An analysis, of sorts.

[frustrated_lefty]

Regarding the apparent schism on DU at this time, it'll blow over. When the posturing, angst, and outrage runs out, eventually people get back to work. It still has a ways to go, I'm guessing we won't reach critical mass until there are threads calling for "purges" like we had back in 2004. Name-calling will ensue, integrity will be questioned, ideals will be ridiculed. Individuals will sit back making self-satisfied noises after they've posted, proving unequivocally their ONE true truth to which others must bow and accept. *rolls eyes*

I, personally, am in the camp hoping Dean runs in the primary in 2012. Just so you know, didn't want to sit back with any hidden agenda. That really has little to do with Obama, I just think Dean would make better decisions and display leadership. Why Kerry was chosen in '04 still boggles my mind, but that's another story.

Everyone needs to realize, we just escaped 8 years of Bush/Cheney. That time period hurt us in a soul wrenching way. Every photo-op, every lie, every insult to the American people and every insult to the world at large was a knife in the back to every one of us. And, we suffered through it, counting the days. Along comes Obama, promising CHANGE.

It's fairly evident some of us are content with incremental change, and some of us want revolutionary change. The former position assumes the system works over time, whereas the latter position thinks the system is broken. Both sides want similar things, just at a different pace, so we're not enemies here.

Now, as to Obama, I am of two minds. Remember he was a civic organizer in Chicago. The goal for a person in that position is NOT to do things for people, and it is NOT to carry them over some imaginary finish line. The goal is to teach them to do for themselves. On a national scale, this would mean forcing congress to make decisions rather than waiting for an edict from the executive, and it would mean individual citizens would have to get off their asses and push for the change they want. Following 8 years of unprecedented executive power, this is a monumental task, bordering on revolutionary change.

On my bad days, though, I suspect he's just another shyster, all charisma and no substance. At least America is represented by someone who can speak properly. The reality, I think, is probably somewhere between these apparently diametrically opposed views.

Rahm Emmanuelle, though, needs to choke on an object and get out of the way.

-fl

[Catshrink]

1. Except for education.

There his hatchet man Arne is taking a sledgehammer to public education and there's nothing subtle about it. The only people who don't have a say in Obama's education policy are teachers. The website put up for comments was just for show. Arne isn't and has never been a K-12 teacher and until someone has done the job, that person has no clue about about teaching.

[tonysam]

3. You can actually see the deterioration of public education

right before your very eyes the minute NCLB passed, and it is accelerating in the brief time Obama has been in office.

The "Race to the Top" bribery scheme is encouraging states all over the country to gut teacher protections; large scale school districts are waging war on teachers, and this is filtering into the smaller districts. And all because of a "Democrat" who supports wholesale privatization of public education.

A person cannot be real Democrat and support the destruction of a cornerstone of our democracy.

[Catshrink]

4. Unfortunately, teacher tenure has been misrepresented

as job security for inept teachers. It ensures stability in the classroom and protects teachers against agressive, vocal helicopter parents who think their kid can do no wrong and wussy admins who cave. It encourages a stable and experienced faculty. I think it takes a good 5 years to get the kinks out and figure out how to really do the job. The Arne approach will encourage turnstile "educators" who are just out to pad resumes.

[HopeHoops]

2. "Photo op" - which was worse? Mission accomplished or the plastic turkey incident?

I know, it was a real turkey, not plastic. It was still a prop and nothing more. The troops didn't get so much as a wing from it and that's probably good because it had been practically covered in some kind of camera-ready shellac and had been sitting out for so long that the dogs wouldn't have eaten it. "Support the troops" my hairy ass. Bush never gave a fuck about the troops.