In Obama's own words.

[AndyA]

This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

Still waiting on that change, Barack.

Gay people are still being discriminated against.

Equal rights for all in the United States of America do not exist today.

Millions have no health care, and people in Congress with conflicts of interest due to huge donations from the health care industry are making decisions regarding our health care.

The people responsible for lying to start the war in Iraq, the people who spied on us, outed a covert CIA agent, violated the Geneva Conventions, and committed war crimes in our names are still free, no charges have been filed against them.

How long do you think this honeymoon period is going to last, Barack? Granted, you were handed a huge mess by the former (mis)administration, but you're good at multi-tasking, and while no actions are being taken to address these things, disgraces against our Constitution--the Constitution you took an oath to protect--continue to happen.

We gave you the chance to make change in November. Yet for many, the way things were is the way things still are...and no visible steps are being taken by you to move in another direction.

[Cant trust em]

1. How many things can we expect change on at one time?

Can someone answer that for me please?

[zipplewrath]

3. 16 cabinet departments

4 more cabinet level offices. 1000+ White House staffers. A pentagon of 1/2 million both in and out of uniform. I figure the White House should be able to address the better part of 200 things in 6 months. How many do you think he has?

[Cant trust em]

6. Between the majors of ...

The stimulus package, the budget, health care, North Korean missile tests, Israel/Palestine politics, G8 trips, SCOTUS appointment, countless cabinet and other positions, Cuba politics, and wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, I think he's got a pretty full plate right now.

I'm sure that there are a ton of things I'm missing.

[zipplewrath]

8. So neither of us know

Look, I answered the question. The point is that he has a big department and the list of things you outlined aren't unusual or unexpected, and his plate isn't going to get any "less full". If anything he's kinda getting a pass in that the worst thing that's been unexpectedly forced upon him is N. Korea. The inevitable natural disaster will be coming soon. Some tin pot dictator is going to invade a neighbor. There will be the random terrorist attack around the world. The food supply will be threatened by disease, poisoning, shortage, etc. The excuse "I'm too busy to do what I promised" is a bit weak. I'll accept something to the effect of "we're working on it but it takes time". The problem is that on many issues, there's no evidence he IS working on it, and evidence to the contrary. Things he is working on, aren't exactly going the progressive direction.

[AndyA]

9. If it's truly important to Obama, he will find the time and the people to make it happen.

The fact that NOTHING is being done says legions. No actions are being taken, nothing is planned, according to news reports. And if those reports are incorrect, no corrections or clarifications have been issued.

And the clock keeps ticking...ticking...ticking...

[Cant trust em]

10. Actually there are some things that just came up

The economy crashed before he took office, so that wasn't necessarily planned on. There are several HUGE initiatives going on right now. I'm sorry, but this isn't just another 6 months of a presidency. We are in an economic crisis that hasn't been seen since the great depression. Priorities are going to have to be shifted a little bit.

[zipplewrath]

12. Actually, he said it

When McCain did the whole "suspend his campaign" schtick, Obama was the one scoffing that multiple tasks couldn't be handled, including the economic crisis. As I suggest, it would be one thing if there was slow movement towards goals. There's been little to none on many issues and the signs surrounding their lack of activity isn't encouraging. Truth is, on DADT and DOMA as well as a few others, he'd be in a little better position if he hadn't started by inviting Warren, then being absolutely silent as a few states have advanced gay marriage, and then having a defense department spokesman that doesn't seem to know if ANYTHING is being done on DADT. I mean, at the very least you get some staffer to be doing a "feasibility study". These aren't the kinds of actions that would require alot of manhours. Mostly it's a case of a block diagram or outline or something.

[sui generis]

14. oh fer fucks sake

Due to the economy, due to 9-11 due to the war due to every fucking possible excuse, EXCUSE.

Grow up. What ARE you doing in this forum? Cultists and apologists are not welcome here.

[Cant trust em]

16. Your "cultist and apologist" schtick is so tired.

I'll go where I want and post where I want.

[sui generis]

18. neener neener neener

:eyes:
:rofl:

[Creideiki]

27. Thank you for visiting West Lahunga Beach.

The bus to rightwing Lahunga Beach is now boarding. You'll fit in much better over there.

[Cant trust em]

28. ...

:eyes:

[AndyA]

5. I suppose it's a matter of priorities.

People are dying every day from lack of health care. How many is too many?

Military careers are ending because of discrimination. This leaves someone without a job, and for most the outlook for finding a new job right now is bleak. Just another unemployed American. How many is too many?

Every single day, millions of gay Americans do not have the same rights as others. They are discriminated against when they can't visit loved ones in hospitals, they can't share the tax breaks straight married couples enjoy, when they are beat up and left for dead in an alley, it's not a hate crime. How many lives have to be impacted before it's too many?

Yes, there are things that need immediate attention right now, like the wars. Yet, highly qualified people that our military NEEDS right now are being discharged because they're gay. So how important--really--are these wars if highly qualified people are being discharged because of something as natural as the color of someone's skin?

[joeybee12]

11. Had time to file a brief with SCOTUS arguing to NOT overturn DADT...

...had time to backtrack on NAFTA, torture, photos...he has the time to do what he thinks is important and ignore that which he thinks isn't.

[ThomCat]

23. That's always a handy excuse. "He hasn't had time yet."

But he's had a lot of time to OPPOSE the repeal of DADT in the courts. He's had plenty of time to set his priorities and his agenda, and we're just not in there anywhere. He has had plenty of time to have his subordinates working on things for him, and he he doesn't have any of them working on our issues either.

Really, he's the head of the entire executive branch, with a whole lot of divisions and departments and agencies, and tens of thousands of people doing a whole lot of things at once. It's not like he can only have the entire executive branch do only one thing at a time.

If he has only has time to oppose our rights so far, and has ignored chances to support our rights, then face reality. He isn't about to support our rights.

Maybe someday he will, but only when he feels that has no choice left, politically. It will be because he feels that politically he will get more benefit from it on the left than harm on the rigth. It will be a political calculation, based on the support he thinks he will generate by belatedly backing our rights.

[konnichi wa]

2. I can understand the need for some time to accomplish certain things but the deafening silence

is awfully puzzling...and disappointing.

[sui generis]

4. when you're a senator you lead by quorom and consensus

When you're the president you are supposed to lead with moral clarity and purpose, you set the tone for the quoroms and consensus votes.

Obama hasn't fully woken up to the fact that he's not a senator any more. He needs to lead. And first indications are that he's sucking at presidential leadership.

The fact is if he has to downplay us to keep a strong base of power, he is going to have to continue to downplay us to maintain that base of power. We're the fools if we think that anything is going to change by flying under the radar not raising a ruckus.

He promised us. He's not delivering. He isn't planning to deliver. This administration needs to be held accountable. Can you imagine if DADT was applied to civilian work?

It's not that far off an idea if the military gets to set the precedent. Oh Mr. President, there would trouble indeed.

[Cant trust em]

7. He isn't planning to deliver?

Oh, you've spoken to him on this matter?

[sui generis]

13. sorry snarky person

indications are what they are. Move along now - there are less dangerous snakes to poke.

[Cant trust em]

15. Wow. I'm really frightened of this dangerous snake on the internet.

This is a chat board. Don't take yourself so seriously.

[sui generis]

17. you are off topic

and an idiot - but clearly you need attention or you wouldn't trolling here in this forum.

[Cant trust em]

19. You're the one who started talking about being a dangerous snake

Moreover, I came into this thread from the latest page. I rarely ever go into a specific forum. Usually just the lounge.

[sui generis]

21. gah - so move along then

It's customary to comment on the OP. You popped in with the "Obama speaks to you?" bullshit when those of us who belong in this thread can tell you that we don't need to read tea leaves to understand the political ramifications of inaction.

Rudeness begets rudeness - that's my excuse. What's yours?

[Cant trust em]

22. "He isn't planning to deliver. "

This sounds like something that has been written or said explicitly. Absent that, it seems like a more qualified statement that indicates your opinion would have made more sense. For example, "It doesn't seem like he's planning to deliver." That statement likely would not have induced a response from me.

Moreover, since when is it not customary to comment on other responses?

[ThomCat]

24. He made promises as a candidate, that were originally on the white house

web site after he took office as goals. He wiped that page, so those goals are gone.

That in itself is an indication that he no longer has the goal of aiding the LGBT community. We are no longer on his agenda.

What do you have besides snark?

[sui generis]

25. okay now that we're polite again

the fact is some use of language here is going to be more explicit and less indecisive. We've seen this movie before with Bill Clinton - we know how it ends. Use of passive language and friendly colloquial expressions like "it doesn't seem" reiterate what is already obvious.

It DOES SEEM that you have more faith in Obama than most of the rest of us in this forum. One of the things we have learned not just by observing presidents and politicians is that in matters of our interest, Occam's razor ALWAYS applies. If it doesn't SEEM like someone supports us, it's almost certainly because in fact they don't.

[Cant trust em]

26. Great. I'm glad you replied and we can restructure our conversation.

I think that everything you said is fair. There are indicators that he will not be a "fierce advocate" and largely let things play out for the time being. I do believe that this policy will be eliminated, probably within two years. I think that keeping the pressure on is good, while calling the president a failure and other hyperbole is largely misplaced, IMO. I realize that this might not apply to you, but it is apparent on this site.

In terms of the equality movement overall, I'm much more interested in organizing against Prop 8 than I am for DADT. I feel like that is something that I can control in my state, compared to a national policy like DADT where we're going to have to deal with the conservative south as well as the liberal coasts.

[Name removed]

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