Cafferty File: Is President Obama Meeting Your Expectations?
By CSPANJunkie Friday Aug 14, 2009 8:00am
From The Cafferty File:
The increasingly bitter battle over health care reform is making some people question President Obama’s leadership.
Critics suggest that when it comes to governing on issues like health care, the president is missing the smooth confidence and “Yes we can” charisma that got him elected.
New York Times Columnist Maureen Dowd writes of this debate that seems to be spinning out of control:
“President Obama has proven quicksilver instincts, but not in this case. You would think that a politician schooled in community organizing and the foul balls of a presidential campaign would be ready to squash this kind of nuttiness.” Dowd adds that Mr. Obama knows how to rise to the occasion, but he may be running out of time to do so.
On Salon.com, Camille Paglia criticizes the president for proposing only “vague and slippery promises” when it comes to health care. Paglia, who supports the president, faults him for handing over much of the debate to congressional leaders and also seeming to be in an unexplained rush to get something – anything – passed.
She compares it to the “massive boondoggle” of the economic stimulus package, which the president pretty much gave Congress free rein to turn into one big pork project.And it’s not just health care. The list of issues this president faces is mind-boggling and probably unprecedented: from the economy and healthcare to immigration reform (which Mr. Obama now says won’t happen until next year) on the home front… to Afghanistan, Iran, and North Korea overseas.
Critics say on a lot of this stuff, the president is talking, not leading.
So here's the question: Is Barack Obama meeting your expectations as president?
Eric in Sacramento, California
Pres. Obama is what he said he is. His election was a disappointment to me from the beginning because socialistic governance was always in his plans. America overreacted by hiring him and now we’re going to be sorry for a long time to come unless we stand against the tide of his agenda and let our voices be heard. But Obama is not a liar. He is just very wrong to lead our country.Myra
Not since Roosevelt had a president had to deal with as much as Pres. Obama. He has not only met my expectations but has exceeded them. His stamina has only been exceeded by his intellect and his oratory. I would hate to imagine where this country would be if he weren’t willing and able to take on the overwhelming issues we face today. I pray that he will continue to push forward.Brian in Kansas
Yes, he is meeting my every expectation. He indicated for two years his intent to further federalize, if not socialize, this republic. He demonstrated his propensity against self-government and free markets in the campaign… I don’t know what everyone is so worked up about; he is over-governing as promised. This is the “change” he offered and we bit. And, it is the disaster I expected.Liz
Pres. Obama is leading admirably in the most troubled time in recent history. But it’s hard to lead irrational people, which is what he’s trying to deal with on the Republican side of the aisle. There’s a reason the right-wing lost the election, but they’re still trying to run things their way. I hope the American people are wise and patient enough to give him a chance to fix the mess he was left. It won’t happen overnight.Carol
He has exceeded my expectations, as he’s worse than I ever thought possible.Tim In Iowa
Pres. Obama is more than living up to expectations! When we elected him, we expected competent leadership, which he is providing. We expected issues that have been ignored for years to be addressed, which he is doing.David
Bring back the primaries! I’m voting for Hillary.
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Obama has only been in office less than 8 months. Remember at this point in GWB's reign he was near the end of a three month long vacation. The vacation would have been longer if 9/11 hadn't happened.
And who knows...boosh may haven been able to finish "My Pet Goat" by now!
But to the topic at hand...no Obama's not meeting all my expectations...no president possibly ever could meet all of mine, or anyone else' expectations.
He's doin okay so far, it's early in his presidency. I can say without hesitation, he's doin far better than McCain/Palin would ever hope to do...
And the fact that those two aren't in the WH right now, is something I am VERY VERY VERY thankful for!
With this caveat:
As a Constitutional Law Professor I had higher hopes for what Obama would do vis-a-vis torture, rendition, the Patriot Act, reversing FISA, NOT escalating our involvement in Afghanistan, getting us out of Iraq etc.
I am particularly troubled by his foot dragging regarding torture:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/12-11
And I agree with the comments regarding health care reform that Obama mishandled the entire program.
He was FOR Single-Payer in 2003 and if his sympathies and logic were still there the FIRST thing he should have done was to order a scoring of Conyers H.R. 676 and a scoring of "A Robust Public Option" by the Congressional Budget Office.
Then he should have pulled together those who would best help institute a program that would actually cover everyone AND save the most money.
Then he could have crafted the legislation himself with Progressive Democrats and THEN let them hammer away at it.
By that time the public would have seen all the charts showing Single-Payer to be the most cost effective coverage.
But the way it is now he started out with a private insurance ass-kissing program and at the end of the process the CBO will score H.R. 676 but by then it will be too late to convince the American Public of anything. Especially after all the hostile town hall meetings and bad press for reform.
In short, he went about health care reform ass-backwards. And a guy as bright as he is should have known better. Unless (here's the cynic in me), he didn't want "real" reform from the very beginning.
Money talks....
...and well said Abby.
He is a member of the Money/Power Party. He is about what I expected, with one exception. In a speech about the bailouts he said, "Credit is the life's blood of our economy."
