Why isn't the Obama Admin perfect in Every Way, and what should we do about it?

[FrenchieCat]

In the harsh light of reality, when we speak of perfection, there is none anywhere.....
only something closethereto, always with room for improvement...always.

If one examines this administration, one is bound to find some things that would apply as real imperfections....because like us all, this administration isn't, cannot and will not be perfect....
ever.

The point becomes, what is done with the info on what is found that they didn't do exactly right?

Are they taken to task so that they can "own up" so that we can make sure that whatever it was won't be repeated?

And if so, will the findings of whatever imperfection it was be kept in context of all that they do by the media and this admin's opposition (and I'm not simply talking about the GOP), or will it be overexaggerated and used politically against them?

So what happens when we realize that not only are they not perfect in everyway about everything,
but they never will be, and neither will any other administration?

what then?

I believe in folks learning from their mistakes and improving where there is room for it.
However, I don't believe that all things are preventable, or that all things can be handled
perfectly, because it also very much depends on the circumstances of whatever it is we are
talking about.

Many may believe that I'm talking about the BP oil spill, but actually,
I'm not specifically talking about any one event.....just in general....
because I find that there is a pastime going on throughout the land
political-wise, whether it is in reference to a specific joke told by this President,
whether it was the speed of his verbal response on the BP Disaster,
or whether it is the argument that the administration should have squeezed in
Immigration reform at an earlier time on the reform docket, etc.....

So as flaws are found here and there and anywhere, what then?
Do we start to work to get rid of this administration for their lack
of perfection, or do we put their actions in context
with the actions of past administration, which to my knowledge were not
ever scrutinized quite in the way that this one has.

Pres. Bush gaining 91% approval rating after 9/11 is one of the most telling
of any of the types of events that no one bothered scrutinizing till way late,
and when this was done, the media and Bush supporters were missing in action.

So what should we do about these imperfections? Do we weigh each on a scale of importance?
How does this administration make themselves perfect? What should we do to make this admin perfect?
What will the media do about these imperfections? What will the Administration's opposition do about them?

These are important questions, as we continue dealing with what I personally believe is one of the
smartest, hardest working administration in recent times; but not, sadly....not a perfect one. :(

[bluestateguy]

1. Everybody's special interest will be handled in due course

[freddie mertz]

17. Is the safety of our environment a "special interest"?

Are the rights of GLBT in the military and elsewhere a "special interest"?

I could go one, but it is not necessary,

We are all in this together. On this planet and part of the human community.

When an injustice is dealt to any one of us, or the planet is damaged by bad policies, it happens to every one of us.

Wasn't this the unifying, inspiring message of Obama's famous 2004 speech?

[bluestateguy]

27. I don't disagree with you

But you cannot deny that everybody who has a pet issue(s) refuses to call their issue a special interest. It's always that other person behind the tree who is pushing a special interest issue.

[stray cat]

2. Sit out the election and see if the GOP does a better job as progressives

[Enrique]

3. tell our reps to oppose expanded drilling

that's what we should do about it.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Although the issue of expanded drilling been left up to the States.

I agree thought that what we see now is that states cannot be the ones left to decide,
because these accidents affect more than the state who decided.....
So I have learned this from this incident.....
and I believe that the admin has learned this as well.

Still, this incident would have happened regardless of what Obama announced,
as the incident was caused by existing exploration,
not anything new based on Obama's utterances.

[freddie mertz]

14. But will Obama do the right thing NOW?

And out a stop to new drilling exploration and impose much stricter controls on present operations as they are taken offline?

That is the question, and it has nothing to do with "perfection," just our need for better policy decisions.

[FrenchieCat]

20. I believe that drilling exploration has stopped for the time being,

and yes, those are the correct questions,
and I believe we will get those answers,
and I would think that imposing much stricter controls
on present operations will be part of the mix
in safeguarding that what has happened won't happen again.

[freddie mertz]

21. I hope you are right!

And time will tell.

For now, it seems prudent to keep the pressure on, while hoping the scope of the disaster can be contained.

