Obama appreciation thread.

[Dash87]

Despite Obama's latest flop (and the resulting outrage), I still think that he's a great President. Hitting a roadblock is nothing new in his Presidency.

I think it's good to rag on Obama in order to light the fire under his butt, but I still very much support him and will vote for him in the 2012 election. We may not agree on absolutely everything, but he still has my support. :)

[DesertFlower]

1. I agree. K&R nt

[Tikki]

6. Me too....

Tikki

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Crazy Dave]

3. Unrec-

[Individualist]

4. No sale.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9713587&mesg_id=9713587

[CoffeeCat]

5. I cannot criticize you...

...because every Democrat has to decide when enough is enough.

I fell off the bandwagon shortly after the non-reform healthcare bill passed. And I haven't
regretted my decision. I remember many criticizing me for supporting Obama during that time.

We all have to come out of denial at our own pace.

Good luck. To you. And to all of us.

[Scurrilous]

7. Unrecced.

He's a bad man and don't you forget it.

[Dash87]

11. Haha. Let's agree to disagree then.

:)

[Moondog]

8. Sorry. Time to move on.

[Egnever]

9. I definitely support this president

I dont agree with the idea that the tax compromise is a flop. Its a compromise to try to keep our country from slipping back into the brink.

I think he has done an awesome job so far as president consiudering the senate he has had to work with.

[Dash87]

15. I agree. I don't think it's the end of the world.

However, the reaction is pretty negative to it, which makes it a bigger problem. I think people should look at the other good stuff that Obama has done before they cast him to the side. :)

[DesertFlower]

16. exactly. nt

[AngryOldDem]

10. Sorry. Can't do it. Not anymore.

[uppityperson]

12. k&r

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. K&R

Good job, Mr. President!

[dennis4868]

14. I agree...

Nobody here who is mad about this deal explains in substantive terms what Obama could have done to defeat a fillubuster for tax cuts for the middle class only....not one repub and 5 dems were going to not fillubuster.....there was no chance in hell of killing the fillubuster so what Obama got for us (unemployment insurance for another 13 months, extending the earned income tax credit to benefit families, college tax credits, and a pay-roll tax cut) was a good deal that even Paul Krugman is slowly but surely coming around on this.

Too many people here want Obama to fight but never explain what fighting actually means. Does it mean Obama buying a gun and pointing it at the heads of repubs to come to his side. Short of that nothing would change by fighting.

[happy feet]

20. Exactly

[EOTE]

25. Ummm, how about making them filibuster?

All this talk about a filibuster and nobody makes them actually do it? Perhaps if he had actually allowed that to happen, people would see just how far the GOP would go to provides gifts to the richest in this nation. Conceding just about everything before that is pathetic.

[dennis4868]

33. ummmm....

If I am not mistaken they did fillubuster last week....

[EOTE]

55. It was my understanding that only the first bill was filibustered.

I could be mistaken, but I believe the second bill, which exempted income up to a million dollars, wasn't. I can't understand making things any easier for the GOP. Why?

[Number23]

96. Really great post. Great points

[gateley]

17. After this press conference, I'm back in the saddle! I really thought this was

it for me, but he appealed to my pragmatism and reinforced my belief that he's doing better than we often think.

And boy, this must have gotten loads o'unrecs, still at zero by the time I rec'd.

I DO appreciate him, but I still can get mad and frustrated and criticize. But bottom line, he's still got me. :hi:

[CakeGrrl]

18. K/R against the tide of anger.

[county worker]

19. I felt that way about Clinton. I remember a lot of people who were down on him

for a lot of things but I supported him. I can't say I feel the same for Obama. The Obama in the White House is not the guy I voted for. I don't see the progressive change I voted for. I don't see him keeping his word. He is a one term President if there ever was one.

Some progressive will come out of the crowd like Bobby Kennedy did. He/she will get a lot of votes and if he/she wins the primary it will be one tough one for us to win. The Citizens United decision will put billions on the side of the right and Obama will not be able to match it because there will not be the O for A like in 2008.

Now I am not hoping for that, I just think that is what will happen.

[Dappleganger]

21. It's hard to support someone who's thrown all of his voters under the bus.

[Egnever]

23. Speak for yourself

He has done plenty since he got into office to help me and my family and today was no exception.


Obama rocks!

[Dappleganger]

27. ROFL

Yes, I speak for myself and my family. And there are plenty on here who agree that they have been thrown under the bus.

I wonder how the 99'ers are feeling right now, because there is no help for them.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dappleganger]

40. Most people I know who voted for the president

are very upset with him and questioning their choice, yes.

