By his own standards President Obama is a total failure.

[wurzel]

During his run for office candidate Obama famously claimed that he wanted to be a "transformative president". His model for this was not Clinton. It was Reagan. Who certainly was a transformative president. Reagan's tax cuts and anti-union and anti-government rhetoric has made this country what it is today. When Reagan cut taxes he changed behavior. When the tax rate were 75% there was no point in giving CEOs $400m bonuses. So they did not get them. Now the effective tax rate for CEOs is less than 25% these obscene bonuses are well worth having. So they get them. And we have now an second world distibution of wealth.

President Obama had ample opportunities to change the direction of this country and has failed to do so every time: He could have brought our war criminals to justice. He didn't. He could have prosecuted war profiteering. He didn't. He could have broken the banks and curbed Wall Street. He didn't. He might have even put those crooks in jail. He didn't. He could have got at least a public option for health care. He didn't. He could have abolished the Bush tax cuts and perhaps even increased taxes on the multimillionaires. He didn't. He could have promoted massive infrastucture programs to solve unemployment. He didn't. He could make it quite clear that Social Security is not negociable. He didn't

Any one of these would have qualified as "transformative". With both the house and the Senate he certainly had the opportunity to do any or even all of these. He did none of them. No one could describe President Obama's first term as "transformative".

[polichick]

1. It's really sad - such an incredible opportunity squandered...

FOR WHAT, I wonder.

[northoftheborder]

3. Yes, for what?

[polichick]

13. Are these really his positions? Is he thinking of his economic future? Is he being threatened?

Hard to tell.

[Name removed]

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[cottonseed]

6. Maybe the Democratic Congress who'd been there 2 years already and did nothing

felt that it was fine to continue to do nothing? Maybe, Obama squandered nothing because it was never there to begin with.

Who knows. Everyone is terrible and it's all just a big con.

[polichick]

11. They're not "doing nothing" - they're enabling corporations and the wealthy...

...to rape and pillage this nation. And now the prez is helping too.

Yes, I believe the rhetoric is a con - but not everyone is terrible, just ALMOST everyone. Sen. Sanders is an example of someone still fighting for the people.

[Exilednight]

45. You don't have to have legislative victories in order to transform government and what people think

of it. Reagan had a terrible time passing legislation he supported, but he made people believe that we are right of center and turned many Democrats into Republicans.

[earthside]

18. "Opportunity squandered."

Those are the exact words I say to myself all the time when I think about the Obama presidency.

We may hate their policies and legislative proposals, but I look at this latest crop of Repuglican governors in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, etc., and I wonder why we didn't have a president who fought like they are by drafting legislation, making arguments, enlisting support groups, pounding the bully pulpit for a progressive agenda? How come the Repuglicans can be so passionate and fervent for the things they say they believe in ... but the Democrats in power can barely raise a pulse for the principals they purport to believe in?

Why?

I'm sorry, but this "no drama Obama" description has become an rationalization that has simply gone too far. When bombs are falling in Libya and Afghanistan, when the Arab world (the oil world) is in flames, when the annual federal deficit is $1.6 trillion, when unemployment is effectively 16 percent, when there is a nuclear meltdown and environmental disaster in the land of our leading trading partner, and on and on -- well the President ought to take "no drama Obama" as an insult.

So, I'm one of those who are not so sanguine about Pres. Obama's re-election prospects -- like 2010, if the progressive base is still ignored, denigrated, or just given lip service to over the next year and a half, we'll get the same results. Yah, one can say "look at Wisconsin to see what happens when you don't vote" -- but 'leadership' is about 'leading' -- if the leader cannot motivate her/his followers and /or supporters, then there will be consequences.

"Opportunity squandered."

After all the hope from the 2008 election, it is just tragic that those words have to be even mentioned -- but as the OP points out, that really is the situation in which we find ourselves.

[polichick]

46. You're so right about the other side really fighting for their agenda...

I've come to think that Obama's agenda isn't what we thought it was based on his campaign.

"Tragic" is a great word for where we find ourselves now.

[polichick]

55. That said, I couldn't call this prez a "total failure" - it's just too harsh...

He didn't pick right-wingers for the Supreme Court, for one thing.

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

71. what's sad is how long some will hold their petty grudges.

[Name removed]

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[JoePhilly]

4. "Obama bad" thread # 5 (or maybe 6) for today.