It is not. Credit is the gangrene of our economy. But that is the Party line. With a consumer driven economy, consumers have to be able to buy. We are creating any real wealth so credit is the other option. But the credit is running out.
He can still justify a $700,000,000,000 Defense budget.
O-bought-ma is just a 'bait and switch' 'boy', a black-faced Bush and not very good at that either.
Obama is more empathetic, just as Clinton was as he continued the dismantling of the middle class begun by raygun and boosh1. boosh2 was truly indifferent and malevolent. Obama is simply a return of the clinton/corporatist agenda. In my own reading of the Medicare changes proposed in healthcare reform, parts of medicare/medicaid will be privatized.
I find myself agreeing with this: "Camille Paglia criticizes the president for proposing only “vague and slippery promises”
While he was a senator he did a lot of talking, and didn't back much of it up. He is working to hard to appease both sides of the aisle. In doing so he is shooting himself in the foot.
We have seen his leadership capabilities prior to the election, and they had some big question marks on them. He has expanded some of Bushes worst policies on the detention of "enemy combatants" (though it's nice to see some are actually being cycled out), and has backed off of his tranparency committement.
I give him a 70% ranking at this time compared to my expectations of him. He has alot on his plate, and I think he should focus on one thing at a time. However, if he pulls off all of his policy maneuvering, he will go into history as one of the greatest presidents of all time.
This is an increasingly irrelevant and misleading claim. Obama made health care the signature domestic issue of his administration and he set the timetable.
The administration has completely lost control of the health care narrative (I know, I know, it's multi-dimensional chess) and the decisions on health care are being made now, not in a year or two after Obama will have had time to settle in at the White House, get his bearings, and deliver paradise to the true believers.
He doesn't have more time to influence the health care debate -- it's now or never -- and his failure to present a coherent plan behind which supporters could rally tells me not that he needs more time, but that he isn't ready -- there's a huge difference.
While the president jokes and smirks his way through town hall meetings -- acting as though the outrageous claims of the Wingers are worthy of no more than casual disdain -- Chuck Grassley, who just this week won the overwhelming presidential stamp of approval, is actively dismantling health care legislation in the Senate consistent with those same claims the president laughs off.
Perhaps Obama knows that between the supporters for whom he can do no wrong (because we mortals can't understand multi-dimensional chess) and the ocean of ignorance engulfing the rest of the country, if he can just get something passed, then his soaring rhetoric will fill the gap between the good bill that might have been and the crap his incompetence helped to deliver.
As bad, or even worse, is his performance on issues concerning human rights. Yesterday I heard a lawyer who has been defending "detainees" explain that the only difference between Bush and Obama on this issue is that Obama believes he can detain anyone, anywhere, for any reason, and like Bush for as long as he deems necessary, but unlike Bush, Obama will not house the detainees at Gitmo. Now, that's a difference that all human rights activists can get behind.
Increasingly, friends of mine, all of whom were supporters and many of whom were avid, are saying they don't think Obama is ready to be president. He's simply too inexperienced and too naive. I don't entirely agree. I think the problem is exemplified by the difference between his rhetorical promises and the reality of his making back room deals with pharmaceutical companies at the expense of the American people, his apparent willingness to bargain away anything for a bit of meaningless bipartisanship, and his unwillingness to fight tooth and nail for the best health care reform bill possible.
To quote the president himself, I think he's behaving stupidly.
I'm preparing myself for the following (April 2012):
"He's only been in office for one term. Fergawdsake relax and give him a chance. His second term will be amazing."
Obama is exactly meeting my low expectations.
Too much reaching out.
Not enough fight.
Not nominating a progressive to SCOTUS.
Keeping too much of Bush policies...ex: Faith Based Initiative.
Bill Clinton for the Supremes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2yLMpGPU8A
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/14/76662...
It is not as if his continuation of the RethugliKKKlan was not expected. BHO's voting record as the junior Senator from Illinois demonstrated aptly that although he might have been a Constitutional scholar,, it did not mean that he actually SUPPORTED the Constitution. The USA's imperialistic foreign policy looks like a BushCo 3rd term. BHO's support of (D=>I)NO arch-conservative Joe Lieberman over Ted Lamont (D) only reinforced my expectations of BHO.
Okay, yeah, I voted for Barry, but only because the alternative (McCain/Palin) would have been an unmitigated disaster for this country. Would I vote for him again? Perhaps not. I am still waiting for the "Change You Can Believe In" for such things as SINGLE-PAYER UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, prosecution of BushCo war crimes, and restoration of USA Constitutional guarantees (rolling back the Patriot Acts, the Military Commission Act, and the FISA/Telco Immunity crap).
President Obama doesn't really have 4 years to "Git It Done" -- he has little more than a year. After that, there is a statistical probability that the Majority Party in power will LOSE seats, in BOTH Houses of Congress in the Mid-Term Elections. Considering the extremely vocal and highly effective fear-mongering of the "Loyal" RethugliKKKlan Opposition, President Obama needs to be Front-and-Center every day On-Message at his Bully-Pulpit for HIS agenda. If he waivers, or is ineffective, the Democrats will lose the Mid-Terms, and Obama WILL be a One-Term President.
