Why are so many losing faith in Obama?

[glarius]

I'm a Canadian, and I'd trade our Prime Minister for your President in a flash!
It bothers me that so many of you seem to think Obama should have everything fixed already, when he inherited the worst mess to clean up in generations! Give him time.
My country's leader, Stephen Harper is a right-wing bastard, who fooled the Canadian public into believing he was a moderate, and was able to get in because the Liberal Party was without a credible leader at the time.
Most Canadians, as is true in most countries, don't pay attention to politics until election time and enough of them fell for his phony act, so that he is now our Prime Minister.
I pray for the day when he's gone from office!!!

[leftstreet]

1. Why would anyone have 'faith' in a politician to begin with?

It's politics, not religion

[glarius]

4. Sorry....I'm just not that cynical....

I still believe there are good people who want to do good things for their country.

[leftstreet]

13. This has nothing to do with good vs evil

Obama is undoubtedly a 'good' person

When politicians fail to represent the desires of the majority they represent, they're not doing their jobs. Period. That's all.

[JackRiddler]

40. Just what I was going to say. Thanks.

[closeupready]

52. Well, for one, audacity.

:eyes:

[jpgray]

2. A parade of unforced errors and concessions.

Pretty much sums it up. He has done some good things, and is far better than any GOP candidate imaginable, but to put it lightly he could afford to step things up a bit.

[patrice]

3. I think he still might have some possibilities, but my faith is in Us for Us.

Waiting on anyone else, no matter how powerful they might be, is just a "slave" mentality.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Angry Dragon]

6. It has to do with lies and the perception of non-leadership

[MadHound]

7. The man doesn't fight for issues that the public overwhelmingly supports.

The public option, repeal of DADT, the extension of the Bush tax cuts for the rich, these and many more issues he has caved on, time and again.

Worse, he seems to go out of his way to attack some of his staunchest supporters. As a teacher, I'm under direct attack by his war on public education. The LGBT community, civil libertarians, anti-war folks, all of these people and more have come under attack by this administration.

People weren't expecting miracles, but we were expecting progress. We're not even seeing that.

[DiverDave]

8. Maybe because we see that

he lied to us.
And, oh, how about ADMITTING he said things just for the votes?


Fucking politicians...

[Bragi]

9. I can loath Harper and be disappointed in Obama

As a Canadian, and a leftist, I have never had any expectation that Harper would be anything other than the piece of shit he is. Not so with President Obama.

[DJ13]

10. You have to understand that we in the US have lived with disappointment in our Presidents

for DECADES.

Obama's campaign gave many hope that it could be different this time (finally), but he has been little different from all the rest at this point.

That could "change", but he hasn't shown the needed fire to expect he CAN change, so it looks like we will remain disappointed.

[RKP5637]

17. Well said. "... we in the US have lived with disappointment in our Presidents

for DECADES." I was expecting this to be some combination of FDR and LBJ. Many are hurting in the US that really have no voice. I guess some dems are really happy with everything but I haven't talked with any here.

[socialist_n_TN]

63. Well I know I HOPED for an FDR............

I'm not sure I expected one. But I certainly didn't expect Reagan: Part II.

[joeybee12]

11. again, it's not that we think he's not quick enough, we see him turning right and NOT

fixing anything, but making matters worse. But thanks for your concern.

[LeftinOH]

12. I think the perception that "so many" have lost faith is rather skewed if viewed

through the DU filter. DU is generally quite a lot more progessive than the Democratic Party.

[BzaDem]

14. Some have no problem enabling Republican election victories as long as they "vote their conscience."

They don't particularly care about who is in office or what policies pass, as long as they sufficiently soothe their own conscience. It's all about them.

(But I wouldn't characterize it as "so many" -- not only are they a tiny minority of the Democratic party and even the liberal Democrats -- they are the smallest such minority in 50 years.)

[griffi94]

20. is that the same small minority

that threw the house back to the gop.
for what it's worth, i don't think it's ever a bad idea to vote your conscience.
when you give that up you've basically started seeing this as a team sport.

[BzaDem]

22. Actually, it was centrist independents who gave the House back to the GOP.

Though it's interesting you would imply otherwise. Your post is a perfect example how there's really little difference between a Republican-victory-enabler on the left and a Republican-victory-enabler on the right.

[griffi94]

24. well i don't lock-step

and i don't vote for candidates who i don't feel represent my interests.

[BzaDem]

25. You just enable candidates who represent your interests even less. n/t

[griffi94]

27. well since the outcome is the same

why shouldn't i vote my conscious.

