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Words with Ed ...Hope is back
I came to President Obama's first State of the Union speech prepared to be disappointed.
I mean really prepared — I seriously considered skipping it.
I expected politics as usual and a continuation of what has seemed to be the President's waffling on taking a strong political stand against the nonsense being put out on the right from the far right to the so-called moderates, and I felt that if that was what happened it would break my heart.
Nonetheless, I did watch, and what I saw seemed to me to be something different. The President seemed to take on all comers — from the Republican obstructionists to the Supreme Court to his own faint-hearted party.
The strong stands he took on jobs, the economy, health care reform, don't ask-don't tell, etc. pleased some and left others sitting on their hands, but, from my point of view, that's good.
My biggest concern was that he would continue to try to please everybody or go so polar that he pissed off only one side. but he basically told the assembled houses of Congress to grow up and start thinking about the country rather than their parties' election chances, and a lot of people didn't like it. Good.
From the beginning, I have wanted to believe that Obama knows what he's doing, that he has a strategy, and that he has been steering a clear — if not transparent — course in his first year.
What I saw in his speech was confirmation of this.
Obama is way past being the first Post-Racial President — he wants to be the first Post-Political President of the modern era. Our greatest presidents — Lincoln comes to mind — have put the country's values and welfare ahead of politics.
They have, in the best American tradition, done what was right, not what was politically expedient or personally preferable.
They did not take us into wars trivially, but did not hesitate to fight when honor and principle demanded it. They did not pander to popular opinion but did the hard things, in JFK's words, "because they are hard."
They did not attempt to prearrange how history would judge them, but did the right thing and let history worry about the judgment — FDR and the New Deal, Truman and the atomic bombing of Japan to end the war.
Maybe I just don't want to give up the dream.
Maybe I can't confront how disappointed I will be if, in the end, Obama turns out to be more like Carter than he is like FDR or Lincoln, but I don't think so.
I think what I saw is the harbinger of a sea change in the Presidency and in how we are governed. At least I hope so.
Diamond Peak season pass sale starts Monday
3/09/10, 7:42 pm, By Barb Archer
- That's right - buy your '10-'11 pass ...ski the rest of this season free...
- (Plus, early lift access on pow days)...
March 10 Weather Report
3/09/10, 7:21 am, Staff Report
- Rain?!
- ...Or snow!? Dunno...Happy 70th birthday CHUCK NORRIS
Basin Bargain Basement - Putting the IV in Incline Village
3/08/10, 9:07 pm, By A. Pridgen
- That's right ...now you can do what you've always dreamed of...
- Set foot on their beaches and laugh when they ask you (and your 40) to leave: 'sorry, I'm a homeowner in Incline for $150k
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- Chainlove Mountain Bike Discounts
Commentary ...When it comes to inch count ...Tahoe is John Holmes
3/07/10, 8:15 am, By A. Pridgen
- Does size matter?!
- Basin resorts seem to think so...
Paaso earns top spot at FWT Squaw stop ...Ingy finishes 3rd
3/01/10, 8:07 pm, Staff Report
- Jackie out-hucks men
- ...And is top of the podium headed into Freeride World Tour's final stop
Mt. Rose spring pass on sale... it includes next season's pass
2/27/10, 9:09 pm, By Kayla Anderson
- $433 gets you all spring and all of '10-'11 season
- Nice
CR Johnson dies in fall at Squaw Valley
2/24/10, 4:28 pm, Staff Report
- CR Johnson dies in crash at Squaw Valley USA
- Johnson, 26, was wearing a helmet but hit the back of his head on rocks at Light Towers
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- Chainlove Mountain Bike Discounts
Natalie Cole headlines Lake Tahoe Music Festival
2/23/10, 9:54 pm, By Kristen Power
- Will they bring back Huey?
- Click inside for tix and full schedule
Sinatra biopic closer to green light and DiCaprio ...North Shore and Cal Neva wait
2/21/10, 5:34 pm, By A. Pridgen
- DiCaprio hints deal's in the works
- Cal Neva years focal point of all known scripts ...and yes, the North Shore NEEDS some star power
Summer Squaw rumors to fruition... Village acquired by Cushings from broke Intrawest
1/30/10, 8:09 am, Staff Report
- Great - now Squaw has something new to run down...
- ...See what happens Intrawest - Hedge Funds = no-no
And yes ...the KB roundabouts were originally scheduled to be complete this summer
1/27/10, 9:35 pm, Staff Report
- Tahoe Regional Planning Agency board votes unanimously (again) to approve three-lane/roundabouts in KB
- ...Yes, you've heard that (here) before
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- Chainlove Mountain Bike Discounts
Restoring Watershed Function Critical for Tahoe
1/22/10, 9:40 pm, By Joanne Marchetta
- ...Another $2.5 bil. to fix Tahoe over the next decade?!
- Sure
A reminder from Manzanar
1/20/10, 11:18 pm, By David Bunker
- Manzanar...
- The dark side of the Eastern Sierra
Could this be the end of Tahoe Luke... Crooner Stevenson escapes to the Galapagos
1/13/10, 8:55 pm, By Tracy Potter
- Oh man... battle of the cover crooners...
- New guy does new covers... but we're still suckers for 'Take it Easy' as the sun sets and we're sipping a Golden Eagle (le sigh)
Dirt Bag for a Day - North Pt. III
11/29/09, 7:59 pm, By D. Bunker
- So, you wanna see how it all ends...
- (Begins?!)
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- Chainlove Mountain Bike Discounts
Dirt Bag for a Day - North Pt. II
11/29/09, 7:46 pm, By D. Bunker
- Dirtbag + Alcan + Moose =
- ...
Dirt Bag for a Day - North Pt. 1
11/29/09, 7:46 pm, By D. Bunker
- Apologies to the author but 'Relentlessly North' made the pics too small...
- While you were sleeping at your desk... he was out there... where Twitter couldn't save him
Squaw OPEN!
11/18/09, 7:12 pm, Staff Report
- Full opening-day schedule...
- Hint: JT Holmes BASE jumps, Jonny Moseley lifts a glass... yep, happy 60th Squaw...but is there enough snow?!
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