Considering the disorganized state of of the liberal progressive wing of the Democratic Party (thanks in no small measure to Rahm Emannual), there is virtually no possibility of a truly progressive shift to the Left in American politics. Right now I am waiting to see how badly Healthcare Reform (HR 676) turns into Healthcare Insurance Reform (GAG!). But I am already experiencing "Buyer's Remorse", and wishing I had written-in Kucinich or McKinney in the 2008 General Elections.
He's fallen even below my (already low) expectations.
I had no illusions that he was anything other than a moderate, unfortunately, his definition of moderate is more to the right than my defintion of moderate. He may be a continuation of the corporatocracy, but at least he doesn't have teh crazy that McCain/Palin would have brought to the WH.
On healthcare, Obama has chosen the route of deniability for any health plan developed by Congreff, hoping not to suffer the same fate as Hillary. Unfortunately, leaving the dim bulbs in the House and Senate to come up with anything other than more giveaways to big business is just asking for disaster. If Obama would step up to the plate and REALLY reform healthcare then he would regain a lot of credibility.
Who gives a flying f*ck what Maureen Dowd says about anything? Obama is pushing for reform but he's not the author of any of the proposed bills. The President does not write legislation. Is he supposed to defend against smears and distortions of all 5 proposed bills when none of then is even close to coming up for a vote?
Yeah, like she has any creds on anything at all.
..Al Gore's love handles.
This morning I heard that there are Americans that think the President is the Government and they have no clue what Congress does. In other words, to them, there is only one branch of government... the Executive branch. WTF is wrong with our educational system? Students should not be allowed to graduate high school until they know everything that naturalized citizens need to know about our government. It's a disgrace.
..you need to find out if there's a question about the three branches of government on the tests. If not, then there's your answer! NCLB does not teach the student; it teaches th student to take a test.
it does that more poorly than most of you realize.
Here in Texas, students only needed the equivalent of 58% to pass the TAKS (and, if I wouldn't get permanently eliminated from my district for doing so, I wish I could SHOW you how easy were most of the test questions!)
No Child Left Behind, my rear appendage!
part of the United States
That's what Bush, Rove and Cheney thought, too.
I expected a centrist and that's what we have. A far cry better than McLame but he's not enough to turn this juggernaut in the right direction without a lot more progressives in congress (and lot fewer repugs too).
But I was looking forward to more world travel anyway.
................my ass!!
Yes, President Obama is meeting and exceeding my high expectations. Look at all the flack he's created from the opposition! He's done more in 8 months the Bush did in 8 years.
mine too that way, pass the popcorn
You voted twice for that dumb ass ignorant Bush who totally recked the nation in the last eight years, and now, these same voters are disappointed with Obama who is been only eight months in charge of the government. A nation of idiots. That's what we are.
Excuse me, I did not vote for any Bush, ever. Nor did I vote for Obama. I voted for Ralph Nader, who would not have sold his soul to the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries at the expense of us who do not currently enjoy health care of any kind.
and I bet you got the same ration of crap from your friends about Nader as I got from mine. Sad, isn't it, that the Corporatists have such a willing mass of sheeple to manipulate?
Perfect
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/08/14/dem-la...
...idiot and I think he has made some major missteps in office. It has nothing to do with how long he's been there. He is a corporatist and he is showing himself to be that. At some point during his campaign he told an audience he favored single payer health care. Now we're ready to lose the public option. Why didn't he just come out and say "I will veto any bill that doesn't institute a single payer system". He could (if he had the balls) then get the Blue Dogs in line by telling them the DNC will not support their reelection bids if they fail to support him.
It's not a bad thing to question the president and call him on his mistakes/bad judgements. That's why we are now involved in two illegal wars, because no one had the balls to do it with Bush.
BTW, I NEVER voted for Bush.
for pointing out the fact that Obama is a corporatist. I agree that he's a sight better option than McCain, but our nation is in dire need of someone with the courage and conviction to BE truly the President of this United States, and not some smarmy mouthpiece for the Corporate Puppetmasters.
and DON'T ANY of you DARE tell me that the corporations have BUILT our great nation! WE the PEOPLE by the sweat of our brow and the dint of our hard work (yes, Ms. Malkin--we are a HARD WORKING bunch!) have built this nation! But, the fact that so few of us are willing to be activists rather than slacktivists is sad indeed, because what the corporatists lose in terms of sheer number, they far exceed in terms of wealth.
.....that be, only offer mcInsane and O-bought-ma his election was a no brainer. Next time the PUKIES will offer someone who seems pretty tame, rich to be sure, but mostly bland and tame, and challenge the mentally handicapped to refuse to vote for their 'man', or face that big, bad, black-man again.
Obama's a very smart guy, and reasonable, but he's missing the gut for this kind of thing. Moreover, his advisors, like many modern Democrats, apparently don't understand that sometimes you need to poke the other guy in the chest to get him to back up.