[BzaDem]

32. So Justice Alito and Justice Sotomayor vote the same way? Do you like the Citizens United decision?

[griffi94]

36. can't say as of yet

but there is more to it than supreme court picks.
for me too many of the presidents policies are just too much business as usual and go along to get along politics.
that wasn't what he was selling as a candidate.
if people are losing faith in him maybe you should question what he's doing to cause that, since most of the people here on du were on fire for him just 2 years ago.

[BzaDem]

39. Still not quite sure why you would prefer a Republican who appoints justices that support Citizens

United, than a Democrat who appoints justices that actually voted against Citizens United.

[griffi94]

45. because as much as you seem to not get it

for many people here on the ground the supreme court picks are a distant issue.
the folks i'm talking about have lost their jobs and in many cases their homes. the jobs they do have frequently don't cover their bills. but at least wall strret is making record profits and and while social security and medicare may have an uncertain future the important thing is to get that deficit down, and in the spirit of getting the deficit down obama has said he'd consider extending the bush taxcuts for the top 2%.

sorry but issues like supreme cour piscks take a very distant backseat to being able to eat and sleep indoors.

[BzaDem]

49. OK, you don't think justices are that important. Fine. What other issue are Republicans better on

than Democrats -- so much better that you would be willing to enable them over a Democrat who would appoint justices that vote against Citizens United?

[griffi94]

54. they're not better on anything

but there not enough worse to get me to blindly vote for wholly owned candidate a over wholly owned candidate b.

the goddamned lock-step rah rah team sport politics is why we're so very very fucked now.
had the middle and lower class looked...really looked at what the repubs and bush were doing nobody would have voted for them...hell ron paul is better bt comparison.

and now the dems are doing about the same shit...it's not as blatantly offensive as the gop, but it's still taking care of the rich on the backs of the poor and middle class.

i won't support that...i'll vote my conscious because that's all i can do and when the whole thing finally goes to hell well i can know i did the right thing instead of voting for the "don't suck quite as bad" candidate who got me to the same destination as the really "sucky candidate" only it took a little bit longer.

the country desperately needs fdr not bill clinton.

[BzaDem]

59. But you aren't benefiting at all from enabling a worse candidate.

You are just forcing Democrats to move FURTHER right to make up for your lost vote (with the vote of a centrist independent).

So by voting your "conscience," you not only get Republican candidates - you result in a further right Democratic party as well. In addition to a Citizens United world which builds Corporate influence on elections (preventing future progressives from getting anywhere).

[frylock]

65. the republican party was on life support..

instead of putting the boot to their necks, obama decided to lend a helping hand. now, tell us all about the republican enablers again.

[Vincardog]

15. Because when Obama came on the stage we needed a STRONG resolute Democratic LEADER

to shove the GOP and all their asinine 'conservative' policies firmly down the toilet.
What we got was an appeaser who appears genetically incapable of opposing anyone,
other that the LIberals on his own team.
He does this while giving pretty speeches
mouthing the words we want to hear and
engaging in policies dynamically opposed to the action we NEED.

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. Look in any direction. n/t

[spin]

18. Many of us voted for Obama because of healthcare reform ...

We pay more than any other country in the world for what is actually inferior healthcare.



The end result of his reform is a heathcare system that we cost us even more and still will not be as good as healthcare in other nations.

Question: Would you trade your heathcare system for what our Congress passed?

[murray hill farm]

19. What's this "everything fixed already"?

I am really tired of that meme! It is a way of saying "shut up" and as if any dissappointment or dissatisfaction is because we had totally unreasonable expectations of our President. This is not the case. This is not what we are feeling. What we want is for him to stand up and be the strong leader that he led us to expect he would be. We want him to stand strong for the people. We want him to lead..and to lead strong for us. Don't tell me that what I want is "everything fixed already". No one expects that...and it is an insult!

[gateley]

44. Well put. You speak for me. nt

[pscot]

60. Well said.

[veganlush]

21. It is the combination

of huge potential with no concept of the need to fight

[ProSense]

23. This MLK quote

was posted here

"Unfortunately, when hope diminishes, the hate is often turned most bitterly toward those who originally built up the hope." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King

It's spot on, given that a lot of the criticism of the President always points back to his campaign rhetoric and promise of hope.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. I never had any to lose. He ran as a professional centrist politician and is governing like one.

Big on slogans and compromises with the repugs and little else.

[ProSense]

30. So

you're not outraged, shocked and/or surprised? You expected this outcome that seems to have left some people outraged, shocked and/or surprised?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

33. Nope. Merely disgusted and dismayed that so many bought the BS.

But, I've been around long enough to know that salesmanship beats principles most of the time.

