Supreme Court Justice David Souter announced that he would be retiring this past week. Appointed by the first George Bush, he is said to have been anything but a stanch republican, although when he was appointed he was just that. Over time though he moved towards the center and finally towards the left. With the current division of five republicans and four democrats, there is already a republican majority, which doesn’t even matter because of the young and energetic conservatives that overwhelm the group says Newsweek.

So who will Barack Obama choose as his appointee to become the next Supreme Court justice? 

There are already lists and names of prospects being compiled by the political insiders, but others not so informed might be quick to jump to the conclusion that he is more likely to choose either a woman or an African American. Is this a rational prediction? Since Obama has been on the political scene as a presidential prospect, we have watched him pick and choose his team members. If you think about it, there is not an overwhelming favoritism towards one sociological group of people. He has chosen blacks, whites, women, men, Christians, Jews, foes, followers, and even a large amount of republicans considering his party affiliation. 

So, to all those who say they know or think his decision will be based on race, gender, or party affiliation, think again. Barack Obama is a dynamic character and he does not choose who to work with or who to appoint based on these aspects. He doesn’t have to because as we have seen thus far in his presidency, he gets along with almost everyone. This plays in his advantage, because while seeming to be a fair player, he is able to create a cabinet that everyone can take some liking to, and still get what he wants. 

He is lucky to be so socially gifted while having the intelligence that he does. Most people usually have one or the other, but to have both is a real gift and I am happy to see somebody use this in such a positive way.

I’m sorry to say because I know many will disagree with me, but there are things that the United States, as well as other countries, have to do during times of war that are not going to be pretty. The CIA interrogations are private and whatever they did to the detainees should stay classified. We do not need to publicize these things so that the media can blow it up, and then everyone just re confirms that we are bad. These sort of things happen everywhere across the globe, we are the least brutal of them all.

It is a nice gesture to want to put things out in the open, but this is not the sort of information to be toying with. It is scary that it could potentially cause us grave danger.

This idea of being dishonest to win an election is part of a long thought ideology which has shaped the negative reputation of politicians. But according to a former Representative, who has also done important political strategizing.

“You can pick apart his policies, which I would. But we had a campaign, and basically he said what he’s going to do, and that’s what he’s doing”

I often hear people attribute Obama’s success solely on his charisma during his election. Also, that his speeches were only words, lacking substance and accountability.

I have witnessed something during Barack Obama’s first one hundred days though; our leader not only has the rhetoric to move masses, he has a true and unique character that has the ability to transform the world.

The economy has been at the top of President Barack Obama’s agenda since he stepped foot in office, so have his policies hurt of helped our nation?

Economically speaking, Obama came into a tough situation and there was one thing he was sure of, he couldn’t ignore an already worsening problem. 

Overall I would give Obama a fairly high grade on the economy. Because it is not just about where you’re putting money, but it’s also about security. The long run aspect is extremely important, and establishing, re-establishing, or mending old friendships is something so simple, but yet so effective and so helpful. It is so important to be friends, or in good standing with the rest of the world. Keeping these countries in arms length is going to be beneficial to us now and forever. 

Have the issues on race changed since Barack Obama has become president? Are whites and blacks getting along better, trusting each other more, and conversing as if color no longer exists?

Some say yes to this question, and I can imagine that they are right. The white/black dilemma in American stems from a history of slavery and oppression against blacks. My generation is much more accepting and willing to all races, nationalities, and colors, but our parents and their parents are less open about the issue. As time goes on, the teaching of racism behind closed doors become less and less apparent. Much of peoples ideas come from the family, but also from the learning institutions. So if the family is teaching racism and the school is teaching diversity and acceptance, what is a child most likely to follow?

Well, it depends on the independence the child has formed out side of the family, and how strongly these ideas are forced upon someone from each source. I think that children usually open their minds and accept one another regardless of skin color.

The cause of this spike in sales comes from a fear that with a democrat now in office, there may be a ban placed on firearms.

Could it be that with a worsening economy, people somehow find security in owning a firearm? Or maybe it was the widely publicized fact that Barack Obama was the most liberal senator in congress that drove so many Americans to make these purchases. 

