A year to review
It’s been a year (and a day) since I sat outside of a Paciugo Gelato in the Houston suburbs, furiously texting with my husband. I was there to celebrate a (McCain-voting) friend’s birthday, so she would have been within her rights to be annoyed as I squealed, “He won Virginia! Ohio goes for Obama! Ohio! Ohio!” But she suffered me gamely. I got home that night in time to lie in bed next to my husband and get misty-eyed as we watched Obama give a spine-tingling speech in Grant Park.
And now, a year later, wars still rage on two fronts. Congress still debates health care. The prison at Guantanamo is still open. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is still the policy of the United States military. Over the last year, I’ve stopped tearing up every time I hear the words “President Obama.” But it’s just because I’ve gotten used to the idea of Obama as our president, not because I think he’s fallen short in some ways (he’s had a lot of initiatives on different fronts, faced lots of opposition, and the wheels of democracy generally turn slowly). But enough about how I feel, how do you feel about the state of our union, a year after Obama’s historic election?
I was a huge Obama supporter. I have been very happy with his job thus far. I think some people need to give him a break. I think his campaign was so inspirational and in a totally different direction then we had been going that people expect him to be able to move mountains. He came in office with this country in complete madness and it is going to take time (especially more than 10 months) so solve and fix our major problems. I am happy he put health care in the front of the line because I find it so very important and also his commitment to bring home the troops from Iraq.
With that being said, I am totally disappointed in Congress. I feel they have been nothing but divisive (on both sides) and at this point are concerned with getting re-elected and who they are bought by to get anything substantial passed.
Comment by Brittany — November 5, 2009 @ 3:17 pm
I am impressed by what he is trying to start (ideas). Do I think it might be too much too fast to actually complete any of them in a satsifying way (actions)? Yes. It isn’t that I think HE is incapable. I think that dealing/working/changing laws, etc takes more time than he really has. I also think that some things he proposes are not cool so I am ok with the “slow progress”. Do I think much of his success thus far is marketing? yes, do I have a problem with that, no. Will I have a problem if nothing gets done in 4 years, definitely, but that’s not the question.
I think he may be setting expectations too high and just one BIG success will not be enough to fulfill all the promises made. We’ll see I guess
Comment by britt — November 5, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
I can’t believe it’s been a year.
I still get email l like I did during the campaign, inviting me to support Obama’s initiatives. But, unlike during the campaign, I haven’t really engaged. I really want health care to succeed, but I’ve had a hard time motivating myself to take steps to help fight that battle.
I did have a strange experience though, on the day Obama spoke to the school children. My first-grader came home and I asked him about the speech he heard. He said he liked the President’s speech and then he said, “I hope the President doesn’t get killed.” I stifled a gasp. I don’t know if he had been studying Martin Luther King Jr. or if he just came up with that all on his own. However, I’m look forward to President Obama enjoying an entire term and the thought of something tragic really disturbs me.
Comment by Jessawhy — November 5, 2009 @ 3:40 pm
Obama inherited some monumental challenges and has taken strong steps to try to address some of the nation’s biggest problems. It is extremely difficult to pass legislation of any kind, even when you have a majority in Congress (and let’s face it, it’s only a majority in name–there are plenty of pretty conservative Democrats, and don’t even get me started on Joe-almost VP to Al Gore-Lieberman).
What I find hard to stomach is all of the talk from the right about Obama being a socialist. I’m one of those people who wishes he took things more to the left, on health care, foreign policy, and other issues. I feel his administration has tried very hard to be more bipartisan and to avoid some of the hateful rhetoric that has polarized this country in recent years. But these attempts seem to leave everyone disappointed: liberals (like me) think he’s too much of a centrist, and conservatives don’t seem to notice or care that he’s trying to invite them to the table. He might as well go full speed ahead with a liberal agenda; if conservatives are going to label him a socialist regardless, then who cares? Anyway, that’s my two cents. I can’t believe it’s been a year. I was at the inauguration, and it was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever had.
Comment by Sofia — November 5, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
I thought Obama would be a great president when he was elected a year ago. I don’t feel that way now. I look at the deficit, stimulus plan, bailouts and such and I’m not happy. I look at Chrysler building a new car line in Mexico (yes Mexico, love them), but with my tax money and almost 10% unemployment here, (I honestly thought there was no way we could have a worse president than Bush, but I think Obama is worse than Bush).
