Obama hope was all hype

[CHIMO]

As the midterms approach, 15 million Americans are out of work and Obama's ratings hover at about 40% to 45%. There is no doubt Democrat majorities in house and Senate may disappear. Democrats in marginal seats keep the president at arm's length, aware that the mood of the electorate reflects the desperate straits in which the country finds itself.

Obama's electoral triumph of 2008 coincided with the most colossal economic crisis since the Great Depression (and far more global in scope); to add to his troubles, two wars were under way on difficult terrain in far away Islamic lands. The first few months of 2009 became the most abbreviated honeymoon period granted a new president in recent memory.

In times of crisis, the incumbent suffers. And the bigger the crisis the greater the punishment inflicted on those in power, unless they do something that makes a change. Obama has not done so. Instead, both at home and abroad, the continuities between Obama's administration and that of Bush-Cheney far outweigh any differences.

Whenever vested interests resisted, Obama caved. On the economy, despite the advice of Robert Reich and Joseph Stiglitz, the president defended the very orthodoxy that led to the Wall Street crash. And this at a time when inequality in the US was much higher than it had been 40 years ago.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/oct/28/obama-hope-all-hype

[Avalux]

1. Nice hit piece. n/t

[county worker]

2. "There is no doubt Democrat majorities in house and Senate may disappear"

No doubt something may happen. How's that for a certainty?

[stray cat]

3. If you really want change you can believe in - vote Republican

but the change will be all bad

[onestep]

4. I still like him!

[RKP5637]

6. So do I! n/t

[CHIMO]

8. As Do Many

The author, Tariq Ali, feels that he had much more power to act.(My reading on him)

[2008 was great]

5. I don't understand the negativity??

Am I the only one who understood that when we ended up with the House, Senate and Presidency in 08'
that we would have to go slow on the change? I listened to the left laugh at Obama on
John Stewarts' show last night. Conversely, the right is livid with how things have been jammed through.
Good grief! The country as a whole is neither left or right.
It's politics folks! You have to shmooze the populace.
Obama & congress have been operating as though they have a mandate.
They have misread the populace as far as how far to go on that mandate.
Couple that mistake with a crap economy and it gives you exactly what we are facing on Tuesday.
Tuesday could actually be good for Obama. Yes, he will have to drop back and reevaluate but this is
not the end. Have patience folks!!!!

[mazzarro]

14. The Real Changes Have Yet To Be Made - That Is What The Left Is Pissed About

The real issue for the left, IMO, is not that progressive programs have not pushed through fast and far enough; the issue is about changes not made well enough to fundamentally bring about different approaches to the methods of solving the problems of the country. Yes the rightwingers may have become livid about how far program changes have been pushed through the process; but the left is unhappy that the fundamental changes needed have not been put in place - in fact they have been papered over instead.

[aquart]

7. Thank you for your concern.

[mfcorey1]

9. He is still the best choice for President. I will not abandon ship. nt

[demgrrrll]

10. I read a comment about Republicans and Democrats

I recently read a comment on a blog that really resonated with me. Paraphrasing, When the Republicans lose they all get together and figure out how to win. When the Democrats win they have a tendency to see the cup half full and whine about Superman not saving them. We have set Obama up as Superman and neither he nor anyone else could have fixed this mess in 24 months.

[zenprole]

11. Know Your Styles

There's a big difference between critical thinking and negativity.

The former is in pursuit of some answers, or at least a glance toward reality. Dialogue counts, too.

The latter is unconcerned about descriptions or dynamics, only the endpoint of harming the target.

Obama supporters have got to get a grip on such things.

[JTFrog]

12. Well, someone has "got to get a grip" alright.

:eyes:

:freak:

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.