General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why the arguments of Obama's defenders leave many cold. [View all]LiberalLovinLug
(14,565 posts)You say what a lot of other DUers are thinking.
Yes he is better than any Repuke candidate, goes without saying. Thus the compunction to vote for him. And even though it may be a hard lesson long overdue for the DLC if the liberal base handed Obama's ass back to him, and might even start getting them to think about moving back to the center-left for the next election after, in this point in history it would be such a disaster for the country to bring in a Republican President that the only course is to vote for Obama.
Repeal of DADT was inevitable even without Obama in office. Top generals were calling for its demise. The Repukes could've only held out for so long. (Just like the US will eventually catch up to the rest of the free world on allowing gay marriage)
The Iraq war actually even went past the deadline that even Bush set up for withdrawal. Why should Obama get kudos for this? It was also inevitable. The American public had grown war-weary and the treasury was getting bare. The Repukes knew this and thats why they gave barely a whimper compared to a few years ago when it was all about "tail between your legs" and risking the security of the USA if we left. McCain had said he wanted to stay there 100 or even 1000 years, but he's not to vocal now.
So in summary, Obama's greatest achievement is towing the Washington line and not doing any MORE damage and holding the status quo by "not looking backwards" . No prosecuting war criminals, no closing Gitmo, continued renditions and torture, continued Bush Tax cuts for the wealthy, vetoing new environmental pollution recommendations to name a few. Although some would argue that the RomneyCare private health insurance plan, and the increased War on Drugs (particularly medical marijuana dispensaries), are steps backwards.
Obama works for the 1%. I'd say the Repukes work for the .01% So I guess that's something. At least he will throw the rest of us a few bones now and again. Hardly inspiring, but reason enough I guess to vote for him.