Let's be honest -- Obama's election was the confluence of a lot of factors, including: (i) two wars, one of which was needless and both of which were prosecuted badly; (ii) a demonstrably incompetent and unethical outgoing administration; (iii) an aging, second-tier, out-of-touch Republican presidential nominee, and his clueless running mate; and (iv) an extremely weak slate of Democratic challengers, including Mrs. Clinton. I don't think it's a stretch to argue that the Democrat in the race was going to win no matter who it was (leaving aside Edwards' problems), and that Al Gore would have probably walked away with the nomination had he chosen to run.
So a lot of things fell Obama's way. To his credit, however, Obama was prepared when they did -- he and his campaign engaged young people, expanded the pool of voters and contributors, and took advantage of technological innovations. That being said, the issue reduces itself to governing. I understand Obama needs to tread carefully given who he is and the fact of his presidency, but the crazies he was obviously afraid of sending off the deep end are never going to be satisfied notwithstanding his herculean efforts to appease them. I mean, these people are screaming about the Constitution even though they have no idea what it means, what it contains, or how it has evolved through 200+ years of jurisprudence. You can't reason with these kind of people.
Unfortunately, Americans respect optimism and bluster more than facts or logic, a circumstance which explains the popularity and problems of every president from Kennedy to the present. I took a class from Obama during law school -- as a person, he's more facts and logic, which is great when you're talking to 30 law students, but woefully inadequate when you're dealing with average Americans. And there's the disconnect -- frankly speaking, this country is sorely in need of a verbal a$$-kicking, yet Obama keeps trying to negotiate with absolutists.
Indeed, I pointed this potential shortcoming out to friends throughout the primaries, and later during the presidential race -- years ago, Obama was thumped by Bobby Rush during a Congressional primary. Rush beat Obama using the same tactics now employed by the Right, i.e., talking tough while Obama tried to use logic, painting him as an outsider, and effectively feminizing him. It's a sad fact of our country that logic simply doesn't work with most Americans, regardless of color, religion, gender, etc. We swoon over cowboys and gunslingers, even the fake ones. We like confidence. Indeed, for all our pretentions concerning freedoms, a lot of us crave a strongman.
Obama has the White House -- frankly, he'd do well to explain forcefully to Americans that they're being misled by powerful corporate interests, who want nothing more than to divide this country. He'd do better to challenge American's presumptions concerning the range of services the government provides, e.g., "to those who say that government is incapable of doing anything right, I ask them to explain away our first-class interstate highway system, which provides a nexus for Americans' interests. To those who say that government is incapable of doing anything right, I ask them to explain away our nation's seniors and veterans, who receive Medicare administered by the government, . . .," etc. He'd be well-served to pull a page from the Ross Perot playbook, and to use charts and graphs. Americans really, really like pictures.
But whatever he does, the nice guy has got to go.
that many bush voters are reading here.
It's not nearly as dynamic as Pres. Dennis Kucinich's first 7 months would have been. We had a chance at a true progressive in the primaries, but were scared by the "unelectable" lie that the MSM feeds voters. Seriously, though, after 2 terms of Bush, ANY Democrat would have won the general election. The candidate could have been selected by dart on a board of names, you know, the same way the GOP picks VP candidates! You think Dick would have time to write memoirs under the Kucinich administration? You think Judd Gregg would have been offered any cabinet position aside from White House doorman? Seriously, the next time we have an election, can we give a TRUE progressive a fighting chance?
AMEN!
Ra, yup! When Constantine had things translated and incorporated into the new book of Fairy Tales and Hate, in sure that as many of the OLD religions were remembered. Amen Ra was one of the Most powerful and worshipped gods up till the time of the Book of Fairy Tales Lies Deceit and Hate.
But as long as we have the RWNJ's we'll never be able to elect a true progressive.
It will be generations.
Kind of silly to think otherwise.
I am most closely aligned with Rep. Kucinich fwiw
I'm solidly for Kucinich and think everyone should know that Rahm was the one who wouldn't support Gore or Kerry, so if we could get Rahm the hell out of the WH, maybe we might have a chance.
it comes to mind then why has obama then elected to "reward" rahm with a high post. he caters too much to the right. too acquiesing for my taste. he needed to be a little more vindictive. what's up with that.
such a daunting task
he was handed a mountain of shit and told to clean it up
he has gone out of his way to say "the buck stops here"
that is after 8 years of a chimp refusing to take responsiblity for anything
obama is bringing the troops home from iraq....he is closing gitmo...he is working on our economy....he is changing the face of government...he is trying to repair our effed up health insurance system
he is driving all the wingnuts crazy
and even if he did nothing....he made willie mays proud...that to me is enough
...but I have to disagree (somewhat) with you. Yeah, he was handed a mountain of shit, no doubt.
As for bringing the troops home from Iraq, maybe, but then he's upping the ante in Afghanistan, wash.
Closing Gitmo, slowly, but what about the internees that are innocent and WILL NOT be released? Bush.
Just saw the memo of the deal he cut with bit pharma. Fixing health care? Wait and see but I doubt it will come to much.
