Odd how those who are most supportive of the president don't realize the power of the office

[eleny]

It isn't about Obama donning scuba gear. It's about the power of the presidency.

That power during Reagan's administrations got us into this mess by and large. And that power can be used to give some small comfort to the people of the Gulf and then to change the energy policy of the country as well as solidify Dem authority in the Congress.

Reagan nurtured a hatred for the federal government. Now people are demanding the Fed do something, that Obama show his presence in the Gulf.

It's an opportunity not an inappropriate demand.

You might rethink your garbled snarkoleptic responses to those who are suffering, to those who do understand the enormous power of the presidency and this president in particular.

[ClassWarrior]

1. How true.

NGU.

[NJmaverick]

28. not true, more like what you wish were true

as you tend to believe what you want to believe rather than what is really going on in the world around you.

[SunsetDreams]

36. absolutely

[county worker]

67. Yep your are right. I figured it out. Obama is Rove's plant! It's his best trick yet!

Don't you get it? Rove made Obama promise everything progressive and then turned him center right!

It was Rove! That's what's going on around here.

[stevenleser]

118. I thought we all were against the Unitary Executive concept?

Interesting

[tranche]

2. Obama, just put on your biggest codpiece and land on a God damn carrier already!!

Then I at least wouldn't have to listen to this shit anymore.

[eleny]

3. If this happened in SF Bay I bet you'd be singing a different tune

A drop of compassion for those who do live down in the Gulf area would go a long way.

[FrenchieCat]

7. He just did that. Now what?

[eleny]

11. Who are you referring to?

Sorry for my confusion. If you mean the president, I guess the people living in the Gulf don't think its enough. I won't deny them their desperation.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Barrack Obama in his Bay Area speech just now spoke of what is happening in the Gulf

and the people there and spoke of them with deep compassion.

[eleny]

15. Thanks. I have no doubt he has real compassion for the people and the area

To me, that's who he is. But the people down in the Gulf area want him there, too. I won't fault them for making repeated requests of him. Their lives are in ruins and every day it gets worse.

I know you care. It's a nightmare.

[FrenchieCat]

31. Thus far, a nightmare with no end,

which makes it worse!

[tranche]

8. I have compassion for those living in the Gulf. I want the leak stopped.

I want it cleaned up. I want BP to pay for what they've done. I want to see new regulations and existing regulations enforced. I want to have a plan going forward on what to do with the THOUSANDS of other wells already drilled into the ocean floor. I would want that for SF. What I couldn't care less about is Obama landing at SFO and taking a few question from the press. I want to hear from the team in charge of all that I want above. I don't need to hear from the Executive. I want to hear from team leaders.

[eleny]

14. But the residents of the area do want to hear from him

And right now, what they feel they need counts more, imo.

Your original response about Obama donning a codpiece sounded very *cold* to me. I appreciate your revision.

[tranche]

20. My response was cold. It's getting hard to sort through genuine posts and the disruptive ones.

I hope he gets down there, and it looks like he's scheduled to, but when this is all over it's going to be the teams that are tasked to get this taken care of who remain. Obama can make the gesture of course, but he alone is not the answer.

[eleny]

29. It's not a matter of "he alone"....

Just don't forget the power of "The Executive Branch". It's enormous. That why the Republicans fight him so hard and it's why they enjoyed such power when they held the office.

So much frustration is expressed because this won't be over for decades down in the Gulf.

[mzteris]

5. nah - then they'd just bitch

about his making a show and not doing anything.

For some - there is not one damn thing he can do that they will consider "right".

[eleny]

30. If anything, they're entitled to "bitch" given the decades of misery they face

Seems to me like it's easier for you to be nasty than to extend compassion.

[mzteris]

112. I'm sorry you think that way about me.

I'm not trying to "be nasty". I'm exhausted with the inanities being posted. It serves no purpose other than to whip up people into feeling worse.

Perpetuating false info, imo, is the height of "anti-compassion".

