Am I the only one disappointed in Obama's start?

[rpannier]

So far, in three votes that I consider big Obama has been on the wrong side of all of them. He didn't vote to question the election in Ohio. He voted for Rice and Gonzales. His fellow Senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, voted against Rice. I am curious as to "What's up?"
I live in Korea and I'm registered in Illinois. I enthusiastically voted for Obama. I'm not really happy so far.

[orthogonal]

1. No

He didn't vote for Gonzales.

But yes, his DLC approach isn't winning my love.

[Capn Sunshine]

2. No I am too

I sense that he's fallen in with a bad crowd on his first trip away from home.

I'm calling his mother.

[mopinko]

7. snort! good one.

no you are not alone. jsut ask walt starr.
however, i am happy. i didn't have the insane expectations that a lot of people had of obama. in fact, i thought he was smart enough to walk in and keep his head down until he found his way around. i, personally, did not vote for a senator who would be the first dead guy on the beach.

[benny05]

36. Likewise n/t

[JI7]

3. he didn't vote for Gonzales and he has only been in the Senate

for a little over a month.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I am a bit disappointed

but you gotta remember how these people work. This is his first ever time being in the Senate so he has to becareful. Now if in a few years he's still voting this way then I'd be very disappointed. Give the man sometime. He's probably being careful so he can last there for as long as he can. And don't forget with Ohio he isn't the only democrat who didn't vote "nay." I was disappointed in Gonzalez but he would've been in anyways and I was disappointed with Rice but he did do an alright job questioning her and he knew she would've gotten in anyways. At least there was the debates and everything. :hug:

[liberalpragmatist]

6. He didn't vote for Gonzales

But you've got the right idea. We can't expect a pol will vote the way we want 100% of the time. He's been there a month and how many big votes have there been?

Like you said, give him some time. If he has a horrible record after three or four years, then I'd be disappointed. But right now, what would you expect? Did you think he'd suddenly making noise, voting no on everything and being totally confrontational? I mean, it's not like he's for the president's social security plan or anything.

[rwheeler31]

5. America has one { 1} senator of color,

this country has gone nuts, just wait , this man will be great.

[Tinoire]

8. No but I was expecting it so you can't really call it disappointment

but the reverse would have been a pleasant surprise. Then end feeling is the same, he's not someone I count on.

[GoCubsGo05]

9. OK-here's what I think....

He's gearing up for a run at Governor in 2010. He's probably going to do a lot of things you don't like because he's eyeing a statewide race. (Alan Keyes probably will not be his opponenet!) The governor run will open the door for a 2016 run at the White House...maybe 2012 but that would anger people. Just a guess.

[KharmaTrain]

10. What Were You Expecting?

I'm a proud Obama supporter and voter. He never billed himself as being a civil rights leader or some magical Progressive or Liberal. He has always been moderate...even in his Illinois house days.

Next, he's the new kid on the block. The Senate is loaded with archaic protocol and silly rules. The "conventional wisdom" is a Senator's first two years is spent in total silence...not even taking the floor in debates unless asked to. Senators like Wellstone and Clinton were very quiet their first couple years...learning the ropes and knowing what levers to pull. This made them far more effective.

Lastly, confirmations are a slippery slope. You risk having your nominees held up when it's your turn. The general "barometer" to confirm is if the person is qualified for the job. Unless the person has an extremely controversial track record or does something scandalous or illegal, I can't think of a cabinet nominee that's been rejected.

While I wish Obama had voted against Rice & Gonzalez...and am grateful Senator Durbin voted No, Durbin's vote speaks more in it comes from Leadership and was a demonstration with other Democrats to at least show some dissent in the nomination. That's all that could have been expected...we don't have the votes to block any nominee.

I'd watch how he develops in the Judiciary and Foreign Relations committee. He did throw some tough questions at Rice. Hopefully as he gets further into his term and his poltical footing is firmer, he'll be more vocal.

Remember, us Illinoians got rid of Al "the Pal" Dixon for his vote for Clarence Thomas...while we are fully supportive, we are watching.

