I can't help but think that our President wonders what he's gotten himself into...

[NRaleighLiberal]

and also wonders about some of the people he has supporting him. Not that they aren't all really good people, but the wolves are snapping all of their heels pretty badly.

This is a deep mess I wouldn't wish on very many people (but they were all in the Bush administration)....and I can't see it getting better any time soon. Would be nice if he would get any sort of cooperation at all from anyone on the Right, or more media news support beyond the usual suspects (Keith, Rachel...)

[ejpoeta]

1. what gets me is this....

obama didn't need this job. he could have done anything. he could have gone off and been a millionaire and traveled and whatnot. He could have let some one else handle this mess. But he stepped up and offered his assistance. And what does he get for that??? kicked in the face by republicans. obama isn't trying to push is agenda on everyone. He isn't ramming through progressive agendas, and he is making many of his progressive supporters mad too while doing it. The stimulus should have been bigger, with more spending. But he is trying to be pragmatic and represent the republicans too. And I don't know how that is going to serve him, because he owns this bill now. I personally think he should have done more of what he wanted to do since he owns it now. and if it ends up not being big enough, he's going to take the blame for it. I understand the desire to account for the republican thinking.... but they'll kick you in the teeth as soon as you smile at them. they don't care about fairness or compromise. they care about themselves. they don't care about their constituents... they care about themselves. and it's important to understand that you cannot deal with people like that.

[Beacool]

2. Well, he was the one who wanted the job.

All presidents get flack from some sector, including from their own party.

:shrug:

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. Agreed - but I've never seen a climate where so many want utter failure -

which impacts us all.

[Beacool]

5. I saw worse.

The virulent attacks against both Clintons in 1993 were appalling. Obama is getting very little of that kind of hatred. The Repugs treated Bill with almost zero respect. They also pilloried Hillary.

x(

[TTUBatfan2008]

7. Was Bill ever called a terrorist?

Hell, they don't even think Obama is a citizen. You can't get any lower in the respect department than "non-citizen terrorist."

[niceypoo]

10. Bill Clinton was pre-911

He was going it alone on terrorism and the republicans attacked him for it. It matters not, no matter which Dem is president, the republicans will act like childish assholes and smear them.

The republican party stands for nothing and must take extreme positions to make themselves feel like they believe in something.

[TTUBatfan2008]

12. 9/11 has nothing to do with the smears on Obama...

His middle name is Hussein. There's a lot of anti-Muslim xenophobia in this country and it's ALWAYS been like that even before 9/11 ever happened. The "he's not a citizen" meme is flat-out racism.

[niceypoo]

14. Anti-Muslim xenophobia reached fever-pitch after 911

And in republican land it has not abated. The "Terraists!" fear mongering from the right was always there? Where were you the last 8 years?

[Beacool]

13. Nope, but I was referring to the Repugs in Congress.

Not the wackos out there on the field.

[PassingFair]

4. Mad Magazine NAILS IT:

[genna]

6. He thought he knew. He started aging right before our eyes when he grasped

how deep down the rabbit hole went.


He will still be a young enough man when he leaves the WH to do all those things. The other thing is if he uses all the people he has gathered together to manage and lead their individual territories he can herd most of the cats and extraordinary b.s. Bush left behind.

The problem with Democratic governance is we make it look easy, so easy that Republicans can focus on their pet issues and think the government and private industry will manage itself.

Obama has faith. He has a loving family and accessible in-laws. He has hope of a nation and belief of the wider world. He will stand up because the opposite is unthinkable.

[firedupdem]

8. I understand what you are saying. Other Presidents get slammed

but I don't think we've had 2 wars and a crumbled economy like this in my lifetime. He has taken on the worse shit since forever and the attacks are still there. I have faith he can handle it but it truly pisses me off. The people who helped create this mess are the main people talking. The media did nothing but push bush's agenda but they piss on Obama at every turn.

[Cha]

11. Fortunately, it doesn't depend on

the corporatemediawhores whether Obama and our country succeeds or not..he got where he is without them.

I don't watch corporates00ze and I just get the supportive view other than reading on DU what the Public Enemy Numero Uno is up to.

Obama is smart enough to know what he was getting in to and they did it for our country and us.

If not him than who? He knows we're at an urgent crossroads.

[sledgehammer]

9. You are right, it's a mess.

But, that should not be a surprise to Obama. Even in the primaries, we knew that America was not in a pretty situation (though we had no idea how bad the financial crisis was going to become).

It's the President's job to lead the way and give encouragement and support to the people. Something we haven't seen for 8 years. Obama has been voted in to do this job. This is the job of the most powerful man in the world. As said in Spiderman(!), "with great power comes great responsibility."

It may seem that things aren't going as well, but Obama managed to pass one of the most critical bills in US history within one month of being President. Most presidents couldn't dream of doing this in four years. Obama believes in the bill, he stands by it, and he has promised Americans that it will bring results. It is this bill that will define his first term. If the bill fails, then voters will remember that in 2012. If it does well, say hello to four more years.

The numbers (unemployment, Dow, consumer confidence, home prices) are certainly not pleasing right now, and can disturb us a lot since we see them so many times a day. Plus, we all are suffering and know people who are in very difficult situations, so that depresses us even further.

But I am optimistic that the results of the stimulus will be positive. It will take time and sacrifice, but America will endure. This is the greatest country in the world. It has survived the Civil War and the Great Depression thanks to great leadership (Lincoln and FDR). It now has the right leader for this trying time.

Critics will always be there, and they should be (I just wish they didn't hide in their caves right before the Iraq War). But the supporters are there too. In such a crisis to have such high poll numbers is a good sign.

Hang in there, we all are. And certainly read/listen to what the critics say (by critics I don't mean dumbass entertainers like Hannity and Rush, but educated and qualified experts and journalists). They often have some great points, even if you disagree with them. But I'm confident of a turnaround, and so are many others.

If you don't see the results you want, then you and millions of others have your vote in Nov. 2010, and then in Nov. 2012. That will be the most important measure of Obama's success.