I’m even less happy with congress. I could see all of them go and a new batch come in and I think the country would be in better shape.
Comment by no name — November 5, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Jessawhy,
I too have heard similar things being said by children. My little sister who is a junior in highschool had told me appalling things some student were saying when Obama won the election, such as “well he is just going to be assasinated anyways”. I was shocked that kids would say this so matter of factly. I kept thinking were on earth did they get that from. I live in a very conservative area, and cant help but wondering if they hear the disparing things their parents say, which leads them to having such a callous attitude towards him. I don’t know where it comes from but I wonder if you son possibly heard it from a fellow student?
Comment by Brittany — November 5, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
Obama is a brilliant man with great ideas, but I’m concerned that his presidency will be a disaster. He’s been able to get little cooperation from his own party, let alone the Republicans, on health care reform. And I’m afraid he’s going to cave into the military-industrial lobby and committ us to an unending war in Afghanistan.
Comment by Course Correction — November 5, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
I love our president, as a person, and as a representative of our nation especially.
Love his diplomacy initiatives.
Don’t think he deserves the nobel prize yet.
Worried he’s going to fall, hard, from such a tall pedestal.
Don’t agree with one or two of his domestic initiatives, but overall feel soo much better about the state of our govt, the direction it’s going that I have for almost a decade.
Get really annoyed reading all the vitrolic crap going on around there about our President, makes me want to burn even more fiercely loyal but I’m trying to keep myself from becoming a “disciple”, he’s just a man doing his best at the job he’s been given.
Comment by sare — November 5, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
Sofia,
I totally agree with you. I am also a liberal and I think its funny how conservatives call him a socialist and say he is too liberal. When in all reality he is trying to be as centrist and bipartisan as he can.
Comment by Brittany — November 5, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
He hasn’t changed anything, except to get this country deeper in debt, he has left our military in the middle of a war they can’t win, and he keeps talking about all the change he envisions. All the people around me that worshiped him, at the beginning of his campaign, I could understand. He had wonderful ideas, he was fresh and new. But he has not done anything to fulfill any of the promises he made. This is a sad state of affairs. We can’t run this country on ideas alone, we need action to follow up and sustain those ideas.
Comment by Kshaw — November 5, 2009 @ 4:46 pm
Kshaw,
He hasn’t done anything to fulfill promises? Guntanamo is set to close next year, troops in Iraq are to be reduced dramatically, and he has pushed for the most significant health care proposal in decades. I would say those are HUGE steps to fulfilling many of his “promises”. If anything I think alot of people fear he is taking on too big of issues to soon. I don’t know why you think he has done nothing and he is all rhetoric?
Comment by Brittany — November 5, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
He is brilliant and smart and a great influence for culture and society. Did I vote for him no. But I can be the most conservative person on this blog and still not be critical of our President. THough I do wish Hillary clinton was President for several reasons. But I am so conservative in every way but two.#1 abortion #2 Gay marriage. Oh and HEALTH Care… Please don’t tax my private high option insurance plan. I already pay $1300.00 a month. 40% taxes on that I would be forced to go to the public option. Sick people are rich and poor and there will be needs that a public option won’t facilitate. Everyone must buy in to make it affordable for the public low option plan. It fine if you have insurance from a employer but most sick people can’t work. So if they address that issue I am open to support a partial government option.
Comment by CZ — November 5, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
I didn’t like his politics, but I decided to try to hope that the masses of Obama supporters were right and he would effect positive change in this country. Instead, he’s sunk lower than I ever dreamed possible. I can’t decide if he’s incompetent or deliberately disrespectful and unethical. From nominating multiple criminals to key offices in his cabinet and other things to his bizarre actions on the international scene (hugging Queen Elizabeth, sending her crap she can’t use as a present and refusing the valuable gift the British sent him, ignoring the French president’s hospitality, but bowing to a the Saudi king? WTF?) to encouraging huge deficits and lying about the results and other disturbing things domestically (pushing to pass a 1000+ page bill in a couple of days before anyone could even study the thing? That’s wrong, plain and simple), I have been shocked over and over again.
Honestly, seeing the mess the past ten months have been, I dread to see how much more he can make screw up. And note, all the things I mentioned are /his/ actions, not the usual complaints about presidents that are things beyond their control.
Comment by Firebyrd — November 5, 2009 @ 5:18 pm
And just to add, I have been persuaded as to the necessity of universal healthcare, but the stuff that’s been proposed is crap. The system needs to be dismantled and put back together with something similar to Australia’s (you’ve convinced me, Quimby), not as an expansion of programs that are already failing.