The promise he broke today was HUGE. The line in my sand was him going to work against public education by bringing in Arne Duncan to continue GW's race to the bottom scheme. Our children's future is also our future and he has made it clear by his choices that he doesn't support our public schools by any means other than turning them over to corporate rapists.

[Egnever]

73. LOL our schools are shit

They just completed a round of evaluations and our scores were dismal. Ya lets keep doing what we are doing that would be great!

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/why-are-chinese-students-walloping-us-kids-on-test/19750419

But compared with the other 33 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries that participated in the exam, the U.S. ranked 14th in reading, 17th in science and a below-average 25th in math

[Obamanaut]

78. Makes me think the "Race to the Top" program might be better named

"Meander to the Middle or Thereabout"

[Dappleganger]

84. I call it Race to the Bottom.

It seems that some on this board have bought the rebranded republican message.

[tpsbmam]

92. And the way to deal with that is privatizing & charter schools? Just trying

to understand where you're coming from.

[mdmc]

94. nice sig line

[donheld]

110. You speak for a lot of us.

[Catherina]

34. Are you in the banking business? n/t

[Egnever]

39. If i was might be pissed at him

cause I couldnt gouge my customers on overdrafts anymore.

[Dappleganger]

42. Must be...

the only people I saw smiling today in that news conference were the republicans who were beside themselves.

[Marr]

51. Hi, Rahm.

How'd that rental property work out?

[Egnever]

69. Hi KKKARL

How easy is that?

[Marr]

85. Easy, but not as funny the second time.

[walldude]

81. Yeah you got yours so fuck everyone else.

Nice position you got there.

[Lorien]

87. Ah, one of the one percent speaks! How's that hedge fund these days?

Will you clear another six figures by Friday?

[Renew Deal]

63. The voters disagree with you

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9707147

[lamp_shade]

22. Big Kick and Rec.

[IRemember]

24. unrec.

[Dash87]

28. What do you think Obama could have done differently?

[jtown1123]

45. Fought hard. If Repubs don't compromise, neither should he. Make them eat their words.

I can no longer support someone who says he is a Democrat but has governed as a Republican. That's fine that you still support him but he has not fought or at least pretended to care about the issues I thought he did. Therefore, I can not in good conscience vote for him in 2012.

[Crazy Dave]

88. Obama has been a great capitalist

Banks and Corporations posted historic, record breaking profits without creating jobs and he tells us it's a great thing.

These tax breaks for the rich won't create any jobs either. The rich keep their money and invest it in overseas stocks, not into the US economy.

[walldude]

83. How about fought for the truth.

The entire Republican position that tax breaks for the wealthy stimulate the economy is a LIE LIE LIE LIE. The wealthy do not put their money back into the economy they hoard it in offshore accounts. For them it's all about the numbers, how many zero's follow the 1's.

For Obama to cave in to something that he knows is a lie is pathetic. If they want their fucking tax break extended let them fight tooth and nail for it. Let them prove that they will help the economy just like the Democrats came in and PROVED that they don't.

[MineralMan]

26. Recced. He is the President, and will be for the next two

years, at least. Without support, he's going to have a very rough road with the new Congress. He's going to need all the support we can offer, or things are going to get much, much worse. I'm not willing to accept that.

[bushisanidiot]

29. K&R

I've got his back!

He's had more shit thrown at him than any president I've been alive to see.

And yet, he's still standing.. and with great poll numbers.

Rock on, Mr. President!

[Newest Reality]

30. No one person can truly represent all people ...

No hero is without an Achilles' Heel. We can model and emulate great behavior and skills, (when they are evident) but there is nobody we need to worship, and the excuses will have to come from the one who is acting, not me.

I cannot presume to know the values and beliefs of a political superstar, (especially when I want to avoid projecting my own contents on them) so one way I can ascertain their performance is by paying close attention to behavior and results.

The government now, as some people are openly seeing, hearing, even feeling, creates products for its customers: those who pay taxes for both the PR and the product.

Aligning one's self with a product or name brand can be likened to an induced fetish, especially when it helps to reinforce market share and deflect attention from more and better choices. It seems that flexible choices need not be based on the system's givens when said system is seen to be in a constrictive paradigm intended to delay or prevent its own failure. Nor does our individual capability to think and choose more creatively require, at first, consensus, majority or hierarchy.

A lot can and will happen when you pull the McPravda, (subsidy of Deadbeat Rich Inc.) jack out of the back of your head and find what you already have in there, waiting to be utilized with motivation. Consider the powerful resources from effective, past experiences and the many times you considered a wide-range of choices in order to make a liberated decision that changed your own life.

