2008

• Will Bush Block Obama's Gitmo Plan?

  The Rachel Maddow Show : Guantanamo Bay

  Glenn Greenwald discusses the implications of lame duck Bush actions on Barack Obama's plan to close Gitmo.

• The New Era of Ecological Civilization

  Henrik Petaisto

  This essay, a finalist in The Nation's Student Writing Contest, argues that the success of the new President will depend on his ability to initiate a transition from postindustrial society to a new era of civilization.

• The Importance of Perspective

  Natalia Thompson : Gap Between Wealth & Poverty

  This essay, a finalist in The Nation's Student Writing Contest, argues that the most important prerequisite for being a good president cannot be found in the marble hallways of the nation's elite institutions.

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  Obama's Green Team

  Mark Hertsgaard : Environment

  They respect science. But will Obama's team show the necessary spine to cut greenhouse gases and resist "clean coal" and nuclear power propaganda?

• The Imperial Transition

  Tom Engelhardt

  Obama's transition is the earliest, biggest, fastest, best organized and most efficient on record. But has the media failed to see the larger architecture of this moment, and what it portends for the presidency to come?

• Ending the Mindset

  The Editors : Iraq War

  Dissenting views on Iraq and Afghanistan will have to come not from the hawkish national security team, but from outside Washington, and from Obama himself.

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  Can Obama Stay the Course?

  Robert Scheer : US Foreign Policy

  As he drives his team of retreads, the challenge for Obama is to remain the agent of change who electrified the nation.

• Beyond the Bailout State

  Steve Fraser : History

  If original thinking doesn't find a home among the Obama administration's Clinton-era Brainiacs, how can we move beyond the bailout state?

• Stimulus Now

  The Editors : U.S. Economy

  On Day One, Congress must present Obama with a bold stimulus plan focused on putting people to work, rebuilding infrastructure and expanding the productive capacity of the economy.

• Can Obama Take On the Pentagon?

  Frida Berrigan : US Military

  Taking on the Pentagon, with its mega-budget and its mega-power, may be the hardest task Barack Obama faces.

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  Election's Over--Time to Begin

  Michael Pertschuk : Activism & Organizing

  How millions of Obama volunteers can go to work for a progressive agenda.

• Past and Future

  William Greider : U.S. Economy

  Obama's too smart to allow the ideas of the past to define his presidency. Yet Timothy Geithner is an architect and enabler of the unfolding crisis.

• Obamacons?

  Radio Nation

  Jeremy Scahill on President-elect Obama's questionable foreign policy team. Plus: Bolano's 2666.

• Blogosphere Backlash to Barack?

  MSNBC

  The Nation's Ari Melber discusses why the progressive netroots are somewhat unhappy with Obama's cabinet picks to date.

• Obama Faces Deflation Risk

  Nicholas von Hoffman : U.S. Economy

  Wall Street was buoyed by the appointment of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary. But that can't offset worries that deflation will compound our economic woes.

• Team of Rivals: Overrated?

  The Daily Show

  Obama would rather have his rivals inside the tent peeing out, while Americans want a government that urinates very far away from the tent.

• Change We Can Bank On

  Robert Scheer : U.S. Economy

  Reject the old-boy network whose sexism, stupidity and greed helped drive our current financial crisis. How about Sheila Bair for Treasury Secretary?

• The Right Choice at Treasury

  Christopher Hayes : Cabinet

  To avoid the mistakes of the past, there are two basic criteria: First, no Wall Streeters; second, no one who helped create the current crisis.

• In Praise of a Rocky Transition

  Naomi Klein : U.S. Economy

  Every sweetheart deal the Bush administration makes threatens to hobble Obama's ability to deliver on his promise of change.

• Obama's Iraq Challenge

  Robert Dreyfuss : Iraq War

  Will Obama make good on his promise to end the war in Iraq?

• The First 100 Days

  The Editors

  If Democrats can succeed in improving people's lives, the electorate won't care whether the Obama administration governs from left, right or center.