I expected to be disappointed in Obama

[cali]

Now I didn't know in what areas he'd disppoint me, but I knew damn well, I'd be perturbed by decisions he'd make. I was cognizant that he's essentially a cautious, cerebral kind of guy and that those qualities cut both ways. Good, for instance, when it comes to his reaction to the the current situation in Iran, not good when it comes to other issues.

I never take campaign promises as gospel. It seems like a foolish thing to do given the long trail of broken campaign promises and the nature of political campaigns.

I'm not going to go into detail about where I'm disappointed. Suffice to say that he's been a real disappointment when it comes to civil rights for the GLBT community, unwilling to risk even one iota of political capital to do the right thing- and no, I don't think he's risking that in his plan to modestly extend some benefits to same sex couples working for the gov't.

So why maintain hope? Well, two points: He's done some things that indicate that he's willing to stand for the things that I believe are important, such as his approach to I/P, and secondly, as I've said before, he's the only game in town, and he's far better than the republican alternative.

[Kolesar]

1. He has actually led on the issue of energy/climate-protection

I'm satisfied.

[LostinVA]

2. Too bad the wolves and polar bears won't ebe around to enjoy it

[dionysus]

8. jesus that's his fault now too? for crying out loud...

if i didn't know better, i'd say you could find thousands of reasons to complain about the guy...

:rofl:

[uponit7771]

3. I'm starting to think my expectations were set too low, I expected him to right regulate...

...the economy (pretty much mitigate effects of Glass Steagal), get us on the right track with health care (EBRI Poll says that's a slam dunk), get us on the right track with energy policy (done, he even moved up CAFE requirments), Get us out of Iraq (Give him a b -), make folk who are bigoted against gays feel and look like assholes (work in progress), appoint an Hispanic USSC justice (Give him an A)...etc

I just don't know why 23% of his base is disappointed with him to the degree that they are

[QC]

6. "I just don't know why 23% of his base is disappointed ..."

Try listening more and talking less and you might find out.

Plenty of people here have tried sincerely to share their fears, but they are generally smacked down with snide, sophomoric remarks about poutrage and ponies and told that their "concern is noted" and such as that.

[uponit7771]

21. Such concerns being expressed in freeperish ways has NOTHING to do with response?

Thx

[QC]

22. To some, any and all disagreement is freeperish. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

23. If you saw how freepers wrote about gay people

you would never write such a disgusting claim.

[Dawgs]

4. Good points.

I think many are just really impatient. I truthfully believe that by the end of 2010, we will see so many more great things from this President - including the end of DADT, the end of DOMA, a major bill tackling climate change, the return of regulations, the end of Bush's tax cuts for the rich, etc.

Remember, he's only been in office for 11% of his first term. It's hard to deny that he has accomplished alot, all while having quite a bit to deal with.

[ieoeja]

14. Obama wants Gates to complete Iraq, but doesn't want him to write new policy for gays.

DADT is law, not policy. The only chance of getting 60 Senators on board with repealing the law is by framing DADT as legislative interference in affairs that should be left up to the military.

But that means returning to the old rules under which the Secretary of Defense writes the policy. And while Gates may have shot down Idiot's attempts to start a war with Iran, he is still a Conservative and probably opposed to Gays serving openly in the military.

My very first thought upon hearing that Obama would retain Gates through the end of Iraq was that the push for the repeal of DADT would be put on hold until then. I have read nothing since to change that opinion.

[Solomon]

5. I firmly believe that it's not just a matter of taking the

right steps, but those steps have to be taken at the right time and in the right sequence to be effective.

The impatience and shortsightedness of many people is disappointing and it seems that he's being held to a higher standard than anybody has ever been.

Look how long Bush got suppport before it was plainly obvious for everyone that he fucked up. It was only at the very end of his 8 years that the country turned on him. Only at the end. Yet here we are barely five months in and...

[Captain Hilts]

11. He's got the most progressive congress we've seen in decades. That's one reason

there's more heat on him.

[bertman]

15. Captain, I'm not following your comment about the most progressive congress.

Seems to me that would take a lot of the heat OFF of the President.

Plus, I'm not so sure about that MOST progressive congress comment. I find them, with a few exceptions, to be corporatist to the core.

Anyway, I'm interested in hearing what you have to say about he congress/heat comment.

Thanks.

[Captain Hilts]

17. They are not progressive. It's all relative. They are certainly more progressive than

I've seen in my lifetime. When I think of the Congress Clinton had, all the pressures on him came from the right. The left just was not a force. And look what happened. It was Dems that shut the door on Clinton's early progressive efforts.

One of the reasons FDR was able to get first term New Deal legislation going was because Congress was fairly progressive on some issues, hence the ability to legalize more forms of collective bargaining, establish SS, CCC, WPA,etc. FDR's problem was the Supremes. But he and the Congress turned right in '37.

Like you - I completely agree that we need to lean on them heavily. For things like DADT they are just as complicit as the president is. Folks really need to write - on postcards so the detox process is not necessary - to their congress critters that we want single payer, etc.

Yes, we need to keep the pressure up on Congress, but also the Prez.

[WI_DEM]

7. Oh sure, me too, but on most issues I think he has been doing fine.

[Captain Hilts]

18. Yes, I agree. nt

[quantass]

9. Let's not make things about Single Issues...Take in the whole Picture -- He's pretty good overall!

Or do you prefer Bush?

[Captain Hilts]

12. You were okay until the 'Or do you prefer Bush'. Do you think that's a helpful comment? nt

[Captain Hilts]

10. I am surprised at his nominees for environmental positions. Corporate toadies. That surprises me.

I am pleased with his military/FP appointments. I'm glad he's kept Gates.

But, really, having a mining company lobbyist in charge of mine safety? Having the lawyer that defended GE and others in charge of DoJ's environmental enforcement division? This surprises/disgusts me.

[bertman]

13. Good summary, Cali. I like your attitude.

Dawg, I hate stupid, too.

Recommend

[BostonMa]

16. its only been five months what do ppl expect?

[JohnnyLib2]

19. One vote for the reasonable outlook.

Wonder where we'll all stand in a couple more years? I don't like to pretend I know.

K & R

[Cresent City Kid]

20. I too had limits to my expectations

The Bush presidency wrecked this country, the economy being the coup-de-grace at the very end. It's hard to turn this around on a dime. A bus teetering on the edge of a cliff is a bad situation, but better than falling off. That's where Obama finds himself, his success is only less failure so far. With that in mind, I expected the economy to stop or slow its slide under Obama's watch, not a quick return to prosperity.

Obama talked about multi-tasking in the campaign, but it looks like he's going to do things in sequence: health care, then perhaps energy, education, pulling out of Iraq, then maybe gay rights. I'm not saying that's right, I'm just guessing that he'll proceed in this way.

It's not enough to be better than Bush, but I'm hopeful that some of his promises will make it to law. I expect some will not because of congress, or his decisions. Tempering my expectations doesn't make me happier, just less heart broken.