Our President is powerful. Atlas, don't shrug, get a scaffold, and do the Right Things

[Mira]

I watched my President on 60 minutes, and I almost physically saw that monstrous weight resting on his shoulders.
It made me decide to weigh in a bit myself, being a relatively poor little old democratic activist woman on the South side of this nation, and to look at the almost first year of his presidency.
My words will be quite simple.

My disappointment over the troop escalation is monumental.
My worries are grave over the unspoken side issues that we are also there to clear the path for a pipe line to be built next year.
As a matter of fact I am wearing a blanket of pain and depression over this, which is not providing any warmth.

The fact that there is no investigation, that the war criminals, the murderers, the liars and the misleaders and all those that put legal pedestals under them seem to be going free is something I cannot find words for, or wrap my brain around. Here on DU I look for Bobthedrummer threads to Kick and Recommend.

This non-action and benign ignoring sets the stage for abuses of power in the future, and even the present. It is not what I expected to continue, and I fully voted for it to stop. As a matter of simple fact, I still do not fully believe that justice is not forthcoming, and hope for tricks up the sleeves of Holder and Obama to show me they "got this" in hand.

I have numerous other issues of concern, where stands were promised, and action is slow or not forthcoming. But the end of waging more war, and the path to jailing the culprits and taking a stand in our names that reverberates around the world about not sanctioning it, those I cannot compromise on or wait for any longer.

My realization is that President Obama, once briefed about all he inherited and once the size and perimeters of the disasters at hand had descended onto his shoulders, seems to have turned into a man who has fallen victim to compromising on almost everything.

I deeply care about him, I have empathy when I see him aging noticeably, smiling ever so much less, seeing him have pain in his eyes and some of the right words on his lips while not getting around to doing many of the important changes he said he would make.

I saw a man tonight who is miserable with what he has taken on and what in his mind he has to do to play it correctly to all of those who own a piece of him.
I saw that he has come to know his power, and I saw him pour steel into his spine to carry it off.

I witnessed a new Barack Obama, who now no longer opts to use the ability as a campaigner, is settling into the job he wanted and we gave him, and he wants to serve all his masters and has not understood that it is an impossibility.

Very sadly, on the very simple level where all things ultimately get a common denominator, this will undo him personally and nationally and will dilute his being effective and supported.

In this day of deception, cronyism, corruption and stark partisanship and hatred, only a clean and clear eyed savior who with blinders and faith marches to his own drummer can save us.
I watched the wonderful man we elected struggle in an interview that he could not really come clean in to us the people, because the mysteries and secrets are enveloping him.

In the end, after a long slide down the wrong tracks it was the god-awful chimpy fuck nuts who put us into this state of teetering at the abyss of destruction on so many levels.
He is getting away with a million murders while he hee-haws clearing brush, probably high as a kite.
The world deserves for that to be addressed and be recognized, by us, and I will insist on it along with Bobthedrummer until I die.

Yet it was the horror evoking memory of Chimpy's guffaws and chuckles while speaking of death and destruction that made me come around to softening while listening to the President we elected, who shows that he understands the gravity of his positions, and of whom I still expect a more clear understanding of why we put him into office.

[LakeSamish706]

1. Very good post and there are a number here that will not let many of these issues

slide. We cannot move forward until the crimes and criminals behind us are brought to justice. After all, they are the ones that perpetrated the two wars that we (Obama Administration) are having to deal with. Bobthedrummer is one cool character for continuing to bring the war criminals to the forefront on DU. I am very stressed at some of Obama's choices for positions; ie: Geitner and others.

[leftstreet]

2. K&R

Thoughtful post

[JohnnyLib2]

3. Eloquent OP.

:thumbsup:

[NYC_SKP]

4. Link to the Transcript of the Full UNEDITED 60 Minutes Interview here.

Thanks very much, Mira. I share your many of your thoughts. This is an overwhelming job, it would tax any mortal.

I was following this released transcript.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/13/60minutes/main5975421.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

Only about 20=30% of the interview made it on the air, it's worth reading!

:thumbsup:

[Mira]

6. Thank you very much for your words and the transcript. N/T

[MannyGoldstein]

5. He Needs To Do The FDR Thing

Simply stand up straight, take a deep breath, and say "I'm going to do the best thing for the most Americans". And then he needs to go do it.

It will be difficult - he's already lost a tremendous amount of good will. But few in history have Obama's ability to speak to our souls, if he chooses to use it again.

As FDR said: "It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." Obama needs to admit his failures, make adjustments, then move forward trying new things. If he continues to deny mistakes and to shield grifters like Summers and Geithner, all is lost.

[Mira]

9. Yes, this is what I tried to say. Additionally I wish

that he could abandon all ego/all thoughts of his place in history/all hope for bi-partisanship in what proves to be impossible at best/ and all need to cater to his advisers.

I wish he could have a radio/fire side chat with the American People, once a week, be truthful, engage us in turning this albatross of a mismanaged country around, and clear up the gagging lies we suffer hearing, and if he did that as if he were a radio talk show guy he could win the minds and hearts of a lot of the disillusioned.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. +6.02x10^23

Thank you!

