What makes this especially funny–and sad–is its honest depiction of an embarrassingly large slice of Americana (yes, Midwest and South, I’m talking about you).

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Stem cell scientists hail new era
Carolyn Y. Johnson, Boston Globe, March 10, 2009

Obama yesterday followed through on promises he made during his election campaign, signing an executive order allowing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and directing the National Institutes of Health to write guidelines within 120 days for how the research should be conducted.

He also signed a memorandum to elevate science within his administration, clarify the responsibilities of the office of science and technology policy, and ensure that “we base our public policies on the soundest science . . . and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions.”

“President Obama’s new executive order on embryonic stem cell research is a sad victory of politics over science and ethics,” Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said in a statement.

That’s rich. It is the science community that has been hampered by W.’s anti-science policies and who are cheering this executive order. Furthermore, stem cell treatments and cures have the potential to help many millions of people live longer healthier lives. It is immoral to oppose this research.

My favorite part of this wonderful news may be the memorandum President Obama signed that elevates science within his administration by saying, “we base our public policies on the soundest science”. I think the American people deserve more than wishful prayers. This shift in public policy gives me great hope.

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Do these guys have a sweet gig, or what?!

I’d love to have all that gear and be part of the White House Press Corps. Every moment must be captured for a frenzied twenty-four hour cut-throat news cycle.

This is the pen and executive order Obama would sign on his first full day as President.

I’d be the guy with the jacket and jeans. Doesn’t the guy on the left look like a younger Bill Gates?

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After eight years of George W. Bush I’d be thrilled for Kermit the Frog to be sworn in as President of the United States. While I was excited for Barack Obama to become the President, I was more excited for the departure of W. That changed yesterday. Obama isn’t just not-Bush; he’s the real deal and I am excited for this country under his administration.

I began the 2008 campaign a Hillary supporter. However, I’ve always been a fan of Obama’s policies: universal health care, and end to the wars, a restoration of science to its proper place and his pragmatic evidence-based approach to challenges. I also am impressed by his intellect and maturity.

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We are all Keynesians now
Editorial, Boston Globe, November 25, 2008

Bush’s economic stimulus didn’t work, quite simply, because people banked the tiny checks or spent the money on foreign-produced goods. It was a political move that failed because it was bad policy. And every thinking person knew it at the time.

Obama’s stimulus promises to be far more effective. I’m glad it will be big, because it needs to be. I just hope it’s big enough.

My advice to the Obama people is to figure out how much help they think the economy needs, then add 50 percent. It’s much better, in a depressed economy, to err on the side of too much stimulus than on the side of too little.
~Paul Krugman, NY Times, November 10, 2008

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A reassuring figure for Treasury
Economist.com, November 22, 2008

I’m so glad Hank Paulson is going to be leaving with W. What a disaster. I’m equally thrilled by President-elect Obama’s choice for his replacement. Perhaps I should be grateful Mr. Paulson was ineffective, otherwise we would have privatized Social Security. Imagine that!

Mr Geithner looks a lot younger than his 47 years (though not as young as he did before the crisis began). He skateboards and snowboards and exudes a sort of hipster-wonkiness, using “way” as a synonym for “very” as in “way consequential” and occasionally underlining his point with the word “fuck”.

Cool.

In temperament he seems similar to Mr Obama: he is suspicious of ideology, questions received wisdom, likes a competition of ideas and is keenly aware of how uncertain the world is.

He is a quick learner: within a year of joining the New York Fed he could debate the intricacies of monetary policy with academic experts. But he will join an Administration rapidly filling up with heavyweights on economic policy, not least of them Mr Summers. Indeed, one of the big questions of the new team that Mr Obama is expected to unveil on Monday is just how Mr Summers, a brilliant but intimidating and sometimes abrasive figure, will fit in.

Mr Obama is assembling a formidable economic team. With the economy perhaps on the precipice of its worst recession since the Depression, he will need it.

So instead of an ideological crony we’re going to get competence? Fuck yeah.

Related post:
Krugman for Treasury, November 10, 2008

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The JibJab guys (and gals) are good. I love their stuff.

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