Inaugural Indicators

I promised a post on the lead-pipe clues about policy that President Obama put in his inaugural address. History and Obama’s left-handed signature have passed me by on a couple of subjects.

As you probably have read elsewhere, Obama signed an order that will close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba within the year. He also ordered the closing of all secret detention centers run by the CIA and ordered an end to torture of detainees. All these were directly foreshadowed in his address.

“At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbears, and true to our founding documents.”

“As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake.”

Obama has established himself as not only a scholar of the Constitution, but also one who respects the Constitution.

He also has imposed serious restrictions on the hiring of former lobbyists to posts that involve their former clients. He tipped that one as well: “And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.”

What else can we expect?

Obama will make renewable energy, energy efficiency, and global warming a priority.

“…each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.”

“We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.”

“With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.” (This one also presages some anti-proliferation work with Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan.)

“…nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect.”

We can expect a return to multilateralism and diplomacy.

“Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations.”

This will include an end to the “Axis of Evil” approach to our adversaries. Most likely this will include a warming of relations with Iran.

“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

Here is the one that gladdens my heart:

“We will restore science to its rightful place,…”

This applies to many policy areas, including global warming, stem cell research, sex education (abandoning abstinence-only), and environmental protection. Can we hope for rational drug policy? Probably not quite yet.

A related, overarching theme is one of pragmatism trumping ideology. He explicitly stated this in terms of government intervention.

“The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.”

“On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”

“…the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.”

There is more. He mentioned humanitarian foreign aid, and Hillary Clinton, our new Secretary of State, opened her tenure with a commitment to increasing such aid. He alluded to issues of labor and wages, and the distribution of the benefits of our economy. Congress has already delivered an equal pay bill to his desk and a union organizing bill should soon follow.

I’m feeling reasonably optimistic. We’ve gone from desperately losing ground and grinding our teeth in frustration to actual progress in a week. If President Obama delivers on a quarter of this I’d be happy, and I think he’ll do much better.