Scholars debate Obama’s first 100 days

January 29, 2009 by Rhoda Thomka 

First in lecture series offers analysis of administration

 

Three leading political analysts made predictions about how the Obama administration will handle the nation’s current economic crisis during a Jan. 22 lecture at UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Hall.

The panel consisted of journalists Gloria Borger, E.J. Dionne and J.C. Watts, moderated by Jon Ralston of the “Las Vegas Sun.”  

All three panelists felt the title of the lecture, “The First 100 Days: Predications for the Obama Administration,” was the wrong unit of measurement for President Barack Obama. 

“I would argue that Obama has been president long before he was sworn in.  The first 100 days started a while ago,” said Borger, CNN’s senior political analyst, earning applause from the audience.

Dionne, columnist for “The Washington Post,” echoed Borger’s assertion, but took it a step further.

“[The American people] will see [the Obama administration] get a lot done in the first 30 days,” he said.

Dionne also asserted that the president’s economic stimulus package would most likely be approved soon.

The three panelists attributed much of the country’s economic collapse to the greed of those in power of the various banking and government institutions, eliciting cheers from the crowd. 

Watts, a former congressman, expressed concern about how Obama will move past the corrupt politicians and policies of the past.

“We have a culture [in Washington] with Republicans and Democrats that says ‘We’ve got to do whatever we need to do to keep our deal.’ That needs to change,” he said.

Watts then joked that politicians are, “not used to solving problems in Washington,” prompting laughs and applause from the audience.

The panelists also discussed how Obama won the election and what the American people expect from him.

“The public voted for change.  By change they meant achievement, accomplishment and getting something done in Washington,” Borger said.

She then mentioned a recent poll that found that 58 percent of the people who voted for Sen. John McCain now approve of Obama.

“Obama has an opportunity.  Almost everybody is gathering around him,” Dionne said.

Watts also saw potential for Obama to become a “transformative president” with the correct actions.

“The key to Obama is that you’re not quite sure what to expect.  He has to convince the American public that we can get beyond the old politics.

This president has a chance to create a paradigm shift for the Democratic Party,” he said.

The lecture was the first in the 2009 Barrick Lecture Series, UNLV’s annual series featuring prominent guest lecturers.  The series returned this year after being halted following founder Marjorie Barrick’s death in 2007.