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I'm not "judging his Presidency." I'm judging specific action, which can be evaluated.

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Political Heretic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 12:20 PM
Original message
I'm not "judging his Presidency." I'm judging specific action, which can be evaluated.
Edited on Thu May-21-09 12:34 PM by Political Heretic
There are more things this president has done that I disagree with to date than I agree with, and that is very much a shocking surprise for me.

I have to struggle to find news from the White House that I can feel good about. I expected that there would be some things that I would disagree with, but the sheer scope and magnitude of the capitulation to corporate and MIC interests has left me stunned.

All the way through the first hundred days I was critical of a growing number of actions, but if polled I would have said that I approved of the President's job. That approval was mostly based on hope that something would change. But literally every day of this administration gives me something that moves them further and further away from me in terms of values and actions. Policies announced fall dismally short.

Single Payer is left off the table. The administration EPA is tossing out ridiculous environment screwing policy. We are escalating wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan and leaving residual bases and forces in Iraq. We're making Bush-era legal arguments against government transparency, and against civil liberties, We're "moving forward" on the biggest federal crime scandal in the history of our government, proving that there is no accountability and no meaning to the concept of "law" when you have enough power.

The Wall Street bailout is a disgrace to working America, designed to reinflate a false bubble for rich people without fixing the fundamental flaws and excesses that will ultimately bring our economy to complete collapse (you can't ask for a bigger warning sign than what we've just experienced, and instead of really doing something about it, we've punted the problem to our children while propping up the very people who are doing the most damage). There is silence on EFCA and push make concessions to Business. Don't Ask Don't Tell is off the Table. So far the highlight of educational policy reform is the failed GOP idea of so-called "merit" pay.

It's not that positive things haven't happened. It's that the sheer contrast between the scale of the positive things that have happened, vs. the extensive number of major issues on which the exact opposite of anything I could support has happened is simply shocking. It's that every morning I get headlines and find more bad news about something this administration is doing that I completely oppose.

A clear policy philosophy is being established by this administration. At this point, if I was asked the job approval question I could not say yes.

That's not a "judgment" on his presidency, as some people like to say. That's an evaluation of actions to date. I'll judge a "presidency" when the presidency is done.

Of course I'm in the small minority of the party / nation / world. So my opinion makes little difference (and consequently shouldn't threaten anyone.)
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TheMachineWins Donating Member (155 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 12:26 PM
Response to Original message
1. But speeches mean everything and semantics must be discussed
Forget reality and actions, only perception matters now, at least on the executive level. Just come up with a few talking points and you too can play the game. For instance: a person says they don't support Obama's actions so far -- you say "It's only been 100 days"! A person says they want war criminals prosecuted and you say "It figures"!

See, it's easy!
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Hawkowl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 12:29 PM
Response to Original message
2. Kick for truth........nt
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emsimon33 Donating Member (904 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. Ditto...and recommend
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mmonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 12:30 PM
Response to Original message
3. I think I'm in your small minority.
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SammyWinstonJack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:30 AM
Response to Reply #3
29. So am I.
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salguine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:17 AM
Response to Reply #3
37. Yeah, me too.
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tomp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:51 AM
Response to Reply #3
40. and me. the rest have to catch up. nt
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The Hope Mobile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 10:39 AM
Response to Reply #3
51. I really don't think its a minority anymore. They need to know.
Edited on Fri May-22-09 10:42 AM by The Hope Mobile
White House comment line 202-456-1111

Its our responsibility to hold their feet to the fire. I'm faxing this post right now.
Our "hope" (and consumer confidence) are being squandered while they cave to the MIC/BFEE.
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martymar64 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:08 PM
Response to Reply #3
77. Count me in that minority
My primary emotion towards the administration right now is profound disappointment.
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Robbien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 12:31 PM
Response to Original message
4. I like the way Tapped said it
TAPPED's Adam Serwer suggested Obama's rhetoric makes him "more dangerous than George W. Bush": "With his soaring and sincere rhetoric, the president has done an incredible job of selling his kindler, gentler War on Terror, and ultimately, the American people will likely have his back, if only because they trust him. In a sense, Barack Obama may be far more dangerous than George W. Bush when it comes to violating our civil liberties, where the American people feared the excesses of Bush, they trust wholly in the sincerity of Barack Obama. At least for now."

