James Klottenberg, Harvard prof. of Amer. History, says Obama is being "true to his word."

[Cal33]

I must say that over the past two years, my own opinion of Pres. Obama has wavered back and forth.
It still has not settled by any means -- so much depends on what he has said, the results of his past decisions, what I've read in the news media, and the latest thing he has done. Then came this article
by James T. Klottenberg, Harvard professor of American History, in the November 29 issue of Newsweek
Magazine, which came up with statements that are backed up by proof in print -- the President's two
books, "Dreams From My Father" (1995) and "The Audacity of Hope " (2006). The professor claims that
the president is "True to his Word." Just read or re-read them, he admonishes.

The Right-Wingers think of Obama as a radical socialist seething with anti-American rage. The left-Wingers believe him to be a tragic failure who squandered his chances for dramatic change: no single-payer health care plan, no heated battle against Wall Street, endless war in Afghanistan... And critics claim that he is out of touch with his own principles.

Yet, Obama is doing exactly what he said he would do. The critics should re-read his books "Audacity"] in which Obama contrasted the GOP's excessive individualism with the rich traditions of
civic engagements of the 18th and 19th centuries. He also criticized Democrats for too quickly dismissing market solutions, and too often defending failed government programs. And above all, he criticized the hyperpartisan atmosphere of contemporary public life.

Almost everything we need to know about Obama is right there on the printed page. In contrast to charges from left and right, Obama is neither a rigid ideologue, nor a spineless wimp. He stands in a long tradition of American reform, is wary of absolutes and universals, and is committed to a Christian tradition of social
service over dogmatic unbending principle. Obama distrusts pat formulas, and prefers experimentation.

Klottenberg further states that throughout his career Obama has refused to demonize his opponents.
Instead, he has sought them out and listened to them.

In "Audacity" Obama explained why he believed the USA should never have a single-payer form of
health insurance but a distinctively American hybrid system relying on existing insurance plans, but
with oversight, of course.

Klottenberg thinks Obama will not change his basic philosophy concerning the war in Afghanistan, which
is that the war there should end depending on evidence, and not on blind adherence to a predetermined course of action.

The above is the gist of Klottenberg's article., which he concluded by saying that "distorting mirrors of
political commentary in "America's fun house" can make it hard to recognize Obama. Yes, he is hard to undestand.

I have read Obama's first book, but not the second. I'll have to make up my mind to read "The Audacity of Hope" some time. I can get along with old-time Republicans (who no longer have any say in the Republican Party anyway), but not with NeoCons and the latest ones -- the Teabaggers. Every now and then I wonder
how much does Obama really understand about sociopaths, who make up a high percentage of corporate
executives and the present Republican leadership. Democrats have them too, but perhaps fewer in number, and milder in viciousness. These are not normal people. Sociopaths are people with what could be called "criminal personalities" (an Al Capone, for instance). They simply do not respond the way normal people do, because they cannot -- their defective consciences prevent them from doing so.

I've read that since the beginning of written history some 7,000 years ago, there has been only some 250
years where there was no MAJOR war going on somewhere in the world. And throughout history, many
of the rulers of the world's nations have been sociopaths. Sociopaths have always been instigators of
wars because, among other things, they are greedy, ambitious, aggressive, and have always lusted after what other people have. They are never satisfied with what they themselves do have -- at least, not for long. And they are not capable of learning from past mistakes -- if they ever admit to any mistakes at all.

When we have so many sociopaths in high places, as we do today, what can we expect will happen
in the future?

[avaistheone1]

1. And Wall Street thanks him.

Sheesh and the author's employer, Harvard, was the third largest contributer.

Sweet.



http://www.screencast.com/users/westsurf/folders/Jing/media/2b289cd4-cc58-4fc8-8be2-ce13d693a67b

[Cal33]

8. I read a long time ago that 90% of Ivy League university professors

voted Democratic. I wonder if the percentage has since changed.

[somone]

36. and Big Oil, Big Pharma, health insurance CEOs,

military-defense contractors, x-ray scanner manufacturers, etc. etc.

[Radical Activist]

44. No, actually they don't.

Those are 2008 numbers you linked. Wall Street fought his financial reform bill. And as we all know from several stories, they switched their giving back to favor the Republicans for the 2010 cycle. They aren't showing much gratitude lately.

[bahrbearian]

2. It all depends on the Definition of what "is ,is"

[Skittles]

3. pretty much true

I read The Audacity of Hope during the primaries and was thoroughly unimpressed

[SpiralHawk]

4. "Donut deeemoanize us. Bwaaa ha ha ha. Smirk. Sneer." - RepulbiCONS

[Cal33]

35. Your are correct. Neocons and Teabaggers demonize themselves.

Unfortunately, they own 90% of the news media in this country, and have been successful at deceiving half
of our people. I think Democrats should point out the lies each time they happen, and tell the truth.
If the truth is not told, Democrats will continue being the losers.

[tularetom]

5. In other words he telegraphed everything he planned to do

Giving his opponents all the ammunition they needed to stage an endless attack on him, his policies and his entire presidency.

Unfortunately he assumes that those who oppose him have the same goal as he does - improving life in America. Of course they don't share that goal - what they really want is to get rid of him so they can continue to loot the American people.

It's hard for any of us to shed our lifelong beliefs. But Obama needs to alter his.

[tyne]

7. Or...

Maybe not.

[tularetom]

9. I'd like to believe the "playing chess while everyone else plays checkers" theory

But I'm losing hope.

[elleng]

19. ...

:thumbsup:

[Cal33]

11. "The Audacity of Hope" was published in 2006, two years+ before he

was elected president. So I don't think when he stated some of his views,
he even thought that they could be used by future opponents as ammunition
to attack him.

[sabrina 1]

6. He seeks out opponents

Klottenberg further states that throughout his career Obama has refused to demonize his opponents.
Instead, he has sought them out and listened to them.

So, does he consider those who voted for him and are now disappointed, 'opponents' yet? What do we have to do to get him to listen?

I don't think that statement is true or he would have been reaching out to progressives, which he never has no matter how angry at policies like Offshore Drilling eg, they become. All signals coming from his WH create the impression that he despises the left and shares the view that they are all nothing but DFH.

I think the truth is he is far more aligned politically and idealogically with the views of moderate Republicans. I mean, he actually said with a straight face that 'teabaggers' were just ordinary Americans who were very passionate about their country' or words to that effect. But there have been no similar accolades for the people who actually supported him.

I have no problem accepting the fact that he would most likely have been a Republican before that party became so extreme. I am finding it difficult to see where he has any views that could be considered 'liberal'. And I find I am far less disappointed in him now that I have simply accepted that. I feel now that Congress is where we should be putting our efforts because no matter who is president, Republican or Democrat, they can be stopped from their agenda if it is not beneficial to the people, or favors Wall St. over the people, by an empowered Congress made up of individuals who are not susceptible to bribes from Corporate America.

