What did you expect from Obama?

[kentuck]

Reading DU is like like reading two different realities. One side expected a lot more from this President and one side thinks he has done a great job and has met or exceeded what they expected. Perhaps it is all in the expectations?

In my opinion, much of it depends on each individual interpretation of the economy when he took office. Some seem to think the economy was in such dire condition that nothing short of radical change could fix it? Others seem to think that the economy was bad but it did not necessarily call for drastic, radical changes.

Some believe the President had a mandate to fix the problems that caused the housing bubble to collapse, namely the banks and Wall Street, and should have been much more aggressive in going after them. Others believe he did all that was politically possible under the circumstances. Although he may not have fixed the problems that caused the economic collapse, look at all the other things he has accomplished, they say.

Just what did you expect from this President?

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. I expected tonnes, got a little, now I only expect feel-good oratory.

[villager]

2. I certainly didn't expect the trashing of the 4th amendment, and the renewed "war" on drugs

...nor such a diffident environmental policy.

As for kowtowing to Wall Street interests repeatedly, well, that's its own discussion thread...

[backtoblue]

3. To repeal the patriot act, get our troops home, reverse unfair taxes.

Just to name a few.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. I felt the expectations were way way to high, even so I have been disappointed in a few areas

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I didn't expect a lot because I was never a fan,

but I had hoped that he would be a little bit more proactive on the financial issues. I knew he wouldn't be, though, when I saw who he was surrounding himself with.

[Scuba]

6. It's not so much what he's achieved (or not) as it is....

... how he's gone about it. I'd be fine with his achievements if he'd fought tooth and nail and lost. But to "lose" without a fight? I'm disappointed.

[FiveGoodMen]

7. 'But to "lose" without a fight?'

Yeah, I don't thing Obama's lost anything.

We have.

But he hasn't.

[frebrd]

Replied to wrong post

:(

[frebrd]

20. +1

[Hardrada]

8. Certainly not betrayal on an almost metaphysical level.

[mike_c]

9. I expected little from him, because I knew he was not the candidate...

...that many apparently thought he was, and I have not been disappointed. Which isn't to say that I'm not terribly disappointed, if you understand my meaning. Perhaps it's more accurate to say that I'm disappointed, but not at all surprised. My expectations were low, but my hopes were high.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. I had hopes that he wouldn't be as bad as he turned out to be.

I didn't buy the empty slogans and when he said he would escalate the lost war in Afghanistan he lost my vote. But, I thought he might not be just another self-serving professional politician willing to sell-out and pander to the right in the name of "bi-partisanship" at almost every turn.

I was wrong about that.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. I expect a lot from him, but here's the difference...

1. I realize that there are THREE branches of government, of which the U.S. Constitution gives doesn't give the president as much power as Congress. Congress passes the law; the president either signs, doesn't sign, or issues a pocket veto.

2. I realize that the president cannot get everything we wanted done immediately. That is not how government works; it has NEVER worked this way. Governance is an incremental process. He didn't promise that things would magically change overnight. People were complaining less than two years into his presidency, forgetting (or willful ignorance) that he faced unprecedented obstructionism from the Republicans and many Blue Dog Democrats. They complain about Guantanimo Bay, but it was CONGRESS--not the president--that couldn't get closure to the president's desk.

3. I didn't expect him to be a liberal because there is (and was never) any evidence that would suggest that he is/was/will be a liberal.

[ellisonz]

36. Dude's a liberal...

What he's not is a lockstep liberal.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

53. Maybe. Maybe not. I don't see any evidence of that. Not in his voting record.

Not in either of his books.

You may be right and he's just waiting for a second term where he is freer to be who he is.

I go agree, that he is not "lockstep." He's a pragmatist through and through.

[ellisonz]

56. What are you talking about?

I could post mountains of evidence to the contrary. But rather I'll just suffice to say that he is more like Bobby Kennedy than Henry Wallace.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

58. I'm talking about...

Many of his policy decisions may be liberal, but many have also been more center-right.

That doesn't make him a liberal. It just means that he has made many varied decisions some of which happen to be liberal. Surely you don't believe that he is a liberal based on the totality of his record because just as can provide "mountains of evidence" of the former, I can do the same for the latter.

I honestly believe he is nonideological.

[ellisonz]

59. Non-ideological?!?

You sound like you're a proud member of the "Old Left" criticizing the "New Left. Find me a non-ideological man and I'll show you a dunce. Well - they may be against the war in Vietnam but they're not doing it the right way...

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.

What is demanded, then, is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall; and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served in a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. (Applause.)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/inaugural-address/

The essence of the Liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.