[uponit7771]

71. +1

[babylonsister]

4. He's been to the gulf and he's going again on Friday. I

think the 'snarkoleptic responses' are in response to those who blame this whole thing on this admin and their actions, when it's clear they've been doing everything possible since the get-go. Again, they were handed a shit sandwich compliments of the previous admin and are supposed to magically make it disappear.

Edit to add thread with timelines to show they've been on top of this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x284358

[eleny]

9. Sorry but the snotty, nasty responses have been to genuine requests

...Requests from DUers who live there.

Surely we can all offer the milk of human kindness to them. Supporting the president doesn't mean that a "talk to the hand" attitude toward Gulf residents is appropriate.

It's as if the most devout supporters would at the same time deny the vast power of the presidential bully pulpit.

This tragedy has gone on for over a month. Two visits doesn't seem like enough to the residents. I won't deny them their desperation.

[babylonsister]

16. You're painting with a broad brush there; there have been many of

us who have expressed our sympathy and are outraged that this has been spilling for so long with no end in sight, but I believe that's because no one really has a solution.

And your opinion of how many visits have been made doesn't make what he's done any more or less valid. If he was there every other day, I can guarantee you that would also be criticized.

[eleny]

34. The shoe is meant for where it fits

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

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

[Nite Owl]

6. K&R

unreccs are busy here.

[AtomicKitten]

10. The power of his office doesn't trump the restrictions set by Congress after the Exxon Valdez mess.

1. Liability cap $75 million.
2. Oil company in charge of/responsible for clean-up.

link

[NJmaverick]

23. No there you go with your fancy facts and reason

ruining a perfectly good rant

[eleny]

35. And his bully pulpit can help enormously to reverse those restrictions, imo

[tallahasseedem]

119. Facts are a funny thing...

when someone is trying to make a righteous rant. Thank you AtomicKitten! :)

[sandnsea]

12. You should be angry at the media

If they were down there, and talking to some of the 25,000 people who are working down there, then you would know what is going on. It's not the President's job to go on teevee every day and personally walk you through the actions of every agency.

Having said that, he does need to do it because he should know the state of the media by now. He's going to have to go on teevee, at least twice a week, and discuss the actions that are being taken. He should have been doing it all along.

I think the frustration is that some of us expect places like DU to know that and have the President's back instead of constantly stabbing knives in it.

[Skidmore]

17. K&R as many times as possible. This is absolutely the point.

Stabbing the man in the back everytime he turns around does not further anything. It makes us weaker and emboldens the RW nutjobs. It does their work for them. Besides, deflecting that crap is a distraction from the actual work that needs to be done. I am at the point where I'm thinking perhaps our side needs another 8 years of R-heaven, even Palin style. Freaking Dems never learn, do we?

[eleny]

37. Nobody has asked him to be there "every day"

And I'm sorry that you have so little faith in his power to instill hope in the residents of the Gulf area, to affect change in regulations in the future and solidify Democratic Party power.

But thanks for the thread kick.

[politicasista]

86. Good post n/t

[polichick]

18. Exactly right - this prez has refused to use his power from day one...

But this time it's critical that he does.

[NJmaverick]

22. bullshit you are constantly complaining that he is abusing his power

[polichick]

33. That's a lie - find a single example where I made that claim. nt

[NJmaverick]

51. Here is one

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x52905

or your K and R of this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7236614#7236670

[polichick]

52. Nice try - but your projections don't count, only my words...

And my words are not even close to what you are claiming.

[eleny]

38. I never said "has refused to use his power from day one"

But you knew that.

Btw, thanks for the thread kick.

[polichick]

41. Right - that was my addition. He seems to want to please so much...

...that he doesn't use his power - problem is, those he wants to please are usually Republicans and corporations. nt

[treestar]

47. This kind of obsession with power

I usually hear it from right wingers.

Progressives are usually about the community, not one single man's powers.

[polichick]

50. That's silly - in this case the prez "has the power" to call in tankers...

He "has the power" to gather and meet with experts from around the world. He "has the power" to call in the National Guard or the Army Corp of Engineers. Etc., etc., etc.

