I can be angry at the president without hating him...

[armyowalgreens]

Just like I can be happy with the presidents action without loving the whole of his actions.


I am angry at Obama for at least one thing:

Afghanistan.

And I am not very happy with Obama or the democrats since at least last night. I didn't expect socialized medicine. I didn't expect single payer. I wanted a public option that truly is a public option.

Instead, we are now handing over millions of extra customers to the insurance industry. But some here argue that, with price regulation, Americans will be saved lots of money.

I don't buy that argument. The government is going to negotiate prices with the insurance companies, right? Are these the same insurance companies that are so efficient at buying out politicians?

Excuse me for not trusting that relationship.

Maybe I'd be inclined to believe in this reform if there was some form of campaign finance/lobbying reform. But I don't see that happening any time soon.


However, my main point is that it's okay to be mad at Obama just as it's okay to be mad at congress. And I know we do plenty of congress trashing around here.

[rudy23]

1. I expect this sane, rational OP to be ambushed by ad hominems and unrecs very soon.

I would love to be wrong. And I agree 100% with this post.

[tbyg52]

18. Well, this *is* DU, after all....!

:hi:

(Oh, I also agree 100%.)

[liberalmuse]

2. Very well said. K&R. n/t

[CakeGrrl]

3. And conversely, one can be glad he's in office without being

a sycophant, starstruck fan, or Kool-Aid drinker.

[rudy23]

6. We can also be glad he's in office, AND extremely upset with him.

Count me in that camp.

[Riverman]

14. Me too, my son with a "pre-existing" rare kidney disease cannot wait four years

for the Obama plan to kick-in. When he has kidney failure that can happen anytime the cysts in his medullary tubes burst from a fall or enlarging cycts, its dialysis, transplant or death per his doctor's opinion. Can't wait in line for a transplant - he won't make it. Don't know how long dialysis will keep him going. I am angry with Obama and the blue-dog democrats and have comtempt for republicans, insurance and pharmcuetical corporate parasites. This is moral issue - I am glad Obama put in those terms, last night, finally. But, I have no faith that he will act on those morals, he has the corporate funders to protect.

[Oregone]

9. "glad he's in office" has grown to be such a loaded stance

There wasn't really much of an alternative. Him or McCain... ehg. Of course people are glad McCain isn't starting World War 3. That doesn't mean everyone has to shut the fuck up and not try and influence policy that may not appropriately address the nation's current dire issues.

Ive always thought that Obama would be perfect for America's image abroad (despite not exactly changing policy dramatically). Perceptually, he seems to have improved many problems (there was even a report about Europe recently, and its positive view). But beyond that, my expectations are being met head on with policy.

[armyowalgreens]

10. +1

[CakeGrrl]

11. Let's just say I'm not going to proclaim a desire to

put up a primary challenger in 2012 if you want some sort of benchmark. I've seen several of those with a good amount of co-signing.

[Oregone]

12. Hm. Not sure I meet that benchmark.

:)

Haha....I want the most good for the most people. If we can find someone that might scare some sense into Obama....you know, write a little book like this:



http://www.ssa.gov/history/hueywhouse.html

I say, give it a go!

(FDR didn't accomplish everything alone, or by his own doing. Politics is a tricky game of managing opposition on all sides, not ignoring it on the left)

[Oregone]

4. And I can appreciate his strengths and personality without loving his policies

But unfortunately, at the end of the day, its the policies that really matter.

[bigwillq]

5. Me too.

Except some here can't understand that. If we don't worship at his feet, we are not true Democrats. :eyes:

[eleny]

7. I'll believe the savings when I see them

Making the companies insure those they refuse to insure now and then paying them to do it by subsidizing those very people is no sacrifice by the insurance companies. It would be better if we cut out the middle man and insure those people directly. The way we're doing it, it's insuring corporate profits. How long can we keep up with that level of greed?

I've contacted all my reps, the White House and Sibelius. Staying involved and ratcheting up the activity is a must right now.

K&R

[seabeyond]

8. hey, i was really really angry at bush and didnt hate him. hate is a whole different thing

dont know that i have ever hated.

[gratefultobelib]

16. I hated him for you. Still do.

[seabeyond]

17. i snorted on that one. lol. thanks. appreciate it.

cute

[Geek_Girl]

13. With out a public option this is a windfall for the Insurance Companies

Mandatory health insurance for all Americans = Mega Bucks for Insurance companies. At this point I'm becoming more and more against Obama's Health Care Reform.

I'm still hoping for the best out of this president. I guess we'll just have to see.

[Oregone]

15. It still is if the Public Option isn't available for everyone

Without one, or a limited one, its just Nixon's reform in another package. Ted Kennedy called it:

"a partnership between the administration and the private health insurance industry. For the private industry, the administration plan offers a windfall of billions of dollars annually. The windfall is not entirely a surplus, since elements of Administration's proposal appear to have originated in the insurance industry itself"

Windfall, you say? :)

[tbyg52]

19. Of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations. nt

[jtrockville]

20. I can listen attentively, and with respect, even when I don't like the message.

I'm proud of my President. Though I reserve the right to criticize.