A Question for CD

[PBzeer]

Not picking on you Brian, but you expressed something I hear from many people. "I have high hopes for Obama." So my question is, what do you have high hopes for? What is it you expect him to accomplish to fulfill those high hopes? And most of all, what has he done to give you those high hopes?

[Cruisingdad]

This is a HIGHLY conservative forum. I am not conservative. I am not liberal (contrary to what Sway will tell you). I honestly try to stand back and look at the issues and evaluate what I would do. I am not calling you out or anyone here, but sometimes I find that many of you rubber stamp your particular party's actions (and it is not isolated on either aisle). Sorry, that is the way it looks to me. Personally, I could give a crap what they "stand for". That is true... believe it or not.

Why am I telling you all of this? Just to make sure you understand my point of view.

First of all, in full disclosure, I did not vote for Obama. I voted for McCain. I felt his experience was key in running a country. I also liked the way he would buck his own party and vote his mind. He earned my respect for that, though I have heard that it may have cost him the presidency??? I do not know for sure. Honestly, I wonder if there was anything he could have said or done that would have won him the presidency. In fact, I am not sure there was anyone that the Republicans could have put on that ticket that would have won.

So what do I have high hopes for? I have high hopes that he really will bring about change. I will say this, it appears to me that he is out there taking swipes at everything he said he was going to take swipes at: healthcare, Iraq, Iran, infrastructure, economy, etc. Do I agree with everything? No. Certainly not. I think I have made that loud and clear. But we needed something, John. We needed someone to try. Geroge Bush, whom I also voted for, was the king of division. His own party did not like him. He was going to do it his way, period, and if you did not like it too bad. Diplomacy was "my way or the highway". He managed to infuriate as many people inside our country as he did outside. Canadians, in general, loathed him. I am not sure that feeling was universally shared around the world (amongst our allies) too. It was like he failed to understand or appreciate that the only way he was going to get his ideas across (the few he had) was to get people behind him and try to build upon trust. Short of Richard Nixon, has there ever been a President who carried less trust from his people than Bush?? Blame it on a Democrat smear campaighn, blame it on the press, blame it on his poor ability to articulate his thoughts/ideas, blame it on his cabinet, blame it on his VP, but the simple fact is that his presidency will be considered a world-class failure.

Then came Obama - an outstanding speaker. He had lots of new ideas and was not afraid to throw them out there. He understands the neccessity to be popular and to be open. He at least gives the appearance of trying, which is more than Bush did. He has a passionate following and very high approval levels. He understands taht he must remain popular to carry the weight he needs to get his ideas through. TO me, at least, I feel like he is LEADING... making decisions and understanding the realities of politics neccessary to get them approved.

I have high hopes for him. Are those hopes well founded??? Only time will tell, I guess. But he seems much more in touch with our country than anyone else. He gave hope. Bush gave division. McCain seemed more of the same. And like it or not, the Repiblicans got an all-out butt-whooping in the poles so my feelings are not unique.

I am no democrat. I am not Republican. I am simply a guy that feels that we have very serious problems that need serious leadership to change. I hope that comes through Obama. He is my president, and I will support him. Time will tell whether that be for good or bad.

Brian

[AE28]

Brian...
Well said!!!

John...
I also have high hopes for President Obama, mainly because, for the next four years, he's our ball carrier. He's the only hope we have right now.

Paul

[PBzeer]

Yes, Bambi certainly understands being popular, which is certainly a fine asset if you're Class President. Unfortunately, he's President of the United States, not Harvard. And while the Ship of State keeps taking on more and more water, he's worrying about buying new canvas and getting a bottom job done.

Leadership requires setting priorities and then acting on them. In two months he has made it abundantly clear that his number one priority is his political agenda, regardless of the costs or consequences. And while it is certainly a good thing to look to the future, it's pointless if you don't take care of the now so that there is a future.

If the furor over AIG has shown us anything, it's that it's "business as usual" in Washington. Or did you think the man who deliberately disabled the safeguards to prevent fraudulent donations to his campaign would be different once elected? And while he speaks, or more properly, reads, his outrage over millions in bonuses, not a word do we hear on the laundering of BILLIONS of those same dollars to other banks, both foreign and domestic. Even though many of those same US banks have already received billions from the government.

If there is one overriding function of the Federal Government in the Constitution, it is the defense of the country. Yet, to pay for his social policies which are not a part of any constitutional mandate, he proposes drastic cuts to the military. That's not change, that's the reincarnation of Jimmy Carter. Just as his "tax the rich" mantra is. The country wanted change then too, and boy did we get it.