-Bertrand Russell

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

61. Please do not issue ad hominem attacks. You don't know me or my views.

I gave you an opinion on how I view this president. I'm not criticizing anyone! Nor did I give you any indication on where I stand as far as agreeing or disagreeing with the president's record. My opinion of him is just that. No need to be hostile or patronizing. Ultimately we are on the same side, no?!?

[Ineeda]

12. Well, I didn't expect miracles

but I expected some improvement, some reversals of the horrors of the B*sh years. In that regard, many of my expectations were met. However, I would never have imagined that Rethugs, as vile as I knew them to be, would be so blatantly hateful. Their hatred of this president and the resulting impact on the country and most of its citizens blows my mind. We can all be Monday morning quarterbacks and say President Obama gave away too much to the Rethugs, but I, for one, appreciate his attempts to work with them. Live and learn, huh?

[JuniperLea]

23. I have to agree with all you said here...

I hope that learning for many includes a massive dose of understanding how our government works. The title is President... not Emperor, not King, not Magic Negro.

[texanwitch]

13. Not a thing for the working people of this country.

He was picked for us in 2004 at the Democratic Convention.

It was hard working early voting and watching all the new excited voters.

He was to good to be true.

I hoped I was wrong but I wasn't.

He was just another Clinton.

[NeedleCast]

14. I expected he would be a moderatly left president

Which is pretty much what I was looking for, which is why I continue to support him despite the fact that he hasn't done everything I wish he would. I understand that being president is not a magical position that allows one to just say things and make them come to pass. I also understand that Obama is working against one of the most hostile congresses in recent history (maybe ever). Over the past three years I have changed my opinion on him only slightly and give him a B for overall performance.

I expect and understand that politics in the US and most other democratic countries move at a glacial pace. That small steps have to be taken before anything big can be done. I think many people who did but no longer support Obama have no grasp on how politics in the US work, even on a good day and that a country with about 300 million people in it doesn't go from where it was under the 2nd Bush administration to a European style social democracy utopia in two years.

[JNinWB]

25. Very well put. Expresses my opinion of Obama, too.

Many years ago, I learned that expectations are fantasies. Expectations = fantasies.

Those who create expectations and attach them to spouses, friends and presidents will be sorely disappointed when that individual has plans of his own.

Creating high expectations will guarantee feelings of abandonment and betrayal to be reveled in as the subject of your expectations fails you time and time again.

This forum is jam-packed with delusional posters, whose progressive "expectations" of Obama have been dashed repeatedly. You'd think they would learn and join the reality-based community.

Every time you say, or think "I expect" you are delusional.

[RebelOne]

15. I expected the Afghanistan and Iraq wars to end. n/t

[JoePhilly]

38. He also said he would INCREASE troops in Afganistan as a candidate

Did you miss that?

[OKDem08]

16. What we all expected: RESULTS

[frebrd]

17. I expected very little ..........

During the campaign he had already thrown me under the bus several different ways.

I voted for him as "the lesser of....."

[Faux pas]

18. Because I'm a dolt, I expected HONESTY.

[redqueen]

19. "Reading DU is like like reading two different realities."

Boy, you got that right.

I'm with LiberalStalwart up there. I hoped for a lot, but seeing what happened during the Clinton administration and knowing the kind of horse trading that goes on... as well as how much power in government is actually held by those outside of it... I didn't expect much more than we've gotten. Frankly if we're not at war with Iran by the end of next year I'll consider him to be a success. I think with any other candidate we'd already be there. The MIC holds so much more power than people seem to understand.

[JuniperLea]

21. Perspective is everything...

Managing expectations becomes difficult when there are suck wildly diverse perspectives.

I knew full well it would be all uphill for this president, but what I didn't bargain for was the load of crap heaped on him as he trudges up that hill.

I had a lot of hope, but very few expectations. After watching the dog and pony show through Clinton, and W, I knew better than to heap any of my own crap on this president. Frankly, I'm surprised he's done this well.

The realities of which you speak are built by perspective and expectations... some people have ridiculous expectations, imho.

[GoCubsGo]

34. I couldn't agree with you more.

Especially the part about the "ridiculous expectations".

[JuniperLea]

46. Those really do stick out like a sore thumb...

"We're so much worse off now... waaaaaaa!" Well, yes, yes we are. Just like Obama said was going to happen! Worse before better... lots of work to be done... you must be part of the change... but no. Just whine about something that happened after being told point blank that it was going to happen.

Really dumb. IMHO.

[deutsey]

22. During the campaign, when I heard Geithner and Summers were in his inner circle

I expected very little.

However, because times were (and remain) so tough for so many people (myself included), I did hope he might surprise me. I can't say that he has.

