Where It Has Gone Wrong

[OmahaBlueDog]

In a move that can only be described as glaring vanity, I'm going to post something I'd originally posted as a response to a thread on Obama's squandering of political capital - mostly because I want it in my Journal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8729205&mesg_id=8729205

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8729205&mesg_id=8729655

Let me say first that I stand with our President.

I think, in the final analysis, getting the 60th vote when Specter defected was a curse, not a blessing.

Political capital issue #1 is mostly falsely attributed to the President. He is blamed for the bailouts - which were started in the waning Bush days. However, he probably would have been better off opposing the TARK and urging fellow Dems to do the same, and simply had the Treasury take over the failed banks upon taking power. He was getting a lot of what I now consider bad advice not to do that.

Political capital issue #2 was the stimulus. At a time when many Americans lives were being ruined by mortgage debt, medical debt, and credit card debt, what does the President say is the answer? More debt. It was counterintuitive for a lot of people. These people thought they'd elected a really smart guy, and now he seemed really dumb.


Political capital issue #3 was HCR. Many of us voted for the President because of health care. However, we all had different ideas what that looked like. The President's opponents hated the idea of government intervention into health care, and showed no fear about calling it communism, socialism, anti-Americanism, isn't he really Kenyanism, and whatever other damn nonsense they could think up. They were funded and egged on by the rabid talkers and the health insurers. But we had 60 votes, didn't we? We had a chance to solve a 110 year old problem, yes? Well, sort of. By the time public option was done away with, the Cornhusker kickback was exposed, and the right started screaming about the cuts to Medicare (a socialist program they apparently embrace), what we came up with was, essentially, Romneycare. To make matters worse, it doesn't go into effect until 2013. The GOP will have this as a rallying cry to get everyone to vote out every Democrat for the next 2 1/2 years to ensure this bastard is stillborn.

Political capital issue #4 is and was the wars. We are ostensibly leaving Iraq, albeit very, very, slowly. We're doing something in Afghanistan which looks more like a police action without clear cut goals and less like a war with a clearly desired outcome. Conservatives were probably correct - he probably should have turned down the peace prize.

Political capital issue #5 I won't label because whatever I call it, I get attacked for being politically incorrect. On the day when President Obama was elected, marriage equality went down to defeat in California. People, many of whom worked hard to elect Obama and get marriage equality, got really, really pissed off. They got more pissed off when a new President, eager not to immediately alienate the military establishment the way Bill Clinton did, failed to act on DADT or take a clearly defined stand on this issue.

However, it is always darkest before the dawn. Clinton was at a similar low point at this time in his administration. There are several things the President can do now, while he still has a congress backing him, and several things he can do with a hostile congress.

He could immediately end DADT. It will piss off the right. So what?

He could offer Tim Kaine a new gig where he does less harm and bring back Howard Dean as DNC chair, or bring in Alan Grayson.

He could replace Robert Gibbs and Rahm Emanuel and begin setting a new tone between now and November.

He could give Petraus a clear goal and a clear deadline (like the end of October). After that, we go. It will piss off the right. So what?

He could start having DOL rigidly enforce overtime laws. Lots of companies (especially call centers and others with entry level "professional" employments) regularly skate these laws and force workers to work 50+ hours per week. Force these employers to hire on some more.

He could take the foreign policy stance with Mexico that if they can't keep the drug war on their side of the border, we're going to pull out of NAFTA.

He could immediately fire Arne Duncan and being in someone friendly to public schools and the NEA.

I'm sure there's more, but you get the idea.

[villager]

1. While Obama *could* do any of those things you mention, do you expect he actually will?

... Even do one of them?

[mdmc]

2. I've been around for a while

For instance, I voted for Clinton to end the Ray-gun revolution, not complete it.
All I expected from Obama is that he would be less evil then Palin. Mission Accomplished.
I hope he gets re-elected - I won't be too involved at all.

Personally, I see Obama getting re-elected.

I don't see my ability to receive affordable medical treatment improve.
I don't see an end to the drug war / Afghan / Iraq .. These are wars that never should have been fought and that there is no 'victory'..
I don't see corporations losing any strength.

[AnArmyVeteran]

7. I'd rather see a President Kucinich or President Grayson.

They HAVE guts. No one in the current administration has any guts at all. They even let the idiotic, dimwitted tea baggers outsmart them. How stupid does a person have to be to allow that to happen?

I feel sick of being betrayed. I worked my ass off in 2008 and was an Obama delegate and I keep asking myself why I worked so hard, when the president isn't even working as hard as I was. He constantly caves in to our enemies without getting even one vote from them. I'd understand his behavior if one of his kids was being held hostage and he was forced to betray the people who elected him. But nothing is stopping him from doing what is right except himself.

[mike_c]

3. obama's is a largely failed presidency of a stumbling nation....

It makes me ill to think about it. After Bush, and especially with McCain running on the republican ticket, the dems could have used the mood of the country-- fed up with eight years of republican ruin and facing Grandpa McCain and the Moose-Woman-- to elect a real progressive with the personal authority and experience to effect major changes in the direction of the U.S. Someone with a real, alternative vision for this country's future. Instead, and entirely too predictably, we elected Mr. Half-Way-If-It's-Not-Too-Much-Change. Another squandered opportunity. Yes, his presidency is historic. It was historic the moment he was sworn into office. It's pretty much all been disappointing from there.

[daleanime]

4. It would be a nice start....

but I would be stunned if even two of those happen before this falls election.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. I like how you think.

Now, let's get Obama to think the way you do.

Recommended.

[OmahaBlueDog]

10. My Dear California Peggy

It is always pleasant to run into you outside the friendly confines of the Lounge. Thanks for the kind words.

[AnArmyVeteran]

6. Obama could have been a damned hero by now, but he keeps squandering opportunities.

But he's squandered one opportunity after another just as the OP states. No real 'leader' gives in to their opposition when they KNOW they are not going to get any votes from republicans. But President Obama did. Why does he keep caving into the enemy? They are the ones who virtually destroyed every major segment of our country. Where has candidate-Obama gone? There is no trace of that man left.

He needs to totally disregard ANYTHING the right wing says and do what is right. That's why we worked so hard to put him in office. But we ended up with someone who is just continuing a lot of Bush's failed policies. Obama needs to completely purge all of the people who are advising him. Rahm Emanuel only cares about his own ego and lust for more power. He couldn't care less about the people who Obama is supposed to be representing. Because of the way Obama keeps caving it seems like Karl Rove is one of his advisors to sabotage all of the promises Obama made during his campaign. But if the democrats had an equivalent to Karl Rove then Obama wouldn't be surrendering to anyone. He would shove through all of the progressive programs he promised to do.

It's sickening how there are only a handful of real democratic leaders in government. This administration is almost void of courage and guts to do what is right. And I keep asking myself why. Why are they deliberately squandering opportunity after opportunity? Hell, President Obama and the democratic party let the dimwitted tea baggers take complete control of the health care reform narrative without even fighting back. And anyone who allows such ignorant and stupid people to win isn't very smart. And they certainly have no courage.

[Oregone]

8. "Let me say first that I stand with " sane policy

If the president stands there too, great. If not, that sucks

[OmahaBlueDog]

9. Let me say second that I think your sig line is hilarious

:rofl: