Change

So this is it my last blog for the American Presidency class.  As much as I would love to do a whole reflection blog, on how much I have learned and how much I have changed this semester, I can’t because I panicked and did one prematurely for blog post 17.  I mean there is no doubt that I have changed this semester, I mean I started out a political science major and I leave a biology major (now I get to learn about platyhelminthes and gymnosperms).  However, that is change that has nothing to do with class or my other political science class, comparative politics (ok that’s a lie comparative politics definitely was a factor).

While I stand on the brink of change concerning the different types of classes that I will be taking next year, I think that our country is about to undergo some big changes itself.  When President Obama entered office he did so with the promise of change.  Now 11 months later, one of his biggest criticisms is the complete lack of change.  Yet I would venture to say we stand on the brink of great change.  The healthcare bill in the senate is going to pass maybe not this year, but I bet sometime relatively soon.  Also the president has just increased the United States commitment in Afghanistan.

Things are bound to change, both domestically, and in foreign affairs.  So as Obama looks ahead to his second year, and the rest of his term he will begin to feel the effects that his first year has had.  He will finally be able to witness the change that he has promised.  It is to soon whether the change is going to be strictly beneficial are harmful.  Yet there is no denying that there is definitely going to be some changes made around here.

Nobel Peace Prize Once Again

Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize is coming back to the forefront of the media to haunt him again.  It is definitely a tough situation for President Obama; I mean it is not like he expected to get the prize so soon in office.  Now that he has sent a troop surge into Afghanistan the prize is starting to also look hypocritical in some people’s eyes.  The whole Afghanistan issue had horrible timing.  President Obama announces he’s sending 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, and then a few days later he leaves to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize.

Even people who still support President Obama claim that if “I was him I would be too embarrassed to accept it.”  Mainly the Middle East is where President Obama’s approval rating are taking a severe hit.  In the beginning of his presidency the Middle East countries hoped for a better relationship with the United States and feel that better relationship is not going to be achieved with this latest surge in troops.

Picking up his Nobel Peace Prize is definitely an ill-timed moment for President Obama.  He is already been criticized so much for his decision about Afghanistan, and the lack of change here at home.   He definitely did not need the whole Nobel Peace Prize issue to come to the surface again.  I bet the President has kind of a love hate relationship with it.  It is no doubt a huge honor to receive the prize, but at the same time even he knows he probably should not be the one to have received it.  I wonder where he will keep it at the white house.  I mean keeping it in an obvious place of honor only would serve to ignite more criticism, but I mean it’s not like it’s a something that you can just hide up in the attic.