Obama isn't the problem. Republicans are.

[mtnsnake]

For those who are judging Obama after 2 short years and entertaining thoughts that someone else might have been better for the job, didn't we all agree that whoever replaced War Criminal Bush was going to face a nearly impossible task of fixing what was wrong with this country in a relatively short matter of time? In 8 dreadful years, Bush and Company left this country in such a shambles that things might never be quite the same, let alone get better in 2 short years.

You have every right to have second thoughts or to think Obama isn't perfect, but let's at least keep the major blame upon the people who actually deserve it, the uncooperative Republicans and their ilk.

[ORDagnabbit]

1. no I dont buy that. If he had a spine and really wanted to fight for progressive values no amount

of uncooperative republicans would stand in his way.

[Cant trust em]

3. Actually they only need 41 republicans in the senate to stand in his way. nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

50. No. They only need ONE. It only takes one senator to block legislation.

[TheWraith]

13. Really? And what presidential power allows him to override Congress?

I suggest a Google search: "checks and balances."

[niceypoo]

26. Your implying he should have no spine

Because the rules don't allow it? President Johnson strong armed Democrats in congress to get Medicare passed with zero GOP support, Clinton passed his 1993 economic plan with 51 votes by getting Democrats in line. Spine = results.

[TheWraith]

44. And you're implying that Obama has a magic wand that changes the facts.

Johnson had 68 Democrats in the Senate and 295 in the House when Medicare was passed. And you're wrong, he DID get Republican support on Medicare.

No one who advocates the "spine! spine!" line of "reasoning" can explain to me exactly HOW one passes bills that require 60 votes for cloture when there's 42 Republicans in lock-step against us. Answer me that, and maybe I'll take your point seriously.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

51. It's not that I agree with you, but LBJ had a 67-seat, filibuster-proof Democratic majority.

Obama doesn't. But aside from that, please see my post above. It describes well where I stand on this issue.

If the House bill makes it through the Senate and comes before the president, he had better sign it. Don't send any "compromise" crap from this so-called commission that he is creating! Sign the damn bill.

#2, if Reid refuses to force Republicans to filibuster, I'm done with the Democratic Party. PERIOD!! Make them stand there and filibuster, for godsakes!!!

[uponit7771]

54. REPUBLICANS CHANGED THE SENATE RULES!!!

[AlinPA]

19. So he just makes laws? Come on. nt

[Kweli4Real]

22. That may be true ...

But what about the uncooperative Democrats that populate both houses of congress?

Say what you will about spinelessness, but PRESIDENT Obama has more spine than any number of us keyboard critics. And that goes double for those of that would lay blame at his feet because he "keeps attempting bipartisanship", or because he "doesn't cheerlead loud enough", or because he "negotiates against himself"; rather than where the blame belongs, the Democrats in the House and the Senate (though moreso in the Senate). That's how this democratic republic of our's is suppose to work - the President cheerleads/uses the bully pulpit and CONGRESS writes and votes on legislation.

[Phx_Dem]

25. You don't fight for him. Why should he fight for you?

Not only do you not fight for him, all you do is criticize him and call him names.

[niceypoo]

27. He doesn't fight for us

...so we stopped fighting for him. Not the other way around as you imply.

[displacedvermoter]

45. Again, for abut the 10th time, i ask how the fuck do you know

what any of the people on DU do or do not do to fight for progressive causes in this country. That is clearly not necessarily the same as "fighting for him", but jesus people. How presumptuous to think that people are hooked to their computer day after day doing nothing but hurting the great man by disagreeing with his policies here on DU!~

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

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

[Smashcut]

52. Oh please. Being president isn't his "cross to bear"

He RAN for the job, remember? He got the glory, now it's time for him to deliver the goods.

I am so sick of this bullshit that we should be so grateful to have him on this planet and that it's our fault he's doing things like shielding Bush war criminals from liability and appointing enemies of SS and Medicare to cut spending.

GMAFB.

[Fruittree]

31. Granted he could yell, refuse to yield at all and put up a public

fight against republicans and accomplish very little. It might feel good to those here who just want to see a fight but for those of us who want to see some accomplishments what he's doing, while admittedly frustratingly slow sometimes,is appreciated.

[Aramchek]

39. what you are describing is a dictatorship, not a democracy.

[butterfly77]

41. but the bluedogs will..

why doesn't the base ever focus on these bluedogs who are basically Republicons in many respects.

[LonePirate]

2. By not standing up to the Repubs, Obama let them run the country and win the media war

I call that tacitly supporting them by not speaking out against them.

