Obama's promise of a new beginning now hollow.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/70384.html?st...

Obama's promise of a new beginning now hollow
By Joseph L. Galloway | McClatchy Newspapers

Who stole our change?

Who hijacked a popular uprising that was going to put a stop to business as usual in Washington, D.C.?

What happened to Barack Obama on his way to the White House?

The Republicans have been so busy trying to paint President Obama as a socialist, as a radical, as a Marxist, as a Muslim, as the Devil, that they haven't even noticed that he has become one of them.

<edit>

Oh, he can still talk the talk and he does that incessantly. But he seemingly can't walk the walk. He may still sound like a revolutionary but more and more he looks and acts like George W. Bush, albeit a George W. Bush who can speak a complete sentence in the English language.

<edit>

And bit-by-bit the possibility of change disappeared; bit-by-bit the hope of a renewed and reinvigorated American democracy and way of government faded away. Those who had held a dream in their hand closed their hand and crushed it.

more...

I really feel anymore. Generally I say I'm sorry I have to say this, but that has to go by the wayside! I'm NOT sorry because I'll repeat what I said several days ago.

I VOTED for this man, BUT THIS MAN isn't who I VOTED for! The CHANGE I see is in HIM!! And yes, I KNOW, how well I KNOW... but, but, but he's only been in office for FIVE months! So what??? Do tell, what will the NEXT FIVE months look like at this rate???

I have always put bumper stickers on my car in a BIG way, showing who and what I support, and keeping them on way past the time when most people remove them. I had some on from 2004 that have finally faded so much you can't read them. But last week, I took my Obama stickers off my car! that's a RECORD by a very VERY long shot!!

Just how it is for me these days! Bill Maher's last NEW RULES were superb and he hit the nail on the head! Democrats are the NEW Repukes and the Repukes are the Religious Freaks! Not a direct quote, but something like that! ONE Party is all we have and most of those in THE PARTY are bought and paid for many times over!!!

Wow! Wish I said that! Great quote.

I agree with you, but the good news is I still think President Obama's heart is in the right place. When you hear him talk, I don't know how to describe it, but you can hear that he still wants to do the right thing.

Now I don't want to be an apologist, because I'm unhappy with the lack of social progress also. But I think Obama is up against two serious issues:

1) There are still a lot of people in positions of power in Washington that do not share Obama's agenda that Obama has to work with if he wants to get anything done.

2) There are a lot of moderate Republicans in the electorate who voted for Obama because Bush jumped the Republican party's shark. If Obama alienates these voters it could, at best, make for a much closer election the next time around.

I believe these two issues are what are holding President Obama in check this term.

Generally I say I'm sorry I have to say this...

**************

Wow....you're as wishy washy as you THINK Obama is!

Obama has never been anything but a moderate....even during the campaign.

If this were "Bush's 3rd term" we'd already be at war with Iran.

This is ridiculous!

I'm sorry everything isn't working out like your fantasy.

Ditto on all counts.

start one where the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party can control the agenda.

Because the tendency to throw it around in lieu of real thought on a given subject is really wearing me thin.

but TO ME, it's REALITY!!!

It's actually Reagan's eighth term!!!

...for Reagan's 8th term.

Yeah.
Ronnie Rat Raygun's 8th term. Another DINO, like Clinton, Obama may still be one of the best Republican presidents we have had.

He's no liberal, but he's not middle of the road either. Another right wing bass turd.

"The strongest material in politics is Teflon. This was a law of political physics established by Ronald Reagan: No matter how dubious his policies were or proved to be, he himself remained hugely popular—a popularity that helped carry the day for his dubious policies.

The two polls that were released this week, by the Times and the Journal, establish, in Barack Obama, a new strength for Teflon. The nation is widely suspicious about how the Obama administration is proceeding on its two biggest challenges—fixing the economy and implementing health care reform—and yet remains just about as staunchly enthralled with Obama himself as it is possible for an electorate to be."

http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/post/177/how-obama-m...