Comment by Firebyrd — November 5, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
you should all come to switzerland to get a reality check. here, in politics everything takes sooo much time. everything is sooo sloooow. compared to the us, us politics is a action movie on fastforward. and eventhough the swiss governement makes me yawn, we still have a higher living standard than in the us. i don’t know if and how the slowness of governing accounts for a good quality of life, but it is definitely worth a thought if there is any connection. I MEAN IT IS POLITCS, GUYS: debates over debates and negotiating, and compromises over compromises . . . i am glad i am not a politician - i wouldn’t have the patience. the alternative to this would be dictatorship.
to answer the question: i am soooo glad that at the top of us governement is not a wannabe indiana jones with a magic wand but a real politician. obama is doing just fine.
Comment by rahel — November 5, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
I feel like when I found out Santa Claus was really Mom and Dad. Slightly disappointed the magic was gone, a little afraid of what their rather ordinariness would mean for “what do I get out of this now”… and feeling more obligated to expect less than I could if there really was a magic man to bring me everything I could ever desire, and more responsible to choose wisely.
And still loving the humans behind the magic, and proud to be part of a tradition of trying to bring bounty and peace to my family.
Christmas is over. The gifts have been unwrapped, the wrapping paper so joyfully tossed in the air a year ago sent to the trash heap. And now the bills come in, reality jars us from that wonderful day. The reality tells us that it is not always “peace on earth, good will towards men.” It is often, usually even, “me first, where’s mine, he said/she said”. Reality is impatient cries of “but he PROMISED!” and reality is “there’s really no way that is going to happen in the current atmosphere”. Reality says that wars will not end overnight, that our soldiers and innocent civilians will continue to die while Obama tries to figure out the best way to ensure continued peace in the area before leaving them in the lurch. It seemed so simple for Santa to figure it out.
I don’t know that Obama will have a great Presidency, like I was *sure* of last November when I was naive enough to think everyone would sit in Congress and sing Kumbaya while holding hands and signing sweeping social programs into law.
Worst of all, is the manipulation of ignorant, and/or fearful voters from those who can’t stand losing their power. And the exposure of that ignorance - it was easy to love my neighbor when I believed we really all were the same down deep. But the fearmongering brought out thoughts in others that I never expected to hear, others I know and love. I really really hate that, and I wish I could put that particular genie back in the bottle…
Comment by Lianne — November 5, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
I wasn’t thrilled when Obama won, then again I wouldn’t have been thrilled had Kerry won. sigh
Changing the country takes time. I frankly don’t expect the federal government to do it. I expect we the people to pick ourselves up by our boot straps and keep moving.
I’m disappointed with expanding the war.
I had been hoping for more thoughtful legislation, instead we’ve had this crisis mentality of rush things through. yuck…what happened to letting people read and letting we the people respond.
I’m sure there is a definite learning curve to becoming president. I also wonder if there isn’t quite a few aha moments as top clearance information is available.
I’ve always assumed part of the checks and balances of our government are the slow movement of congress.
Comment by britt — November 5, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
There are few political columnists more liberal than Ted Rall. As an example, he continues to be disappointed that GW Bush was not impeached and is not currently facing criminal charges. He pretty clearly states in many of his columns why he is less than impressed by Pres Obama. In his most recent one, Mr. Rall suggests now would be a good time for the President to resign. I don’t know how to link, but Google is our friend.
One thing that rarely gets mentioned is that the “reduction of troops” in Iraq is only a reduction of combat troops. The actual number of US military personnel in Iraq is not going down any time soon. Combat troops will be replaced by “peacekeepers” and “advisors.” The reduction in troops is a shell game, and so little more than rhetoric.
It is true that the President has pushed for comprehensive health care reform, but rather than put forward his own proposal, he has left that to Congress. His “plan” doesn’t exist, except in the minds of people who aren’t paying close attention, and so the Obama Health Care Plan is little more than rhetoric.
Comment by CS Eric — November 5, 2009 @ 5:32 pm
Yes, it may be so that the “reduction in troops” is only combat troops. I don’t see any problem with this. It essentially ends the “war” and the remaining personnel will help to restore some sense of stability. I think it would be incredibly irresponsible to remove every single troop out of Iraq and then say “well deal with our mess now”.
