Wow! I think there are going to be lots of unhappy people on DU when Obama is re-elected handily

[book_worm]

By the looks of things around here there is a lot of mourning and talk about challenging Obama and not voting, etc...

Obama has had one of the most successful first years of any president since FDR.

His Stimulus bill stopped stopped the recession from depression. The mess he inherited is turning around by almost any standards. The Stimulus provided was the biggest tax cut in history and the biggest jobs bill in history.

He saved the Climate Meeting from collapse

HCR is, despite everything, a huge step forward and one of the most progressive pieces of legislation in history. Some here yelp about it but every progressive in the Senate still voted for it because they know that it's better than doing nothing and that there are excellent elements in it.

He has put a time line on action in Iraq and Afghanistan for withdrawl.

He has changed the perception of the USA around the world--the main reason he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

His top domestic agenda will be a huge jobs program in 2010 (because unemployment is still too high).

My guess is that the president will have a solid list of accomplishments and an economy much better than he inherited with falling unemployment by 2012. He will have no major Democratic primary opponent--certainly not Howard Dean and not even DK. Based on where we are economically in 2012 Obama should win pretty easily.

[ixion]

1. yeah, we'll see

he won't be getting my support this time around. I know I'm only one vote, but refuse to vote for Empire.

[polpilot]

26. I don't have the time to work for a candidate & then beg them to do the right thing.

He had amazing support and completely blew it for lack of principled behavior and leadership.

[L0oniX]

2. There are drugs / treatments for the disillusioned now.

[still_one]

3. The verdict is not in, and we won't know for a while. One thing is pretty certain though

if the economy starts to pick up, and people start to get hired significantly before the next election, that will help the Democrats at all levels

[izquierdista]

4. And there's peace in Afghanistan

And the troops are home from Iraq.

And the bank are now regulated.

:eyes: Roll up your pants, it's too late to save your shoes.

[hayu_lol]

16. To all intents and purposes...

this is a depression, not a recession. All that saved us this time are the programs that FDR put in place and that have been improved upon over the years.

During the depression, there wasn't any NEW money going into every city and hamlet in the country...a cash shortage if you prefer. The programs such as SS, disability, unemployment, food stamps(also helps farmers by the way), WIC and the like are the constant infusions of new cash nationally. People on these programs use every penny just to get by.

Banks and investment bankers got a bailout. They took the money, in many cases continued their failed programs of high-living parties, huge raises, huge bonuses, and used the rest to buy up what competition remained.

None of that 'trickles down' to Mom, Dad, or Junior.

Without those programs, this depression would have been worse than than the one FDR brought us out of.

So please, don't attempt to compare FDR with Obama.

[OHdem10]

23. Since Obama appears to have the same disdain for FDR as the

other "Centrists", it is best not to compare the two.

FDR bailed out the Little Guy as well as the Banks.

Obama did help the state governments but no specific
help for the working class. True Blue DLC .

[sendero]

62. Economically..

... all Obama has done is kicked the can down the road a bit.

Anyone that thinks we are remotely out of the woods is going to be unprepared at best and shocked more likely.

All of this "recession is over" nonsense is complete idiocy. It's not, and it won't be over in 2010 either.

[grahamhgreen]

5. BECAUSE HE HAS ALSO FAILED TO ADDRESS THE CORRUPT VOTING MACHINE ISSUE!

[joeunderdog]

57. Which will not be an issue as long as he continues to play ball.

That's why he paid off Wall St., Big Pharm, Insurance, and Big Oil.

That's why he won't prosecute Rove, BushCo, Diebold or any of the rest.

The voting machines are the trump card if he decides to go rogue.

[jonnyblitz]

6. a this point i am indifferent . we get the same rightwing bullshit

and more wars no matter what party is in office. so i could care less anymore. :boring:

[HuckleB]

14. BS...

[Tailormyst]

7. Wow- I don't think you and I live in the same reality.

[hlthe2b]

8. I'm REALLY sick and tired of DUer's equating disappointment

in Obama, with WANTING him to FAIL! Damnit, this is such disingenuous argument... As Obama has himself cited FDR (who told the people that THEY must be the demanding force that allows him to take bold moves)...


