a republic, if we can keep it

[ulysses]

I'm trying to imagine a scene in my head. In the scene I'm trying to conjure, a cozy group of men who represent business interests sit around a fire tonight discussing whether or not to continue to employ their Washington lobbyists. In the end, they agree instead to trust President-Elect Obama to do the right thing.

Oh please.

Listen: I like Obama. I like him a lot. He has an amazing mind, for all I can tell not having met the man, and a personal discipline that I'll likely envy as long as I live. Honestly, I can't wait until he takes office - and that runs against some hard-won cynicism on my part.

But we have a representative democracy here, and I don't trust him to do the right thing to the point where I'm going to shut up and sit around hoping like a child on Christmas Eve. I'd question my mother were she in the same position. It's what we're supposed to do.

"But uly," you cry, "he's not even in office yet!" True, but I refer you back to the representative part of "representative democracy". Obama can't ask all of us what we think, so we have to rely on who he picks to advise him. I think those picks are worth talking about.

In the end, we've been down this road before. Some years ago, there was a thread on DU the thrust of which was that the left didn't have much room to complain about the Clinton years because most of what emanated from liberals during that time was the sound of snoring. Fair enough.

[last1standing]

1. There was no Democratic Underground during the Clinton years, but there was a Freerepublic.

You're right. Democrats were silent during the Clinton years and that is why we were overwhelmed for so long. The worst offense we could give to this nation is to shut our mouths as some here would like. We need to discuss, debate, and opine just as much now as ever.

Thanks. Recommended.

[ulysses]

4. thanks.

Should be an interesting time.

[FrenchieCat]

2. So keep on talking.

Is anyone really stopping you?

I trust Obama implicitly...and many folks tell me that I shouldn't. That's really the same thing that you are talking about in reverse isn't it? But see, I don't care if others believe that I should doubt this man that I have decided that I would not (not until he's served a 100 days in office at least, anyways).

That doesn't mean that I'm not going to write to him via Change.gov if there is something that I'd like done differently, or there is a personnel matter that I'm not 100% is the best person for the job. But I'm not gonna get pissed off, or intimate that he is somekind of wolf in Sheep's clothing, or a puppet, or not up to the job. And I'm certainly not going to drop the becoming cliche..."How is that change?"......one liner into threads that I see possibly echoing my sentiments. But that's just me.

I think the mess that we have on our hands is so great that I just want him to concentrate on that like a laserbeam, and I'm not gonna give him a hard time while he gets this done....but other folks can have at him if they so wish.

In the end, its the results that he accomplishes that will count, far as I'm concerned.

[ulysses]

3. evidently not.

:)

[Guava Jelly]

5. I like Obama too.

I cried tears of joy when it was announced that he won. The man is top notch.
I don't think he will be perfect,but I believe he has the potential to become the best president that we've had in several decades.
Maybe ever?? I don't know.
I feel that my job,or should I say our jobs are to keep him honest.
When he says or does something we don't agree with, then we call him out.
He isn't perfect.
That said
Gawd Damn! I've been walking on rainbows and shitting butterflies since election day!
:D :woohoo: