[Professor S]

Initially, his era of "change" appears to be business as usual. It still makes me laugh every time I hear both parties yelling about "bi-partisanship" when really they both mean "agree with me or you're partisan!"

The GITMO closing is a political move, not a policy decision. The real test will be where the detainess are put and whether or not policy moves in the realm of treating them like American citizens. That would be a complete mess and turn our juducial system into a carnival-like joke for the world to witness.

The "stimulus" package is a joke in its current state, but we'll see how the minority opposition changes the bill before it passes. Obama should be encouraging his party to curry Republican votes if he wants America to think anything has changed. Right now it just fels like the same politics of 2000-2006 except with the other party being in charge.

Overall, most of America's disasterous times happened when there was a consoldation of power. FDR's, Johnson's, Carter's and Bush's administration all took place when one party weilded all the political power. Meanwhile Reagan and Clinton presided over boons in domestic and economic policy, as well as considerable foreign relations wins (mainly Reagan) when power was not consolidated.

We'll see if Obama can but the trend, but quite honestly it's not looking that way, but there is still a lot of time. Clinton came out the gates a liberal but found success as a moderate.