[FrenchieCat]

22. The pressure IS on..... and I would'nt want it otherwise,

However, that's different from those who are looking to blame this admin for what happened.
For the Cable stations to even insinuate by repeating that the Right is saying;
that this is Obama's Katrina is not the same as keeping pressure on the admin
to ensure that the right steps will be taken as this catastrophe is dealt with.

[freddie mertz]

28. Who said it's Katrina?

I've heard it was said by the likes of Rush, but haven't been paying attention to that sort of stuff.

[treestar]

40. The voters should do that

This is a republic. Government of the people.

[Ikonoklast]

4. I don't want perfection.

I want improvement.


I see things improving.



I voted for a man to be president of this country, not savior.
I got what I thought I voted for.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Well, you can take solace in the fact that even if you did want perfection,

you still couldn't get it.....

so why want something that is impossible to have?
Sounds like a waste of want. :)

[Dr Morbius]

6. Imperfection is always perfectly acceptable from our side.

It is only ever unacceptable when the other side is imperfect.

We are always more willing to forgive our friends. We see our enemies as unworthy of forgiveness.

The real problem, I think, is that we see our fellow Americans as enemies.

[FrenchieCat]

8. 91% approval for Bush after 9/11

indeed tests your theory, IMO.

[Dr Morbius]

24. The media got behind Bush after 9/11, and didn't challenge him for years.

9/11 is a special circumstance. What we'd expect, politically, changed in that climate. The media got sycophantic, and I swear it wasn't until late 2003 that the President even faced a tough question. That 91% approval didn't last long, if you'll recall; Mr. Bush's approval rating started to sink with the invasion of Iraq.

I was one of that 9%, I reckon.

[liberal N proud]

9. Those discouraged by Obama set the bar too high

People are upset that President Obama hasn't taken up their favorite cause yet or he didn't act just as they wanted him to do because people set their expectations in the impossible or at the very least improbable range.

None of those who say he hasn't done enough are not looking at the big picture or the fucking mess he inherited from the worst President this country probably has ever seen.

No one can be perfect for everyone or anyone all the time.

[ShortnFiery]

11. Extension of key parts of the Patriot Act & Summary Execution of USA Citizen Orders

have been signed WITHOUT 1) formal charges; 2) a trial by jury.

Yes, I believe SUBVERTING the USA Constitution and the International Rule of Law are reasons to be disappointed with the President.

http://yorick.infinitejest.org:81/1/img/card-predator_yemen.jpg http://yorick.infinitejest.org:81/1/img/card-bill_of_rights.jpg

[freddie mertz]

15. Nonsense. No one expects "perfection."

It's hard to see this sort of talk an anything other than a a straw man, deployed to discourage, discredit, and marginalize rational calls for better policy.

[Zenlitened]

37. Yep. - n/t

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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

[LWolf]

12. 1. Because he's a centrist.

2. Herd him a few miles leftward, or depose him.

Since you asked. :hi:

[Fire1]

13. I don't know why Frenchie. He SHOULD be b/c after all, he is

half white and you know what they say about that!!

[MadMaddie]

16. I say that everyone should look in the mirror and apply the

same criticisms to themselves and see if they meet their unrealistic expectations!!

President Obama told every single one us in this country that he would not do everything perfectly and that he would make mistakes. Apparantly, people only heard what they wanted to hear.

His Administrations response to the oil disaster has been appropriate. They were there from the beginning.

That's all....

[BlooInBloo]

18. The only one that *really* bugs me is how slow he is on gay rights....

Other flaws are annoying, but I can more or less live with them.

Still love his ability to think, persevere, and change his mind as the world changes, though.

[msongs]

19. oh maybe ENACT equality for all instead of mouthing off about it for a start? hmm nt

[FrenchieCat]

23. What will happen to you once equality is ENACTED......

What will you say then?

[boston bean]

29. You are laying down you sword, with the excuse that you will never achieve perfection.

This is quite sad, really.

How about believing in what you believe in and try to make politicians do the right thing, instead of just saying we aint ever gonna get it.

