TO THOSE WHO CONSIDER PRESIDENT OBAMA A DISAPPOINTMENT; YOU'RE JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION!

[Snoutport]

I have been a bit critical of President Obama because I don't understand his political style. Just when I think I can't support him because he hasn't moved on change suddenly he surprises me flipping things over. This blog is a list of what he has accomplished and, honestly, I think it is because of his style of politics that he has been able to get so much passed. With no grandstanding comes less coverage...the right probably thinks he is ineffective because he isn't patting himself on the back all the time and drawing attention to what he is doing.

After reading this blog I think I might need to send the President a note saying he is doing a good job. (and, of course, asking for more.

(and don't yell at me for using all caps in the headline...I'm sharing it as it was originally written :0)

http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/what-has-obama-done-since-january-20-2009.html

[dennis4868]

1. this is what I have been saying for 2 plus years....

and most DUers had their mind made up on January 19th, 2009 already regarding Obama and he is too blame for everything (nevermind the 24/7 fillubuster threats, weak dems in congress, DINOs, FOX News, etc...).

[Snoutport]

3. The Right never goes off message...it is hard to see what is really going on

and when the right includes a good chunk of the media, it means the brainwashing never stops.

[dennis4868]

9. BUT IT'S ALSO....

the PL that makes a living complaining whomever the president is has brainwashed many liberals as well, including a bunch of DUers...

[Dappleganger]

15. This is not true...

there were quite a few people here who loved him (including myself) and changed our minds as things happened. But of course, you will believe whatever you want to believe.

[dennis4868]

21. If you loved him at the beginning...

there is really no reason to not love him now unless you believe all the crap from the media - FOX News and the PL!

[Dappleganger]

29. Well that is certainly a leap...

enjoy your island of hearts and rainbows while the rest of us deal with the realities of broken promises from a person who chose to listen to corporations and the DLC instead of his campaign speeches.

[dennis4868]

37. And just about all his broken promises...

has to do with the fact we have a broken congress...Exhibit A - the PL bitch about Gittmo not being closed but they don't tell you it was congress that would not fund the closure of that place. But hey the PL and many crazy liberals blame Obama for EVERYTHING....

[TheKentuckian]

79. Because there wouldn't be a funding issue except the fucking chessmaster

elected to thread the needle and move Gitmo to Illinois rather than shutting the fucker down and turned around and signed the bill that tied his hands, again out of political calculation.

[Taverner]

Look, I will agree with you that Obama isn't getting a fair rap

That being said, I think we also have to view him, and any politician, with a critical eye

I would say the Obama presidency is a mixed bag.

[dennis4868]

5. that list in the blog is not...

a mixed bag....it's about as impressive as it could be...he has done things no other president in 60 years has been able to accomplish....people back during the FDR days said he was a mix bag too until later on when people started to understand and appreciate the man...I am not going to let a bunch of time to go by until I start appreciating Obama...HE IS SPECIAL!

[Taverner]

13. Yes but it is not contrasted with his not-so-great accomplishments

Bombing Libya and Yemen, for example

Ratcheting up the war in Afghanistan

Having the DOJ go after Medical Marijuana users



There are more, but I'm tired

I am not looking to bash, but trying to emphasize the need for a critical eye

[dennis4868]

17. okay...

Bombing Libya - you may view it as a bad thing but many people see it as stopping Qhaddafi from slaughtering his own people in the thousands. Liberals used to give a shit about helping and saving lives even if they were not Americans.

Afghanistan - during the campaign Obama said he would increase troop levels in that country. He only kept his campaign promise here.

Not sure about the medical marijuana charge...need to look into that.

[Taverner]

23. There are more, but I will agree that Obama has been relentlessly attacked by the media

Unfairly at that

[sabrina 1]

34. Many people saw bombing Iraq as a way of punishing

Saddam Hussein for what he was and had done to his own people. Was Bush right after all and we on the left just didn't get it?

How about assassinating US citizens? Were we wrong to say that Bush, or any US President should not have those kind of powers because of how dangerous they could be??

