I have seen a lot of criticism concerning President Obama...

[rasputin1952]

While I think criticism can certainly be a good thing, often bringing things into perspective; there are times when I have to wonder just why there is such vitriol in some of the threads/posts.

I, like everyone else, do not agree with everything the president has done, or not done. Anyone who would blindly follow someone without questioning them is a fool. But there is a difference between questioning and and just plain seeking out whatever is negative and making it into a firepit of discontent.

What I have seen lately, is what appears to be a game of "grenade toss". No one "wins" in a situation like that, we all know that we leave little more than bad feelings for other members when we just toss a grenade and then hide from the blast.

Not to defend the president, but he has been given a terrible set of situations to reconcile, and some of these could be disastrous to the nation, perhaps the world, if they are not dealt with. We all have our priorities, just as the president does. I, like many, don't see eye to eye on the list he has created, but it is his list, we put him in office to deal with problems the previous administration threw at us. After just under a year, he's made progress in several areas. I applaud him for that.

Is there more to do? Of course there is, and for the next 3 years, we'll see progress. I would like to remind members of DU that we have a president, not a king. The president cannot, except under the most extreme of conditions, "dictate" what this nation will do. He has no power to create law, that is the job of the legislature, and the members of Congress should be the targets of letters, e-mails and phone calls, they are the one's who will produce the laws that will move us ahead. The president can use the bully pulpit, (and I admit he has not done so to a particularly great degree), to get some things into the public arena; but there is an immense difference between railing here on DU, and getting in touch with your Representatives and Senators to affect change. To be sure, conservatives have a great advantage over us in this area.

Constructive criticism is always welcome, venom and vitriol is a whole different matter. I understand the frustration many have, but it would be better to use that frustration to bring forth ways that we can use to change things, as opposed to just bashing the target of the day. It is easy to complain, it is difficult actually act. We should be working toward things that will move this nation forward, not just sitting on a keyboard and inciting little more than flamewars or allowing our emotions to dictate how we fail in action.

Once again, I implore people to act. Just calls to your local legislators to recall some of the reprehensible characters in Congress now can have dramatic results. Take some goomer like Grassley, or Sanford. If the population rose up and demanded a recall from their respective states, the whole nation would take notice. I've been calling Ben Nelson's office, and have been in touch with my leg to get Nelson to get in line, as have many other Nebraskans...he has softened on a lot of his stances lately. Point is, contact works. To be sure, Nelson still ticks me off, especially since I worked my butt off to get him re-elected, but he also is capable of listening and changing when he feels the heat.

So, I ask once again that members here contact their congresscritters...make sure they know how you feel. Let's work to get some positive change, starting with Congress and let's get them to take care of American problems.


ETA: a link: http://www.congress.org/