Liberal Democrats: Are You Happy With Obama?

[dusred]

I am sincere in this question. I'm not here to start a mud-slinging pissing match. I'd like to have a very civil discussion with you Liberal members. I really just want to understand. I'll admit I've thrown as much mud as anyone but I'll put on my patient hat and try to understand. I'm a very biased Conservative because that's how my family and all friends are. This political forum is the only place where I actually get to communicate with informed Liberals. If I want to see mud slung at Liberals or Conservatives I can easily log onto FOX, CNN, or MSNBC.

So the queastion is are you happy with President Obama? I think I can say everyone on here who voted for him did with open eyes knowing everything there was to know about him.

-What do you consider his single most important accomplishment and why?
-What is your most/least favorite thing about his policies?
-Has he turned out to be more or less than you expected (please explain).
-Do you like where the Nation is going under his Administration?
-What would you like to see his Administraion do in the future?

Again, please none of this "well bush left a big mess bla bla bla". We all know everything we need to about Bush. Lets talk about Obama.

We are reaching the 2 year mark of when he was elected. Being the young kid that I am this is the first election that I've actually closely followed so I can't relate to voting for a popular politician and seeing how he/she actually turned out to actually be.

[heliochrome85]

I applaud the premise of your question. In the spirit of honest debate, ill try my best to genuinely answer your questions.

-What do you consider his single most important accomplishment and why?

He has restored America to its position in the international community and has restored grace to the Presidency. Alot of how we are able to operate on the international scene has to do with how our government is percieved. It was largely reported that the previous administration had rubbed many nations the wrong way with its approach, especially following 9/11 and the building of the coalition against the war on terror. Both President Obama and his wife have shown the grace and patience one expects of such a powerful position.

-What is your most/least favorite thing about his policies?

He allows his policies to be ridiculed for far too long without defending them. Where is the defense of ObamaCare now? For something that sits as the centerpiece of his Legislative legacy, there is hardly a peep about it. If you truly believe in it, you would be trying to prove to people the soundness of your plans. He has left them dangle in the wind. If Obamacare fails, its not because the policy itself is flawed, but rather the public perception of the policy was flawed.
As for my favorite thing about his policies, i think he genuniely is trying to address some of the most heinous injustices in American society today. He has been trying to inch forward Gay equality on a rights and benefits level. He has pushed through legislation to make sure poor kids have access to healthcare, irrespective of their families socioeconomic level. He is trying to make our schools better, and make it easier for regular Americans to keep their homes and their jobs. Given the economic situation, he could easily just shut down and devote his energies to foreign policy, as carter did.

-Has he turned out to be more or less than you expected (please explain).

More. I dont think anyone could have possibly expected the way 2009 turned out. Given how much he had to deal with, I am floored with the amount of stuff he has been able to accomplish, and the composure with which he accomplished it.

-Do you like where the Nation is going under his Administration?

No, but not because of his policies, but rather the punditry. There is far too much anger in this country for reasoned debate.

-What would you like to see his Administraion do in the future?

Take the GWB approach and say f*** IT. LETS DO THIS.

[IBCoupe]

Tariq, I've often heard it said that President George W. Bush was so unpopular throughout the world that almost anybody could have polished America's image in that way, just by not being him. If that's really the case, I'm not so sure that we can really call that an "accomplishment." Are there any specific things that President Obama has done (in excess of not being his predecessor) that you see as having led to that change? The Cairo speech? Copenhagen? Or is it really just the "grace" that you see?

[heliochrome85]

he made great efforts to reestablish connections with european countries. England is one of the countries with the lowest rating for Obama, and his approval there is at 75%. He also campaigned in Europe prior to being elected. Given that his predecessor either did not have the time to do so, or honestly wasnt interested, this seems to have been a change welcomed by Europe. His Cairo speech, while not necessarily totally effectual, was unprecedented for an American President. Not since Carter has such a concerted effort been made to strengthen ties with the Muslim world. Whether or not it has changed things is up for debate, but I am of the opinion that it has, for the better. That being said, I am typing this from my bed in Indiana, and not from a shack in Gaza.

And yes, Grace takes a special value. We previously had a more pedestrian president. He was good hearted, and honest, but lacked the polish one expects of a President. Obama has the patience of Job, and the collectedness required to deal with 535 screaming children, in addition to the other pressures of the job. GWB was not the worst president we have had. I think history will vindicate him. I do think though that his administration established a very un-American precedent, that Obama has tried to dismantle.