The difference is that Reagan's supporters were clueless and continued to support him no matter what he did. Obama's supporters think for themselves and, as demonstrated here on DU, will abandon him if he strays too far from his promises.

I am perfectly comfortable with criticisms of Obama. However calling Obama Bush's third term is a stretch.

Obama's unwillingness to force real healthcare reform via budget reconciliation, his attempts to cover up Bush's crimes, his backing off of GLBT rights are all highly disappointing. I have low hopes for EFCA too, which is sad. I was really looking forward to UHC with a public option and EFCA. I know all about 'call your congressman'. I have done that.

For me the increasing hollowness of his speeches is starting to bother me. Saying things like we have to do whats right, not whats popular then turning around and covering up Bush/Cheneys crimes because it would be unpopular to investigate them is a joke. MLK jr talked the talk, but he also walked the walk. He took risks.

sooooooo not the change i voted for.. sigh..

And I'll K&R. I had huge misgivings, but voted for Obama gladly when I saw the McCain/Palin alternative. I've hoped and prayed that he was the real deal, but had a nagging feeling he was all talk and no walk. Sadly, the latter is true.

But hey! What about "date night" and that adorable dog! And don't forget Michelle has really toned arms. Please. I want a Democratic president who champions the causes of the left wing of the Democratic Party.

Do you really think that we would have even heard anything about affordable healthcare to everyone? Do you really think that McCain and others would have cared about the unemployed? The state of the economy?

No, they would just assume that everyone should pull oneself by the boot straps and if they cannot, than they do not deserve anything.

Let me guess: you don't have to worry about being unemployed, losing your home, or no access to health care. No, you are just so secure in clicking on your keyboard, without a care in the world.

Right on the money.

This is how the propaganda works. This is how the establishment keeps the Democratic base from getting overly upset--"Obama must be doing something right if Limbaugh/Hannity/etc. are calling him a socialist."

This is how the establishment keeps the Democratic base from getting overly upset--"Obama must be doing something right if Limbaugh/Hannity/etc. are calling him a socialist."

It's all just a big game, and both parties are in on it. "Socialist" doesn't actually mean anything except "the Democratic frontrunner." They did the same thing with Bill Clinton. They kept calling him a "socialist" or "far leftie" when he wasn't even CLOSE to being a liberal!

I wish McCain or Ron Paul had won too. Too bad the repubs dropped the ball on stealing the election.

yeah, Obama is just like Inhofe, Grahm, McConnell, etc. John McCain and a repuke Congress would have signed made sure the Lily Ledbetter legislation was signed into law. They would have acted in precisely the same way vis a vis Iran. They would have signed on to dealing with climate change.

It may not be as much change as swiftly as I'd like, but to claim that Obama is just like the repuke establisment is so moronic a claim it deserves nothing but contempt.

Galloway is an utter ass to write this trite tripe.

what do the, forgive me, abject whiners want and do? Do they know the system? Do they not realize he is a family man and has to worry about his daughters' future along with America's? He seems damn sincere...

Especially on one or two very specific issues, for which I refuse to give free press toward by stating what they are, I'm just sick of the naysayers. Frigging sick. (Oh, and accidentally turning into just the wrong radio program today when driving home, until I noted the cadence was that of anus-face Rush Limbaugh, it became clear how Obama's detractors are fueling the right wing. Not to mention Rush's whinings about Obama doing things without congressional approval or anything (uh, like how unkie Bush had, eh Rush? Fuck off, Rush, now you know how it feels so shut the fuck up you overpaid bastard whose body fat could fuel New York City for 6 months straight!))

And I doubt bushy or charles has ever spent a nano second worrying about the future of their respective progeny.

Obama has to find the courage to prosecute those who authorized torture. It is the only way to clean up the cesspool in our various intelligence services. Who is in charge here? We elected Obama to be the president and to bring integrity and the rule of law back to our country. Instead he flies off to fight yet another war, fails to set a firm date for bringing our troops -- all of them -- home from Iraq and reuses to establish the rule of law.

