On Wednesday, President Obama gave his first official State Of The Union address. Obama's first year since coming into office has not been what progressives, and many moderates, would have hoped. He still has many of his major initiatives, such as health care reform and cap and trade, on life support. To forge ahead with his agenda, Obama needed to hit the reset button in this speech.

His first focus was jobs, and he managed to frame many of his issues, including education and climate change, around this topic. He also called for a new "jobs" bill, one of the few nuggets of actual news. Obama even ceded ground to Republicans while boasting about how his administration has cut taxes on millions of Americans, which led to one of the more awkward moments of the night when Republicans failed to applaud for tax cuts. Obama seemed genuinely disappointed, saying "I thought I would get some applause for that one." But this is the Republican party in Obama's America. Although they have been preaching from the gospel of tax cuts for generations, if Obama did it, it must be BAD!

He called, again, for health care reform, saying it was needed to ease the burden on American families. "I took on health care because of the stories I've heard," said Obama. He listed the failings of the insurance industry, even for those who can afford it. He claimed health care reform as a fiscally conservative issue, saying that the bill would cut the deficit by a trillion dollars, and forecasted what would continue under the current system, saying" I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should this chamber."

The biggest news to come from the address is the proposed budget freeze. This is also a gift to Republicans, as a budget freeze was part of John McCain's platform in '08. The freeze would take place in '11 and last three years, until after the next presidential election. Obviously a political calculation, but a good one at that. If Obama can address the deficit in his first year by convincing voters that it saved the country from falling off a cliff, then this move will help paint him as fiscally conservative, which is not only politically popular, but also responsible in a time when the country has trillions of dollars in debt.

Finally, Obama tried to relaunch his presidency with the same kind of straight talk that got him the job. Thankfully, he did this with his progressive bona fides, "Let's invest in our people with out leaving them a mountain of debt. Let's met our responsibility to the citizens who sent us hear. Let's try common sense! We face a deficit of trust."

Obama ended on national security. He talked about how we are building up the Afghanistan army so that they can defend themselves from Islamic extremist, and about getting all combat troops out of Iraq this summer. He mentioned the US military mission in Haiti, and how it's this America that the world needs. He promised to strengthen the military by allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly.

Obama's biggest political gift has always been his ability to communicate, but in the last year, he has utilized this skill all too rarely. Hopefully, this address will mark the start of a new administration. On one hand, it has too. With the "super-majority" in the Senate gone, he will no doubt have to scale back his goals. If, however, he can clearly explain those goals to the American people like he did yesterday, than congress will have no choice but to follow. This is the leadership that we elected him for.

Of Montreal

On Monday, January 25th, indie-rock band Of Montreal played the RamsHead Live club in Baltimore. Of Montreal, who are actually from Athens, Georgia, have been around the indie rock scene, really, before there ever was one. The band has become known for their energetic and visual live shows. While there are officially five people in the band, there were four more on stage to create the visual effects. Of Montreal is primarily the work of front man Kevin Barnes, and have undergone many line-up changes in their history.

In fact, the opening act was former Of Montreal member James Husband, and his band included many musicians who are currently in Of Montreal. Husband's act was more straightforward than his former mates, with more of a bluesy kind of rock sound.

Of Montreal, however, have spent years honing a kind of dance pop sound. They have a tendency to write lyrics with vaguely depressing or dramatic undertones, but that are buoyed by upbeat melodies. The Baltimore crowd seemed to enjoy the mix, and there were definitely some instances of pogo dancing.

The band's breakthrough, into the indie world, was cemented with 2007's Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, which made several critics' year's best list. In 2008, they followed that up with Skeletal Lamping, which did not do as well. Now, they are touring to support this years upcoming album, tentatively titled False Priest.

Of Montreal have found a sweet spot when it comes to pop song writing with experimental sounds and interesting visual shows. Hopefully, they will continue to be a successful indie band well into this decade.

