Why Are You Reading This Junk?

The above interview on Meet the Press and press conference announcing General Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veterans Affairs are two more indications of Barack Obama's intention of keeping his campaign promises (in my humble opinion).

Since his election, Obama has selected for cabinet nominees a bunch of extremely competent, accomplished, capable people who are experts in their fields and will bring strong opinions to the table.  Each of us may have questions about or disagree with some of his cabinet picks.  However, the overall message that he's sending to me is this: "I made big promises during the campaign, and I want to put people in my cabinet who can deliver on them."

He's talking about the same things he spoke about during the campaign, with a few minor adjustments here and there to accommodate the present situation (no more windfall profits tax on oil companies due to dropping oil prices).  Same job creation plans, same new energy economy plans, same homeowner assistance plans, same plans for troop withdrawal in Iraq, same plans to change the way politics is done in Washington.

His Office of the President-Elect transition website is opening up the process to the public by making it transparent and interactive as well.

I may have beef with some of the decisions that he makes here and there, but man, am I happy about the work that I've done along with millions of fellow Americans to help get him elected.  He is keeping his promises and taking the actions now that will make true change in the White House and for this country.  I have no reason to doubt his intentions and sincerity while realizing that he will occasionally slip and fall during his presidency.

Thankfully, the grassroots movement for change that came out of his campaign will not simply vanish now that he's been elected.  I'm attending a Change is Coming house meeting in my community a week from this Friday, and I assume that we'll be discussing where to go from here.  There's plenty of grassroots organizing left to be done, because in order for Obama to be able to implement the change that he's promised, he'll need our help.

Achieving universal healthcare won't come without a fight from the insurance and drug lobbies.  Getting away from burning fossil fuels and entering a new energy economy won't come without resistance from the oil lobby.  Many special interests have the power and money to fight change that will affect their profit margins.  We have to keep organizing to fight these special interests as well as rebuilding our communities and local economies.

While the spirit has always been there, I'm still new to this whole grassroots organizing thing.  I've learned so much already from my participation in the Obama campaign, and I can't wait to continue my involvement as we work together to turn this country around.  Thankfully, we have a friend in the White House, and we will help him get there!