[babylonsister]

7. "while not getting around to doing many of the important changes he said he would make."

I like you post and the thought you put into it, but I think you discount him because he has plenty of time to satisfy you, me, and the naysayers. He's dancing as fast as he can, and all he's been able to do is try to right some of the wrongs of the previous admin. Oh, and maybe that stimulus worked, maybe health care might actually get reformed, and maybe, eventually, the wars will be over. He's not miracle man, but his attitude and total difference from idiot son will make a difference. And that is what I voted for.

[NYC_SKP]

8. Could anyone have possibly left a bigger pile of shit for a new man to walk into?

Not this OP, but generally, many totally lose the context.

Two wars.

Huge debt.

Economy going over the edge.

Unaddressed Health Care cost explosion.

You know the rest.

It was a fucking booby trap, they probably didn't even care to win this particular term.

:nuke:

[babylonsister]

11. No kidding. I think that's why McCain was the old codger who 'won',

because the rethugs were demoralized. The rethugs might have thought Clinton had the election, but they had no one to combat her either.

And yes, it was and is a booby trap, but it hasn't been sprung yet. This man can pull it off if we give him a chance.

[Mira]

13. Yes, he has time, but not plenty. And when it comes to

a decision to send more troops into a war with no real stated objective into a terrain of mountainous cavernous proportions and no history of success there is no time at all.
I so much understand what you are saying, I was in the mall on inauguration day, I love and support this man, and I want him to succeed as our elected leader. I understand to my limited degree how hard all of GWB's disastrous leavings are to take on.
I hope I said that.
But - though he has a full plate as they say - he also has an incredibly full access to HELP.

[babylonsister]

15. He made that decision after months of talking to everyone he could.

While I wish he had said he wants everyone out now, and I do think he would have preferred that, there's a reason he didn't. We are not privy to that reason but I have to trust the man enough to do what is best for us and everyone. He is not a war hawk, he wants out of there, but he might be giving everyone the military might to prove their points and then to say 'that didn't work', let's get out.

I don't know. But I have to believe there is a reason he/we couldn't just leave. I still want us to, but I will defer to the CIC to know what he's doing; at least this one is thoughtful to the utmost, and that's a helluva lot better than what we've had in the past.

[HughMoran]

12. Nice post, though not one of your issues is he not keeping his promise

- He said he would escalate in Afghanistan

- He said he wanted to "look forward, not back" WRT investigating Bushco

Nice post, but you seem to have not been listening or were pretending that "he was just saying that" to get elected.

No, he told the truth and people hate him for it. Who's the fool that voted for him believing he was something else?

[Mira]

18. Well -

he did say that the war in Afghanistan was the "right" war, and that it had been shortchanged by the diversion into Iraq.

I did not hear anything about looking forward about the murderers and their agendas until after he was elected.
And I pay attention.
Prove me wrong.

I will easily admit I may have put more meat into what he promised than actually was there.
I don't hate him for anything. And I am no fool.

[HughMoran]

23. Quote from Obama in an April, 2008 interview:

What I would want to do is to have my Justice Department and my Attorney General immediately review the information that's already there and to find out are there inquiries that need to be pursued. I can't prejudge that because we don't have access to all the material right now. I think that you are right, if crimes have been committed, they should be investigated. You're also right that I would not want my first term consumed by what was perceived on the part of Republicans as a partisan witch hunt because I think we've got too many problems we've got to solve.

So this is an area where I would want to exercise judgment -- I would want to find out directly from my Attorney General -- having pursued, having looked at what's out there right now -- are there possibilities of genuine crimes as opposed to really bad policies. And I think it's important-- one of the things we've got to figure out in our political culture generally is distinguishing betyween really dumb policies and policies that rise to the level of criminal activity. You know, I often get questions about impeachment at town hall meetings and I've said that is not something I think would be fruitful to pursue because I think that impeachment is something that should be reserved for exceptional circumstances. Now, if I found out that there were high officials who knowingly, consciously broke existing laws, engaged in coverups of those crimes with knowledge forefront, then I think a basic principle of our Constitution is nobody above the law -- and I think that's roughly how I would look at it.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Barack_on_torture.html

As you can see, he's always chosen his words carefully on this topic. I think he's been true to his word on this topic. IF Holder finds evidence of wrongdoing, I would expect him to move to prosecute in his 2nd term as outlined in the interview above.

[Mira]

26. I'll bookmark my thread for your comments. Just in case my frustration

remains alive long enough without just giving up.

I cannot, the way that I am wired, and the way that I feel, imagine that when you feel strongly about something that is this grave you can put off doing something about it for years on end.
Especially when you once had people end on end supporting you and putting their faith in you.

[HughMoran]

27. Getting revenge on your opponents is not always the most productive use of time

What did you think of the 'reconciliation' that occurred in South Africa after apartheid?

It took a lot of guts to do that, but they may be a better place because of it.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

14. What a profoundly insightful

perspective of Obama's evolution as POTUS.

