Another reason I’m so cynical about Obama is that he always clearly telegraphs what he plans to do, albeit in code words. That way, when he cuts a backdoor deal on Social Security and Medicare, he can say, “I told you what I was going to do”:
We know that churches and charities can often make more of a difference than a poverty program alone. We don’t want handouts for people who refuse to help themselves, and we don’t want bailouts for banks that break the rules. We don’t think government can solve all our problems. But we don’t think that government is the source of all our problems – any more than are welfare recipients, or corporations, or unions, or immigrants, or gays, or any other group we’re told to blame for our troubles.
Because we understand that this democracy is ours.
We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.
Translation: Here it comes, you selfish people.
Suze, as you know, I’ve commented on your blog for over 5 years now, and I’ve been a regular financial contributor (as best I can be as a 66 year old retiree) to your well being. But, I’m commenting now about the continuing narrative from you as to “why I’m always asked why I’m so cynical of Obama”.
Let’s be honest here. We are both left-leaning progressives who would have hoped that Obama could have kept the financial sky from falling in ’08. You were a Hillary supporter, and I voted for Barrack who, at time, I’ve called some very nasty names. Yes, I wished he’d have negotiated with the GOP in the fashion of LBJ. If he had, perhaps we wouldn’t be having the ongoing debate about some folks defecting to the Greens or staying home.
However, still staying within the realm of reality, do we really want to deal with a Romney/Ryan duo that, not only takes us back 50 years as a society on health care and specifically women’s issues, that not only CUTS social security and ELINIMINATES Medicare as we know it, that cuts out the Pell Grants ENTIRELY (which, BTW, allowed me to attain my Masters Degree)?
Moreover, Suze, I’m dissapointed that you seem to consistently overlook the good that our president has attepted to do in spite of overwhelming odds, and a public plan by the Senate minority leader to “defeat this president after one term”, no matter what it takes!
Surely, Suze, you never heard that type or reprehensible comment in your lifetime. I’m old enough—-as you are— to consider the political battles of the Kennedy/Nixon years and beyond, but let’s be clear, none of the presidents before or since had to deal with two wars (except FDR) and a Great Depression with NO help from the opposition. Tell me, please, after 911, when exactly did this contry begin to come together?
So, yeah, unemployment is still fucked up, people are still suffering (my family is among them), but I think it’s time to get on the right side of reality. You and I know Obama could have done some things better, and he has admitted some mistakes, but I won’t bother listening to you whining about why you have been apothetic towards his policies anymore.
Let’s support the BEST of all candidates we’ve had for president in almost 50 years, since LBJ, Barrack Obama! Don’t waste your vote unless you want to go find a job in China!