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/05/obamas_speech_blogger_reactions.php

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tomp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:52 AM
Response to Reply #4
41. he's better at fooling people. nt
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martymar64 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:09 PM
Response to Reply #4
78. It's a kinder, gentler machine gun hand
That phrase is as true as the day Neil Young sang it.
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Mythsaje Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
5. It goes to show... "Looking forward" in this case can be little more than
enabling the criminal enterprise that is the Republican Party and PNAC to continue, since as we've seen in the past, every time they're whooped and nothing is done to tear down their empire, they come back to haunt us a decade or two later. Americans forget how bad they are, which is why they keep electing the fucktards. Just look at Shrub and Darth Cheney's approval rating. Given the media's control over the dialogue for most of the people in this country, it makes such a thing inevitable. Our only way to escape the cycle of batshit crazy was to prosecute the fuckers for what they did.

At best, it's criminally stupid (he's a genius, right?) At worst, it's complicity at a very basic level. It damages our reputation as a nation of laws to a greater extent than had already been accomplished. And what do we gain? Wasn't one of the arguments that they couldn't afford to do so for fear of jeopardizing potential progressive programs allegedly in the works. What, like real health care reform? Like substantial credit card reform?

Critical Fail.
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truedelphi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 12:47 AM
Response to Reply #5
17. Nice post. Covers all the bases. n/t
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tomp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:55 AM
Response to Reply #5
42. the democrats are not our friends. they're the other half of the power party.
the party of illusion. obama is a master illusionist.
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bvar22 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 04:01 PM
Response to Original message
7. I voted for CHANGE,
...but all I got was a Bumper Sticker.
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Greyhound Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:01 AM
Response to Reply #7
19. I really like this. Very clever.
If I ever manage to get a job/make some bucks, I think I'll have this made up.

Next question; How many of the "true believers" will be shocked and dismayed when the republiks make gains in 2010?

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SammyWinstonJack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:34 AM
Response to Reply #19
30. The vast majority of them, I'll bet. And 2012 will really throw them.
Ponies for everyone! :silly:
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salguine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 09:11 AM
Response to Reply #30
45. And if the Democrats blow it big time and lose seats in 2012, it will be
because they fucking well deserve to. This administration rode into office on a wave of hope and optimism, and lately it's looking like there isn't a critical issue they aren't willing to fuck the people on, from abusive credit card practices to Constitutional protections to health care.

if things continue this way I may never vote for a Democrat ever again.
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dflprincess Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:08 PM
Response to Reply #30
66. Ah, but they'll blame those of us who doubted and criticized for any losses
Or maybe some of the Democrats in Congress. But it will not be because of anything Obama has or hasn't done.
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salguine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 06:36 PM
Response to Reply #66
76. And the reason they get away with this shit year after year after year is because
they count on progressives knowing they have nowhere else to go, because they know they won't vote Republican. I'm starting to think that large-scale losses of voters to third parties will be the only thing that will wake the Democratic Party up. The irony is, the only thing that might wake them up is to lose enough support to cripple them, possibly indefinitely, and then it'd be too late. I don't know what else would get their attention.

I think it would serve them right, for all the good they're doing. Progressives in the Democratic Party (and in fact, maybe most of the voters in the Democratic Party) are like abused spouses who are simply unable to get up and leave. Maybe its time they finally abandoned their abusers.
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GoddessOfGuinness Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:04 AM
Response to Reply #7
34. Real change is scary...even for Dems.
The kind of change this country really needs is mind boggling. Kucinich has had many of the right ideas; but few had the gumption to back him up, even when they agreed with him. So he's relegated to the "left-wing wacko" division and Progressives get an occasional doggie bone as the country festers in this rethuglican policy muck hole.

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dionysus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:06 AM
Response to Reply #7
35. cliche
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leftstreet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 04:47 PM
Response to Original message
8. K&R
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Senator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 04:47 PM
Response to Original message
9. K&R
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JuniperLea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 04:51 PM
Response to Original message
10. Maybe you should do a little math...
Edited on Thu May-21-09 04:52 PM by JuniperLea
Obama has served approximately 0.083333333% of his first term in office. Perhaps you should count up all the things you would like to see done in his first four years, divide by that number of days, then judge whether he's had sufficient time to do what you expect of him.
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Political Heretic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 10:35 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. It's not about what he will do its about what he has already done.
If he does great amazing things in the future, then that will effect my approval. So far, no.
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bottomtheweaver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 10:59 PM
Response to Reply #10
14. I get 10.4% of his term served so far:
5 months served / 48 month term x 100 = 10.14
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Greyhound Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:04 AM
Response to Reply #14
20. Truly appalling, ain't it?


