President Obama: History So Far

[TheSlyMoogle]

Yeah he has a way with words and a big smile. He's smart, funny, and a bit sarcastic.

I already liked him from the moment I saw him.

As far as how things are going now, we'll see. I mean obviously he made a lot of promises, and I believe that was stupid, but at the same time I really believe that Obama will follow through.

Most importantly I hope that he changes the education system of America. That is what I most want to see from his time in office. I feel like there are so many uneducated people, that things would be a lot better with some serious education. Of course society is geared as a way to keep the poor man poor, and it seems that when one of those rags to riches stories happens most of the time they forget the people still in rags who helped them to riches.



I hate the way America is right now. Don't know if you noticed.

[BreakABone]

I don't know if this is a trait everyone wants in their leader, but I do respect him for manning up to his own mistakes and not trying to lay the blame solely on his appointees.

Obama said he was "angry and disappointed" to lose Daschle and Nancy Killefer, who also withdrew her nomination today over a failure to pay some taxes. And the president also took part of the blame. "I appointed these folks. I think they are outstanding people. I think Tom Daschle as an example could have led this health-care effort ... better than just about anybody," the president remarked. "But as he acknowledged, this was a mistake. I don't think it was intentional on his part but it was a serious mistake. He owned up to it and ultimately made a decision that we couldn't afford the distraction, and I've got to own up to my mistake which is that, ultimately, it's important for this administration to send a message that there aren't two sets of rules -- you know, one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks who have to pay their taxes."

Obama later added, "I'm here on television saying I screwed up, and that's part of the era of responsibility. It's not never making mistakes; it's owning up to them and trying to make sure you never repeat them and that's what we intend to do." He also offered one more mea culpa: "[S]o, did I screw up in this situation? Absolutely and I'm willing to take my lumps, you know that's part of the job here. But I think it's important not to paint a broad brush here, because overall, not only have we gotten in place a -- functioning government in record time -- but overall the quality of [the other appointments] are outstanding."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archi...3/1779622.aspx

[manasecret]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

I don't know if this is a trait everyone wants in their leader, but I do respect him for manning up to his own mistakes and not trying to lay the blame solely on his appointees.

Good! I do like that. Now if he could just stop using fear to try to pass this "Stimulus Package" like a certain other president whose name I won't mention was keen on using, I'll be a little happier.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by manasecret

Good! I do like that. Now if he could just stop using fear to try to pass this "Stimulus Package" like a certain other president whose name I won't mention was keen on using, I'll be a little happier.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Obama is running into the same problem Clinton ran into in `92, and that is the fact that most Americans just aren't for more government control and spending, regardless of their voting habits. Obama isn't losing the battle when it comes to the message, they're losing the battle of ideas. The more people learn about this stimulus package, the more they hate it, and the polls show it.

Trying to rush a bill that doesn't really kick in for almost a year doesn't help matters either; it just makes people think you're trying to get one past them. I think if Obama had come out in favor of mediation instead of publicly supporting the hard-line stance of Pelosi, Reid, etc. he could have come out smelling like roses. Instead the bill he has endorsed has increased the public level of distrust of the government, not decreased it.

Instead, his shiny exterior is beginning to dull a bit and his cries of partianship are reflecting more on him than the GOP.