"...I serve as a blank screen on which people... project their own views."

[PM7nj]

"I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views. As such, I am bound to disappoint some, if not all, of them. Which perhaps indicates a second, more intimate theme to this book - namely, how I, or anybody in public office, can avoid the pitfalls of fame, the hunger to please, the fear of loss, and thereby retain that kernel of truth, that singular voice within each of us that reminds us of our deepest commitments."
- Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope, page 11

I believe that many of you weren't paying attention to what Obama said throughout his entire campaign. Did you think he was lying about wanting to unite the country and actually get things done?

[Wetzelbill]

1. Obama is not as progressive as I am

I knew what I was getting when I voted for him, I basically knew what type of people he would want to hire. I'm not sure why people are surprised, he's said who he is for years. If anything, he's even better than I expected.

[cliffordu]

3. Well....

You aren't as retro-progressive as I am and I KNEW that when I voted for you.

You are, however even better than I thought you'd be.

:rofl:


NOW can I come to the inauguration????

[Wetzelbill]

9. Since you put it that way

:)

[liberalmuse]

4. I share your views here.

I am of the Kucinich ilk, and knew exactly what I was getting into, and yes, PE Obama has already surpassed my expectations, and I believe he will continue to do so.

[Wetzelbill]

8. exactly the same here

My views are more along the lines of DK, but I've always liked Obama too. And Obama is impressive any way you put it, I expect nothing less than excellence from him.

[tekisui]

20. Agreed.

[The Wielding Truth]

14. If you watched his Bio , you knew that when he gained politically

he would appoint those who he felt would do the best job and mostly used those already in place.

[TwilightZone]

2. Anyone who read that book should know that this is exactly how he was going to proceed.

His intentions couldn't be any clearer in the book. He believes that bipartisanship is necessary and should be the preferred course of action.

[Triana]

10. I didn't read the book (yet-it's on order) and I knew that's how he would proceed...

..he said so enough times in enough ways. He HAS been honest about his intentions and about his worldview and about his views on governing.

I am not surprised, nor am I disappointed in him. Still quite impressed actually.

[TwilightZone]

18. Agreed.

Contrary to the media's depiction of him, he's never claimed to be an ultra-liberal, and he's been forthcoming about his desire to mend fences and work with "the other side". I suspect that that's what attracted a lot of voters to him, especially moderates and moderate Republicans.

[Clio the Leo]

11. Exactly. He hasn't dissapointed me yet. Quite the contrary...

.... continually blows me away.

[opihimoimoi]

5. He should have a collection site set up and filtered ideas reaching his top aides for the final

filter to Obama

This would be a good way to fulfill his request and acquire ideas at the same time

Obama Mana No Ka Oi

[Skidmore]

17. He does. It's located on

his new website www.change.gov.

[knowledgeispwr]

6. Yep.

A lot of people haven't been paying attention to Obama even though he has been saying who he is and what he believes, writing it in books and putting it up on his website for all to see for quite some time.

[thesubstanceofdreams]

7. The Clinton supporters aren't disappointed at all

He's not uniting, he's leaving out the progressives, a group consisting of millions of people that were key in him winning the primary and the election.
I'm all in favor of a diverse cabinet, but this cabinet is anything but.

[stillcool]

13. which person has..

he appointed for which job do you have a problem with, and who of equal qualifications would you replace that person with? By the way...I volunteered for the past 2 years to get Senator Obama elected President. What 'millions of progressives' are you speaking for?

[Shiver]

19. The Cabinet is barely completed

We've seen, what, less than a third of his appointments?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. I haven't read his book...

But I too am happy, very happy, with how I see him proceeding.

He is going to be better than anyone we've had in a very long time...

[Eric J in MN]

15. I will never criticized Obama, again,

...now that I realize he said he would disappoint.

Then again, maybe I will, because I'm a citizen in a democracy.

[thenam]

16. As you should

In a democracy, if it works, people are free to disagree. Even if (particularly if?) they voted for that person.