I like Nate's format and therefore will yoink it. It covers all the major bases of Obama's platform.
Economy/Domestic Issues:
- Tax Breaks for the Middle Class: This is the oldest trick in the book. I believe Obama will issue one and only one stimulus package style tax rebate similar to Bush. After that, I fully expect a crushing President Bush Sr. style 180 reversal and tax increases, for both the middle and upper class, later in Obama's term. It simply cannot add up. With all kinds of local and state governments going bankrupt due to the decrease in tax revenue in light of the downturned economy and housing crisis, the federal government cannot increase services like Social Security (Baby Boomers++) and reduce revenue simultaneously
- Anti-Outsourcing Tax Penalty/Break: I expect this to pass through Congress and signed into law by Obama. However, I also foresee the fundamental inability to enforce this, making it a moot point.
- Healthcare Reform: I agree with Nate and expect healthcare to sit on the back burner until the economy improves. For this reason, I expect Obama to attempt to basically reinvent or extend Medicare into a universal government subsidized health insurance at the end of the current term. I predict that the bill will divide Congress, despite the Democratic majority, thus requiring the bill to be perverted into a bailout style fiasco, if it manages to pass at all.
- Alternative Energy: Similar to healthcare, I see Obama following through with his promise to throw money at fuel cell/ethanol/wind/solar energy development. Given my technical background, I prophesize the utter failure of any of these initiatives to create the breakthrough required to create American energy independence or the promised economy revival through job creation. Furthermore, I expect a significant increase in both global warming and nefarious "carbon dioxide" levels despite Al Gore style initiatives to the contrary.
War/Foreign Policy:
- Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan: I foresee a much more isolationist approach to foreign policy. I cannot imagine Obama not removing most, if not all, US forces from Iraq during the course of his term. I think there will be a bare minimum peacekeeping style force in Afghanistan "to maintain US interests" in the region.
- Free trade: I believe the overwhelming efforts to create jobs will also greatly restrict free trade.
- Terrorism: Anti-American sentiment will most likely remain the same, despite the removal of troops. I expect terrorism to remain as frequent and as severe in scale. Obama, in all likelihood, will continue in the current trend of fascism in the name of "national security".
- Race: Granted, Obama's election is historic and will be touted as a landmark in social equality. I fear that it will create a sense of entitlement from assumed literal equality ("If it's an African American's turn to be President, it's time for a Latino President, it's time for a Asian President, etc"). Overall, I expect this to be of no consequence to the open minded, but it will greatly exacerbate any existing stereotypes, preconceptions and racial divisions due to mind-numbing scale of differences in opinions and the stupifying media coverage.