[donheld]

31. Sorry no

[Dash87]

38. Why not?

What do you think he could have done differently?

[Lucian]

32. No thanks.

[Crystal Clarity]

35. Another K & R nt.

[Liberal_in_LA]

37. kick

[DainBramaged]

41. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA

[Dash87]

44. Don't pop a blood vessel now.

:)

[madokie]

43. I'll be there voting for him too

rec'd to no avail

[one_voice]

46. K & R.

It would appear that unless you're calling Obama a wuss, a bastard, weak, traitor, the *p* word etc, or screaming for his impeachment, wanting him to resign etc, or thinking he's the worst person on the face of this earth,etc., you can't get your rec's going in the positive direction.

I don't agree or even like everything he's done, but I'm not leaving skin marks on him. And I'm sure as shit not using the same language about him that the baggers do.

I've seen the Hillary threads, not I'm waiting for birth certificate threads. :eyes:

[mfcorey1]

47. ITA

[TwilightGardener]

48. Agree.

[frylock]

49. i like turtles

[hlthe2b]

50. Timing is everything... If you held off on this a few days, it might not

be so "in your face" to those who are still processing Obama's flip flops and stated reasons for doing so. But doing so right now is just.... unnecessarily ingratiating (and frankly, irritating). IMO, of course.

[TwilightGardener]

54. Mood-reading is indeed an important skill...LOL.

[Dash87]

57. The point is,

There shouldn't be so much frustration in the first place. I wish Obama could have done more, but I'm still thankful that he was able to compromise and get something passed, given how many elements there are working against him.

[hlthe2b]

71. And you think that telling DUers their frustration is unjustified...

and that their opinions are totally wrong, is going to bring them back into the fold? Do you not realize how very offensive and patronizing that would be to many here? Just sayin....

I haven't been able to watch Obama's speech yet, and it is certainly possible that something he says will strike a similar chord with me, but the disillusionment that many DUers and other progressives have experienced is real and the reasons behind it, valid. I think that is something you would be wise to acknowledge.

[Dash87]

97. Well the problem is that Obama is being blamed entirely

for something that isn't entirely Obama's fault. If we could just rally behind Obama, it would make his job much easier and our party more effective. We need a base that Republicans can fear, so much so that they'll be afraid to filibuster or play their games with Obama.

The names Obama is being called, and the unwarranted rage isn't going to help anybody, so let's rally behind President Obama and let him know that we still support him. :)

[hlthe2b]

103. I agree that we have to be measured and fair...

But I can also understand the confusion and resultant frustration many are expressing, albeit they should do so without the extreme vitriol.

[Liberalynn]

108. Sorry I can and never will

be a "My president or party right or wrong," kind of gal. Any more than I am a my country right or wrong kind of gal. I will never just sit silently by while I feel someone is taking our country down the wrong path, no matter what letter a person chooses to put behind his or her name.

I was taught by a great man, a U.S. History professor that it is our duty to speak up against injustice and do whatever we can to try and help make this country better for all. That is the duty of citizenship. Also he reminded me the government is for '"we the people." It isnt about just the Kings and Queens and the privleged elite.

The elected officals work for us, not the other way around. Too many of them, and IMHO the President included has forgotten that most basic of principles. The president and the congress are not my God, and even that entity doesn't get blind worship from me. I have my issues with my God too. So I will not just shut up and let them think nobody will object to their doing whatever they damn well please if I feel it is against this country's best interests. Its my right and duty as a citizen to complain when I feel that way. I intend to remind them they work for all of us. Not just the CEO's and stockholders. And I won't apologize to Obama or anyone for that. Nobody is listening true, and it might not ever change anything, but at least as Garth Brooks once sang , "I do this so this world we know, never changes me."


Either they stand up for even the poorest citizen of this country and insist on protecting them too, fight for the civl rights of each and every individual, just say no to unjust and illegal wars, or they will keep hearing from me.

I refuse to stand by singing Kumbya why the Pukes wash everything that is good and right and decent about this country down the drain, with supposed "Democrats" help. And I will give you Obama isn't the only Democrat who isn't living up to his promises.

[Liberalynn]

52. I will give you only that he is better than Bush BUT

not by much and still not the leader this country or our party needs.

He needs to do the decent thing and bow out of a re-election bid and allow someone else to carry the democratic banner. Someone who is actually willing to stand firm on actual Demmocratic principles. Someone who is proud to not only stand side by side with the liberal base of the party, but someone who is proud to call him/herself a liberal too. He's all ready indicated by his refusal to censure the very anti-liberal comments made by his chosen press secretary in addition to comments that he has made himself that he is not that man at all. If he wants to run as something between a Democrat and a Republican then he should run as an idependent not as a Democrat.

