Hit my forehead with my palm..what a dopey thought I had listening to President Obama in Copenhagen

[Mira]

We were told that he had to leave early to avoid the oncoming winter storm in Washington DC, and he had to book out of there before the signing of the "meaningful agreement" that was reached, where the United States, China, India, Brazil and South Africa tonight agreed on not yet legally binding preliminary measures to control climate change.

As an obviously tired President Obama told about the laast minute deal they achieved, he also took a few questions from the audience.

The whole time I saw and watched I was thinking: " Hurry up, you'll miss your plane!"

Only a bit later, as I saw him go up the long long gangway to the plane's door did it occur to me that this is "his" plane. It leaves when HE is ready. He can answer any question he wants, and that plane just sits there til his lanky frame comes in the door.

Then I thought to myself, this man with such power and props can all but walk on water if he so choses. The Liebermans, the Blue Dogs, the rabid teabaggers can be overcome, and can be outwitted and can be overruled. Guantanamo could already be done according to the promises. We could be out of Iraq, and be rid of Don't ask Don't tell, we could be bringing so many good constructive things to Afghanistan, instead of more destructive war and more of our precious soldiers.

We could be looking at a President who takes that plane to the states where Olberman organized the free clinics, and he could have town hall meetings to stir up the people who overwhelmingly want single payer or at least a strong public option for choice, so they stand up to their Blue Dog representatives and persevere in scaring them about their re-election.

He could state his own position on the issue clearly and without equivocation so we the people really know it. I believe in what I see done, not what I hear said, yet he is not saying, and what he is doing is not good enough.

I apologize to my more verbal fellow DUers, I may well sound simplistic but my heart and mind say that to a person with that big a plane these things are possible.

:)

He has what it takes, he has the power, the mind, the heart, and has promised to do it, so I wait and watch.
What I see is gentlemanly demeanor and weak involvement and I hear impressive speeches.

Maybe we should put him on a bike, or on one of our rare trains, so he is a bit closer to us whom he so wowed in the campaign.

We are out here, we are staking our claims to a more recognizable version of the promised land.
We are too injured from what we have been through for further damage to our psyche, our country, our hopes and dreams.

You are on that big plane right now coming back home.
You owe us, President Obama.
We, your weakening base, are waiting.

[gateley]

1. Yes, she should speak softly, and fly a big plane.

:7

I agree with your sentiments -- well said. :hi:

[virgogal]

2. He's coming back home to pack for Hawaii. Disappointing,isn't it?

[FrenchieCat]

3. Very thoughtful piece, and I understand the sentiments, but....

Barack Obama does not control the weather.....
That plane is ours, not his.
He cannot do everything but walk on water; be glad if he could.
Guatanamo is almost done.
The media actually has more power than he does.
He owes it to America to do his best, even if his best is not good enough for you,
it may still be his best.
He is not trying to injure us,
he is trying to help us heal ourselves from the divisive nature of politics,
that have ruled this country for so long.

However, I understand where you are coming from,
and you made some good points,
about some of the things that he could do....like fly to a free clinic,
although 50% would say it was nothing but a photo op....but he could still do this.
but know that he is not the one that will save this world,
nor save this nation from itself singlehandedly in 11 months time,
nor most likely in one term.
He needs us, but we are not there.....
as we are too busy telling him that in less than 11 months,
he has failed and or betrayed us.

We gave everyone else so much longer,
but he's not afforded the same courtesy...
even though he's got 3 more years.

[Mira]

6. Thanks for your thoughtful and detailed response.

My words are emotional, and heartfelt. They are stating how I feel today.
And it seems, so are yours, albeit yours are more eloquent.

I could take issue with a number of your points, and am well able to. I think they are exceedingly well taken, some of them represent how I felt in the last few months as I slowly began to lose my ability to keep hoping for more of what I need.

Rather than a back and forth on view points, I think it is best to let your very able words speak for themselves, and therefore allow mine to stay as I posted them.

Thanks again for your input.

