Reply #57: I was responding to your post: [View All]

[sohndrsmith]

"Many of us supported Obama with the explicit plan to drag him to the left from day 1" - which prompted me to respond with a question.

After reading what I just wrote, again, I don't see anything wrong with asking such a question.

I think it's fantastic that you worked so hard fighting for Obama's election, but I don't recall describing my level of participation or anyone else's', nor do I believe that any vote has more or less value than another based on the level of involvement one chooses. I'm fully aware of the fact that there are many variations of "those of us on the left", but I find it counter-intuitive to competitively measure, or pit, one against another on this sort of assumption.

And I STILL don't understand the concept of voting or supporting someone based on the premise of turning him into (or dragging him, to use your word) something other than what he presented. That is what I gleaned from your statement, and that's what I was questioning with my simplified analogy.
Granted, the idea that anyone's interpretation of what they heard in is speeches, actions, etc. could be different is not only possible but plausible at the very least.

So, did you vote for Obama as he presented himself, or did you vote for what you intended to mold him into? I certainly don't need an answer, I just question the mindset.

If Obama has shown me anything, it is that he is uniquely and massively intelligent - politically, diplomatically, strategically... and so on. And because of this, I tend to believe that he is 10 (or more) steps ahead of me on any given issue (like he always proves to be), rather than assume that he's broken promises or is some sort of fakir who isn't the person I voted for.

Even on the things that I'm JUST as angry about as many other are, I am not prompted to freak out in protest because I believe that time will prove that - yet again - this president has, is, and will do things that initially seem contradictory but (so far, always) end up being brilliant and consistent and positive when all is said and done. I also understand that he is fallible like everyone else, and will most certainly make some mistakes along the way. He is not super-human, perfect, and he CLEARLY is not going to do things on your terms, my terms or anyone else's' terms but his own.

I say, more power to him.