Home › Forums › Open Discussion › "What happened to Obama?"
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August 7, 2011 at 11:02 pm #600050
MBarrettMillerMemberRead, “What happened to Obama?” We need to help if we want different results. see http://tinyurl.com/45ycf5b
Comments?
August 8, 2011 at 2:07 pm #731489
JoBParticipantI so tried to read all of this…
but i fear the professor missed the boat.
we need a lot more than speeches…
inspiration without corresponding action discourages instead of encourages
The over-inflated expectations of Obama and the reality were never a healthy combination.
the Obama we got is exactly the guy he was in the Senate.. and that wasn’t a good thing:(
August 8, 2011 at 3:39 pm #731490
JiggersMemberHe’s just a puppet on a string for his buddies don’t you know…
August 8, 2011 at 5:58 pm #731491
DPMemberI have much affection and respect for President Obama, even though I have been critical of him in the past. After all, he inherited an economy that was tanking, even as he was handed the job of winding down two unpopular and costly wars. At the same time he’s been the target of an unprecedented villification campaign, as dobro and others have pointed out.
Mr. Obama has had more on his plate than any President since Franklin Roosevelt, but he’s had less money and political credit to work with than any President since Herbert Hoover. So, in spite of his shortcomings, I’ve decided to cut him some slack.
Obama probably won’t be remembered as one of the Presidents who changed the Nation. But maybe he will be remembered as one of those who saved it.
A guy could do worse.
August 8, 2011 at 6:19 pm #731492
KBearParticipantNothing happened to Obama. He’s doing the best he can. What happened to his supporters? They’ve deserted him.
August 8, 2011 at 6:39 pm #731493
365StairsParticipantHe’s a little more grey around the top (it happens naturally…but probably a little pre-mature given his job) and he apparently quit smoking (good!).
DP – just pokin’ fun…not sure if you intentially went from “President” to “Mr.” to just Obama in your post…
but…”at the end of the day” (if your playing office lingo bingo…1 pt.)…I respect the public person the president still is. He had lofty goals in his campaign that captivated America and unfortunately ran into a buzz-saw of road blocks that diminished the capacity to focus on those goals…he has remained a true professional despite the numerous talking head & R/TP attacks, lowered approval ratings, and miscues of his cabinet.
His approval rating is about 48 right now…which doesn’t mean a hill of beans (there is a job to do regardless of who likes him or not) but is much better than Congress (the almighty ones), or the TP (the wishers).
Will I vote for him again? 50/50…got a while yet.
August 8, 2011 at 8:51 pm #731494
metrognomeParticipantthink you’re unhappy now? Imagine how you’d feel if McCain / Palin had been elected. Sarah would have John in a nursing home by now and we’d be invading China.
Keep in mind that the tighty righties have declared all out war on this president (don’t believe it … look at the language they are using) and nothing less than his total defeat is acceptable, no matter the cost to the country. Considering what he inherited from Dubya (who has completely disappeared from public view …) and considering the R’s behavior, and considering that he has received multiple times more death threats than any other 5 presidents (can’t be because he’s, you know, Hawaiian), he’s done okay. Just wish he would have given up on getting the Rs to cooperate earlier and just kicked their azzez when he had the clout.
August 8, 2011 at 9:03 pm #731495
charlabobParticipantIf we live in the rear view mirror, we’ll die by the rear view mirror. What happened TO Obama? Really doesn’t matter — what happened, by design, to the United States at the hands of those who profit from debacles? Play Go, not checkers.
Hint: World wide economy; based on the reality of the oligarchs everywhere in the world.
August 9, 2011 at 2:06 pm #731496
MBarrettMillerMemberPerhaps we need to re-define who we are and what we want as a nation.
If it truly is all about money our run may be ending sooner than we thought.
A brief run through the history books shows what happens to societies that are shallow and self absorbed…
We could actually be that country that people want to come to but we need to realize we are not #1 on any world scale other than our military potential-even that hasnt done much in Afghanistan. Keep in mind we were attacked in ’41, trained our military and declared victory in ’45. If the Afghans etc. are not prepared to fight for their own destiny_____________’em! Not worth one yank getting hurt…
August 9, 2011 at 4:46 pm #731497
JiggersMemberWhat happened to our politicians? just not Obama. It’s easy to blame him, he’s the scapegoat for both parties. The blame/pointing the finger game has got old.
August 9, 2011 at 4:58 pm #731498
kootchmanMemberI hope he follows “Dubyas” example…and just disappears. The “run” didn’t last very long if it is at an end. I do so love the work ethic of Congress. This President fills out a suit. The Republicans pretty much took his measure..he doesn’t lead, and doesn’t have the courage of conviction. His speech yesterday typifies his presidency.. vacuous speech of no substance and then off to two fund raisers. Politico overdrive. metro.. We didn’t vote for John McCain for President. When Obama met his true masters..any pretense at being the President of all the people went out the window. The victory was so overwhelming…concession was in the air. House and Senate Democrats read it wrong..very wrong. I was reading the Simpson Bowles Commission report … interesting. He had the cover of a bi-partisan report.. a humbled Republican Party. All of you on the fringe left..center, and right… I suggest you read the report.. or at least the preamble. We won’t have to wait until the ‘Super Super Super Duper” commission convenes in .. 5 months..you all feel like waiting another 5 months? .. another year delay …? At least Nero fiddled and provided some backround music while the decadent burned. Take the report off the shelf.. call Congress back in session… tell them this is the plan.. pass it. Show some balls Mr. Prez…you wanted the report..you got it.. and outside of your special interest lobby.. it actually received a great deal of support.. Your fringe didn’t like it… but neither did the far right fringe… RR knew that…and largely ignored both. We know Bachman is the right side version of Pelosi… any vaguely looking centrist is going to drub the dude-in chief…I hope we find one.