The other day I met a very depressed young man probably in his late 20s who explained that he could not vote and cannot get a job because he is a felon. I did not ask him what for. I guessed: it most likely had to do with drugs.

I told him that I understand how he feels. I said that the real criminals are those that brought down the economy in our country -- the fat cats on Wall Street who made their millions off people's misery. My advice to him was to volunteer somewhere, try to get good recommendations for his volunteer work and make sure he stays in NA or AA. He said he would stay in AA. I wish I could help more.

Whatever this young man did, if he is already out at his age, it was not as serious as torture. I don't think he would be out of prison if he had killed someone or even assaulted someone with intent to kill them -- so the crime for which he as convicted was probably not as violent or serious as torture.

And yet, those who violated international law by committing torture, who violated international law by starting an illegal war and who conspired in causing the deaths of unknown numbers of innocent people and possibly prisoners who had been given no opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law and all that in our names are out there enjoying Father's Day and making speeches about freedom. Where is Obama on this? Does Obama condone this criminal behavior? Is it less criminal because it was in the past?

Obama needs to just come out and tell us the truth if he is afraid to carry out the rule of law because of his children. We don't ask our president to be perfect, but we do ask him to be honest with us. Is Obama incapable of just being honest?

I can understand frustration with how Obama has had to "moderate" the CHANGE that we all thought was coming. But I really think it's important to give the guy a chance. We posters here don't need to deal with any political realities when we call for drastic changes, but he does. Should he? No. It should be a perfect world. But it isn't.

Also- I get that some people are put in jail for stupid things, and I think our "war on drugs" has taken us WAY off course in terms of making things better in America. But please, please, please do not let yourself become an apologist for that poor felon in his 20's who you *think* was in for a drug offense. The reasoning that if he's already out at is age = it must not be that bad is, I'm sorry, quite seriously flawed.

Be pissed at Obama. That's cool, that's American, and that's both allowed and encouraged. But we shouldn't let it color how we look at other things.

what are you claiming compelled him to do so. If he 'had to', what is the force that made him have to?
This declaration that he 'had to' without any reason given is just an argument beneath any thinking person.
He had to why? For what reason did he 'have to'? Why did he have no other choice?
Explain.

Personally, I think felons ought to have the right to vote. I don't condone crime, but felons have an investment in this society too (or, at least, we want them too). Taking away the right to vote takes away the investment we want them to have.



-Laelth

enforcing the law against the felons who used to be president and vice-president. I think there are a lot of people who have committed some pretty serious crimes -- at the summit of the business world as well as Bush and Cheney who have committed serious crimes and are not being required to answer for their wrongs.

We're not going to get all we want, but to suggest that Obama is serving Bush's third term is just utter hysterical fucktardery.

By all means participate and call Obama and all the other politicians out when they behave badly, but have some damned perspective.

Oh yeah, and some for that incredibly successful war on drugs in Mexico.

All this constant slamming of Obama and insisting he's part of the Washington "machine" only serves to empower the right-wing lunatics who can't wait for us to "eat our own" so they can laugh at us.

Another post here recently listed an incredible list of accomplishments Mr. Obama has achieved in his scant six months in office. Remember, remember, remember...Bushco had eight years of virtually free reign to destroy this country. It's going to take some time to patch it up!

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/

He is not as bad as Bush, so he must be good!

Couldn't get more binary.

Sweet mother of fuck, 'The Democratic Party' needs to change it's name to, 'The Veruca Salt' party. "I want change and I want it NOOOOooooooooooow!" Yeah, that's why we don't stay in power for long. And that's why we can't change shit because we let asshats like the Republicans get power over and over again while we're too busy eating our own, and they fuck things up so badly it takes years to clean up their colossal pile of fecal matter. Lather, rinse, repeat.

But there are lots of Democrats who are NOT screaming for Revolution Now! from their armchairs. How 'bout "The Veruca Salt Progressive Coalition" -- ? I had been thinking of using "Magic Pony Progressives", but the "Magic Pony" thing has turned into a horrifying cliche recently.

--d!