[Dash87]

53. I couldn't disagree more.

President Obama is not only miles ahead of Bush, but I would want no one else to be elected President in 2012. Sure, he's center-left, but I have not seen any strong Progressive leaders lately that I could trust to run for the Presidency.

[Liberalynn]

56. Feel free to stay blind

[Dash87]

59. I'm not blind. The rage against Obama is just unwarranted, imo.

[Liberalynn]

66. Sorry. The blind comment came out of my own frustration with the POTUS

however, I do not feel the anger with him is over blown or unjustified.

Actions speak louder than words. The Health Care Bill is a joke because there is no public option. Its just more money for the insurance companies and the big pharma. It helps very few.

He caved on tax cuts for the wealthy

The commision he founded on the deficit is attacking Social Security a program many of us depend on, including myself I will be honest.The precious president needs to lift his head up long enough from kissing the Pukes bottoms, and say the following

A) SS has nothing to do with balancing the general budget, since it is not even part of that budget It is a separate program entirely,

B SS is not I repeat not an "entitlement program."
I fucking worked for my benefits, and I fucking paid into that account. But he will never do that because he is too busy playing kissy face with the pukes so they will love him too.

I will also admit I am afraid of my benefits going bye bye and that this president will do absolutely nothing to stop it because he doesn't have the spine to stand up to a three year old. So I'm sorry but I am just not in the mood for sending him hugs and kisses right now. I am afraid of how I am going to live without SS, again something I worked for and paid for.He and his PUKE best friends have no right to touch it.

I am sorry IMHO he is not a Democrat and never will be despite what he calls himself.FDR is rolling over in his grave right now.

I for one will never waste a vote on this pretender ever again, so we will just have to agree to disagree.

[Dash87]

67. We both agree that the rich don't need their taxes cut anymore,

But unfortunately, he's dealing with a bunch of whiners in Congress who do want to cut taxes for the rich. Without the support of these whiners (who have a majority), nothing would get done. I think comparing Obama to FDR is a mistake, because Obama is a center-left President. :)

[Liberalynn]

74. I didn't compare him to FDR

saying that FDR is rolling over in his grave is not like saying FDR was a better or worse president than Obabma. That would be a comparison.

My meaning was that FDR would be appalled by how Obama and his new best friends Mitch and the Boner, are colluding on plans that for all intents and purposes will gut SS and the rest of the New Deal. The one thing that saved this country during the last depression and the very thing whose ending will lead to at the very least another long lasting depression, and thats being optomistic.

And again I'd have to disagree. I don't think Obama is center left. I'd say he is more Center Right. Again actions speak louder than words.

[Poboy]

58. UNrecommend

[Gold Metal Flake]

60. Electing this man at this time was a grave error.

[Dash87]

62. You're kidding! Once again, I don't agree at all.

Assuming your talking about Obama. I thought that he did an excellent job unifying the Democratic party to the best of his ability. I couldn't see anybody else doing a better job. :)

[Liberalynn]

79. Maybe during the election he unified the party

but since then he has done nothing but drive us father apart. It seems like he wants the left wing of his party to just keep quiet or better yet dissppear completely into the woodwork. Yet he still expects us to give him campaign donations and our votes during election times.

Remember when his press secretary said we all want the "Pentagon Dissolved and Candian Style Health Care." Just because many of us want everyone to be able to see a doctor when they need and an end to an illegal war against a country that never attacked us.

And many more comments where this administration has thrown the left wing under the proverbial bus.

Awwee but maybe we misunderstood and those comments were actual love letters to us, trying to unify us, and let us know he has our back. We should just ignore the weight of the bus wheels we feel and send the president a big boquet. :sarcasm:

If he dosen't like us then he shouldn't ask for our votes, support, or money.

[Gold Metal Flake]

90. Nope. Wrong guy.

We did not need a neo-liberal. But we got one.

[Obamanaut]

61. Now, for the list of 'accomplishments', we can add such things as:

Talked about tax cuts.

Talked about unemployment.

Served turkey at a homeless shelter.

Held annual Christmas parties at the White House.

Promised to talk about tax cuts again in two years.

Sheesh.

[Dash87]

64. And this --- warning, big list!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Things-Obama-has-done/457458970505?v=info

[Obamanaut]

77. Yes, it is a big list, but unfortunately many of the items begin with

words indicating not much activity, such as "proposed".

But here's one that actually happened: 18. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan

Now, that's an accomlishment, isn't it. More bodies in graves (their people and ours), more dismemberment (their people and ours), more money down the rathole (pretty much all of ours)

The Guantanamo closure is still being talked about too.

