Our patience with our Prez is paying off.

[Union Yes]

I think back about 2 months. President Obama had announced continuation of the policy of extraodinary renditions. His administration didn't seem very eager to investigate, indict , and prosecute officials from the Bush regime for torture and war crimes. Obama's administration almost appeared to take on a protectionist tone for Bush officials. Universal health care seemed "off the table" and would remain a progressive pipe dream.

I remembered thinking that Dems were setting themselves up for a slaughter in Nov'10 and we would see a repeat of Rethug victories similar to '94. I was almost ready to walk away from the Dems and support a third party.

I voiced my opposition to these policies here on DU, and took a few lumps for doing so. But I was also asked by many DU'ers to remain patient.

And to those DU'ers - Thank you!

We all know the historic economic disaster that Obama inherited from Bushco. This economic crisis dictated Obama's policies from day 1.

President Obama answered by signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Historic. Signed less than 30 days into his Presidency on Feb 17, 2009.

The urgency of this economic crisis shoved almost everything else to the back burner. UHC, EFCA, torture investigations ect. That angered many DU'ers. Progressives felt left out. DU turned into cats vs dogs.

Meanwhile..

Pres Obama and AG Eric Holder dropped a hint that many of us DU'ers missed. When AG Holder announced that the Govt was dropping charges against Sen Ted Stevens.

That hint- That Obama and Holder would follow the rule of law during any criminal investigation into torture or war crimes. Our constituion dictates that we get it right the first time. Double Jeopardy does not allow any fuckups during an investigation. See Ted Stevens. Blunders lead to dismissal or acquittal.

Please think about the following, because it's extremely important to remember..

When Obama took office on Jan 20th, he gained access to information only available to the Pres and his cabinet. In other words, he saw the hard evidence for the first time. The Bush era policies. The memoes. The executive orders that authorized torture. The orders that attempted to justify torture. The stonewalling behind executive priviledge that so defined the tyranny of Bushco.

Sifting through that mountain of evidence has taken time. Rightfully so.
Fact finding has led to an investigation. Pres Obama was smart to keep this investigation under wraps until his administration had gathered the evidence needed to release to the public.

The torture memoes blew it wide open. Soon, those 2000 torture pics will be released. More damning evidence against Bushco.

President Obama and AG holder have handled this investigation with brilliance.

Obama is rock steady in getting it right the first time.

Obama and Holder are building a case the correct way. The only way allowed by our constitution.

Bush steered America into a constitutional crisis over the course of 8 years. Undoing that damge the legal way will take time.

An investigation is happening people, slowly but surely.

Pres Obama deserves patience during this investigation. But it's also important to keep pressuring all of our elected officials to investigate, including the Pres.

What Bushco did to America must never be allowed to happen again, ever. Conducting an investigation the right way is the only way to ensure it never happens again.

Enough about that.

Thanks to the courage of our President, Universal Health Care appears to be back on the table.

Remember about a month ago when all seemed hopeless regarding UHC?

Again, we should have been a tad more patient. Myself included.

The Employee Free Choice Act is still alive. Getting Sen Al Franken seated will help our cause.

Obama is pushing for investments in mass transit. Finally, a President that cares about mass transit. America has fallen so far behind in that regard.

Legislation to combat climate change is in the works.

Investments in alternative energy will spawn a new green economy and create millions of jobs. But, it will take time.

Again, Patience.

When I step back and look at all that he is fighting for, I AM AMAZED with his Presidency and what he has accomplished in under 100 days.

He has met enormous challenges head on.

He has handled international diplomacy with grace. And made a few friends in the process.

All in under 100 days, incredible.

[madokie]

1. I voted for him because I believed him

I'll give him all the time he feels he needs as I trust him to do what is right for our country and thats all I really care about.

[thevoiceofreason]

2. Nice thread

You build a wall one brick at a time!

[FrenchieCat]

3. Callous hand by callous hand!

[babylonsister]

4. Pretty amazing, isn't it. Some of the angst around here might

have been caused by people not recognizing a person who actually had and has our best interests at heart.

I'm loving it!

[Union Yes]

6. So true.

[NYMountaineer]

5. Damn Straight

Obama's a very shrewd man. He knows that everything has to be done tactically and thoroughly, else the whole affair is liable to fall apart if the rascals ever get back into office.

I think it's clear whose side he's on, but he needs cooperation from his administration and his charges, and political leverage from us to move forward with his agenda.

As for the naysayers on the far right, well gosh, heaven forbid that a president should actually attend to the agenda that he was elected to further! The gall! The presumption! Who does he think he is, a lawfully elected executive officer of a Democratic Republic?

Rec from me for this thread.

[Union Yes]

7. Well said.

Welcome to DU

:hi:

[NYMountaineer]

8. Thank you

Glad to be aboard with a more reputable outfit (I'm a reformed Freeper and glad to have found out the error of my ways).

[Muttocracy]

17. welcome to DU - bet you'll have some interesting perspectives, esp. on the Specter issue! nt

[DireStrike]

9. You take letting stevens off the hook as a GOOD sign?

It can just as easily be read as "nobody from the priveleged class goes to jail."