While many of the lines of attack here are humerous ... my favorite line is this one ...

"He could have abolished the Bush tax cuts and perhaps even increased taxes on the multimillionaires."

Really, KING Obama can ABOLISH laws passed by Congress???? Really? That's what a President can do, ABOLISH LAWS???

:rofl:

[CakeGrrl]

8. Gotta love the massively simplistic reasoning going on

Gee, does anyone remember WHY the tax cuts weren't abolished?

If people only read these types of posts, one would think the President just sat in the Oval Office playing crossword puzzles, and it didn't occur to him to try to do anything about the tax cut issue.

:eyes:

[JoePhilly]

12. And that is just one example.

My sense is that people have learned that any post that lists a litany of complaints about Obama, accurate, inaccurate, inflated, whatever ... those threads will draw a large number of folks who will be able to use the "list" on which to hang more "outrage".

Usually we get at least 4 such posts on DU every day (GD and GD:P). Those are supplemented with similar complain posts the take ANYTHING the administration said, pull some quote, and then use THAT is the outrage hook.

And throughout, as you note, anything good that happens is ignored, or talked down as being "insignificant", "not enough", "too late" ... so forth.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

25. It's pretty obvious what's going on. Obama envy.

[wurzel]

15. Don't play silly games. Give me a real example of where I am wrong.

Obama never even tried to get Democratic Congress to abolish those Bush Tax cuts.

[JoePhilly]

20. More tripe.

The Dem congress was TERRIFIED of putting those tax cuts to a vote.

They SHOULD have created a bill that would let the tac breaks for the rich expire, but keeping those for the other 98%. The HOUSE Dems and the SENATE Dems both CAVED IN.

I know you think Obama is king, but he can not FORCE Congress to do anything.

But sure, blame him. That is the easiest path.

[wurzel]

31. Obama is the Democratic PRESIDENT! He NEVER even TRIED!

To reverse those tax cuts, break the banks, prosecute war criminals, curb wall street abuses, or even get a real healthcare system. I don't believe he will lift a finger to save Social Security or Medicare.

[Name removed]

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[wurzel]

17. Was George Bush "King" when he got those tax cuts passed?

[JoePhilly]

22. Nope, he had a GOP majority PLUS Blue Dog Dems who voted for it.

Obama had a DEM majority, but the same Blue Dogs were voting AGAINST letting the tax cuts for the rich to expire.

Seems pretty simple.

Not sure why so many seem to not get it.

[wurzel]

32. Obama is basically a "blue dog" himself.

Obama should have made those tax cuts the very first thing in his agenda. Instead, in spite of the huge votes for Democrats, Obama's number one agenda was "Bipartisanship" with Republicans!

[JoePhilly]

37. Really, first thing?

Not the stimulus?

[wurzel]

40. That would have funded a real stimulus.

Instead of the half-baked one we got. Without all this bullshit about "deficits"

[laugle]

51. You are absolutely correct!

I thought the same thing about the tax cuts for the wealthy and I wrote about it many times here, with no response. People didn't want to hear any criticism of the new POTUS. Also, I thought the economy/jobs would be first on the agenda, not a big bloated health-care insurance mandate. Just look at all the waivers being granted, that speaks volumes about it.

Your sentiments are shared by many.......

[TheKentuckian]

21. Abolish? No. Allow to expire? Oh yeah.

[JoePhilly]

24. Along with breaking his promise to the 98% under 250k to not

raise their taxes.

Those who attack him on this seem to forget that.

That 98% of the middle class did not want their taxes to go up. Obama promised that 98% that we would not let them go up.

The Dems in congress ran from the issue, and left Obama with two bad choices. If he lets the taxes on the middle class expire, the SAME folks who attack him from the left would be SCREAMING that he raised taxes on the middle class. Now, they scream that he didn't let the cuts for the rich expire, as if he could SEPARATE this issues.

Its a game. The folks on DU who enjoy attacking him will select which part of ANY decision he makes to use as a reason for outrage.

[Frank Ness]

70. And those defending him.....?

Look, politicians are constantly placed between a rock and a hard place, and being POTUS is no exception. Obama continues to compromise his principles. Blame it on Congress if you want... but Prez O has not been an effective user of the BullyPulpit. You claim it a 'game'. Well, I'll claim our president is not playing it very well.

Just once it would be refreshing for a candidate to hold true to the values and promises he was elected for. We 'Hoped for Change' and now our 'Hope has changed'

I and many will be wary of his next campaign words.... if he has the balz to run again.