[mtnsnake]

4. If only the rest of our Democrats would all get on board together, his job might be a bit easier

Maybe if he wasn't getting such a mixed message from some powerful Democrats in Congress, he might be able to stand up to the repukes with a vengeance. Take the tax issue for example. It's got to be a little tougher for Obama to stand up to them and knock them silly when some of our own senators are suggesting we compromise with the devils themselves.

[Bluerthanblue]

18. you make good points-

hope people listen and think about this.

:hi:

[Fruittree]

32. So, he did this all by himself? Interesting...

[jefferson_dem]

5. That much is patently obvious to anyone who is actually paying attention...

and not blinded by their own cynicism.

Shame a small lot of squeaky wheels have lost sight of who the real political enemies are. Perhaps they'll come around. If not ... fuckem'.

[laconicsax]

6. So is Obama not responsible for pushing Spain to drop its investigations into *'s war crimes?

http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/12/wikileaks-cable-obama-quashed-torture-investigation

[krispos42]

7. True, but incomplete

Obama is not part of the problem, but he's also not really a part of the solution either.

[katandmoon]

8. Obama doesn't appear to think the Repugs are a problem at all. He can't appease them hastily enough.

[DrToast]

9. Now convince Obama of that.*

*

[ibegurpard]

12. indeed

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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

[COLGATE4]

11. More 'magical thinking'. Those who are so invested in the idea

of the Obama that they projected upon the blank slate of candidate Obama can't accept that what they got was not what they voted for. If you're going to be POTUS you'd better have the balls to do the job. Obama doesn't.

[Exilednight]

14. "didn't we all agree that whoever replaced War Criminal Bush was going to face a nearly ............

impossible task of fixing what was wrong with this country in a relatively short matter of time?"

No. Obama campaigned on the premise that he was the person to get it done. Either he can, or he can't. He has about six months left before the presidential primaries begin to ramp up. He can either get it done, or he can get out of the way. Being president does not allow one to say "I gave it the old college try". Results are the only things that matter.

It was Obama who said that he would rather be a one term president who accomplished his agenda than be a two term president who did not. The way things are looking, he may accomplish neither.

[leftynyc]

15. Losing while putting up a good fight

is something I can live with. All I see is laying down and letting the pukes walk all over him while he begs them to talk to him. It's pathetic and hard to watch.

[dionysus]

16. you know who's also a problem...

Brewer and Shipley!!

:hi:

[bigwillq]

17. Yes, we realize that. Does Obama?

:shrug:

[mtnsnake]

21. I would surely hope so, but that's a very good question just the same

Maybe Obama has so much faith in himself to get the job done using bipartisan efforts, maybe he's such a believer in our system, or maybe Republicans are so good at pulling the wool over peoples eyes that maybe it hasn't hit home with him yet just how futile it is to try and work hand in hand with today's corrupt Republicans to get anything done.

Hopefully, he realizes the scope of your question and hopefully things will eventually turn around by the time his first term is up. Hey, we're all hoping he and ALL Democrats get tougher with the Republican enemy. Good question, though. Did I use a variation of the word hope more than once?

[S_E_Fudd]

20. Obama's blunder is not realizing what the Republicans are...like wild animals...

You always see stories about folks who have taken in wild animals as pets - Lions, Tigers, Bears etc - believing they could be domesticated, that their natural behavior could be trained out of them. Things go along well for a while until one day they are found, mauled to death.

Republicans are ALWAYS going to act like Republicans...to expect them to behave any differently is ludicrous and naive...and that is precisely what Obama has done...

[rocktivity]

23. The problem is that Obama and the Dems aren't even TRYING

to tell everyone that Obama isn't the problem; Republicans are.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[RandomKoolzip]

24. It's time to face up: Obama is a placeholder.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

29. Placeholder for whom? for what?

:shrug:

So, maybe he really is playing "chess", just not how some of us thought he was? :shrug:

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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

[tekisui]

48. Tsk, tsk.No personal attacks.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

43. That was a dumb question on my part

I should've anticipated such a response. Are you suggesting (anybody claiming that Obama is a Republican or at least a DINO) that, if that is indeed the case, 81% of Democrats are actually o.k. with having a Democratic President who is, in fact, a closeted Republican? Or are we just clueless about his true political affiliation and intentions? :shrug:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