[stebo0728]

I would argue that Obama may have given us what appears to be better international relations, whereas in reality, he may have given us more of a weak appearance. Going on an a** kissing, apologetic, bow to all tour may not have been the best move.

[IBCoupe]

Well, Stebo, what you see as apologetic can just easily be seen as "respectful." By bowing to Saudi royalty, as is their custom, did President Obama give anything of value away? If he's there to negotiate a real issue, did it really matter?

[stebo0728]

I guess it doesnt particularly matter how I see it, or how you see it, but how was it viewed and consumed by the international world? That I dont know because I am not a member of those cultures. When taking measures to emulate someone elses culture, do we abandon our own? In our culture we approach each other upright, do we just always absorb and emulate the culture of others, or do we also allow others to absorb and emulate some of our own?

[IBCoupe]

I think you're right, but I think we ought to think about the question I asked, too. Even if it's seen as apologetic, as might be the worst case, what's lost as far as international relations goes?

[stebo0728]

Perhaps you are right, maybe not much is lost, but back to the original question: What is gained?

[IBCoupe]

Well, if we're to look at what is lost in the worst case, why not examine what's gained in the best case? If America is seen as being suddenly respectful to the cultures it's trying to deal with, it might pave the way for greater cooperation.

[stebo0728]

Meh.. sounds sweet but Im not seeing that. Thats just me though, and like i said, doesnt really matter what I think.

[IBCoupe]

Aww. It matters to me, pookums.

[stebo0728]

LAWLS

Didnt mean that in a whiney way

[dusred]

-What do you consider his single most important accomplishment and why?

He has restored America to its position in the international community and has restored grace to the Presidency. Alot of how we are able to operate on the international scene has to do with how our government is percieved. It was largely reported that the previous administration had rubbed many nations the wrong way with its approach, especially following 9/11 and the building of the coalition against the war on terror. Both President Obama and his wife have shown the grace and patience one expects of such a powerful position.

Sounds fair enough.

-What is your most/least favorite thing about his policies?

He allows his policies to be ridiculed for far too long without defending them. Where is the defense of ObamaCare now? For something that sits as the centerpiece of his Legislative legacy, there is hardly a peep about it. If you truly believe in it, you would be trying to prove to people the soundness of your plans. He has left them dangle in the wind. If Obamacare fails, its not because the policy itself is flawed, but rather the public perception of the policy was flawed.
As for my favorite thing about his policies, i think he genuniely is trying to address some of the most heinous injustices in American society today. He has been trying to inch forward Gay equality on a rights and benefits level. He has pushed through legislation to make sure poor kids have access to healthcare, irrespective of their families socioeconomic level. He is trying to make our schools better, and make it easier for regular Americans to keep their homes and their jobs. Given the economic situation, he could easily just shut down and devote his energies to foreign policy, as carter did.

If he rushed out and defended a policy every time it was crapped upon by someone do you think We The People would see them/him any differently?

-Has he turned out to be more or less than you expected (please explain).

Given how much he had to deal with, I am floored with the amount of stuff he has been able to accomplish, and the composure with which he accomplished it.

Okay. Sounds fair. He has had an incredible amount of opposition everywhere he's gone.

-Do you like where the Nation is going under his Administration?

No, but not because of his policies, but rather the punditry. There is far too much anger in this country for reasoned debate.

Who do you feel is responsible for stirring the anger? The Media, Talk Radio, Palin and company, republicans. . . who?
The punditry is one thing that's really gotten on my nerves. Seriously, some of the stuff like Joe Biden's telling the lame Senator to stand is ridiculous and could happen to anyone.

[mattblancarte]

I'm a very biased Conservative because that's how my family and all friends are.

Why do you base your political bias on what those around you think? Perhaps it is time for you to think for yourself? Not trying to jab at you, I just found this to be a bit revealing.

Someday, you'll want that to read the following:

I'm a very biased Conservative because I've done the research and it backs up my conclusions.

Don't fear the life of the contrarian.

[mattblancarte]

He has restored America to its position in the international community and has restored grace to the Presidency.

Can you explain this in fiscal terms?

[dusred]

I'm a very biased Conservative because that's how my family and all friends are.

Why do you base your political bias on what those around you think? Perhaps it is time for you to think for yourself? Not trying to jab at you, I just found this to be a bit revealing.

Just being honest. Sure, I like to think that I've done research ect. but at the end of the day I am the way I am because that's the way my parents raised me (as I'm sure you are the same). Quite frankly the more I read and study I find that Conservative principles suit my values and principles.