How about Offshore Drilliing? Was the far right correct after all, and we on the Left just weren't seeing things clearly?

Were the Bush tax cuts a good thing after all, even though they never produced promised jobs and cost this country 2 trillion dollars? Was there something about that we missed also?

What about mandated insurance? Were we AND Obama wrong about that because as Obama himself said so eloquently, 'it would be unfair to force people who cannot afford Ins to pay for it?'

How about protecting Whistle-blowers? Were we and Obama wrong to support the protection of Whistle-blowers? What changine HIS mind? He has prosecuted more Whistle-blowers now that Bush?

How about not holding War Criminals accountable? Were we wrong to think that no one should be above the law and that Bush, Cheney et al were acting in the best interests of this country after all?

I could go on, but I get tired thinking about all the things we USED to think we stood for, correctly, only to find out now, that apparently we were wrong and should have been supporting Bush all along. Maybe the far right was correct and we were 'traitors' for opposing policies that are now being continued under this administration??

[dennis4868]

35. ONE HUGE BIG GIGANTIC DIFFERENCE....

Bush lied us into war, not the case with Obama. Nuff said.

[sabrina 1]

39. Any comment on the other issues on the 'list'?

And that's a short list ~

And btw, do you actually believe that we are bombing Libya for humanitarian reasons??

Also, are you aware that Obama was OPPOSED to the US intervening in the domestic affairs of other countries 'for humanitarian reasons'. He made a very good speech about that just a few years ago. So, what should we believe? Candidate Obama on so many issues, or President Obama??

[dennis4868]

42. Can't debate...

obsessive and irrational haters of Obama...it gets nowhere.

[sabrina 1]

44. I suggest you apologize for that statement.

Calling other DUers 'haters' is against the rules here. I supported this president and support him when he does something progressive. I am a Democrat. I did not give up my right to oppose policies that are not in line with the Democratic Party's platform simply because the president I supported back-tracked on his campaign promises.

Produce a single comment from me that supports your accusation of me being 'an irrational hater of Obama' please.

[dennis4868]

57. I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE....

there are irrational haters here...plain and simple...there are also many here who have no clue how washington works and policy becomes law...it's not like a damn football game...

[sabrina 1]

73. I didn't think you would.

You called me an irrational Obama hater without a shred of evidence and in violation of DU rules.

Now you are insulting people here by stating they are clueless about how the political system works, again without a shred of evidence since you know nothing about what most people here know or what their experiences are regarding politics. Only YOU know how it works, I suppose??

I gave you an opportunity to show some integrity and retract your false statement once it was corrected. That would have given you some credibility regarding the rest of your statements.

Since you have not accepted that offer, your credibility is now completely shot since anyone who knows me knows how false that statement was. They can now apply the knowledge that you make grossly false statements with zero regard for facts, to everything else you have to say.

Doesn't bother me, it's your credibility at stake.

[RaleighNCDUer]

82. We were told we were enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya.

Instead, we are making direct attacks on ground troops, government buildings and residential compounds where Gadafi might be hanging out.

No lie there.

(edit for typo)

[RaleighNCDUer]

25. It is not a mixed bag because it ignores the things that would make it a mixed bag.

Prosecution of whistleblowers at a rate unmatched even by Bush.

Revival of the illegal military tribunals.

Inability to close Gitmo - and don't give me bullshit about "congress won't let him", because if you make that claim you have to also disregard everything on that list giving him credit for things congress DID do.

Locking is private insurance as the keystone to our healthcare 'system' - effectively preventing single-payer, which is the only real solution.

Expanding the WOT into Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and gawd knows where else.

Reversing campaign promises about supporting medical marijuana by having his DOJ go after legal MM facilities.

Refusing to prosecute war crimes.

Refusing to prosecute corporate/bankster fraud which crashed the economy.

Undermining the public school system with dangerous privatization plans through his Dept of Education.

Undermining the labor movements through his attacks on public sector unions and teachers' unions.

He's special all right...

