The Action Americans Need by Barack Obama

[Botany]

Source: Washington Post

The Action Americans Need

By Barack Obama
Thursday, February 5, 2009;

By now, it's clear to everyone that we have inherited an economic crisis as deep and dire as any since
the days of the Great Depression. Millions of jobs that Americans relied on just a year ago are gone;
millions more of the nest eggs families worked so hard to build have vanished. People everywhere
are worried about what tomorrow will bring.

What Americans expect from Washington is action that matches the urgency they feel in their daily lives
-- action that's swift, bold and wise enough for us to climb out of this crisis.

Because each day we wait to begin the work of turning our economy around, more people lose their
jobs, their savings and their homes. And if nothing is done, this recession might linger for years. Our
economy will lose 5 million more jobs. Unemployment will approach double digits. Our nation will sink
deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse.

Snip

So we have a choice to make. We can once again let Washington's bad habits stand in the way of progress.
Or we can pull together and say that in America, our destiny isn't written for us but by us. We can place
good ideas ahead of old ideological battles, and a sense of purpose above the same narrow partisanship.
We can act boldly to turn crisis into opportunity and, together, write the next great chapter in our history
and meet the test of our time.

The writer is president of the United States.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020403174.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

---

Now that is what leadership looks like!

[bigworld]

1. "The writer is president of the United States"

Funny, I don't recall seeing that sentence in the past 8 years

[Botany]

5. It is a new day

The man likes to write and read. He is not bad @ speaking too.


Barack Obama's Writing Advice
July 15, 2008

Barack Obama gave out some writing advice the other day, in response to a
question from a supporter. There was one question in particular of interest
to us book lovers, and that came from a woman who asked what Obama would
say to young writers. He was surprised by the question, which he admitted was
one he hadn't heard before, but didn't hesitate to answer. He referenced his two
books, and specifically mentioned how he wrote them himself, along with many
of his speeches. With a light inflection, he said, "In terms of getting a job, knowing
how to write is a good thing."

He talked about how he kept a journal, and how it was important for teaching him not
only how to write, but also how to think. But my favorite part was when he said, "Over
the course of four years I made time to read all of the Harry Potter books out loud to
my daughters. If I can do that and run for president, then you can find time to read to
your kids. That's some of the most special time you have with your children."

http://www.internetwritingjournal.com/cgi-bin/iwjblog.pl?id=715081

[FailureToCommunicate]

39. "If I can (read the Harry Potter books) aloud to my daughters AND run for

President, then you can find time to read to your kids..." Darn Obama, he keeps setting the bar so high! Now I need to run for President!
Ah, when Bush was in the White House we could all say at least we're smarter and better read (!!) than the President. ..
Reading JK Rowling's wonderful books with the family - and listening to Jim Dale's terrific books on tape version while driving- are some very happy memories indeed!

[eridani]

30. It's been awhile since we've had a president who could write n/t

[Love Bug]

35. Hell, it's been a while since we had a president who could READ n/t

[Indepatriot]

48. True that Bug.

Hell, it's been awhile since we had a President who can SPEAK in complete sentences. I love this guy!...................

[YvonneCa]

54. That is VERY cool. :) n/t

[bemildred]

2. Damn.

Give 'em hell Barack.

[Mari333]

3. I hope he considers washington's 'bad habits' as

2 wars that should end asap.

[bdamomma]

11. all that money for those two wars could have restored this country.

damn that bush and cheney!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

40. No need to continue on with the same failed policies when we are in such dire straits and

all that money to continue these unnecessary 'wars' is needed at home.

[Spazito]

4. Damn, he IS good!

It is SO refreshing to read and hear from a President that "gets it" and can speak and write in a way that clearly shows he "gets it".

Recommended.

[ixion]

6. I'm still waiting for the change...

anytime you're ready, Mr. Obama.

[Botany]

7. are you kidding?

closing gitmo
stopped drilling in national parks (Utah)
diplomacy
George Mitchell to the mid east
$500,000 cap on exec pay
he can freaking write
global warming work
starting to get out of Iraq

[MineralMan]

8. Which change, exactly, are you waiting for?

President Obama is making changes daily. Perhaps your pet change hasn't reached the top of the list yet.

Two weeks is really not sufficient time for a new President to completely overhaul government, I'm pretty sure. Maybe you should give him a couple more weeks or so.