He's a politician, so no surprise he turned out to be more sympathetic to Corporate interests than those of the American people. No point in belaboring the issue, better to start refocusing now before the next election.

[Cal33]

10. I don't agree with many of the things Obama has done. But he isn't

one of those "do nothing" presidents. About a month ago I came across a post listing
244 accomplishments of Obama, and which are beneficial for the American
people. It's a long list. I didn't even read all of them. And at the bottom, the
author asked all to spread the word.

It is true that his administration doesn't say much about what he has accomplished. I
think this is also one of his mistakes. Perhaps he thinks it's Christian humility not to
blow his own trumpet? If so, I believe it's the wrong thing for him to do, especially in
this type of business. If he wants to win again in 2012, he had better start blowing
his own trumpet. Not to do so would be false modesty, unless at some level of consciousness
he prefers to lose.

Lately he started to listen to Elizabeth Warren and vetoed the bill which would have
made it easier for the banks to take over people's houses. This is also something
very positive.

I still think he hasn't got the faintest idea of what sociopaths are. He should
have expert mental health professionals to consult with on how to deal with them adequately.

Here's the list:

The 244 ACCOMPLISHMENTS of PRESIDENT OBAMA
Share3288 341by The BigotBasher
Mon Oct 11, 2010 at 05:51:27 PM PST
It is not my list but the authors are encouraging others to spread it and some times good news is just worth spreading. It certainly beats the fear and hate messages that seem to clog up the spam boxes of so many email accounts.

The BigotBasher's diary :: ::
ETHICS

• Ordered the White House and all federal agencies to respect the Freedom of Information Act and overturned Bush-era limits on accessibility of federal documents (2009)

• Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible (2009)

• Placed limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House (2009)

• Placed limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration (2009)

• Signed a measure strengthening registration and reporting requirements for lobbyists (2009)

• Ordered that lobbyists must be removed from and are no longer permitted to serve on federal and White House advisory panels and boards (2009) * Note: After saying he would not hire lobbyists, a few have been hired in the Administration

• Companies and individuals who are delinquent on their taxes or owe back taxes are no longer allowed to bid for federal contracts (2009)

• Initiated the “e-Rulemaking Initiative” (in cooperation with Cornell University) to allow for online public “notice and comment” of federal laws and initiatives (2010)

• Issued the “Open Gov Directive” ordering all Cabinet departments to promote transparency and citizen participation in their policies (2010)

• Signed extensions on banning lobbyists from serving on agency boards (2010)

• Developed the “Don Not Pay List” with data on contractors and recipients of federal funds who are deemed to be ineligible because of fraud and abuse (2010)

GOVERNANCE

• The White House website now provides information on all economic stimulus projects and spending, along with an unprecedented amount of information on our government (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era practice of circumventing established FDA rules for political reasons (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era practice of having White House staff rewrite the findings of scientific and environmental regulations and reports when they disagreed with the results (2009)

• Limited the salaries of senior White House aides (salaries cut to $100,000) (2009)

• Has urged Congress to adopt “Pay-Go” (whereby each dollar of spending is offset by a dollar in cuts or revenues, which was used in the `90s but abandoned in the `00s) (2010)

• Has been holding open meetings with Republican leaders, although they complain of a lack of access and information (2010)

• Signed the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (2010) * Note: To curb wasteful spending

• Tasked federal agencies to develop plans for disposing of unneeded real estate and then to eliminate unnecessary or non-economical lands, properties, etc. (2010)

NATIONAL SECURITY

• Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane (which wasn’t even used in Iraq/Afghanistan) and other outdated weapons systems (2009)

• Announced his intention to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay (2009) * Note: The closure has been delayed due to massive opposition but it remains on the agenda.

• Stated his interest in housing terrorists at a new federal “super max” facility in the US (2009) * Note: this has been delayed in the face of massive opposition but it remains on the agenda

• Cut the expensive Reagan era missile defense program, saving $1.4 billion in 2010 (2009)

• Cancelled plans to station anti-ballistic missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic (2009)

• Replacing long-range, expensive missile systems with more efficient smaller systems (2009)

• Increased US Navy patrols off the Somali coast in response to pirating (2009)

• Established a new cyber security office and appointed a cyber security czar (2009)

• Ordered the first nation-wide comprehensive cyber threat assessment (2009)

• Instituted a new Nuclear Posture Review, revising US nuclear deterrence policy to encourage more nations to join the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (2010) * Note: Components of the policy include: a pledge to stop nuclear testing; a pledge to not build a new generation of nucs; identifying nuclear terrorism, rather than a launch from another nuclear state, as the major threat; a pledge to not use nucs on a non-nuclear state in a conventional conflict; etc.
• Executive orders to block payment, transfers, exports, etc… of individuals and organizations support the regimes of North Korea, Iran, Somali pirates, and other foreign threats (2010)

• Presidential Memoranda to extend certain provisions of The Trading with Enemies Act which was to expire in September 2010 (2010) * Note: This includes freezing assets and banning trade that benefits the Cuban regime; however further efforts at normalizing travel to Cuba are supported

• Signed bill for southwest border security and increased funds and agents on the Mexican border (2010)

• Signed the Comprehensive Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act to deal with foreign regimes like Iran and North Korea (2010)

IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN

• Began the phased withdrawal of US troops from Iraq (2009); continuing the withdrawal (2010)

• Changed the US military command in the Afghan conflict (2009)

• Tasked the Pentagon to reorganize US policy in Afghanistan; the new policy includes 30,000 additional troops deployed, priority training of Afghan forces, developing agriculture and infrastructure, limiting aerial bombing, etc. (2009)

• Ordered the Pentagon to send additional helicopters to assist US Marine units and Special Forces in Afghanistan (2009)

• Increased unmanned drone strikes on Taliban and al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date (2009)

MILITARY & VETERANS

• Ordered the Pentagon to cover expenses of families of fallen soldiers if they wish to be on site when the body arrives back in the US (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era “blackout” imposed on media coverage of the return of fallen US soldiers (2009) * Note: The media is now permitted to cover the story pending adherence to respectful rules and with the approval of the fallen soldier’s family

• Ended the Bush-era “black out” policy on media coverage of war casualties (2009) * Note: Full information is now released for the first time in the War on Terror

• Ordered better body armor to be procured for US troops (2009)

• Funding new Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicles (2009) * Note: The old Hummers were very vulnerable to roadside explosives and an alarming percentage of our soldiers lost in Iraq were on account of IEDs

• Working to increase pay and benefits for military personnel (2009)

• Improving housing for military personnel (2009)

• Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses (2009)

• Ordered that conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other neglected military hospitals be improved (2009)

• Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military to a post-Cold War, modern fighting force (2009) * Note: Bush announced in 2001 his intention to do this but backed off the reforms after 9/11, which include: new procurement policies; increasing the size of Special Ops units; deploying new technologies; creating new cyber security units; etc.

