Reply #39: Obama's campaign was about "change" and "hope"

[deutsey]

In the context of the shambles that Bush left this country in, I think we had every reason to believe that "change" meant doing things differently than Bush and "hope" meant that this change would benefit the millions of Americans (and people around the world) hurt by Bush policies.

Ok...I did not think Obama was going to fly into the Oval Office on Inauguration Day on a magic carpet and, with a blink of an eye, make all well again. I knew it was going to be hard work for his Administration AND for us citizens. Frankly, I was also a bit leery of the Wall Street types he had surrounded himself with before the election and I had serious doubts that he'd be pushing the progressive agenda I was hoping for.

So I wasn't surprised when that agenda didn't materialize (disappointed, yes, but not surprised). I'm also a realist and knew Obama had to work within certain political realities.

But what pissed me off is that Obama is always too conciliatory with the very same Republicans who bullied and deceived and manipulated and plundered the country to the benefit of a greedy wealthy minority for 8 years. While I don't think he should've gone into DC like Bush (unwilling to work with the other side), I do think he shouldn't have be so damned eager to compromise before even starting to negotiate.

Take the health care thing as an example. Why not go in saying you want more than what you're actually willing to settle for? Isn't that what negotiating is supposed to be about? You start off with your best expectation and barter down from there. You don't just go in and start off with the lowest gain you were willing to accept.

Also, with the "death panels" and all that other nutty propaganda spewed by the Right: Why the fuck are the Democrats in general never prepared to fight back against that kind of smearing?

Clinton's first campaign back in the '90s was the only time in recent memory that any Democrats showed some spine in slapping down GOP lies. After he got elected on through to Gore and (especially) Kerry and now Obama, the Dems always seem to be taken off guard, they're always left reeling in confusion from conservative attacks and smears, and then THEY STILL WANT TO REACH A CONCILATORY HAND ACROSS THE AISLE...I don't get paid the salaries these supposedly professional politicos and communication experts get paid, but I can see the need for always being prepared to go toe to toe with the Right in the public arena of opinion.

They never do, though...it never seems to occur to them that they're gearing up for a rough and tumble game of political hockey while the Repubs are waiting for them out on the rink in a machine gun nest. No, instead they bend over backward trying to placate and appease Rightwing interests in this country, get shit on REPEATEDLY by the Right for their efforts, and then start verbally beating up the very people who want to see them succeed.

That's fighting for change we can believe in? That's hope?