Obama did not criticize Republicans enough, and he never has--until towards the very end of his term

[Akamai]

Last edited Wed Jan 11, 2017, 01:32 AM - Edit history (1)

Obama generally has been a wonderful president and I have agreed with almost everything he has done--except for the TPP. And also, except for calling out the Republicans for the criticism they so richly deserve.

From the earliest part of his administration, Republicans plotted his failure, and stonewalled him mercilessly, criticizing him day after day with lies.

I deeply wish that he had called them out on their lies/obstructionism/etc. from the very earliest days. Instead, he let the lies live longer--that he was partly responsible for obstructionism in the federal government.

The Caucus Room Conspiracy started operating in strength on the night of his first inaugural ball. When he and Michelle were dancing to 3 or 4 balls, at the Caucus Room Restaurant in Washington, DC, 15 Republican notables (including Frank Luntz) were plotting to take down his presidency, denying him every gain whatsoever. He did not "name and shame" at that time and he really has not done so since.

I do criticize him for ignoring his role as a "canary in the coal mine" and not informing us as to whom we should have fought against. When terrible people are plotting our demise, I want to know who they are and what they are doing. And I did not happen nearly enough.

And so, today, too many Americans believe that: both parties are the same, that the blame is equally spread across Republicans and Democrats, that Republicans are not trying actively to disrupt the country (so they can enrich their benefactors), etc.

Look at the following:

in which Thom Hartmann discusses the Caucus Room Conspiracy.

The mainstream press knew all about it but continue to pretend that Obama and Republicans are equally at fault, or even worse--that the problem is that Obama did not try hard enough to compromise with Republican views. And nowhere until very recently did Obama contradict that narrative. I am sure that Pres. Obama is a much more understanding, and accommodating person than I am, but I sure wish deeply that he had blamed the Republicans more, loudly, repeatedly, and naming names and kicking butt.

Any thoughts about this?

[marybourg]

1. My heart agrees with you;

my head says Pres. O. knows what he's doing.

[Akamai]

4. Everyone makes mistakes--and this was a huge mistake that Obama made, believing

Last edited Wed Jan 11, 2017, 02:31 AM - Edit history (1)

that the Republicans were willing to compromise with him, in spite of the evidence facing him. After he had been rebuffed time and again with the most vitriolic and hateful language, he continued to try to work with them with absolutely no success at all.

At some point, he should have said publicly what the reason was for his inability to get things through the Congress. In States of the Union speeches, he emphasized that "we" should work together, without noting that the Republican intransigence was a reason for a failure to get so many great things done.

In the last several months of his presidency, he is finally focused on Republican obstructionism, but only recently has he mentioned this out loud. Depending on the kindness of the Republicans---especially once they have demonstrated time again that they have no kindness or compassion in their souls--was an incredibly costly mistake.

For example, when he was asked repeatedly why he could not get along with the Republicans and pass meaningful reform, he should have said to them, "Have you heard about the caucus room conspiracy? That on the night of my inauguration Republican leaders pledged to block my every attempts at improving the country? Did you not hear about this meeting at the Caucus Room Restaurant? Why don't you ask the Republicans there why they made their pledges to bring down my presidency."

[HassleCat]

2. Not sure I can blame him.

As far as I know, this was the first time we had a significant number of congress members hoping the country would fail so they could gain the upper hand. That's the kind of thing we don't want to believe because the implications are too horrible.

[Akamai]

3. And this should be the template going forward? That we do not call out Republicans for the evil that

they do?

So many times in the last six years I yelled at the TV set when TV personnel--such as Chris Matthews and others--blame Obama for not compromising with Republicans. The fact is that the Republicans had embarked on a treasonous, un-American course of refusing to agree with Obama, even on things that they both agreed with.

And awful too is the fact that Obama did not call them out on it and bring it to light.

As much as I love and revere Obama and the things that he is done, his failure to call out this treasonous group repeatedly, loudly, in a variety of venues, etc., was really an incredibly costly mistake.

I certainly hope he calls them out repeatedly in the near future.

[3catwoman3]

5. Because he is such a fundamentally decent...

...person, I think it was very hard for him to believe that so many other people are not similarly decent. He kept hoping he could reach them.

[Akamai]

6. yes, but Paul Revere warned us that the British were coming--Obama did not warn us about

the Republicans. He did not ring the alarms, sound the claxons, tell us who the enemy were then point us in their direction.

