Bucco, I think you identified the reason for the "backpedaling" on Clark Burris. No one--the President Elect or the Congressional leaders--wanted a lot of time and political energy wasted on debating the seating of a single Senator. I suppose that's particularly true when the person involved seems to have a good reputation among both parties, on the state as well as national level. There's a clear recognition that however much political energy exists needs to be spent on the creation and passage of economic stimulus legislation that is acceptable to the largest number of members of both the House and Senate. I don't think any more should be read into this situation than that.

As far as looking around and trying to determine which persons or which political parties are responsible for the situation the country finds itself in at present, to me that seems to be a gigantic waste of time. I'm willing to specify that many people in both political parties took positions, made statements and made decisions that lead us directly into the current dire circumstances. And they did so over at leat a decade and during times when both political parties were in the majority in Congress. I beleive it is far more important for the American public to look forward, making every attempt to understand the complex and difficult problems facing the country, and make every effort to understand how the solutions being developed and offered by the new administration can work.

What is more important in my mind--far more important by a wide margin--is the need for the American public to come together, just as their elected representatives will have to do, to support our new President and the administration he has selected. That administration will be formulating plans, making decisions and encouraging legislation which will be the only way that many of the critical fiscal and social problems that face us can be solved.

Yes, I supported Barack Obama in his candidacy for President. I support him now and I will continue to support his administration as they take the steps to solve the problems we all know exist. I hope and pray he is successful. But if it ever becomes clear after a period of time that his administration's leadership is failing to lead the country in a positive direction, I will not hesitate to make my voice heard encouraging yet more change. I hope everyone else will agree to do the same.