In this case using his power IS about community.

[Autumn]

19. I keep reading that he just doesn't have that kind of power,

unless he puts on his super power costume.I always thought that the President had power, until now. Regan had power, Bush had power. Maybe the power only works for forces of destruction. Or for what is important to the President.:shrug: I keep seeing "what do you expect the President to do?" For starters handle, very publicly a fucking national disaster. Call it a bull horn moment if you will, I don't care. Get your damn face out there and soothe the people. Let them know that the most powerful man in the world is right there in charge.

[Drunken Irishman]

27. You obviously haven't been paying attention.

And that falls on you. Not Obama. Stop projecting your own ineptitude, please?

[Autumn]

32. We get it. you really like Obama

good for you. To some of us a President isn't an icon or an idol to be put up on a pedestal and protected from any one who might hurt his( actually your ) feelings. To some of us he is a means to an end. The end of destructive policies to our environment, an end to discrimination, an end to corporate deregulation, and end to corruption, and the business of politics as usual. Yeah I fucking paid attention, enough attention not to adore an idol with feet of clay. You want a President who is in a glass case with no power you can have it. I want my President to be powerful and kick ass and in a national emergency all I want to see is his face. I'm really sorry the man you voted for is so inept in your eyes. I happen to think the Obama I voted for is capable of a hell of a lot more. So you stop your fucking projection.

[Drunken Irishman]

40. We get it. You're not paying attention.

Unfortunately, that isn't good for you. It's sad when people aren't even up to date on the story they're using to slam Obama. Everything you said in your post Obama has done already. It's your fault if you weren't paying attention when he did it.

That has nothing to do with Obama. It has everything to do with you.

So stop putting the blame on him when it's you that isn't paying attention. You're the inept one here, my friend.

[Autumn]

53. I'm not slamming Obama ,

I'm slamming idiots, (who do you think that would be "my friend") who think he is perfectly delicate and needs to be wrapped in cotton batting :cry: and oh he can only do so much and people are picking on him:cry: He has power, so yeah I want some fucking ass kicking starting with BP and those fucking Gulf republicans. Personally, I want him to kick their sorry asses and get their names later. We knew when we elected him thing were bad, and he was who we chose to kick ass.

[Drunken Irishman]

58. Bud...

You're suggesting Obama do something he's already done. That's your problem.

:hi:

[Autumn]

63. Bud... Sorry

haven't seen it. By now there should be shrines built down there in the Gulf to President Obama, he should have his face in every camera down there, every quote on the news should be coming out of his mouth. Instead we get fucking Jindal acting all tough. And that's not my problem.

[Drunken Irishman]

96. Pal...I guess he shoulda moved down there...

Stupid him for actually, you know, running an entire country.

Hey, comrade, did you hear all that dust up earlier this week about North Korea?

That was scary, right? We could be on the brink of another Korean war!

But Obama's attention should fully, and rightfully, be placed 100% in the Gulf. Kuck the Foreans, eh amigo?

[Autumn]

99. I guess that's a toss up

Solving Korea's problems or the little problem in the Gulf ? What's a United States President to do? On the one hand we have a large military machine who likes their wars, and just think of another one to go with the ones we have already, and then there's a national disaster. Kuck the Foreans or Guck the Fulf Gee amigo damed if I know.

[Drunken Irishman]

103. I think he can do both...

And let's not talk about that whole immigration thing going on right now.

I mean, that's just potatoes next to his meat, right, mo chara?

[boppers]

113. "To some of us he is a means to an end"

Well, that explains a lot.

[NJmaverick]

21. You desperately need to get yourself a copy of the Constitution and READ IT

[Drunken Irishman]

24. LOL

You're woefully naive if you believe this is about power. None of what you stated is about presidential power.

What you're basically saying is that Obama is failing because he's not there massaging your inner-thigh throughout this whole ordeal.

Well shit! Who knew when we elected the man we were only electing a therapist?

:eyes:

Obama has spoken about the spill a great deal of times. He's made a trip down to the Gulf already and will return there Friday.