Obama not putting forward his own proposal; the method he choose to go with is good or bad depending on your point of view.. He decided to go a different route then say Bill Clinton did in putting his wife in charge of health care reform. Obama decided that he would leave it up to the people who would eventually be voting on it. I don’t think that makes it only Rhetoric. Personally, I think it would have been a good move had Congress not been such a complete failure. If we had a Congress who could actually work together with their constituents best interest in mind, I think we could of had an awesome proposal. But obviously that did not happen and we are left with what looks like a medicore bill. Still, I believe it is a gigantic step in the right direction.
Comment by Brittany — November 5, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
#19 I definitely think we need to change the Health System but not universal. From a sick persons point of view. Make the Helath care industry compete across state lines. If you have a preexisting condition at least give people healthcare for other things. I know I will be forced to pay for two plans, because I have private insurance. It’s like at BYUI. They made us get insurance even though we had the best plan!Way better than other people had through their employers. We didn’t have it through an employer, so we had to buy in and thats how they keep costs down so other students can afford it. If your sick you are not working usually. So it targets SICK people who need high option plans and are so fragile they can’t wait to get approval for things. I lived in Europe and you can pay out of pocket without approval for a surgery but that gets so expensive. I will just pay the penalty for not getting the public option and then will sign up for it when it suits me. Because my already 1300 dollars a month is going to be taxed and ill have to pay a penalty for not getting the public option…
Comment by CZ — November 5, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
I’m a fan of the president. I know a lot of people are disappointed with his presidency thus far, but I honestly don’t think enough time has passed to say he has succeeded or failed.
Lots of projects are still in the works.
Comment by Allie — November 5, 2009 @ 6:17 pm
I would have to say B-/C+. I haven’t seen anything super impressive or super alarming either way. I agree with the bailouts/trying to push huge legislation through w/o much thought is not exactly what I would call good decisions. But I like some of the things he has done in the foreign sphere. He doesn’t seem to be able to get a whole lot actually accomplished, which may not be the worst thing in the world after the last president did his own thing too often. So kind of neutral on him…the jury is still out.
Comment by anon for this — November 5, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
I did not vote for him, but haven’t seen anything he’s done to sway my opinion either positively or negatively.
Comment by skippy — November 5, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
A good website to track President Obama’s progress on his campaign promises is http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
They are an unbiased (as far as I can tell so far) source for fact-checking all sorts of political statements, spins, crazy emails, promises, TV ads, etc.
I particularly like their “Pants on Fire” segment clearing up the most egregious lies.
Comment by Lianne — November 5, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
I am with #5 no name. I missed out on voting in the last presidential election, and really wasn’t inspired by either candidate, but I am have been sort of in the holding-my-breath mode waiting for something as fantastic as Obama promised, and it hasn’t happened. A lot of talk and little action.
Comment by spunky — November 5, 2009 @ 9:12 pm
President has my support 100%. I started working on his campaign over two years ago and I did my research and knew what I was getting. I trust that he is moving ahead on our issues of concern in the best way he can. Go Obama!
Comment by ESO — November 5, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
I believe President Obama’s number one campaign promise was to change the tone of Washington and to make it safe for everyone to contribute to the policy discussion. He has most definitely kept this promise, and you can see the proof in the way he has approached the major initiatives so far: health care has been a national discussion (with everyone, including some real nut-jobs), Afghanistan policy is going to be a well-thought out decision, Gitmo will close, and so on.
I am baffled by people who believe President Obama hasn’t done enough so far. He has been in office for 9 months and has had to battle a Republican party that has made saying no its only mission, regardless of how often they are asked to contribute instead of obstruct - yet somehow this becomes the president’s fault? Perhaps we are a little too used to the way things were steamrolled in the past and we need to get reacquainted with an actual dialogue.
Comment by Eris — November 6, 2009 @ 12:37 am
I voted for Obama, and I think he’s doing a good job.
I tend to think that campaign promises are made without all of the knowledge that you need to make the decisions and as more of a hypothetical, “this is what I will do if I can get it done”. Every politician is going to fall short on delivering what they say they will, it isn’t entirely their fault. I think he is trying to do the things that he said he would, but he knows more now and he has to work within the checks and balances of the Constitution, so he can’t just wave a magic wand and get it done.
