Obama, Now That You Work for Me (A Letter to the President-Elect)
Dear President-elect Obama:
First, congratulations on your victory. The historical magnitude of your presidential win is nothing short of stupendous and a colossal fulfillment of the American dream (an achievement embedded long ago in the equality clauses of the Declaration of Independence).
It's likely no big surprise that I don't see eye to eye with you politically. Actually, I stand in stark opposition to most of your politics. Still, I realize that we must learn to work together if we are to see our country get back on track. After Election Day, I asked myself, "How can I work for our new president to help better America?" Then a thought occurred to me. The first question that should be answered is: How will you work for me ? After all, "We the People" of the United States employ you, correct?
So here are a few ways you might begin to gain the respect of those who oppose you and to show that your campaign pledges to bridge the divides were not empty promises to get you into office. And these requests I make are based upon the inaugural oath you will make Jan. 20, "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." No doubt these won't be my only requests through the years, but they serve as a good beginning:
—Use and cite the Constitution. If that constitutional oath ("preserve, protect and defend") is the central duty of your job description, then I assume we will be hearing often from you about exactly how you are doing just that. There is no replacement for strict adherence, application and defense of the Constitution. And it's high time that presidents quit reciting the presidential oath tritely and then abandoning its tenets when they enter the Oval Office. You should be quoting from the Constitution publicly as often as a preacher quotes the Bible to his congregation — at least weekly. If you take this oath and challenge seriously, you will limit the powers of federal government, reduce taxes (for everyone), encourage the freedom of religion and expression (even in the public square), and stand up for such things as our right to bear arms. The American public and the government have lost their grip on the content and role of the Constitution, but if you daily choose, you can help to re-educate and model its usage for them.
—Protect American life. Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1809, "The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government." Those are powerful and enlightening words. Of course, such a role was created and secured in the very fabric of our nation — in the Declaration of Independence. The commitment to protect life should serve as the basis for all you do, even as a foundation for your national defense strategy. I'm sure the first of your secret briefings this past week on our global security threats have opened your eyes to the extensive onslaught of our enemies. Don't allow your pride, partisanship, personal bias or political abilities to jeopardize the safety of Americans lives. As commander in chief, you are called to preserve American life. Quite frankly, that is why I'm surprised that a man such as you, who professes to fight for minorities, would not recognize the clear value of a human life in a womb. Federal law should not decree the sacrifice of one human life for the preference of another. Both lives should be protected. Otherwise, what do Jefferson's 1809 words mean? As president, you are called to protect (not destroy) human life; it is the "first and only legitimate object of good government."
—Lead more from the center. It's been pointed out by countless pundits, and your track record is clear: You have one of the most liberal records in the Senate. You've had the liberty of voting and fighting for an agenda "from the left" as you've tried to persuade state and federal lawmakers to do the same. But if you continue to lead our country down a more liberal road, you will follow the peril of Bill Clinton, who stepped into office and initially tried to lift the ban on gays in the military and extend abortion rights, only to prompt the creation of a more balanced and strong Republican Congress in the 1990s. Don't underestimate the resurrecting power of the conservative voice. You observed in last week's election how three states across this union voted to protect marriage in their constitutions (the 28th, 29th and 30th states to do so — California, Arizona and Florida).
We will be watching who you choose to be in your Cabinet. We will discern how you lead Pelosi and Reid. We will be observing those you select as candidates for Supreme Court justices. The election is over. No more promises. No more words. You might work well in a team, but this time, you don't have congressional members to hide behind. You're on your own — leading the pack — and the whole country is watching. I, especially, am watching. So make sure you lead more from the center.