McCainiac

Arizona Senator John McCain appeared on Face The Nation with Bob Schieffer today. McCain was scheduled to talk about the Massachusetts special election.

However, McCain began by attacking the Administration for their handling of the Christmas bomber, and their decision to give Abdul Farouk Umar Abdulmutallab his constitutional rights, "He was cooperating until he got a lawyer. That makes it impossible to follow the leads."

Next up was the topic of Fed chairmen Ben Bernanke. President Obama has re-nominated Bernanke to chair the Fed, despite, as McCain puts it, "he was in charge when we hit the iceberg." There are congressmen and both sides of the aisle who have doubts about Bernanke, and McCain said that he is "leaning towards voting against" him.

Finally, McCain was asked to comment on the Supreme Court ruling on the law that he sponsored, McCain-Fiengold. "I don't believe there is anything we can do," he said. He lamented that many conservatives on the court have no history of running for office, and said that that limits their understanding of the political process.

When the Massachusetts election came up at the end, the topic immediately turned to the health care bill. McCain advised the Democrats to abandon the bill that they have and sit down in a bi-partisan fashion to write a bill that everybody can agree on. He then went on to mention tort reform and selling plans across state lines. The problem is these are not solutions that everybody can agree on. Democrats will never go for tort reform, some might say because trail lawyers are a big contributor to the party. And selling across state lines? Well, that was already supposed to be in the bill in the form of an "insurance exchange," but Republicans have spent the last eight months railing against that plan with shouts of "death panels!"

McCain still has a reputation as a moderate in the Republican party. Although he has moved to the right since becoming the Republican nominee for president, so has his party. So, McCain still deserves his reputation as a moderate, but he is facing a primary challenge from his right, and the direction of the Republican party is still torn between moderates and the "tea-party" crowd.

You Say You Want A Revolution?

On Thursday, the Supreme Court handed down one of their biggest decisions in decades. With a vote of 5-4, the court struck down the campaign finance reform bill known as McCain-Fiengold. The challenge resulted from a documentary about Hillary Clinton that was produced for the 2008 election, but was never shown because McCain-Fiengold classified the film as a political ad.

The ruling continues the court's push to grant rights to corporations. Now, campaign finance will resemble the Wild West, with no limits at all on what corporations can spend to endorse (or destroy) a candidate.

For their part, the authors of the law had mixed reactions. Democratic Senator Russ Fiengold was angry, "Their decision was a terrible mistake." McCain seemed more disheartened, if not disconnected, "I am disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court... " President Obama was also upset, "The Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics." Not every lawmaker in Washington felt the same, however. Senator Mitch McConnell was almost jubilant, "For too long, some in this country have been deprived of full participation in the political process." Yes, Mitch. It is about time that somebody stood up for Exxon and Goldman Sachs!

In truth, corporations have always had too much sway over the political process. Most citizens can't take their senator out to lunch for a wonky discussion on health policy, and even fewer can afford to fly their favorite congressman to Scotland for a little golf outing. This decision just levels out the playing field a little less.

