I get disappointed with Pres Obama, but then...

[HardWorkingDem]

Like many here, at times I get very disappointed with President Obama. I get frustrated that he has not done more or has not fought harder on things I feel are important. I grow weary of what he campaigned on and then does not seem to follow threw on. And then yesterday, watching the video of him praise the Bushes made me want to throw up.

But typically, these are immediate responses because when I start to think about it, I start to marvel at not only what he has accomplished, but at what high expectations we have of this singular man and how very possible, how unrealistic they are and maybe even how unachievable some of them may be.

Really, think of it....here is a 47 year old, youthful black man in America. And then, whether white, black, or female, think of what we are asking of this lone person of 47 years (anyone noticed that the right always seems to nominate elderly white males while we often go with people we think would be great presidents?).

This man is walking a fine political tightrope that has buried mines buried on both sides, all the while of trying to maintain a position of getting re-elected in a terrible country for a black person to do so. If he goes too far left, he's a radical whatever and scares of potential voters, if he's too center, he disillusions the voters on the left. This man can't catch a break. And this is illustrated by the recent attacks of Huckabee. In a fair world of even minor justice, his recent comments would not even be broadcast for their blatant lies and character falsities of Obama.

Frankly, we on the left need to sit back a bit and carefully re-examine what faces this man on a daily basis and look at his accomplishments logically even if it pisses his off that he has not done enough -------- yet.

Pres Obama is not Jesus. He is not a God. But he is truly a remarkable man who has done remarkable things and he, or we, have nothing to be ashamed of, but we need to remind ourselves of what he has done and the climate he has done it in.

[handmade34]

1. this is true

[gateley]

2. You speak for me -- and much more eloquently than I ever could -- thanks. nt

[hedgehog]

3. I think his supporters understand he isn't a Messiah. The irony is

that while we were accused of believing him a Messiah, others now condemn him because he isn't a Messiah.

I was disappointed at his victory speech at the time because he seemed to be too restrained and unwilling to celebrate. Now I understand he meant exactly what he said when he told us he couldn't do it alone. We have too many other Democrats in office who are perfectly satisfied with the status quo. Even within his administration, I am sure there are people who aren't in full support of his vision.

[The Doctor.]

4. Quite true.

The irony is poignant.

[Monique1]

12. You speak for me

Yes, there are times I get upset with him and that is to be expected since we are not sheeples like the other side. We do need to notice his achievements. There is only so much he can do, he is the President of all the people not just us progressives. He is also the first black President so he needs to be careful how he reacts. According to many polls people are in the middle and that is where he is at but still trying to some degree to be on our side.

People are upset he didn't do more for WI - he did speak a little and look at the media garbage that was thrown out at him because he said a few words. I know some unions who did receive a letter from Obama supporting them. If he went to WI - the fight would not be the people but between Walker and Obama. This is the people's fight - how many times when he spoke up for the protestors in other countries he said "it is the people who are speaking". I am for unions, teachers and all those fighting, you have my support and most everyone on this board - does too but it is US the people who must keep our voices heard.

No matter what Obama does, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

I do agree we have to high expectations of Obama while we had few from Bush just had a great time making fun of Bush.

[sufrommich]

5. I'm sure you'll get raked over the coals for this,but I agree. nt

[TheKentuckian]

6. It has never been about not doing enough but doing the wrong things and accepting a deadly paradigm.

I have no expectation of a deity but I do demand putting the needs of the people, the nation, and our habitat first because without those focuses nothing remarkable or even positive can come about.

[DJ13]

18. +1

I refuse to condone the timidity Obama has shown, nor accept the duplicity of his actions when measured against his own words during his campaign.

[hfojvt]

7. the really remarkable thing

was how he punted on first down and some people still think he's a great quarterback.

I asked for one man to reverse the Bush tax cuts for the rich. He could have done that simply by doing nothing.

I don't think it is asking too much of one man to ask him to do nothing.

Or to at least ask that one man to fight instead of waving the white flag.

As for what Huckabee said, it has little to do with blackness. People were saying very vile things on TV and radio about President Clinton for 8 years too.

[HardWorkingDem]

13. After watching Tweety the last few days (and I'm not a huge fan of him)...

The Huckabee comments, I believe, are much more related to Obama's race than at first thought and it's being done in such a way to try and allow those on the right to claim it is not so. In other words, they are trying to have their cake and eat it too. They will state they are not making these comments about Obama's falsified past because of his race, but because they are trying to point out he's a "foreigner" or something like that.

But then, examine what their goal is: to frighten a segment of voters to not vote for this guy out of nothing more than fear and they are trying to build this fear on making him into a foreign agent who hates America and is not like them for a variety of reasons, including race.

[butterfly77]

34. It took two years..

for many in the media to admit a lot of it is about race. It did not just start though when he took office it has been going on well before that but many wouldn't admit it and many still won't. I really don't think where they think this will get them they tell AA to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and they can't stand it when an AA succeeds despite all of the obstacles put in the way purposely.,

I have watched many from other countries walk right in and be given everything needed to succeed but for some reason its a problem when something is done that is perceive as a handout if an AA receives it many of the things this world and country enjoy were created by AA do they think they will sit there and just starve to death or not try to provide for their families like anyone else.Its not about AA its about people period.