Along with his cabinet selection for Treasury, non prosecution of Bush crime family, continuation of Bush signing statements and other highly questionable Bush policies, I think he is doing very little to change the face of government.
No shit. Not precisely the "change" he promised.
going back into afghanistan is not a "wash"
had bush done his job, we need not be sending troops back into afghanistan....but that is where al quiada grew
to allow afghanistan to become what it was is a danger
now maybe its all folly...but that falls on bush for not finishing the job because he needed to politicize a war
and you really have no patience...the statute of limitations on the bush crimes hasnt run out yet
the deal with big pharma is all bs, i dont care what palast is reporting...neither palast nor you can show me one obama statement that shows negotiations for the cost of drugs is off the table
you dont know what is ultimately going to happen to the internees, nor do you know who is innocent or guilty...but gitmo is closing
as for the signing statements...shoot, i knew no president, whether dem or repuke would wipe them all out...power is great to have
but tell you what...in 2012, you have the right to vote for sarah palin...ok?
...but there really is no need. You're an optimist and I'll leave it at that.
As for 2012, you should know that no one the rethugs put up will be worth a shit, but if a good independent (Bernie Sanders) or Green party candidate jumps in, I'll be taking a very close look at them. I believe there are likely many more who feel like I do that will do the same.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/13/inte...
Maybe if they changed expectation with anticipation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq_5QZDpY1Y
Expectations - not by a long shot. Yes, he has alot on his plate. But the facts unraveling about the deal with Pharma shows how smarmy this administration is turning out to be.
I am tiring of the smooth, 'reassuring' talk.
there is no deal with Pharma.
I believe there was a deal. I believe Greg Palast's reporting.
offerred a deal. Any deal has to be taken up by congress. There is no deal.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/13/inte...
lol
funny how the wingnuts love big pharma...until they can use them to show how evil obama is
there is no deal
its an outright lie
It's like somebody (here?) said yesterday:
We voted for change, not bipartisanship.
It is glaring how ineffectual Obama has been on healthcare reform. I noticed he changed his wording to "health insurance reform" the other week. I wrote to him, saying that his verbal code did not go unnoticed. His last press conference in prime-time...I expected fire in his belly; what we got was blah.
I detest the deal he made with PhRMA. I called the White House yesterday to let them know that this is not what we voted for, that the potential savings from PhRMA alone could fund single-payer coverage for all Americans.
No, I am not happy with Obama at this moment. But that does not mean I would EVER vote for a republic...THAT will never happen in my lifetime.
...I'm not surprised about him being a moderate once in office. For me the hope and change I had in mind consisted soley of getting the lying thieving murderers out of office and letting someone else steer the ship for awhile. That's it. I never believed the hype that Obama would be a true progressive. Politics in America is far too entrenched in special interests to think someone winning the white house would actually run a true progressive agenda.
That said, I believe he's doing a pretty good job overall. He's restoring credibility to the country's standing in the world and has tried to do his best working with the economy (though the bailouts I've been against). I'll never fully embrace him because he hasn't repealed the warrentless wiretapping program which is completely illegal and by not investigating Bush and co. for their crimes which there are many and many more with circumstantial evidence to turn up even more crimes, continues a certain level of national malaise. A sense that this country truly doesn't govern by a system of laws that take precedence over status. For me, taking Obama on the level of what most politicians are and how they behave through history, I think he's doing an adequate and decent job. Plus he's black and it makes the republicans crazy. Gotta love that.
he is a politician through and through. I just hope and pray that he does not forget what got him elected initially. I want him to be forthright in his convictions but i'm enough of a pragmatist to realize that that does not ring the bell. he's a politician, if we wanted someone who would stand up for his convictions simply because they were right, perhaps we should have campaigned a little harder for dennis. i like the idea that we have an intellectual in the white house and the fact that he is a black intellectual makes it all the more appealing. however, it's not enough. he has to stand up for what is right regardless of how it will affect him politically. damn, i am so tired of all this bullshit. i want Kucinich.
Could you explain the difference between a black intellectual and a white one?
A more positive cant?
seems to me that the black man or woman has been put down for eons in every respect. in this century they have made huge strides athletically, in almost every sport. and now they are beginning to show that they are just as adept intellectually. as in athletics, they were always there, they just were never given the chance to compete against the almighty white man. ONce they were actually given that opportunity, they absolutely showed what they were capable of doing athletically. And as long as it was just athletically, it's my blief that the man who had the power was willing to give the black man his due athletically. however, now he is being given an opportunity to compete on an intellectual basis as well. again, it is my belief that given their past performances in other fields, the black man is just beginning to show the tip of the iceberg, intellectually speaking. was it really that long ago that they were not allowed to read or write? Or how long ago was it that Faubus stood in front of the door of one of our great educational institutions and declared that this education was not meant for the black man. well, the door is now open. so in my mind to have a president who is articulate, intellectual and Black is truly a boon to all of our society.
i don't know if this answers your question at all. perhaps this will be for others to read and decide whether my answer makes any sense.ron.