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uberllama42 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 12:48 PM
Response to Reply #14
62. 122 days / 1461 days = 8.35% n/t
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cui bono Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #14
71. It's actually 4 mos. served but that's still a lot closer to your number. n/t
Edited on Fri May-22-09 02:22 PM by cui bono
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bottomtheweaver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-23-09 09:51 AM
Response to Reply #71
84. I *always* forget to divide by pi.
:banghead:
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RoadRage Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 04:06 PM
Response to Reply #84
87. I hate dividing pie..
I'd rather eat the whole damn thing myself! ;)
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:59 AM
Response to Reply #10
43. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
The Hope Mobile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 10:28 AM
Response to Reply #43
50. Yikes. I gotta agree with you but Yikes!
That's why I use ignore and that poster is already there!! LOVE it!
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martymar64 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:14 PM
Response to Reply #10
79. Accountability has no grace period.
He will be judged on the actions he takes now. Flowery speeches about "the rule of law" count for jack shit if their not back up by action. And so far, action is not what we're seeing.
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scarletwoman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 04:54 PM
Response to Original message
11. k&r -- I'm in your small minority, too.
Thanks for your articulate post, I totally agree.

sw
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ComtesseDeSpair Donating Member (529 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 10:57 PM
Response to Original message
13. I completely agree with you
I could have written your post myself. You are definitely not alone, and I would also have to say I do not approve of his job performance at this time.
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alarimer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-21-09 11:29 PM
Response to Original message
15. People are giving him high approval ratings for no reason that I can see.
Hopefully (there's that word again) the approval ratings will drop, when people start realizing how many promises he has broken. It may take a while because of the fact that he is not George W. Bush. When the ratings drop, maybe he will starting doing things differently. As long as the blind American public approves of this nonsense (although they are really pig-ignorant on the real score) nothing much will change, despite all the rhetoric.
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dionysus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:07 AM
Response to Reply #15
36. yeah, he'll be able to accomplish more with a lower approval rating...
:eyes:
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tomp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 09:03 AM
Response to Reply #36
44. brilliant. einsteinian in its elegance.
NOT.

approve now so he can do do better later. the contempt of logic is breathtaking.
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MadBadger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:11 PM
Response to Reply #15
67. How dismissive of you.
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alarimer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-23-09 09:47 AM
Response to Reply #67
83. People are ignoring the thereats the Obama poses.
Because he is NOT BUSH. But he is every bit as dangerous with this "indefinite detention" bullshit. Like all Democrats, he is a cowardly piece of shit who will not stand up to the Republican (and Democratic) fear mongers in Congress. Once people stop approving of this illegal, immoral shit, maybe he will start to do the right thing. Until them, I feel free to hate him.
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MadBadger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-23-09 01:02 PM
Response to Reply #83
85. What an ugly little thing you are.
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JeffR Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 12:36 AM
Response to Original message
16. You'll end up getting lots of flames for this, probably
but you've presented a very good summary. It's precisely opinions such as yours that the Obama admin needs to consider. We all do, every damn body in the tent.

I do disagree with the notion that a clear policy philosophy is being established. I don't think so. There may be hints of it, but at this point I think all of us are still reading tea leaves. I don't mean to advance the "but he's only been in office for..." argument here, just to make the point that even the evaluation you mention - and thank you for making a rare distinction here on DU between evaluation and judgment - is at best premature simply because we haven't yet seen what the consequences of some of these actions will be. I'm also convinced, whether I agree with particular actions he's taken or disagree with them, that this man is not an ideologue. And I won't be surprised if the single most noteworthy aspect of his presidency, when we do get a chance to judge it in retrospect, is pragmatism. So I doubt if an identifiable "policy philosophy" will be found among our tea leaves. (And BTW, I realized that tea leaves have taken on a connotation recently that I don't mean to insinuate here. Stupid tea-baggers.)