But that won't be enough, right? He's not constantly on television explaining every little action. That automatically means he's failing here.

Of course, we act as if this is the only ordeal Pres. Obama is facing as a leader.

Are you suffering? I noticed you're from Colorado. How do you know that Pres. Obama hasn't been in communication with those hardest hit?

You don't.

[eleny]

42. We know that he isn't in communication enough with the hardest hit

.... because we hear them begging him to come down there again.

Thanks for the thread kick.

[Drunken Irishman]

45. You're welcome!

Love to kick it to show how unreasonable some people on DU can be.

You do realize he's coming down Friday, right?

Or do you want him to live done there? Ah, that must be it.

Two trips in a month. Speeches. Constant communication with the area. Seems like he can't win with you. Which is cool. I bet you're doing a helluva lot more for this oil disaster in Colorado than he is, right? :eyes:

[eleny]

57. Yes, I do know about his upcoming visit

"Live down there" - more hyperbole. Seems like you're trying to show "how unreasonable" you can be sometimes.

Gotta run to the grocery and pharma for hubby. Please take the last word. And keep those thread kicks coming!

[Drunken Irishman]

60. Good. You admit he's doing what you want him to do!

That's all I wanted out of you. Have fun grocery shopping!

[eleny]

107. He's been there once in 37 days and the people there wanted him there since then

I'm ba-a-a-ck!

I was just watching Harry Shearer on Countdown. He was telling Keith that old quote, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." Paraphrased - He said that Obama needed to show up again and again to let the people know he understands and cares.

Once in 37 days, given the enormity of the disaster, wasn't enough. If you don't agree, then tell Harry Shearer, he lives down there.
http://www.harryshearer.com/contact/

[CakeGrrl]

68. Who "them"? James Carville?

Hardly an example of a beleaguered resident since he can just go "home" to D.C. whenever he likes. As far as I'm concerned, he's using the fact that he hailed from the state as an excuse to get his face on TV and parrot the "Obama isn't doing enough" party line.

[NYC_SKP]

26. He's doing more than anyone gives him credit for doing.

Everyone agrees that this is a BIG FUCKING MESS of EPIC proportions (not screaming at you...) yet they want shit done right fucking now.

Well, the fact that it is of such epic proportions and unprecedented is WHY shit can't be done right fucking now.

Nobody knows jack about what to do and tens of thousands or more are doing their level best, including the president.

I'm confident, and I saw most of his address right now from Fremont, CA, and am even happier with what's he's doing.

Is it perfect? Well hell no it's not.

And it never, ever will be.

I hope Top Kill works, and if not that then I hope the LMRP Cap works, and if not that then I hope the BOP on BOP approach works.

What a fucking mess!

:hi:

[SunsetDreams]

39. You Want To Know What's NOT Odd? This Post

Nothing this president ever does will ever make you happy.

[eleny]

43. My happiness isn't the issue

But thanks for the thread kick.

[SunsetDreams]

46. Isn't it though?

I was under the impression you thrived on these posts.

[eleny]

56. I doubt your impression because the Gulf tragedy isn't about me

I know DU to be about compassion and also to have enormous faith in President Obama. Right now I see some of his strongest supporters losing faith in his strength. Down in the Gulf area, they're asking him to come down there more because of how positively they view him and the office he holds. It's ironic.

Now, I need to run out and grocery shop. Thank you for your reply because it gave me the opportunity to explain myself more clearly.

[sandnsea]

61. Thank you

I couldn't think of anything that didn't contain the word fuck in it, in one form or other.

[treestar]

44. I don't want any President to have more power than is provided for

in the Constitution.

[eleny]

55. The bully pulpit can be used for good

Try not to lose faith in this president's ability to use his charisma wisely.

I've got to go grocery shopping. But thank you for your thoughts. I do agree about constitutional limitations and will work to never forget about that.

[DevonRex]

48. Wel, we's jus poor bumpkins wiv no edukashun an no sints.

Yu caint ekspekt us'ns to unnerstan nufin, bein so stoopit an all.