How sad. I see you don't want to really discuss the oil spill, but frenchie, he put himself in the middle of this nightmare. It could have been a republican nightmare and Sarah Palin could have been shown the underside of the bus. But no, he is now tied to it and to back track now looks weak, and to continue on is stupid! he has tied all Democrats to that hitch now. We all LOSE and have lost the high ground on this issue because Obama caved and wanted to take an issue out of the Republicans hands. It was a political consideration, not a moral, or principled change in agenda.

Democrats don't want off shore drilling for oil, for good reason. Obama took that issue out of our hands. Democrats have now lost the issue.

It isn't asking for perfection, when one just expects the POTUS to stand for what you elected him for.

You are doing Obama a huge disservice here.

[freddie mertz]

30. Thanks for a thoughtful post.

Obama should have listened to those advisors (I am sure he has them) who advised AGAINST the policy of supporting new oil exploration and drilling off shore.

What we have now is a missed opportunity for Dems to stand unambiguously for the right policy in the face of a predictable tragedy (we WERE warned after all).

The job for Dem/progressive activists is to continue to press the administration and congress to do the right thing, regardless of personality or political expediency.

The risk of further harm to the environment is just too great.

To adapt a familiar analogy, let us not make the impossibility of achieving the "perfect" become an excuse to stop working for the "good."

[treestar]

39. Silliest statement of the year

Enact what? Without Congress? For whom? The law provides equality for most on most issues.

You really do think the POTUS is all powerful.

[political_Dem]

25. I agree with what you have to say.

1)People have to realize that Mr. Obama can't be all things to all people. Despite that, he tries hard to do his best in the midst of excruciating scrutiny and the utmost hatred coming from a variety of sources.

2)There are so many pressing issues in American society, that even in multi-tasking one is overwhelmed. I wonder how some of the critics of this administration would fare if they faced similar circumstances in the White House. People need to consider that Mr. Obama is doing what he can under tremendous pressure, the rise of extremism and death threats.

3)Everyone is too busy applying labels to what they think Mr. Obama represents. No one gives the man a chance to define himself. And how could he, when different groups expect him to do their bidding at all hours of the day? And when he does do things to set the agenda, nobody listens. Instead, they holler how they never want to support him again. That is scrutiny pushed to the extreme.

4)I do have my critiques about certain policies of this presidency. However, I think that one has to be realistic and fair about what's being done now. I think that one has to have the expectation that he is doing the best he can with what he's got. He'll have failures, of course. One must notice his accomplishments and that the larger picture of how complicated our country is right now.

It is true there are issues I wish he'd conquer. Do I realize that he will not get to them all? Yes, I do, but it doesn't discourage me into voicelessness.

[jillan]

26. I think the problem stems from this

People really thought he was going to be Superman, able to undo all of Bush's policies with a single stroke, able to stop oil spills with the touch of his hand, end unemployment and homelessness with a clap of his hands....

Turns out he is more like Clark Kent....human.

[PurityOfEssence]

31. Translation: ANY criticism is petty, deceitful, destructive and just plain mean

He takes his hits. It happens.

The record on corporate collaboration is plain. The war is wrong in every way. At least he's backed off the religion outrages, but plenty of damage has still been done. Whatever.

The solipsistic need to crush any dissent is no help to anyone.

Not all criticism is meant to destroy; often it's meant to influence.

Trying to marginalize anyone who dares to question the administration is an affront to pluralism and the product of the crappy peer-pressure arrogance of the insecure.

[ClarkUSA]

32. "The record on corporate collaboration is plain"? Well, it's not as if he worked for a hedge fund.

:D

[Zenlitened]

35. Well said.

The solipsistic need to crush any dissent is no help to anyone.

Not all criticism is meant to destroy; often it's meant to influence.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

42. well said

[TheKentuckian]

33. Few if any expect or even hope for perfection

There is A LOT of room between dismal failure and perfection, its not a light switch. See after perfect we can say we have excellent, then we can have great, after that good fits pretty well, I figure there's room for something like average, mediocre, or acceptable, then there's that area where you aren't up to par but haven't utterly failed like a D in school.

You're painting a picture of straight A's and the man is getting heat for not going from 98 or 99 percent to 100 and if that's what you perceive then there is going to be disagreement.

Folks aren't getting 90 or 95 percent of what they want, they aren't getting 80-85 percent, and to be honest on some issues people aren't getting almost anywhere near the target and might be closer to zero than one hundred.