>Thanks to the courage of our President, Universal Health Care appears to be back on the table.
>Remember about a month ago when all seemed hopeless regarding UHC?

IS UHC really on the table? Or are they just going to force us to buy insurance from private companies? Any solution without allowing a buy-in to government services is not a real solution. It's a giveaway to the insurance companies for an inferior product. It will cost more and do less in the long run.

>The Employee Free Choice Act is still alive. Getting Sen Al Franken seated will help our cause.

God, I hope so. Nothing really to do with Pres. Obama though.

>Obama is pushing for investments in mass transit. Finally, a President that cares about mass transit. America has fallen so far >behind in that regard.

This is very good. High speed rail and all sure, sure. But what about improving mass transit inside our cities? That's where the real work remains to be done. Of course there's no money for that. Thanks, republicans/clinton era deregulating democrats.

>Legislation to combat climate change is in the works.

"In the works", again. More patience...

>Investments in alternative energy will spawn a new green economy and create millions of jobs. But, it will take time.

Here I will allow for patience. Investments have been made starting with the recovery act.



He has done lots of little helpful things. But he's made no real fundamental change. He hasn't challenged the powers that destroyed the economy at all.

[Union Yes]

14. I hear ya. And I felt that way too at times.

First let me start with..

"You take letting stevens off the hook as a GOOD sign?"

Hell no. But, if Stevens case went to trial it would've been dismissed. Holder knew this.
I was sickened when I first heard the news that the Govt was dropping charges against Stevens.

We are a nation of laws. That used to mean something. Then America elected the Tyrant King Bush, twice. We all know the disastrous results. Part of that result- the intentional bungling of the Govt's investigation of Stevens.

Remember, at least a tiny bit of vindication came when Stevens was defeated in Nov.

The corrupt fucker should be sitting behind bars but at least he is out of the Senate.

My hope is that the Stevens case will spawn new regs and rules that govern all elected officials.

Hope.

Yes, it can be a scary fuckin word at times.

But do you remember what it's like to have hope? My hope has been tested time and time again. By Dems and by our new Prez. At times I thought that hope was lost but I stuck with my Prez. Suddenly, with whats transpired in the past couple weeks, my hope is renewed.

Torture is being investigated. I don't know what the outcome will be of that investigation but it's happening. A month ago it seemed that Bushco would walk scot free. Now, the evidence is mounting and Bushco is starting to feel the crushing weight of a pending investigation.

The Health care debate is back on the table. I don't know if it means UHC is on the table BUT the debate got a reinvigorating shot in the arm this past week. The issue is far from dead. We'll have to stay tuned and call our reps/sens/WH.

"God, I hope so. Nothing really to do with Pres. Obama though."

Obama supports the EFCA and has stated he would sign it in it's current form if our fucking legislative branch could ever pass a piece of pro little guy legislation.

Franken will be pivotal. If Spector can be convinced to support EFCA, even better.

"This is very good. High speed rail and all sure, sure. But what about improving mass transit inside our cities? That's where the real work remains to be done. Of course there's no money for that. Thanks, republicans/clinton era deregulating democrats."

Right on.

Obama did push for transit money in the stim act. From what I understand much of that money was stripped as a compromise with Rethugs. Planning for a massive Transportation/Transit bill is underway and I'm hoping that it will include massive investments into urban mass transit along with high speed interstate service.

Remember, Obama viewed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as an emergency stimulus bill. He was quick to compromise, perhaps too quick but knowing the urgency of the situation, the economic crisis. I've learned to accept that compromise, for now.

"He has done lots of little helpful things. But he's made no real fundamental change. He hasn't challenged the powers that destroyed the economy at all."

Once the economy stabilizes, let's reexamine that issue. I think a few heads will roll, once the economy starts growing.

Obama can't clean up Wall Street or Washington in 100 days.

Change will take time. Alot of time in some cases.

I agree with much of what you said in your reply. We both want many of the same things. SPUHC, EFCA, ect.

But can we really expect Obama to get all that done in 100 days?

Patience, it'll pay off. It's already starting to.

Stay positive. Give this Prez a chance.

Peace

[Psychic Consortium]

10. You are 100% correct.

And yes Obama is dropping hints to us all the time,
you must listen carefully to pick them up.

[Union Yes]

15. Yup, I'm learning to listen more closely.

[sendero]

11. I like Obama a lot..

.... and I haven't the slightest doubt that he has what is best for America, all of it, in mind.

That said, I'd have a lot more confidence in his plans to make the torturers accountable if he wasn't just messing up 100% on the economic front.

On the other hand, there is the argument that he knows exactly what he is doing, I don't buy it or dismiss it, time will tell...

http://www.oftwominds.com/blogapr09/obamas-secret-plan04-09.html

[HamdenRice]

12. Thanks for reminding us that even urgent matters take time and strategy

DU is not divided really over issues. It is divided between realists who know that even the most worthy, urgent goals require time, patience, carefulness and cunning; and those who think that once a person is elected president, he can snap his fingers and make all the good things happen.

[skorpo]

13. Well Said. n/t

[northofdenali]

16. I proudly wear my T-shirt -

YES. WE. CAN.