My complex thoughts on President Obama

[Taverner]

I like the guy - I think he's been our best President since Carter, and I would argue he is a better President than Kennedy. Kennedy came at a time when America was riding high, and just ran with that. Obama came at a time when America was wounded, and is working to get her standing again.

However, there have not been dissapointments. The fact that he even let SS and Medicare go on the table made me very nervous. Perhaps its part of a plan, but I don't like the idea of using it as a card, even if you win the hand.

There has been the increase in war spending, and the sacred cow nature of the DoD in his administration.

And I have a problem with his two Supreme Court picks. Yes, they're OK and certainly better than Bush's picks, but they are Center-Left rather than Left - and to balance out the Cons in the SC one would think you would need the polar opposite.

But there have been successes as well. Putting Elizabeth Warren in a policy-shaping position is one of them. Letting her pick Richard Corday is another. Taking out OBL, of course, was great, and only topped by the Islamic Burial at Sea. I mean, that last one was about the most intelligent way to go. No burial site for martyr worship, but no desecration of the corpse to inflame hatred and an Islamic one at that - done by a Muslim Chaplain in the military. He just killed like 20 birds with one stone...but I digress.

I am alarmed at his overtures to the GOP and Big Business, but I hope that is being made up for by the destruction of FOX (baby, this one is gonna be Rupegeddon!) I mean, there is no other legal alternative. FOX and Murdoch are about as close to SPECTRE and Bloefeld as you can get!

Anyway, what I'm saying is Obama is good, he's a mixed bag, and is neither fully good nor fully bad.

He'll have my vote - but not my money. This is not as some kind of punitive act, but that he's got the cash angle covered, and there are a lot of bigger races that need cash. Alan Grayson's campaign for example.

[DesertFlower]

1. i feel the same way -- mixed emotions.

[Solomon]

2. What's so complex about it?

[Taverner]

10. I'm slow - what can I say? Flipping a coin is a complex task for me...

[11 Bravo]

3. That, my friend, is one thoughtful and well-written post.

I don't even agree with all of it, (I think he went as far left as he could to make confirmable SCOTUS picks), but your post remains reasonable and thought-provoking.

[Independent_Liberal]

4. You know, I actually agree with you on a lot of that.

Things get very frustrating at times. I know how unhappy everyone is with the compromising and whatnot. But I do feel he has his own strategies and we really don't know what goes on inside the beltway. I'm as happy about the "Rupegeddon" as you are and if all goes well, the things we want to change for the better will become goals that are more realistic. I know this place is filled with hostility among folks constantly and it's one of the reasons I haven't posted as often as I used to. But I've matured since then. I'm trying not to jump on people for every little statement or disagreement they may have. It's important that everyone show a little respect to one another. Thanks for your posting. It made me feel good.

:)

[StarburstClock]

5. Centrism is simply trading corruption for civility

The U.S. is a corrupt and warring country being destroyed by criminal banks and their interests whether anyone likes it or not.

[Taverner]

9. You might not understand, but I actually agree with you

And this is partially why I don't think this whole "American Experiment" will have a happy ending

[jwirr]

6. Thank you. That is much how I feel. I have earmarked Alan Grayson

and Tammy Duckworth (hope I spelled that correct) so far. I do not really have any money to spend on anything outside the home but those two are going to get some at least.

[kentuck]

7. I think you are mostly right.

President Obama came in under very difficult circumstances and he has been a very strong Commander in Chief. The one area that I would give him a failing grade on is that he either underestimated the seriousness of the situation we faced or he chose to address the problem in a very weak and bi-partisan manner? He never chose a progressive solution to any of the problems.

[dawg]

8. Thanks for an intelligent and well-reasoned post.

I'm also of mixed emotions about the President. On a personal level, I really like him.

My biggest concern is his use of right-wing frames and talking points.