The Obama Agenda in 09

The New York Times: Reports on the Obama Agenda for 09. Looks at what Campaign promises should be moved first and which can done later down the line. The Obama Agenda has two sections, Domestic and International. On the Domestic side the President has to get his tax cuts through, also if he going to repeal the Bush Tax cuts for those making more than two hundred and fifty thousand now is the time, it not a matter if you think its a good idea or a bad idea, its matter of politics, early he can get it through. Also there should be help for Main Street, the banks have been bailed out, the car industry will be bailed out, what about those that are losing their homes, how about a house bail out. This would help the economy, as people could stay in their homes and the Local, State and Federal Government would not have to fund them. Also the Western Banking System has to be saved, not a minor point, thus it can be postulated that it will cost more money.

On the International Front, Obama has to deal with Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Russia. As the USA is in a major recession, facing a Depression, its time to get out of Iraq, Iraq has the money to protect its own internal security. As President Elect Obama has stated he will leave forces their to go after terrorists, thus this should also be a warning to Iran. The only danger is that Iraq goes in to Civil War, thus Obama could be forced to send troops back in, its a fault line but lets see how Iraq copes. The Sixteen Month timetable of Obama is to long, Iraq will have take the security load faster, the Western Economy is in a mess, plus we need to send troops to Afghanistan, Afghanistan could became Obama's War, if he sends troops in to Pakistan this could undermine the Government, there is a chance that the Terrorists could take over a Nuclear Armed Pakistan. Thus Obama will need some very careful Diplomatic skills to make Afghanistan and Pakistan work. Obama had promised to talk to Iran, now that he is President one is starting to see a more moderate view, Reagan wanted to talk to Iran and it cost, Iran - Contra. Thus Obama will need a tough Secretary of State, not Senator John Kerry. The Obama Administration should start will low level talks with Iran and if they work build up to a Secretary of State and then only Presidential visit, Nixon to China, Reagan to Moscow, Obama to Tehran ? As to Russia, Obama has to careful that he does not end up like Jimmy Carter, seen as weak after Afghanistan invasion by Russia. The Russia bear has already started to bully, threatening to place missiles close to the Polish border as to prevent the USA shield to protect against Iran from working, this will be the first test for Obama, if he can be pushed around by Russia he will be seen as weak, lets recall Reagan, he was tough and got what he wanted, the end of the Cold War, if Obama is weak he could start another Cold War or hot war should Russia go in to the Ukraine.