Decades have gone by and this country is catching hell right now just because many hate AA and now see that while they have spent their time hating AA what effects one effects all they turn around and see that others of different races have benefit now they are turning on them too,I guess all of the riches in this world are just for a certain type of person and they own this world.

What in the hell do they expect a person to do when they have no where else to go do they really think that they won't commit a crime. They (the republicons/racists) or whatever they call themselves have tried to everything possible to stop the President just because they think he will help AA.

I keep hearing about education many are educated but they are committing crimes daily and they are not only AA although the media portrays it that way the greatest criminals are on wallstreet and in many of the highest places in government..

[postulater]

8. I think he'll cover our backs better when push comes to shove.

We can't rely on 'leaders' to do what is necessary. That is why it is called a movement. Things happen when people make them happen.

Democracy trickles up.

Fascism trickles down.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Obama is a centrist politician seeking reelection.

I'm not "disappointed" in his governance. It's pretty much as I expected to be (though even more rightwing than expcted), which is why I didn't vote for him.

[asjr]

10. Thank you. Presidents command attention and

through thick and thin we give it. I maintain my good thoughts about him and have realized his position as head of state can be very precarious, especially when voters begin to waver. If I have learned nothing else in my 79 years I have learned patience.

[leftstreet]

11. Oh FFS. He was painted as a 'socialist' and got elected anyway

He didn't campaign as a centrist bipartisan business CEO, he campaigned from the political and economic left

Voters envisioned 'universal' healthcare, 'green' jobs programs, anti-war, new deal stuff

[NorthCarolina]

14. +1000

[Edweird]

24. "Anyway" seems to imply "in spite of".

I submit that he got elected BECAUSE of the things you listed.

[leftstreet]

25. That was all the right had: Teh SOCIALISTS are coming !!111

And yeah, that's what I meant. Those things got him elected.

But now all of a sudden we're supposed to believe he must become bipartisan to soothe the angry, foaming mob on the right. Riiiiigggghhhht

[RegieRocker]

38. Sheepism abounds also on the left.

Just because he is our Democratic elected President by no means gives him a fucking free pass with me.

[HardWorkingDem]

39. No one is asking for a free pass.....

and who is asking for one?

The point is, WE dems have created a persona we thought impossible to fail and then ignore the true America.

[Enthusiast]

45. PLUS one million! nt

[MineralMan]

15. Well said!

The OMG! reactions we're getting ever time the President does anything does us no credit.

[EFerrari]

16. It's not unrealistic to expect him to refrain from lending respectability

to the Bush mafia.

[HardWorkingDem]

28. Thought so to, but then thought of the larger symbolic aspect....

As I posted in the OP, watching that made me want to throw up, but then I started looking at the larger picture. Whether one likes it or not, to a very large number of voting non-political Americans (contrasted to those of us who follow politics greatly) the Bush Cartel ARE seen as being decent stewards of the country. Hell, look at how Bush Sr is being re-created before our eyes. And Obama recognizing their "service" is a huge symbolic gesture of his character and not theirs and that gesture might cause a few of them to think Obama is worth a second look and maybe a better person than they are being told he is.

And really, wasn't that education gathering a sincere reflection of Obama's character?

At the end of the day, I think a lot of people miss that part of his personality - that he is more comfortable being a bridge builder than bomb thrower.

[EFerrari]

30. The larger symbolic picture is that you can't nornalize evil

without destructive consequences.

And building bridges for criminals makes you complicit, not constructive.

[Enthusiast]

46. Exactly

Lending respectability to the Bush mafia while disrespecting the ones that got you elected.

[Name removed]

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[NBachers]

19. Bye Bye

Don't ever come back

(This is in response to #17, which is a spam post that'll disappear soon)

Otherwise, I support HardWorkingDem. The treachery in our government, "Intelligence Services," and population must be scary when you're President Obama. We all know what they're capable of. I still support President Obama.

[toddwv]

20. ALOT of the perception is set by the media.

Obama isn't perfect and he is in not just a difficult political climate but a very odd and dangerous political climate. It's very strange that he has been one of the most progressive Presidents in history but is still seen as center-right by many. I would encourage everyone not to teabag the President. This is not to say that he can't be criticized, he can and should be but it should be done with the reminder that overreaching could swing a pendulum against us very easily. This isn't a game of chess so much as it's a game of Jenga. If you remove the wrong peg, the whole thing could come crashing down. The Republicans have a complete lock on the House and the Senate is designed to make it nearly impossible to get legislation through that hasn't went through the wringer of both parties.

So disagree with the President, that's your right AND responsibility, however joining in the right-wing's attacks is just a bad idea.

