Day 148 in the Age of Obama… -

[Catamount]

(I promised to keep count)

....and I was very cranky all morning...however by noon--I was back to feeling okay about things.

I really don’t know how much longer I can think about politics, and especially politicians--as it does at times seem that they really are all the same—regardless of the party they represent.

By that I mean that they will say anything—just to get into office—but once there—all their promises seem to fall by the wayside. Should I be surprised—of course not—but I’m pretty upset about some of the decisions being made at the White House at the moment.

I know that President Obama’s attention is on getting us a better health care system at the moment, but why doesn’t he just push it through, like the shrub pushed his agenda when he was in office? We all know that he could do it with only 51 votes—so WTF not?

I know it hasn’t been that long—just 148 days---but what ever happened to his WH being the “Most-Open house for the people”?
(They refused to publish the WH visitors’ log—since the inauguration.)

Or this: “Nobody is above the law”?
Think of the people who issued the “torture” orders.
(Still hanging around and inciting the simple- minded among us.)

Or “don’t ask don’t tell.”
(More gay people have been fired in the last few weeks than before.)

I could go on –but I’d only get cranky again—and I don’t want to dwell on negativity right now—so I’ll just remind every one of how things are better than before, anyway.

I mean what were our options? I ask myself now—what would Hilary have done differently? What could she do differently—given the condition this country was handed over in, after the last election? And the situation is still is precarious in every way!

Or what about the other alternative –too awful to mention? But you know the ones I mean, as they continue to butt their noses into our affairs at every opportunity, seemingly not realizing that they lost the election!

So I’m happy to say that I am still tremendously proud to have President Obama lead our nation, considering all the shit that’s happening around the world.

I still smile when I see him and hear him speak, and stand in awe of the enormous job he is expected to carry out in record time. I will try not to dwell on the scary things I’m hearing all around me –even as I write this with the last rays of daylight.

I will dwell in the moment, enjoy the company of my son and my dear sweet cats, while I can and hope that tomorrow will be a better morning and day for all of us.

Remember to www.savethefrogs.com

[Cant trust em]

1. I feel like the examples given of Obama's broken promises are generally pretty weak

Complaining about the White House visitors log is something that you care about? I think there were some torture memos released a while back that were pretty influential. It seems like people quickly forget the wins of the stimulus bill and the wonderful budget that prioritizes things that never would have seen the light of day otherwise. I think that criticism of Obama is fair, but to say that he's broken all of his promises doesn't quite hold up.

[Catamount]

2. Of course not...

I simply mean that in the short time he's been in office--these are the things that have gotten the most attention.

I want him to succeed more than ever and just hope that he can stick to his promises--weak or not.

I think his mere presence has done wonders for the world so far, but I guess I had higher expectations than was realistic.

[Cant trust em]

7. Here's what caught my attention.

"By that I mean that they will say anything—just to get into office—but once there—all their promises seem to fall by the wayside."

All I ask for on DU is some perspective.

[Uzybone]

3. "Why doesnt he just push it through"

I'm convinced that President Obama truly believes in achieving consensus across the country for big initiatives. Not that he will back down if he doesn't reach a consensus (see stimulus, economic plans etc.) but he really wants to build it. He wasn't saying it for shits and giggles during the campaign. He really believes in it.

[lindisfarne]

4. I agree. n/t

[ZRB]

5. It's one thing to form a consensus with people across the country

but another to try to do so with the Republican Party. They are criminals who only wish harm on the American people. There is no negotiating with them. They have and will continue to do all they can to sabotage the President's every move. It's time for Obama to shut them out of the process entirely and indeed, push his agenda through.

[Uzybone]

6. Hard enough to get consensus among so called democrats

when some are deep in the pockets of insurances companies, and others will call you a traitor for even considering a public option as a means to get to single payer.

[Cant trust em]

8. Shit. If you think that people on this board are pissed about his broken promises

Imagine if the central tenet of his campaign were broken.

[ZRB]

9. He only promised he would reach out to Republicans

He has done that more than enough, thus keeping his central campaign promise. The cons clearly don't want any part of his agenda, so it is time to push on without them.