I find it curious that it is the wealthy, greedy, malignant corporate system of bribery (campaign donations) that creates the sort of DLC/blue dog democrats that block more reform preemptly from even getting to the floor.

And oddly the economic liberals, the poor single payer healthcare people, and the people wanting basic human rights are "veruca salt"? Color me amused.

So I am not surprised.

I want...

Equal rights for all citizens
access to healthcare for all
protection for the most vulnerable amongst us
an end to the occupation of Iraq
An end to secret unconstitutional prisons and a restoration of our rights
and quality lifetime education access to all Americans.

= "I wan't a pony"

I mean I really don't get this crap. How does this work? Is this some kind of upper middle class entitlement thing? I lost a good friend of mine to chronic illness who would not have been helped by the sham of healthcare reform that is being approved by the insurance lobby.

And I get "Veruca Salt" and "I want a pony"

But you are right. I shouldn't be surprised. And these same people that say these stupid things wonder why people voted for Nader.

Yes.

That is exactly what it is. People who are genuinely hurting are not inclined to treat politicians like celebrity fantasy dates.

Only the very comfortable can do that.

... although it is counter productive to compare Obama to Bush, among many things because it leaves open the door to the Obama perma-apologist to dismiss any valid criticism. It is also time for the same perma-apologists to use actual valid points, not just utter condescendence and ad hominems as their main MO of reply.


I voted and worked to get Obama elected. I had no illusions that he was anything other than a moderate conservative on the best of his days. And as such, under his real context, I am not surprised at all by his policies and actions. I am disappointed though, as a liberal... I would like to see liberal policies and interests being defended by the Dems. Now that we dodged the bullet that would have been a Palin/McCain presidency, it is time for liberals and Dems to part ways, the typical "it is not you, it is me" is very apropos. We helped Obama get elected, now it is time for liberals to work on a viable alternative. Nothing personal against the Dem establishment, they are clearly not interested in liberal policies, nothing wrong with that... you know for tastes there are colors. It is just that people like me who happen to be liberals, and we would like to actually vote for a liberal, not just for someone who is not a republican... it seems the Dem party is not going to provide people like me with an actual value proposition in the foreseeable future. So rather than bitch and moan, I suggest other fellow liberals organize and make sure next election cycle the Dems don't get to simply assume our votes.

In the same sense that it is silly to compare Obama with Bush. Some Obama sycophants need to understand that a lot of our grievances with his policies and actions are not about their magnitude and amount of work done, but rather their direction. Think of it as a bunch of sailors setting sail from Europe towards America complaining that we're never going to reach their intended location, not because we haven't sailed long enough... but simply because we're facing East not West.

What were you expecting? I don't remember Obama ever saying he was gonna be a dictator who just told Congress....the body that makes laws, not the Prez....told Congress what to do. That seems to be what you want.

Like I've said before...
It's been so long since we had any GOVERNING going on, now that we do, no one recognizes it.

How about getting out of Iraq and Japan and Germany? How about spending as much on social issues as on guns and bombs for the Generals? How about keeping his campaign promises, or at least trying to be a progressive? I've been a democrat since I could read , and this man that I voted for has turned on us in a big way. Why should we give him any more slack? I knew it was over when he kissed and made up with the triter Lieberman.

And that is for Democrats to be god damned DEMOCRATS! Don't bend me over and fuck me once again while promising EFCA. Don't bend me over and fuck me again while offering National Health care. Don't bend me over and fuck me again while pumping $600 Billion down the rat hole for the Military Ind. Complex. Don't bend me over while handing billions to the very people responsible for putting us in this mess. Don't bend me over while cowering like rat bastard cowards on restoring the rule of law. I can't even fathom why the fuck I should care anymore! BTW, I'll be boarding a bus for DC this Thursday to attend the National Rally for Health care. Will it even fucking matter to these spineless motherfuckers who call themselves Democrats? Can you tell I'm just a little pissed off? How far we've come from the days of those lunatic bastards on the right, only to watch in HORROR to these lowdown cowardly motherfucking spineless Democrats. Just blowing some steam. Can't believe there are people out there urging patience and caution when I see spinelessness and cowardice on the part of those I elected to do the right thing.

