I did not vote for President Barack Obama.  Personally, I supported Senator McCain, while also following the Ron Paul movement with a lot of interest.  I do not vote strictly along party lines, but I do lean toward Republican politics.  That aside, I must say that President Obama is an inspiring individual.  I am consistently impressed by his speeches, and truly hope he can rise to the level of leadership that is now expected of him.

One indication that he may at least have the right intentions is the redesigned WhiteHouse.gov website, which could be an indispensable communication tool if used correctly.  Specifically, I envision a two-way flow of information, promoting transparency from the Executive branch, and involvement from the public at large.

Another point of note is the briefly outlined Energy and Environment Agenda.  It is a bold departure from traditional energy policy, including drastic measures:

• Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
• Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.
• Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars — cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon — on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.
• Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
• Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

I am rapidly becoming of the mind that Energy Policy should be one of the, if not the top considerations in American politics.  Many other common issues are linked directly or indirectly to energy, including foreign policy, national defense, the economy, the health system, and education.

There is a lot to be said on this subject, but to the point, nothing could transform me into a full-fledged Obamaniac more quickly than an aggressive and progressive overhaul of the nation’s energy policy.  If the new President can make real strides toward the goals he has outlined, well then I guess people voted for the right guy.