[davidpdx]

10. Here is an email I recieved from someone on the Obama listserv earlier today

The only thing that is edited is one sentence with names in it which refer back to another email. I appreciate what he had to say:

Yes, it really really sucks when hope, idealism, and - dammit - simple justice have to wither in the cold calculus of the politically possible. How on earth do you institute sensible regulation of your financial system when skyscrapers full of lawyers are poised to attack your efforts as they are made and side-step any laws you actually manage to pass? How do you reform healthcare in a country who's biggest "industry" is insurance? How do you restart a failed economy in a country that manufactures less and less, and that increasingly bases its "wealth" on financial wizardry that's not even understood by its practitioners? How, in the midst of a recession, do you shift from oil to other energy sources and head off the worst impacts of climate change? How do you exit from a stupid war with dignity and without leaving chaos and deep resentment behind? How do you sup press the activities of our sworn enemies without creating more of them? What do you do with prisoners whose cases are so thoroughly tainted by the handling they received that bringing them to trial is likely to result in charges against those who imprisoned them? How do you broker peace among people with decades of accumulated grievances and the potential to unleash, at the very least, regional havoc? What do you do with a geo-politically powerful adversary as they experience internal division and a contested election? How do you deal with a huge, populous, and nuclear-armed country on the verge of internal collapse? How about a drug war just below your southern border who's viciousness and body count sound like Sadr City? Are you ready for a potentially deadly pandemic?
How can you deal with ANY of this stuff, let alone ALL of it, when a third of your own population thinks you're the anti-christ, a socialist, a fascist, a communist, and/or a crypto-muslim terror ist, and are buying so much ammunition that they are actually creating shortages! When another third is too distracted by American Idol to bother paying attention to the things you're trying to do for them and who's understanding of the issues is based on the blatherings of pundits and entertainers. And when even the third who "support" you are carping and bickering and threatening to bolt when you fail to deliver on each and every promise within the first six months of taking office and without regard for the enormous challenges you face. How do you address, or not address, ANY issue when EVERY issue promises to break the network of support you MUST have to get anything done?
Like someone else mention (name removed): Triage. And yeah, it sucks. It sucks that somebody who deserves better has to hurt while "more urgent" stuff gets done. And it's pretty goddamned hard to see why that stuff is more urgent when you're the one who's been bleeding so long.

Frankly, I'm astonished at the breadth and scope of the things Obama's trying to accomplish - and the speed at which he's working. Given all that's wrong and the strong headwinds he faces it'll be a freakin' miracle if he gets a tenth of it done. I voted for him because, more than any candidate I can remember, I think he's capable of making it happen - and that if he can't do it, nobody can. Now more than ever this guy has my full support. I trust that he'll advocate for social justice for gays - as soon as he can assure them of employment and health care.
Don't stop demanding what is rightfully yours - but please don't forget who your friends are. We share the same priorities, though we may order them differently. Together we WILL get there.

[babylonsister]

12. That e-mail is pretty terrific-thanks for posting it. nt

[Catamount]

13. Yes this email is very telling...but if

you read all of my post--you would have seen that I only felt upset for a little while and once again felt relief and pride that this man is running our country and by this much of the "world", or at least is trying to do so.

As much as I felt chastened when I read this email, I also know that anybody who has been following politics for any length of time would have been aware of all these problems-(most of all President Obama). Any decent, liberal minded candidate would have known about the incredible mess left to sort out in these incredibly difficult and yet exiting times.

The damage that was done by the previous administration didn't happen overnight, but gradually for all to see--if they were in any way astute or aware of anything.


I don't find any fault with him personally and have held my tongue for the most part in speaking out against him in any way--as all my previous posts show--but I do have a problem with some of decisions in recent weeks, at least those that I mentioned earlier, as they 'seem' to be playing directly into the hands of those who are the hate-mongers amongst us.

I also worked very hard to bring this man to power--spending hours phoning people. knocking on doors in the worst kind of weather and signing every petition (hundreds) to make a difference and donating every spare $$$ I could afford, as did many of my friends and relatives.

And even though I'm critical now--I still love this man and feel that he still can save us all from gloom and doom by really pushing his agenda and standing up to the spineless dems (among the good ones).

I also get emails from the President--(alas only because of my previous donations)--but he asks 'US' the people to hold him responsible and push him to do the things we want--and unless we are vigilant at all times he will lose his base.

This in no way diminishes what was said in your email--I just find it a little disingenuous to think that all the difficulties the president has to deal with is news.

[styersc]

11. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was.

.