All is forgiven?

[kentuck]

First of all, I must say that I have been totally impressed with President Obama in the last few days. Especially since the election in Massachusetts. This was the person that I voted for.

But, has he won back the base yet? Many will want to see what happens from here forward, even though they are excited about the "new" Obama. Can he lead the comatose Democratic Party, especially the Senate, out of their bi-partisan wilderness?

Are you willing to give the President another chance to prove himself to be the progressive that we thought we were voting for? Or have you given up? What would he need to do to get your support?

[timeforpeace]

1. Just saying the right things is enough.

[Skittles]

2. impressed with his performance on the stage but he needs to followup

I want him to KEEP KICKING GOP ASS

[me b zola]

11. The follow that I want to see:

Beat the hell out of the republicans in the coming elections for the hypocrisy that Obama shone the light on yesterday. He showed that at the same time that they are crying about working with them that they really aren't interested in it because of how they have riled up their base with wild accusations against him. Obama exposed that what they really want is 100% of their ideas enacted to be considered "bipartisan".

If the administration uses the framework that he laid out yesterday to pulverize them in the elections, then that to me will be great follow up. Meanwhile, he has laid the groundwork for the uninformed public to understand why they need to use reconciliation to get legislation passed~I really hope that they use that as well.

[Go2Peace]

15. Kicking their ass and reframing is important, but if we don't actually do much different nothing is

gained. Make no mistake, I am very happy that Obama is (finally) starting to reframe the GOP, but their ideologies have so infected our system that we can totally make them irrelivant and still not turn the country around. There is MUCH more serious work to do.

I hate the Republicans, but they are not our REAL enemies. Our problems are much deeper than that.

[Bluebear]

3. 'Justice Official Clears Bush Lawyers (Yoo & Bybee) in Torture Memo Probe'

I was absolutely delighted with Obama this week, but headlines like this don't help matters.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. If it were "Yoo and Bybee to serve time" it would probably start

raining Skittles... yeah, that's a pun.

[mitchtv]

4. talk is cheap

It was delightful, I admit. as they told me in Catholic school however, " Faith without Good works, is dead"

[katandmoon]

5. When his words and actions match up - and Eric Holder has been replaced with someone with a spine,

And Rahm Emmanuel has been replaced with someone who lacks his contempt for progressives.... Nawww. Never gonna happen.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. I vote issues not politicians or party.

On the issues I'm concerned about, he has yet to win my vote.

[Greenpeach]

7. This is and has always been the "Obama I voted for"

and I don't want or need to "forgive" him. I'm sure you'll call it blind faith, but I trusted him from the outset. How quick some were to turn on him until he had an opportunity to demonstrate, again, how brilliant he is to your satisfaction. Ye, of little faith should not assume that others' allegiances are so fickle.

[Bluebear]

8. Well, that was perfectly snotty :)

[timeforpeace]

12. Like you, all of us voted for the guy because he sounded good.

[Skittles]

18. some of us require results, not just pretty speeches

let's have some followup to this GOP spanking

[xchrom]

9. The whole point to the baltimore smaq down

Is to bring GOP support for ideas I have problems
with -- clean coal, insurance reform, etc.

It was nice to see the performance -- but it means moving
in directions I'm not interested in.

[LWolf]

13. Am I willing?

Let's see:

Is he willing to fire Arne Duncan?

To fight for single-payer health CARE?

To quit spending $$$ prosecuting the "war on terror" and bring our troops home?

Those 3 things would earn a strong measure of support.

What are the odds that he will do any of those things?

[Edweird]

14. Remember when he said he wouldn't sign a bill that did not include a public option?

I do.
I also remember that he lobbied against that public option to the senate.

Talk is cheap.
Kabuki theater doesn't mean shit.

He's cutting taxes, cutting spending and privatizing every god-damned thing.
So, whatever.

[ibegurpard]

16. He gets another chance

we'll see if he uses it wisely this time

[donheld]

17. Action>Words

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. I am looking for action and not words. President Obama is one of the most

talented speakers I've heard in my life and his charisma is evident. Until I see a positive change in his ACTIONS by upholding the constitution (including enforcing laws re illegal wars, torture, etc), becoming a true advocate for civil liberties and working for the good of the people (and not the corporate personage) of our country, I will withhold support for him. I've been around the block now for 58 years and sweet and tough talk just doesn't do it for me. ACTIONS do.

[texanwitch]

20. All is see is President Obama trying to cover his ass because of the recent election.

Talk is cheap, I want to see action.