Yes, I'm sure there are some genuine anti-Obama people posting. But, I'm likewise sure, that the majority of those expressing disappoingment want only what FDR's supporters wanted-- to give him the path (and the pressure) to move forward with the ideals he'd been elected on.

[Gormy Cuss]

22. +1

Where does this notion that any criticism of Obama and his policies is the equivalent of wanting him to fail?

[Echo In Light]

30. It's such an obviously dishonest position it immediately relegates those who wield it

[racaulk]

41. +1

It's the same for those that equate disappointment with Obama to "hating" or "bashing" him. It is simply not true in most cases, and those retorts only serve to silence opposition while adding nothing to the discussion.

[GreenPartyVoter]

68. +1000

[Skittles]

71. I'm very, very tired of this too

it's freeper thinking and it is digusting to see on DU

[Toasterlad]

75. All I Want From Obama Is What He PROMISED Me. When I Get It, I'll Shut Up.

Until then, fuck anyone who doesn't like my bitching.

[HughMoran]

9. lol - you had 6 recs when I opened the post, I hit refresh after a minute and you had <0

That'll teach ya. (to post more often as it's clear you're hitting a nerve)

[HuckleB]

12. I'm not real impressed by "hitting a nerve."

That seems to be the reason for posting for too many at DU, right now. However, I don't think this post falls into that category.

The anti-Obama knee-jerk rants do need to be called out for what they are.

[HughMoran]

15. after middle next-year

they won't be permitted and those who insist on posting the anti-Obama/anti Democrat NON constructive garbage they are posting now will be banned.

[HuckleB]

27. Why is that?

[HughMoran]

31. rules tighten up close to elections

DUers are expected to support Democrats here and many will speak out against Dems in favor of 3rd party candidates. As the election draws near, posts will get locked. Many of this type of poster will tend to fly off the handle and start posting ever increasing jabs at Democrats/a Democratic candidate. Eventually they will become too much for the mods to handle and will get banned. I've been here through 3 elections now and it happens every time.

[HuckleB]

47. Got it.

I probably spend more time on the health and science boards then -- for the sake of my own mental health.

Cheers!

[HuckleB]

10. High emotions have a way of changing over time.

In addition, more information will creep into the blogosphere, and some of that will show the ludicrous nature of the current rants against Obama.

[G_j]

11. backed by the MIC and Wall St.

you may be right.

[theoldman]

13. I too will laugh my ass off when Obama is re-elected in 2012.

Many other people will lie and say that they supported him all of the way. I will be just as hard on them as I am on my Republican friends today. Obama is one of the smartest presidents elected in my life time and I have been around a lot longer than most of you. Have a nice day.:)

[pipi_k]

29. I think a lot of people just don't understand

strategy.

They're so wrapped up in "I want what I want and I want it NOW" that they just can't see that an attitude like that often gets them nothing at all.



I've spent the last 12 months just observing him and reserving judgement. And I think he's doing as good as, or better than, anyone else could have done in his place.


I won't say "I told you so" to anyone, but I will smile inside...

:)

[Dr Fate]

56. I'll be very suprised & unhappy if Obama loses in 2012.

He should have no problem unless the GOP runs a well-spoken fake populist. Even then- there is no doubt that he knows how to win elections. I wouldnt worry much about that.

Right now, I'm more worried about losing the midterms, or even having Obama as president with a GOP congress for most of his 2nd term.

[MiniMe]

17. I think it is too early to make predictions, and a lot has to do with how unemployment

and the economy is.

[MineralMan]

18. Oh, well...you tried.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/MineralMan/27

[pipi_k]

19. Well he's got three more years...

to go back in time and:

stop the Titanic from sinking,

stick a rattlesnake in a toddler GWB's crib,

outlaw polyester leisure suits in the 70s, and

singlehandedly stop global warming


If he can't do all that stuff by then, fuck it. I ain't voting for him again.