Either way, the reality is that more people own guns, and in fact Jody, the gun-store owner, told TIME magazine that more women have been buying, and especially older women who say they live alone and fear burglary due to the economy.

It is no surprise that gun sales have risen, but during the current economic situation we see more families trying to find ways to cut back and conserve money, so it’s a bit shocking that despite losses in most business sectors, the controversial gun industry thrives.

Barack Obama made his appearance at the Summit of the America’s, and once again took center stage. Obama, along with thirty-three other Latin American leaders came together in Trinidad Spain, but unlike at the G20 in London, Barack had a harder time convincing his peers. 

This is to be expected though, seeing that American and Latin American ties and relations have been rough, if not dirty, in the last decades. Obama is trying to reestablish positive and civil relationships with our neighbors though, and for the most part he seems somewhat successful. 

For one, Hugo Chavez was more open and accepting of the United States President, seeing that he called George W. Bush “The Devil”, simply holding conversation with the President is progressive. He even gave Barack Obama a gift; regardless of its anti-American and anti-capitalism theme, it was still a gift. 

Along with other requests, Obama cautioned leaders not to blame all of their problems on the United States, and also made it clear that he wanted to change the relationship with Cuba. 

Barack Obama seems to be reaching out to other country’s more than any other president in the recent past. He knows and understands the importance of keeping nice with other nations. As the worlds strongest and leading country, it is important for America to keep these relationships on a good note. It is a risky idea to have enemies in an era where many countries have nuclear capabilities. Good job Barack Obama, I have to hand it to you for getting back to the basics, and making old enemies into new friends.

Besides this meaning, I think that the tea party protests were kind of touching. They show that Americans have not forgotten what this nation is based upon. Government for the people and by the people. That our government will stand the way that it is just as long as the citizens allow it to. It is not supposed to be like a monarchy where only one person makes the decisions and where those decisions override any other opinion.When the founding fathers established this country they made sure that the government had checks and balances so that it could never turn into a dictatorship and so that it would and could be overthrown or dramatically changed if it no longer served the majority of the people.

Our government is about the people, the majority, and the protests signified that aspect. That they know that they are able and willing to stand up to the established order. Americans know they  have the right to protest against big government spending if they do not believe in it.

Regardless of who is wrong or right in this action, the significance of it makes the event something worth talking about. The citizens have spoken out the same way as they did almost 200 years ago in Boston. It gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

The most remarkable thing about our President is that he came from such an ordinary and unlikely background. It sounds cliche, but that is what makes it so unique. He honestly is a representative of the American people, not just socioeconomically but also by experience, and it is not so much the experience that sets him apart, but his willingness to admit to his weaknesses. It shows character and humility. 

Barack Obama made a trip to Mexico today, making it the first time a United States President has visited the country in over a decade. This is a surprising figure, seeing that the drug problems on our border, as well as the ongoing drug related murders, have been progressively getting worse.

Then again, Barack Obama has been all over the world in the past few weeks, mending old relations that have long been broken, and creating new partnerships with countries we had long given up on.

Barack showed humility during the press conference, admitting that the drug problem is not just Mexico’s problem, but America’s problem just as well. The demand for drugs comes from the United States, and without this demand, there would be no supply. He also emphasized that many of the guns the Cartel obtain have been purchased from stores in the United States, mostly ones bordering the two countries.

This step to open up communication and re-establish a relationship with Mexico could be good and bad. The positive side is the obvious, that by publicly addressing the country, we are showing that we care to work together to take the steps needed to solve this violent destruction of human life due to drugs. This shows that we have an interest in the matter beyond a brief statement in the media, or a bill in congress that is never fully marked-up, or passed. Obama has a good way of showing people that he means business, that his words are his heart; he means what he says.

A dangerous part of the situation is an angry cartel, which might retaliate or show that they can not be stopped by committing more violent acts, or using this to scare others and thus trying to gain more power and control over the country.

It will not be easy to deal with this structured organization, but the first step has been taken by Barack Obama, and for now that’s the best he can do.