[rpannier]

13. I was expecting him to vote against Rice

She is clearly unqualified for her position. Her diplomatic skills during her first four years as NSA were horrendous. At best, her actions while scrubbies advisor were questionable, at worse she outright lied. I expected him and the rest of the Democratic Senators to join Boxer in voting against this highly unqualified nominee. The Democrats stood up against John Tower in 89 and he was clearly more qualified to sit on a Presidents cabinet, than rice is.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Unqualified?

While I firmly believe Rice lies more than a Rug company...the question is was she of the calibre to serve as Secretary of State. Again, the bar is not about competence as much as qualification.

Detest Rice as we will, but she's paid dues...and was, just in government and foreign policy experience, more qualified than Colin Powell and Henry Kissinger. Again, this is purely resume...not policy.

Tower was an easy mark...and thank you for reminded me of this...based on his personal behavior. He was more rejected for his alcoholism than for his politics and was the first target of Gingrich.

Rice must be held accountable for her lies and deceptions. Personally, I think this is a job that must be done in the Hague.

Again, I'm not happy that Obama voted in favor of her, and feel a little better after seeing him question her...but a protest from a "rookie" at this point could hurt him when he tries to reach across the aisle when the next re-authorizing the Civil Rights Act comes up next year.

Cheers!

[cestpaspossible]

17. Yes, she is totally unqualified to be SoS

she is an 'expert' in the Soviet Union, a country that does not even exist. According to any definable objective metric of performance, her tenure as NSA was a total failure, from the negligence that led to 9/11, through the duplicity that led to the Iraq invasion, to the incompetence that led to the disaster that is the American occupation of Iraq. She committed perjury before the 9/11 commission.

Simply 'having' a job on your resume is not a plus. You also have to perform in that job at a bare level of competence, and Rice fails that test.

[Bake]

30. Bullshit! That sets the bar ON THE FLOOR.

Gee, am I a FELON? Have I sexually harassed anyone? Have I been caught stealing? No? Gee. I guess I'm qualified to be Secretary of Fucking State!

And for shits and giggles, I can go on my very first Euro-Tour and tell the rest of the world to GET OVER IT.

No, Condosleeza is NOT qualified. She is disqualified from the get-go by her LIES about WMD's. Just for starters.

Bake

[rpannier]

34. Thank You

While I still disagree as to whether Rice has the calibre. I think you stated your position quite nicely. You made some valid points. I understand where you're coming from in your defense of Obama.
I appreciate your comments.
Thank You.

[MoJoWorkin]

21. He voted NO NO NO on Gonzales

Where do you people get your facts?

I watched the vote on CSPAN live. Yes, he did vote FOR Rice, but I will give him ONE wrong one. I still hope he will let Durbin mentor him. Durbin is a real keeper.

[Placebo]

22. Nice to finally hear a sound voice of reason.

Another proud Obama voter here!

[liberalpragmatist]

27. He voted NO on Gonzales

nt

[GOPFighter]

11. Too early to tell

Ask me again next year.

[Mend]

12. It goes both ways....

he was fresh and newly minted and could have voted the right way, as in just a kid learning the ropes. I am disappointed but he is not my senator. No more money from me in FL. I am looking for heroes.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

15. I think he doesn't want to be a shooting star...

and perhaps he is playing it right. Boxer can afford to go out there with guns blazing because I don't she has any aspirations other than telling the truth. She knows they will kill her in the end so she will fight to the death. But Obama knows he is being groomed for a larger role.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

25. How the HELL can you defend the Class Action Law Suit restriction?

:wtf:

Most Americans don't support this!

[cestpaspossible]

16. He also voted in favor of limiting class action lawsuits

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00009

[dogman]

18. As a constituent who voted for him, do as I and others have.

E-mail or write him and express your concerns. As far as I am concerned he has gotten 3 out of 4 wrong already. Twice he has parted ways with Durbin. Gonzales is one he got right, he voted no. Rice lied and her lie helped involve us in a war that he spoke out against when he ran. That fact alone disqualified her in my opinion. The lawsuit ruling was a victory for B$$$ and corporate America. He did run as a populist, so I don't understand that vote either but he is a legal expert and may have a reason that he should come back to his supporters and explain. It is true he is more moderate than the GOP will admit, and in typical political fashion ran left in the Primary and moved to the center in the General. There were strong indications in his keynote speech that he would be concilliatory but right now our Party leadership needs to show backbone.

