The First 100 Days

Interesting set of events to mark the first 100 days of the Obama administration. This Arlen Specter defection to the Democratic party is something else. The pundits are all over it. I mean, when conservative talk show host, Joe Scarborough says he can't credit his party with much of anything for the past eight years except out of control spending and the deficit etc.,(Morning Joe 4/29/09) where are the Republicans going to turn?

Recent surveys show President Obama's likability quotient at 81%; his approval rating at 61%. This means whether or not people agree with his policies, they like the guy. Pundits say they haven't seen this kind of swing since Reagan. This gives President Obama an incredible leg up when it comes to making policy. Even more dramatic is the announcement by Republican Senator Arlen Specter that he is switching parties. He's gonna be a Democrat because the Republican party can no longer help him win in Pennsylvania. As former statistician turned political commentator Chuck Todd ruminated, the Republican party is about to become sequestered in the southeastern states. They have lost the Northeast, the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic states. They would have lost Arizona during the presidential election except McCain is still standing. Once Al Franken is confirmed as the official winner of the Minnesota senate race, the Democrats will have a filibuster-proof 60 seats in the Senate.

It's impossible to judge anyone the first 100 days. As for the Democratic party, now is when the real work begins. No more excuses about the Republicans holding them back. Dems have the obligation to make things happen. We need health care reform, financial reform, you name it, we need it.

Time to roll up our sleeves and "git 'er done" before the donkey party figures out a way to come back.