What Are Obama's Priorities For Day One?

CBS Evening News: With Just 20 Days To Inauguration, The Country Faces A Slew Of Challenges

(CBS)  President-elect Barack Obama and his family are flying to Chicago tonight, ending a 12 day vacation in Hawaii.

Now it's down to work.

As Mr. Obama trades the white sands of Hawaii for the White House he faces an unprecedented slew of challenges, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.

"You have to look at the United States as a dam that is leaking," said CBS News analyst Douglas Brinkley. "It's not going to do good just to stick a finger in one hole, you're going to have to plug them all up quickly."

First, there's the economy and how to get it moving again. The president wants a stimulus plan on his desk by inauguration day that could top $750 billion dollars. The challenge will be getting the stimulus passed in Congress without tacking on billions in pork.

Add to that the task of addressing what caused the recession in the first place: "the broken banks, their inability to make credit, the trade deficit with China, and our massive oil imports," according to economist Peter Morici.

With 8 million more foreclosures expected in the next four years, Mr. Obama must also decide how to help homeowners. Just 357 have applied for help from Congress' latest program.

Also, U.S. automakers could be out of cash again by March. The president-elect will need to decide whether to let them go bankrupt or provide more government money.

"If he gives them too much, if he doesn't permit the automakers to renegotiate effectively with the unions, then a lot of distressed industries will be lining up, and before you know it, it will be the homebuilders and everyone else," says Morici.

Then there's the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Casualties in 2008 were the lowest since the Iraq war began in 2003. As of today, our troops now operate under Iraqi control and Mr. Obama has promised to withdraw our forces from Iraq within 16 months, with palsn to redeploy more troops to Afghanistan.

But, says retired Gen. David Grange, "When we withdraw from an area, it's the toughest part of any military operation, to withdraw properly, protecting your people, protecting your equipment, turning over facilities property."

And as the fighting in Gaza this week shows, there will be other conflicts.

While pundits say Mr. Obama named a team of rivals, some say that given the challenges ahead, he needed to.

"The Obama team says a big reason Hillary Clinton is secretary of state is that she's a force multiplier," says Politico's Mike Allen. "While he's dealing with the economy and congress at home, she can be representing him on the world stage."

In Hawaii, the Obamas kept a low profile. That's a luxury the soon to be president won't be able to afford for much longer.

[boogieman716]

nobody know what hes going to do . we dont realy know who he is
hes gone back on just about ever thing he promised . mr hope & change just put in everyine into power that he said where the problem . anyone that voted for him . you got played its a simple at that .

[opedanderson]

No one knows. Thats the thing.....

We don''t know anything about this guy.....

[whitewolf60]

I have to agree with what others are saying:

ELIMINATE THE INCOME TAX

TARIFFS

TAX COMPANIES THAT SEND JOBS OVERSEAS

TAX BREAKS FOR COMPANIES THAT IMPORT / MAKE JOBS

MONETARY BAILOUT FOR WORKING CLASS & WORKING POOR

MAKE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES MATCH CARDHOLDERS PAYMENTS

Yes?
No?

[redveg]

Posted by TexHillGirl
-----

As usual, no truth, name calling, and nothing worth quoting or arguing. At least you make it so obvious who you are, I don''t need to name call; everyone knows.

People "like me" supported and still support going after those who attacked us. Those people were not in Iraq. Those people were cornered in Afghanistan and on their last gasp when Bush order our military to let them go. I am sure it had nothing to do with the $1,500,000,000 that the Bin Laden''s gave W over the previous few years.

The General disagrees with everything you said. He had him cornered. There was no mountain in between, he had him surrounded and expected no major rise in casualties when finishing the job. We didn''t become the hunted until W ordered it.

[whitewolf60]

How about a "bailout" for the working people?

[redveg]

We have elected a man for President we know nothing about. In large part because the media totally tanked for this guy in a manner we have never seen before
Posted by opedanderson

You are right that the media totally tanked, but wrong about the never seen before. It is exactly how W got in in the first place. He showed all of his lies and incompetence on the campaign trail and in his life of draft dodging, drinking, and cocaine use; but the media lit him paint McCain, Gore, Kerry, and everyone who opposed him as "unpatriotic" without ever bringing up his draft dodging until it was over.

[redveg]

"Democrats have no ablity to do anything but call people names and show Hate."
Posted by demslie2u2

For 8 years of the republicans have controlled the stupid masses with hate, name calling, and illegal activity including treason and war crimes. The democrats have been spineless in not standing up to them. At least spineless is not evil.

[opedanderson]

Look at this headline people!!!!

The other day there was one about us not knowing what Obama will do with the Israeli/Hamas conflict.....

WE DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT OBAMA!!!!!

No one knows what he is going to do and my guess he is not too sure either. All the advisors in the world won''t help. Didnt we learn anything from Bush?!!

We have elected a man for President we know nothing about. In large part because the media totally tanked for this guy in a manner we have never seen before. All because he holds nice speeches. And he is a lofty left wing intellectual.....

note: Obama-bots relax. Go wave you little red Obama books at someone else. I did not vote for McCain/Palin and I think the Bush years have been a disaster for this country......

[redveg]

"when it''s obvious to any dufus why Bush pulled back in Afghanistan"
Posted by TexHillGirl

The General in Afghanistan at the time told Bush that he had Osama cornered, and if we pulled out he would get away. Bush said pull out now.

You are right, it is obvious.

[gangesdak]

O%u2019bama is the first President in the History of American to be elected because of Hate. The Democrats Hate Bush,................
Posted by demslie2u2 at 08:24 AM : Jan 02,

I beg to differ. Bush showed unlimited audacity to show that he had all the answers, while he had few. Americans wanted to beleive him, and he misused the trust of the American people. The Republicans in Congress acted his accomplice. It is the American people who punished the Republicans. It has nothing to do with hate. It is shear disappointment with Bush and the rest of the Republicans. Just look around, and see the proof.