Liar Liar

South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" after President Obama said that illegal immigrants would not be covered if he passes a Health Care reform bill during an address to both chambers of Congress. The outburst caused Nancy Pelosi to look on in disbelief.

Rep. Wilson was not the only one who interrupted President Obama; Republicans chuckled when the President said that there are details to be worked out in his proposal and some waved their own health care proposals in the air. Wilson's outburst, however, seemed to ruffle more feathers. It caused Democrats to boo and President Obama to pause before he repeated that the claim about illegal immigrants was not true.

The constant coverage of the now infamous Town Hall Meetings was the leading point to such displays of dissatisfaction. What's an outburst after seeing the images of gun toting protesters, passionate speeches, citizens being dragged out by authorities, claims of Nazi policies, and Barnie Frank's comparison of a citizen to a dining room table?

Obama also questioned the truthfulness of claims made by opponents. He specifically said that the death panel argument made Sarah Palin made was a lie, although he did not name her specifically. The President warned that he would call out others who misrepresented the details of his initiative.

The partisan divide was even on display when only Democrats clapped at certain moments of the Speech and only Republicans clapped at others, this was in addition to the town hall style heckling.

Still, such lack of decorum can catch one off guard. There were many politician who questioned President Bush's truthfulness when no Weapons of Mass Destruction were found in Iraq, but never to his face during a Presidential Address to Congress.

None the less, a non-partisan moment did take place tonight, when Republican John McCain said of Wilson's outburst while being interviewed on CNN, that it was totally disrespectful and that Wilson "should apologize immediately."

Parts Of The X Back On The Map

By Amy Yensi--

Jeff Saltzman once said: "If you have ever wondered if you're in Hell, then you are experiencing a rather normal spiritual quandary that you share with many. If however, you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are in Hell, then you must be on the Cross Bronx Expressway." Every time I read the quote it takes me back to my early years growing up in the Bronx. Specifically, it reminds me of a spring afternoon when I was in kindergarten. I was playing in the school yard and noticed small plastic tubes with caps in just about every color of the rainbow; not far from the crack bottles was a syringe with the needle still attached. I was about to pick it up, when my teacher tapped me on the shoulder. She grabbed my arm and moved me away from where it was. I now wonder how many other children were lured by the pretty colors.

The quote brings back another childhood memory as well. It reminds me of a time I sat on the stoop in front of the apartment building where I lived. It was a summer afternoon. A group of people began to run frantically inside. I had no clue what was going on and just sat there. A few seconds later, I saw a young man chasing another down the street--then I heard gunshots. After some minutes passed by, people began to come out of the building. I was still sitting at the stoop when my older brother ran to hug me and tell me he didn't see me sitting there when he ran for safety.

Two decades later I walk by that neighborhood and it looks the same--rundown. Not so far away, there is the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. This area was also infested with poverty, drugs, and crime, but it has come such a long way. Abandoned warehouses have been turned in to loft apartments and townhouses have been remodeled into co-op and condos. The area still maintains its Bronx flavor; the sounds of Salsa and a bodega are not that difficult to find here. However, this section's urban renewal is still in its infancy.

Gentrification might be positive if it doesn't ostracize the original inhabitants. If DUMBO is any indication, however, this conditional may be paradoxical to the highest degree.

Poli-Reality

By Amy Yensi--

Political experts and historians have been romanticizing and touting Barack Obama's presidency, although it hasn't even started yet. I have officially lost count of the comparisons to Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Kennedy he has received. The arguments may have some validity, but these aforementioned presidents earned their reputations. Can we at least wait for him to do something as president before we begin to compare his policy to that of past presidents? How can we compare something in the past to something that might happen in the future?

There is a potential reason why such educated people are making such uneducated guesses: they're bored because the election is over. This attempt to fill airtime started even before November 4th. There were stories upon stories about Sarah Palin's shopping spree, Michelle Obama's black and white dress she wore on 'The View,' and who can forget Hillary Clinton's sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits? There were times the election coverage seemed like an episode of 'What Not to Wear': Election Edition.

Perhaps one day the political movers and shakers might actually do some reality T.V. If there is ever a 'Celebrity Death Match' starring Keith Olbermann v.s. Bill O'Reilly it would probably send the Nielsen ratings through the roof.

What's Hiding In That Cabinet?

By Amy Yensi--

Just when you thought political junkies would start suffering from post-election withdrawal, talking heads and cable news shows have been supplying the daily fix vis-à-vis constant speculations on President-Elect Obama's cabinet appointments.

The suspense behind who will replace Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State, specifically, has caused the most commotion. The contender that is mentioned the most is not surprisingly, Hillary Clinton. Its not that it was obvious that Obama would offer Clinton, what some consider the top prize, its that whenever the Clintons are involved, the word drama is usually used in the context.