Just because you're sitting pretty at 90-95% on target doesn't mean everyone else is. If you pay attention to people's complaints and positions on issues then you'd at least reconsider your framing of this perfection meme. You know he isn't close to what even you might agree would be strongly effective attempts at solutions to very vexing problems much less anywhere in shouting distance to the "perfect" answers.

There are things that simply must be dealt with in relatively effective ways or there will be dire consequences to our civil liberties, equality, the environment, our energy independence, and most certainly our financial security and humane distribution of resources.

Any old solutions won't do and none are likely to be perfect so it is reasonable to expect and to demand the most effective policies to deal with the destructive issues we must deal with.

It means little to have Obama carved in granite if we don't really tackle the problems that are dragging down our people and our way of life but rather just rack up empty "wins" and keep the poll numbers above water for eight years.

[FrenchieCat]

34. The Obama Admins aren't students, and we are not the teachers grading them....

Because we oftentimes don't have the correct answer. Part of the problem is just that, some of us are arrogant enough to believe that we know everything better, that we have the answers, when that is just a pompous illusion. Certainly there are some areas where some Bloggers have great ideas of how to get something done, which is why I'm surprised that not more of these bloggers run for public office, so they can perform their all knowing miracles to turn this country totally around.

It is not a choice between perfection and degrees of imperfection.....it is having an understanding that sometimes folks who talk like they have all of the answer to what ails us, perhaps really just don't, because like this President and his administration, neither are they perfect, or even come close; they only think they do.

[Zenlitened]

36. Now would be a good time to admit that TheKentuckian made some valid points.

:hi:

[TheKentuckian]

38. Everyone gets evaluated as part of taking a position

He ran, he gets the glory, he craved the power, he is paid, and he did it all of his own free will and therefore is answerable and responsible.

The "game" is very high stakes at this point and clearly flawed solutions aren't solutions at all. Personally, I'm usually receptive to a range of policies to seriously address any given problem but when the administration/leadership comes out with fraudulent bullshit then it is our RESPONSIBILITY as citizens and stewards of our nation's resources to tell them to try harder to get it right.

Don't forget also that it is a pompous illusion that any politician has all the right answers. Even if they do (which they never have yet) the power of well heeled interests must be harnessed, avoided, or defeated.

It is indeed a choice of dismal ineffectiveness, counter-productiveness, and varying degrees of imperfection but striving toward the impossible.

We simply do not elect a god or even a king every four years. The President is first among equals that willfully takes a heavy burden that he or she must be accountable to the nation for.

The issue may be very different perceptions of how our form of governance is supposed to work. Many of us don't buy the "just along for the ride" mentality. The President and Congress are answerable extensions of the people in my eyes.
You can disagree but it is sillier than expecting perfection to hope for everyone to feel about elected power the way you have chosen to and I'd point out that you do the same to folks what you get upset they do to Obama who again campaigned for and is rewarded the chance to sit in the big chair.

Don't want criticism then don't take the job or ca$h the checks.

[Prism]

41. But oftentimes we do have the correct answer

Given most of us aren't politicians, we're in a position of being able to speak the truth on many issues without worrying about the next election or whether or not we'll irk our campaign donors or if we'll be criticized by the political opposition.

Arrogance is not saying "Offshore drilling is an environmental disaster waiting to happen." And how is that working out for you? You cavalierly stated last month or so that it was only in GOP areas, and if something happened, well, they deserve it practically.

I really, really think you owe one hell of an apology for that performance. That was arrogance to the extreme. And it was in pure partisan defense of bad policy.

Hrm, other correct answers. . . . How's this one? All citizens deserve equality without exception and without delay. That's pretty correct. Not arrogance.

The problem is when your rest frame is "Everything the President does is a good idea. His critics are wrong 99% of the time."

Except, typically they're not. And why is it suddenly arrogance to believe we might have better ideas on various issues than this President? I'm pretty sure lambasting Bush every ten seconds wasn't arrogance. But for this President, if you think his ideas are bad ones, well, that's arrogance.

Hrm. See? It's a problem.