[TheKentuckian]

84. Not me. I was always against the cuts and never flipped on that. The "middle class" cuts are

mostly for the top 20% and lower wage workers get an increase over last year so I'm unmoved.

I tire of the "middle class" rhetoric and framing of a wealth funnel. I'm tired of poor folks being conflated with upper class in order to provide cover for shifting the nations resources to the near rich, rich, and wealthy while playing the "classless society" card that allows the suckers to think they have arrived just because they aren't near, at, or below the worthless poverty line. The tax cuts are an unmitigated disaster and beyond foolish. We simply cannot function with these idiotic cuts, there isn't enough there to fund the government and the result is we are cannibalizing the public sector and the safety net while still borrowing tons of money to pay for palm greasing for the well off.

I am not about to cut any slack on the ridiculous 250k line Obama elected to draw and never accepted it as "middle class" because it is no such thing and it was, in my opinion a purposeful design flaw to lead us where we are now with a program to funnel resources present and future to the top.

Two bad choices? Then pick the one that doesn't bankrupt the country while trucking over the the people at the bottom of the shitpile.

[Name removed]

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[vaberella]

23. It's very noticiable isn't it. Not that they try to hide it. n/t

[JoePhilly]

26. The outrage machine runs 24/7.

No matter what Obama does, or says, it will be portrayed in the worst possible light, not only in the media, but right here on DU.

Day after day.

[Frank Ness]

73. Light?

Those who ignore the light will remain in the dark.

I am a fence sitter who voted for O... and it was we fence sitters who elected him. Pat me on the back one day, and blame me the next. But I am greatly disappointed with the outcome so far. If anything, it shows no matter what the intention or conviction of the candidate, once he/she gets swallowed up by DC, he/she is spit out as just another politician.

Surely you cannot right off all of the complaints as invalid ?

[mochajava666]

93. Well said, and welcome to DU!

[Cali_Democrat]

36. Obama could have just let the Bush tax cuts expire.

He didn't have to do anything.

[JoePhilly]

38. But break his promise to the 98% of Americans making under 250k

and let their taxes go UP.

That's all he had to do.

And the folks on DU who attack him endlessly, would use that to claim he hated the middle class.

[Cali_Democrat]

39. I can understand that you want to justify the extension of the Bush tax cuts...

However, that was not the point of my reply. My point was that Obama didn't have to do anything. The problem now is the massive deficit and the hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenue because of the tax cuts.

The GOP will point the finger squarely at Obama for the deficits, but we all know that it's the Bush tax cuts that are the greatest contributor to the debt. Now Obama can't attack the GOP for the tax cuts because he signed the extension into law.

There was also a way to play politics with the GOP and it was never done. During the lame duck session, Obama and the Dems could have drafted a bill for middle class tax cuts only and force the GOP to vote against it. If tax went up on the middle class, they would know who is to blame. Make them keep voting against it and let it be known that they stand with the wealthy. That was never done, unfortunately. Now we have the massive deficit to deal with. Obama wanted to avoid confrontation on the tax cut debate. He even went behind Democratic Congress members' backs and cut the deal without their knowledge in some cases.

[JoePhilly]

41. The defict it not the main issue, that;s the big lie.

Those are an issue only because there is a DEM in the white house.

The Dem congress DID NOT put a bill like you describe on the table during the lame duck, did they? No, they did not. They left Obama holding the bag. They were unwilling to act, so he dealt with the mess.

And the media would have dropped the increase in middle class taxes at Obama's feet. They would be running video of Bush saying no new taxes, next to Obama promising to not rasie taxes on that 98%. And they would be calling it his "read my lips moment".

And again, parts of the left would be SCREAMING that he let the taxes on the middle class go up.

[Cali_Democrat]

43. Obama has more power than you might think...

Obama can work with Republicans to get tax cut deals drafted, but he can't work with his own party to get middle class tax cut legislation drafted?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/06/obama-tax-cuts-deal_n_792849.html

WASHINGTON — Brushing past Democratic opposition, President Barack Obama announced agreement with Republicans Monday night on a plan to extend expiring income tax cuts for all Americans, renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and grant a one-year reduction in Social Security taxes.

The emerging agreement also includes tax breaks for businesses that the president said would contribute to the economy's recovery from the worst recession in eight decades.