Waaaaaa!

As I remember, it took a while for the first daughters to get their puppy, too.

Now, for throwing a tantrum, Galloway's going to have to wait even longer for his fucking pony. Will the lesson be learned?

I actually had an Obama partisan make this argument to me the other day.

The authoritarian follower types really do not even bother thinking do they?
I think after reading the argument one of them provided to you I will re-read John Deans books.

To put it simply, Dean makes the case that many conservatives of today need an authoritarian figure to guide them and they willingly do whatever it takes to please that figure.

As an experiment I will read the books with a view that many Democrats share this disease and have now found an Alpha to follow blindly without reason or question. (They Are Known By Their Apologetics - an example being when they defend the absurd idea that it is best if some are above the law - people like torturers)

I expect this little experiment to help me understand the people behind the Pom Poms, this understanding may then enable me to reach them and explain to them that if a policy or position was unconstitutional or just plain wrong when Bush did it - it remains just as unconstitutional or just plain wrong when Obama does it (or simply continues it).

I wonder, do you think it will be possible to get through to them even if I understand them better?
I never had much luck with the far right Dito-Heads perhaps the authoritarian followers in my party will be better able to see reason, perhaps not.

1) The GOP criticizes him not being sufficiently fascist.

2) People on the left criticize him for failing to uphold his campaign rhetoric.

People who adopt position 2 aren't helping the GOP at all as their criticism hopefully pressures Obama to honor his campaign promises.

My post had to do with those on the left that refuse to criticize him because of some chronic need to follow an authority figure blindly and WITHOUT QUESTION. Dean warned of such follower types within his party and I simply wanted to point out we may be developing a similar problem within our own.

I believe that in order to awaken the "sleeper followers" one must first understand them, if they truly believe in the fundamental principles of the Democratic party then we need to awaken them to join in constructive criticism of the dangers of corporate collusion as well as a weakened concept of rule of law that considers some to be above the law.

If we fail to remain Democrats in principle we are simply more of the same in a "good cop" jersey emblazoned with a large D.

We must not be followers of men but rather followers of the principles that made our party the champion of civil rights, rule of law and the economic fairness that brought us a middle class.

Did you mean to answer another post perhaps?

I basically agree with your post. It seems some people conflate criticism of Obama in order to suggest that all criticism of Obama=support for the GOP. Galloway's column isn't intended to bolster the GOP at all. I guess some people are upset with him because he dares to hold Obama to his campaign rhetoric.

I worry because the need to follow among the right-wing variation has proven to be a wall I could never crack. I was hoping it was because I was not republican and had little in common with them ideologically.

I am hoping that being from the same party may make the difference (eventualy) in this instance.

You seem to understand there is a problem what is your take?

suggests that the followers have a huge amount of "faith" in their leader. They truly believe that whatever he/she does must be for the greater good, so they are not inclined to question his/her authority. Politics is much like religion, if not a religion in itself. No one wants to believe that their leader isn't who they think he/she is - and if they don't question, they won't listen to answers.

with something else, some way to use reason to appeal to the higher brain functions.

After reading your post which clearly states the obvious, I find it rather silly to keep "hoping" past my original, nearly identical assessment.

I will study more on faith followers, perhaps there are some methods of injecting some small bits of reason into the religion of faith politics.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Yes. Essentially true? Yes also.

Is Obama as bad as Bush? No.

Is he even close to what he promised?

Not at all.

I like Galloway, but Gawd this is one big whine fest.

Which is is Joe, is he "becoming one of them" or "looking and acting like Bush"? (hey Galloway, BO could never look like Bush)

What happened on the way to the White House has everything to do with Barack Obama and nothing to do with a number of other factoids. Including a congress comprised of do nothing Republican's and a handful of chicken-shit Democrats.

I don't trust President Obama, because of the system that produced him, much more than many others, but I

DO

have some Hope with, in, and for

The People

.

