The right underestimated Obama so when will the left stop doing the same?

[SpartanDem]

The right had spent the last week or so declaring President Obama a foreign policy weakling, someone who would not defend its citizens when needed. While those on the right were busy during the hostage crisis calling out the President for not acting, in other words, not issuing blustery, cowboy diplomacy public statements. Obama had already acted and acted boldly.

On here many may be guilty of the same crime as those on the right, in his short tenure many on the left have already accused him selling out and being a tool of the rich. I would argue that those people are in danger of making the very same mistake that the right made in interpreting his actions so far in handling the economy. For example a couple weeks ago they laved out their banking regulation plans to a congressional committee to very little fanfare Obama could have made a big public spectacle and railed against Wall St, but he didn't. I think many on the left are doing as the right has done, in seeing his lack of what they perceived to be boldness and bluster as a sign of weakness and letting the letting action play out a bit. And I think most would agree that the right ended up looking rather foolish in declaring every Obama diplomatic appointment or initiative at the outset a sure sign the President was a national security failure. If history is any indication those who underestimate the President don't come out looking very well.

[tularetom]

1. Yup - ask Bill Clinton or John McCain

The political landscape is littered with the bodies of those who misunderestimated Obama.

[eleny]

2. ...

:popcorn:

[bluestateguy]

3. This guy beat the Clintons and the Republican Noise Machine

And:

* won absolute majority of the popular vote; first time a Democrat for president had done that in 32 years.

* first Northern Democratic president in 48 years, after pundits lectured us that only Southern Democrats could win.

* oh yeah, and that whole first black man elected president thing too.

I would warn people not to underestimate him.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Wait a minute...

He's Black???!!!

:P

[democracy1st]

4. there's a huge difference between not trusting Geithner and RW smears

[opihimoimoi]

6. The GOP and a few others have yet to check into the Reality Lounge for the Latest Facts

Having rejected the Facts...they attempt their old shit...To FOOL is to RULE

They missed the memo...BS LIES are Passe...the people have opened their eyes with Super Visine3

Obama is everything they are not....and this is KILLING THEM....driving them Insane...IE Jindal, Palin, Bachmann, Rove, Cheney, etc

of whom all are showing signs of Delusional Rationalization.....

President Obama is doing alright by me.....

[LooseWilly]

7. There are definitely some who have an ax to grind with Wall St.

And I pretty much get the feeling that you're largely addressing them. But I think it's a gross mischaracterization to say that the left is underestimating Obama. Rather, I think they're trying to hold him to a, perhaps too high, standard. Many of us on the left have a general confidence in him... but "hoped" for perhaps more than can be delivered.
Sure I think that he's probably thought out the economic and banking stuff. Sure I think he's not going to completely sell the not-so-rich down the river... but I still have yet to hear why Geithner's plan is better than Krugman's. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, personally, but many hate Geithner and his assistant who is apparently feminist-repugnant, but whose name escapes me.
Sure he'll probably be reasonable on GLBT issues... but his lack of enthusiasm, while politically expedient, is... politically expedient rather than encouraging.

I, personally, will grin like a Cheshire Cat should he prove me wrong with any of the issues that I worry about... but it may well be painful as those grinning muscles on my face are so out of shape.

[Luminous Animal]

8. Oh give me a break...

the right did not underestimate Obama. They would have criticized him if he had issued blustery cowboy diplomacy public statements. They consider it their job to criticize Obama no matter what he does. Very few are going to be embarrassed by their weekend performance, they'll blithely look forward and prance on to their next faux concern or outrage. And even on this issue (and with Limbaugh leading the talking points) they are working to demean Obama by denigrating his role in the decision making process.


It's a weak and slimy argument to equate the right's character assassination with the left's criticism of neo-liberal policies.

[SpartanDem]

9. Not at all weak or slimy,

I find the rhetoric of the right and left eerily similar in tone. In both cases, whether it be foreign policy or economic issue the basic premises of their argument is that Obama is too weak to handle the situation. Clearly the events over this weekend proved the right to be wrong in their prejudgment on the President and I think that many on the left are making the same mistake.