Election Night Redux

Since the news was announced last night that Massachusetts had elected the first Republican to the United States Senate since 1972, much has been made about how this was a referendum on the Obama Administration, the health care bill, and "run away government spending." Where have these people been?
First of all, Obama carried Massachusetts by twenty-some points, and remains more popular there then he is in the rest of the country. Second, Massachusetts already has the most progressive health care system in the country, covering about 97% of it's residents, meaning that most of their citizens need not worry about whatever the United States Senate wants to do about the problem.
Finally, anyone who has been paying attention for the last thirty years knows that Republicans are no more fiscally responsible than Democrats. Ronald Reagan was the first to pile up massive debt, in his bid to cut taxes and, simultaneously, bankrupt the Soviet Union through military escalation. Bill Clinton, in the prosperous 90s, managed to leave a surplus for his successor, George Bush. With Bush came another Republican in the White House, more tax cuts, and more out of control military spending. In truth, there is no party of fiscal responsibility in the 21st century United States (unless you want to count the Libertarians), and anyone who thinks that the Republicans are going to control spending and steer the economy back to sanity has been drinking the Fox News Kool-Aid.
Actually, most Americans probably don't think about party affiliation, at least not to the extent that the mainstream media (and bloggers) does. Sure, Massachusetts is a liberal state, but winning there requires more than a D next to your name. With both parties trying to win over independents, most political campaign are aimed towards the center (even if it's only the center for that state, like Massachusetts.) This is why most races are decided by only a few percentage points. Therefor, Martha Coakley did not lose because of some conservative backlash in Massachusetts. She lost because she is an ineffective campaigner, who was almost openly contemptuous of her electorate.
So this should be a wake-up call for Democrats, but not in the way that every other pundit would have you believe. Democrats do not get credit for not being Republicans, politicians (of all parties) get credit for standing up for what they believe in! When Obama refuses to take a stance on the public option, when Ben Nelson will only vote yes if his state's Medicaid paid for by the government, these are signs of politicians playing politics, which is kind of like your parents having sex. We all know that it is going to happen, but Please(!) don't let us hear about it!

Special Election Special

Today, in Massachusetts, was the special election to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Ted Kennedy. Democrat Martha Coakley had held as much as a twenty point lead up until the last few weeks, but her challenger Scott Brown has run a good and aggressive campaign.

State Senator Scott Brown has become a favorite of the tea-party movement, and has promised to kill the health care bill if elected. For her part, State Attorney General Martha Coakley has not made any friends, at least not tonight, in the Democratic party. She, reportedly, took several weeks off from the campaign after winning the primary. Certainly, both the national and state Democratic party took this race for granted.

Much will be made in the aftermath of this election about how this is a sea change in American politics. That can be true only if sea changes happen every 18 months or so. It is certainly interesting that, in an election year, a Republican can win in a blue state such as Massachusetts. However, all politics is local, and in a year when the biggest issue on the national stage is health care, one can hardly draw parallels between Massachusetts, where less than 10% of the population goes without coverage, and the rest of the country. What has probably contributed to the result tonight is the personalities of the two candidates, and the hubris of the Democratic party. With the country in such turmoil, and an anti-incumbent mood sweeping politicians of all stripes out of office, it was a mistake for anyone to assume that the race was over before it started.

Haiti, Quakes, and History

On Tuesday, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The quake was the biggest in the region for 200 years. The tragedy has left hundreds of thousands dead and over three million homeless and hungry.
The outpouring of grief and aid into Haiti has been reassuring. Haiti is a country of poverty and corruption. While millions lived in shantytowns before the quake, the devastation has only made the situation worse.
President Obama mobilized the United States military almost immediately. Everyday citizens from all over the world have donated to the Red Cross and other NGOs. Yet, not all of the reaction has been so heartwarming. There was the case of Pat Robertson, who said that the Haitian people had made a deal with the devil. "They said we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story."
Actually, in 1791, inspired by the French Revolution, the African-majority in Haiti started demanding more rights. In 1793, France went to war with Britain, and Britain invaded the colony. Six months later, partly in an attempt to gain favor with Africans over the British, France ended slavery in all colonies. Soon, emboldened by new freedoms, Haitians began to call for their independence. Then, Napoleon sent his brother-in-law Charles Leclerc, to quell the rebellion. After achieving military victories, the French were not able to defeat yellow fever, and Haiti became the first and only nation to be born of a slave rebellion.
So inspired by the rights of men, and with a little help from yellow fever, Haiti was born of an underdog story. If that if a deal with the devil, then Pat should take a look at his own nation. Instead, Haiti's historical problems could be seen as a result of a vulnerable geographical position (look at 2008 hurricanes) and exploitation of the island by colonial powers (see the United States occupation of the 20th century.) Therefore, it is important that the United States, France, and all first world nations come to Haiti's aid.