There's also been a few things I've seen recently that sound like signals that EFCA and DADT are not "off the table" so while I'm still wary, I can't follow your leap on these.

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DearAbby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 12:53 AM
Response to Original message
18. Growing very concerned
and god knows I don't want to feel this way. I voted for hope, and change, WHY AM I FEELING THIS WAY?
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Greyhound Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:05 AM
Response to Reply #18
21. One party with two right wings. n/t
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DearAbby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 02:39 AM
Response to Reply #21
23. Did I fall asleep and it's
Edited on Fri May-22-09 02:40 AM by DearAbby
2001 again, and the Fear game is going full blast?

Jesus, I did my spring cleaning....where are my color alert charts and duct tape?
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jeanpalmer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 02:19 AM
Response to Original message
22. Good post
Edited on Fri May-22-09 02:21 AM by jeanpalmer
I go back to that statement attributed to Goolsbee on trade where he reportedly told Canada to disregard what was being said in the campaign about reforming trade, that it was just campaign rhetoric. I'm starting to believe a lot of what he said was just campaign rhetoric. He can convince me otherwise, but not based on what he has done so far.

It's not just what he has done so far. It's the trends he is establishing of expanding/maintaining war, helping out the rich at the expense of the poor, not enforcing the law, catering to the right wing. Those are bad trends imo.

I'm getting a bit tired of the lofty rhetoric with not much to back it up. The other night I finally just turned it off, its appeal had worn off for me, it sounded real hollow. He's going to have to do more than talk.
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SammyWinstonJack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:37 AM
Response to Reply #22
31. It was ONLY campaign rhetoric. nt
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quaker bill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 05:36 AM
Response to Original message
24. an economic collapse
that was based on policy you approve of would apparently be better, because none of the "wrong" people would benefit.

While personally I would be happy to see torture prosecuted, I am happy that it is being ended, as this is the first and most essential step. I agree with bringing the detainees here and trying them in our courts. There is a reason that Cheney opposes this. Evidence and testimony in regard to torture will be brought forward as a defense at trial. Many charges will be tossed out and the ineffectiveness and brutality of the Bush program will be demonstrated repeatedly, one case at a time. The right is not truly concerned about whether our supermax prisons can contain these folks, it is the evidence that would be brought forward a public trials that would be open to press coverage, which concerns them.

On the Af-Pak matter, I am no fan of war under any pretext. However, I do agree with the notion that allowing the Taleban and Al-Queda elements we drove into Pakistan overthrow that government and to come into possession of 50+ nukes and delivery systems, is a really, really, bad idea. If Pakistan surrendered its nukes, we probably could sit back and allow the politics to play out as they will. This however is unlikely to happen. Military solutions are never a good answer, but on rare occasions may be the least bad answer. We need to find a far better answer, but we cannot sit back and allow the nukes to become loose in the interim.

I am strongly supportive of single payer and EFCA, but am pretty sure that the votes are just not there to pass either. If the Democratic Party is to establish a long term stable governing majority, it must be seen governing successfully for some time. This means you do what it takes to cause the economy to make positive strides before 2010, even if all of it is not to your liking, it also means that you do not take on major legislative initiatives that will not pass. Instead of bickering and doing nothing, you pass laws that make change, even if you don't get all the change you want. In short, show you can break the log jam.

The Democratic Party majority sits in seats that were just recently reliably Republican. Once they have won a re-election or two as an incumbent, they will be far more prepared to move forward on a great number of things. Sorry, I am not in love with this either. It is not all of "the change we need". I would prefer a far more liberal agenda on a vast array of issues, many of which are not even under discussion here. Politics however, takes time. President Obama seems to get this, and for this I am pleased.


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zalinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 09:39 AM
Response to Reply #24
48. The problem comes when
those seats that were Repub, go back to being repub, then what will the dems do? If there isn't change, the dems that are in the seats won't keep them. This is basically what happened to Bill Clinton.

zalinda
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Fumesucker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 05:51 AM
Response to Original message
25. I'm not even mildly surprised..
Anyone who thought the powers that be was going to let things change in a truly significant manner has their rose tinted welder's goggles firmly affixed.

