What I expected when I voted for Obama --

[smalll]

I knew he was a centrist. Not a righty, not a leftie. A centrist. But a "change"-oriented radical centrist. The man, (the Democrat, quite importantly) who told us that there were no red states or blue states, but the United States.

And so he comes to power in the worst economic situation in over half a century. The stimulus? The bailouts? Who the hell has the experience or the expertise to really understand any of that. And even those who do, how much can they know about what will work and what won't.

But this week, Obama was not a radical centrist, he was an "inside the box" centrist instead. He said no to single-payer healthcare. Now at a time when not only would single-payer help so many uninsured Americans, but also when it would take a huge load of the corporate employers' backs, and would finally make small business as competitive as the corporate folks in the employment market. But he said no.

And he said no - he laughed -- at marijuana legalization. At the very same moment that the border sinks towards anarchy because of our latter-day prohibition, at the very same time that our most populous state sinks towards bankrupcy (California) in part because it can't tax its number one cash crop.

So no, Obama never promised us single-payer. And he never promised us legalization. But he held himself out as a paradigm-shifting, blockbusting, pragmatic, intelligent, radical centrist. And he has, with his health care and marijuana statements of the past week, revealed himself to be, in actual fact, a more-of-the-same ho-hum middle-of-the-roader.

You know, the Repubs have criticized Obama for ages for having "no executive experience." Well maybe he doesn't have much, but that is not required. Even a legislator, or even a pundit, or a theorist, or a writer, may not have executive experience, but may yet and still have a talent for making decisions - for taking stock of the facts on the ground, and pointing the way forward. This is what I have begun to fear that Obama lacks. He has many accomplishments and achievements on his resume. But making decisions, coming up with the breakthrough ideas, not so much.

Tell me where I'm wrong. Or talk me down. :shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

1. You voted for Barack Obama?

I didn't know that.


Good to know.

[Demeter]

2. You Aren't Wrong

and don't even get me started about Iraq and Afghanistan.

[panader0]

3. I think our president needs to pass some more important things

before dealing with decriminalization. I smoke weed, so I'd love to see it happen. I believe that the taxation, etc., would help our economy, BUT, it is an issue with a lot of kickback, something Obama doesn't need at this point. There are many in this country that would freak out if he called for legalization at this point. He'd be a pinko-commie-hippie-anarchist-etc. to the conservatives. All things in their time.

[paulk]

4. what I hoped for when I voted for Obama

was that the slogans of his campaign, slogans like "hope", "the change we need", "yes, we can", and "change we can believe in" were more than the empty slogans I had thought they were.

I knew he was a centrist, too - but I hoped that he was a bit on the left side of that center line. And it's still too early to make any real judgements - but - with the issues you mention and the proposed bank bailout, (not to mention his FISA vote during the campaign), he has so far come down pretty solidly on the right side of that line.

And I'm disappointed.

[silverojo]

10. Me, too

Doesn't he get it? If people WANTED McCain policies, they'd have voted for McCain.

He spends way too much time cozying up to the Repukes for my comfort. :(

[Laelth]

5. I think he holds his cards very close to his chest.

In the legislative arena, Obama asks others what they think, but he doesn't say what he thinks. Then, if the last sixty days are any indication, after everyone has had a chance to say their peace, Obama pulls out his plan and rams it through Congress at light speed. Then it's a done deal.

Be patient. We may yet be very pleased with what he does. So far, I am, but don't expect Obama to come out in favor of any specific policy action. His style is to announce broad principles, as he calls them. He does not reveal his policy plan until he knows he can make it happen. Then, when he knows he can do it, he does it ... quickly ... more importantly, too quickly for the other side to respond.

:dem:

-Laelth

[empyreanisles]

6. Obama can't make decisions? Whatever. Half the board is in fits over decisions he has made.

[tavalon]

7. This week he's done a few less than stellar things,

so, we get back up and we keep his feet to the fire. We won't get what we want this week but we'll keep working. At least you don't have to go to bed each night wondering if your drunk President is going to want to shoot off some of those nukular bottle rockets in the middle of the night. Perspective, not denial. This week sucked as far as how our President behaved and yet, we're still way ahead of where we were 70 days ago.

[Political Tiger]

8. Impeach! Impeach Obama!

He's had two whole months to fix everything and save the world and he has failed! We must turn our backs on him, declare him a failure and IMPEACH!

[MadBadger]

9. I'm not sure exactly what a radical centrist is, but based on you feeling that he is a centrist...

your expectations were unrealistic.

[SKKY]

11. HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR LESS THAN 3 MONTHS!!!!!

Give the guy some time to work some things out! Jeesh!

[Solomon]

12. Vote the other way next time. Then you will get exactly

what you expect.

[Jeep789]

13. I think Obama has done more than one could reasonably expect

so far. That said, I think he is wrong on health-care (even before I voted for him) and legalization. However, one of the reasons that Obama gave me hope was his seeming ability to listen to reason.

Maybe we just need to reach out more and get him to listen. Such as, reminding him that he would not be President today had he been caught experimenting when he was young. He loves his family. Let him know the stories of your family members that haven't been able to get health care or have to pay ridiculous rates.

We can both appreciate the things he has accomplished and let him know what more we need accomplished.

[Froward69]

14. I fear that Obama

has no real spine. single payer health care and marijuana are the two issues I am most disappointed with. clearly the honeymoon is over. sadly it would seem that the new thinking I had hopes Obama possessed is really just a farce.

say the US/Mexico border problem... the cocaine/pot comes north and the guns go south. Mexico is not really doing anything about the flow north. yet expecting the US to curb the flow south. reality is is marijuana were legal it would eliminate half of the cartels business. but Hillary feels it is the guns that will curb the problem.
Health care and legalization would greatly accelerate our recovery. yet Obama seems to have become disconnected from that reality... corporate business has gotten to him.

the really tragic part is the freepers are feeling better about him. as he is not as radical as they had feared.