Getting Tough On Wall Street?

Monday marked the start of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. The commission was created in response to the financial collapse of 2008, and its job is to find out what led to the failure of the United States banking system.
On the first day, four chairmen of the biggest financial institutions in the country were called to testify; Chairmen Blankfien of Goldman Sachs, Chairmen Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, Chairmen Mack of Morgan Stanley, and CEO Moynihan of Bank of America. All expressed concern and understanding when it comes to the pain that the crisis has created for the country, but none were willing to take (or give) any blame.
Meanwhile, President Obama has called for a tax on those same huge Wall Street firms. The tax would be .15% on liabilities on firms with over $50 billion dollars in assets. "My determination to achieve this goal is only heightened when I see reports of massive profits and obscene bonuses at the very firms that owe their continued existence to the American people," said Obama.
When the TARP monies were first made available, first by President Bush and then Obama, there was, rightfully, much public outrage at our tax dollars being used to rescue Wall Street executives. However, it is probably true, based on pronouncements from economist on both sides of the fence, that these measures were necessary. Now, it's payback time! No, literally, it is. These are funds that are desperately needed as this country tries to fight two wars, pay for the health care bill, and rebuild our roads and infrastructure (not to mention the infrastructure of Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti ... ). While we rely on banks to build our worth and maintain our livelihood, they, too, rely on us. It's about time that we had a President who realizes that, and who is willing to tell Wall Street the hard truths.

Guantanamo On Facebook

Last week, the BBC reported on a story that is should give Americans pause in considering what we have perpetrated in the name of the "war on terror." Yet, it's an emotional story that should give us hope that the damage can be repaired. Finally, it's a story about Facebook.

Brandon Neely was a prison guard at Guantanamo Bay when it opened in 2002. Americans had been told that the detention facility there was going to house "the worst of the worst", according to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and Mr. Neely had believed it. Yet, gradually, he began to suspect otherwise. He saw instances of prisoner abuse, and eventually bonded with inmates Ruhal Ahmed and Shafiq Rasul over a shared love of hip-hop, namely Emimen and Dr. Dre. " I thought, how could it be somebody is here who's doing the same stuff that I do when I'm back home," said Neely. He eventually left the military in 2005 to become a police officer, and has since been an advocate for closing Guantanamo.

Most people use Facebook for keeping up with family, friends, and co-workers. Or maybe to find an old crush. But normally, not to find ones former inmates. Yet, that is exactly what Neely did when, on a whim, he searched for Shafiq Rasul. Rasul had been released in 2004, and was living in his the UK. The pair exchanged emails, and, with the help of the BBC, eventually decided to meet face to face, again. Surprising to both, and really to the rest of the world, the meeting, which was recorded by the BBC, went well. "He realised that what he did was wrong," says Ahmed, "and he's living with it and suffering with it and as long as that he knows what he did was wrong. That's the main thing."

This story is surprising on so many levels. First, that we are putting people who listen to Eminem in Guantanamo for being Islamic Fundamentalist. Then, that Brandon Neely would have the idea, not to mention the courage, to contact his former inmates and want to apologize, and that Rasul and Ahmed would actually accept it. It shows that, despite the gulf of understanding between Whites and Muslims, personal contact can go a long way to bridge that gulf. Finally, although Guantanamo has done much to damage the image of the United States, both home and abroad, Facebook can be a major asset in repairing that damage. Who knew?