Moving the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan for logistical reasons, such as transportation of soldiers and military equipment isn’t going to happen overnight. Also, we left Afghanistan immediately after we freed them from Soviet Rule and the Taliban took over, which I don’t think was a good thing. I think that Pres. Obama is weighing all of that plus all of the things that are top secret in making his decisions.
I think Eris put it really well in #27. We need to have a discussion, not an argument in Washington.
Comment by anon — November 6, 2009 @ 8:29 am
I’m unemployed and it looks like the jobs won’t return for some time. You can be an idealogue all you want, but if there aren’t jobs, there are fewer tax payers, and less money to spend on all your programs, not to mention charitable donations.
Another question: is everyone in denial about how much money the government is spending? You’re in love with his skin color and his eloquent speech. Maybe you think it absolves America of our racism somehow. Now you’re blind to debt we are loading on our children.
I think he’s awful!
Comment by Andrea — November 6, 2009 @ 8:57 am
The jobs were not lost due to some fault of Obama’s. It is his stimulus program which is starting to bring the economy back, and will hopefully result in job growth, soon. Jobs are one of the slowest markers of pulling out of recession. It is unfortunate, but true.
This recession is turning around a good deal sooner than could have been reasonably expected, given how bad the crash was. Don’t get confused an blame the mechanic because the car was so badly broken before it got into the shop.
Am I disappointed in anything about Obama? Sure. I’d like him to be working a lot harder on things which personally effect me. He still hasn’t forced congress to overturn DADT, and he’s not even promising to look at DOMA any time soon, and he had an antigay preacher pray at the opening of his Inauguration. Can I forgive him those things and accept that gay issues are probably on a back burner until the economy is a bit more on track, more people have guaranteed healthcare, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are figured out and maybe getting wrapped up? Yeah, I’m not so selfish that I can’t see priorities.
So, he turned out not to be God, incarnate. I’m not going to jump in with the people who want us to believe that that makes him Hitler or the Antichrist. He’s a human being, for pete’s sake. A very intelligent, exceptional and talented human being doing an incomprehensibly massive and difficult job, and doing quite well, under the circumstances.
Comment by Lorian — November 6, 2009 @ 9:30 am
I see today’s news and 10.2% unemployment, it worries me. Obama said if he got his stimulus package unemployment would stay under 8%. I think he has some strengths, but I think regarding the economy he is completely naive, unexperienced and out of his league. I worry he’ll hurt our country for decades to come. I’m a fiscal conservative, social moderate. But, he’s better to listen to than Bush.
Comment by no name — November 6, 2009 @ 9:43 am
How are the job losses Obama’s fault?
and what kind of condition do you think the country would be in if Obama and his admin didn’t do anything?
and what would you and those whom you follow do to fix things?
Comment by mfranti — November 6, 2009 @ 10:06 am
and when did the stimulus package go through?
how long do you expect the changes to take?
Comment by mfranti — November 6, 2009 @ 10:07 am
yes, he is a lovely color of mocha….
based on your previous sentence…no freaking way have we moved past racism in this country.
see my questions above.
Comment by mfranti — November 6, 2009 @ 10:10 am
I did not vote for Obama: I was willing to take a chance on McCain surviving the term. I think that Obama needed a lot more experience before leading our country. I do however, respect the office of the President and make that very clear in our household.
I am aware that ideas are not enough and there must be action.
However, I do think that action without serious study and sufficient preparation - which takes time - can do far more harm than good. For example: 1) bailouts that have resulted in personal gain for a few and more layoffs for many; 2) cash for clunkers requiring the destruction of many perfectly good cars, that could be then resold again to those that can only afford used cars, to replace the even worse cars on the road; 3) health care proposals that would personally raise my family’s health care costs by at least 80%; 4) pure energy that pushes through unproven technologies (on a large scale) and completely overlooks current advanced “cleaner” energy technologies (because they are carbon based) that could carry us through until pure energy technologies can be proven and installed; 5) stimulus money being used to create manufacturing and jobs overseas; 6) the creation of a myriad of administrative positions (czars) for which there are already cabinet positions ie. education.
I am disappointed that in the race to gets things pushed through huge amount of funding are being promised for which there is no current revenue source. Funding for all this Medicare, Medicaid, bailouts, stimulus; public health care, social security etc. has to come from somewhere and with unemployment at 10%+ domestic revenues will not be enough. As someone who is trying to live debt free, this is very concerning.
The Nobel Peace prize is premature at best, and literally ties the hands of our Commander in Chief. I don’t agree with all our military actions; I don’t know anyone who does; and I certainly am not privy to the intelligence used in making those decisions. However, I would rather not have a prize for peace staring Obama in the face if/when he is ever faced with the decision to defend our country against those who would cause us harm. I cannot even wrap my head around some of the other foreign relations decisions/concessions being made by Obama and Clinton.
We are still employed, but with drastic cuts in wages. We applied for several of the refinancing programs that are supposed to be helping those in need. We have been denied for each one because we either missed a payment and have not been current for the last 12 months, OR we are not currently in foreclosure because we have been busting our butts to stay current, hence we don’t really NEED the help. We cannot sell our house because of the current market in our area, which will be dropping even further because a major industrial employer has just announced layoffs and permanent shutdowns.
I guess that I have many concerns about the speed at which we are moving, and the seeming lack of common sense oversight in some of the actions being taken.
Comment by JJ — November 6, 2009 @ 11:26 am
I am in denial of how much our country is in debt, because I am “in love with his skin color”? That may all you can see, but I voted for him because of his ideas, his values, and my hope in what he could accomplish. The fact that he is the first black President, well thats just an added bonus
Comment by Brittany — November 6, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
@30 lorian “…He’s a human being, for pete’s sake. A very intelligent, exceptional and talented human being doing an incomprehensibly massive and difficult job, and doing quite well, under the circumstances.”
this is an excellent statement and it makes me wonder, would people say the same of john mccain?
#35 jj–BEAUTIFULLY stated and thorough! i agree on every point.
the state of our great nation is perilous! increasing debt in the name of supporting the economy worked when the economy was expanding (think FDR) but no economic example exists that suggests this current HUGE influx of (fake) money will fix things. and as stated here previously, to implement such drastic policies without proper experience may not have the desired effect.
i did not vote for our president but i do support the process and the office.
Comment by sparekitty — November 6, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
He’s doing great. I’m not sure what people were expecting, but I didn’t think there would be any major changes in less than a year, that’s crazy. As some have already pointed out, he has accomplished some of the things he promised, and still has three and a half years to take care of the others.
Things I love so far include:
Helping more small businesses get loans to start up.
Expanding CHIP so more poor children can get insurance.
Giving the EPA more power and funding so they can crack down on companies that filling the country with harmful waste.
Starting the process of getting rid of Guantanamo
More money toward alternative energy
Getting rid of some of the crap restrictions Bush put in place for stem cell research.
Small steps, small steps. I’d love to see a list of what past Presidents have done in the first ten months in office that blows Obama’s list away.
Comment by jjohnsen — November 6, 2009 @ 2:46 pm
I totally agree, but he didn’t ask for it. What should he do, say no? And it literally ties his hands?
Comment by jjohnsen — November 6, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
I like Obama and what he stands for. I voted for him, I think he was what our country needed.
However, at this point I’m not planning on voting for him again. Here’s why:
At 49 trillion in debt, growing 3.4 billion a day
http://www.mybudget360.com/american-debtor-psycho-49-trillion-in-debt-the-real-reason-why-the-credit-crisis-is-bigger-than-you-think/
I don’t see Obama prioritizing to lowering this anytime soon. The spending is out of control in Washington. My vote is bring troops home. Not just from Iraq and Afghanistan, but all over the world. Invest this saved money in health care and lowering our debt.
Comment by Susie — November 6, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
Maybe “literally” is not the word I should have used. My point is that every military decision made by this administration, especially Obama, will be analyzed and viewed by the world in light of his receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Yes, he could have passed on the prize. He could have been just as gracious in giving a speach to the effect that he is honored to be considered for his ideology alone - that there is such faith for him in future; that there are others whose actions are more deserving (insert names and accomplishments of others here); and that he would be even more honored to be considered for the award in the future after he has had the opportunity to put into action his ideas and hope for the future.
Comment by JJ — November 6, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
Actually, the national debt as of the end of George W. Bush’s term, was about $10.6 trillion, and now stands at about $11.9 trillion. http://www.theobamadebt.com/
When you consider that Clinton presented Bush with a national debt the growth of which he’d brought under control, I’d be much more upset with Bush than with Obama for the current National Debt figures. When you stop to realize that Obama is contending with addressing both the recession brought on, in part, by Bush’s economic policies (as well as those of Reagan, Bush I and, to a lesser extent, Clinton), along side of two wars, neither of which he started, and which he’s in the midst of attempting to bring to a close, it hardly seems fair to blame Obama for the rising National Debt. Give the man a chance, huh?