Critics and supporters alike, have been chewing up the potential decision, and it hasn't even been made yet. Some feel, that others are more deserving of the post because of early support for Obama, like John Kerry, for example. Feminists and Obama-cheerleaders (who pre-approve all he does) support the idea, positioning it as a brilliant move--to form a team of rivals and try to find consensus on what's best for the country.

While some speculate on who, if not Clinton, will get the Secretary of State position, others argue, that what is even more important, is who will replace Treasury Secretarty Henry Paulson along with other economic leaders appointed by the current administration. While the Secretary of Defense was once thought to be a more pressing choice (especially during times of war), the focus on the Treasury pick isn't surprising, as the only other news story other than Obama's transition to power, is ofcourse the dire economic condition we find ourselves in.

Ironically, some say Paulson posseses more power than the current President of the United States. While Paulson oversees the economic lifeline known as colloquial known as the bailout, News anchors did not hesitate to speculate on the video footage of world leaders seemingly refusing to shake Bush's hand at a G20 photo-op--taking the term lame-duck to all new heights or lows.

All this scrutiny should have been part of the public discourse long before this campaign. Perhaps, many shortcomings could have been avoided if leaders knew the American magnifying glass as asphixed on them. Although this public interest may be great for an incoming administration, it can also pose challenges. The expectations are being set really high for Obama's presidency, hopefully he rises to the challenge. The public must be mindful, however, of the seriousness of the problems we face, and the difficult it will be to implement campaign promises during times of economic turmoil.

The incoming administration must be truthful and we must be realistic about the work that needs to be done, or else both sides will be disappointed.

W who?

By Amy Yensi--

Suffice it to say that many Americans are angry about all the shortcomings of the last eight years. Putting that anger and disappointment aside, however, its still possible to feel sorry for our current leader--which is probably a worse feeling towards a world leader than anger.

Bush was once the most powerful Republican in the country, now he is more like a figurehead and a punching bag, ironically its not just the Democrats throwing the punches. Not only did John McCain exclude Bush from campaigning on his behalf, but towards the end of the campaign, McCain began speaking out against him just as much as President-Elect Obama.

Its dubious that Bush wanted to have a presidency plagued with errors, but after the Obama victory, its like many Americans are wishing for the hands of the clock to speed up his leave from the White House. We have officially become an Obamanation. Aside from the interest in substantive issues, like Obama's cabinet appointments. There is a high demand for information on more trivial issues like what dog Sasha and Malia will get, to what school they will attend, and even increasing interest in what Michelle Obama is going to wear next. Its like America is focusing on the new first family to get their minds off of the frustration they have felt with the current inhabitants of the White House.

David Letterman summed it up the other night, when he asked the audience members of his show, "Does anyone mind if he [Obama] starts starts a little early?" From the looks of the news coverage, its like he already did.

And Now For The Main Event

By Amy Yensi--

Its just before 9 P.M. and the big "flip" that all the pundits were saying was necessary to win the presidency for either candidate has not happened yet. So far the red states and blue states have gone for the candidate of the party they usually support, as have the so called leaning states.

Although nothing dramatic has happened to the electoral map, today has still been an emotionally charged today. In the subways, the streets, the stores, and everywhere in between, people are talking about the election. What's even more impressive is the degree of knowledge that people have. I have never heard so many people talking about swing states and how important independent voters will be to tonight's outcome, amongst other things. Yes the world is paying attention, but what's even more amazing is to the degree that America is paying attention.

The Wait On Our Shoulders

By Amy Yensi--

The entire country will hold its breath until all the polls are closed and the last vote is counted. We will all then sit at the edge of our seats and stare motionless at the pundits, the poll numbers, and the high-tech Electoral College maps, and wait.
We have been waiting for what seems like forever, to finally know who will be the new captain of this unsteady ship. Now more than ever, Americans are aware of how policies and leadership in government affect them.

No matter who wins, about half of us will be disappointed on Wednesday; the winner will only savor his triumph for a little while though. The pessimism of the last few months is beginning to feel like a heavy weight on all of our shoulders. We need someone to steer us in the direction that alleviates that weight or at least makes us feel that he is trying to do all he can to reach that destination—or at least to calmer waters.

This fear and anxiety about the economy has proven how intangible things like policies, can have repercussions that are undeniably real. The winner will have to address any variations between perception and reality that have been established in the eyes of Americans during this hard-fought campaign—failure to do so can lead to a potential backlash. If John McCain wins, he will have to prove that he too can inspire and mobilize people to hope. I Barack Obama wins, he will have to prove that he can do more than inspire, he must prove that he can lead just as well if not better than those with much more experience.
Some of us will go to bed late to here the final tally; others will wait to find out first thing Wednesday morning. We will all uniformly exhale. Only to hold our breaths again waiting for better days to come.