Religulous

Bill Maher, controversial talk show host and libertarian, released his documentary on religious belief in 2008, titles Religulous. He focuses on many different aspects of world religions, as well as fringe religions such as Mormonism and Scientology. The documentary is meant to inspire debate, and, according to Maher, answer his own questions about belief and organized religion.
Maher claims that he is selling "doubt." He makes the point of religion as a product by showing televangelist selling DVDs. He also goes to religious tourism sites like The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida and the Creationist Museum.
Maher also spotlights how these beliefs manifest themselves in our political discourse. The United States his the most religious of the industrialized nations, and it is reflected in our leaders. By now, everyone knows the story of Ted Haggert, televangelist who bought Meth from a homosexual prostitute. He also interviews Senator Mark Pryor, who doesn't believe in evolution and says there is no "IQ test" to serve in the United States Senate. Later in the movie, Maher talks about Islam and how politics and religion have become intertwined. Maher travels to Europe and the Middle East to discuss religious killings from thousands of years ago up until the assassination of Dutch filmmaker Van Gogh, who was killed several years ago for a anti-Islamic film he made.
The problem with most of the documentary is that Maher interjects himself into every interview, and they become much more like a debate. This is not how most good documentaries are filmed, but Maher manages to maintain some likability. He never claims to have the answers, more so that he is searching for them, although it's obvious that he does not believe in organized religion. Maher's main goal is to separate religion from our political process. He cautions us to use reason, and is persuasive in his idea that doubt can be our true savior where belief has only led to our death.

Harry Reid In Hot Water

Nevada Senator Harry Reid came under fire this weekend for remarks that he made during the 2008 presidential campaign. The remarks will appear in a new book being released tomorrow by journalist Mark Halperin and John Heilemann titled Game Change.

Reid was referring to the electability of then-Senator Obama when he called Obama "light-skinned," with "no Negro dialect." Reid believed that the country was willing to embrace a African-American.

Since the remarks were made public, reaction has been very mixed. Reid immediately apologized, while many Republicans called for his resignation and compared his remarks to those made by former Senator Trent Lott, who endorsed the segregationist presidential candidate Strom Thurmond, in 2002. Many liberals and African-American activist have said that the remarks, while awkward, are not offensive, only typical of a certain viewpoint held by many Americans that African-Americans who are light-skinned and "act white" are favorable to dark-skinned ones who speak with a "dialect." Obama has said that he is not offended by the comments, and his attorney general Eric Holder, who is also African-American, said, "He is a good man and has done an awful lot in his leadership position to advance the right of people of color in this country."

Eric Holder is a important figure in this discussion, and not only because he is the first African-American attorney general. Shortly after being confirmed, Holder said that the United States is "essentially a nation of cowards," when it comes to open and honest discussions on race. And that is what the "conservatives" don't understand about this issue. When Trent Lott endorsed the Thurmond, he also endorses decades of votes, made by Thurmond and himself, that have systematically limited the opportunities of all minorities in this country. Reid, on the other hand, has a record of supporting rights for all peoples, demonstrated by his support from the NAACP. Most people, if they are being honest with themselves, will tell you that Reid's comments are probably accurate. This nation is not about to elect 50 Cent. By chastising Reid, Republicans are dumbing down what should be an important discussion that this country needs to have. Should Reid step-down as leader, if not resign? Well, those are questions that only Harry Reid can answer. In the meantime, all Americans need to check their attitudes in mirror, and decide if they are accepting of other races only if they follow a stereotype that we already approve of.

Governator!

This week on Meet the Press, David Gregory interviewed Arnold Schwarzenegger, the world famous governor of California. Schwarzenegger is truly a fascinating figure in American public life. Schwarzenegger was born in Austria in 1947. He moved to the United States in 1968. A former Mr. Universe, Schwarzenegger wanted to use his success in bodybuilding to pursue a career in acting. His first role came in 1970, as Hercules in Hercules in New York. He would go on to become the top action star in Hollywood. He married a Kennedy, and in 1990 gained his first political appointment to the President's Council on Physical Fitness. In 2003, when governor Gray Davis was ousted in a recall election, Schwarzenegger became the unlikely governor of California.

Although he considers himself a longtime Republican, Schwarzenegger came to office to be "the people's governor." He has carved out an interesting place in the Republican Party. A fiscal conservative at heart, he is also socially liberal, which has been to his benefit in a state like California, and, some might argue, also to the benefit of California. California is a state with many problems, both financially and socially, and is a difficult state to govern. Electing a Hollywood actor, an immigrant, to the executive position could have easily proved disastrous, but Arnold has exceeded most expectations and has become a legitimate politician.

