This “tumble-log” is devoted to the election, transition, and administration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States and to commentaries on the enormous problems (financial, economic, environmental, global, etc.) facing him and our nation. Begun on October 9, 2008—right after my wife and I completed a 4,000 mile road-trip across the prairie from Chicago to Utah and back, and less than a month before the elections—it presents an on-line scrapbook of news clips, quotations, videos, and photos adapted from news sources, as well as a few observations of my own. At first, I was mostly interested in seeing whether or not Barack Obama would be elected as our 44th president. Then after he took office, the formulation of an economic recovery plan seemed the single most pressing concern. As time went on, the development of health insurance reform legislation seemed most important. But beyond these specific questions and issues, I became increasingly concerned with the state of American democracy. The Republican Party, long the carrier of one of of our two great political traditions, seemed to be moving increasingly toward a radical right-wing populism and a new form of “know-nothingism.” Most of the items in this blog can be expanded by clicking on them. The “search” box will create a list every entries that include any particular term. The “archive” below provides a brief calendar of all the items, and thus serves as a kind of “table of contents.”The Obama ReBoot: America 44/111Tumblr (3.0; @doctord)http://doctord.tumblr.com/"Real power in the party rests, instead, with the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin..."“Real power in the party rests, instead, with the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sarah...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/238240847http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/238240847Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:52:02 -0600"Let me tell you why Joe feels that way and I do [too],” Graham added. “I think the..."““Let me tell you why Joe feels that way and I do [too],” Graham added. “I...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/237488768http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/237488768Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:22:26 -0600"Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) declared on Sunday that the health care legislation passed by the..."“Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) declared on Sunday that the health care legislation passed by...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/237488365http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/237488365Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:21:57 -0600A History of Health Care Reform - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/19/us/politics/20090717_HEALTH_TIMELINE.html">A History of Health Care Reform - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/237487367http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/237487367Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:20:45 -0600Palin rallies thousands of abortion opponents - Jonathan Martin - POLITICO.com<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29267.html">Palin rallies thousands of abortion opponents - Jonathan Martin - POLITICO.com</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236690926http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236690926Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:41:00 -0600Jobless Rate Surges to 10.2 Percent - ABC News<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9023380">Jobless Rate Surges to 10.2 Percent - ABC News</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236688658http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236688658Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:38:37 -0600"The system is going back to the way it was with a vengeance, against a backdrop of despair. As the..."“The system is going back to the way it was with a vengeance, against a backdrop of despair....http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236687823http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236687823Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:37:45 -0600 I'm doing 'God's work'. Meet Mr Goldman Sachs - Times Online <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6907681.ece"> I'm doing 'God's work'. Meet Mr Goldman Sachs - Times Online </a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236683852http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236683852Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33:28 -0600Bachmann Challengers Maureen Reed, Tarryl Clark Share Plans To Take On Michele<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/06/bachmann-challengers-maur_n_348872.html">Bachmann Challengers Maureen Reed, Tarryl Clark Share Plans To Take On Michele</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236682136http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236682136Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:31:29 -0600"After months of debate, the House of Representatives passed historic health care reform legislation..."“After months of debate, the House of Representatives passed historic health care reform...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236681149http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236681149Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:30:22 -0600Right-Wing Media Respond To Fort Hood Shooting By Attacking Muslims<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/06/right-wing-media-respond_n_348899.html">Right-Wing Media Respond To Fort Hood Shooting By Attacking Muslims</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236442089http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236442089Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:47:11 -0600Chuck DeVore: The New Conservative Darling, Birther Connections And All<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/06/chuck-devore-the-new-cons_n_348898.html">Chuck DeVore: The New Conservative Darling, Birther Connections And All</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236441519http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/236441519Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:46:24 -0600"A year after taxpayers forked over $700 billion to help rescue the biggest names in banking,..."“A year after taxpayers forked over $700 billion to help rescue the biggest names in banking,...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/234085417http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/234085417Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:55:41 -0600"Enter now Sarah Palin with very encouraging comments that lead one to believe that she is indeed..."“Enter now Sarah Palin with very encouraging comments that lead one to believe that she is...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233961305http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233961305Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:06:15 -0600Michele Bachmann Tells Supporters To "Scare" Congress At Protest<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/05/michele-bachmann-tells-su_n_346640.html">Michele Bachmann Tells Supporters To "Scare" Congress At Protest</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233958662http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233958662Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:02:51 -0600"Most of the work of actually reforming government is a) politically very, very hard and b) not..."“Most of the work of actually reforming government is a) politically very, very hard and b)...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233693465http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233693465Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:21:59 -0600"The basic structure of American politics — the array of interest groups and party structures,..."“The basic structure of American politics — the array of interest groups and party...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233692637http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233692637Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:20:37 -0600Gay Leaders Blame Obama, TV Ads For Loss In Maine<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/gay-leaders-blame-obama-t_n_346354.html">Gay Leaders Blame Obama, TV Ads For Loss In Maine</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233691141http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233691141Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:18:19 -0600"The health care debate of 2009 has had so many moving parts that it has sometimes seemed impossible..."“The health care debate of 2009 has had so many moving parts that it has sometimes seemed...http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233690216http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233690216Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:16:57 -0600Budget Monitor Says G.O.P. Bill Leaves Many Uninsured - Prescriptions Blog - NYTimes.com<a href="http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/budget-monitor-questions-impact-of-gop-health-bill/">Budget Monitor Says G.O.P. Bill Leaves Many Uninsured - Prescriptions Blog - NYTimes.com</a>http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233687749http://doctord.tumblr.com/post/233687749Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:13:20 -0600