Capitol Hill Blue Forums Capitol Hill Blue Opinions CHB Columnists Obama: Too much style, too little substance?

I think that should explain your statement. It is obvious to me that what people consider as centrist are really conservative and thus anyone to their left is considered leftist and thus their considered opinion.

I guess if these folks saw a real leftist in power they would sh&t in their pants and fall dead.

Using all resources available to government to attend to the welfare of our nation is not an option or leftist agenda but is an obligation dictated by the Constitution.

Steve:

It wasn't so much of a case of being pissed off, although the "get your facts straight Mr. Thompson" did bother me because it was not true and the tone was not what I expect on this forum. That aside, this was a difficult column to write because I expected so much from Obama. I voted for him and now I feel like I've been had. As I said in the beginning of the column, it is still early but the indicators bother me a great deal: the continuation of rendition, the flip-flop on lobbyists and the desire for secrecy.

As one who usually writes in a bombastic style, I tried to temper my observations in this case because I still want to hope for the best and I based the comment about the public opinion on the bank bailout on the poll. I cited my source and I noted that the public still backed Obama on the other issues. To have that same article thrown back in my face with a snide remark to get my facts straight when my facts and citation were in order did piss me off. It also hurt.

--Doug

How much did Jesus accomplish in a whole lifetime?...

And did you really expect Obama to get it all done already?Less than three months, and he hasn't fulfilled all of his promises...

An obvious failure!

While I respect the old... I look to the young for they will own the debt, the risk, the danger of a much smaller world.

They are not dumb... not naive... not all dedicated to the preservation of pot, rap, and free sex. Anyone who has not been in the company of our future leaders, may believe this, but in the face of a future that is increasingly looking to be screwed up, the overwhelming feeling is one of hope. Right now, that "hope" is bound up with President Obama.

So, yeah... I don't like Geithner, or Summers, and I wish the lobbyists would go away. I despise the strength of the MIC, the idea that elections last 4 years, and that there isn't a single member of Congress who is "pure". I don't trust the CIA, or even the FBI. I want to nationalize the banks. I want strong CAFE standards. I don't want to give more of my kids money away to vested interests... and I want to tax the no-risk Capitalist billionaires at 95%.

If Obama wants to talk to the Heads of State of non friendly countries, so be it. If he talks to the families and children of our enemies, it's ok with me. If Michelle has bare arms or a colored sweater, or touches the Queen, I don't care. If we don't bomb Iran or North Korea, I'm willing to wait awhile to see if change is possible. If we don't support Israel 100% on whatever they want, or do, I'll be ready to listen to both sides before going to war.

I think we're wrong as hell to be giving away our wealth to fix the economic problems, but also know that I'm not smart enough to know how to fix the problem.

Am I totally in agreement with the president's plans? No. Will I vote for him in four year? I don't know.

I think that the President is a human being, fraught with the same kind of weaknesses that most of us have. I also think that he has done a magnificent job in walking a thin line... and so far not reneged on the basic tenets that he set forth during his campaign. Has he changed? Sure. If he did not adjust in the light of circumstances, I would be suspect of self confidence arrogance.

Now... here's are two questions that I'd like to see answered:

How would, could, should the President handle lobbyists?

How should he handle the "bipartisan" thing?

If you were in his position... How would you have handled the very things that you cited as being less than successful.

Don't come after me for the Jesus reference. It's hyperbole, but for good reason.

By the what?:-)
Yours,
Issodhos

Well, let's see. He is reported to have helped cater a wedding, He threw one heck of a picnic, He jump-started some fellow named Lazuras, He picked up a few buds along the way who didn't seem to really get it, He did some preaching, Oh! And He apparently offered himself up as a sacrifice for the sins of the world and thus made personal redemption available to any individual who so wished to accept it. It is also reported that he then arose from the dead and eventually made his way to cleaner more well-lighted place (tip of hat to Ernest H.)

It is apparently true that it took a "lifetime" for Him to manage it all, but then, He did not have the staff of thousands, the support of the multitudes, really, really big missiles, nor the near unlimited funds of a Caesar -- er President.:-)

But then, unless one viewed candidate Obama as some sort of messiah (and there were and are certainly some who gave every impression of doing so (perhaps no more so than himself);-)), one recognized him for the polished pol he is. He will do his bit of damage to America while continuing to serve the same masters the others served.
Yours,
Issodhos

Well, I guess we know where you stand, Iss!

It's time to pile on!!!

First of all, I didn't call Obama a failure. I said he has failed to live up to some of the promises he made.

How would I handle lobbyists? I'd stick with the promise to keep the out of my administration.

Bi-partisanship? I'd ignore the GOP leadership and work to build coalitions with moderate Republicans. If rebuffed, I'd try again. I wouldn't stop and run everything through the leadership of the Democrats in Congress. Building coalitions in a Congress divided by bi-partisanship won't be easy but it is impossible if you simply stop trying.

All I've ever really expected out of any elected official is that they be someone who keeps their word. Too many don't. Clinton didn't. Neither didn't Bush. I had high hopes for Obama. He promised to be different, to be an agent of change. So far, he has failed to keep his word too many times. That's a bad start.

--Doug

so thats obamas first hundred days..

what did Jesus do?

Total disregard for the laws of inertia.
Short term perspective.

Other than that, pretty interesting prose. Could pass for "Buck" Henry over at CNN.

I hope for the same thing. That the platform presented would be the basis for the goals of the office. I look at this (for the present) as an intent to make changes. In my wildest imagination, I cannot conceive of any way to immediately stop the lobbying in Congress. At best, I would hope for some sincere ethics reform, but then, that is not the prerogative of the President. If we eliminate all who have dealt with lobbyists, there would be no one left. (sheesh... someone take issue with THAT!)

Without going item by item, I am hoping for directional change. I DO believe that this must start with rhetoric (but not "Empty " rhetoric). Explain... clearly... so that the people understand. Perhaps that's where Obama may be different. Even better than Clinton, Obama seems to be able to connect. Talk to the people first. Then listen. Somehow, I believe that he listens , too.

It looks to me as if this two way conversation is beginning to work. Not perfectly, but for an instance the withdrawal of some candidates upon disclosure of tax problems. Yes... Geithner made it through, and I for one didn't like that at all... but it stopped there. The firing of the GM CEO was a result of "listening". Hopefully, "listening" will change to bailout to some form of nationalization... a possibility that was not even considered a few weeks ago.

Medicare reform, reining in the MIC, budget restraint, earmarks, and tax increases for the wealthy were so far below the radar for the past decade that only dreamers would think that change could happen. Perhaps it won't happen, but so far, the possibility is still on the table. 80 days in, and still on the table.

435 Congressmen, 9 Supreme Court Justices, 1 President. Everyone is in place, the same way it has been for decades. We elected the president on the promise of "change". Certainly it would be nice to wave a magic wand, but it's really one man against the crowd. So far, I see President Obama as holding his own, and when I look around, I don't see anyone who would be doing much better. I liked what I heard before the election but don't expect 100%. If there are going to be changes, I'll listen to the why's.

And as to the main question?... I like the style, and don't think it has been too much. As to the substance? Seems to me to be too early to pass judgement.

That's just my opinion.