[IndyPragmatist]

55. Exactly right

To act like there is no reason to be disappointed is delusional, and quite frankly, irrational. First of all, the author of that article acts like there is one set of beliefs that everyone here must adhere to. If you don't adhere to every single one of these beliefs, then you are just wrong. One of the most important issues to me was to end the wars. Instead, he increase our troop levels. So I should just forget about this because he did other things right?

The guy has an entire section titled "Greater Transparency and Better Government"....um, really? I think it has been widely agreed that President Obama has been extremely secretive and closed from the public.

"He provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7ttV" The author completely ignores that many names were left out, as well as details about many people who were left on. I don't consider it an accomplishment to see a list of visitors that the White House has edited to only include people that want the public to know about.

There are plenty of things on that list that have been attacked by many on this board, and throughout the country. People have different priorities for the country. For some, unemployment is the most important issue, others think its equal rights, some think its healthcare, some think its the war. If one of these issues is very important to you, and Obama has not done what he promised, then he is a disappointment to you.

On DU, almost everyone knows what the president is doing. I doubt there are more than a handfull of things on that list that anyone didnt know about. So most people aren't going to be convinced to change their mind by this list.

The OP called out the right in his post. "With no grandstanding comes less coverage...the right probably thinks he is ineffective because he isn't patting himself on the back all the time and drawing attention to what he is doing." Really? Or maybe it's because they completely disagree with his policies and think he is a terrible president. The way you say that, you would expect a Republican to read that list and think "Oh wow, I was totally wrong about Obama. He's GREAT!" That's not going to happen. Republicans don't like him because of his policies (yes, other reasons as well, but they all tend to disagree with his policies for the most part). Just like some Democrats don't like him because of his policies.

And really, that list lost me at the Transparency section. Trying to give praise Obama's transparency is like praising Bush's diction.

[Enrique]

2. you have opened my eyes

i have seen the List!

[monmouth]

8. Hahaha, you do stand up, right?...n/y

[Occulus]

64. Yes, as to that List:

Pentagon Confirms New DADT Discharges
By Andrew Harmon

The Pentagon confirmed Monday that more service members have been discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell” pending certification of the policy’s repeal, with one individual’s discharge approved as recently as Thursday.

A total of four airmen have been discharged under the policy in the last several weeks, Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez confirmed Monday.

One of those individuals is Airman First Class Albert Pisani, who spoke to The Advocate earlier this month of his voluntary separation under “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which defense officials approved on April 29.

Air Force spokesman Maj. Joel Harper told The Advocate that the discharges of three additional service members — two female staff sergeants and one male second lieutenant— have been approved since an April 29 discharge. Harper declined to say whether Pisani was the April 29 discharge, citing confidentiality reasons.

[Tx4obama]

69. The four individuals WANTED OUT of the military, they used DADT as a loophole

Excerpt from the link in your comment:

"Harper said that all four individuals discharged had made voluntary statements regarding their sexual orientation and had asked to be “separated expeditiously.”"

---

They should have been thrown in the brig. Four dishonorable individuals that did not keep their promise to serve their country. Let them go, they give members of our military that 'want to serve' a bad name.

[Tx4obama]

71. The article you posted has already been throughly discussed on the DU link below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x696496

[polmaven]

4. K&R...

But I hope you have your asbestos suit handy.

[Snoutport]

12. Lol...I know. But, I was a big Hillary supporter and it has taken me a while to appreciate

the way that Obama works.

[dennis4868]

20. Obama is like watching a player like Cal Ripken or Derek Jeter...

they are not fancy and look for attention and don't care about their individual accomplishments...but if you follow them closely (and not listen to the media) you learn to appreciate them very much....

[TheKentuckian]

6. Another rehash of the list? Poit. I've been paying close attention and so have most

Which is why we are upset.

[JuniperLea]

10. Are you saying the list is false?

Or that it isn't sufficient to enable you to say Obama is a good president?

[TheKentuckian]

24. I'll take door number two with a touch of one for spinning.

[JuniperLea]

66. You're the spinner, dude...

And avoider as well. Can't answer... ok, fine.

