Only 2500 characters allowed, so I had to drop most adjectives, and big chunks of the first and second paragraphs. And, obviously, the video.Dear President Obama,
Interesting speech this week. You made some very good points, and you're going back to one of your strengths - oration. (To be honest, I didn't actually watch it live, but I've seen clips, and I read the transcript. But hey, what do you want out of me? I don't have that kind of attention span. I have publicly admitted to listening to pop music, so it's probably something of a miracle that I know how to read, much less write.)
On top of which, there are only so many hours in the day, after all, and Cartoon Network is replaying episodes of Robot Chicken that I was too drunk to remember the first time.
I'm not going to go into all the points in your speech: I'll admit, however, that it's somewhat refreshing to hear someone in power point out that the Defense budget could use some trimming. You're going to take some hits from the GOP on that, but stand firm. It's got to happen.
Now, here's the thing, though. I voted for you - hell, I even volunteered for your campaign. But I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. Although you came out and told people you were a centrist, you made a lot of promises, and, while you've come through on a lot of them, there's also a bunch of things you haven't done.
Does "Guantanamo" ring a bell?
And, frankly, you've already said that you'd stand firm on not renewing the Bush tax cuts. That was about three months before you renewed them again.
Well, it's only been five months since the last switch, and here you are, saying "I refuse to renew them again."
So, you know, funny thing: it's kind of difficult to believe you, when you've already lied about something once.
But I'll tell you what. Let's set up a plan now, for what to do at some unnamed point in the future when you decide to
Let's put it up to a vote. Not Congress, but the American people. If you decide that some subject is too much of a hot potato politically, even if the majority of the American people are for it, how about if, instead of just abandoning those liberal, all-American principles that give Rupert Murdoch heart palpitations, how about if you just put it up to the American voter? Stick a simple, unslanted question onto the ballot: "Should the Bush-era tax cuts be extended?" See what the answer is. I think you'll be surprised.
And maybe you can lead up to this with a few more speeches like this last one. Let's be real - you're never going to be popular with Republicans. They don't like you for a number of reasons (and the fact that you're black may not even be at the top of the list). Point out simple logic, like "if tax breaks for the rich created jobs, shouldn't George W. Bush have left office with no unemployment in the country at all?"
You can't make everybody happy. In fact, you can't make the GOP happy at all. Can you please just ignore Limbaugh and Hannity shrieking, in the face of all evidence to the contrary, that you're the "most liberal president ever!" for just a minute, and do what's right? Please?
Do what's right? Do what's right for the Right is a more realistic statement. Unfortunately, if he is re-nominated, I will have to vote for him again, because the alternative once again will be for bat shit nutters, or uncaring nazis (yes, I used the "n" word). Jaded is way understated for my moniker any more.
ReplyDeleteI thought we were supposed to be nice to President Obama.
ReplyDeleteWill somebody please send me the memo next time?
Well, I confess that the mind of an allosaurus (my species) is where really simple ideas go to feel sophisticated, but I find all this talk about what a conservative fool-tool we've elected president misguided. No, he's hardly beyond reproach for some of the actions he's taken and liberal criticism is necessary lest it become irrelevant in the current political landscape, but that's the one hand; the other hand is the prospect of a GOP trifecta: House, Senate, and Presidency. Not a pretty scene.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I used to think that even if Republicans took full control, they would be restrained from doing certain things, such as getting rid of Social Security and Medicare, just because they wouldn't want to get clobbered in the next election cycle. I'm not so sure of that these days -- not by any means. Do I really need to say outright exactly why?
I get the impression that President Obama does what he can without getting himself run out of town on a rail by a mob of Tea-Folk and the legislators in their shadow, so I'm not quick to criticize him. If he gets another term and sits on his hands for most of it, then I guess calling him a failure would be justified. But we're nowhere near that point yet.
Be nice to whoever you want. Me, I follow the sage advice of the great philosopher Maharishi Yogi Berra: "I calls 'em as I see 'em."
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing Obama say that extending the tax breaks for the rich is not going to happen. And that he is going to protect Medicare.
ReplyDeleteI did not appreciate his comment that everything is on the table. Does that include extending the tax breaks and dismantling Medicare? I'm confused.
This is interesting indeed, i don't want to get too involved in these matters nonetheless, it is great to know what other people think...Daniel
ReplyDeleteInasmuch as an octopus is contrary by nature, the views of this cephalopod do not express the official views of this community (whose official view depends on which strong personality predominates at any moment in time and the amount of adrenaline expended during each post). Thus spoken, I think our President gets a bad rap, and Fire Doggers suffer from short term memory loss.