[SunsetDreams]

49. hahaha

[eleny]

54. If the situation in the Gulf wasn't so tragic maybe then you're snark would be humorous

But thanks for the thread kick.

[DevonRex]

59. And since you adhere to the Presidential Magic Wand theory

might I suggest you just go see a Harry Potter movie. Although I warn you, those magic wands apparently don't do much good for Harry Potter, either.

[eleny]

83. It's about persistence & visibility, not magic wands

But thanks for the thread kick, it helps outweigh the unrecs. You know, persistence & visibility.

[DevonRex]

89. So if he's persistently visible, everything will be solved. And I love kicking silly threads.

Makes them more visible, you know?

[Ignis]

125. Hell, I don't even SPEAK Chess!

How could I possibly comment on the Chessmaster's moves?

[FrenchieCat]

62. Do you understand the power of this President?

Do you understand that as he gives a speech on what is happening in the Gulf,
the Cable media is too busy criticizing him to bother to air his speech?

Do you understand the enormous power of the media, and this particular media
who want nothing more than to bring down this President, and has enlisted us
to help them while they are at it?

Do you know that the message for November from the GOP and the media is that
government stinks and is inept? And that's exactly the message that will
put the fucked up Republicans back into power....and that is the exact message
that most on DU are advocating?

Do you get that at all?

[niceypoo]

65. AH, so the media has rendered him impotent?

Pitiful,if true

[FrenchieCat]

74. If Americans don't see it, it doesn't exist.

So yeah......
when the media wants to push war, or get a President's approval rating up to 90%
for holding a bullhorn, it happens.

You think any different?

[Autumn]

78. I think the fund raiser at

San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel got coverage. The fund raiser at the mansion of Ann and Gordon Getty was closed. It seems to me, if Obama is down in the Gulf with the people the media is going to cover it. No matter what.

[Fire1]

80. Hey Frenchie! Don't you know it should've been

DENNIS KUCINICH!!! LOL!!! AND......"this never would've happened under LBJ!" LOL!!!

[eleny]

95. What's important to the people of the Gulf is that they see him there with them

That's my focus.

Today is the 37th day of this disaster. One visit from him so far doesn't feel like enough to them. I can't disagree. Friday can't come soon enough. I know he can make this right with them even if he can't fix the disaster. He has the charisma as well as the strength of character to do it.

He represents the rest of us who are naturally in support of the people down there. Wrap your heart around that as I know you can.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

64. I was thinking the exact opposite, frankly. (nt)

[havocmom]

66. Well, they do love the power of the unrec

Sad, isn't it? Selective vision.

[jgraz]

69. Facing the truth is difficult for some.

Blind hero worship requires far less intellectual effort.

[eleny]

72. It's okay, sad but still okay.

[uponit7771]

70. Obama is SUPERMAN DAMMIT!!!

[eleny]

73. Thanks for kicking the thread

[CakeGrrl]

75. Kick and UNrec

Patronizing posts don't much appeal to me.

I really think that whoever floated the idea that Obama needed to co-opt Bush's 911 bullhorn moment to placate those who seem to think he's doing nothing because no grandiose, overt theatric gestures have been captured by the corporate-owned MSM (wonder why they wouldn't indulge a Dem president that way, go figure?) was on to something. Unfortunately.

And UNREC (to the OP) for stirring up more "we/they" sentiment and encouraging the "cheerleader"-bash.

[DevonRex]

76. It's a patronizing, call-out post that we simply enjoyed snarking on.

And I unrecced, too. :hi:

[ljm2002]

77. I think a lot of his supporters here...

...are worried about all the attacks on him from various quarters, including from "the left" and from those of us who question his lack of visible leadership in this crisis.

I don't blame them. It is true, he was attacked from the get-go. It is true, there is a "black executive syndrome" where he has to be twice as good as the white guy in order to get half the credit. It is true, there are many politicians and many in the media who want to see him fail and see this as yet another opportunity to attack him. And, sadly, it is true that valid criticisms may contribute to harming him due to all of those factors.

