Should Obama be criticized?

[placton]

I think so - here's why:

single payer health insurance: no support
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/09

military commissions: change of position (not in a liberal way)
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/05/09/obama-to-git-mo-better-military-tribunals/

banks weasel - yet again - with Administration help
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/05/wsj-report-banks-negotiated-concessions.html

The prez is lots better than the Goopers - but still - Bill Clinton redux?

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Yes when it's deserved and because he can handle it.

I don't think he needs people fawning all over him and everything he does and says.

[LooseWilly]

24. I've gotten the impression that...

... few have so high an opinion... though I am still undecided if they haven't so high an opinion of Obama, or of his supporters, being able to face criticism.

[bluestateguy]

2. Yes, but only by our side

Because we want him to succeed and we are trying to help him.

But when the other side criticizes him, I consider that disloyal to the nation and un-American.

[Enrique]

3. 130 civilians killed in air strike in Afghanistan

angry villagers bringing two truckloads of body parts to Kabul to prove it happened.

Obama should respond to them and to us about this.

[Luminous Animal]

4. Under Bush, DU would have decried this as a massacre.

Now? Barely a blip.

[Bobbieo]

11. Who did this - our side or the Taliban? I'm getting mixed reports.

[1]

5. no.

if you are not for us, you are against us.

take it someplace else...

[mitchtv]

6. Dubya

sounds like you

[placton]

7. wow - really?

you don't feel DUers can criticize a Dem President - how sad!

[closeupready]

12. Also runs counter to Obama's solicitation of honest criticism.

But I guess what Obama wants doesn't count. Almost like some here feel like puppetmasters and he's the puppet.

[HughMoran]

13. .

:rofl:


Sometimes honey doesn't work :)

[1]

18. its ok. most people don't get me...

[HughMoran]

22. I like your sense of humor

Heck, another poster copied you below. :)

[LooseWilly]

25. Is that a George Bush Quote?

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/11/06/gen.attack.on.terror/

Ohh, my mistake.. just a paraphrasing...

[vssmith]

28. Sounds like a quote from GW Bush

on edit: Sorry LooseWilly I jumped in before I saw your post

[Ken Burch]

8. We said we'd hold his feet to the fire when necessary

And the president has said he WANTS us to be involved and to challenge. Therefore, it's not disloyal and we aren't harming anything.

We need big events and big mobilizations to stand up to the right-wing pressure, or else the moment will be lost.

[closeupready]

9. Since he asked us to criticize him, like, duh, yes, obviously, we should.

n/t

[FrenchieCat]

10. He's criticized every single day.

Where have you been?

[Bluebear]

14. Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision he makes.

We should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens.

[HughMoran]

15. .

:rofl:

It's good to have a sense of humor at times.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

26. .

:spray:

:hi: Thank you for the giggle Blue, now I can fall asleep with a smile :D

[placton]

32. It's BRITANNY! (screams!) n/t

[kentuck]

16. Yes.

When he is wrong. Such as the bank bailouts and Afghanistan, i.e.

[sandyd921]

17. Praise him when does right, criticize when he does wrong

Why do we even need to debate this? When we (meaning "the left") criticize him it's because we want him to do better. When the right criticizes him it's because they want him to fail.

FDR told activists "make me do it". I believe Obama is telling us the same thing.

[Thickasabrick]

19. Don't forget the whole Polar Bears thing n/t

[stillcool]

20. Any President redux...

after all, I think we are still in the same country, with the same government. Criticism is a wonderful thing..unless it stems from ignorance.. then it's useless, if not harmful.

[Cresent City Kid]

21. I'd be concerned if nobody spoke up

Dogmatic agreement is a GOP trait. We are a diverse group, generally in agreement, but with different priorities. He'll move too slowly or in the wrong direction for some of us. If we speak up, maybe he'll hear us and adapt. Maybe not, but with Bush that wasn't even a consideration.

[TheKentuckian]

23. When needed and at times to put the spurs to him to press on with what is required

but at every possible, perceived, estimated, foreseen, and imaginable opportunity seems a bit much. So far most have done worse. I think he's a keeper.

[Cresent City Kid]

27. I agree

I think on balance, he'll get more of what we want done than Clinton did. The perfect president doesn't exist. I personally didn't like how his administration started with nominating people who didn't pay taxes, when getting the rich to pay their fair share was what I was looking forward to. I still think he'll get that done, hopefully this year.

[stray cat]

29. You can criticize whoever you want but don't expect everyone to always have the same opinion

[LWolf]

30. Of course.

Why wouldn't a thinking person criticize a president when he is wrong?

[Bluenorthwest]

31. TR said:

"to announce that there should be no criticism of the President, or that we should stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only servile and unpatriotic, but it is also morally treasonable to the American public."
And Teddy was the President. He seems pretty clear in his opinion. He says trying to silence critics is servile and unpatriotic and such. I'm with him.

[Vidar]

33. Of course, when the criticism is deserved, as in the OP's examples.