I have a pretty big reservoir of good will for President-Elect Obama

[cali]

No President since Roosevelt has come into office under such daunting and grave circumstances. It's not just the economic meltdown, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the diminished stature of the U.S. abroad, Iran, Israel and Palestine, Russia, but also the grave and imminent threat of climate change. I think one can reasonably argue that what Obama is facing is even graver than what Roosevelt faced.

No, I'm NOT saying don't criticize Obama. Criticize him to your heart's content. I'm explaining why I'm not there. I know Obama will make choices I disagree with and appointments I don't like. I'm not going to get hung up there. Not now.

I originally came to support Obama just about a year ago, because I saw something in him that resonated with me. I saw a temperment that I believed could withstand the crucible of crisis. I saw a reflective rather than reactive quality. I saw someone who struck me as highly intelligent. I saw someone who had a history of caring about people other than the wealthy. I think he has a rare ability to cut through to the essential. Those qualities, more than his specific policies were the impetus for my support.

I believe that Barack Obama is the right person at the right time. Maybe he's not. Maybe I'll be proved wrong, and he'll be a disaster or simply muddle through. But to date, he hasn't done anything to change my original assessmnent of him.

We are in deep shit. I hope like hell Obama will prove himself to be the leader I think he is.

That's just where I'm at.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. I believe that without pressure from the left

we will have a center right government. I also don't believe in fatalism in the form of 'the right person at the right time'. What I do agree with is "we are in deep shit" and I too retain hope that Obama will rise to the challenge. I intend to urge him to do so in a center-left, progressive, humanistic manner at every opportunity.

[cali]

3. I disagree that Obama's instincts are "center-right"

And I want him to govern in a humanistic way as well. More and more the labels such as progressive, left, right, etc, mean less and less to me.

And I definitely believe that sometimes people are in "the right place at the right time". History seems to ilustrate that- and the opposite.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. It aint his instincts that are center right

it is "Warshington". Without our voices pulling left, the pressure from the right may succeed in keeping the Obama administration in the same center-right domestic and economic policy rut we have been in for the last 30 years and will perhaps successfully resist any real change to our militaristic american hegemony foreign policy position.

However, rather than instincts or our pressure from the left, I believe that it is the situation, this economic disaster, that may push Obama in directions Washington and even Obama never wanted or imagined him going.

[cali]

7. you're certainly right about that.

and I'm all for pressuring on certain policies, but I suspect that you have Obama pegged wrong.

[1corona4u]

2. I think he can do it all....

despite what some say, he is building a strong team. If he fails, this country won't survive as we have known it, and he knows that.

[Vinca]

4. I'm keeping my nose out of Obama's business for the time being.

He hasn't even taken the oath and he's being battered by left and right for problems he can't do a thing about right now. The man is in an impossible situation - a purgatory of sorts. Making matters worse is the total abdication of responsibility for anything from Shrub. The man is a place holder and nothing more. Congress should pass a special act allowing Obama to be sworn in immediately.

[MJkcj]

6. Well said!

i agree with everything you said

I have supported Obama because he is the "smartest mother****** in the room" and I WANT my president to be smarter than I am.

And he has shown such good judgment... so far. It is so reassuring, It makes me want to trust him.

But he is human and these really are such difficult complicated times and no doubt he will make decisions that we will call into question...

I hope he is everything he appears to be, maybe it is too much to ask. But I am am willing to give the man a chance.