• Ended the Bush-era practice of awarding “no-bid” defense contracts (2009)

• Improving benefits for veterans as well as VA staffing, information systems, etc. (2009)

• Authorized construction of additional health centers to care for veterans (2009)

• Suspended the Bush-era decision to purchase a fleet of Marine One helicopters from suppliers in favor of American made helicopters (2009)

• Ordered a review of the existing “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military (2010)

• New GI Bill for returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan (2009)

• Signed bill providing assistance for caregivers of veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan (2010) * Note: The omnibus bill does the following: Training, funding, and counseling for caregivers; promoting pilot childcare programs for women vets under treatment at the VA; independent oversight to prevent abuse; readjustment counseling for National Guard and reservist units; etc.

• Eliminated co-payments for veterans who are catastrophically disabled (2010)

• Fulfilled campaign promise to have combat troops (90,000) out of Iraq by August 31, 2010 (2010)

• Established a new interagency task force to assist veterans owning small businesses (2010) * Note: The efforts include promoting federal contract opportunities, improve access to loans and capital, mentor assistance programs, etc.

• Signed The Families of Fallen Heroes Act, which covers the moving costs of immediate family members of those lost in service (military, intelligence, and security personnel) (2010)

FOREIGN POLICY

• Closed the Bush-era “secret detention” facilities in Eastern Europe (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era policy allowing “enhanced interrogation” (torture); the US is again in compliance with Geneva Convention standards (2009) * Note: Obama has permitted some controversial interrogation techniques to continue

• Restarted international nuclear non-proliferation talks and reestablished international nuclear inspection protocols (2009) * Note: Bush withdrew from non-proliferation talks and dismantled the inspection infrastructure

• Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic (2009) * Note: These were suspended under Bush

• Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions (2009) * Note: These were suspended under Bush

• Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office (2009)

• Banned the export of cluster bombs (2009)

• Overturned Bush-era plans to increase the US nuclear arsenal (2009)

• Authorized the Navy SEALS operation that freed by force the US shipping captain held by Somali pirates (2009)

• Restored the US commitment to the UN population fund for family planning; overturned the ban on providing funds internationally for family planning (2009) * Note: The family planning efforts were suspended under Bush

• Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return “home” to visit families (2009)

• Extended an offer of engagement (free from sanctions and penalties) to Iran through December 31, 2009 (Iran did not accept the offer) (2009)

• Sent envoys to the Middle East and other parts of the world, reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy (2009)

• Authorized discussions with North Korea and the private mission by former president, Bill Clinton, to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons (2009)

• Authorized discussions with Myanmar and the mission by Senator Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive (2009)

• Renewed loan guarantees for Israel (2009)

• Signed the USIFTA trade agreement with/for Israel (2009)

• Authorized a $550m advance for Israel (six months prior to the scheduled date) in order to accommodate Israeli’s economic and financial needs (2009)

• Continued agreements with Israel for cultural exchanges, immigration, etc. (2009)

• Spoke on Arab television, spoke at an Egyptian university, and met with Arab leaders in an effort to change the tone of US-Arab relations (2009)

• Ordered the US to finally pay its dues to the United Nations (2009)

• Attended the Summit of America’s meeting in Trinidad and Tobago (2010)

• Dispatched several envoys and initiated talks with numerous nations (2010)

• Signed a nuclear limitation treaty with Russia (2010) * Note: The agreement calls for both countries to reduce their nucs by one-third (1,500) and launch systems by half (800)

• Hosted nuclear non-proliferation summit for several nations (2010)

• Executive Order to establish support offices in the State Department to assist the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan (2010)

• Presidential Memoranda to continue drug interdiction support with Columbia (2010)

ECONOMY

• Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) (2009) * Note: Bush was the first president since Herbert Hoover to not make infrastructure a priority

• Authorized the US auto industry rescue plan and two GMAC rescue packages (2009)

• Authorized the housing rescue plan and new FHA residential housing guarantees (2009)

• Authorized a $789 billion economic stimulus plan (2009) * Note: 1/3 in tax cuts for working-class families; 1/3 to states for infrastructure projects; 1/3 to states to prevent the layoff of police officers, teachers, etc. at risk of losing their jobs because of state budget shortfalls

• Instituted a new rule allowing the public to meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (in as quickly as one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying (2009)

• Authorized a continuation of the US financial and banking rescue plans initiated at the end of the Bush administration and authorized TARP funds to buy “toxic assets” from failing financial institutions (2009)

• Authorized the “Cash for Clunkers” program that stimulated auto sales and removed old, inefficient, polluting cars from the road (2009)

• Convened a “jobs summit” to bring experts together to develop ideas for creating jobs (2009)

• Ordered the FDIC to beef up deposit insurance (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era policy of protecting credit card companies (2009) * Note: In place of the old policy, new consumer protections were instituted and the industry’s predatory practices were banned

• Authorized the federal government to make more loans available to small businesses and ordered lower rates for federal loans to small businesses (2009)

• Placed a 35% tariff on Chinese tires and a few other products such as pipes after China was found to be illegally “dumping” exports below cost (2009) * Note: Clinton, Bush I, and Reagan all refused to “get tough” on China’s predatory trade practices; Bush II refused four times during his presidency

• In November 2009, Obama extended unemployment benefits for one million workers

and expanded coverage for some existing homeowners who are buying again (2009)

• Called on Congress to deliver a “Jobs bill” (2010)

• Credit card companies are prohibited from raising rates without advance notification or arbitrarily if customers are paying bills on time (2010)

• Signed a bill to extend unemployment benefits set to expire (2010)

• Signed historic Wall Street reform bill (2010) * Note: Designed to reregulate and end abusive practices and promote consumer protections

• Signed the HIRE Act to stimulate the economic recovery (2010) * Note: The bill includes: tax cuts for small businesses who hire someone unemployed for at least two months; small businesses can write off their investments in equipment this year; etc.

