Don't shoot me. I'm just curious. What do you honestly think Barack WILL accomplish as President?

[BigBearJohn]

I know I'm inviting snide remarks, but I am curious
as to what everyone's expectations are... if you'd
like to share them. (I hope this doesn't drop like
a rock!)

[tavalon]

1. I really don't have a firm idea.

I suspect he won't be average, but I don't know if that means he will save our republic or make us all want to move to Canada. Besides, he is just one part of the three branches of government and I don't know how much he'll be able to do with the invertebrates who populate Congress. Their side is wrongheaded and sometimes even actively stupid but our side is spineless and too dependent on lobbyist's precious dollars.

[charlie]

2. Who can know?

I don't mean that as some future-is-unknowable dismissal, I mean this guy's got a tiger by the tail. More than most presidents, his accomplishments will be shaped more by circumstance than ability.

I'll just say his talent for communication and unflappable demeanor will probably be invaluable. We're gonna need a whole lot of handholding in the coming years.

[madokie]

3. Keep us afloat the first two years

After the mid term elections we will see a lot of new faces in washington and then the good shit will begin. Yes, after the elections we should see somewhere around a 70% Dem majority in both houses. America is much more than the sum of our present politicians, of who most of will not be looked upon by history in a favorable light.

Peace
Hide and watch

[mdmc]

36. yes

[mdmc]

37. yes

[mdmc]

4. reelection?

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. .

:evilgrin:

[mdmc]

27. .

:)

[machI]

5. President Obama will rescind the 'Don't ask, Don't tell' policy in the military

I hope he does it sooner in his first 100 days, rather than later.

[madrchsod]

6. maybe half of what he wants to...but

if we keep up the fire maybe more....

[LaurenG]

7. I think he'll do what he said he would as much as possible

I do think he can drag the country up off it's knees economically. I think he'll convince a bunch of us that it's not about him doing all the work, but it'll be us doing the changing and I am convinced that if we don't change we will be responsible for our own downfall.

I don't think he'll be trying to find someone to blame as much as moving on and finding solutions. I think there will be many high level executives that will no longer be "kings."

I think that if he can lead us through this in one piece, we'll be very lucky but it will be up to us to make the leap and change this.

[Hekate]

8. What he said he would do, to the extent humanly possible. That and turn water into wine, of course.

A joke, a joke, honest.

Hekate

[Indi Guy]

9. No snarkiness here. At first blush, you seem to be more concerned with the life of your thread...

...than the question you pose.

Assuming I'm wrong, here's my answer:

I think Obama's first term will be as the janitor who will have to cleanup after Cheney/Bush's crap & vomit convulsions in the capital. Barack has to be very careful not get any of it on him.

I expect that Obama will be as wise in his leadership as he was in his campaign. I hold no litmus test for the man. If, after four years, he becomes a successful wet-nurse to the economy left to him by the impudent children of eight years -- then four more years is a given.

There's something to be said for wise people who aren't afraid of the dirty work.

[BigBearJohn]

10. Thanks for your comments. I have no hidden motives other than

wondering what other people think about this issue.

I have had hundreds of threads in the top 10.
That part is no longer a big thrill. The only
reason I said I hoped it wouldn't sink like a
rock is because I really am curious as to what
people believe on this subject. So, I stopped
to ask.

[democracy1st]

13. I'm expecting a Justice Dept overhaul

[Wetzelbill]

11. He's going to make lots of headway internationally

Looking at some of the people involved in his administration's foreign policy apparatus, like Biden and Hillary, Dennis Ross, plus people like Napolitano and Richardson in their respective positions, and his own views I see several accomplishments, or at least moves in the right direction, on the horizon.

He will definitely make progress in the Arabic-Israeli Conflict. Obama's been talking to Brent Scowcroft and his GOP affiliated people are close to Scowcroft too. This is important because Scowcroft is one of the Republicans who seriously advocate going to the table and solving these issues. Dems are always more apt to do this, but I think Obama is working on getting diplomacy favoring Republicans on board so he and Biden and Hillary can make serious progress. I expect Israel to sign some type of agreement with the Palestinians in the next 2-8 years, and probably even Syria too.

I also expect to see relations greatly improve with Iran and Cuba. Maybe even totally open up diplomatically at some point. Richardson at Commerce might prove pivotal witht he Cuba issue too, and also whomever is at Agriculture.

Other than that:

He's going to get the economy going in the right direction. It may be impossible to totally clean up in his time in office because so much damage is done, but you'll see definite progress in economic issues, better job creation, better economic growth, he'll eventually start getting the budget under control, and he's going to be much better for the middle class in general. That's just on philosophy, historically his approach works.

Health Care! Expect Health Care to be the defining issue of his first year in office and likely his whole presidency. Senator Max Baucus will lead the way in the senate and he'll have the great Ted Kennedy by his side. Baucus will bring along maybe Grassley, and Kennedy's prestige and respect will probably bring along a few Republicans who don't want to be on the wrong side of history, notably John McCain. I say it gets passed and Obama signs it by spring. It'll be a significant bill and a landmark achievement. They'll get it maybe even faster because of Kennedy's health.

Mainly though, he's going to be a clean up guy. Bush has so screwed things up, his time is going to be spent undoing all the damage. I think he'll do great. Just on philosophy he'll do better, but Obama brings some special qualities to the table. He's not where he is for nothing.

