Ok, I'm warming up to this guy.

Since the election, I have warmed considerably to Obama. During the transition, his organization skillz and choices for many (but not all) cabinet positions pleased me. In just the days since his inauguration, he has done some awesome things. My favorite so far is lifting the global gag rule, and issuing a statement including this paragraph:

I have directed my staff to reach out to those on all sides of this issue to achieve the goal of reducing unintended pregnancies. They will also work to promote safe motherhood, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and increase educational and economic opportunities for women and girls.

I love that he's got the big picture of the problem. It's not that abortions are used as birth control, it's that sometimes that's all that's available. The issue isn't that abortions kill people, it's that women are in the position to need an abortion in the first place. While it's important for women to have the worst-case-scenario choice of abortion, what they really need is education, opportunity, and access to safe contraception.

I'm on season 7 of the West Wing, but I don't feel the need to escape real-life politics anymore. It's a refreshing feeling.