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SpinnerofTales -> RE: Where is Obama going? (9/6/2009 8:48:42 PM)
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quote:
Ditto. The man is a completely blank slate in my eyes; President Tabula Rasa, an entirely unknown quantity. In retrospect, I wouldn't have - couldn't possibly have - voted any other way last fall, but at the same time I do feel very strongly that I was badly misled about the man for whom I was voting, and that I erred in my own evaluation of the man as well. He is definitely not who I thought he was; my biggest concern at this point is - just how far off was I? I'm not looking forward to finding out, frankly. The trends he's showing thus far are not at all encouraging. ORIGINAL: ThatDamnedPanda
I hate to inject a note of optimism into the conversation, but I don't think Obama quite as rudderless as the above postings seem to indicate. I do think that he is a big change from what we have had for the last eight years and that is jangling people. George Bush, agree or disagree with his policies, was very much the "My way or the highway" executive. If not being able to have things done as he wanted them done, he was willing to stay in place and out stubborn the opposition. Obama's managerial style, however, seems quite well summed up in his oft stated comment "We must not let the perfect become the enemy of the necessary." Coming from an environment where changing one's mind on any issue or action was branded "flip-flopping", this can lead to an unsettling image of inconsistency.
Next, I think a good deal of the perceived problem with who Obama is may be related to the differences between running for the office of President and serving in the office of President. I think this would be the same if he had been a longer serving senator or even a governor. Bill Clinton, for example ran into a complete inability to lift the ban on gays in the military, settling for the "don't ask, don't tell policy" and couldn't pass any bill pertaining to healthcare. Other than his tax program, Bush was unable to advance his agenda in any major way until 9/11 gave him a short lived mandate.The office of the presidency is such a unique position that only after attaining office can it's intricacies be discovered.
On the positive side, I think that Obama is a very intelligent man. While one might argue that he desires government to do too much, I think he is truly interested in correcting some problems he views in the way the economy is run, the way healthcare is administered and our diplomatic situation with the rest of the world.
On the negative side, I think he is used to coalition building. This doesn't work as well from the Oval Office as it does from a state or national senate seat. This seems to have resulted in difficulties not only with republicans, but with the congressmen and senators in his own party. I think a lot of the prospects for his successful presidency depend on him learning when to grow a set and at least whip his own troops into sake.
I think he has good intentions. I think that he may or may not be able to live up to them. I also think this country needed a course correction left after eight years of hard right. Whether Obama will bring us back into center remains to be seen. If not we may need a correction right in four or eight years.
And so it goes.
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