[ixion]

10. My Pet Change: Restore Our Republic

That means:
- No more PATRIOT Act/MCA/DHS/TSA and all that other crap implemented over the last decade.
- No more so-called 'war' on drugs and/or terror and/or any other abstraction.

When I see real change over token gestures, I'll be satisfied.

Granted, it's a big change, but I'll be happy with nothing less.

[MineralMan]

13. You're going to have a wait, I'm afraid.

Many changes are going to be made, most of them in the first few months of President Obama's first term.

I doubt the changes you're waiting for are going to take place, at least not in a wholesale way, for some time to come. I do expect, though, that those agencies, etc., you mention will begin seeing changes fairly quickly.

Right now, the economy is taking center stage.

[stillcool]

16. You will not be happy..

no person will ever match your expectations, or dance to the tune you alone sing.

[NBachers]

29. So, uh, could you help by stamping out Republican obstructionism?

Any time you're ready, that is . . .

They're stabotaging Obama and America

[northernlights]

43. you have GOT to be kidding!

Every day he's been in office has been a day of more change. But the biggest change of all is the fundamental shift to reverse the disastrous policies of the last 8 years.

You may think closing Gitmo is a token. Cheney sure seems to disagree! :rofl:

You may think banning torture is a token. Torture victims would probably disagree.

You may think ordering your top general to leave Iraq by whatever date he gave Patreaus is a token. Soldiers on their 3rd or 4th tour of duty would probably disagree.

So go ahead and continue to be unhappy until all of the last 8 years are undone. Personally, I'm starting to feel a sense of relief....and belief that they will be undone.

[polmaven]

46. But...um...you mean

18 days is not enough time to undo 8 years of damage? Well, then...IMPEACH NOW!!!!!



...Oh, and just in case - though I can't even imagine that it should be necessary: :sarcasm:

[serrano2008]

12. He should not have backed Daschle after tax issue came out.

I'm all for Obama but seeing as how he still said Daschle was the best man for the job after it came out that - 1. he evaded taxes, and 2. he's gotten hundreds of thousands of dollars from the companies he would be regulating - makes me think Obama still doesn't quite "get it".

He should have strongly rebuked Daschle and vowed that his administration will not stand for the wealthy skipping out on their taxes, which costs the U.S. about $70 Billion per year.

[stillcool]

15. He 'should' be doing a lot of things..

I bet that every one of the 300+ million of us expect that he 'should' be doing what we want. Funny how we don't expect our own representatives, or even ourselves, to do anything of the sort, isn't it?

[serrano2008]

18. I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying.

I pay my taxes and I expect everyone else to do the same.

If Obama is supporting his friends who don't pay taxes, the message he's sending is that they can do whatever they want aren't held to the same laws as the rest of us.

[stillcool]

20. Mr. Daschle doesn't pay taxes?

Jeez..I would think that you know of no one that has ever been audited. Oh the outrage!

[serbbral]

36. THANKYOU MINERALMAN........

Dayum.

[Harry Monroe]

34. 2 1/2 weeks and you expect things to be turned around?

And the world to be changed overnight?? Sorry, you don't want a president, you're looking for a miracle man aka Jesus Christ. Obama is simply human and fighting an entrenched system. Give him time, he'll get there.

[GinaMaria]

51. Look here for a list actions the President has taken in his first two weeks

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/GinaMaria

There is positive movement forward and we do hear about it. However it is mixed with news of those who are opposing him, unemployment numbers, economic collapse etc. Most of us continually look forward and see how much more there is to do. It's sometimes good to stop and look back briefly to see all you have done so far.

We will get there ixion

[bdamomma]

9. President Obama you need to bulldoze the Republicans out of the way.

[Abq_Sarah]

14. I don't like the fearmongering

That whole "do this or the world is going to end!" tone. It sucked when the repubs played the fear card and it's disappointing to see President Obama go down the same path.

[stillcool]

17. Tell that to the millions that have lost their jobs...

[Abq_Sarah]

19. So it's okay

To play the terra, terra, terra card as long as it's our side doing it?

[stillcool]

21. No it's much better to say..

don't worry about those millions of people..or the tanking of our economy. Everybody be happy!! Let's wait a few more months and see how many more people we can toss out of their homes! It isn't fear until it's happened to you, so don't worry!! Be very afraid of any action that might be taken to alleviate the suffering of others, or mitigate your future suffering. Someone besides you might actually be helped. That is what you should really be 'terrified' of.

