Obama update and a Boris update:

Recently I've been asked a number of times if I'm happy with Obama so far. I'd like to take the time and answer that question in what I already know will be a controversial manner. So "Principleoverparty" get ready to get mad.

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes.

While I don't necessarily agree with everything he has done, and plans to do here are the things that have pleased me in no particular order.

To begin with, Obama's apparent dedication to increased transparency has been refreshing. Along with the fact that he is now de-classifying much of Bush's "closed door" decisions.

I've been very impressed with the real urgency Obama's administration has put on improving foreign relations. It seems like not a day has gone by without me hearing about opening dialog with countries we've been trying to brow beat for the last decade.

I appreciate the fact that Obama is taking a long term view of our energy situation and making the hard decisions now. I realize this is causing a lot of heart ache for families and people of our nation but the reality is that our current energy policies we destined to self destruct because of the limited nature of oil and coal. Making the move now is like making a 90 degree turn at 35 miles an hour vs 60 miles an hour. The first won't be easy, but the latter is impossible. Do we deal with it or let our kids deal with it? I vote for us.

I appreciate he's publicly anounced his agenda for Iraq, and Afghanistan and integrated their costs into our budgeting process. Instead of sliding the cost under the table like bush did. In case you didn't know it, Iraq has cost us 1 Trillion dollars to date.

I appreciate that he is trying to re-assert the moral leadership of the United States by stopping water boarding, by being open with the public and strengthening international ties.

Frankly I love the fact that he is in fact leading. Like I said, I don't agree with everything he's done, but he takes responsibility for the white house, I get the feal he is making the decisions based on his analysis (I know you can argue the validity of that analysis, but at least it is his.) I always had the strong impression that Bush was just a puppet for Dick Cheney and the rest of his corporate goons.

As far as the stimulus package is concerned, I believe that the stimulus package was an inevitable result of our situation. The difference in my mind is in how it was crafted. Give the money to the rich man? Give the money to the poor man? Frankly, from what I've been hearing about the way corporate america is run, and the behavior of the boards and their CEO's, I'd rather give it to the poor man. The former hasn't really worked has it?

I guess your take on the stimulus is fundamentally based upon what theory of economics you ascribe to. (Notice I used the word theory, cause as far as I can determine they are both just theories) Personall, I'm really losing my faith in "Free market" economics, and to some extent Capitalism. I know that sounds strange coming from someone starting his own business but I've heard a lot lately that makes me think their might be a significant difference in the actual application of capitalism based on the size of the enterprise.

I could keep writing, but Amber wants me to go to the store with her. So I'll finish with a more personal update. Baby Boris is growing healthy and strong! The other day we went in for our 9 week check up and the Dr. played for us his heart beat. It was a literal audio ambush. We were marveling at the picture of him, when his little pitter patter heart beat hit us. Even though it only lasted for two seconds that is all it took for my heart to speed up and match his. I didn't expect it and was literally dumb struck by the power it had over me. I wanted to put the recording on my blog so you could hear it to, but the Dr. couldn't figure out how to make his recorder work. :( Sufice it to say, even though it took a while for Amber to get me on board with having a baby, I'm riding this train full speed now.