)

LEHRER: We’ve got time for one more lead question segment. We’re way out of… (CROSSTALK)

LEHRER: Quick response and then… (CROSSTALK)

Obama even help Lehrer get control.

LEHRER: All right.

OBAMA: I’ve got to make this point, Jim.

LEHRER: OK.

OBAMA: He objects…

MCCAIN: I have voted for alternate fuel all of my time…

OBAMA: He — he — he objects…

(CROSSTALK)

LEHRER: One at a time, please.

OBAMA: He objected…

LEHRER: One at a time.

MCCAIN: No one can be opposed to alternate energy.

OBAMA: All right, fair enough. Let’s move on. You’ve got one more energy — you’ve got one more question.

Lehrer should have left his NPR persona at the studio and bring it on.

4. Treating the Audience like children

“We’re trying a new format here…it’s going to require my absolute concentration. I don’t want to worry about anyone cheering or hollering or making any noise behind me,” he said. “There’s going to be an understandable natural tendency to cheer, hiss, boo or whatever-don’t do it.”

“I don’t want to be difficult about it, but I will be hard about it,” Lehrer said, adding that pictures are forbidden and as for cell phones. “Turn them off!” he shouted. “This is not a competing pep rally.”

“This has to be a credible process, this has to be a credible debate,” he said, “It not only has to appear to be fair, it has to be fair, and it’s my job to do that.”

All he was missing, “If I hear one peep I am going to stop this debate. Do you want me to stop this debate? If I hear one single moan, wheeze, hiss, laugh or any sound, I am going to stop this debate. You won’t like it if I have to stop this debate.”

I personally want to hear the reaction from the audience. I really do, its just like a laugh track for a television sitcom . . . entertaining in itself.

5. He Assigned Chores to Candidate’s Wives.

Lehrer noted that John McCain’s wife, Cindy, and Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, are seated on opposite sides of the hall and would help enforce the quiet policy.

I would have loved to have seen Michelle and Cindy to:

• Constantly do the “shhh”, like a possessed librarian.
• Go over to individuals and make ‘mother-like’ threats
• Move their chairs to face the audience to take their Lehrer assigned authorities seriously.

Final Notes

This was a very safe debate, old school NPR.  Besdies, it was just the two parties.  We need Nadar, Barr and Paul on stage for the future debates.  I need to see the real difference between the candidates. The candidates have moved too far into the middle to be different. As it stands Obama would be a great replacement for Palin.

I do not think that Obama will take the southern US States, but will take the Northeast, Greater Lakes, West Coast and Colorado and New Mexico.

What is your 2008 Presidential Election prediction?  I used the NPR map.

Chafee left the Republican Party last year after losing his bid for re-election and now supports Obama. He told an audience Tuesday at the New America Foundation in Washington that the Alaska governor has revived a “lackluster McCain candidacy.”

“They’ve just thrown this firestorm, this tornado, into the whole presidential election,” Chafee said in response to an audience member’s question about whether the Obama campaign should worry about Palin’s presence in the race.

He said her speech at the Republican National Convention had the unintended effect of energizing Democrats and Obama supporters. “People were coming into my office, phone calls were flooding in, e-mails were coming in, ‘I just sent money to Obama, I couldn’t sleep last night’ — from the left. To see this cocky wacko up there,” Chafee said to laughter.