Obama Willing to Stake Presidency on Health Care Reform link with audio
Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA) claims that President Obama told him "he's willing to be a one-term president if that's what it takes to get health care and energy reform," reports Radio Iowa.
Wow. I hope I can find evidence of that. Because THAT would be change. That would be bold and show a devotion to the needs of the people that we haven't seen in a long time. That would be a leader.
that by his willingness to be a one-term prez in order to support fully the health care and energy reform he is in actuality ensuring his base once they fully realize his willingness to sacrifice personal gains for his ideals. conversely, if he elects to give up too much so that he can get relected, he will lose both. not only will he lose both, but he will be dishonored in the process. if he is truly of a one-term mind to hell with everything. support that which is right, bring 'em home now. close gitmo now. get rid of the republican right who permeate his current admin. in other words, grow a pair.
... or are they really animals don't seem to understand one thing, and it appears to me that I am the only one who does.
Health care is the service provided by doctors, hospitals and clinics. Should really be referred to as medical/mental care.
Healthcare is what is currently being debated everywhere. It is the mechanism that pays for medical care.
Too often I hear the mob insisting that we have the best Healthcare in the world, when they are really talking about medical care, and in Canada's shortcoming it is not Healthcare, it is Medical care which is not available, for which they come to the US, but Canada pays for it.
I believe that the above must be very confusing to the retards who go screaming to the Townhalls.
its not health care reform
its insurance reform
... if he wasn't following the example of Spineless Harry and Grandma Pelosi.
Bipartisanship is a joke. It's the same addled thinking that says whatever Rush Limbaugh barfs out onto the counter is automatically a valid point of view, and not a smelly pool of vomit.
I am convinced now Obama is in over his head and is as spineless as they come. When he was anywhere near Putin he lost all composure. A fucking lightweight and a liar. " Transparency " and " nobody is above the law ", my ass.
but in truth, i am disenchanted with obams's reluctance to do anything significant so as not to rile the moderates or the conservative element. it would go a long ways if he begain prosecutio proceedings against the previous admin. is he going to wait until it's politically expedient to do so. know, obama it ain't going to count if everyone is in that arena and calling for it. the time to act is now.l
..No Special Prosecutor yet and it looks like even if we do have a Special Prosecutor, it will be a limited investigation into war crimes and torture.
..the USA still has blackwater on the payroll.
..warrantles wire-tapping.
..too much outreach and not enough smack-down especially on health care insurance reform.
..stood by while the end-of-life compensation amendment was removed from the bill.
For me, its all about the Special Prosecutor. We've stopped becoming a nation of laws. All I ever expect from a President is to not sail our values down the river. w had started it and now, President Obama is complicit in w's crimes which is to say, WE ARE ALL WAR CRIMINALS!
This young man is absolutely keeping a pace old heart-attack McCain could ever have kept. The republican, elephant crap left after the Bush(circus) years is so overwhelming the only thing that overwhelms me more is how the stupid elephants have no "friggen memory" of what they did.
God Bless the Youth of America! This change will prevail as a necessity caused from greed and old age corruption.
YES WE CAN! But please, no more "senile" elephant shit...dig? Anybody that wants America to Fail is the enemy. I am an AMERICAN FIRST!
That the youth came out to vote. McCain could have never kept up the pace that Obama does and we all now know that Palin is a quitter and would have never completed her term as VP if she had won the election.
..she would have quit sayin' mccain didn't give her enough to do.
OR, there ain't no wolves for me to shoot in DC from Marine ONE.
OR, I can't see Russia any more.
OR, ..
this could go on all day.
...I must say.
Amended:
[ http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-9854... ]
President Obama is meeting my expectations. He is intelligent and he is respectful, something that has been lacking in both the Executive Branch for the last 8 years and the Congress for the last 12 years.
Yeah he showed great respect for all those civilians in Pakistan which he bombed the hell out of with Drone Power. Get a life.
the goal to work with a bipartisan agenda. The party of no will never work in our countries best interests.
We are very impatient and have lived through the Republican regime which is nothing but reactions and attempts at tactics. President Obama is a strategic thinker and he thinks long term. Effective strategy is a slow process and takes time. Reagan was strategic, although I didn't agree with Reagan's direction for our nation. Today's bad economy is the result of Reagan's strategies.
Republicans wouldn't give him credit for doing a good job if he cured cancer, ended all hunger, and created world peace. On the other hand you have some Democrats that want more to be done, and in this type of survey counts as unfavorable. So only those that feel everything is/has been done exactly right will give him a favorable rating. Way to set someone up for failure.
..that are at issue. Ending Xe's contract? Under the circumstances, very easy. Appointing a Special Prosecutor?, DOJ's responsibility but certainly he can direct the Atty. General to act. You're right about the 'props' he'll never get from the right but he is a Democrat with a Democratically controlled House and Senate. There are people who think he should act as such and deliver on campaign promises and stop allowing the minority party to dictate terms.
...don't give me the line that the Blue Dogs are screwing everything up. LBJ was faced with very similar circumstances when he was trying to pass the Civil Rights Act. He also had southern Dems that weren't towing the line. I guarantee that if Obama told these assholes they won't receive a dime of DNC money or support that they would get in line most ricky tick.