• National Export Initiative established to enhance federal support (technical assistance, training, trade missions, etc.) and coordination efforts to help US businesses export products and services (2010)

• Initiatives to promote a “Wireless Broadband Revolution” (2010) * Note: Among other things, broadband is finally being considered as necessary infrastructure, with efforts to expand use, access, and spectrum…

• Expanded agricultural credit to farmers during current economic crisis (2010)

• Signed bill - US Manufacturing Enhancement Act (2010)

• Signed bill - Single Family Housing Mortgage Insurance (2010)

TAXES

• Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks to permit the US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs (2009) * Note: The new policy promotes in-sourcing investments to brings jobs back to the US

• Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which provides small tax cuts for 95% of “working families” (2009) * Note: The tax cuts were not as big as was suggested during the 2008 campaign

• Convened an advisory board that is looking into simplifying the tax code (2009)

• Ordered the closing of offshore tax safe havens (for individual and business tax evaders) (2009)

• Reduced taxes for some small businesses to stimulate the economic recovery (2009)

• Extended the Home Buyers Credit for first-time home buyers (2009)

• Proposed doubling the child tax credit (2010)

• Called for the repeal of the capital gains tax for small businesses (2010)

• Proposed rolling back the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans (2010) * Note: This would be for families earning over $250,000/year and would return their tax rates to the 1990’s level

BUDGETING

• Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut federal spending (2009)

• Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify wasteful spending and practices (2009)

• Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient (2009)

• Overturned the Bush-era practice of not listing certain federal programs in the federal budget (2009) (2010) * Note: Bush did this (so did Reagan) in an effort to hide programs and make the budget look smaller; such “off budget” items are now included in the annual budget

• Full appropriations for war are now included in the budget (2009) (2010) * Note: Bush did not list many of the appropriations for Iraq, Afghanistan, and War on Terror

• Funds for emergency appropriations are now included in the budget (2009) (2010)

• Proposed a three-year freeze on federal discretionary spending beginning in 2011 (2010)

• Is in the process of cutting 120 federal programs identified as either wasteful or unnecessary (2010)

• Established a bipartisan commission on fiscal responsibility, staffed by House and Senate members and private citizens, tasked with submitting proposals to balance the budget (2010) * Note: In the face of Republican opposition, the powers of the commission were watered down

• Established a bipartisan commission on the future of Social Security, tasked with submitting proposals to preserve and strengthen Social Security (2010) * Note: In the face of Republican opposition, the powers of the commission were watered down

• Cut $20 billion from federal budget and has pledged to cut at least this much every year (2010)

• Ultimately decided to cancel planned new presidential helicopter fleet and stick with marine One (2010)

• Freezing all discretionary spending for next three years, except on national security (2010)

• Presidential Memoranda to freeze discretionary awards, bonuses, etc. for federal political appointees (2010)

• Beginning to use “Pay-As-You-Go” (Pay-Go) to offset budget expenditures with budget cuts or revenue enhancements (2010)

HEALTHCARE

• Removed Bush era restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research (2009)

• Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research (2009)

• Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children (2009)

• Established an independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare (2009)

• Reversed some of the Bush-era restrictions that prevented Medicare from negotiating with pharmaceutical firms for cheaper drugs, allowing government to again competitively bid (2009) * Note: Obama had promised to lift all restrictions but, while he did negotiate with drug companies for them to lower their costs the deal only lifted some restrictions

• Expanding government vaccination programs (2009)

• Issued new disease prevention guidelines and priorities for the CDC (2009)

• Authorized the FDA to finally begin regulating tobacco (2009)

• Tasked federal labs to prioritize research on and deployment of H1N1 vaccines (2009)

• Asked multiple congressional committees to bring forward a healthcare reform bill; held dozens of public hearings and town halls on the issue (2009) (2010)

• Established a new council on National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health to be chaired by Surgeon General and charged with promoting healthy lifestyles and integrative healthcare (2010)

• When accusations to the contrary arose, an Executive Order was signed to reaffirm that federal funds are not to be used for abortion services (2010)

• Historic healthcare reform bill signed - $940 billion over 10 years (2010) * Note: 32 million additional Americans will receive healthcare coverage and costs will be lowered for most Americans, but many of the goals are phased in over four years

Components of the bill

- Prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals/family members with pre-existing health conditions; a temporary plan is being developed to cover high-risk individuals with pre-existing conditions until the full reforms go into effect in 2014

- Prevents insurance companies from placing lifetime limits on benefits

- Bans “rescission” so insurance companies can’t cancel coverage if individuals keep their policies current or if they become ill

- An individual’s out-of-pocket healthcare expenses are capped

- Closes the “donut hole” (Part D) for Medicare prescription drug coverage (under Bush, Medicare helped pay for drugs up to $2,600 and above $4,550, but individuals had to pay 100% of the costs in between these amounts); now Medicare helps cover costs irrespective of the amount – seniors will now pay only 25% of drug costs up to $4,550 and only 5% of drug costs above that amount

- In 2010, an emergency provision will offer seniors a $250 rebate on the costs incurred within the “donut hole”

- Individuals living at or below the poverty line were eligible for healthcare under Medicaid, but by 2014 individuals/families living slightly above (making up to $14,404/$29,327) the poverty line will also be eligible for benefits

- Individuals/families making less than $43,320/$88,200 per year will qualify for government subsidies to help purchase health insurance

- All individuals must have health insurance or face a government fine; all large (over 50 employees) employers must offer health insurance to employees or pay a fine

- Small businesses can get a tax credit if they offer health care

- There are hardship exemptions if individuals can’t afford health insurance

- Families can keep their children in college on their plans through age 26

- Promotes health insurance “exchanges” so consumers can buy “wholesale”

- Creates consumer assistance offices to help consumers file complaints or appeal decisions from insurance companies; beginning in 2011, insurance companies can no longer make excessive rate hikes without justification and approval, and those doing so may be barred from participating in new health insurance exchanges

Funding sources:

- Large employers (over 50 workers) that don’t offer health benefits will be charged a $2,000/worker fee; if the employer offers coverage but employees instead purchase federally subsidized insurance the fee is $3,000/worker receiving federal subsidies or $750/worker (whichever is lower)

- Annual fees on pharmaceutical companies ($27 billion), health insurance companies ($60 billion), and medical device-makers ($20 billion)

- Annual penalties on individuals who do not have health insurance (up to a maximum of $695/person)

- Increase in the Medicare payroll tax from 1.45% to 2.35% for individuals making $200,000+ and families making $250,000+

- 3.8% tax on unearned income for millionaires

- Insurance companies will be subject to a tax on each high-end insurance plan (so-called “Cadillac” plans) they offer

Miscellaneous:

- Illegal immigrants are not eligible for insurance or subsidies

- By Executive Order, such federal funding can’t be used for abortion

- The federal government will assist states by covering all of the increased expenses of expanding Medicaid coverage (90% of costs after 2020)

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

• Removed a ruling that now allows individual states to enact automotive fuel efficiency standards above federal standards (2009)

• Offered attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles (2009)

• Overturned Bush-era rule that weakened the Endangered Species Act (2009)

• Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government (2009)

• Ended the Bush-era policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions (2009)

• Signed a measure requiring energy producing plants to begin producing 15% of their energy from renewable sources (2009)

• Announced that the federal government would reengage in the long-delayed effort to clean up “Superfund” toxic waste sites (2009)

• Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production (2009) * Note: Much of Obama’s energy reform was killed by Senate Republicans

• Proposed a new refuge for wild mustangs (2009)

• Cancelled several Bush-era mountain-top removal and mining permits (2009)

• Reengaged in international treaties and agreements to protect the Antarctic (2009)

* Note: Bush had withdrawn from such efforts

• Asked Congress for an energy reform and “cap and trade” bill (2009) * Note: The Congress failed to pass such a bill

• Developing plan to lease US coastal waters for wind and water-current energy production (2009)