Obama's announcement marked a dramatic reversal of his long-held insistence, originally laid out in his 2008 campaign, that tax cuts should only be extended at incomes up to $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples. He explained his about-face by saying that he still opposed the move and noted the agreement called for a temporary, two-year extension of cuts at all income levels, not the permanent renewal that Republicans have long sought.

[Hippo_Tron]

53. If he had done that DADT would still be law and START would've never passed

Obama had to either decide to draw a line on the tax cuts and let them take up the entire lame duck session, or concede on them and get his other priorities through. He chose the latter.

[Cali_Democrat]

56. That's why he should have threatened the rethugs with an executive order on DADT

You have to threaten these people and try to punk them. That's how you beat them.

As for START, if the rethugs didn't let it go through then so be it. International treaties are rarely enforceable in truth and they don't mean much.

If Russia or the USA feel threatened, they can always build nukes and there's nothing to stop them. There's no real mechanism of enforcement with teeth. It's pretty much just a good faith gesture. This is very similar to the Washington Naval Treaty and the Treaty of Versailles. There's nothing really there to stop a country from ignoring it. Weapons programs can be hidden very easily. It's just a whole lot of window dressing and feel-good fantasy. This world is ruled by Realpolitik and always will be.

[Blue Owl]

5. Obama is just alright with me

n/t

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Why would anyone unrec? Is there anything that's factually inaccurate?

It's either true in whole, true in part, false in whole or false in part.

It appears to be essentially, if not completely, true.

[vroomvroom]

9. People don't like hearing the truth...It is the same on the Left as it is on the Right.

[ItNerd4life]

35. But, but, but

your not supposed to point that out. People don't like their Hypocrisy pointed out.

Look at how many people here are supporting the Libya war. Sad really.

[laugle]

54. Good point!

Bush's war; BAD WAR

Obama's war; GOOD WAR

There are none so blind as those who will not see..............

The humanitarian mission to save Al-queda...........brilliant!

[Name removed]

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[Shiver]

14. Yes.

The OP assumes that this can be done by presidential decree alone. That's not how the government works. If he had fought for all those things, and still lost, would you be praising him for fighting the good fight, or disparaging him for failing?

[sad sally]

92. Except for starting wars - that Presidents can decree.

[FrenchieCat]

28. Is it true Doofus? And if so, in what world?

:crazy:

[Union Scribe]

44. The one you guys left when you donned Nike warm-ups

and hopped on comet Obama.

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

72. the entire premise. but it's no surprise there are doofuses to lap it up.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. Obama doesn't like to rock the boat

He feels that taxing the wealthy, fighting for universal health care and prosecuting torture suspects is just too confrontational.

[polichick]

16. Could it really be as simple as that - someone who's terrified of confrontation?

I've known people like that.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Obama was dealt a bad hand. He's kickin ass, considering.

[polichick]

49. What does that have to do with the "confrontation" topic?

[Name removed]

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[CakeGrrl]

42. Yes, you've all solved the mystery!

The President is just a big wuss. He had NOOOOOO idea that Republicans would be such big meanies. He's not nearly as savvy as the average blogosphere poster.

WTF was he thinking when he wanted to be Preznit? There's no way the Consitutional Law Professor/Harvard Law Review President and his Princeton-educuated attorney wife gave any thought about what lay ahead.

No way he was at all anticipating what it would be like to deal in Washington. He couldn't possibly have learned a thing with a couple of years in the Senate. DU knows muuuuuuch better.



:eyes:


Srsly?

[polichick]

50. I wouldn't call someone who avoids confrontation a "wuss."

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

58. Couldn't have said it better.

[BklnDem75]

67. It's just hard to take you seriously

Obama Goes To GOP Lions' Den -- And Mauls The Lions

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/29/obama-goes-to-the-gop-lio_n_442331.html

[polichick]

69. Too bad theater like that doesn't result in Democratic policies instead of...

...the president adopting Reublican policies as quickly as they can spew them.

[BklnDem75]

76. It's never been about policies

The hate is purely about personality.

[polichick]

77. You've got it turned around - for principled liberal Democrats it's ALWAYS about policy...

...not personality.

You're in deep denial.

[BklnDem75]

79. Principled liberal Democrats... LOL

Who here did you have in mind?

[Name removed]

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[BklnDem75]

83. I DO get it. I laughed...

:(

[Juneboarder]

19. Confrontational...

Is doing the wrong thing okay because you don't want to be confrontational?