Obama was co-opted by TPTB long before he was even allowed to become a candidate.
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blindpig Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:08 AM
Response to Original message
26. k&r

Ah PH, yer an honest man. Ya know, there's no pleasure in being right or wrong about these things, they simply are. But what to do?
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:15 AM
Response to Original message
27. Deleted sub-thread
Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
waiting for hope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:22 AM
Response to Original message
28. K&R!
This:

"but the sheer scope and magnitude of the capitulation to corporate and MIC interests has left me stunned" - and "a clear policy philosophy" can be taken back to the majority of the cabinet choices. If there was to be real, meaningful change, there would have been more progressives in the mix, but sadly, there are not.
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LWolf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:49 AM
Response to Original message
32. I agree with everything you've said except for this:
"that is very much a shocking surprise for me."

It's not a surprise at all. It's exactly what I expected, having listened carefully to him during the primaries and the GE.

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pleah Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:58 AM
Response to Original message
33. K&R
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Bluenorthwest Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:36 AM
Response to Original message
38. Well said
And you are not alone in your feelings.
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HughBeaumont Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:41 AM
Response to Original message
39. Corporations run this country, not politicians. Quel Suprise.
I wasn't under any other notion when I voted for Obama in the primary and the general. Our choice was, and let's face facts on this:

1) Elect Obama and have at least a CHANCE to right this inevitable trainwreck 2-3 years down the line, or
2) Elect Old Man River and his Alaskan Froot Loop Troupe and watch this country die a slow and painful death on the gurney.

It's apparent that greed simply cannot be cured.

There needs to be a bloody coup of old fat rich white men at the top of the pyramid. Of course, that would involve bloodshed, the matter of the police, the military and various other corporate water carriers from the hoi polloi protecting THEM and not US, the world's economy thrown in upheval and the hope that whoever emerges from the carnage won't be as over-the-top greedy as the last bunch.

These people don't have it in them to look out for anyone but themselves, but then have the nads to exclaim "why are we such easy targets? Whatd'ya got against PROFIT!?!?".

When it interferes with the greater good and the big picture, EVERYthing. And until more than a few in the upper reaches realize that business cannot survive, much less thrive, if you have no resource with any sort of purchasing power to MAKE it happen, then I really fear America will have no future. At least not a happy and content one.
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Old Codger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 09:27 AM
Response to Original message
46. I agree
Once again I voted for the best candidate running, once again I crossed my fingers and hoped he was not just another "politician" and once again I find that I was wrong... Admittedly he sounded good, he made a lot of promises I really actually believed he would stand by his word and do his best to keep his promises. It looks as if(at this time at least) they got us again.... campaign promises are flat out lies, pull us into believing again, having hope once more and once more it ends up being politics as usual. If and I mean IF he continues on this path he will pretty definitely end up a one termer... House and senate look like going back to more even split too I would think.
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Egnever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 09:37 AM
Response to Original message
47. I think your problem was you weren't paying attention from the start.
Edited on Fri May-22-09 09:39 AM by Egnever
"Single Payer is left off the table. The administration EPA is tossing out ridiculous environment screwing policy. We are escalating wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan and leaving residual bases and forces in Iraq. We're making Bush-era legal arguments against government transparency, and against civil liberties, We're "moving forward" on the biggest federal crime scandal in the history of our government, proving that there is no accountability and no meaning to the concept of "law" when you have enough power. "

All of that except the EPA part was part of his platform during the elections. Why any of it should surprise or disappoint you is fairly odd.

Not entirely sure what EPA stuff you are talking about but whatever. And the tarp thing was not started by obama not sure why you continue to blame him for something put in place by Bush.

But I know you love to be disappointed so I guess this post shouldn't surprise me a bit. The fact that you can barely find anything positive is pretty telling IMHO.
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waiting for hope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 10:59 PM
Response to Reply #47
82. I beg to differ - PH was very excited about an
Obama administration, and was advocating to give it time. I believe he is truly expressing his disappointment.
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DireStrike Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 09:48 AM
Response to Original message
49. Yeah, you've summarized how I feel. In a word, screwed.
The outlook is not good.
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mike_c Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 10:47 AM
Response to Original message
52. K&R for the truth....
You've expressed exactly how I feel. It's starting feel like the election was between McSame and, well, the other same.
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change_notfinetuning Donating Member (750 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 10:59 AM
Response to Original message
53. Sad, but true. Change? Hardly. Fine tuning? Barely. More like
business as usual.