• Overturned Bush-era policies that allowed uranium mining near national parks such as the Grand Canyon (2009)

• Expanded the Petrified Forest National Park (2009)

• Signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act that protects millions of acres of scenic, historic, and recreational lands and trails (2009)

• Requiring that government buildings and facilities be retrofitted to save energy costs (2009) * Note: These green retrofits are moving very slowly

• Authorized studies in several western states to determine how to support large-scale solar installations (2009)

• Attended the Copenhagen talks and, after the talks were stalled, negotiated an international (voluntary) agreement on reducing carbon emissions and raising funds to assist developing nations in offsetting carbon emissions (2009)

• Banned importation of pythons in response to a growing population of pythons damaging the Florida Everglades (2009)

• Committing the federal government to increasing research and use of renewable, clean energy sources such as wind, biomass, etc. (2009)

• Executive orders establishing a federal initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all federal operations (2009) (2010)

• Called for exploring the possibility of additional off-shore oil drilling in the Gulf, Atlantic, and off Alaska (but not in ANWR) (2010)

• Agreed to consider increases in nuclear energy production and requested a study on the feasibility of nuclear power plant construction (2010) * Note: Nearly all energy initiatives were defeated by Republican opposition in Congress

• Increased investment in clean energy projects (2010)

• Executive Order to develop a new strategy for and commitment to ocean and lake resources, and for scientific research on water quality (2010)

RIGHTS

• Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women (Lilly Ledbetter Bill) (2009)

• Appointed Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina, to the Supreme Court (2009)

• Held the first Seder in White House (2009)

• Appointed a diverse Cabinet and diverse White House staff (2009)

• Spoke at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization (2009)

• Signed the first major piece of federal gay rights legislation that includes acts of violence against gays under the list of federal hate crimes (2009)

• Reversed the Bush-era practice of politicizing Justice Department investigations and prosecutions against political opponents (2009)

• Pushing for some of the 9/11 perpetrators to be tried in federal court (2009) * Note: The process has moved at a snail’s pace and, in the face of opposition, Obama has remained quiet

• Signed an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Bill to provide federal research and support for treating the disease (2009)

• Allowed the State Department of offer same-sex benefits for employees (2009)

• Proposed that the Pentagon repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy; placed a “freeze” on current efforts to remove alleged homosexuals from the military (2009)

• After eight years of neglect, the Justice Department and EEOC are again enforcing employment discrimination laws (2009)

• Convened the White House Tribal Nations Conference, inviting representatives from 564 federally-recognized Indian tribes (2009)

• Provided increased school projects for Indian lands and increased funds for the Indian Health Service (2009)

• Signed an Executive Order mandating that his Cabinet develop plans to work with and consult Indian tribes on issues impacting Indian lands (2009)

• Commissioned a study to develop alternatives to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2010)

• Called for federal agencies to look into recognizing gay partnerships in terms of benefits (2010)

• Signed an Executive Order for the President’s Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2010)

• Increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2010)

• Signed Executive Order to promote the federal government as a “model employer” when it comes to hiring the disabled (2010) * Note: This includes new efforts to increase the recruitment, hiring, and training for the disabled

• Programs to assist Spanish speakers with the US Census (2010)

• Elena Kagen appointed to Supreme Court (2010)

• Tasked all federal agencies to develop new strategies to address HIV/AIDS (2010)

• After organizing studies on the topic in 2009, tasked the Pentagon to eliminate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2010)

• Signed Fair Sentencing Act (2010) * Note: The Administration continues to deescalate marijuana interdiction and raids; increased dramatically the amount of cocaine one must possess to be sentenced to jail; eliminated mandatory sentencing for first-time drug abusers and simple possession

EDUCATION

• Authorized construction funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access in K-12 public schools (2009)

• Increased funding for school construction (2009)

• Increased funding available for student loans (2009)

• Expanded the national youth service program (2009)

• Streamlined the federal student loan process to save $87 billion over the next 10 years (2009)

• Changed the rule to allow students struggling to make college loan payments to refinance their loans (2009)

• Beginning discussions with Congress for education reform (2009) * Note: Much of Obama’s education reform has been sidelined by opposition in Congress

• Initiated a “Race to the Top” competitive federal grant program for states who develop innovative policies (2009)

• Instituted a “judgment review” allowing families with student loans to petition to have their current financial status determine the loan rather than the previous year’s finances (2009)

• Launched “Educate to Innovate,” a public/private partnership making $236 million available for science, mathematics, and technology education programs (2009)

• Proposed capping the maximum amount students must pay on student loans (as percentage of their income) (2010)

• Proposed reducing student loan obligations for individuals going to work in community and public service jobs (2010)

• The federal government will offer direct student loans, cutting out the cost of private banks (“middle man”) who increase the costs in order to make a profit (2010)

• Increased investment in technologies for schools/education (2010)

DISASTER RESPONSE

• Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness (2009)

• FEMA once again reports directly to the president (2009) * Note: Bush removed FEMA (prior to the Hurricane Katrina disaster) from this status

• Demonstrated an immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters (2009)

• Ordered that funds be released and red tape be streamlined for the ongoing Hurricane Katrina recovery effort in the Gulf Coast (2009)

• Timely and massive relief effort in response to the January 2010 earthquake and ensuing humanitarian crisis (2010)

Components of the response:

- The FBI’s National Center for Disaster Fraud was tasked to look into possible fraud with organizations soliciting funds for relief

- Announced the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund

- Established an emergency Haiti Task Force in the State Department

- Established a website with information, resources, and a posting of a “person finder” online to help families and friends to locate loved ones

- Joint aid and relief planning with the U.K.

- Sponsored a resolution in the UN Security Council for additional security and police forces in Haiti

- Dispatched the US Navy floating hospital (USNS Comfort) and, within 5 days, 9 naval and relief ships, 5 Coast Guard cutters, 8 Coast Guard aircraft, and 12,000 US military personnel

- Initial dispatch of several ships and cargo planes full of humanitarian aid and supplies, 6 search/rescue teams (500 personnel), and 265 Department of Health & Human Services personnel for emergency medical and aid support

- Established a mobile US air traffic control center at the destroyed airport in Port-au-Prince

• After the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a freeze was placed on new deep water projects (2010)

• Executive Order to establish new security measures to minimize accidental release of bio and chemical agents; new strategies for public health and bioterrorism response (2010)

• Established a national commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon spill to examine facts and report a plan of action; new efforts to prevent offshore spills (2010)

• After a slow start in responding to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the White House is promoting a long-term plan to reconstruct the damaged Gulf and negotiated with BP the establishment of a multi-billion dollar trust fund for victims of the spill (2010)

• Extended national flood insurance program for those in need during current economic crisis (2010)

OTHER INITIATIVES

• New federal funding for science and research labs (2009)

• Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program (2009)

• Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program (2009)

• Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud (2009)