[Cali_Democrat]

34. Of course not. In fact it's, probably even worse

Because you know what you're doing is wrong and goes against your campaign promises.

[Juneboarder]

62. Exactly my point...

try the war criminals, increase the taxes on the top 1%, provide healthcare for all, and dammit stop helping the thugs line their pocketbooks by raping and pillaging our country of every valuable that is left. We, the middle and low classes, deserve equality.

[FrenchieCat]

27. He couldn't have done the laundry list of things that some have decided he "could" have......

he wasn't elected dictator/king/emperor as far as I can tell......


Living in a world where fantasy trumps reality is the failure of this op. Doh!

But I'm sure that it is more fulfilling to blame one person as the failure,
than to do the hard work that it would take to provide him with not just a slim
majority full of blue dog Democrats in the senate, but an overwhelming number of
Liberal Democrats. You see, in the real world, that's how legislation is passed.....
there's a vote in both chambers, and then IF it passes the legislation is signed by the President.

As for you thinking he ran in order to arrest Bush and them to be tried as war criminals, etc....
again, that's your fantasy and those who in order to feel "smart", must blame someone
else for all of the problems that have taken years and years to create.

Meanwhile, a whole lot of folks have been shitting on this President since he took office,
and no, it never was "Ample"; the time he was given prior to being ripped to shreds on a daily basis by all sides including the fucked media that's most responsible for the failures you have listed,
even that's doesn't play into your agenda.

[Kdillard]

29. Utter nonesense but this seems to be bash Obama central so carry on with

your delusions.

[wurzel]

33. I voted for Obama over Hillary Clinton based on his claim of "change"

I doubt that Clinton would have cared much about "bipartisanship". All that is happening is things are getting worse more slowly than when Republicans are in power. That is all that ever happens. Bill Clinton reversed little that Reagan did. Obama has reversed little that Bush did. True or false?

[polichick]

52. True.

[laugle]

57. You mean you

fell for that 'hopey/changey' thing!

Hope=hopelessness

Change-more of the same

"yes we can"=yes we caved

Not a good idea to vote based on rhetoric and media hype............

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

74. awwwww, do you wish Hillary was President? get over it.

[opihimoimoi]

47. NegSpeak to promote negativity is becoming so pervasive its digging its own hole

He has done what no Pub could do....wait till his real score card is read...

The GOPers are transfixed with Negspeak....sour grapes and sour losers,,,hallmarks of serial BULLIES

[NYC Liberal]

48. Yes, Obama is King and his word is law.

All he has to do is speak and it is done. Therefore, if anything not done exactly as people wanted, it was due solely to Obama not wanting to do it.

[Solomon]

65. That's what gets me. I can deal with questioning his competence,

but when people question his motives they lose me completely. Utterly absurd.

[Carolina]

59. K&R K&R K&R K&R K&R!!!

[RBInMaine]

60. Enjoy your existence on the fringe. YAWN.

[DevonRex]

61. Fringe is normal here.

[robcon]

63. Fringe is not normal outside of DU

Remember, Kucinich was the #1 choice in all the primary polls on DU in 2008, and he didn't get more than 4% of Democrats in any primary.

DU represents a small slice of Democrats.

[indimuse]

64. He was HIRED by the corporations to do their bidding..

I'd say! Mission accomplished! YAY WAR! et'al....(sarc of course)

[polichick]

75. That certainly does seem to be the case - and he hires them right back...

...surrounding himself with them in the WH and cabinet.

[indimuse]

78. yep.

;)

[Name removed]

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[Solomon]

66. Almost all of us, "by our own standards" are total failures.

Admit it.

[leftynyc]

68. More tripe

You seem to think he can wave a magic wand and do all those things in your second paragraph all by himself instead of having to deal with people like Kucinich on his left and Nelson on his right and then, of course, the opposition party as well. You also seem to have ignored his rhetoric during the campaign - he campaigned as a moderate and that's exactly how he's governing. If you thought you were voting for a liberal, you simply weren't paying attention.

[Fire1]

82. True. Had he been anything else he would not have won. n/t

[Fire1]

81. What you and many others fail to realize is no other

president could have done any better. ANY elected president has to pay the piper. Just ask Clinton.

[Name removed]

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[AtomicKitten]

94. Total. Totally.

[Keith Bee]

95. Unrec