August 9, 2011 at 5:00 pm #731499
kootchmanMemberBet it passes..
August 10, 2011 at 1:32 am #731500
MBarrettMillerMemberDisapointment is creeping into my usually hopeful bones. What scares me is that so many want a “strong man” rather than one who is appelaing to the best in us…yeah, I know-don’t beat me up!!!!
Having lived in a number of places where I could vanish at the whim of the state police or misdefinition of the leaders thoughts I am real reluctant to wish for any “strong men” type leaders. Too many of those types have left piles of bones and broken dreams behind them.
Keep the faith-I’m hanging on by my fingernais-
August 10, 2011 at 2:56 am #731501
metrognomeParticipantI truly think the best form of government is a benevolent dictatorship. The problem with democracies these days is that a functioning democratic government requires active participation by the citizens on an on-going basis, something that started disappearing in this country 50 years ago with the advent of televised debates and political ads and which has worsened with all-mail voting.
I will take a strong leader who has the long-term interests of the country and its people over a corporate sell-out or a wishy-washy leader any day (for those of you who have been in Seattle for a while, Paul Schell was a prototype ‘make every one happy’ wishy-washy leader; Greg Nickles was often referred to as a ‘strong mayor’ who took back the power the City Council had taken from the mayor’s office during Norm Rice’s and Paul Schell’s tenures and brought leadership back to the Executive function.) I think Obama has yet to show this kind of strength, so he is losing too many battles with the Legislative branch.
August 10, 2011 at 3:38 am #731502
redblackParticipantmetrognome: first they came for the labor leaders…
August 10, 2011 at 4:01 am #731503
metrognomeParticipantredblack — have no idea what you mean. Please elucidate or elaborate or hallucinate.
August 10, 2011 at 4:11 am #731504
redblackParticipantmg: it’s an old quote about creeping authoritarianism and the german government taking away people who didn’t stand up to “benevolent dictatorships.”
August 10, 2011 at 4:20 am #731505
MBarrettMillerMemberI use to have students memorize and re-write their versions of the following.
Dictators tend to start out thinking/believeing they are on the right track. Usually ends badly-
Niemöller (1892-1984) was an ardent nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.
Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
The quotation stems from Niemöller’s lectures during the early postwar period. Different versions of the quotation exist. These can be attributed to the fact that Niemöller spoke extemporaneously and in a number of settings. Much controversy surrounds the content of the poem as it has been printed in varying forms, referring to alternating groups such as Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews, Trade Unionists or Communists depending upon the version. Nonetheless his point was that Germans — in particular, he believed, the leaders of the Protestant churches — had been complicit through their silence in the Nazi imprisonment, persecution, and murder of millions of people.
August 10, 2011 at 4:28 am #731506
redblackParticipantMBM: many thanks. i was quoting from fuzzy memory at the end of a long day.
August 10, 2011 at 4:52 am #731507
JoBParticipantWhoa Nelly…
Why are we buying this FAUX news Obama is a weak leader crap?
You can’t lead troops that are looking for a way to put a bullet in your back.
Friendly fire isn’t so friendly to the fella in the rifle sites.
August 10, 2011 at 4:53 am #731508
JoBParticipantAugust 10, 2011 at 4:59 am #731509
metrognomeParticipantbetter a benevolent dictator than the oxymorons who voted for Bush … twice.
and better that than feeling as if I am required to walk in lockstep with the president I voted for even tho I think he has made mistakes.
August 10, 2011 at 7:41 am #731510
metrognomeParticipantredblack — not sure what I said in post 14 that led you to imply that I’m a Nazi in post 15, but at least man up and say it. The unions became part of the political problem in this country when they decided to become political powerhouses instead of unions. Unions no longer exist to serve the needs of their members, they exist to create enough power so that they will continue to exist. And yes, I have been a member of a union. I don’t see them as being very different than religious organizations that have become political powerhouses. They may be on different sides of the fence but they can be just as destructive in their thirst for power.
August 10, 2011 at 9:40 am #731511
JoBParticipantmetrognome…
i don’t feel i am required to walk lockstep with the president i voted for simply because i voted for him
but unlike you.. i don’t think he has made so many mistakes… i suspect he has gotten exactly what he asked for
and that makes it even harder.
i will vote for him again because the alternatives are much worse..
but his policies do not make me a happy camper.
i have already started working towards the presidential election after this one.
4 more years of a democrat give us a chance at a progressive.
especially if we back progressive candidates and progressive legislation in the meantime.
the democratic party might not be all for Kucinich finding a home in Washington.. but I am.
and i am not alone.
August 10, 2011 at 2:01 pm #731512
MBarrettMillerMemberThough I am hoping Obama will do a mini rant some day I know he won’t-
I want his rational, calm, collected, open and generous approach to how to deal with our challenges. Sure, i want some things he doesnt seem to support but I can sit here and write this-many around the world cannot!!!
I cannot imagine that Americans will collectively lose their minds and bring in any of the Republican candidates now on parade.
I say that having lived in countries where the only thing you could safely talk about was the weather and sports. We were always wondering what they really thought behind the lock step quotes of their particular leader….When the people rose up and chased out or killed the leaders we learned what they really thought-we do not want to go down that road as it is a long miserable journey back to civilization. Flick on the telly ch#9 at 5:30 to watch the BBC and see their presentation of the news. Listen to radio from around the world via Wunder radio on your smart whatever to hear stories other than the ones that dominate our narrow self-absorbed view of our place in the world. Keep in mind we are solidly holding down position #39 in the world on all measurements of a sane place to live, education, military role, health care, child care, on and on…..
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