On December 15th, 2007 cspanjunkie says:
I am on the Colorado/Wyoming/Utah border. If you get a compass out it's almost dead center of the USA. I want all of you to know I'm up here singing RP's praises and I'm a hundred miles from an inter-state. There are those up here who have followed Ron Paul for decades.
I'm also a grandmother and am so encouraged by the Grannies campaign. Them on the East, me where I am (banners, CB, etc.), I think we have northern California......not sure about sourthern Ca. but I believe Nevada is ours.
We love our guns in this neck of the woods.
Yes we know. It's the bat-shit crazy, hate driven, Right Wing-nut terrorists, that carry guns into town Hall meetings and illegally that all Americans worry about.
... on the comments to Jack Cafferty's comments?
I'm just checking the source.
... yours just happened to be the comment right before mine.
Although now I think I've commented on a reply to a comment regarding commenting on the comments following Cafferty's question.
Happy Friday.
...TGIF - whoops ;) thanks for your time.
The Reslugs have been a monkey on Prez Obama's back since the day he took his oath, about everything and anything. I think for the time he has been the Prez he is doing great, considering the dismal debt and mess Dumbya left him and us now.
Consider what the alternative would have been.
President Obama is residing over the BIGGEST mess this country has ever been in, in it's history. Most of which the former Bush Administration and a rubber-stamping REPUBLICAN Congress are directly responsible for. I think the President's mistake was to rely on Congress much to much in getting the word out, correctly, to The People. Too many of them cannot be trusted. Too many of them cannot accept the fact the former dictators Dick and George and many of their minions no longer sit in seats of power. The issue and the vision of Obamas' Health Care Reform has been distorted into an evil plot of 'Death Panels' and socialist overthrow by these very people with the recruitment of astrobirthers. I think many people are not even aware that there are at least five different versions of the Health Care Bill floating around both houses, all of them over a 1,000 pages long. You know how those drafts became so long?? CONGRESS! Can you say 'conflicting interests'...most of which involve lining their own pockets. All President Obama wanted to do was make affordable health care coverage available to people who can't afford health insurance as it stands now. I can't say I agree with putting the lions-share of the burden on the mega-wealthy though, even though they need a little tax burden.
President Obama said it best...'Change involves changing the way Washington D.C. does business.' Changing decade after decade after decade of corruption and malfeasance won't be easy. Stop listening to all those who have opposed President Obama from the beginning, only because he's black and democrat. It's been a very long time since this country has had a People's President. I still trust him and will continue to do so.
And the answer would be no. Trying focusing on the real stories instead of the made up ones.
This story needs to be told over and over again.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6965148
Obama has been in office 7 months. Give this guy a chance. I'm so sick of hearing that he's overly ambitious. We need someone with ambition to help us get the hell out of the mess which the REPUBLICANS created by paying off their corporate cronies and themselves.
You know, there was one guy who was injured at one of the Town Hall protests. He is uninsured and is asking for donations to help - and he still doesn't want govt health care. Talk about your ignorant, uneducated person.
People need to stop watching the Limbaughs of this world and start doing some research and thinking for themselves.
i had low expectations to begin with (despite voting against the GOP), but with each successive obama move to the right, continuation of neoliberal policies, with the econ appointments, with afghanistan, iraq, state secrets, health insurance reform, etc. my disappointment continues to grow
Are you kidding? President Milquetoast has been a HUGE dissppointment not only on healtcare, but torture, the economy and damn near everything else. He campaigns well, but in every other instance, I'm sad to say, he's come up short. Just the fact that he's using signing statements at twice the pace of Bush, the fact that there has been no meaningful reform on Wall Street, etc. Let's forget the fact he's not given the transparency he promised, nor does he have the balls to investigate TORTURE. This man was so full of promise and now I can clearly and painfully see he was simply full of himself!
I've been saying that all along. O-bought-ma is NOT a 'centerist' by any means at all. Habeus corpus, Iraq, now expansion into Afganistan, the nemisis of Russia and many other imperialistic countries whose economies are now bankrupt.
on top of continuation of neoliberal economic policies, i think the obama admin's actions (or lack thereof) in regards to honduras might be one of the most damning and unfortunate indicators of what the obama admin stands for.
ok...well then, since obama couldnt stop fox from fucking up wolverine....he sucks
you people are nuts
ah, i see you don't know much about what has happened in honduras (US law about foreign coups, lanny davis, otto reich, telecom prvt, etc).
before u call people nuts, maybe read up a little.
...please. Have to admit I'm a bit ignorant of what you speak myself.
i would suggest starting here: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/11-9
http://www.counterpunch.org/hallinan08102009....
http://www.counterpunch.org/fox07312009.html
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jul2009/hon...
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentar...
http://ncronline.org/news/global/honduran-cou...
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/1/generals...
thus far, with rahm and the rest of the DLC 'centrists', the obama admin's actions serve as another blow to the relationship between the left and the dems.
the dems should be wary of their continued dismissing of the left. (see, al gore in 2000)
seriously...the left???