[HarveyDarkey]

4. Well said, VERY well said

N/T (except for this little bit)

[msongs]

5. did he make Joe Lieberman the pilot lol nt

[WT Fuheck]

7. he has no interest in any of the things you say he could do.

he's busy being at the beck and call of Goldman Sachs, United Health Care and Lockheed Martin

[madrchsod]

8. weakening?

in my opinion it`s collapsed. he`s lost the progressives. he`s dissed the man who organized the 50 state strategy that won the election. his blue dogs are joining the republicans so what does he have left? moderate democrats and maybe some independents?

the 2010 house and senate races will run by rahm and his gang of thieves.

he`s giving the republicans everything they need

[Mira]

10. Matt Taibbi and Robert Kuttner on with Bill Moyers just now saying exactly what I said here:

Paraphrasing:

"If he wanted to do these things he could because he has a tremendous amount of power. He can take the Senators into the back room and beat them with a rubber hose and threaten to withhold aid to their state and get them to change their minds. He is not using his power which is supported by the people and the legislative majorities. If he is not the guy who is able to fix the things that are wrong in this country then he has to become that guy. We need a person elected who is independent from the corporate power structure. Be that the wall street elite or the health care power structure. The Elite who has a hammerlock on this country needs to be confronted. His style is different, his style is rather hand off. His surrogates doing the work are coming out on the wrong sides of the issues. He himself is not out there explaining to people all that is going on and how the country and his job work."
KUTTNER:
I want to play devil's advocate for a moment, I think he is a work in progress, nothing if not a learner, there is a chance, a possibility, looking down the barrel of a real election blowout next year he may be able to turn and learn and come around. He is a very smart and complicated man.
---------------
I'm having too much to listen to to keep this up. But when this interview comes around, listen to it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. He coulda, woulda, shoulda, but he ain't doing it.

Tells me what I need to know.

[madamesilverspurs]

11. Nothing simplistic at all.

The last few days I've had the opportunity to sit quietly and think about things. One of the bits that came to mind was Obama's repeated encouragement for us to hold his feet to the fire; the other bit that kept nudging itself to the forefront was that slogan from the campaign: Yes We Can. With the latter there seems to have been a degree of falling away from the partnership implicit in that "We", our participation being replaced by the shifting of some of our portion onto his shoulders; and I found myself wondering when it was that "Yes We Can" morphed into "Yes He Can". Which brings me back to the first bit, and a bit of curiosity about the proper position for holding someone's feet to the fire.

He looks weary, and his journey has just begun. The memory of January 20th still brings tears to my eyes, as we celebrated in a cohesiveness that we hadn't enjoyed for many, many years. All too often, nowadays, I miss that unity. I suspect that he does, too. I have the luxury of sorting through my thoughts at my leisure; he has the dubious honor of dealing face-to-face with the likes of Lieberman and Nelson; he reaches for support, they cut off his hands.

To be sure, I have been desperately unhappy about some recent developments. Most especially where certain 'damnocrats' are concerned, including my representative who just became an official blue dog. That said, I'd be panic-stricken if Obama had walked into the Oval Office and begun issuing fiats. His job comes with some parameters that were increasingly ignored during the Bush years; imperial decrees make things happen in spite of law, Alito and Scalia and Roberts and their unitary ambitions be damned.

Being someone who is capable of petulant impatience I am surprised to find myself willing to be patient a bit longer. Our President is growing into the shoes he has filled, he is maturing into the executive who now has more information than was available to him during the campaign. And given the tenor of the previous administration, some of that information was likely to be stunningly disturbing.

For the present, I am exceedingly gratified that we have a President who is not likely to ever, under any circumstances, refer to the Constitution as "just a damn piece of paper". We've paid a terrible price for the impetuous tantrum that was the Bush presidency. Our national healing is going to be a long process, not a momentary event. Obama knew it would be an arduous task, but I'll bet he thought that the worst opposition would come from Republicans; I join him in the profound disappointment of learning otherwise.

[Mira]

13. Reading this carefully, more than once, I agree with much of what you say,

specifically your elaboration on the recognition of the unspeakable difficulties this job we gave him brought with it. You especially put into compassionate words the unimaginable details of the weight on his shoulders that he surely was unaware of and shocked by.

The phrase you coined: "The impetuous tantrum that was the Bush Presidency" is an instant classic to me.

As one who was in the mall on that icy day on 01/20/09 I also remember the cohesiveness in Washington and the country, when we were so many, at times we could only shuffle inches to walk in the stream of people. And in the whole on Washington, not one single arrest that day.

I share the pain you express.

As the pieces of his administration's governance fall into place the picture of the overall puzzle is not so unrecognizable any more.
Irrevocable decisions are made that I cannot abide by, so I am saying my patience is evaporating like a fog that lifts.

All it reveals is new and different pain.

[HipChick]

12. It's the window..most commercial flights are cancelled in DC area tomorrow

[Mira]

14. Just found this on a report about the winter storm, so I'll stick in in your reply