[TheKentuckian]

81. You asked a question and I answered, not liking the answer that "The List" doesn't cut it

with the feeling that "The List" is a lot of spin filled with quite a few policies I oppose, others that are fluff, and some that are sales pitch with little or no substance.

I can't be responsible for sub par reading comprehension if you don't understand then request clarification.

[JuniperLea]

7. Eh, the caps don't bother me near as much as the inappropriate semicolon usage...

:hide:

But, yeah... there's a hell of a lot of crap to cut through.

The difference being, these days you get the crap hurled from all directions. It's easy to tell a Pubbie colleague to take a closer look at the Bush vs the Obama budget to smackdown the stupid "He's raised the deficit by 35%" bullshit meme, but some of the gyrations I'm seeing these days take a lot more effort... but with the same result... there's just more subterfuge.

[JackRiddler]

11. THANK YOU FOR THE TOTALLY PERSUASIVE CAPS LOCK TERROR! I"M ALL BETTER NOW!!!

BUT ARE YOU SURE YOUR INTENT IS TO HELP OBAMA?

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. ITS INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK WEEK BTW..

Nevermind the official day in October 20th

True... look it up its on a list


http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2010/10/22/today-is-international-caps-lock-day-but-what-is-it/

[Dappleganger]

16. Oh great, another list pusher.

[graywarrior]

18. You will never win against those who want everything NOW!

And by now, I mean IMMEDIATELY!

[Demit]

30. Straw man accusation.

Come up with a defense for why he has backpedaled on promises; for why he didn't stand up for what he said he'd stand up for; and for what his strategy could possibly be in telegraphing what he'll give up even before he gets to the negotiating table. Those are the real complaints about this president who held out such hope. Not "wanting everything now."

After two and a half years of evidence, we don't think he's "got this."

[graywarrior]

52. Straw man defense has such a demeaning connotation

[hfojvt]

51. I was willing to settle for the expiration of the Bush tax cuts in January 2011.

And Obama could have accomplished that simply by doing nothing.

[ixion]

19. ...

:rofl:

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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

[Tuesday Afternoon]

26. average. so far, I give him a C. I just can't get excited enough to shout about it.

meh.

[uberblonde]

27. See, you're praising him for process tweaks.

Things that just about anyone should have been able to do just to make things run more efficiently. Please do not confuse MBA-type process streamlining with progressivism. "Progressive" means people who are committed to doing things that make society better, not government agencies.

Faux progressives just love process tweaks. It gives voters the illusion of progress without having to actually produce any.

[Ignis]

33. +1

[NNN0LHI]

36. He oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years

process tweaks ... Pfft.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

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

[somone]

31. He gave the Potemkin village a new paint job

but it's the same Potemkin village

[liberal N proud]

32. Those who are disappointed set their standards too high. n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

38. wow that is the first time I have ever seen the list posted here

:sarcasm:

[ChiciB1]

43. I'm Thinking Regurgitation Overwhelmigation WITH An Added

:sarcasm: Sorry, it's just not that new and shiny anymore.

[Tx4obama]

49. Perhaps you should look at it. This IS the first time I've seen it in the GD forum.

And it was posted in the GDP forum on Mon Jun-27-11 12:09 AM

So, I think perhaps you are confusing it with something else.

[NC_Nurse]

40. I pay way too much attention. That is why this list won't help.

To paraphrase Bill Hicks: I prefer the puppet on the left, but it's the same guy holding up both puppets.

[malaise]

41. I don't get the unrecs

This is a Democratic MB

[Logical]

76. Two reasons, 1. Many are disappointed, 2. 20 posts a day just like this one.

[Tatiana]

45. With Obama, it's like you take two steps forward, then two steps back.

Two steps forward with student loan reform, then two steps back with continued military presence in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Libya.

He's done some praiseworthy things, as represented by the Lily Ledbetter Act. But there are also some truly horrendous examples of decision-making, like the continued spying on honest Americans via warrantless wiretapping or the support for TSA security theater and passenger groping.