:+

[Individualist]

20. Your crystal ball needs an overhaul.

[snooper2]

21. I figure a bunch of banned posters in the 6 months leading to election day

so most of DU will be happy watching the returns come in :)

[bigtree]

24. there's definitely some progress

. . . but it's nothing to get all arrogant about. He's practiced centrist politics and has made a few incremental advances, along with a couple of historic acts. But I'm not convinced that he's laying the foundation for future progress or if he's just giving away core principles for short-term, ephemeral political victories. Most folks don't stay tuned in past the first couple of procedural votes. Bills can be signed into law and get little to enact them at appropriation time. I've seen plenty of legislation signed into law touted as 'historic' and 'landmark' and have such a mediocre or negative impact that the debate just intensifies while the problem continues to fester. I'm just not convinced that this president and his political accomplishments have translated into the type of changes that many who voted for him expected, need, and deserve.

He can and will accomplish many things that we expect our Democratic administration to effect into action or law. But, you can see that there are many folks who have found their concerns left behind or put off by the administration. There are very real and important issues left to resolve for Americans. If the president and his steadfast supporters treat those concerns with disregard, they'll risk the disillusionment of many Obama voters who were new to the political system or had become convinced that his candidacy represented a different kind of politics that they could believe in.

Have you considered the impact on the future of his presidency if the balance of power in Congress favors republicans after the midterms?

[zipplewrath]

25. Let's review

His Stimulus bill stopped stopped the recession from depression. The mess he inherited is turning around by almost any standards. The Stimulus provided was the biggest tax cut in history and the biggest jobs bill in history.

The stimulus bill is at best tangentially related to the stopping of the recession. His bailouts, started under Bush, and hardly any measure of progressiveness, are predominately what stopped the collapse. The Stimulus was necessary, but was potentially little different from what a McCain would have done, save maybe more tax cuts and less welfare assistance. The GOP would have been as interested in "shovel ready" projects as the dems and would have also been as interested in state government assistance as the dems were. To some extent the GOP would have been more willing to spend more money since they wouldn't have had to fight a democratic minority that was fueling the whole "tea bag" crowd.

He saved the Climate Meeting from collapse

To what end is not clear. All the same problems are there. We still have no international agreements worth mentioning.

HCR is, despite everything, a huge step forward and one of the most progressive pieces of legislation in history. Some here yelp about it but every progressive in the Senate still voted for it because they know that it's better than doing nothing and that there are excellent elements in it.

It is not progressive in any way and it is passing specifically because of that. It is just more of the regulatory model that congress prefers because it gives them more power to demand support from industry lobbyists. It was specifically designed to ensure that the health care lobby would stay in the Democratic "camp" for a few more years.

He has put a time line on action in Iraq and Afghanistan for withdrawl.

No, he has not. He has a time line for review of decisions about the pace and scale of the withdrawl.

He has changed the perception of the USA around the world--the main reason he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

A perception that is gradually collapsing as they see him "double down" in Afghanistan and continuing the
Gitmo policies in other prisons around the world.

His top domestic agenda will be a huge jobs program in 2010 (because unemployment is still too high).

You're including in a list of accomplishment for his first year something that he is promising for year 2? If this is anything like his stimulus package or his HCR, it will be highly watered down and will serve industry more than employees.

My guess is that the president will have a solid list of accomplishments and an economy much better than he inherited with falling unemployment by 2012. He will have no major Democratic primary opponent--certainly not Howard Dean and not even DK. Based on where we are economically in 2012 Obama should win pretty easily.

Very likely. He may have a hugely weakened advantage in the congress. And by the end of his second term, the democratic successor will be likely trying to "run away" from his record. Kinda like Bush II.

[HuckleB]

28. And that's just a start of the positive things he's done.

:toast:

[mdmc]

32. I too am sure that Obama will win in 2012

:toast:
I doubt DU'ers will be sad though..

[opihimoimoi]

33. Obama is KILLING them GOPiacs with Success and Promise..They cannot contend with

him and his optimism....