I've wondered often if the pigs that brought us to this "abyss of destruction" are not gleeful
that the horrors they created have fallen in Obama's hands. They have stolen our treasure, our future
and now sit back watching Obama attempt to do the impossible. Once we have descended into complete
financial ruin and social chaos they can reconstruct their new world order and blame it on the failings of
one man. If there was ever a time for a president to just fucking go for it, that time is now. I hope I live
long enough to see how it all plays out. these are truly the most extraordinary times.

[burning rain]

16. You bring up some very important things.

While having progressive preferences, Obama does have a yearning, embedded deep in his character, to deny that Americans have sharply divided loyalties, and bring us all together. The rhetoric about there not being a red America and a blue America, just the United States of America, is moving as aspirational poetry, but you have to live and fight in the mud of the prosaic real world, too. And in that real world, as it stands, red and blue America are fighting it out. I hope he doesn't get chewed up in no man's land. He isn't going to make everyone happy, with 40-45% of the country bound and determined to be unhappy with him in any case. He's looking well older already... I recall how much Jimmy Carter aged in just one term. Yow.

[BeFree]

17. Do the right thing, indeed

Folks told me it didn't matter who was president, the thing is rigged. These were intelligent, hardworking people. I agreed and just said that Obama was our last chance to turn it around. And I believed Obama would.

Now, I am losing faith that he will. To restore that faith, Cheney needs to be charged. Cheney, and his minions, need to be charged with something that stops them cold. They still wander around DC like they own the place and Obama needs to close it down.

But I fear, he's not gonna do it. And if he doesn't, he is doomed, and we, likewise are doomed. Doomed to still be doing the Cheney dance.

Yes, job number 1 is close down Bushco. Screw this wasting time on lower echelon economists, the f'n vampire is walking free!!

Bless you Mira for your return to the position we need to be focused on. May Obama heed you and your wisdom, for if not, we are done for.

[Mira]

20. I'm taking a deep breath right now thanking you for your understanding.

And being shocked at that for the first time I'm watching unrecommendations in action.
:wow:

[BeFree]

22. I cry for us

I really do. It didn't have to be this way. We thought it would somehow be changing by now. Perps would be in court, troops coming home, peace breaking out.

The unrecs being spewed are just a symptom of ours and Obama's biggest problem: the people are not ready for change. They really fear any real change.

Obama, with the stroke of a pen, could bring about some of the change this world needs, but he hasn't. I cry for us.

[eleny]

19. "...because the mysteries and secrets are enveloping him."

I hope the soldiers who die because he sent them over there and their families get better than mysteries and secrets as to why.

I watched Christiane Amanpour interview McCrystal today on CNN. I watched him pick up his embroidery needle and the finest silk thread to stitch pretty flowers around the skid mark that is his policy and plan for Afghanistan. And I didn't believe the efficacy of much of what he said.

You betcha the president has a weight on his shoulders. But I won't spend a second thinking of him as a victim. He had the ambition to ask for the job, fought for it. He's supposed to square his shoulders and do the right thing by us, the American people, who hired him.

I don't wring my hands for presidents only over their godforsaken policies.

[Mira]

21. You just said a number of mouthfuls, and I now feel small.

Because you showed me what having grit means.
Thank you!

[eleny]

24. You'll make up your own mind. It's not easy these days, Mira

People are pulled by loyalty to country and to their vote. I'm just old enough to have marched against LBJ's policies in Vietnam. So President Obama doesn't rate any special consideration from me.

Good luck with your own decisions about the administration's policies. There are enough policies to study these days. Some I agree with and some I don't. Obama surely has the shoulders to handle whatever we think.

[Hippo_Tron]

32. Oh I don't pity the man, he was stupid enough to run for President

But I also don't pretend that I could do the job better given the circumstances or quite frankly do the job at all, for that matter.

[tavalon]

25. I've come to understand that Obama doesn't have the temperment

for this job. But he is a Leo, so he may just figure out how to do it anyway. He's too nice and the robber barons are continuing apace.

[dixiegrrrrl]

28. I am in awe of your eloquence.

And cannot disagree with any of your concerns.

K&R....

[tblue]

29. He does not see The Left as his masters. If he only embraced us

instead of marginalizing us, I think he might find that ugly burden lifted a little. We're his camp, his home base, his safe house! Lean into us! Lead us! We will have your back, sir!

The work of repairing this nation is difficult enough. But to do it by triangulating in order to elicit bipartisanship/cooperation from people who want only to destroy his presidency would make anyone turn gray. He keeps trying to be a human pretzel. I want so much to believe in him and follow him. Just do what's in your heart, Mr. President. As a student of history, I know you know the way.

Thank you for this post. I have tivo'd 60 Mins, and I will watch it and study him. I am rooting so hard for his success.

[Mithreal]

30. K&R

Playskool was a sociopath, laughing and smirking at death and destruction is just part of the disorder.

President Obama clearly is not a mentally damaged individual. That we have not elected another damaged individual is not something I would praise the President Obama for, but I very much appreciate the op.

[Hippo_Tron]

31. Again, it's not about a pipeline

It's about Obama's political survival. Democrats have to be hawks or they will get their asses kicked in the next election. It goes back to Eisenhower and McCarthy attacking Truman for being weak on Communism and unfortunately it has been with us ever since.