Even tonight, he left a quite vague about who the negative players are, hinting vaguely about obstructionism. I would not hint --I would say loudly and often, that they obstructed him, and all of us for eight long years.

I would call out the media time and again about the refusal to name the Republicans as the obstructionists, as adding to national pain, lack of progress, etc.

If his "fundamental decency" led him to be unable to name and blame, he should've let that task up to someone else who would engage in that essential activity. We have to know who the enemy is, and Obama did not name the enemy clearly.

Once again, I revere him and so many, many ways, but on this issue, he really messed up.

[nini]

7. Did you really not know who the enemy was?

Jesus.. if you have to be told that you weren't paying close attention.

[Akamai]

14. Nini -- seriously -- that is a silly position to take. A lot of people knew the truth about

the Republican perfidy, but many did not know it nearly has completely as they should. A hell of a lot of people did not know about the Caucus Room Conspiracy, the Machiavellian machinations of Paul Ryan and McConnell, etc.

We should remind all Americans repeatedly of the motivations of the Republicans, only to make money for their billionaire masters, for moneyed interests, etc.

People know the dangers of speeding, but still we have speed limit signs on roads, just to remind them repeatedly of the speed they should be going. We cannot simply say, "All, people know they shouldn't go fast on the highway" and so therefore take all the speed limits away.

And also, as you know, so many people are "low information voters" and they do not know nearly as many things as you do about the evil motives of Republicans leaders.

[nini]

15. Think about those low information voters for a second

Do you really think they would believe him? He played the hand he was dealt with those scumbags and did a damned good job. Republicans have always been shitholes - the current crop is just as vile as those FDR had to deal with, or Truman etc etc they've always been on the side of the money and evil. Blaming obama for not stating the obvious is odd to me. I think obama is way more cerebral and effective in the long run by handling himself the way he did.

[Akamai]

16. Obama didn't have to persuade all those who hated him -- just to point out

to more of the undecideds what was going on. He let the asshat Republicans lie and blame him for everything and did not fight back hard against their narrative, nor did his spokespeople call out the lies.

So given that set of widely held untrue beliefs (brought about by the asshat Republicans and their enablers), it sure is easy for people to not know whom to blame.

[Skittles]

8. he still wants to be their friend

he ignored the crimes of the previous administration, telling us we needed to "look forward", then held back information that Trump is a treasonous bastard, even while they were relentlessly trashing Hillary for made-up scandals

[Akamai]

9. so you generally agree with my criticism of Obama? That although he was wonderful

in many, many ways, his trusting and acquiescent method of doing things--his tendency to believe the best about people in general--even Republicans--was in many ways a critical error in his presidency.

I do think that his refusal to take names and kick butt in a public fashion may have caused Hillary to lose the election.

Ex-governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, said that he lost the 2010 gubernatorial race to John Kasich largely because Obama did not define the differences between Republicans and the Democrats in the 2010 election. Strickland, himself, lost by just a small percentage.

[Skittles]

10. did he do a good job? yes

did he do the best he could have done? no - NOT BY A LONG SHOT

he very much helped to pave the way for Trump

[Akamai]

11. and he did not alert American voters to the evil doings of the Republican Party.

He was far too ambiguous in his criticisms, too mild in his rebukes.

And now, too many voters (egged on by cynical and greedy media people) believe that Republicans and Democrats were both equally responsible for the problems that faces country.

if one of your jobs is to warn the country of dangers,, and you do not do it, then you have failed in an important task.

[Skittles]

12. very good assessment

dead on

[Akamai]

13. I think it's kind of like with the Roman soldiers out in the field, who have sentries to warn

of encroachments. If the sentries fail to warn, then the hordes will attack and the battle can very well be lost. And in this particular instance, not only the battle, but the country's political soul for the next several generations may be lost, and the American people never knew there was any real danger afoot, because Obama did not warn them.

as much as I admire and revere Obama, this was a huge failing on his part, one which he could have corrected but time and time again refused to do.

And so too many people in this country believe that Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, the leading Republican lights, etc., are not working to steal the seed corn of the country.

Appalling, appalling development.

Where is our canary in the coal mine? Our Paul Revere? Someone to organize us and point us in the right direction? To name the foe, to call them out, then commit to deep and undying struggle?

I don't want any of this "let us get along" with others, when those others are only interested in your self-destruction and the destruction of the American people. There are many, many, many people we cannot get along with, not if we love helping people, moving the country forward, reducing pain, etc.