They doom themselves in GLOOM....

Basically, GOOPers are not Happy Peeps...often are caught up in nasty dominated partnerships which affects their general outlook on life...usually takes the negative Mode

[Echo In Light]

37. "I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will." - Gramsci

[kestrel91316]

34. I will look at how many more or fewer people have medical insurance,

and how many more or fewer have had to declare bankruptcy because of medical bills before I decide who I will support.

It's got to be partly about how much better off I am. I cannot care only about others.

[alcibiades_mystery]

35. Some people enjoy being miserable

They paint this as "dissent" and "opposition," but it's often just some weirdo psychological problem. They also love acting as if they are absolutely right, and that the world is always heading toward catastrophe. It's like some Cassandra Syndrome or something. They were doing the same song and dance during the Bush regime, but it appeared reasonable because Bush really was that bad. Now it just looks pathetic and sad. Not much use paying attention to or arguing with such people. They could win the lottery and start a successful charity, and they'd spend 80% of their day doom-and-glooming it. They ENJOY it. It's their entertainment.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. You shoudl get out more often

and I mean from the US... he saved Copehhagen from total collapse? Sure he did... given how many national leaders are taking credit for THAT ONE... no it was not Barack but a combination of leaders.

Also I suggest readying OTHER sources that do not originate anywhere inside the bubble.

But hey, superman it is...

Sorry, I have very little tolerance for hero worship no matter who the hero is.

[msongs]

40. the american idol celebrity gambit will not work in 2012 - only accomplishments or lack thereof will

be the primary consideration. some good, some bad - some indifferent.

Aim low and settle for even less is not an effective long term strategy tho.

Msongs

[Wardoc]

38. Wall Street bailouts, non-binding climate targets, mandatory insurance, increased troops...

I'm sorry, but this has been a disaster. And as for calling us on our motivations, get over yourself. You can't just slap some the team colors and a slogan on this bullshit and expect us to cheer and break open our wallets again.

[leftstreet]

50. +1

Welcome to DU!

[GreenPartyVoter]

69. It's all or nothing. Either you're with Obama or you're with.. Oh wait. My bad. That was the last

guy and his mega-supporters who felt that way.

I don't mind some positive thinking and support, but I do get really upset when people come down on me for having concerns that some policies are weak or doubts about the whole chess grandmaster thing.

[stubtoe]

39. +1

Breath of fresh air, sorely needed around here these days.

[branders seine]

42. If he keeps screwing us and giving lavish gifts to his corporate donors,

hell yeah there will be.

[bridgit]

43. That is within probability - there's just little point in laying it out before the myopic

[racaulk]

44. Unrec for the trite and overused "you people want Obama to fail" meme.

I would argue that the vast majority of DUers want Obama (and the Democratic Party, by extension) to be wildly successful in the future.

We disagree as to whether or not he has been successful so far.


Edited for missing capitalization.

[4dsc]

45. Well lets see happens when progressives/liberals sit the next election out

It will be interesting to see if DLC can win the next couple of election alone..

[damntexdem]

46. As unhappy as I am with Obama, he, or another Dem, must be elected in 2012.

We already saw what happened with the unelected Dubya -- and the GOP has gotten WORSE.

[Liberal_in_LA]

48. K&R

[freddie mertz]

49. Won't be my fault. nt.

[Flaneur]

51. I think you're putting the premise before the achievement.

[omega minimo]

52. And you've provided the perfect campaign slogan to replace Hope and Change:

"BETTER THAN NOTHING"

[swilton]

53. I disagree that he saved the climate meeting from collapse

Listen to the 21 December version of Democracy Now with Amy Goodman -
http://www.democracynow.org/

Obama basically gave China an ultimatum and worked out a deal with China and a few other countries behind closed doors. There was no negotiation and no inclusion. The next climate talks are scheduled to be held in Mexico in 2010 - reference was made to the fact that Mexico is where all good treaties go to be put out of their misery - RIP climate treaty. Like the public option in the health care bill, I don't think that Obama was transparent in this process. I also don't believe he wanted to strengthen the Kyoto process but to destroy it.