28. I've never seen so much blame heaped on the Democrats

for what the Republicans have frustrated/obstructed during the past 2 years let alone the overall lack of acknowledgment of their actual accomplishments by just about everybody. The Republicans seem to have a great "gig" going, really. They frustrate/obstruct the Democrats' legislative agenda in Congress and the Democrats not only see many of their agenda items defeated but then they get eaten alive by their own supporters and blamed for being "weak", "caving"- and this even happens when the Democrats actually ACCOMPLISH something. President Obama and the Democrats are getting trashed and smeared from both sides. If I were a low information voter hearing all of these voices here at DU and throughout the liberal blogosphere trashing President Obama and the Democrats for their perceived *failures* and faults 24-7-365, I'm not sure that I'd be very motivated to get out and vote for them, to say nothing of working on a campaign. If it's this bad within the next two years, then we can pretty much write off winning another four years in the WH and spend that time moaning and complaining about how awful President (insert worst possible Republican candidate) is while he/she is busy dismantling all of the progress we've actually made so far and takes us back to the hell we were in before if not worse. Whatever we might be doing under those circumstances, it probably won't be sitting around feeling smugly satisfied that we "sent a message" to the Democrats and most of our Democratic leaders probably won't suddenly be swooning to the left either.

[young but wise]

33. +1

[vduhr]

34. What people here don't understand is that.....

the message they think they sent to Obama and the Dems is not the message the Republicans heard. What the Republicans heard was the American people don't like what the Dems are doing, but they like what the Republicans will do. Now the Republicans are energized and will continue to fiercely block all legislation so they can push their selfish agenda through. By not voting to keep the super-majority, you backed down just like people here on DU are accusing Obama of doing. Welcome to the consequences of your actions for the next few years folks!

[RandomKoolzip]

36. The republicans, when in control, enact sweeping changes, get seemingly ALL

their legislation passed by any means at their disposal, brook no possibility of bipartisanship, steamroll any obstructions (not that any are ever really put up by the Dems) and control their message like a tight ship. Never mind that what they propose and pass genuinely dmamges and hurts Americans - makes the lives of ordinary people more difficult.

By contrast, the Democrats propose gradual, incremental changes when massive systemic changes are needed, grasp desperately across the aisle seeking conservative approval, and allow the other side to frame their positions, their accomplishemnts, and their message.

And you wonder why liberals are so pissed at the Dems?! We have no representation in government.

[uponit7771]

55. +1

[Ganja Ninja]

35. No the bluedog infiltrators in the Democratic party are the problem.

They have rendered the party impotent.

[KansasVoter]

37. I wish Obama would mention that daily then!

[mtnsnake]

38. After the way Republicans have treated him for 2 yrs, it would serve him well to do exactly that.

I hope he starts mentioning it daily, too. I really do.

[craigmatic]

42. They're both problems. Obama enables and emboldens them.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

49. If he doesn't fight for these middle class tax cuts, vis-a-vis the House bill and the one

coming before the Senate, I'm done with him. We can't blame the Republicans for this if our own Democratic leaders don't stand up for one of the core values of the party. In other words, he is planning this commission on the tax cut to come up with some compromise. Why? The House passed middle class tax cuts. It'll go the Senate. If it makes it out of the Senate, he had better damn well sign the bill. No more of this "commission" stuff!!!

This is a core issue of our party. If the president is too cowardly to stand up for this principle, then I can no longer stand up for him. And that's the truth, I'm sorry.

Same goes for Reid. He had better damn well make sure that the Republicans filibuster this bill. Make them stay all night long! Make them wear fucking diapers, too! No bathroom breaks!!

[mazzarro]

53. My Problem With Obama Is The Kid Glove Approach To Rethugs

I do understand and appreciate the immensity of the problems confronting him and his administration. But, I mean, but give me a f***king break! Do not be so soft that every back-wood rethug is taking a piss at you! In the words of some recently defeated teapublicans "Man Up!".

[sudopod]

56. Look Mom!

It's a false dichotomy!

[mstinamotorcity]

57. Let them blame whoever they want!!!!

Yes the Republicans have done a job on this country in the last fifty or sixty years. They have systematically fucked it up on every level. But as we point fingers we must remember what our parents would tell us when we were children. Its not nice to point your finger at someone and judge because there are three fingers pointing back at you!!!!

For the last two years all I have heard is how much our President has failed the American People. What about how the American people has failed him and our selves.We asked for CHANGE in The White House and Washington D.C. And we voted. But that is all most of us have done. The rest are mumbling and complaining about what it is he hasn't done. No matter what obstacles he faces. Its his fault. Well its not his fault when we keep doing the same old things expecting different results. How have we CHANGED to show we are the different party?? Both Parties have corrupt and selfish individuals in them. But how have we been different?? If we expect CHANGE it starts with us.

[handmade34]

58. I certainly don't blame President Obama

for not getting things done because of Republican interference... But, I hoped my President would stand strong against the naysayers...