One of your 300 million bosses,
Chuck Norris
To find out more about Chuck Norris and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CHUCK NORRIS
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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6 Comments | Post Comment
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Sir;... Everyone who is elected swears to defend and the protect the constitution and not one of them takes their seat and does what they have sworn to do... I could not take such an oath, and I will be honest about it... We need a new constitution; but holding honestly to the old constitution would do some limited good...Now; the very number of laws overturned by the watchdogs of the constitution would suggest that what I say is true... But it is beside the point, since they overturn their own past findings... So, what I would reply is this... People do not accept the constitution, nor agree upon what it is, so what would be the point trying to defend the constitution when clearly we all have a different constitution... If you look a the Supreme Court still under the sway of federalist dogma, you can see the battle between those strict constructionists who believe the constitution is rock and the whole rest of the world who believe the constitution is a living document, a form, but not just a formality, but a form of relationship that like an oath of marriage is only the beginning of the relationship, which inevitably bends to the personalities of the participants...Now, we all know what marriage is; right??? In fact we do not... Just as with the constitution, marriage as a form has as many meanings as members... We all have a different ideas of marriage, but inevitably, what ever your idea of marriage going in, it will evolve, and be modified by time and events... Forms represent stability, rules, what we think of as formality, the struct-ure of the strict con-struct-ionists, and yet, every form is a structure for a relationship, a living, dynamic thing...And living things change always, for change is the nature of life, and of relationships... Now; it hurts me to think I am some how less as citizen because I would not defend the constitution... I would defend the Declaration of Independence; but as a statement of rights it is more broad, and it also states rather clearly what forms are, and the necessity we sometimes suffer to change our forms... The constitution is in need of change... We might both agree to that... But so is our understanding of forms in need of change... Why would anyone accept (or protect) a form that does not protect them in their relationship??? The constitution spells out the limits of government power... Do you think it spells out only those rights we have for all time ever??? No government ever formed could ever by law justify injustice so injustice would stay justified... We have the goals before us in the constitution, written clearly in the preamble, and not one of them is -To limit rights on the basis of predjuce or bigotry. We cannot replace the relationship of the people of this land, nor the people, so we must replace the form of our relationship so it protects, and defends all of US... Thanks...Sweeney
Comment: #1
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:15 AM
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Dear Mr. Norris:
You have had the Constitutional Destroyers who "worked for you" for the last 8 years. Now the rest of us (most of U.S.) get the people who will work for US. Stop complaining, help your new president, or get out of the way. I am fascinated how conservatives flip and flop when it comes to their terms. If it's their law-breaking constitution-ripping leaders (torture, habeus corpus, illegal wiretapping, politicization of the government, etc. etc.) they call upon the opposition to put aside any concerns for the good of the country, but even before the Democratic president-elect has any chance to give it a go the wingnuts are promising to block him at every turn. Well, go ahead, block away - in 4 years the Republcan party will become a comical reference on the trashheap of history, like the Know-nothing Party or the Whigs. Big changes are coming.Without the help of everybody, it will be a bit harder, but in the end, we don't need you. You have embraced a party of exclusion and fear and savagery. The rest of us have cast our lot with positive change, hope and faith in the American people's goodness. And we will hold Barack Obama to the same standards that George Bush was held to. Our country depends on it.
A Real American
from Real America
Comment: #2
Posted by: sliderossian
Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:23 AM
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Re: sliderossian;... Sir/Ma'am/whatever... We do not need Mr. Norris, or the muscle heads like him, but we do need the people, all the people who vote republican and democrat and together reach some form of understanding between us and them on the reasonable object of government... Now, I would say no better statement of that object could be possible than the preamble of the constitution... How often is that mentioned??? How often do we judge the hit by the aim??? Some people are encouraged to believe that government can limit individual rights without some commanding necessity... Some people are led to believe that they can take rights with the power of a simple majority vote.... It is their own rights they endanger to destroy rights for others because they cannot take rights without empowering government against the people...We do not need Mr. Norris.. He is an impediment to progress... We need to be able to talk to each other, and government should be our vehicle for that dialogue, and it is gone, stolen, hijacked... How we will reach the unity essential to any nation is beyond me... I talk to people out of a feeling of necessity... I think I see what we are missing, and it is understanding... We cannot reach understanding with so much misunderstanding sowed in every inch of fertile earth... We need to seek for our common bond, and hope that Mr. Obama will reach for that common cord that binds us too.. We cannot count on a union that has long ago been traded for power and profit... We need to make real what is long past real... We need to reach for union...Thanks...Sweeney
Comment: #3
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:04 PM
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Thanks again, Chuck. On the wider scene, a major news outlet in this country, The Timesonline, reported recently that President-elect Obama's success had fuelled speculation that we may see a black pope emerge in the not-too-distant future, i.e. 'the' pope, as distinct from the head of the SJ, who already has this unofficial title. If that's the case, I'd say 'And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh' Luke 21:28 KJB. For further detail read The Mark of the Beast, by Dr Peter S. Ruckman of Pensacola Bible Institute, first published in 1960.