Big fucking deal.

to lose one's grip on reality so?
Anyone who thinks Obama is no better than Bush has severe cognitive disabilities.

I wandered into this one solely to see if there were any voices of sanity among the din (there were a few, including your post).

These must be the people who thought Obama was a Magic God who could work miracles in Washington and change the whole place around in a matter of months. The miracle hasn't happened, so they feel let down and now Obama is Satan, or worse yet, bush. Disappointment is so often the result of mistaken expectations.

I also am very tired of the wingnutty idea that if you trust Obama, if you believe that he has access to information, advice, and insights that we do not, then you are guilty of "blindly following a false Messiah". Isn't this exactly what Hannity says?

OK, I'm done with this thread now. I'm due back on Planet Earth.

Nobody is arguing what you say. Perhaps you should pull your head out of the sand, then you will have a clue as to what people are talking about.

Obama is intentionally continuing the Bush policies on things like military tribunals, extraordinary rendition of 'terror' suspects, bushes 'state secrets' order that nixes lawsuits from abused former detainees, and a lot of other things. Obama has a 'Republicans first' policy on appointing people to key positions in his administration and seems unwilling to do anything without 'republican support' even though they automatically block everything that he attempts to do. Many people find these things disturbing.

I will wait at least a year before I make a final judgement on what direction Obama is headed but what I see thus far has me somewhat shaken.

Like so many other things in our puzzling Inverted Totalitarianism, WHY an action happens is less important than the action itself.

Zero.

to me. It seems to be some kind of amalgam of Colonel Potter, the Monopoly man, and George Bailey, when in fact if they actually met these people in there own element with no cameras around, they'd literally shit their pants.

This is a great aspect of the American Naiveté that is so stereotypical around the world.

I don't feel that Galloway was entirely fair to Obama, but pretty much sums up my feelings.

Obama should get some credit for a few things.
Obama DID do the Stem Cell Thing, and a small part of the Stimulus Package may actually help Working Americans...so he should get some credit.
I also believe that Obama has been a wonderful success in instantly repairing our International Image, though if he keeps the WARS going, and keeps "Black Torture Prisons" and "Renditions" operative that will change quickly as more and more civilians are racked up in the collateral damage.

My biggest disappointment is his lack of will in using the Bully Pulpit to rein in the Conservative Democrats in Congress.

Can you imagine how LBJ would have dealt with the traitorous Blue Dog coalition?
Can you imagine Joe Lieberman standing up and blocking LBJ's agenda?
or Harry Reid?
or Evan Bayh?

They would have been dog meat before sundown.

Obama needs to find his inner LBJ.
He has everything he needs.
Overwhelming Public Support,
Big Majorities in the Senate and House
Plenty of Political Capital

He just seems to be lacking the WILL to use it.

in. He should not be selling out to them. They need what he's got, not the other way around.

And Obama needs to enforce the rule of law blindly -- that means he needs to prosecute crimes regardless of who committed them or how powerful they are.

If he had been, he would know the ins and out of how to rein in an unruly group of his own party.

The trouble is, he came in as the new kid on the block, and although he beat them at their own
game the first time around (he IS, after all, in the Oval Office), he hasn't risen through the
ranks and garnered the respect of his Democratic Senate peers along the way. He has few (if any)
IOUs to call in.

This may go over well with the electorate, but less so with his former Senate colleagues who
are acting like so many officers who feel passed over for promotion to general in favor of some
smooth-talking, frustratingly popular PFC.

For the record, it is my opinion that Obama has good intentions and is trying (too hard) to not
stumble along the way. I wish he and his closest advisers would take note of the fact that the
fastest guy in the race has usually stumbled a few times in his career, and the one who was so
cautious that he never stumbled at all has also never won a race.

Success, but as of right now I'm not seeing him on that path! People keep asking "would the alternative McCain/Palin have been better" but that's not what it's about as I see it.