However, he is the President. He wanted the job and he got it. He cannot be immune from criticism. He has shown he can think on his feet, and he has also shown he is good at politics. I wish he were the leftist that the rabid right keeps harping about, but that ain't gonna happen. What I want right now is for him to take charge visibly in this disaster, and see it through to its conclusion. Right now, I am praying that the top kill works and buys us time until they can get the relief well drilled.

What I want in the long run is some fundamental policy shifts away from offshore drilling and away from our oil addiction. We'll continue to use oil, of course, but if ever there was a clear reason to push all of the green alternatives that are out there, this is it. Let's see a Manhattan Project for energy.

[CakeGrrl]

79. "Them" as in you're not among that number?

I would think DEMOCRATS would be worried about helping the cause of the Right in taking down a Dem president - whether he's "pure" enough in that regard to suit some people or not - with no visible, viable, winning alternative for 2012. But Dems have been fooled before into undercutting their own long-term interests to the benefit of the Republican opposition, and the lesson may have yet to be learned.

But taking the attitude of condescending to a segment of DU by implying that they can't handle any criticism of the President doesn't seem helpful or constructive.

[ljm2002]

81. Calling my post condescending is hilarious...

...given the number of posts here over the last months talking about the motivations of anyone here who dares to criticize President Obama.

And speaking of condescending: your aside of - whether he's "pure" enough in that regard to suit some people or not - strikes me as pretty condescending.

By "them" I was alluding to the contingent here who brook no criticism of Obama, and who respond to each and every post doing so with instant snark, occasional lists of links, assignment of nefarious motives, etc. If you have not seen those posts then I question why you are bothering to respond at all, since it is clear you have not been following this ongoing saga here at DU.

Anyway: it is always risky to assign motivations to others, whether it is me doing it or someone else doing it. I recognize that. I also recognize there are real concerns. I'm not trying to minimize them, but I cannot agree that we must withhold any criticism.

[eleny]

87. And I believe that it's off base to presume that Obama can't handle criticism

If I'm not mistaken, he's said that he can accept negativity.

It seems to me that when people fail to recognize his strength they diminish him and the office. Sadly, some of is ardent supporters can't see that he has pretty big shoulders.

[ljm2002]

90. That is certainly another aspect of it...

...and I agree, he has shown he can handle criticism.

That does not negate the concerns about whether he can be damaged by it. Certainly with the corporate Pravda press we have these days, that is a legitimate concern. But it should not be used to try and shout down all criticisms, which is what I see happening here quite a bit.

Not that it works. But it does make for a more difficult time having actual exchange of ideas, as so many of our discussions these days devolve rather quickly into yelling matches or "Are So!" "Am Not!" "Nyah Nyah!" etc.

[CakeGrrl]

94. As has been pointed out elsewhere on this thread

Asking that the President do something that he's already been doing implies ignorance of what's going on. That is what I've seen being called out.

People who fail to recognize what he is doing disrespect him and his office.

[johnaries]

82. Oh, you mean the "Unitary Executive"? Fuck that shit.

And the Fed's response has been enormous, as evidenced by many links that have been posted here on DU. Too bad the M$M isn't reporting it.

[eleny]

84. No, I mean the bully pulpit - huge difference and highly influential

[stevenleser]

85. This OP = Epic Fail. Obama is going now for his second trip to the region since the spill

Unfortunately, once the incident occurred with the explosion, there was little that could alter the trajectory of events.

These criticisms might mean more if they weren't almost exclusively from those who use any opportunity to do so. Like people for Gay rights who are all of a sudden angry at the prospect of ending DADT because Obama is doing it. That is the most recent mindfuck from the anti-Obama crowd.

[eleny]

88. It's been over a month and the people who live there wanted to see more of him

Who are you to say for them that once in that month, so far, should have been enough?

I think your attitude is the failure here. I'll stick with supporting the Gulf residents.

