I have a pretty big reservoir of good will for President-Elect Obama [View All]

[cali]

No President since Roosevelt has come into office under such daunting and grave circumstances. It's not just the economic meltdown, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the diminished stature of the U.S. abroad, Iran, Israel and Palestine, Russia, but also the grave and imminent threat of climate change. I think one can reasonably argue that what Obama is facing is even graver than what Roosevelt faced.

No, I'm NOT saying don't criticize Obama. Criticize him to your heart's content. I'm explaining why I'm not there. I know Obama will make choices I disagree with and appointments I don't like. I'm not going to get hung up there. Not now.

I originally came to support Obama just about a year ago, because I saw something in him that resonated with me. I saw a temperment that I believed could withstand the crucible of crisis. I saw a reflective rather than reactive quality. I saw someone who struck me as highly intelligent. I saw someone who had a history of caring about people other than the wealthy. I think he has a rare ability to cut through to the essential. Those qualities, more than his specific policies were the impetus for my support.

I believe that Barack Obama is the right person at the right time. Maybe he's not. Maybe I'll be proved wrong, and he'll be a disaster or simply muddle through. But to date, he hasn't done anything to change my original assessmnent of him.

We are in deep shit. I hope like hell Obama will prove himself to be the leader I think he is.

That's just where I'm at.