• Ordered the DEA to stop raids on medical marijuana usage (2009)

• Ordered a review of existing “mandatory minimum” prison sentencing (2009)

• Signed an order to limit airport tarmac delays and the time passengers had to sit in the plane/on the tarmac during delays (2009)

• Restored the EPA to “Cabinet level” status (2009) * Note: Bush removed the EPA from this status

• Beginning discussions with Congress for comprehensive immigration reform (2010)

* Note: Much of Obama’s immigration reform had been stalled by opposition in Congress

• Commissioned expert panels and reports from NASA; announced a new direction for human space flight that involves funding a new heavy lift-launcher and jettisoning the Ares 1 program; boosting NASA’s budget by $1 billion in 2011 (2010)

• Ordered a ban on text-messaging for all commercial truck and bus drivers (2010)

• Signed bill – FAA Air Transportaiton Modernizatin and Safety Improvement Act (2010)

P.S. IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING…

• The Obamas paid for the renovations of the private living quarters in the White House with their own money rather than using the funds provided to all new first families (2009)

• The Obamas reused many Christmas ornaments from previous White House trees rather than buy new ones (2009)

• The Obamas used LED energy-saving lights on White House Christmas tree (2009)

• Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; donated the award money for the prize to several charities (2009)

• Planted a garden for the White House’s vegetables and flowers (2009)

• Installed a swing set/playground for the Obama daughters and children of White House employees (2009)

• Held over 150 public town halls, press conferences, interviews, etc. in first year in office (2009) * Note: Official numbers are not available on such things, but this seems to be a new record high

• Less than 30 days of vacation in first year in office (2009) * Note: Official numbers are not readily available on such things, but this seems to be a new record low

...And A FAMILY MAN !

B4B NOTE: Special Thanks to Robert P. Watson, Ph. D., Professor of American Studies, Lynn University who compiled this list and writes " Like all presidents, Barack Obama has made mistakes. But, as a presidential historian, I have been struck by claims being put forward by Obama’s many critics and the news media that he has accomplished little when, in fact, his presidency is easily one of the most active in history." And Thanks to our friend Sherry Lou Meeks.

Thank You Mr. President !

Print It...Pass It On...

SHARE THE FACTS !

From: BlacksforBarack.

Tags: Economy, health care, President Barack Obama, Good News, Barack Obama, Accomplishments of Barack Obama, Democatic Party (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

[demosincebirth]

12. Many DUers say thats not good enough. Their pet concerns aren't being looked at.

[sabrina 1]

18. You mean like Civil Rights for some of our citizens? A 'pet' issue

really? Ending, not escalating Bush's war in Afghanistan? That is a 'pet' issue also? Ending the cold war era policies against Cuba and S. America? Another longtime 'pet' issue for many Democrats?

Did you read the list, or just assume that Democrats must agree with everything on that list. Like not only adapting Bush's disastrous Educational Policies, but going even further down that road?

Much of what is on that list that is good, is simply a roll back of untenable Bush policies, which I expect from any president, such as not taking care of the health needs of the troops.

I am happy about some of those positions, but it is a list, not all of it is legislation.

On the major issues that brought people to the polls, rolling back Bush's police state, not only has little changed, some of it is worse. On accountability for war criminals, which we were promised throughout the Bush administration each time there was an election, that is not going to happen. Do you consider that to be a 'pet' issue? Torturers not only not being prosecuted, but being treated as Sr. Statesmen and women? I consider torture to be a very big issue frankly and those who engage in it in this country are generally prosecuted, if they are private citizens. But the rule of law has not been reinstated for elected officials who commit major crimes against humanity, nor will it be according to this administration. That too was a 'pet' issue that caused people to vote for Democrats.

I could go on. but since you didn't address anything actually on the list, there isn't much point. There are reasons why people are disappointed in this administration, legitimate reasons. It isn't just because their 'pet' issues are not being addressed as you would like to believe.

[demosincebirth]

26. Name one civil right. And don't split hairs, be specific. One that affects you and me

[sabrina 1]

27. I thought it was obvious enough that I didn't even have to say it, but

apparently not. Gay rights? Citizens who do not have equal rights to marry, to serve openly in the military eg. I am not gay, but if someone else is being deprived of their rights, that does effect everyone, or should.

[demosincebirth]

28. Figuratively speaking, it doesn't affect you or me. (eom)

[sabrina 1]

32. I think it does. Whenever rights are denied by a government

to a segment of the population, none of our rights are secure. Any time governments feel they can deny rights without much opposition, the government realizes it has way more power than it should have. And whenever that happens, as we know from history, they are tempted to use it.

We know that if one man’s rights are denied, the rights of all are endangered. Robert Kennedy (5-6-1961)

[eridani]

13. If establishing that sociopathic Catfood Commission is an "accomplishment"

--God help us all.

[Cal33]

16. I didn't make up that list. But, aren't there any good ones at all among

the other 243? :o)

[Cal33]

17. I didn't make up that list. But, aren't there any good ones at all among

the other 243? :o)

[elleng]

20. Can't be repeated often enough.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[leeroysphitz]

40. tl;dr

[Cal33]

41. What does "tl:dr" mean?

[BzaDem]

33. Why do you think you represent "those who voted for him"?

There are many positions you hold that most of who voted for him don't hold. For example, the vast majority of the country do not want to see Bush prosecuted. Heck, only about a quarter of the country believes torture can never be justified. A large majority support offshore drilling -- even after the oil spill. Many people who voted for him belong to these groups. (This has nothing to do with MY positions by the way.)

So on many issues, you should admit the fact that however correct your position is, that many who belong to the group of "those who voted for him" do not agree with you. That perhaps some of his policies do represent "those who voted for him," even if you personally don't agree with them. Perhaps that's why Obama's approval among liberal Democrats is consistently in the mid to high 80s.

That is one group of issues (those which you probably disagree with many who actually voted for him).

There is another group of issues where I personally believe Obama's personal preferences are pretty far to the left (such as healthcare), despite him not being able to enact his preferences due to Congress. It is pretty clear to most reasonable people that the bill we ended up getting was basically the best we could have ever possibly gotten in the next decade or two, given Congress. This doesn't mean he wouldn't have enacted a much stronger bill if he could have.

[sabrina 1]

38. Are you saying that if the population supports war crimes,

elected leaders have no obligation to do what is right? Or are you agreeing with those who you claim are not opposed to, say, torture and that you also agree with this administration's decision to pre-emptively pardon war criminals?

I'm not getting your point. We have laws in this country, they were broken. I don't know where you are getting your information, but I have never met a Democrat who did not want these issues addressed.

As for the claim that 80% of Liberal Democrats still support this administration, first, how do pollsters identify 'liberal democrats'? I have seen many who identify themselves as 'liberal democrats' but do not support the democratic party's own stated party platform. Eg, they support war and have no problems with cutting Social Programs, or with NOT prosecuting war criminals. They self-identify as liberal Democrats.

