The (UK) Observer Debate: Has Obama Met The Hopes Of The World?

[Jackeens]

Last November, in Chicago's Grant Park, world politics was transformed by the arrival of America's first black president. But has he made good on his groundbreaking promises?

One year on: Experts from around the world on whether he has made good on his groundbreaking promises

Time is needed to clear the mess he inherited

Before he was elected president, Barack Obama, in The Audacity of Hope described himself as "a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views. "I am bound to disappoint some, if not all of them," he added.

Now just over nine months into office – with his struggle to get a health care bill, the regular nightly savaging by conservative talk show hosts, and escalating attacks from emboldened Republicans – Obama's prediction seems prophetic.

He came to office riding the impossibly high hope that he was a transcendent political figure, the rare leader who could overcome this country's deep divisions of race, party and ideology, to be a unifier and a healer after the divisive presidency of George W Bush. Now we are again back to our ideological trenches.

His critics on the far right – who never really bought into "Obamamania" but felt silenced by his popularity – are increasingly strident in their attacks. And his supporters on the far left, once breathlessly trading YouTube links of every Obama campaign speech, find themselves disillusioned that he was not the populist champion who would immediately bring American troops home and create universal health care.


More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/01/observer-debate-barack-obama

[HopeOverFear]

1. ah, brace yourself for the "told ya so" crowd

[ej510]

2. No, because it is impossible.

[Jeneral2885]

3. Develoipment and Trade

He certainly has not met the hopes in the areas of international trade and international development