Comment by Lorian — November 6, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
The diversity of comments center on Obama, and then seek to transfer his personal appeal to his symbolic role as President. Interesting how most voters ignore what is occurring to them via the political process.
Whether Obama is a good or bad person is largely irrelevant to me. The body politic also controls what can and won’t be done. Nonetheless Obama has found favor with the press as ninety percent voted for him. Hence his honeymoon will be long.
Yet his form of Keynesian economics is high risk. He sought to infuse liquidity into the markets quite inefficiently, based upon the premise that spending on government and on “poverty” minded projects was a wise stimulus. The results are quite mixed. His entry into further socialization of our health care systems signals a decline in market based reforms.
Supporters of his rhetoric will acquiesce to his demands, believing (mysteriously to me) that he has the believers best interests at heart. The believers have given him their devotion and ignore any blemishes, attributing them to the process, to circumstances or to the loyal opposition. And in reality, it is impossible to distinguish causes and correlation does not equal causation. So the extreme dynamics of economic and social realities provide enough evidence for anybody to be comforted or discomforted.
However, two realities discomfort me. First, the huge, and largely misguided stimulus plan, drastically increased debt by trillions and he is positing yet another disastrous increase in costs through government funded and eventually government run health care. Second, the stimulus did not work, and with the dollar sinking against other currencies, come this Spring, the Fed will be forced to increase interest rates in order to attract buyers for our treasuries. This phenomenon may cause an economic implosion. Real estate could implode even more.
Internationally, he has weakened ties with those that matter, caved in to the Russians in exchange for nothing and muddled Afghanistan even further. In some respects, he has merely furthered the failed policies of previous administrations. Oh joy!
Obama is doing nothing more than I suspected, and no I am not enjoying this. I did not like Bush, nor Clinton. And when I mention any politician I refer only to the policies which he or she embodies, not the person or the personal qualities. I could not give a hoot if somebody is perceived to be intelligent because he or she is a Yalie or smoked pot on Harvard Yard.
Comment by Origen — November 6, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
In short, the policies proposed by Team Obama don’t really work and are neither pleasing to the eye, nor beneficial for the heart.
Any individual rising up through the corrupt organization which is Chicago politics will be capable of managing bureaucracies, perhaps, but the methods of doing such might be more unpalatable than expected. Mayor Daley of JFK years is most probably quite proud of Obama.
Comment by Origen — November 6, 2009 @ 6:12 pm
Would like to know why Bill Ayers was a guest in the white house.
Comment by Nat — November 6, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
Unfortunately, things have turned out pretty much as I expected. I think that many people had very high hopes. But our political system is such that the wheels of change move very slowly. And the President is the executive branch… it is the legislative branch that writes the laws etc. In addition, the President’s lack of political experience is extremely evident. As much as we despise politicians, a certain amount of political experience is needed to effectively perform the job.
Comment by StillConfused — November 6, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
His “form of Keyensian economics,” according the non-partisan GAO, quite possibly saved the world economy. The jobs will come, and in fact more than 400,00 were saved by the stimulus package.
Afghanistan is not muddled, this is what it looks like when a commander in chief engages in responsible deliberation about sending troops into harms way.
And Russia? How did he cave to Russia? By cancelling a multi-billion dollar anti-missile system that didn’t even work? If we are so concerned about the debt, then shouldn’t we all be against this boondoggle?
Finally, are people going to ride the Mayor Daley and Bill Ayers horses until they are dead on the track. I would like to know if people who engage in ridiculous attacks of association are willing to provide any substantive criticism (at least criticism that can’t be immediately discounted, as seen above).
Comment by Eris — November 6, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
Jimmy Carter all over again. Most of you are too young to remember.
I love his skin color too, but it hasn’t blinded me.
The pendulum always swings. Who will be our Reagan in 2012?
Comment by Andrea — November 6, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
Um, Mitt Romney? (running for cover)
Comment by Stephanie — November 6, 2009 @ 10:58 pm
I’m not too young to remember Jimmy Carter, and what I remember is that he faced an incredibly difficult economy set up for him by his republican predecessors (sounds familiar…), and was actually starting to pull it out of the toilet when he came up for reelection, at which time the incredibly short attention-span of the USAmerican public kicked in and kicked him out of office to replace him with Ronald Reagan who began the setup for our current recession and economic woes (as well as took the credit for the release of the Iranian hostages which Carter negotiated).
Jimmy Carter is a good man who took on a nearly impossible task and did a better job of it than anyone had a right to expect.
Comment by Lorian — November 6, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
Yikes, Stephanie.
Comment by Lorian — November 6, 2009 @ 11:09 pm
Re #48
My husband is with you. He says that Obama is just the 2nd term of Jimmy Carter. (For those of you real young, he was so unpopular that for years dems wouldn’t even let him campaign for them)
Comment by no name — November 6, 2009 @ 11:38 pm
Wait. I’m confused.
Obama hasn’t done anything in his nine months in office but he’s managed to screw up the economy, Afghanistan, the White house? Hmmm…..
Comment by mfranti — November 6, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
He’s a magic man, m. The Antichrist and Hitler all rolled into one. It’s just purely amazing how much evil he can accomplish before breakfast every morning.
Comment by Lorian — November 7, 2009 @ 12:11 am
magic? you mean black magic. mmwwwwaaaaaahhhhaaahhhhaa
Comment by mfranti — November 7, 2009 @ 12:25 am
Oh, m. Don’t go forcing people to explain the clear contradictions in their arguments. It makes the head ache.
Comment by Eris — November 9, 2009 @ 11:02 am
#52: Isn’t it interesting how now people recognize many of Carter’s policies as hyper-prescient. For example, his encouragement of solar power, funding for energy research, independence from foreign oil, economic restraint.
Not the greatest politician, but you can hardly that had we stuck with his policies, we wouldn’t be in this very large pickle. But hey, it was morning in America again… too bad we didn’t realize what the end of Reagan’s day was going to look like.
Comment by Eris — November 9, 2009 @ 11:05 am
:Jimmy-Carter-love: :hearts:
Comment by Lorian — November 9, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
#50… 20 years later blaming Ronald Reagan… oh and i’m pretty sure the Iranians delayed the hostage release because they had no respect for “Jimmy”
Comment by SUNNofaB.C.Rich — November 20, 2009 @ 1:47 am
That’s not the opinion of any historian I’ve read on the subject, nor is it how I remember it playing out at the time.
Comment by Lorian — November 20, 2009 @ 1:50 am
I guess 30 years is long enough for the cobwebs…
Comment by SUNNofaB.C.Rich — November 22, 2009 @ 11:56 pm
Would those be your cobwebs? Or were you around at the time?
Comment by Lorian — November 23, 2009 @ 2:31 am
If rose-colored glasses ignorance were gold coins,we’d have some wealthy broads on this thread.One person wants people to stop calling Obama a “socialist”.OK,he’s a MARXIST.He actually gives socialist a bad name.
The devil is in the details,and the DETAILS of the house and senate healt bills are an orwellian horror show of higher taxes,reduced freedom,and POORER HEALTH CARE DELIVERY.That is the facts,JACK.Go to Sen.Coburn’s site if you want to see what REAL reform would look like.We,if you are LDS,believe that the founding fathers were inspired,that the constitution was INSPIRED.I’ve stood three times in the room at Montprlier where James Madison struggled mightily,prayed mightily,that he could put to paper words that would be accepted by the convention.It moved me deeply to study his words and his life. We now have a president that,in his own words,seems to HATE the constitution.It “stands in the way” of income redistribution.He hates acheivers.He wants “fairness”-another code word of the far left,used to conceal their desire to destroy this country.”Social justice” is another great,evil term.We have the most radical major leader in this country’s history,foisted on us by an incurious press,just so anxious to push history along.The CAP AND TAX SCAM BILL,based on the now unmasked global warming hoax,would be the 2nd nail in the coffin of a formerly great country.Obama IS evil,he fronts for evil.,he pushes evil.Any Latter Day Saint who STILL supports him is just too ignorant to be believed.
For all you true-blue feminists,IF the press had put a FRACTION of the effort into looking into the real record,in Chicago,of Obama,as they put into DESTROYING one strong,accomplished woman(PALIN),we would not have this cluster foxtrot to defeat in the ‘10 elections.
Comment by G.HAMILTON HILL — December 1, 2009 @ 9:13 pm
“Broads?” Am I to assume that G.HAMILTON HILL is a troll?
:passing-around-a-bucket-of-popcorn-but-none-for-the-troll:
Comment by Lorian — December 1, 2009 @ 9:27 pm