The Obama Questions . . .

I think that most cannot doubt the political skills displayed by Obama and his campaign throughout the Democratic primary. Even the most cynical and conservative of his critics admit that he has run an astounding campaign and has demonstrated a broad, powerful and deeply intuitive political acumen. The reason people reserve judgment or question Obama is because they just don't know, or don't trust how good he will actually be with policy. To be fair, many of these same concerns can be raised about John McCain as well, who, despite his years on Obama, has very little more in the way of experience in the implementation of policy.

But there are questions and much speculation as to what kind of real, substantive policies Obama supports and how will he implement them. The most important area right now, and the one to which Obama has first turned his attention to is economics. Howard Fineman, in this piece for MSNBC looks into Obama's economic plan he calls "Obamanomics." Some short samples:

In terms of policy, he is not looking to do the unexpected, or the radically new. He made an unspoken calculation long ago: that he, himself, is change enough.

I just listened to the debut of his newly bulked-up economic team during one of those wonkish conference calls for reporters.

And I have to say, if sweeping change is what Obama is all about, I didn’t hear it on that call.
Obama’s advisors were intent on labeling McCain’s economic ideas as more of the same, rather than touting the newness of their own vision.

Here’s Obama’s new crisis management answer:

• $50 billion to unemployment insurance and to states for serving the needy and unemployed.
  
• $10 billion fund to prevent foreclosures.
  
• New “tax relief for ordinary Americans” – that is, those families which earn less than $150,000 per year – with up to $1,000 per family in direct payments.
  
• A recently proposed windfall profits tax for big oil companies
  

If the economy is heading as deep into the tank as some economists think (even, evidently, some of Obama’s), then the plan he announced Monday is little more than a bandage.

Check out the full article HERE