[Phx_Dem]

92. Tennessee has a huge disaster too. I haven't heard a peep of whine from them.

n/t

[eleny]

97. You think the Gulf residents are whining?

[Phx_Dem]

104. Not most, but when Carville make erroneous implications, I have a problem with that.

James Carville whined hysterically that the President should have come to Lousiana. Suggesting he he hasn't been there yet. Not true.

He he whined that he "knows the President can't plug the hole," and he do something. As if he hasn't done a fucking thing.

Mary's whining about not getting a permit to build berms that will take six to nine fucking months, by all reports that I have read. SIx months doesn't sound like a viable plan. If Obama suggested doing something that would take six months, they'd impeach him.

I haven't heard either of them make a valid criticism yet. Everyone has a right to be angry and frustrated, but that doesn't mean they should go on TV to mislead people while screaming hysterically as Carville has done.

[eleny]

105. Thanks for clarifying that you were talking about the Carvilles

[Phx_Dem]

91. Not quite . . .

The smarky scuba gear remarks are not made out of hand. Everyone is well aware of the power of the presidency. That power has been employed since the morning after the exposion. For weeks we've been posting links showing the detailed and immediate response by the administration as well as the very long list of government agencies involved this is crisis, yet people continue to say "Obama should do something" or he's being lackadaiscal.

This isn't about not understanding the scope of the Presidential power, it's about empty critisms not based in fact. If someone has a specific idea, they should present it. If they feel something is being done incorrectly by the administion, say so. Otherwise, the empty and hysterical "he should do something!" meme gets a well-deserved snark.

[eleny]

98. After reading snarky, nasty comments here towards a Gulf resident DUer...

I started to push back. That DUer wasn't asking that he do something. It was a heartfelt plea. And still, the harpies couldn't cut them some slack nor offer words of comfort.

So, yes - quite.

[golfguru]

93. Exactly! n/t

[Jennicut]

100. I understand the desperation of some of the people that live there.

However, empty gestures are just that, empty. Some want the President to speak to them every day and tell them everything will be okay, some reassurance. Except, not everything will be okay and he cannot promise that. Sometimes, the reality of a situation truly sucks. Bush manipulated people by standing on top of the rubble with a megaphone after 9/11. His poll #'s went way up after that but by playing into people's emotions, he was able to use them for his agenda. It was an agenda that did not benefit anyone but him and his buddies. I don't need a President to hold my hand, I just need the truth. Sometimes the truth does not feel good, but in the long run, people are better off for knowing it. The leak is 5000 feet below, it is extremely hard to stop. The cleanup will be incredibly hard as well, given the enormity of the spill. That is reality. Anything else uttered is BS. I haven't seen the President promise something yet that cannot be delivered. I am not sure what some people want the President to say.

[politicasista]

101. Another good post

Here too understand the desperation of Gulf Coast residents. It is an environmental disaster that we all want to end, but no one really knows how to stop the leak.

[eleny]

102. The people of the Gulf appear to want him to speak to them more than once in a month

So I have to disagree with what you said initially.

I think they have a sense of the truth from interviews I've watched. Being from Connecticut I don't think that your not needing your hand held is important. But I do think that if those Americans wanted him to visit them more than once in the past 37 days then their needs should have been honored before they started to sound like they were begging.

Attending the fund raiser in California was surely important. But priorities are always shifting given the circumstances. I think that's why he's going down this week. He's losing the narrative. I wish it hadn't come to that.

[BklnDem75]

108. You assume much

Don't act like you understand what other people are thinking simply because YOU feel he's not out there enough. True leaders delegate and that's what Obama has done. There's plenty of things all over that need fixing, so no, he's not going to focus on one problem and ignore everything else.

[eleny]

109. Last year a low level tornado ripped our giant cottonwood tree out of the ground

It grew 30 feet behind our house. That storm ripped it out and laid it on its side. I do know in some minuscule way how it feels to have nature wreak havoc.

About how the people of the Gulf Coast feel? I watch the interviews. Your attempt to minimize this disaster falls flat.