ReplyDeleteLets focus on 3 of the most contentious issues: 1 – Gitmo, 2 – military tribunals versus civilian trials, and 2 – extending the Bush tax cuts. With respect to #1 and #2, President Obama met stiff partisan resistance (even from members of his own party). If you recall, the NIMBY crowd did not want Gitmo detainees transferred to a prison facility in Illinois, and New York politicians (Bloomberg, Schumer, et. al.) did not want civilian trials held in NYC. In the face of overwhelming opposition (obstructionism), what choice did the President have left?
About the Bush tax cuts, if you recall the dynamics of the last legislative session, the President had vital bills pending – the repeal of DADT, the nuclear arms treaty with Russia, an extension of benefits for the unemployed, and a healthcare bill for 9/11 responders, among others. Obama was forced to make a judgment call – these bills in trade for a temporary extension of the tax cuts. Given this Hobson’s choice of legislative priorities, what would you have done faced with similar options? In retrospect, and by all accounts, the last legislative session is regarded as the most progressive since FDR and LBJ … a remarkable achievement given the near monolithic opposition of the Republicans.
Besides, what choices will you have next year? A President who works hard at getting the best deal possible under terrible circumstances? A Tea Bagging black shirt proto-fascist? Or an infamous hairpiece? Take your pick.
Octo,
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I'm not bashing the man. I just think he could stop compromising so damned much on things that matter.
I know why Guantanamo hasn't been closed yet. But on that note, it's still open.
See, there's two parts to my nom de tube, and I tend to live up to that. I'm just not structured to be what Stephanie Miller calls a "happy clappy liberal."
Doesn't mean I think Obama sucks. Just not willing to settle for less than half the pie.
Nameless: “ Just not willing to settle for less than half the pie.”
ReplyDeleteLong ago, one of my ancestors shirked off their calcium hulks that made early mollusks slower than a garden slug. Once liberated, we turned ourselves into agile mudsguiggles, which made us happier than a clappy clam. Change doesn’t happen overnight; evolution takes time.
Of course, half a pie is better than zero pie (remember Bush?). If this president fails to win re-election, there will be negative pi – a geometric impossibility. Is it possible for liberals to be soo self-sabotaging?
The 2010 elections have wrought serious damage in state legislatures that have been taken over by Republican majorities. We have to ask ourselves do we want the same results in the 2012 elections. My state legislature is majority Republican for the first time in nearly 100 years. So far they have proposed legislation to increase where one can carry a concealed weapon to include churches, public parks, bars and restaurants and parking lots at the workplace. They have also submitted numerous pieces of legislation to make English the official language of the state, to prevent "illegal aliens" from receiving benefits of any sort and to bar speaking any language except English in public venues. We've also proffered our own version of Arizona's anti-immigrant law. On the other hand, the legislature has committed to no new taxes, and cutting "entitlement programs" in order to address a $2.7 billion deficit.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama has not fulfilled all of his promises; I can't recall the last time that any president ever did. Politics in this country has always been about compromise. There is nothing deceptive nor sinister about Obama's position on the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. He never was in favor of them but in order to pass the piece of legislation that included a continuation of unemployment benefits as well as tax cuts for the middle class and the continuation of the earned income tax credit that benefits low income families with children, the president compromised on the Bush tax cut. He is addressing it again as he promised that he would. When did it become a sign of betrayal or weakness to know when to compromise and when to fight?
I see far too much focus on self and far too little focus on what needs to be done to achieve results in the best interests of the people. Why is this important? well beyond the obvious, this president continually takes a battering not only from the Tea Party loonies but the Conservative Right and from far too many of his alleged supporters because in two years he hasn't managed to revamp the entire spectrum of the American two party political system.
I really don't want to wake up in 2012 with a Republican president set to support a conservative mixed with Tea Party public policy agenda. It's time for us to pull together with the President and make sure that we keep the White House in 2012. Btw, I don't think that Obama is the lesser of the evils, I think that he is the same intelligent, astute political thinker that I voted for in 2008 and that he needs more than a little over two years to make significant change in Washington. Impatience and instant gratification are expected traits in two-year-olds but unbecoming in adults.
Hi y'all, I'm back.
Hey, you. How was Oz?
ReplyDeleteNameless, it was quite colorful but running from that crazy witch was hell.
ReplyDelete