I went to THREE of Obama's rallies and heard him say and promise certain things at each one of them. I NEVER expected him to be able to fulfill all of them, campaigning is campaigning, but even though he's made some changes he seems to be "caving" on some VERY BIG ISSUES!

Is this Change or just Changing Your Mind?

LBJ knew more about everyone in DC than J Edgar Hoover did and he'd leak it out in a drip to get people back in line

* Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners.
* Established a credit card "bill of rights".
* Expanded loan programs for small businesses.
* Extended and index the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch.
* Expanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP).
* Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners.
* Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq.
* Allowing Caskets to be photographed when the return from Iraq with family approval.
* Gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in the first 100 days of his administration.
* Granted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba.
* Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program.
* Released presidential records.
* Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
* Pushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors.
* Created a White House Office on Urban Policy.
* Increased funding for the NEA.
* Appointed an assistant to the president for science and technology policy.
* Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps.
* Overturned Ledbetter vs. Goodyear.
* Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees.
* Investment in all types of alternative energy.
* Enacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid cars.
* Support for high-speed rail.
* Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes.
* Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits.
* Reversed restrictions on stem cell research.
* Appointed more than 60 openly LGBT persons to positions in the executive branch.

good post.

As it gets longer, the criticisms will ring hollow.

take time, but there are plenty of issues that are bigger than many of the issues you posted, where he has done exactly what * did before him.

How laughable.

All of the "accomplishments" listed he either half-assed on (Iraq, etc.) or are completely meaningless (appointed LGBT staff....while still defending DOMA).

for "The CHANGE President.

...like he has rearranged some of the items on the condiment counter, and True believers are waving this embarrassing cut & paste from a Campaign Brochure like a flag of victory.

"naysayers"

Stop messing with their negative high man!

That's an embarrassingly weak list for someone who ran as the "change candidate".

I mean he's had five fucking months and he still hasn't solved Global Climate Change or given free health care to everyone in America. This doesn't even mention the fact that even though he's had five whole fucking months we are still in a recession and are not driving our government mandated fully electric cars on streets made of hammered gold.

Fucking pathetic that he hasn't done everything that we want while we sit here, many of us at work, and bitch and whine about it on the computer.

Now look to the right. See those people with the pompons in their hands?

They're the only ones still buying your bullshit.

... don't you think that naming "giving a speech" as an accomplishments looks like an attempt at padding his list of accomplishments?

Also, please update the list, since he reversed his decision on releasing presidential records. Just as he reversed on his campaign promise of increasing transparency by publishing legislative records via website (now they can only be accessed via FOIA requests)