In the interview, Schwarzenegger proved his non-partisan bona fides. He backed President Obama on many issues, including the stimulus package. He defended Obama (and all Democrats) on national defense. One issue where he did differ from the administration was health care. Although an early supporter of reform, Schwarzenegger blasted the bill for the extra pressure that it puts on state's budgets. He became visibly angry when discussing Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson and how his state received extra Medicaid money in exchange for his vote, calling it "illegal".

Schwarzenegger's is a "uniquely American" story. He immigrated to the new world in hopes of finding fame and fortune. His life story has taken turns that he never could have imagined in 1968. Now, with only one year left in his term, Schwarzenegger says that he has yet to make up his mind on what he will do next. He certainly has a future in politics if he wants it. He has a record of reaching across the aisle to work in a non-partisan way. The question is, where does he stand in the political spectrum? Will the Republican party move towards his brand of reform, or will they become more ideological? Either way, Schwarzenegger will continue to embody the one word that Republicans have fallen in love with; Maverick.

Draw Good To US

This year is a big one for US Soccer. First, the domestic league, MLS will add the newest franchise, Philadelphia Union, when the season kicks off in March. Then, this summer, the US team will travel to South Africa to participate in the first World Cup held in Africa. The draw took place late last year, and the result was encouraging for the United States.
The US was drawn into a Group C, with England, Algeria, and Slovenia. England, ranked 9th in the world, are obviously the powerhouse of the group. The United States, however, are favored to finish second and advance out of the group stage. Algeria and Slovenia, ranked 26th and 31st respectively, have earned their spot in the World Cup and are serious opponents.
The winner of the draw was probably France. Not one of the seeded teams, France lucked into one of the easiest groups, with Mexico, Uruguay and host South Africa. France, ranked 7th, defeated Ireland in a controversial playoff after under-performing in the qualifiers. France is favored to win the group, and could threaten to win the competition in a wide-open year.
The loser of the draw could be the Korean peninsula. While very different countries in politics and football, it was one country for centuries. South Korea has come along way to be one of the strongest teams in Asia, while North Korea, as with so many international duties, is still a backwater. South Korea was drawn into Group B with former winners Argentina, and tactical workhorse Greece, along with a strong African team in Nigeria. North Korea was drawn into an equally difficult group with Brazil, underachieving Portugal and Ivory Coast. While North Korea certainly has a better chance to advance out of the group, neither holds much hope for representing Asia in a World Cup knock-out game.
So with groups set, anticipation will begin to build steadily until June, when all eyes of the football world will be on Africa for the first time. Until then, the European season will wind down, and MLS will start up. Look for many a meaningless friendly in the meantime, as players compete for positions on their squads.

New Year; New Blog

Welcome to the New On The Border Blog. In 2009, OTB started with the idea that everyone can influence the political system, and therefore, the history of the entire world. In addition, with the invention of the Internet, it has never been able to communicate with friends, family, or someone you've never met halfway across the world.
New to OTB in 2010? Well, we will continue to bring news from around the world to your desktop. Also we've introduced a few new features to the blog. Once a week we will bring you Reviews Day Tuesdays. Every week we will review a film with political or cultural overtones, maybe an obscure documentary or perhaps the latest DVD release that has all the social conservatives in a tizzy. This week (1/12) we will be reviewing Religilous, from libertarian provocateur Bill Maher. Also coming (starting tomorrow 1/9) will be Soccer Saturdays, which will bring you all the news from the world's most popular game, with an Ameri-centric viewpoint.
We also hope to start updating the blog more often, hopefully bringing guest columnist in to discuss cultural stories with a new frame of reference. So check back here often for new stories about politics, music, movies, sports and everything else we can think of. Your patronage is very important to us!