...if a good independent or Green Party candidate jumps into the fray, I'll take a look.
I'm really getting tired of voting for the lesser of two evils...
........that is sure what offering McInsane/Palin was and it was 'bait and switch' again, too.
i know you and other partisan centrists mock the left, but *cough* fuck that
edited
I just mock those who continually announce that the two parties are the same and that Obama = Bush. Anyone who actually believes that is as disassociated from reality as those who believe that Bush "kept us safe".
By all means vote for more liberal democratic politicians, call your representatives and advocate for liberal positions, raise funds for liberal political causes, get elected to local school boards to promote more liberal curriculums, protest to raise awareness of liberal issues.
Sabotaging the only organized resistance to the GOP, which some posters clearly indulge in, just sets "progressive" change back.
because we all know how the "organized resistance" of the DLC furthered the progressive movement during the clinton years.
/snark
*whistle noise*
between the two 'parties' on matters of globalism, militarism, 'homeland security/surveillance,' climate change, or national health care is so awash in the propaganda kool-aid, imbibed with mother's milk, and cookies, that wholesale re-education is probabyl necessary.
Yes, there are individual differences among individual pols on particular issues, and there are the ever-so-useful 'wedge' issues by and from which the propagandists make their spurious distinctions.
but overall, in terms of the agendas, policies, and politics of the "parties," the differences between the Dims and the Pukes are cosmetic. They are, in Vidal's memorable phrase, merely two wings--the right wing and the very right wing--of the hegemonic party of power and property.
It is, obviously, useful that the people not be reminded of that too often or too forcefully...
And that it be denied as quickly, as derisively, and as dismissively as possible...
There is NO Statute of Limitation on war crimes. No one from the BushCo Crime family can ever leave the country, unless they want to be arrested wherever they alight. Unless death overtakes them first, eventually the whole pack of them will be in the dock at The Hague.
are the greatest security threat to this country. I never really expected Obama to be able to push health care past them. It is after all a billion dollar industry robbing the sick and poor. And they aren't afraid to use a few of those billions to keep America weak and compliant. So while I think he should have worked a bit harder on fighting those scum I'm not disappointed in him on that.
The lack of prosecutions of the Bush regime criminals on the other hand is in itself a criminal act. A VERY SERIOUS criminal act!! The fact that Obama hasn't removed Eric Holder from the DOJ and had him arrested for political abuse of his office I find extremely disappointing!! For myself until the criminals of the Bush regime are safely locked away behind bars I'll never vote for a single Democrat again. And to all the hardcore Dems, who'll defend the party no matter how far right they stray, who are going to accuse me of helping rethugs get into office - F**K YOU, I live in Vermont and we know how to put great progressive third party candidates into high office!
I don't know if I agree with you or not.
I believe that there should be legal separation between shareholders and corporations. Does that make me a "corporatist"?
I don't believe that U.S. private insurance companies provide the best health care measures either objectively or morally. Does that make me not a "corporatist"?
The trouble is and always has been is America on Obama's side? So far a good portion of us are and that is a good thing, but the people who are not on his side are also ignorant and angry (you know the kind of people who cling to religion and guns) and they not only don't support Obama but many of them openly wish ill on him as well. And that is the issue.
How ever bad Dubya was liberals always wanted the best for America - I don't see the same attitude from the conservatives.
on the ignorant and angry and not on the President's side.
the specifics--so I'd have to say yes, he's lived down to my expectations...
I ask myself: Where would the USA and the world be under McCain/Palin leadership?
too much bipartisanship
too many compromises
too many repugs in close relationships
two many fucking wars
the global warming bill will do nothing
pre-negotiated stalemate with drug companies
never removed the booshites from the cia/fbi/doj/pentagon/fedreserve/treasury
as intelligent as clinton, more congenial than carter
quite possibly a one-termer because he won't force his own party to attach themselves to the spine that people grew for them to use over the course of the 2006 and 2008 elections.
and it is all quite possibly due to the fact that the DLC/DSCC/DCCC will do what the republicans do - sell us all down the river for corporate dollars - except they smile and tell us it is for the better.
the handwriting went on the wall when they threw Howard Dean under the bus immediately after the 2008 election.
But it hasn't even been a year yet. I have lost a liitle patience with him. But, It's not like he doesn't have his hands full.
Ooppss.
Cash for Clunkers Extension
Signed: Thursday, August 6, 2009
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
Signed: Monday, June 22, 2009
Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009
Signed: Friday, May 22, 2009
Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act
Signed: Friday, May 22, 2009
Helping Families Save Their Homes Act
Signed: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act
Signed: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
Signed: Wednesday, April 21, 2009
Omnibus Public Lands Management Act
Signed: Monday, March 30, 2009
Small Business Act Temporary Extension
Signed: Friday, March 20, 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Signed: Tuesday, February 17, 2009
DTV Delay Act
Signed: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act
Signed: Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Signed: Thursday, Janu
Yeah, I know. He still needs to do more on the really important issues. On That I agree.
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