Rahm Emanuel would be good to have if you're trying to fill up a swear jar. Chief of Staff? Not so much.

I am so disheartened by these first 100+ days that I even find myself worrying about the replacement for Souter. That's something I never would have imagined on November 4, 2008.
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dionysus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 11:51 AM
Response to Reply #53
57. yeah, worst president ever
:eyes:
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change_notfinetuning Donating Member (750 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 12:55 PM
Response to Reply #57
63. I concur with #46 above. If you are not in contempt of logic, at the
very least, you and logic are certainly strangers.

At this early stage, I still have hope for him. That being said, I think President Obama has an equal chance of being the best president ever, or the worst. If he will read his speeches and turn them into action, he could be the best. With his Wall Street bailouts, in particular, as well as continued Bush wars and military spending, and a host of other blunders, who knows how bad this could turn out?

Let me just add that no one could have been more of an Obama supporter than me, and no one wants to see him succeed more than I do.
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Torn_Scorned_Ignored Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 11:06 AM
Response to Original message
54. I agree with you.
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Hell Hath No Fury Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 11:11 AM
Response to Original message
55. After George Bush was elected the first time --
I started what I called the Bush Wall of Shame -- it was an exhibit I made with a full listings of all of Bush's bullshit actions he had taken -- stuff most Americans were unaware was going on. I set it up at anti-war rallies, and then made it into a website when Bush was running for relection, and then it was picked up by Michael Moore for "Stupid White Men".

I am stunned to find that I may actually need to resurrect the project for the current adminstration. :cry: I cannot fucking believe how little time it took for O to fall off the rails.

Shame on him.

And shame on US if we do not set him straight.
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abq e streeter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 11:12 AM
Response to Original message
56. I hope to god that you're wrong ( and therefore I'm wrong too)
I'm growing more pessimistic about Obama as each day goes by. I'm not ready to give up on him yet, but its not looking good all. I had my doubts about him , and he was near the bottom as far as who I wanted to be our candidate. Nevertheless, I did a little volunteering during the GE,and I joined in the excitement at his election ( and still am relieved that he won; the thought of McCain, and for god's sake PALIN, running things is a true nightmare). But if this is what the more progressive of our two choices looks like, then we are terminally fucked.
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Orwellian_Ghost Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 11:54 AM
Response to Original message
58. Re-branding of Empire
K&R
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katandmoon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 11:54 AM
Response to Original message
59. K&R! (Will you marry me?)
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jeff30997 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #59
60. I second that emotion

and almost wish that I was gay for the marriage part. :)

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spiritual_gunfighter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 12:38 PM
Response to Original message
61. Great post
You put into words how I am feeling as well. As more and more things started happening that I disagreed with I was still holding out hope that this was part of some grand scheme on Obama's part and everything would be all right in the long run. But unfortunately I am starting to give up hope all together. You are right that a clear policy philosophy is being established. Detractors to our way of thinking about Obama's presidency so far say that he has only been president for four months, but like you said he is establishing policy that will more than likely continue. I am incredibly disappointed and actually sad that the hope that I had in Obama during his campaign seems to have been in vain. There is still a part of me that wants to believe in the "change we can believe in" but it is evaporating more and more everyday.
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democrank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 12:59 PM
Response to Original message
64. I honestly don`t get it.
If, during the Bush presidency, I was anti-torture, pro-torture photo release and pro-war crimes prosecution, how does it make me "anti-Obama" to hold those same positions now? In order to be a good Democrat, am I supposed to change my belief system now so that I`m more aligned with President Obama?

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MNDemNY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:55 PM
Response to Reply #64
70. You don't get it?? You must be re-trained.
Off to the retraining camp for you. Blasphemy is not tolerated here. Pray at the O altar or perish. There is no dissent allowed. The word now is "INFALLIBILITY" (Not of Rome, But of the White House.)
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tom_paine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:01 PM
Response to Original message
65. Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours
:kick: for the awful truth...
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bertman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:15 PM
Response to Original message
68. I agree with you, political heretic, but I'm still not giving up. The forces arrayed against
us are so formidable as to seem insurmountable. But there seem to be some cracks developing. Time will tell.

