President Obama will be inaugurated for a second term on Monday, January 21st, 2013.
As he begins his second term, there remains a divided Congress, with Republicans holding a majority in the House; Democrats in the Senate.
In addition to often paralyzing opposition, “sans compromise”, in our country’s legislative branch, there may well be some appointments to the Supreme Court due to retirements during Obama’s second term. Such changes in the composition of the Supreme Court could seriously alter the constitutional and philosophical approach of the Court. In the near future the Court will be hearing cases concerning “ObamaCare”, gun control and perhaps even constitutional aspects of fiscal management legislation facing the new 113th Congress.
The battles over fiscal management, gun control and immigration will be contentious and perhaps very rancorous. It seems a certainty that battles will continue to rage between the House, the Senate and the White House. Already on the issues of fiscal management, the debt ceiling and gun control, both political parties appear worlds apart in their approaches. At this point the Democrats seem a bit more unified than do the Republicans. Part of the challenge for the Republicans in the House is to find their own common ground, and better sooner rather than later.
Gun control is again becoming a more emotional and very divisive issue; while immigration remains a legislative and political quagmire. There are 70 million guns in the United States and thus far no agreements on how to keep guns out of the wrong hands, while ensuring America’s second amendment, “right to bear arms”. Surely more common sense discussions, along with comprehensive research is needed to fully discern and come to grips with this constitutional issue which many believe plays a large part in the most tragic of human consequences.
Then there is the immigration issue; complex, divisive, again, there are no, “one size fits all” answers. We are finding again, inactions and extremes often get us nowhere as a nation. In fact, an ineffectual Congress is inviting the potential for misuse of power by our chief executive. Immigration and the use of immigrant labor affect the Eastern Shore in both the seafood processing and agriculture industries.
By using executive orders and promulgating new federal regulation through the various federal agencies rather than seeking Congressional action, President Obama will use these mechanisms to put his stamp on these key issues to implement his political philosophy.
Since the President’s reelection was not really a wide mandate he will use these legal techniques and force the Congress and the courts to react. Watch for increased litigation in Obama’s second term.
Jobs, repairing the economy, and improving the nation’s fiscal standing will remain the priority for the administration. Let’s hope the President and his cabinet of “yes persons’ will remember these priorities.
Unfortunately, it appears that the more liberal Senate and the tough Democratic caucus in the House will exert tremendous pressure on the Republicans who seem to remain divided on many issues. It was President Lincoln who said, “A house divided against it cannot stand”. A Congress and a political party divided against itself may not stand for much and certainly will not work its will without unified goals. Republicans, take note.
President Obama will have his second chance, on Monday, to inform the nation regarding his priorities, programs and espouse his ideology. His second inaugural speech should enlighten citizens on his vision for America’s future and our place in a dangerous and ever-changing world. This week, in Algeria, another American citizen died.
Ii is interesting to note that the shortest inaugural speech ever delivered to the nation was the second inaugural speech given by President George Washington. It was just 135 words. Now there was a man who knew how to be succinct and to the point.
We, the citizens will see what our reelected commander and chief has to say and how he may react to the battles yet to come. For come, they will.
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