If I am simply asked in a poll whether or not I support the president, I would absolutely say yes, but that does not reflect my disappointment in his policies on many important issues. Most democrats will do that. The November Election is a better judge of how the public views those policies and it's not Liberal Democrats they need to worry about, it is Independents who will be the deciding factor in the next election.

If what your are saying is true, then this Party has abandoned its principles, and you are agreeing with me that what I supported in the campaign, is not what this party stands for anymore. Thank you for making that clear. I will never again support anyone who takes lightly issues such as war crimes.

As for the 'majority' may think, personally I don't care if I am the only person in the country who opposes torture and allowing torturers to go free. That is the right thing to do.

I agree with Thomas Paine that ...

A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.

[BzaDem]

42. No. I'm simply saying that you do not represent "those that voted for him."

I'm not saying Obama has no obligation to do what is right. I'm simply taking issue with your single statement/implication that Obama is not representing "those that voted for him."

"As for the 'majority' may think, personally I don't care if..."

Good. I never said that your position was substantively wrong. I simply took issue with the idea that Obama is not representing "those that voted for him." He may not be representing you, but you don't represent "those that voted for him" on many issues.

Regardless of the substantive issue, it is a simple empirical fact that most of "those that voted for him" would not support prosecutions of Bush. You may define such people as "not liberal," but that doesn't change the fact that on this issue he IS representing "those that voted for him," even if he is not representing you. The substantive merits (or lack thereof) of what Obama is doing is a totally different question.

"I will never again support anyone who takes lightly issues such as war crimes."

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but the US will NEVER have a President in your lifetime or the next that will prosecute those in the Bush administration. It is not. going. to. happen. (This again has nothing to do with whether that is a correct decision, but it is a true statement nonetheless.)

[sabrina 1]

43. So what you're saying is that the Bush crime syndicate was successful

after all, and that the American people have caved to the politics of fear that the left was so opposed to when a Republican was doing it?

Which means, the 'left' has joined the 'right' because my position was the standard position of the 'left' while Bush was in office. If it is no longer the left's position to fight back against the destruction of our Constitutional rights, then there has been a sea-change in the 'left's' position on the march towards totalitarianism.

And that can mean only one thing, the 'left' never really cared about principles, it was all about party loyalty. So it was all a deception, the opposition to Bush's policies.

You may be right, but I have confidence that there are far more people who disagree with the premise that this is all about politics. Some people, and it seems now to include many on the right, will continue to hold the position they held when Bush was in power. And, unfortunately for Democrats, as just happened in the November elections, people will just assume that there is no difference in the parties. They will use some of those tactics the president uses, like bi-partisanship eg. We, people like me who have not changed our position on protecting our rights, have lost the hypocrites on the left. But, we are now joined by the hypocrites on the right.

I'll take that as there is strength in numbers and if they can help us win, I will be happy to accept their assistance. It's called 'bi-partisanship'. It's all the rage in DC. We the people are capable of it also. We've certainly been lectured often enough about how necessary it is when Obama does it. So, I'll concede that point. We need numbers and it looks like we got them, from the right. It's chess and it's all in how play the game after all. No principles necessary, winning is the goal, right?

You're not making much of a case as to why anyone should support Democrats over Republicans, just so you know.

[BzaDem]

52. It isn't really a change -- most people NEVER supported prosecuting Bush.

Including most people who voted for Obama.

"You're not making much of a case as to why anyone should support Democrats over Republicans, just so you know."

You're assuming that there is an alternative viable candidate/party (where Democrats and Republicans are on one side, and some magical alternative appears on another). But of course that is false -- we live in a mathematical, winner-take-all two party system. So a Democrat or a Republican will always be President. You can not like that, but that doesn't mean you can change that (absent a change in our Constitution for something like proportional voting).

Since the Democrat is always better than the Republican in the net (even if we accept for the sake of argument your contention that they are similar on some issues), it never makes sense to enable Republicans. It would only make sense to not support Democrats if Republicans became the MORE progressive party in net (which isn't going to happen).

[LWolf]

39. No he doesn't. Seek out his opponents and listen to them.

How often has he "sought out" the left, and listened to us? His history has been full of distancing and tossing us "under the bus." He seeks out corporatists of all stripes, Democratic, Republican, and Independent, and listens to them. He appoints them to his cabinet. He "compromises" with them. But they aren't his "opponents." They are his allies.

It's the left that he opposes.

[Radical Activist]

46. I think you must live in some alternate universe

where a very different Obama exists. Obama pushed the most progressive agenda of any President in 40 years. The Senate blocked and watered down some of it. Blaming Obama for the Senate's conservative nature is what Republicans want you to do. You're falling for their game.

Taking on climate change, universal health care, and passing more regulation over every sector of the economy does not remotely resemble a Republican agenda. Not even close.

He reaches out to progressives all the time. But, those instances aren't hyped up on blogs by the cult of outrage who get off on the petty slights. Maybe you need to take a break from those blogs and regain your sense of perspective.

[Mimosa]

58. What universal health care?

Obama made sure we did not get it, remember?

[KamaAina]

14. Ssssssssssssss!!

Yours truly,

KamaAina

B.A. Yale '85, cum laude :P

[Proud Liberal Dem]

15. I read AOH towards the end of the primary

and it, along with what he revealed throughout the campaign, pretty much gave me an idea of what to expect from him if he ever won the Presidency and, for the most part, I have not been surprised nor disappointed much at how he's governed so far, at least not nearly as much as a lot of other people seem to be. :shrug:

[elleng]

21. Not surprised or disappointed in him at all, but quite disappointed by the critics,

who seem not to understand much if anything about the difficulties of governing.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

23. I feel exactly the same way

I suspect that no matter who we elected, he/she would never quite be able to satisfy everybody. I wonder if this is what DU would've been like had it been around when Clinton was President? Boy, I could just imagine us having nearly identical discussions about his Presidency as well.
Although I don't necessarily believe in marching in lockstep with everything our leaders are doing, I wish that we could be more unified as a party and not be quite so quick to give up on our leaders when they don't act precisely the way we think they should. IMHO we need to advocate for what we want and if we don't get it (or get less than what we want), we need to come back and try again and again and again...........but we should always maintain some level of support for our leaders, most of whom are trying to do the right thing.

[Radical Activist]

51. Clinton...

I'm sure a lot of the discussion would have been exactly the same about Clinton. I can tell because there are a fair number of people who think they're still fighting Bill. They bought into a certain narrative about Clinton and they're determined to see the same centrist triangulater when they look at Obama. It's as though they think they can get back at Clinton for disappointing liberals by attacking Obama as their stand-in punching bag. They need to get over the 90's and figure out what's really going on.

[Cal33]

24. You've brought up an interesting point. I remember during the early

months of 2008, people were saying, whoever the next president might be,
s/he would need years just to undo the damage done by Bush. A few even
said that some of the damage could never, and would never, be undone.