We get unemployment extended, but we go further into debt by giving the extremely wealthy a tax break.

It's almost like... there's no there THERE with this man. He's nice, he's congenial, but his idea of a good decision is gray... the middle between black and white. He doesn't seem to care or be disturbed by the fact that his "middle ground" is the midpoint between extremely right wing and right wing. He's weak, and he's an ineffective leader for the non-wealthy class.

Unfortunately, he's the best horse we've got, which says a lot about our options.

[damntexdem]

46. If he caves on SS, Medicare, or tax cuts for the rich, then I am quits with him.

I worked for him in the primaries and in the election. I won't support him if he betrays us that far. Forget someone's blog -- the issue is what he does in the current confrontation.

If he caves, then we are dead in the U.S.

[CreekDog]

47. Is your post in honor of International CAPS LOCK DAY? (June 28th)

:shrug:

[hfojvt]

48. boy, that section on poverty sure is small - two whole things

and I guess I am supposed to be happy about a bunch of Reaganomics :eyes:

"Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he cut taxes for 95% of America's working families.

Under Obama, tax rates for average working families are the lowest they’ve been since 1950.

He extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years."


Just spread that old time Reagan message - taxes = bad; tax cuts = good.


They also seem to have left off an accomplishment.

Under Obama, tax rates for the rich are the lowest they've been since 1907.

[Tx4obama]

54. I guess you missed the part where it said it's a 'PARTIAL' list. n/t

[hfojvt]

61. I guess they just left off the parts that aren't important to Obama

or to progressives, then.

And made sure to include the Reaganomics.

I guess I should be looking forward to Reagan's fourth term in 2012.

[Vanje]

50. Teh LIST!

[TriMera]

58. +1. n/t

[Tx4obama]

60. No it is NOT 'Teh LIST'.

Anyone that takes the time to look at the list on the OP link would know that.

[Bobbie Jo]

80. +1 nt

[Tx4obama]

53. I think it's the best list compiled so far, love all the citation links that are included

I think that probably most folks are unrec'ing it, because they are not clicking the link to see that it is something new/different and just assuming that it is that 'other' list.

It is pretty amazing that 'some' folks have tried to turn the word 'list' into a dirty word!

p.s. Btw, I rec the OP and it is still sitting at zero ;(

[Iggo]

56. WHAT?!?!?!?

[Marrah_G]

59. I disagree with this post.

[Tx4obama]

62. What facts do you disagree with? n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

63. K&R!! +1,000,000!!!! n/t

[cycle rider]

65. Why i switched to D.

I am not sure where to put this but changed from R to D after the D's in N.Y voted for same sex what ever one calls it. I voted for Obama as IMO the R's seem to no longer care what the public thinks.

[Tx4obama]

74. Welcome to DU :)

:hi:

[philly_bob]

67. Please make arguments without personal insult.

Argument: Obama is not sufficiently appreciated.
Insult: You aren't paying attention.

[Shagbark Hickory]

68. Some of those things are huge failures or very unpopular. Making home affordable... tarp, clunkers..

et cetera

[TNLib]

70. Well I recommended. He's definitely better than Bush or McCain

But the bar is low.

I just wish he would do more about jobs and the economy. Mainly getting rid of H1B's tightening trade agreements and penalizing companies for off shoring jobs. Stop the wars, cut the defense budget and put more spending into the US economy as well as strengthen labor unions.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

72. I have been paying attention.

Very closely. That is the problem.

[markpkessinger]

83. +1,000,000 n/t

[Logical]

75. You understand all caps does not make anyone believe you automatically??

[alarimer]

77. He is continuing Bush's secrecy policies.

In fact he's doubled down on them. For that alone, I cannot ever in good conscience vote for him again. Not to mention illegal wars in Libya. Betraying numerous promises, dragging feet in the DADT repeal. We're still waiting.

I pretty much hate Obama at this point.

[scarletwoman]

78. With the all caps subject line, I thought for sure your OP was going to be satire. (nt)