Comment: #4
Posted by: Alan O'Reilly
Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:54 AM
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Barack Obama will soon become the 44th President! He's well-educated, well-dressed, and
an articulate speaker! He's certainly not the ‘mutt' he calls himself, even as a joke, when
talking about the new dog for his daughters.
Americans, of all races, voted for change, without thinking or caring about their own
responsiblities or contributions to society. Too many people made statements ‘I voted for
Obama because blacks have been at bottom of totem pole too long, and he's vindicated us!'
First of all, Mr. Obama is as much white as he's black! The reason you've been on bottom,
as you put it, is because you chose your lifestyle by not working, living off social and
welfare programs, having illegitimate babies, doing drugs, raping, murdering and stealing!
It's time to stop the ‘blame game'!
Barack Obama is inheriting a very depressed economy that started in 60's. It's unfair it's
trickled down to taxpayers! Government must run like a business, if not, our children and
grandchildren will have absolutely no future! Permanent cuts are critical in government
spending, cutting salaries for politicians, and absolutely no bailouts or handouts!
Freddie, Fannie, AIG, and the Big 3 need to file Bankruptcy! If these high-dollar thieves really
believe the companies will succeed they need to go to bank, borrow the money and maybe,
they'll learn what it takes to run a successful company! Hopefully, bankruptcy might teach
them to cut extragavant lifestyles and their exorbitant salaries!
When the average person makes $10.00 to $22.50 per hour. Union workers make an average
of $50.00 to $100.00 plus benefits, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what went
wrong in the corporate world?
Taxpayers feel Barack Obama will stick to his words “he's going to cut programs until
America is free of debt.” Top priority should be ‘Fair Tax' and making sure it includes
property tax, so every person will be paying their fair share.
While I'm on a roll, why should we treat the illegitimate population with the best of homes,
clothes, schools, insurance, beds, food, tvs, just to name a few things? Isn't this unfair to all
our Military fighting for our great country! Something's definitely wrong with this picture!
Comment: #5
Posted by: Shirley deLong
Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:49 PM
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Barack Obama will soon become the 44th President! He's well-educated, well-dressed, and
an articulate speaker! He's certainly not the ‘mutt' he calls himself, even as a joke, when
talking about the new dog for his daughters.
Americans, of all races, voted for change, without thinking or caring about their own
responsiblities or contributions to society. Too many people made statements ‘I voted for
Obama because blacks have been at bottom of totem pole too long, and he's vindicated us!'
First of all, Mr. Obama is as much white as he's black! The reason you've been on bottom,
as you put it, is because you chose your lifestyle by not working, living off social and
welfare programs, having illegitimate babies, doing drugs, raping, murdering and stealing!
It's time to stop the ‘blame game'!
Barack Obama is inheriting a very depressed economy that started in 60's. It's unfair it's
trickled down to taxpayers! Government must run like a business, if not, our children and
grandchildren will have absolutely no future! Permanent cuts are critical in government
spending, cutting salaries for politicians, and absolutely no bailouts or handouts!
Freddie, Fannie, AIG, and the Big 3 need to file Bankruptcy! If these high-dollar thieves really
believe the companies will succeed they need to go to bank, borrow the money and maybe,
they'll learn what it takes to run a successful company! Hopefully, bankruptcy might teach
them to cut extragavant lifestyles and their exorbitant salaries!
When the average person makes $10.00 to $22.50 per hour. Union workers make an average
of $50.00 to $100.00 plus benefits, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what went
wrong in the corporate world?
Taxpayers feel Barack Obama will stick to his words “he's going to cut programs until
America is free of debt.” Top priority should be ‘Fair Tax' and making sure it includes
property tax, so every person will be paying their fair share.
While I'm on a roll, why should we treat the illegitimate population with the best of homes,
clothes, schools, insurance, beds, food, tvs, just to name a few things? Isn't this unfair to all
our Military fighting for our great country! Something's definitely wrong with this picture!
Comment: #6
Posted by: Shirley deLong
Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:51 PM
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