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okieinpain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 01:50 PM
Response to Original message
69. well I didn't like him or hilary, but since were throwing out
opinions, I think he's doing a pretty good job. Not too liberal, not too conservative, which to me is just about right. I do think he chicken out on don't ask don't tell, but other then that he's getting a 85 from me.


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Grinchie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
72. It's an Indication that the PTB realize that they have lost control
The decades of Political gamesmanship, Environmental Destruct, Government Waste, Military spending, and manipulating the economic system, while at the same time promoting excessive consumption of resources whose source has moved predominantly overseas to developing countries are coming to an end.

The Exponential function leaves us at 2^32 in regards to Debt owed, and requires enormous piles of Fiat currency to sustain the Overfed parties that have colluded together to "Keep the Peace".

The think tanks of the Military see that all of the models of the Cold War types of conflict make no sense when the masses of citiznry now realize that the Earth is dying under the weight of wrongheaded policies, but the Government is is survival mode. We are seeing no longer a Government of the People, but a Continuity of Government mode of operation, because they know that we are on the brink of collapse -- Economically, Environmentally, and Sustainability. The coninuation with the status quo is a strong message that the U.S. Government will remain in control at any costs, but the message we see is of the maintenance of existing power structure, and the heavy handed control of Citizns that say Enough is Enough.

I have no doubt that we will see Government call out troops the quell civil disobedience of the type that is necessary to get what the people want. We see Baucus hiding behind closed doors regarding health care reform, using Authoritarian methods to complete his task without public scrutiny.

We see the protection of the corrupted Bush/Cheney Cabal. We see huge handouts to the Corporate masters solely to keep them from hopping on the next plane to their own private island in the South Seas in order to keep the illusion going.

Corporate America is in full control, and they are intent on squeezing every last bit of power out of the Current system before it collapses.

If more people would research Gandhi, and the success of his movement in India, we would see more sick days and work stoppages, but Corporate America has plunged America into debt in order to create a situation where the people feel like thay must earn and therefore consume or face economic ruin.

They have hypnotized people into thinking that insolvency is such a horrible state of life, and it can be to the unprepared. This is why they don't prepare anyone for it. They want people to be afraid of the though of no running water, Electricty, or flush toilets, or needing to walk a few blocks in the sweltering heats for Ice, if you can find it.

One has to think about these things, or one will forever be under the control of the centralized supply and distribution systems that can disrupt everyones lives in a heartbeat.

Many American's are fully aware of the fraud that is the Economy, and are watching with great interest at how gullible the majority of Rat Race slaves are going to remain.


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Phoebe Loosinhouse Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 03:05 PM
Response to Original message
73. This "preventive detention" proposal looks like it may be the kicker for me
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5703214

I KNOW for a fact that if Bush and Cheney had tried to run this up the flagpole that this place would have erupted in righteous indignation, disbelief and anger. Because it's Obama, it doesn't mean that I don't still have those same emotions.

I feel like I moved to a beautiful new city, and then within a very short time, some successive earthquakes of varying size started occurring and my wonderful new house was showing cracks in the foundation. (Fisa was a pretty big one, but I just hauled out the spackle and hung on.) My beautiful new house is falling down around my head. How sad.
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Grinchie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 03:15 PM
Response to Reply #73
74. Thats why renting is a better option these days.
The overall stability of the Constitutional foundatin of America is crumbling underneath our feet, and instead of removing the infestation of termits gnawing away at the structure, they are covering it with another sheet of sticky contact paper with fancy wood grain detail.

The termites and instability remain.

When the reinflation hits, thngs are going to be very turbulent in the economy until equilibrium returns, but it's not going to happen overnight. Major shifts in undustrial production, energy, and monetary policy need to occur, and so far, there isn't a glimmer of hope.

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jeff30997 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 06:33 PM
Response to Reply #73
75. Good analogy.I feel the same way.

Maybe you had a premonition when you chose your nick.Well if you add a G it

becomes Loosinghouse.I was really enthusiastic but now...:(

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MasonJar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 07:56 PM
Response to Original message
80. Ditto to all the post.
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omega minimo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri May-22-09 08:03 PM
Response to Original message
81. ".....is very much a shocking surprise for" you because..............
:popcorn:
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snowdays Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-27-09 08:50 AM
Response to Original message
86. The WH started the health reform debate from a weak position and
are already catching up.
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