[TheKentuckian]

22. No one is joining right wing attacks because they have entirely different complaints

Most of which are bullshit to frame the debate deep in their territory, blatant racism, and outright lies.

Offering a vegetarian beef as an alternative to pork isn't keeping their needs in mind but rather being an asshole.

Wrong is better than batshit insane but far from productive.

[Edweird]

21. He asked for the job and got it. Either he's got what it takes or he doesn't. Excuses don't cut it

"Oh you just don't understand what he's up against". So fucking what. Every president 'has it tough'. If he can't do the job "because of what he's up against" THEN HE SHOULDN'T BE PRESIDENT.
Of course, all of that is assuming that he ACTUALLY WANTS to do what's best for us instead of advocating RW policy. I think his actions have shown that to be a grossly mistaken assumption.

[HardWorkingDem]

27. What is it you realistically want?

If you think every president "has it tough" more so or even equal to than this one man, then there's not much else to debate or discuss.

This one person is stuck in a place where he as no place to go without seemingly offending anyone. He pledged to change the tone in Washington and appears to be trying to just that, but how can he do so by being 100 percent partisan?

Do you really expect him to carry out EVERY leftist policy those of us on the left want?

And none of my points are "excuses" but items WE should exam a little bit more carefully. Do WE want a one-term president that fails so miserably that it takes a couple of more Rethuglican presidents before the American people again decide to give the Democrats another chance at leading?

The one cover on Time a short time ago depicting Obama juggling all sorts of things was quite apt, but we tend to ignore what we ask of this guy and to me, it's unrealistic and indicative of how the American people have grown to see our progress as being important only to us instead of the future.

[Name removed]

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[Edweird]

50. Like I said. If 'this one man' is so overwhelmed that he has no choice

but to advocate FAR RIGHT policy then 'this one man' isn't fit to be (a Dem) president. You claim you aren't making excuses, but go right back to 'how tough he has it'. Spare me. The left isn't going to hold a pity party for him while he jams far right policy after far right policy down our throats. 'Poor poor Obama'. What a load of crap.

[Edweird]

51. Oh, and if you think he's anything other than a one term pres.

you may be in for a surprise in the not-so-distant future. Just like I called 2010, I'm calling 2012 - conditionally. He still has time to have a 'come to Jesus' conversion and pull his ass out of the fire - but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

[Solomon]

52. Oh, I'm quite sure you will be saying that he did in some way

after he wins the next one. Easy to say when he's wrong, but you will never admit when you're wrong, right?

[Edweird]

53. I'm big enough to own being wrong. Are you?

[whattheidonot]

29. big money.

Obama took the big money from the banks. obama has gone along with the banks and big business. He was paying back the big money. Obama has been a big disappointment because of what he ran on and what he really is are so different. He says one thing, sounds great, then adopts policies that do the opposite. Not once, lots of times.

[Liberal Veteran]

23. K n R!

[tularetom]

26. It's like when I was a kid and somebody picked on my little brother

I could say or do anything I wanted to him but if some other kid messed with him, I'd be the first one to come to his defense.

That's kind of the way I feel about Obama. I can criticize him if I want to because in a crunch situation I'd have his back.

I never thought much of Clinton, but when the republicans and their pundit stooges ganged up on him, my view of him totally changed.

Sorta like the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I'm more motivated by dislike of republicans and republican principles than by devotion to any particular Democratic leader.

[DonCoquixote]

31. Could Obama have done more

Yes, he needs to show more courage to confront, more audacity.

But would our Blue dog democrats have actually gotten most of what we wanted, hell no.. And no, Hillary would not have done so either, either sadly, the Mary landrius and Evan Bayhs of the world know where their bread is buttered, and that they can outlast a president.

Still while we would not have gotten single payer, audacity might have gotten us a public option.

[butterfly77]

32. Kicked&Recommended...

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[HardWorkingDem]

40. Wow...what a nasty reply....

calling Obama a murderer...and you did.

[ProSense]

41. No

he isn't.

[cliffordu]

37. K&R!!

[lfairban]

42. I'm disappointed that Obama is the upside!

nt

[Name removed]

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[mmonk]

44. There is no we. Go tell this to the teachers and educators, many who find themselves

standing alone.

[MadHound]

47. What has he accomplished?

Bailed out the banksters and Wall St. while letting Main St. suffer. Passed a HCR plan that gives the insurance industry a mandated monopoly with little price restrictions. Doubled down twice on the illegal, immoral war in Afghanistan, and there is no end in sight. Needlessly given the rich and well off another tax cut that is going to be taken out of the hides of those less well off.

Has Obama done good, yes. But the good that he has done is far outweighed by the evil he has implemented. The poor, middle and working classes will be suffering under the policies he has implemented for years and decades to come.

[JoePhilly]

48. K&R

[Reader Rabbit]

49. No, he's not Jesus or God, but he could at least be a Democrat.

If I had wanted a Republican president, I'd have voted for McCain.

[rucky]

54. I know, I know.

I'm just frustrated in general & wish we had a foothold on things.