This "Obama doesn't fight" meme has me really perplexed.

[greenbird]

I don't know what to make of it. I'd be interested in others' opinions on this . . . I see so many threads criticizing him for not being overtly aggressive, getting involved, being more like LBJ, etc. I'm sure you've read them all. My sense is that he knows that, as my mother would say, "there's more than one way to skin a cat". I actually think he's on to something, and it is more complex than just seeking bipartisanship or whatever. I'm interested in hearing what better minds than mine have to say.

[still_one]

1. The country and the world is a lot different than it was during LBJ. Each decade has its own

issues and uniqueness

People would like things to be simple according to their view of the word, but values between countries and states are not always the same

[rebel with a cause]

10. I personally didn't like LBJ and his bullying ways.

The day he held his dog up by its ears was one of his worse moments.

So if Obama was like LBJ these same people would be screaming and calling him names for that. Especially because Barack is not a 'white texan'. Just saying.

[azmouse]

2. Obama has every right to govern according to his own personality.

He shouldn't have to be like LBJ or Kennedy or Truman or any other Dem president.

He was voted in as President because of who he was. I don't want him to pretend to be anyone else. Let him be himself.

[Cary]

3. This too shall pass

Improving economy cures all. If it doesn't improve we have a problem and they may as well bitch and moan about this nonsense.

[NJmaverick]

4. The people pushing this meme are ones that wanted a Democratic version of George Bush

they wanted a terrible person that ignored all Aemricans except for the small percentage that were considered his or her base. A terrible way to be President and we constantly and rightly knocked Bush for it. Now it's just rank hypocrisy to suggest our President should do the same.

[Hekate]

5. Bingo.

[greenbird]

6. Excellent point.

I keep thinking that somewhere down the road, 20 or 30 years from now, a bunch of people will be screaming for the current president to just "do things the way Obama did" . . .

[NYC Liberal]

7. President Obama is actually following the law and the Constitution.

People talking about Obama "not investigating" Bush. Hello, didn't Bush get all kinds of shit (rightfully) for using the Justice Department to his own ends? The DOJ should be as independent as possible.

You nailed it.

[SeattleGirl]

11. I don't know how many times I have brought this up in GD and GDP

threads when people demand that Obama sign executive orders for this or that, with no regard for the law, etc. It was NOT okay when Bush did it, and it would be no more okay if Obama did it. Those who demand that Obama behave the same as Bush are hypocrites.

[RoyGBiv]

14. Wait, what?

You mean ... no ... you couldn't mean.

Are you actually saying that Obama is *not* the same as Bush already?

:wow:

Sorry. I've spent too much time in GD today and couldn't resist. Bad me. :spank:

[CTLawGuy]

16. wish I could recommend a post

well said.

[treestar]

17. Exactly right

There's also some emotional satisfaction they would get out of it, and they don't care what the cost might be.

Like the way Obama should have "strong-armed" Lieberman - so what if he turns Repuke and we are back to 59? They'd get some temporary emotional satisfaction out of it and that's all that matters.

[Ineeda]

8. The crystal-ball gazers and mind readers

annoy me no end. We (and they) have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. To say PO is not doing enough of this or that is simply speculation and opinion, not fact. I trust his intelligence, political savvy and humanity much more than the armchair 'experts' criticizing him.

[greenbird]

9. Exactly!

They have NO IDEA what is going on behind the scenes. What an incredibly difficult environment it must be to operate in! Especially legally.

[Undercurrent]

12. It's just another excuse

to attack Obama.

If Obama were to use LBJ type tactics -- secret tape recordings, bulling etc -- the haters would be attacking him for that.

[Cha]

13. It's the fantasy brigrade who want

President Obama to be obnoxious like they are.

[CTLawGuy]

15. I'll tell you this about LBJ

if he were forced to get southern dems on board with the civil rights act, no way in hell would we even have a civil rights act. Thankfully, he had the luxury of telling them to fuck off.

Obama doesn't have this luxury, he has to deal with the Repub obstruction machine and as a consequence, he has to get EVERY SINGLE dem.

Don't try to explain this to the "progressive" useful idiots carrying water for the teabaggers; they don't want to hear it.

[DevonRex]

18. I just LOVE all the idiots who pretend they know exactly what Obama has

done or not done.

One thing I do know is that Harry Reid said that he doesn't take orders from Obama. And that was RIGHT after the inauguration. So, was Reid just trying to look all "independent" for his constituency back in Nevada? Or was he telling the truth, so that no matter what Obama pushed for Reid wasn't gonna let him call any shots?

We'll probably never know the answer. But I do know that without Reid's backing Obama has NO power over the Senate one way or the other.

BUT, I did see Obama out their all summer long at meetings and rallies, facing people who brought fucking GUNS to the events, fighting to get a decent health care bill. That took guts.