[BklnDem75]

111. Is this a joke?

Your tree gives you some sort of bond on how people feel a few thousand miles away? I'm sorry, but I've seen just as many interviews and pictures to counter your claims. Pointing out your assumptions minimize nothing. I don't pretend to know how anyone else feels, and I don't presume to speak for anyone, let alone an entire region. Perhaps you should do the same.

[eleny]

114. As I said, it was miniscule compared to what the Gulf is experiencing

It was devastating to us - but minuscule. Nevertheless, a tiny window of experience on how it feels to live with nature's fury.

Empathy often comes out of experience. I understand that you're grabbing at straws for the sake of argument. You've got a weak argument going on there.

And I'm not speaking for anyone. I've watched and listened to the interviews with the people of the Gulf area where they spoke for themselves. It sounds like I came away with a different impression than you.

[BklnDem75]

115. You mention a fallen tree, but I have the weak argument... ok

Empathy is one thing, but that's not what you're doing. You're trying to blend your own feelings with the people going through this disaster, claiming to share some form of camaraderie through some supposed traumatic experience. You claim many out there are angry with Obama with nothing to back it up except a few interviews you saw on tv. When you say whatever has been done is not enough, you're not speaking for the people out there, only for yourself.

[eleny]

116. You still aren't grasping it...

I'm not blending. I'm saying to myself that we had an experience that was life threatening and then saying to myself, "That was nowhere near what those people are experiencing."

Are you really trying to get me to believe that you don't understand how empathy is developed?

If you don't think Obama needed to go down to the Gulf more than once in 37 days, so be it. I think he should have gone down once a week. You don't like that the people of the Gulf wanted him down there more and I disagree with you.

Am I speaking for myself? Certainly. It's what people do here at DU every day. I'm simply expressing empathy and agreement with them. You don't like it? Tough darts.

[BklnDem75]

117. I know how empathy works. That's not what you're doing

'I think he should have gone down once a week. You don't like that the people of the Gulf wanted him down there more and I disagree with you.'

This statement says it all right there. YOU think he should have gone there more. I don't know what the people of the region feel because I'm not there. If it were me in that situation, I'd be happy with the 22k + people already over there instead of the president acting like he's doing something, but that's just me. You're pretending to know what the majority out by the gulf thinks and feel. That's what I don't like.

[eleny]

120. So now you're speaking for me - angry because you say i'm speaking for others, lol!

Btw, you don't have to live in a place to understand what people feel. If you listen to them, watch them and read what they say, it's perfectly valid to develop an opinion. It happens here at DU every single day.

As for the president's presence I'll keep agreeing with the people down there who wanted him there more than once in over a month. We're each entitled to our feelings on this. From what I've heard them say it would mean something different from him "acting".

I also think we understand each other now. So please take the last word if you wish. I'm done with our conversation as any more would be beating the dead horse. We simply disagree and so be it.

[BklnDem75]

122. Not speaking for you, merely using your own words

I have listened to them and the media's spin on all this. What I've been hearing for awhile is that he hasn't been there at all. That slowly changed to he hasn't been there enough. You'll have to forgive me if I just won't accept what I see on tv especially when the focus of the complaints shift along with the media spin.

[golfguru]

106. When Mt St Helen's blew up who do you think took over?

There was humongous amount of rivers of mud and ash coming down the mountain
and clogged up the rivers in the area.

The Corps of Engineers (a government entity) took over and managed & executed
the rescue plan.

I am not sure if they can work 1 mile under water but if I would certainly get them involved.
Even if they can't plug the gusher, they will be a big help in saving the coast line.

[Jennicut]

110. They don't have the tech for this sort of thing.

Russia, China, Norway maybe. We don't for deep sea drilling. I would call on foreign experts before using our Corp of Engineers.

[golfguru]

124. They can undoubtedly help clean up damage to coastline

or even PREVENT further damage at the very least.

[Teaser]

121. "Agree with me or you're hurting gulf coast citizens"

classy.

[eleny]

123. How about - "Agree with the Gulf coast citizens who want Obama there"

That's what I'm talking about.