A Friend of the People

[Occulus]

I think the time has come to say things which have been weighing on my mind most strongly over the past two years, beginning on Inauguration Day and continuing- even escalating- into the present. These are not easy things to say, and my position, until recently, has garnered a 0 recommendation on this site, strong opposition (for whatever that's worth), and condemnation from many who fought so long and hard to elect our current President.

Such behavior toward even legitimate criticism, however misguided, was expected in the days immediately following our current President's election. The most recent Presidential election was one of historic firsts, sweeping promises, and broad enthusiasm. The resounding cries of "Yes, we can" and "hope and change" rang loudly, rang true, and were constant and consistent among the American People.

We were hopeful. We were proud. We were energized.

All of that is in the past.

From healthcare to DADT, DOMA, and EFCA; from our continuing economic catastrophe (call spades spades) to our dwindling global influence, our President has failed us. He has failed us miserably, he has failed us knowingly, and, in my opinion, he has failed us intentionally.

Barack Obama is not now, and has never been, a friend to the American People.

Continued bad acts have shown, however, that he is a very great friend to US corporations (which are not, it should be pointed out, people). "His" health care law proves that beyond any shadow of a doubt. His bailout of financial corporations which should have been allowed to crumble under their own weight, hubris, incompetence, and open, shameless greed underscored the point. His "Catfood Commission" and his open support of DADT set that conclusion in stone, and his insistence upon denigrating and devaluing his broadest Progressive constituencies even as recently as this week bronzed it.

Those corporations, his greatest and deathless friends, are ruining us as a nation, and Barack Obama does not care.

America requires a friend of the people, small 'p' and Large 'P'. Barack Obama stepped up to that plate, swung three times, and spectacularly missed, over and over and over again.

For a Constitutional lawyer, Barack Obama comes across as stupid, inattentive, incurious, beholden, biased, unwilling, and spineless. This impression cannot possibly be anything but intentional, given the previous eight years of George W. Bush. Barack Obama knew what needed to be done, mobilized the entire nation, got elected , and then squandered his well-earned and undeniable political capital in the most blatantly obvious ways possible.

Wall Street never should have been bailed out. It should have been allowed to crumble under its own weight, per the "decisions" of the Invisible Hand of the Free MArket.

Teachers should never have been scapegoated and schools should never have been closed.

Gay and lesbian soldiers should never have been discharged. Now it is up to Obama, a man in whom I have no faith at all to end the incredibly unproductive and even harmful practice of DADT.

"Illegal" Immigrants who have lived in the USA from the time they were infants should not be getting deported as they enter middle age. Barack Obama will never stop this.

---

I could go on and on with this, but I'm getting tired of typing. The truth, the proof, is writ large for all to see if they are but willing to open their eyes and look at the record. The milquetoast "achievements" of the Blue Link Lists are just that- milquetoast. Appointing a gay ambassador or setting aside a few million for this or that special cause mentioned during his campaign are just that- milquetoast.

We need a leader. We need a Friend of the People. We deserve someone corporations would see as a Hound of Hell.

Barack Obama is not and never was any of those things.

WE. DESERVE. BETTER.

Now you can rip me apart for my audacious apparel commentary; it will not alter one whit my impression that this 'emperor' is bare-assed naked.