America has just experienced SIXTEEN YEARS of the its very own Dark Ages

[berni_mccoy]

Bush had 8 years to set us back on just about every policy you can think of.

During that time, not only should we have moved forward with 8 years of progress, but Bush took us completely backwards, in reverse, the equivalent of 16 years in the dark ages where people believe the earth is flat and the center of the Universe. And that's not far from where people's minds have really been.

I'm still surprised at how many people here expect results NOW! The impatience is daunting and I don't envy the Obama administration for what it has to live up to.

As an old weight-loss adage goes: it took you time to put on those all those pounds, it's going to take the same amount of time to work them off. The problem is people are fat and lazy and don't want to do anything but have their problems solved for them with the latest weight loss drug. Here's an idea: get off your asses and get busy helping to change America!

[Hutzpa]

1. I've just finished watching

Ted Kennedy's HBO's documentary and I can't help but came to the conclusion that the
'Kennedys make America while the Bushs' destroyed America'

Nixon was a sick son-of-a-bitch.....

[timeforpeace]

2. Nixon. Don't get me started.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

3. Are you really saying Clinton was worse than Bush Sr or Reagan?

8, 28 or at a pinch 20 are numbers I could understand, but 16?

[berni_mccoy]

5. No, 8 years of backward movement by bush + 8 years of not moving forward (during bush)

[dysfunctional press]

7. clinton didn't do much to move us forward.

nafta
wto
telecom act
welfare 'reform'
doma
don't ask don't tell
etc...

[lunatica]

4. You know, those of us who are obviously expecting things to take time

Have no reason to jump on the nets screaming about something not being done when it isn't done. We're being patient. So therefore we don't post compulsively with condemnations or beatific praise about every hiccup or tweet or twitter about every move or non move that Obama makes. Those of us who are patient and know things will take time are quiet just because we're not expecting world shattering change this very instant.

So it stands to reason that those who can't stand the facts of time and process would be making the most noise. And it's actually their right which I wouldn't ever dream of taking away. Besides, I think they apply pressure which is necessary. It's not like we have that much time or there isn't a severe set of crises happening as we speak.

Just a thought...

[berni_mccoy]

6. Fair enough, but in this day and age, the criticism relies to often upon falsehoods

[lunatica]

9. yes, it seems like that's the case

But people are mostly expressing frustration and fear (which we all have to some degree) in terms that seem to be absolutist, when in reality it's mostly a strong reactionary emotion that passes. I think it comes from the last 8 years of not getting a break while we watched Bush take our country apart with the help of our own party representatives. It's hard to feel trust so easily now. It's that old syndrome of 'once burned, twice shy'. Everyone wants to trust Obama, but he still has to earn it.

For my part I just think he's a human being who is smarter than I am and with as many flaws as I have and that he's a consummate politician, who is still a politician at heart. He has to wheel and deal because that's the nature of the beast. The beast being Congress and Washington, DC and vested interests. A President's job is to keep all those balls moving in the air as he juggles them and he can't just worry about one ball, even if it's his favorite or he'll drop them all.

[madrchsod]

8. start around 1980......

[stray cat]

10. and some DUers say Obama is no different than Bush! - sounds like they are still in the dark