Obama on 60 Minutes

A couple of weeks ago, our country elected a new president. I voted for Barrack Obama on November 4 after having voted for Hillary in the California primary. I still have a lot of concerns about how Obama will perform as president. He is handsome, intelligent, dynamic and refreshing - no doubt about it. But he is relatively inexperienced and spent nearly his entire campaign speaking in broad generalities with that calm, soothing voice. I am hopeful, yes, but our country is mired in a pretty ugly economic mess right now and hope alone won't change that.

I am watching 60 Minutes tonight as Obama gives his first interview since his election. As soon as he takes office, our new president plans to:

1. Spearhead a bipartisan economic stimulus package with a specific focus on helping homeowners on the brink of foreclosure.

2. Close Guantanamo and end any continuing torture of political prisoners.

3. Begin reducing the amount of troops in Iraq while beefing up the military in Afghnistan and "stamping out Al Qaeda once and for all."

Obama is currently reading up on Abraham Lincoln for inspiration. He is putting together his new cabinet which will likely include Hillary and, he promises, at least one Republican.

The disconcerting parts of this interview, in my humble opinion:

1. Obama basically said that he will spare no cost in order to turn the country's recession around. I'm no economist, but this seems contradictory to me. Didn't unchecked, willy-nilly government spending get us here in the first place?

2. A couple of times, Obama called interviewer Steve Kroft by the familiar slang "man." As in, "What are you asking me, man?" It sounded very non-presidential and kind of freaked me out a little.

3. Michelle is also very strong and intelligent. She engaged in some good-natured ribbing with her husband throughout the interview, and challenged him on several minor points. There was something uncomfortable about their ineractions, though. Michelle seemed very eager to get attention on her own right and maybe even prove that she has a say in the way things happen. It felt like she was showing off for the camera "look how much control I have over my husband."

Barrack Obama says he'd like to restore the faith of Americans in our government. His words belie a strong sense of idealism, and his tone reflects his likeability and respectability. It's hard not to feel optimistic listening to our new president, when he seems so optimistic himself. Best of luck to you, President-Elect Obama.