[mattblancarte]

Fair enough. I share some viewpoints with my parents and family, but differ drastically on many topics. Never been afraid to challenge the parents' opinions, which got me into "trouble" hehe.

I do my best to not affiliate with a political group or concept, which I believe helps keep my opinions as objective as possible.

[dusred]

My dad is what Howie and Helio would call a "Wing Nut". He's a faithful Sean Hannity and Rush listener and brings up the latest thing Obama did today at the dinner table and then proceeds to give dooms day predictions about how the country will fall apart.

Now, I'm not THAT hard core but I must admit some of it has rubbed off on me. I don't agree with everything he says but I agree with the basics. Basically minus the drama and the wingnuttery and I mostly agree with what he's saying.

[Cold_Zero]

...brings up the latest thing Obama did today at the dinner table and then proceeds to give dooms day predictions about how the country will fall apart.

Look, I dont have a pony in this question.

But what I will say is this, I never quite understood why people would advocate that 8 years of Clinton, Bush or 4 years of Obama would destroy this country. I thought we were an industrious, tenacious (insert descriptor here) group of people in this country? People have been saying these kinds of things about Presidents for a very long time. Example: the Dems us to say that Reagan, that if he was elected, would bring this country into WWIII with the Soviet Union. Yeah well, not only did 'we NOT sic begin bombing in five minutes' but we won the cold war (so to speak) without firing a shot (nuke) in anger at the Soviets.

Sure we had a rough go of it during the Carter Administration. Hostages in Iran, Oil Crisis, High Inflation, but we recovered from it. I just dont think that, just short of turning the keys over to a foreign country, one person (President) can destroy our 234 year old democracy (I know Constitutional Federal Republic).

[dusred]

Do you listen to Sean and Rush often? They give this impression that the world will break into 5 pieces tomorrow if Obama passes [insert bill here].

[Cold_Zero]

Sorry I don't listen to hannity, rush (talkshow host) or beck. I prefer two talk shows that I listen to and most here probably haven't listen to them.

[smockers83]

He allows his policies to be ridiculed for far too long without defending them. Where is the defense of ObamaCare now? For something that sits as the centerpiece of his Legislative legacy, there is hardly a peep about it. If you truly believe in it, you would be trying to prove to people the soundness of your plans. He has left them dangle in the wind. If Obamacare fails, its not because the policy itself is flawed, but rather the public perception of the policy was flawed.
As for my favorite thing about his policies, i think he genuniely is trying to address some of the most heinous injustices in American society today. He has been trying to inch forward Gay equality on a rights and benefits level. He has pushed through legislation to make sure poor kids have access to healthcare, irrespective of their families socioeconomic level. He is trying to make our schools better, and make it easier for regular Americans to keep their homes and their jobs. Given the economic situation, he could easily just shut down and devote his energies to foreign policy, as carter did.

Unfortunately the policy is flawed and that's how the perception begins. If people saw a benefit out of it, the perception would be good, however who has seen a benefit personally? I have yet to hear of an individual in which Obamacare positively effects them. Everyone that I've talked to will see it negatively effect them. It will negatively effect me. When businesses across the nation say that in order to control higher costs caused from the recent healthcare reform that they have to change their coverage (aka reduce coverage and/or charge employees more), how and where can positive perception come from? Yes, there were some things that needed correction in the industry, but it was a totally backwards approach to try and make healthcare affordable. The health industry could be one of the least efficient industries in the country and if you want to make it affordable, that's what you target. If you increase efficiency, you decrease costs. Decreased costs result in healthcare becoming affordable and there is no need for this complex policy determining Cadillac plans, who gets what and how, etc. Let the market get what it wants based on market principles.

In terms of jobs and housing, one cannot simply just try at this level. They either do the analysis without playing funny numbers (I have yet to see any economic analysis come out of this administration that doesn't involve funny numbers), do it and get it right or nothing, there is no room for amateur hour here. We cannot afford to have experiments and terrible policy (policies/programs for housing and jobs have all but fallen flat on their faces). The stimulus plan only had a small fraction of it spent in marginally effective ways. If you want to see people keep their jobs and even see the unemployment numbers come down, reduce the fear of Washington that is present in the markets. Employment numbers are improving on the margin and it began exactly when people started feeling that Democrats would lose Congress. Coincidence? Absolutely not, it's the reduction in fear of Washington and policies that could come out of it. In terms of housing, Obama has actually made it more difficult to keep homes. The mortgage programs his administration has put together have done absolutely nothing and everyone who works with them or those who try to get a piece of the action hate them. They do nothing to help.