[AE28]

John...
Now that we've "got" him for the next four years, what do you suggest we do?
Paul

[PBzeer]

Just as I opposed many of Bush's policies, I'll continue to oppose those of Obama's which I disagree with (which, unfortunately, is pretty much everything). For the past 8 years we have been constantly told, "dissent is the highest form of patriotism". One stands behind the President once decisions are made. That doesn't mean rolling over and letting them do whatever they want.

[Cruisingdad]

I can understand your concerns, John. I too wish he would focus on the economy more than other things. It does piss me off though when people say that if he had only focused on the economy, the whole AIG bonus thing would have been caught. Whatever. You think the President of the US actually reads that crap?? Not even the entire Senate body could read the TARP.... give me a break.

I, however, do not share your view of Obama. I do not want you to take this the wrong way, but I feel like you guys have not and will not give him a chance. I feel like there is a certain level of animosity to whatever he does simply because he does it. Give him a chance!! He inherited an absolute mess, not of his making. And it may be that it is time to decrease the size of our military. I don't know. I would have to study the matter in more depth. But I will say that I have grown tired of being the world's policemen because (in my humble, uneducated opinion) other countries do not step up to the plate. I feel pretty unappreciated for what we do.

But going back to Obama, I feel we need leadership and we need change. We need ideas. We need to give things a try. Many of those attempts will be in vain and will not work. That is where the leasdership stands up a nd says so and tries something different. But it seems to me that the last many years of rememberance have not had anyone willing to take that risk. It was more of the same. Business as usual. We cannot afford business as usual anymore. In that respect, I again am enthusiastic about Obama.

Still, only time will tell.

Brian

[AE28]

Brian...

This isn't gunna happen, but if staffs in all three branches of our government were substantially reduced and if legislators, the President and judges were forced to actually read for themselves the documents they were considering, we'd be much better off.

If nothing else, the documents might get shorter!!!

Paul

[PBzeer]

That he is acting wholly in the manner his limited record indicated he would, is not something I find surprising. Nor, that the agenda he seeks to implement is one I find distasteful, in the extreme. It was all there to see for anyone who wanted to look past the words, to the deeds. And all the editorials and puff pieces in the world won't make him the pragmatic centrist he promotes himself as being.

But, it's not just that he isn't what so many hoped he would be. What they thought he would be. It's that he openly states his desire is to transform America from a nation of self-reliance to one of government dependancy.

Healthcare? Don't worry, we got ya covered.
Education? Don't worry, we got ya covered.
Can't pay the mortgage? Don't worry, we got ya covered.
And on and on and on. There is no problem that he doesn't feel is best solved by government.

Maybe that's your idea of America, it isn't mine. Nor one that I will do any less than speak out against. It wasn't government that made this country the most prosperous and powerful nation in history, it was the people. Ordinary people who got up everyday and worked to make a better life for themselves. Ordinary people who took pride in supporting themselves and passing on greater opportunities for their children. Ordinary people who rose, or fell, by their own efforts.

Ordinary people who siezed opportunities, not waited for them to be given. Ordinary people who came to the aid of their neighbors, not waited for the government to do it. Ordinary people who made something of themselves instead of waiting for the government to give it to them.

We're just now experiencing the fallout of the Carter years of expanded government involvement in the housing market (no, it's not all Carter's fault, just where it began). I shudder to think of the consequences 30 years down the pike of further involvement of government into the lives of the people.

[MMR]

He can sell, that's for sure. I think that's his strong suite.

But, having a clear vision, clear and articulate principles by which success or failure is measured is not part of the package. I see no substance, no clear consistent ideology. He is a chameleon. I think he is dependent on his advisers for direction and vision. Certainly we have seen flavor of the day (or hour) on his "stands".

It seems to me that what Obama wants is to be popular, to be liked. It's nice to be liked, but as a leader it cannot be the controlling factor.

The most gifted athletes rarely make good coaches. The best violinist will not necessarily make the best conductor. Nor will the best teacher necessarily make the best head of the department. The best salesman will not necessarily be the best production floor manager.

Obama can sell. I see no indication that he can produce, or that he even knows what "production" is required of him. So he does what he does best, continue to try to "sell" us whatever the current situation requires, in order for us to "keep the faith".

An excellent discussion of this: Obama struggles as communicator - Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen - POLITICO.com

Frankly, he scares the crap out of me.