[laughingliberal]

28. How is your situation different from a bunch of progressives who thought the President was on their

...side watching him now work for tax cuts for billionaires while millions drop into poverty and spearheading an effort to cut our social safety net?

I mean, really? Take a look at his 'historic' health care plan. You'd like to trade?

[Amonester]

29. harper did not fool (a majority of) the Canadian public into believing

he was a moderate.

That is a lie.

A minority of the Canadian public knows he is a sold-out pol and they still have no problem voting for him and his cronies.

The problem is, the majority of the Canadian public cannot find a 'not-sold-out' and 'united' alternative (yet).

[glarius]

61. I don't agree with you.....I stand by what I said....He fooled

enough people to get enough votes. He's a very wily opportunist. Most Canadians are unaware that earlier on he talked before right-wing American groups making fun of Canada as being a "socialist (I believe he said failed socialist) state and proud of it!"
And I don't appreciate being called a liar.

[FSogol]

31. Americans don't have the patience to wait for anything. They expect immediate results.

Almost half a century of Republican fuck ups and everyone gets mad because Obama can't change course in 18 months. Very sad, really.

:shrug:

[laughingliberal]

35. Yeah and when they're hungry and losing their shelter, they NEVER quit whining. Sheesh! nt

[griffi94]

41. damned homeless hungry whiners

will just have to wait their turn...i mean damn don't they know there are billionaires who
are about to have to pay more in taxes. don't they realize the gop will take their homes and jobs.

:sarcasm:

[treestar]

34. I don't think it's really so many

80% or more of Democrats are still OK with Obama. It is easy on the internet to make something appear bigger than it is.

[DainBramaged]

37. Polls, great when you agree with them..........

:eyes:


I completely disagree, and people who keep quoting this poll will condemn the poll taker when they disagree, say when 80% aren't OK.

[treestar]

53. Er, no.

But it's 80% or so now.

[Amonester]

38. More than 80% of Republikkkans were still with bush until...

Katrina destroyed New Orleans.

[Greyhound]

42. Not paying attention or just determinedly ignorant?

We are not PO'ed that he hasn't "fixed everything already", we are pissed that he has gone the opposite direction and not only made it worse, but ensured that the "errors" have been embedded into the law.

For example, the Health Insurance Industry Profit Protection Act didn't just not improve health care, it ensure that the primary cause of the problems cannot be removed.

[JustAnotherGen]

43. I don’t and did not

Expect him to ‘wave a wand’ and fix things. There are three branches of government that needed to get their shit together the past two years.

Health Insurance
I understand the Health Insurance reform was ‘something’ – but it wasn’t Medicare For All. A simple structured way to allow citizens to purchase Medicare. I work in Telecom (wireless) and I’m telling you – it would have been simple to:

1. Create a new “Product” (assign a new billing code in the Medicare billing system to each individuals SSN)

2. Under that Product Code offer 3 options/sub products. Heavy User, Medium User, Light User.

3. These three sub products are simple billing codes to make it very cheap for a 22 year old to buy health insurance and more expensive for a 48 year old – but still offer a LOWER rate to the 48 year old than what they would EVER be insulted with by the ‘Free market’ . . . unless the Free Market realizes they have to lower their prices to be ‘competitive’.

Issue Health Insurance Cards
Bill ‘Customer’s
Provide a way for Doctors to submit health care claims just they do for Cigna, BCBS, etc. etc.

I’m in product management so I see how this is a very simple Go To Market that from the date of ‘Finance Approval’ could have been rolled out in 6-8 weeks.

Bush Tax Cuts

The fact that this even has to be negotiated is beyond me. It’s simple. Let the whole freaking thing expire and hammer home to the American people every single day: They passed it by ways and means that REQUIRED us to sunset it because it is NOT deficit neutral.

Poverty/Unemployment
Most complex, but while the Democratics in D.C. are dicking around our population of HUMAN BEINGS living in poverty every day continues to expand. We should be ashamed of ourselves as progressives and as Americans . . . but we have a leader that is not telling the Teaps that HE is the DECIDER and they WILL extend Unemployment benes, and they will NOT take out their Deficit Hawk b.s. on the last, the least, and certainly ‘lost in their eyes’ in the country.

How do I tell those that are members of DU that struggle every day to heat their homes and feed their families that they should just look around for bowls to fill up with all of those roses. I will vote Democratic until the day I die – but right now? I have a right to be a little bit po’d that they have not behaved like big vicious bullies the past two years to make sure that NO ONE falls through the cracks in America.

By American standards I’m doing aok. Good job, highly paid, health insurance, savings to get me through a few years should I lose my job, an education, speak several languages so I’m not ‘trapped in America’, etc. etc. But it means nothing to me if I can see the hunger in people’s eyes and know that people still can’t afford to eat, go to the doctor, heat their homes, educate their children, etc. etc.