[treestar]

54. They will have had three years of outrage

More than now. They will have vaporized themselves.

[WilliamPitt]

55. They'll cheer up when they get a load of his opponent

Whom I'm betting is Romney.

[depakid]

59. Romney would be my bet as well

Ostensibly moderate and competent.

If the economy is still in the doldrums and/or petroleum prices have shot through the roof, all bets are off.

[NNN0LHI]

72. Christian fundies will never be able to accept his mormon background

They look at mormons like someone from another planet.

Now if he were to convert and become born again he might pull it off?

Don

[B Calm]

58. I don't believe that criticizing our president, is hoping that he fails!

I think it's our patriotic duty as Americans to point him in the right direction.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

60. Carrots on a stick.

My favorite being "he has put a time line on action in Iraq and Afghanistan for withdrawl (withdrawal)." You have got to be kidding.

Just carrots to keep us plugging along and reaching for hope and change.

[donco6]

61. "Saved the climate meeting"? LOL!

http://www.openleft.com/

The way this agreement came into being is a study in political brinksmanship. Around 9 p.m. Friday, President Obama announced to an exclusive group of reporters that an agreement had been reached. After the story that the U.S., China, India, Brazil, and South Africa had struck a deal circulated in a number of online news stories, the United States called a press conference and President Obama announced publicly that a deal had been reached, and that “most of the text has been completely worked out.” He then left to go back to Washington in advance of the imminent snow storm that hit on Saturday. It turned out that President Obama had called it a done deal before any agreement was actually reached. All these announcements seem to have happened before some countries had even had a chance to see the text under discussion.

When the text was finally presented, a number of countries spoke out strongly against it – and particularly against the manner in which it was determined by a few countries behind closed doors and then thrust upon the 192 countries participating in the official plenary session. Into the morning on Saturday, the plenary adjourned and reconvened, attempting to determine what had happened and what the implications were.

Now that the conference is offically over, those implications are still not entirely clear. It looks like a number of countries will flat out refuse to sign the Accord. The UN operates by consensus -- and there's certainly no consensus that this weak accord is the best way forward

[Stinky The Clown]

63. :snort:

[Bluebear]

64. 'He has put a time line on action in Iraq and Afghanistan for withdrawl.' - well, I could do that!

Just sayin'. Let's see if that pans out. Announcing a timeline is not "action".

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

65. Like LBJ was when he dismissed the left?

[Moochy]

66. that solid "list of accomplishments" sounds familiar....

I heard an unnamed white house advisor talk about that list.

Rahhhhhhmmmmm!!

[Toasterlad]

67. Obama May Well Be Re-Elected, But It Absolutely Won't Be "Handily"

He's going to have to do it without the gay vote, for one thing, and that put him over the top in 2008. As for the other people vowing never to vote for him again due to his enormous fuck-ups on healthcare and Afghanistan, well, it remains to be seen how long their memories are, or how scared they get of the Republican boogeyman.

However, anyone stupid enough to believe that re-election for Obama right now is up-hill battle should be locked away for their own good. Obama will need to pull off some serious miracles over the next three years to get anywhere NEAR the kind of support he had last election.

The only way Obama wins "handily" is if the Republicans are dumb enough to run Palin for Prez...and I don't think they are.

[GreenPartyVoter]

70. Not just the gay vote. A lot of Greens, myself included, crossed party lines for him. I would

not be surprised if that was the case for indies and people from other parties as well. Whether he can still draw them in remains to be seen.

[begin_within]

73. So by "re-elected handily" do you mean they are calling in Diebold?

[Kansas Wyatt]

74. Instead of filling stadiums...

The 2012 Obama Campaign will be busing people in from military bases, much like his predecessor did.

And the Magic Diebold Machine says: Obama - 14,587 votes out of 9,023... Go Team Obama!!!

[Bethany Rockafella]

76. I hope he is re-elected

If they can install that guy from Texas in twice, then President Obama shouldn't have any problems.