A call for bipartisanship to President Obama

[Stumbler]

Mr. President. As a supporter of yours in 2008 I have a request: For the duration of your presidency, please, extend a hand across the aisle and pledge to work with the Liberal voices and voters in America in the spirit of bipartisanship.

When you asked for our help we stepped up and provided. Now that we’re asking for yours we find your support lacking.

We asked you to bring our men and women home from Iraq. You told us you would; but since your inauguration you’ve “ended combat activities” while allowing 50k “non-combatant personnel” to remain.

We asked you to end the war in Afghanistan. Instead you opted for another “surge” strategy and ensured our forces would remain there for the indefinite future.

We asked you to provide at least a public option gov't-provided health insurance program. You told us you would fight for our position. Then you sold us out even before you sat down at the bargaining table.

We asked you to end the Bush-era tax cuts and again, you told us you would. Instead you chose to “compromise” with conservatives to extend them.

We asked you for more funding for a new green energy infrastructure. You instead advocate for expanded off-shore oil drilling, and support the construction of new nuclear power plants.

I could go on but I’ll digress.

You ran on the platform of “hope” and “change we can believe in.” So where is it? I know some of the talking-heads in the media like to call you the most radically-Liberal president in American history, but I don’t see it. As it is, it seems you’re much more willing to compromise with conservatives who’ll never support you than to even listen to, let alone act on, the requests of your own Liberal base.

Please, Mr. President. If not for the sake of this nation, or its citizens’ well-being, then for the sake of your second term; now is the time to compromise with your supporters on the left, rather than telling us to sit down and shut up. We’ve been told to do that for a decade now. So how about a little “bipartisanship” coming our way?

[Laelth]

1. Hear, hear. n/t

-Laelth

[abq e streeter]

2. K&R

[ProSense]

3. He could do more, but he's

moving in the right direction.

We asked you to bring our men and women home from Iraq. You told us you would; but since your inauguration you’ve “ended combat activities” while allowing 50k “non-combatant personnel” to remain.

He's winding down the Iraq occupation

We asked you to end the war in Afghanistan. Instead you opted for another “surge” strategy and ensured our forces would remain there for the indefinite future.

He added troops as he said he would during the campaign, and also announced he would begin withdrawal this summer

We asked you to provide at least a public option gov't-provided health insurance program. You told us you would fight for our position. Then you sold us out even before you sat down at the bargaining table.

There are numerous good provisions in the bill.

We asked you to end the Bush-era tax cuts and again, you told us you would. Instead you chose to “compromise” with conservatives to extend them.

The President acknowledged that the tax cuts would for the rich would not create jobs.

We asked you for more funding for a new green energy infrastructure. You instead advocate for expanded off-shore oil drilling, and support the construction of new nuclear power plants.

Misstep corrected: Seven year ban on drilling.

Grants for renewable energy

[Stumbler]

7. You're welcome to say he's moving in the right direction

But therein lies my complaint: Time and again he's proven his willingness to grudgingly provide small steps for his base while giving unquestioned support and power to his opponents.

True; he's made steps in 'the right direction.' But he's spent 2 years telling me to sit down and shut up. And he's proven his willingness to work with his opponents more closely than with his supporters. Any student of Political Science 101 could tell you that the 1st rule of governing is to reward your friends and punish your enemies.

If he's so bright, how has he omitted this point? And how is he so brazen to ask for my unquestioned, continued support when he routinely questions my (our) position and routinely refuses to support me (us)?

With all due respect, he's got a long hill to climb before earning my support back....

[ProSense]

9. Really?

"But he's spent 2 years telling me to sit down and shut up."

I missed that part.

"With all due respect, he's got a long hill to climb before earning my support back...."

He may never make it if the assessment of the first two years is a factor.

[dionysus]

10. you seem to not grasp congress' role and the need to get to 60 votes for *anything*....

[lib2DaBone]

4. Mr. Obama can run for re-election.. but I will not be voting for him...

Fool me once...

I WILL vote for a strong DEM in a primary challenge...

[dionysus]

11. bless your heart.

[Still a Democrat]

5. He's dealing with political reality, not your wish list

You have something of a point on Afghanistan, but even at that he portrayed that as the "correct" war, as opposed to Iraq.

The public option and Bush tax cuts were items of negotiation. We got a lot.

[Still a Democrat]

6. He's dealing with political reality, not your wish list

You have something of a point on Afghanistan, but even at that he portrayed that as the "correct" war, as opposed to Iraq.

The public option and Bush tax cuts were items of negotiation. We got a lot.

[highprincipleswork]

8. Curious

Curious what political realities you think he is dealing with?

[dionysus]

12. the fillibustering of nearly 100% of legislation, for starters.

[impik]

13. He is one of the most Liberal presidents ever. Your spin can't fly