I've been pretty hard on Obama's picks so far. I'd like to say something good about him.

[bigtree]

For all of the criticism of what Mr. Obama has done in this transition, I don't think that my impression of him has changed at all. I actually think he may have some grander scheme than I can imagine behind his appointments. I'm able to imagine that because I really see Mr. Obama as a work in progress.

I may not agree with every decision he's made or every statement he's made over the years and since the campaign, but I still see Mr. Obama as a sincere, decent fellow who has the heart and intelligence to become one of our greatest presidents.

I give Mr. Obama much more room for doubt, when I disagree, partially because of a measure of his record and his rhetoric, but, mostly because he hasn't had time to become immersed and compromised enough by choices and actions he's had to make over his political career to undo his very sincere optimism, his love of the country and its people, and his determination to make a positive difference in people's lives. His caring and assertiveness are the most substantive qualities he possesses, in my view.

I have high hopes for Pres. Obama because I believe in the righteousness of the causes he's promised to fight for, and I believe in his ability to make judgments which are in line with those values. I don't trust the political system any farther than I can reach out and touch it, but I believe in Mr, Obama. That may well be all he has to rely on from me for a while. But, it's enough to keep me firmly on his side, even as we may disagree from time to time.

I'm no shrinking violet, but I really don't intend our new president any harm by my criticisms and my defenses of them here. I hope folks can understand that.

[elocs]

1. Saying something good about Obama--now that wasn't so hard, was it?

I have even seen Republicans who have said good things about Obama, but what do they know.

[EFerrari]

2. Well said, bigtree!

:)

[DJ13]

3. I dont care for Obama's economic picks, but not so much because

...they are diametrically opposite of his campaign platform (which they are), but because in choosing people like that he will be forced into an almost Carter like micromanagement of them to keep good on his platform.

I have no doubt Obama plans on following through on his promises, but his job would be a lot easier if he had chosen people for the key positions he wouldnt need to babysit.

[FrenchieCat]

10. I think you are giving Obama too few options.....

in that you are only offering that he repeats Carter, or bust.

I believe that Obama is more than a capable communicator, who will provide the larger view of what he wants done. Folks in his employ will provide him with advice and plans, and he will make the final decisions. That's not micromanaging, that's being a responsible President. I don't need the government on Auto-Pilot on new policies proposals, and I doubt that Obama wants that either.

[liberalmuse]

4. Well said.

Sometimes it's hard seeing a slew of posts criticizing him. I'm not against criticism, but when it is blatant (as it is with anything Clinton-that there gets really ridiculous on DU) or before President Obama has even had a chance to be sworn in, it start grating on my nerves. I'm far left, too, but don't consider all things Clinton 'tainted' as some apparently do.

Thanks for your post. I feel very much the same.

[grannie4peace]

5. i think it's sad that you have developed the need to second guess our new

president but think that comes from the failure of our current president to do anything but pick up a liquor bottle. it makes a person live on the defensive because he ain't got your back. if you really listen to barack obama then you must admit he is so totally different from the schrub. how could you not have faith in someone who is full of common sense , great ideals, true leadership? mr obama is a leader, a visionary and i've heard very pragmatic. i haven't seen a side of him that i didn't admire!!!

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Closing Gittmo is good enough for me for the time being

[tabbycat31]

7. agreed

[Selatius]

8. I'm still waiting for Obama to impress. His economic team is absolutely appalling.

Putting foxes in charge of the hen house. It's madness. The good news I've heard so far is he is going to shut down farm subsidies to about 2700 millionaires who have abused the farm subsidies program. It was about time. That program was meant to help family farmers, not agricorp executives.

[sallyseven]

9. I fail to understand why

he has not come into DU and pick out the best and the brightest. Your all so bright and educated to the realities of government. I bet you could all stop the war, get good health care, reduce the debt, fix the infrastructure of the country in 6 to 12 mos. Or you could just shut up and assist in every way you can. President-Elect Obama is not legally president yet. He cannot do much of anything. I for one and sick of the trash talk about his picks. They are responsible, educated and successful people. He is 1000 times better than Bush.

[w4rma]

13. That's not saying much. President Herbert Hoover was 1000 times better than Bush. (nt)

[LWolf]

11. I have also been highly critical.

I still am. I can join you in saying some positive things:

1. It's not personal. I don't dislike the man, just his policies.
2. He is smart, well-spoken, and moderate in the way he deals with people. I like that, and it's certainly needed after 8 years of his predecessor.
3. I agree with him: I think his family ought to adopt a big, rambunctious dog. ;)
4. I also agree with him on the issue of 2nd language learning: I think all american students ought to learn a 2nd language.

[Barbara2423]

12. Has he chosen any Hispanics?

[Peace Patriot]

14. I'm hoping for a "good emperor," that's all. I have never hoped for anything other

than that--a real rebirth of democracy, serious reform--from Obama, although I do have hopes for Obama's supporters--the citizens of this country, who are the rightful rulers of this country, and who are rediscovering the principles upon which this country was founded, and for which so many people have fought and suffered over the centuries. Our national political establishment is so corrupt and so traitorous, no one could make it through their corpo/fascist gauntlet, to the White House, without serious compromise to begin with, or at some point along the way. That is the "Catch 22" of our political system. The global corporate predators who rule over us kill great democratic leaders--directly, or through character assassination, or via Diebold & brethren--if they get anywhere near the White House. That is just the way it is. There is no way that an FDR, for instance, could be elected today. Serious reform will not be permitted.

I, too, think Obama is a good guy--very intelligent, good heart, good instincts, for the people. But I think he had to compromise after his first success in the caucus states (not counted by Diebold & brethren), got vetted, and had to promise not to seriously fuck with the war profiteers and global corporate predators (and also with the Bushwhack war criminals). I think that's just how it is. We don't have our democracy back yet, because the corpo/fascists decided to let him win. To get our democracy back is going to be a long hard road. We can do it. I am sure of that. One of the movements by which we are going to do it--the election reform movement--is already well under way. Another, the movement behind Obama's candidacy, has been an awesome activation of the citizenry--the bottom line essential of true reform. And that activation had a very anti-war tenor to it. 70% of the people opposed to the Iraq War, and nobody in power was listening or responsive. The activists representing this huge majority flocked to Obama's campaign. I am very hopeful, but not so much about what Obama will--or can--do, but about what the people can do.

And I also think it's interesting that the corpo/fascists wanted to put a nicer face on their grand theft and murderous war power. Our rulers apparently have realized that they were flirting with what could have been a messy and troublesome revolt of the American people, and with changed conditions in the world, in which brute power has become bad for business (as war generally does, after a while). Great for the war profiteers but with diminishing returns for everybody else. So, as to Washington, we're going to get a change of emphasis and style--a little more consideration for the rightful rulers of this land, the people--and perhaps some openings for restoring our democratic institutions--and some re-glossing of America's image in the world, but nothing like the big changes really needed (throwing the war profiteers and the corporate rulers off our backs). If we want big changes, WE have to make them happen. That is what I believe in.

The above scenario (for Washington) leans toward the benign (the best we can expect), but we had better beware that, as long a fascist corporations are 'counting' all our votes with 'TRADE SECRET' code, the corpo/fascists can reverse course in 2010 or 2012, and get real mean again. That is our only real power--voting--and we MUST restore transparency to the vote counting, as our mainstay against that peril.