Simple Logic: Why we must criticize Obama if needed.

[Mr Rabble]

This is actually a very simple concept, and yet I have seen no mention of it. Seemingly any criticism of the Obama administration is met with scorn and ridicule by our fellow liberals and Democrats, citing any number of reason justifying whatever heinous law passed or action taken.

I would submit that it actually makes much more sense to criticize the Obama administration than it did for the Bush Crime Family.
Why?

Because the Obama administration just might listen to us.

It is not terribly likely, but there is a much better chance of our voices being heard than there was 60 days ago.

This is exactly the time to speak up. The only way we as a society are going to get justice, is by advocating for it when there is a chance for victory.

That time is now.

[county worker]

1. We criticized Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Clinton.

I don't see us not criticizing Obama.

[ProgressiveFool]

2. Agreed, in a way

I mean, I'm not sitting there looking for any opportunity to criticize, but I think Obama still needs to be pushed into making clean breaks with the Bush administration on things like presidential secrecy and national security secrecy including illegal wiretapping, torture and rendition and holding those responsible for that travesty accountable, and any number of other things related to Civil Liberties and checks and balances on the office of the president.

Thankfully, I think Obama is actually counting on the Democrats in Congress to force him to do some of these things, like Leahy on torture and rendition, etc.

I'd like to think my criticism of the Bushies wasn't just gratuitous or without merit, and that regardless of whose "side" is in power, the truth can still be spoken. That's one of the reasons I'm a liberal.

[blondeatlast]

3. Of course we must criticize him--but we also have to realize that on a

progressive message board there will be those who disagree with his actions and those that don't.

You might like what he did on Issue A and I may not--but I shouldn't scorn you for actually approving of his actions. I see a lot of people who seem shocked to learn that opinions on matters differ even among self-identified progressives.

[tbyg52]

4. Of course.

That's why I changed my sig.

[LakeSamish706]

5. I voted for him, I donated to his campaign and to me that gives me the right...

to criticize him when I think he is doing something that is wrong. However, that being said, I would like to know what made him do the something that I disagree with before I criticize him.

[4lbs]

6. Not any criticism, but over-the-top criticism from people that have almost nothing but negative post

histories are what really irk me.

For example, here's a PROPER criticism:

"While the $787 billion stimulus package is quite large, I wish it could have been larger. Around $900 billion or even a trillion. That extra $100 billion? More spending on infrastructure should have been done. However, I also realize that a larger bill likely wouldn't have gotten the 60 votes required to pass it. This is a good first step. I will press the administration to make additional packages and reforms as quickly as possible. We really do need more from the government."

Compared to...

Criticism from people that are almost aways negative in their posts:

"This thing sucks! This is the 'change' I voted for?!?!?!? Why the hell did they put all this junk in it? I guess he's just like all the rest."


See the difference? The first is acceptable and constructive. The second, well... is just stupid.

[Mr Rabble]

11. Those are extremes. I don't agree with either-

How about this take on the stimulus:

"This thing is a sham giveaway to the people who least need it, by means that are known to be ineffective."
or
"Of all of the options discussed by Nobel winners like Krugman and Stiglitz, this didn't register."

Those two statements are true and accurate. The administration should be ashamed for not doing what is thought to work by the most respected minds in economics. Rather, the administration did what the guys who set up the whole rigged game suggested. Does that not seem insane?

We should literally be repeating these facts whenever possible. Instead we get subservience to power.

[4lbs]

12. Getting pissy and whiny in the criticisms regarding President Obama and his policies doesn't help

anybody.

Try coming up with cogent, coherent, well-reasoned, detailed, criticisms, that have few knee-jerk emotional comments.

[Mr Rabble]

13. Thats knee jerk to you?

Seems more like concise and true to me. No need to be verbose.

[4lbs]

15. Yes, saying the administration should be ashamed and calling their actions insane seems rife with

emotion to me.

[Mr Rabble]

16. So then no merit to that assertion?

If the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over while expecting a different result, than what they have done is insane indeed.

Look, I walked for Obama and voted for him. Some of the decisions they are making are bad decision if you are interested in things like justice and peace.

[Every Man A King]

14. Someone actually demanded that Obama veto the stimulus n/t

[Captain Hilts]

7. Folks get all over my ass if I do. It doesn't matter that I praise some policies and

criticize others.

It's all about personalities, rather than policy for so many of the groupies around here.

[Cant trust em]

8. Criticize sure. But let's not get all chicken little here.

I've seen some crazy posts talking like his four week old presidency is already a failure and that he's sold us out and whatnot. I haven't been as happy as I would have liked with some of the way the communications and negotiations went down regarding the stimulus, but I don't think we should get carried away. We shouldn't also forget that even though he's our guy, he's fallible and we're not going to agree with him 100% of the time.

[Mike 03]

9. Rational and logical criticisms for certain. But what I've seen is a lot of premature or incredibly

superficial criticisms before the guy can even get his bearings straight.

There is a difference between deserved criticism and blind shooting, the second of which is what I'm mostly seeing right now.

[Uzybone]

10. More DU martyrdom, there is an OP like this everyday

no one is saying there should be no criticism. Criticism is needed, as everyone knows. Those that criticize should also realize and accept the fact that they can also be criticized by others who disagree with their position. Nothing new here.