I think I'm turning the corner...

[cilla4progress]

I have been so pissed that Obama, god bless him, hasn't fought harder for us. I saw him in Ohio today. I think more than anything, what he needs is US. Are we really doing what we need to, to cover his backside? Are blogging and LTTEs going to do it?

He was so good in Ohio. He had me at...here comes the chief. Maybe he needs to go to every one of the 50 states and re-light a fire.

I wish I could march somewhere.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[salguine]

2. I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM SO I WOULD HAVE TO CODDLE HIS ASS 24/7. Jesus Christ, it's

like watching Larry Flynt in a slam-dunk competition.

[backscatter712]

15. It's the only way to get things done.

Remember FDR said "I agree with you, I want to do it. Now make me do it."

It's how politics has always worked. In order to get anything useful done, the public has to be constantly lighting fires under the asses of elected officials, otherwise the do the usual Beltway clusterfucking.

It took people screaming and yelling to get the Civil Rights Act passed, it took screaming and yelling to get the .gov to even think of ending the Vietnam war, it took screaming and yelling to get enough people on the Beltway to pay attention to things like Watergate and force Nixon to resign, and it takes screaming and yelling to get anything done at all.

[dionysus]

19. might want to check your knickers after that one.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tabatha]

6. A grade for Obama: First six months' record

By Robert P. Watson

I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDR's or LBJ's -- the two standards for such assessments.

Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.

As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy... and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.

Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).

Here is a list of Obama's accomplishments as of August 2009.

[NJmaverick]

4. I think the events of this horrible week has got him fired up

[The Wielding Truth]

9. Let's hope he uses that fire to put under the feet of the congress.

The Repubs will fall in line behind him if he is tough. They always like the cowboys. Barry has to lead them to sanity and restore our democracy!

[The Wielding Truth]

5. He needs to get tough and make sure his agenda gets through.

He has to make congress do what he needs them to do. He needs to assert his power, that we gave him, to change the abuses of the no-government idiots who are delivering our democracy to big business!

We have elected him he has the job. He has to use his power,not give it away to the rw and corp lackeys.

[tabatha]

7. You are absolutely right.

It is easy to criticize. Also, the media does not trumpet his successes.

See #9.

[TheKentuckian]

8. I had his back but he was more concerned with "stakeholders" and being post-partisan

I'll have no one's back in my own undoing. When he fights for me I've got his back times infinity but when he fights for big money then I have to be against him.

[reggie the dog]

10. you express my sentiments as well

[cilla4progress]

11. I share in these criticisms.

And I really hope he's going to move beyond "bipartisanship." I think his lack of exeperience - remember that, from the primaries? - is showing. His idealism. His belief that he could reach consensus. He belief that people would do the right thing if explained to them rationally, coolly, and if it came from the "right" compassions. I hope he is a quick learner.

But I do believe he is not a phony; he is by far the best leader we could ever have in these fucked up times, or maybe in many generations. I feel extremely screwed right now. I too was laid off in this recession. I am 54 y.o. Think I'll ever make a decent wage again? I am paying health care premiums out of my unemployment checks - for catastrophic coverage!

If we could make a showing of significant number, it would shift the momentum. I don't know why we don't. Just like Vietnam. It's that important. Especially with the Supreme Court. Take it to the streets.

[readmoreoften]

14. +1. It may be too late for "Obama" but it will never be too late for "we the people."

[Adelante]

12. "what he needs is US"

Yep. It wasn't "YES HE CAN"

[timeforpeace]

13. Saw a report that he said "here in Michigan". Is that right?

[European Socialist]

16. Yes, but he corrected himself very quickly.

[butterfly77]

17. This is what I was saying..

in the beginning of the healthcare debate. I kept wondering where the Dems were as the teabaggers were taking over the debate.

The President was making speeches at that time and I thought he was signaling us but,everyone was falling into the rightwing trap of divide and conquer.

They were and still are on leftwing sites sowing dissenion,and doubt which I couldn't believe since most people on DU and other sites know what the CONS do.

The Dems seem to be in shock as though they were suprised and the bluedogs were making sure to jump on the bandwagon right along with some radio talk show hosts. They talked so damn much that they were stratigizing for the right wing.

[Clio the Leo]

18. And that's all he's ever asked for...

..... welcome back home. ;)

[elleng]

20. YES! 50-STATE APPROACH, so WE THE PEOPLE ARE HEARD!

[jillan]

21. It was good to see that Obama again.

Let's just hope it's a rebirth.

[cilla4progress]

22. I am very heartened

by most of these responses. It's good to know I'm on the page with so many other thinking progressives. Maybe we can get a real movement going, after all.

BTW - It's "Hail to the Chief..." Dumb me! :)