[unblock]

24. i don't think it's particularly fair question; the president is part of a larger power structure

i think a better question is "what did you expect to happen during obama's presidency".

the problem is that the president is not a dictator (benign or otherwise) and cannot simple do whatever he wishes.

obama is president, yes, but the media is still controlled by the likes of rupert murdoch, corporate ceos across the country still own entire congressional delegations, and the supreme court is still way to the right.

i think the problem is that people FORGET what obama is up against, and can't make heads or tails of the results.

is he trying to pull the country as far to the left as possible, and this is the best that can be achieved?
or is he quite happy to be a cog in the wheel of the machine, however right-wing the machine may be?

it's unclear.

what is clear is that fdr had HUGE democratic majorities and a fawning media, at a time when many democrats were practically socialists. so the hope that obama would be able to achieve anything remotely resembling what fdr was able to do was completely off base. not with today's media and today's congress.

[msongs]

26. I voted for the candidate and got stuck with the sworn in model nt

[jwirr]

27. I had great hopes that he would be different than booosh and I

think he is. I also wanted him to protect the safety net and so far he has for the most part. I hoped he would end to wars - hmmmm. I wanted him to start us on the road to a green sustainable future that would take into account oil depletion and climate change and I do not see much progress in that direction. I wanted a universal single payer health care program but we go less.


In the back of my mind I can see why he has had such a hard time making any progress on most of these issues with so much obstructionism in the rethug party and in our own but I still do not see why he did not even try to fight for these programs.

When he is reelected I hope he gets a real majority in the House and the Senate and that he drops all the trickle down nonsense we have been hearing and finally becomes a real Democratic president.

[ellisonz]

37. Cap and trade died in the Senate.

He made green jobs a priority of the stimulus. Republicans are opposing any more federal intervention in the economy. What's he supposed to do?

From just last week:

President Obama used some of the harshest rhetoric of his term today in denouncing the Republican jobs plan, saying the GOP's emphasis on less regulations would harm the environment, undercut health care and fail to produce necessary jobs in the short term.

"You got their plan, which is let's have dirtier air, dirtier water, (and) less people with health insurance," Obama said in kicking off a three-day bus tour at the airport in Asheville, N.C.

http://www.indystar.com/usatoday/article/554487

Barack and Joe aren't pulling any punches...

[jwirr]

48. I know. If we do not take the congress back we are not going to get

anything done anytime soon.

[ellisonz]

51. That's what activism is all about!

Fired up! Ready to go!:grouphug:

[jwirr]

55. Absolutely.

[bowens43]

28. I expected him to at least attempt

to do the things he promised to do. I expected him to at least attempt to bring transparency to our government. I expected him to at least try to undo some of the wrongs done by the previous administration. I expected him to at least attempt to live up to the Democratic ideals.

I didn't expect him to continue and expand the worst policies of the bush administration. I didn't expect him to bend over backwards to kiss the asses of the most vile conservatives in congress every time he had the opportunity.

The man is a complete and utter failure and as bad as he is , he's still probably better then the alternative.

[Bonhomme Richard]

29. I did expect him to fight, at least a little bit.

I really believed that with his oratory skills he could publicly eviscerate and shame the conservatives driving this Nation into the ground. Evidently I have more faith in the average American when the truth is told than he does.
At the end of the day I just feel suckered again.

[tblue]

30. I expected a genuine Democrat.

But even that was too much.

[GoCubsGo]

31. Pretty much exactly what I got.

I expected him to be a pragmatic moderate, because that is what he is, and always has been, so I'm not surprised at the legislation he has tried to push, or the way he has done things. I expected him to be bashed, smeared and disrespected by the right, as I remember how they treated Clinton. I expected them to treat this President worse, because he's black, and they have. I expected everything he wanted to do to be obstructed by the republicans. The only thing I did not expect was for some Democrats to join in the obstruction. I am one of those who believe he has done about as much as could be done under the circumstances. And, considering that, he's been doing pretty goddamn well. Would I like him to be more progressive? Sure. But, until he has a Congress that would back him on more progressive legislation, it' won't happen.

[Zorra]

32. To make every possible effort to do what we are trying to do through OWS. nt

[Enrique]

33. I expected marginal change

I hoped for real change, but I didn't see any reason to think Obama would bring that.

[Taverner]

35. I expected him to keep at least a few of his promises

You know, like not go after MMJ, close Gitmo, support unions...

[JoePhilly]

39. I did not expect a liberal Messiah as the right wing claimed the left wanted.

I saw the right wing's use of "Messiah" as an attack on the left.

Honestly, I think the right got part of this right.

There is a segment on the left who thought electing Obama would DRAMATICALLY and SWIFTLY change the 3 branches of our government.