[BigBearJohn]

12. Thank you for your well reasoned response. I appreciate it.

[Wetzelbill]

16. no problem

[eridani]

14. It depends on what pressure from below makes him do.

That is up to us.

[B Calm]

15. Hopefully he will restore our good name all over the world. End the

illegal Iraq War, bring back the middle class before it's totally lost, and give people who work for a paycheck a piece of the American dream!

[liberal N proud]

17. He has already accomplished a lot in regards to Americas image

The world is rejoicing and relived that he was elected. I have several colleagues who recently returned from various trips to foreign countries and all are saying the same thing. They are overjoyed that Obama will be President.

That in itself is huge compared to the flag burnings we saw every time bu$h went somewhere.

Other than that, I hope and trust he will turn this economy around.

[stray cat]

18. Given what Bush accomplished in 8 years in a negative direction

I will not underestimate the damage or progress one president can make. That said if he can stabilize the economy and actually give a damn about working Americans, reverse Bush over reaches in power particularly in violation of the constitution, and bring back integrity to his office he will have accomplished a great deal in my book. Even if he simply brings back intelligence and competency into the presidency.

[MiniMe]

19. It partly depends on if he gets a second term

I'm hoping for healthcare, and his tax reform.

[greguganus]

21. Hillary said, "the skies will open..." n/t

[Donald Ian Rankin]

22. Turning something that would make the Great Depression look tame into a mere catastrophe.

The first few years of an Obama presidency *are* going to be fairly grim, but not half as grim as they'd have been with McCain and the Republicans in charge, I suspect.

[Winterblues]

23. Respect

He will show Respect for the world as a whole and by doing so restore Respect for the USA. He will Restore in good part our Esteem throughout the world. He has already succeeded in doing some of this and he hasn't even been sworn in yet. He will restore the idea that having an intelligent person as our President is a good idea and somewhat rid the Whitehouse of the stink of GOP arrogance and corruption. He will be good for the world if we can keep him alive.

[KG]

24. not nearly so much as the worshipful would have you believe.

[scheming daemons]

25. By early 2010, the recession will over..leading to less than 10 lost seats in midterms, then....

in 2011 and 2012, the economy begins to heat up with sustained growth....

The enormous deficits...which will reach $750B in 2010, will begin to decline. The deficit in 2012 will be $250B.



Other items:

- In mid 2009, proof that Osama bin Laden is dead will come out.

- by mid 2010, there will be less than 20,000 US troops in Iraq.

- The "Ted Kennedy Healthcare Reform" bill will pass, leading to a Medicare-like system for all US citizens. Private health care plans managed by employers will gradually go away, leading to a boost for those corporations' bottom lines.

- Serious inroads into alternative energy will have occured.



Just my takes....

[riverdeep]

26. Bring us back to zero.

I will be happy is he brings us back to where we started before the Decider seized office. Make no mistake, it will take the entire first term just to undo what Bush has done, and there are some things like the Iraq war that can't be undone. It's going to be a full time job just doing that. Any progress beyond that will come in the second term, if there is one.

[ContinentalOp]

28. I expect nothing short of a total Marxist revolution. That's what they promised us right?

:shrug:

[Midlodemocrat]

29. He has already restored the faith in American that foreign countries lost after *,

And, that alone is huge.

I believe he will make good on his campaign promise to shore up the economy, end the war, and cut taxes to the middle class.

I don't know why, but he's one politician who I really think is telling the truth when he promises things.

[ACTION BASTARD]

30. Kill Bin Laden, bring home the troops,

-bring peace & prosperity to all Americans,
-discover the lost city of Atlantis,
-balance the budget,
-preform flawlessly the Triple Lindy dive at the 2012 Summer Olympics,
-return permanent funding to stem cell research,
-adopt a orphaned penguin that he shall name Toshiro Mifune Jr, and they will both have great adventure. Oh yes, they shall.
-peace to the middle east,
-Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
-watch the White Sox win the World Series.

[Vinca]

31. I hope he deals with healthcare, but if he can clean up Shrub's mess

in one term it will be a major accomplishment.

[martymar64]

32. I have just one wish

Legalize Marijuana.

But, with Biden and Eric "Make all Marijuana possession a felony" Holder in the Administration. I doubt it will happen.
I guess we'll just watch our prisons fill even more with people whose only crime was having a joint.
Meet the new boss . . .

[trollybob]

33. We will no longer have an intellectual embarassment of a president

representing us around the world; people will no longer burn the American flag everywhere the president goes; we will no longer be wasting lives and money in Iraq,etc.

[Danger Mouse]

34. Legalize torture, nuke Iran, blah blah blah...

:banghead:
I think he could do a lot of good.

[BigBearJohn]

35. thanks to everybody for your replies!

[bean fidhleir]

38. The wealthy will continue to make too much money, the military industry will

continue to grow like the cancer it is, as will the prison industry. We might be offered some sop, such as "universal health care" in the form of insurance that will turn out (like Medicare's drug "coverage") to be a pocket-draining mess. We might get another invasion-and-occupation, but it won't be in Africa where the people could actually use some intervention, nor in Palestine, it'll be in some place like Venezuela to "restore order and democracy".