We seem to have forgotten that Obama right now is the president in this
unappetizing time-frame.

[elleng]

25. Yes, huge number of people have forgotten, including lots of DUers.

:-(

I just don't get it.

[KansasVoter]

29. "I will change how Washington works"....how did that happen??

[elleng]

30. The repugs became so contrary that now governing is virtually impossible.

:sarcasm:

OK with you?

[Cal33]

34. I remember Clinton saying the same thing before he became president.

He found out that Washington wasn't so easy to change, didn't he!?
And the Repubs. will try to impeach Obama, as they did Clinton.
If they can't find a reason to do so, they'll invent one, as they
with Clinton.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

22. I need to read a couple of really

great biographies on Abraham Lincoln especially after watching the Obama's interview
with Baba Walters last night. I think there lies some insight into Obama's strategy for
governing. Whether those principles have been achieved are up for argument, but I do
think they are partially driving his ambitions.

Someone posted that AOH was written a couple years before Obama ran for office
so couldn't be ammunition for his opponents. I think just the opposite. Obama's
presidency has been honed and planned for a very long time and both books were
written to establish a history and ideological blue print for a candidate that had neither
that was known to politicians or the general public.

I think Obama is accomplishing pretty much what he has intended. The new repug
house is going to work to his advantage and provide an excuse for some very unsettling
( to me) results.

I think about this often, if the repugs had not stuck so carefully to the "just say no"
strategy, Obama would have had no excuse not to have been responsible for some
very progressive legislation. He doesn't want that. The party of NO has worked
perfectly for his agenda.

[Cal33]

31. I had some similar hopes of Obama's making use of the

Republicans' "NO to everything," but in a different way.
He had, f.i., spent nearly two years offering them
bipartisanship to work with the Democrats at rebuidling
the nation, and had been rebuffed by them every single time.
Up to now they have shown that they'd prefer to remain open
enemies instead. So now Obama has every excuse to change his
style, and, for instance, use the bully pulpit for a change. His
patience has been exhausted. He has reached his limit.
No Republican could make the accusation that he hadn't tried
hard enough to work together with them. He had done more
than his share, and they had offered nothing in return.

A couple of days ago, with the advice of Elizabeth Warren,
Obama vetoed the bill which would have made it easier for the
banks to take over the houses of their borrowing clients.
Could this be a new start? I know this might be
wishful thinking on my part, but it is what I am hoping
would happen: a new and tougher Obama.

Sociopaths only laugh at you when you treat them with
consideration and gentle kindness. The only things they
respond to are (1) when they can smell profits of some kind,
and (2) when they do respect the strength of and fear punishment
from the person they are dealing with. Childish of them?
Infantile? Most definitely! But that's the only way to deal
with them, because the level of their moral development had
been arrested at the stage of the small child, and they have
never outgrown this primitive stage.

Contacts with them have shown that they are not responding
when approached in any other way. From his experiences with
them, Obama knows this better than anyone else. This is sad,
but it is also reality.

I wish Obama would consult with some expert mental health
professionals on how to deal adequately with sociopaths.

Nothing else works on them. It's a built-in characteristic
in the personality makeup of the sociopath. And they cannot
change.

[Radical Activist]

45. You're being a little too conspiratorial.

You think Obama didn't really want legislation that he spent months heavily campaigning and lobbying for? All the months he spent pushing for cap-and-trade and other issues were just a diabolical act to fool everyone? That doesn't sound like a probable conclusion.

The Republican strategy of obstruction worked and it cost Obama a few victories. Those losses contributed to what happened in the recent election. Obama got a lot and he's going to keep pushing for more, even if it has to get done in his second term. The most obvious explanation is often the most accurate one.

[Radical Activist]

48. And yes, you should read up on Lincoln.

Obama has studied him for years. I've read many Lincoln books and it's obvious that Obama is influenced by him.

Team of Rivals is a good recent place to start. David Herbert Donald's "Lincoln" is one of the better general biographies.

Then read Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinksy if you haven't already.

[mmonk]

37. I can name a major item or two he hasn't and what my vote

and activism was predicated on.

[Radical Activist]

47. No kidding.

Yes, reading his two books is informative. It's obvious to me how many commentators have no clue about the perspective he brings to his governing style. A lot of pundits are either lazy or can't understand something new that's unlike what they've seen before.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

49. I'm a Southerner

Everything I needed to know about Mr. Obama, I learned in the Charleston, WV Civic Center, when he appeared there for the annual JJ Dinner around September 2006. He had come there as the keynote speaker at the request of Robert C. Byrd who, at the time, feared a challenge from Shelly Moore Cameltoe, er, Capito. He gave a long, rambling, deadly dull speech most reminiscent of Bill Clinton's 1988 DNC speech, when the entire hall cheered wildly at the words "In conclusion . . . " It.Was.Awful. It had nothing about it of the speech he gave at the DNC in 2004 and less of the said-to-be soaring rhetoric of the 2008 campaign. It was, at best, workmanlike.

I happened to be backstage, streaming the speech (it's somewhere in the archives at www.whiterosesociety.org/Kincaid.html if you want to look for it)and doing commentary with my colleague Dr. Bill O'Brien.

When the speech was over, he came back toward the loading dock where we were and we rose to greet him. We each got a dead fish handshake and a HiHowAhYa. There was no sense that he could tell any difference between where he was and where he was going to be. It was truly a "Hello, Cleveland" moment.

Like I said: I'm a Southerner. We glean a lot of meaning from a man's handshake. There wasn't a lot of "there" there.

[Radical Activist]

50. So the guy had an off day.

It happens to everyone. Would you want to be judged based on one bad day if you ever ran for office?

[Hardrada]

53. The really bad speech was the one at West Point where BHO

promised more years of war. One termer just for that villainy.

[Radical Activist]

54. Ya know...

I don't like Obama's Afghanistan policy, but I can't agree that someone is a villain for believing that we shouldn't hand the country back to the Taliban so they can continue their civil war.

Two terms just for sticking to his time-line for Iraq withdrawal.

[jeanpalmer]

55. "time-line for Iraq withdrawal"

It wasn't his time-line. It was a status of forces agreement passed by the Iraq government before he came to office. He didn't have a choice. Although he has kept combat troops there, contrary to what he told us.

[Radical Activist]

56. Oh well, I guess it doesn't count then.

:eyes:
We're the ones with the big army. So yes, Obama had a choice.

[Cal33]

57. If Obama is doing experimenting (as Klottenberg pointed out Obama

has said), so far he seems to side more often with the corporations and Boehner than with Main
Street. But his latest veto makes me wonder if he is experimenting with listening to people
like Elizabeth Warren for a change.

I agree with you, he does have a choice. I hope he sees that the Neocons will neither compromise
nor change because they CANNOT. It's part of their sickness. The more he appeases them, the
more they will take advantage of him, and despise him for appeasing them at the same time. That's
the way sociopaths are.