I’ll be honest – he was not my first choice. I was an Edwards supporter in 2007. But by February of 2008 – rest assured – I was onboard. 100% onboard with the program. Because I truly believed this guy had the ability to give the idiots on the right hell. And he DOES! He just needs to be a bit more abrasive and adamant about HIS platform and agenda.

I’d rather nothing get done the next two years if the only things that are going to get done are to make the poor poorer, and to grow their ranks by decimating the middle class. Status quo is looking good right now.

This tax cut bullshit? It’s just adding to my ire right now.

[NNN0LHI]

46. I haven't lost faith in President Obama

He has done his best.

The problem is that we have a country full of idiots. Remember when Bush had a +90% approval rating? Those are the same Americans we have now. 90% imbeciles.

See what we are up against down here?

Don

[FSogol]

48. Same here. n/t

[Lisa0825]

66. +1

[okieinpain]

47. I think he told folks he could walk on water. n/t.

[peace13]

51. Funny, I remember him saying he couldn't do it without the American people.

Funny how the memory works.

[laughingliberal]

55. Sure. And I was stupid enough to think that meant he'd listen to them.

However, I now see him working with the Republicans to make sure the billionaires get their tax break while 53% of the public want them to expire.

And then there was the widespread support in Congress and among the public for a deep audit of the Fed and his administration lobbied to water it down as much as possible.

He only cares what the people think when they agree with him.

[okieinpain]

57. hahahahaha. good one. n/t.

[lovemydog]

50. Positively 4th Street

'You say you've lost your faith but that's not where it's at. You had no faith to lose and you know it.' - Bobby D. I understand the frustrations and disappointments those further left have with Obama. But positive change occurs over the long term when enough people recognize that small steps do happen. I believe our president's heart and mind and actions are in the right place. Extreme cynicism - and giving up - is where republicans want us to be. I'm not falling for that. Thank you for your post.

[FiveGoodMen]

56. "small steps do happen"

But those steps have to be in the correct direction or they make things worse.

Surely everyone can understand the distinction between "not fast enough" and "Wait! You're going the wrong way!"

[JamesA1102]

58. Most here at DU

were never Obama supporters to begin with.

[Ikonoklast]

68. Or Democrats, for that matter.

This site does not reflect the opinions of the vast majority of Democrats that still support the president.

[JamesA1102]

71. Very true nt

[Cattledog]

62. He' gonna be a 1 term Pres so

you can have him in 2013

[frylock]

64. it's disturbing..

[TexasObserver]

67. He seems to have only one strategy: give in.

And not to the left, but to the right.

We are disheartened because the gulf between who he said he was and who he really is gets wider and deeper every month.

[jillan]

70. People who are blind to that fact are not paying attention.

Obama is turning out to be the biggest wuss ever. Why did he run for President if he can't handle confrontation?

[Godhumor]

69. DU is representative of nothing more than DU.

We're fringe here--I wouldn't read anything into what anyone rants about.

[sendero]

72. Because he is a turncoat sellout vichy Dem..

... who is utterly devoid of any usefulness beyond rhetoric. He talks pretty, THAT'S IT.

Talk is worth a bucket of warm spit. And that is all Obama has produced so far.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

73. Stephen Harper is a right-wing bastard, who fooled the Canadian public into believing he was a moder

You've already answered your own question.

The rhetoric of Obama the candidate and the actions of Obama the President don't intersect often. Presently, MSNBC is playing clips of Obama the candidate promising to bring to an end tax cuts for the rich. At this point, we will be happy if they simply expire. Now, it appears we are going to learn that he has already cut a deal with the Rs that will involve extending the tax cuts for the rich for another 2 years.

But that's not the worst of it. When he was negotiating away a robust public option to the health care bill, he claimed that he never campaigned advocating for a public option at all. Again, MSNBC played those statements and juxtaposed them against the promises he was making as a candidate in which he clearly stated that he would advocate for a plan that included a public option.

[in_cog_ni_to]

74. Well, after 8 years of the idiot-in-chief and Cheney

one would think Democrats had learned you CANNOT play nice with repukes. It's just a given. That's what Obama believes he can do and it's impossible. Why can't he see it? Everyone else knows you cannot give those people an INCH or they will screw you over royally. I'm so sick of wishy-washy Democrats. Give me a bunch of people like Bernie Sanders who knows full well how repukes operate. Enough of the placating the Rwers! I want a REAL Democrat who has the balls to stand up and fight the repuke party with everything they have.