[Spazito]

22. Ummm, there is a big difference between the "terra, terra, terra" card....

and telling the public the truth as to the plummeting of the US economy and the need to have a Recovery Plan in as soon as possible. It is like comparing.....hmmmmm......apples and......shoes.

[Abq_Sarah]

23. No, there's not much difference

Saying that we must act NOW and pass a porked up stimulus plan because if we don't, the economy may never recover and we'll be in a permanent great depression is cheap theatrics. There's nothing in that bill that's going to put 500,000 Americans back to work next month. Instead of screwing around playing games, the house and senate should have had alternative packages lined up based on the most pressing needs. Increases in unemployment first to alleviate some of the pressure felt by the unemployed. A public works bill to start moving money to the states. DC is trying to deal with a house fire by cutting the grass and repaving the driveway.

[Spazito]

24. Is there not a crisis in the economy?

Are jobs not disappearing at a rate not seen in many years? Are businesses not closing their doors at an ever increasing rate? Have you actually read the Recovery package being proposed? How does the part about funding infrastructure not address your point about a public works bill? You do realize, I assume, that to do each of the items as separate bills that must pass through both the House and the Senate would SLOW DOWN any help rather than speed it up as you seem to be suggesting.

[CJCRANE]

31. The US economy will shrink by a trillion dollars this year

if nothing is done. That's the whole point of the stimulus (to fill that gap) and I suggest you read up on the details of the bill because AFAIK it addresses the needs you mention.

On edit: some economists suggest that the stimulus needs to be about two trillion dollars (to additionally account for a possible trillion dollar contraction in 2010).

[and-justice-for-all]

32. Which would you rather have...

1) Some one who is opening saying 'Yeah, we have a major issue here" or 2) some one telling you "The fundamentals of our economy are strong", when in fact, it is really a dire situation. This is not Shrub COs terrorism scheme.

[Odin2005]

37. So you want Obama to lie and tell people it's not as bad as it really is?

McCain did that and it more then anything else destroyed his poll numbers. Just because Rove use the fear card for illegitimate purposes doesn't mean it shouldn't be used when there actually is a crisis. :eyes:

[thecrow]

25. I think our President belongs on the Greatest Page...!

So off to the Greatest Page it is.

[blossomstar]

26. Obama needs to bring back FDR's fireside chats

He also needs to name names of the people who are hindering progress. Take some names and start kicking some ass. The American people will rally behind him if he will ASK. Once a week he needs to do a "fireside chat" and keep us all updated on his plans and who are standing in the way! It sure worked for FDR and it will for Obama.

[mopinko]

45. he is. he is doing a weekly address

he should lean on the media to run them.

[rucky]

50. YouTube's just fine. Better without the spin afterwards.

[GinaMaria]

52. Agree. It's the fireside chat of the new era nt

[bleever]

27. I believe that Obama can play nice, and that he can also play offense.

I think he's got game.

[Botany]

28. I think he's got game. So do you.

[BlueManDude]

33. The people are ready and willing - are congressional Democrats?

[pleah]

38. Action speaks louder than words.

That sounds great, but, when are we going to see some action?

[commanche]

41. an Australians view

There are alot of things Obama needs to change.
-end the wars
-restore democracy
-end american imperialism
-overhaul government
-bring down the gangs,thugs and secret societies that have taken over your government(1).
-Throw the previous administration into prison
-Restore law and order, and end the police state.

But as many have mentioned, he has only been in office for 2 1/2 weeks, and has done more positive things in that time than bush in 8 years. He has told as much truth as possible without being assasinated by (1), and is clearly an intelligent man with a plan and a vision. The US economy is on the verge of collapse, so it priority number 1, and needs urgent attention. From little things big things grow, and as they start to grow, so will the change you yearn for.

[mdmc]

42. Perot "Giant sucking soud"

"Millions of jobs that Americans relied on just a year ago are gone"

R

[Joanne98]

44. YAY

[JNelson6563]

47. Wow. 23 rec;s on DU. Very sad.

Man this place ain't what it used to be.

Julie

[hootinholler]

55. indeed

It just got another. (Oops no it didn't, Wish I had seen it yesterday)

-Hoot

[navarth]

49. I'm sure glad HE's the one we elected. Imagine the other way.....ouch.

[AyanEva]

53. Darn. I'm too late to rec

Well, I'll just...what's the right term? Kick? I'll kick the thread.

Or something.

[GeorgeGist]

56. Bless his heart he means well.

But asking the working class to build a higher pie will not starve the PROFIT-MONSTER, which is poised to devour the global economy.