Top Ten Predictions for Obama’s First Term

What a day! November 4, 2008. I’ll never forget where I was, and what I was doing when the networks made the call – “Barack Obama is President elect”! This one is firmly on the Mount Rushmore of great dates in American history – an African-American has been elected President of the United States.

So here we are, not quite sober from the high of the moment. As reality sets in, we begin to realize that on January 20, 2009, the real work begins. For me, this is where the milestone-induced euphoria ends, and where the concern over antipodal ideologies begins.

So to kick off this blog, I’d like to provide my Top Ten Predictions for Obama’s first term. It’ll be cool to look back at this in 4 years to see how accurate (or inaccurate) the list was. For some of the items on my list, I hope (for the sake of this country) that I am wrong.

10. The Hip House
The coolness factor of the White House will go way, way up! This will be good for young Americans… I hope that their ability to relate will mean more of them pay attention (Once you reach your late 30's, the term "young people" moves to third person plural :)

9. The dis-armed forces
This one’s a slam dunk. Less spending on defense and a smaller overall force is inevitable. ‘nough said.

8. Baby love
Government provided health care will be a reality - if not for all, at least for children. So get ready for the claims that “Republicans hate babies”, when they vote “No” to the first entry level socialized health care bill.

7. America! What a country!
Anyone that doesn't see this one coming is dreaming. Deserved or not, Bush 43 was an unpopular President, probably more so overseas than here at home. The election of Barack Obama to the highest office in the land will improve our international repute.

6. Roe v. Wade through 2040
If there’s one thing I will avoid discussing on this blog, it’s abortion. Some people on both sides are far too passionate to engage in logical dialogue. By the way, my position is irrelevant. One thing’s for sure – Obama will present Congress with Supreme Court candidates that agree with him. They will be young, and they will be liberal. It will take at least 8 presidential election cycles to get back to a 5/4 split in the top court.

5. Yo, bra’ Man! No More Excuses!
This is not as much a prediction as it is a directive. Brothers and sisters have a lot less room to blame “the man” for failure. After all, the man is your brother! The irony here is thick... Obama actually will seek to provide economic justice.

4. Same deal, different century
The New Deal mind set will make a strong comeback. Our collective ideological pendulum will violate Newton’s third law, and swing wildly to the left. Americans will come to expect more from Government, particularly the federal government. This one’s kind of hard to quantify, but let’s take an inventory of what “rights” people think we should have – now, and again in 2012.

3. Will work for food (stamps)
Man, do I hope I’m wrong on this one. Higher corporate taxes will stifle corporate investment. Businesses will adopt a “lights on” operations model to get through the long economic winter.

2. Kilo-what!
Your overall expenditure on energy will go up (e.g. your price per kilowatt-hour). It will go up for you, for me, and for the nation as a whole. Obama’s position on coal as an energy source will save the planet, but kick you square in your right butt cheek.

1. The check is in the mail
Our national debt will sky rocket. In Obama’s defense, McCain wouldn't have balanced the federal budget either. Having said that, if you think Bush 43 spent your money like a drunken sailor, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

I'll elaborate more on these items in the coming weeks. For now, take this in and hope right along with me that I'm way off target.