[Quixote1818]

19. Obama is doing everything he should do. In a few years after he is

re-elected he can relax and be more of who he really is. Give him some room and let the people of Illinois get comfortable with him first.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

26. Wellstone the freshman would NEVER had made these horrible...

votes that Obama has made!

[digno dave]

28. What the hell does Wellstone have to do with anything?

[RealDems]

40. I sure do miss Wellstone these days....

that is a tough act to live up to...

[jonnyblitz]

20. an average guy who was way over hyped.

he seems like nothing unique or special so far though he has been promoted as such. people are desperate for political superheros.

[Ellen Forradalom]

23. The Senate is a funny place.

Don't understimate what a hidebound, cliquish place it is, and how a new Senator can be eaten alive if he or she doesn't make the right moves.

However, if you don't like his votes, write his office. They will certainly be impressed that a constituent in Korea is watching.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

24. I can tolerate Rice, but his vote on limiting Class Action Law Suits...

is UNACCEPTABLE! He just enabled Wall Street to do what ever the HELL it wants to!

:wtf:

[digno dave]

29. Ever heard of choosing your battles wisely?

No sense in taking a stand on issues that are destined for passage when you are a freshman in your first mopnth of service. He's not a two minute brother...let him feel it out and wait for a payoff we all can appreciate.

[devinsgram]

33. Maybe that is the problem.

I can understand the point you are making, but the time has come to stand up and fight and not be wishy - washy. The time for choosing battles was gone the day we went into Iraq.

[Bake]

31. BULLSHIT. He is in a fairly SAFE SENATE SEAT.

The best the Pukes could run against him was Alan Fucking Keyes, people! He doesn't exactly have to be TENTATIVE. SOMEBODY has to show a little spine, it might as well be HIM. That is, if he wants to continue to be a "rising star," "rock star," or all the other terms of endearment that were used for him.

I'm disappointed.

Bake

[sadiesworld]

42. The fawning media coverage should have clued us in.

:(

[carpe diem]

32. i read today that 40% of the registered Republicans ...

in Illinois voted FOR Obama...of course, he was running against Alan Keyes, but, they could have voted 3rd party or wrote in or skipped that category, but they didn't, they voted for him and I think he feels an obligation to try to represent those voters as well as his Progressive/Liberal base...that is a very difficult balance to strike and I am not tickled by all of his votes either, but I understand the pressure of trying to represent such a BROAD constituency...I'm willing to give him some time...

[JI7]

35. great point, he isn't taking their votes for granted

while most of them voted mostly against the crappy Republican opponent he hopes that if/when he runs again they vote FOR him then even if they are Republican and he is Democratic.

Joe Lieberman actually has done this since he gets a majority of votes from both Democrats and Republicans. and he is kind of in the same position as Obama in coming from a Democratic state and not needing those Republican votes to win.

but it's about representation. and i said this before, while many on DU (including many who aren't in Illinios) may not like his votes, i'm sure most of Illinios has no problem with them.

[RealDems]

41. Yeah, but he should know which side he's on

He can't be a Democratic hero if he's constantly worrying about what Republicans think of him.

[RealDems]

37. I'm trying to avoid that conclusion so far...

but it is tough. He certainly hasn't tried to show his allegiance to the Real Democrats. But it is still early, and I am holding off on a verdict. A lackluster start though, that's for sure...

[autorank]

38. He's 0 for 5 on Dem issue votes...Is he a Ben Nelson clone?

[zann725]

39. The 'powers-that-be' love him. And they love him SOOO much, I knew

from the start he had 'nothing to offer' we-the-people. He's an insider, a suck-up. He is what he is. That said, he'll probably go far in the inner circles. But he hasn't OUR interests at heart, sorry.

I smell a Remocrat.