I used to debate right wingers who made that claim. Tell them NO WAY that thinking liberals see Obama as the silver bullet, the Messiah.

And, I was wrong.

There are MANY democrats and liberals who saw electing Obama as the silver bullet on EVERY issue. Making progress on any issue is a failure .... Obama needs to go 0 to 60 on every issue!!

And compromise ... that's WEAK!!!! Doing NOTHING is better!!!

[ellisonz]

57. Illustration:

[Rex]

40. Nothing. I knew he was a corporate suit from the beginning

and that is one reason I voted for Hillary. He has surprised me in HOW MUCH he is a corporate suit and against The People. Kinda shocked by that...until I found out that Ronald Reagan was one of his heroes...barf...

Nothing. And that is exactly what I got.

[jberryhill]

41. A competent president

Which, thus far, he has been.

I also expected he would have a reasonable view of the limits of power of the office as defined in the Constitution, which he has.

[Jack Rabbit]

42. I expected . . .

• Strong health care reform with a public option
• New legislation to encourage the revitalization of the labor movement
• As much government stimulus as needed to turn the economy around
• An end to the Bush tax cuts and tax increases on the wealthiest Americans, who got away as bandits in the Bush years
• The re-regulation of the financial industry
• A major shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources
• The closing of Guantánamo
• An end to torture as a policy
• Withdrawal from Iraq

Trying Bush, Cheney, et al. for war crimes and Alberto Gonzales and his lieutenants for turning the Justice Department into a partisan cesspool would have been a bonus. I really didn't expect it, but it would have been a positive development. The above list was a minimum and I would regard each item on that list as necessary and urgent to bring the nation out the effects of Bush era malfeasance. Mr. Obama has accomplished little on that list, with the rest being abandoned for half measures or abandoned altogether.

Although I recognize the role a determinedly nihilistic Republican caucus played in Obama's failure, the failure is still Obama's responsibility.

Color me disappointed.

[madamesilverspurs]

43. "Perhaps it is all in the expectations?"

Perhaps?

[sabrina 1]

44. I expected him to be a Democrat.

I never expected him to claim the powers of a King.

Now I don't expect anything.

[Zyzfyx]

45. I'm more pro-Obama then anti

But I acknowledge there are things he could have done but didn't.

[JuniperLea]

47. Such as? eom

[treestar]

49. Being aware of what the Presidency involved

I expected him to sign or support what he said he would, which he has done.

I was aware there was such a thing a Congressional and Judicial Power. So my expectations were, and remain, reasonable.

I was a bit disappointed in the "Blue Dogs," not realizing they existed. I had heard from right wingers that we Democrats were all liberal socialists. Live and Learn.

[Fumesucker]

50. When Obama managed to speak for an hour on race in America..

And never once mention the drug war or the fact that one in three black males like him will end up in prison because of it..

Then I knew he wasn't going to be the transformative force we needed.

So, I expected pretty much what we got.

[Little Star]

52. I expected change. But..

we got more of the same Bush policies, taking care of Wall Street instead of Main Street.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

54. I expected him to do a good job

I was worried that many people were projecting their own expectations of what he should be onto him when the reality was that their expectations of him were largely both unrealistic and different from what he'd promised to do during the campaign. I expected that that he would be an idealistic and pragmatic President who would try to work constructively to accomplish his goals and would get a lot done but I also recognized that it would require time and patience for him to achieve that. Having seen the antics of the professional left and how quickly they abandoned Pelosi after the 2006 Democratic takeover on the most trivial of issues, I knew they would start on President Obama without giving him a chance because they weren't really interested in giving him a chance in the first place unless he met their unrealistic and in many cases unreasonable expectations. I knew he'd face a lot of hostility from the right wing but, even though it shouldn't have, the intensity of the hostility still surprised me. And, while I was expecting the hostility from the professional left, the depth of their vitriol, misinformation, distortion and unwillingness to give this President a fair chance really both disappointed and disgusted me. It has caused me to lose a lot of respect for many of the left-wing commentators whom I had previously held in high esteem

President Obama has accomplished a remarkable amount during his term as President, in fact more than I expected, and he has been the most unapologetically progressive President in about fifty years. And, if you listen to some of the speeches that he gave on the campaign trail -including the famous "Yes We Can" speech -he has largely done what he promised to do during the campaign on key issues. So he's exceeded my expectations

[begin_within]

60. I expected the Spanish Inquisition.

[stillwaiting]

62. Firstly, I expected him to appoint cabinet officials that would serve The People and not Wall Street

Upon failing to do that, I have expected, and seen delivered, just about everything that has come to pass over the past three years.