* Signed executive orders to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year, ban torture and end the CIA’s secret overseas prisons and define treatment of Detainees.
* Reversed restrictions on stem cell research.
* Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Reducing discrimination based on gender, age, religion, or race.
* Signed an executive order reversing the ban that prohibits funding to international family planning groups that provide abortions. Gag rule revoked (Mexico City policy).
* Creates the White House Council on Women and Girls "to provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all
Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families."
* Signed a Presidental Memorandum extending federal benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers and announced support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.
* Reverses U.S. position on LGBT Issues at the UN: At the "Durban Review Conference," U.S. supports language condemning “all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.”
* Signed executive order requiring federal contractors to offer jobs to current workers when contracts change.
* Reversed a Bush order requiring federal contractors to post notice that workers can limit financial support of unions serving as their exclusive bargaining representatives.
* Signed executive order preventing federal contractors from being reimbursed for expenses meant to influence workers deciding whether to form a union and engage in collective bargaining.
* Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners.
* Established a credit card "bill of rights".
* Expanded loan programs for small businesses.
* Extended and index the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch.
* Expanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP).
* Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners.
* Created a new White House task force on the problems of middle-class Americans, and installed Vice President Joe Biden as its chairman.
* Appoints Vice President Joe Biden to Oversee Stimulus Plan Payouts.
* Granted a reprieve to Liberian immigrants facing imminent expulsion.
* Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq.
* Allowing Caskets to be photographed when the return from Iraq with family approval.
* Released nine previously secret internal Justice Department memos and opinions defining the legal limits of government power in combating terrorism.
* On Arab TV Network, Obama Urges Dialogue.
* Gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in the first 100 days of his administration.
* Bars independent contractors from conducting interrogations of terror suspects.
* Granted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba.
* Ordered the release of nearly a quarter of a million pages of records from the Reagan White House that were kept from the public during a lengthy review by President George W. Bush.
* Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program.
* Released presidential records.
* Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
* Pushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors.
* Invites gay families to the Easter Egg Roll as part of the Obama administration's outreach to diverse communities.
* Created a White House Office on Urban Policy.
* Increased funding for the NEA.
* Appointed an assistant to the president for science and technology policy.
* Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps.
* Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees.
* Investment in all types of alternative energy.
* Enacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid cars.
* Support for high-speed rail.
* Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes.
* Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits.
* Stop raids on medical marijuana dispensers.
* Nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States. If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to ever serve on the Supreme Court.
* Appointed more than 60 openly LGBT persons to positions in the executive branch.
* Issues Presidential Proclamation for Pride, proclaiming June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.
* Signed a mercury reduction pact with 140 other nations.
* Signed the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act to curb wasteful spending by the Pentagon. Intended to price contracts and budgets lower; may potentially save billions of dollars in defense.
* Signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, which serves to protect two million acres of land and creates a new system of land conservation for the Bureau of Land Management.
* Phase out government payments to crop producers making more than $500,000 a year and eliminates subsidies for cotton storage to help trim the U.S. budget deficit.
* Cut funding for a proposed U.S. nuclear storage facility at Yucca Mountain.
* Restored Endangered Species Act Provision requiring U.S. agencies consult with independent federal experts to determine if their actions might harm threatened and endangered species.
* Orders The Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration "to protect and restore the health, heritage, natural resources, and social and economic value of the Nation's largest estuarine ecosystem and the natural sustainability of its watershed."
* Signed the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act designating two million additional acres of public wilderness areas the highest level of government protection from logging and other forms of commercial use and development.
* Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act which will expedite the search for cures and treatments for millions of Americans living with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury, stroke, MS, Parkinson's and many other diseases and disorders.
* Established The Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record, a new system for updating medical records of servicemen and women both during and after their military careers.
* Established the White House Office of Health Reform

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As for your "giving a speech" complaint, it wasn't just a run-of-the-mill speech, but a speech to the Muslim and Arab world that many people hearld as the beginning of a new and open dialog with a billion people who we have basically ignored or spit on throughout our history and certainly in the past 8 years.

"On Arab TV Network, Obama Urges Dialogue." Are you serious? How is that any sort of achievement, I understand it is a positive development... but to label that as an "achievement" it is a bit of a stretch. It makes the rest of your list highly suspicious.

BTW, you are still listing "Released presidential records" Which i already pointed out he had reversed on that.

So, no... you did not even do anything remotely close to what I politely requested, you did the opposite actually. Although I am not surprised that since you used such a intellectually dishonest header to your reply as "you asked, you got it" that the rest of your post followed suit (in the intellectually dishonest meme that is).

In the same sense that some of the vitriol of the Obama detractors does not do them any favors... the quasi-kool aid content of some of Obama's sycophants don't help them either.

is a game some like to play, but not me. The list stands on its own merits even if you find one or two things to argue about.

Dismiss the speech in Cairo if you like, but many people think it was very important step in the right direction.

As for the "released presidential records" complaint, frankly, I don't know of what you are talking about. There has been no reversal and the Executive Order on Presidential Records can be found here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/ExecutiveOrd... /

If you wish to provide some facts that prove your assertion that "he had reversed on that," I'd be interested in seeing it.

Until then, I think the "intellectually dishonest" label you are trying to pin on me might belong on you.

Not one bit of it.

In other words a lot of progressives were easily hoodwinked. Only way to see it from their perspective. I didn't support him in the primaries, but so far he's not been far off the president I always expected him to be. If the fantasy has has gone up in flames, it's not his fault. Thanks.
quickesst

playing 3 card Monty with the constitution.