Won the Nobel Peace Prize (refer to item 18 on the FB list, also pasted above)

We had a screen name change amnesty a couple of years ago, and in the midst of hopey/changey euphoria I changed mine. If we have another such amnesty, it's going back to the original.

Take out all the hopey/changey words that begin the items on the FB list (and the list appears in other places as well), and you lose about half the entries. That's sorta sucky for a president whose party was the majority in BOTH houses of congress for his whole term, thus far. Now that this changes in January, should we expect even less?

Edited to add: Based on the 'recs' number, it looks like some other folks might not agree with you.

[CBHagman]

65. The problem is the Senate can stop things cold,

Certain DUers have long whinged that the administration should have passed this and done that, only the DUers in question don't have to go out and collect the votes a la Nancy Pelosi or Dick Durbin.

Obama compared the Senate work stoppage to a hostage negotiation in which the American people were the hostages.

The problem is it's all very easy for people to sit at their keyboards and type a single line with nt, but it's hard to actually get something done -- and even those who get something done get vilified, from both sides.

[Dash87]

68. Agree completely!

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

70. I will very much support and campaign for a Democratic challenger

He's killing his chances at a 2nd term. Sorry, no appreciation here.

Okay, one appreciation from me. Thanks Obama, for a very lovely day in January '09, when I called my son off from school and we believed in hope and change for a few hours. Yeah...that part was nice.

[Joe Fields]

72. if i told you the truth, my message would be deleted.

[Egnever]

75. Highly unlikely

you can slam the president freely here.

[LeftinOH]

76. I'm with you. He's a conservative Democrat; I can live with it.

[MarthaM]

80. I don't even see it as a roadblock.

I'm amazed at the level of hatred directed at our President on DU, as well as the bitterness and nastiness in general.

Do that many people not know what 'politics' is???

[closeupready]

82. Are you sure you're talking about DU? I don't see any personal hatred; I see anger

and disgust and outrage for some of the things he'd done or failed to do, and some of the compromises he's made that were seen by some here as unnecessary.

[MarthaM]

102. Yes, I'm talking about DU.

I see hatred.

I also realize that we each read posts differently and see different things in them.

[stevenleser]

86. I agree. K&R

[Uzybone]

89. KnR

not 100% happy...but fully in support

[Rex]

91. Wow zero recs

Things have certainly changed around here.

[PBS Poll-435]

98. Makes you want to create a 'Hillary Appriciation Thread'

:P

[Liberalynn]

106. Can't say I appreciate her any more either.

I am personally hoping someone new shows up to champion the left. Not these apologists to the Righties.

[mdmc]

93. He is as great as the gipper or big dog for sure

twice as good as either bush and half as good as Carter

[Liberalynn]

101. umm the "Gipper was great?"

Sorry IMHO Ronny was the anti-Christ. IMHO Reagan is the main instigator and reason we had the so called Puke Revolution that began this country's almost unhibited slide into the sewer. Well him and his little disciples the Bushes and Murdoch.

Reagan was the ultimate king of preaching its all about personal private wealth for certain individuals and screw every body else. For someone who claimed he was a Christian, Reagan was one of the biggest Darwinists ever born. It was all about survival of the richest for him and screw everybody else. Where as most of Christ's preachings were about aiding those less fotunate even to giving them the coat off your own back. That and peace and we all know where Reagan stood on peace. He was against it. He never met a nuke he didn't like which is another reason this country is now bankrupt because he spent most of the treasury on building his little nuclear toys, in his personal game of cowboy with the Russians.


As one of my favorite political buttons of the times read: "Reaganhood Rob from the Poor and Give to the Rich." Kind of reminds me of what happened today.

Do I think Obama is as bad as Reagan no of course not. Obama did say he "admired Reagan" at one point,however, so that subtracted points for Obama right there for me. Reagan shouldn't IMHO be on any Democrat's list of political heroes. Manipulating the political proccess to achieve truly harmful policies may have been something Reagan albeit did with skill but that skill is not reason for admiration but comdenation in my book.

[donheld]

109. Gipper was great disaster.

[mdmc]

111. yes my friend

peace and low stress

[Name removed]

95. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dash87]

99. What did he lie about?

[DeadEyeDyck]

100. waiting for hell to freeze over

[Hell Hath No Fury]

104. A great President --

does not continue and expand obscene Bush policies. Nor does he play his supporters for fools.

[madamesilverspurs]

105. Yup.

What you said.


-

[lumberjack_jeff]

107. Well that didn't go so well. n/t