Does Everybody Hate Pres. Obama?

[ugabuga]

Does Everybody Hate Pres. Obama?

Article below provides support for my long-time thesis that the current president is a moderate who has no ideological constituency.

Barack Obama learned how to ?do? politics in Chicago & Illinois, first as a community organizer & then as a state representative. He learned the art of the deal--compromise--giving all parties something. He learned mutual back scratching & log rolling. It turns out that compromise no longer works in polarized national politics.

Obama's politics fall short of the ideological purity desired by the Right & Left.

Right-wing & Left-wing politicians have a constituency, but moderate politicians have no constituencies.

Robert Gibbs attacks the fringe losers of the Left - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com

 

[passin thru]

I believe it's "polarized national politics" that no longer works. "Hyperpolarized" would be more accurate, in fact. There's very little civil discourse or disagreement anymore, just knee-jerk labelling the other guy as right/wrong, liberal/conservative, D/R.

Someone who ends up compromising is not inherently lacking substance, or a constituency.

 

[scooterbug44]

I think the President has a large ideological constituency - but being reasonable and working to please a broad spectrum doesn't make for good ratings/sell ad space. :roll:

 

[30ashopper]

I don't think anyone hates him, at least I hope not. A good portion of the country doesn't agree with the policies he's promoted and signed into law though.

I can't speak for the far left though, those folks have some pretty high expectations and may feel disgruntled.

Personally I respect the man for what he's accomplished.

 

[Andy A]

Does Everybody Hate Pres. Obama?

Article below provides support for my long-time thesis that the current president is a moderate who has no ideological constituency.

Barack Obama learned how to ?do? politics in Chicago & Illinois, first as a community organizer & then as a state representative. He learned the art of the deal--compromise--giving all parties something. He learned mutual back scratching & log rolling. It turns out that compromise no longer works in polarized national politics.

Obama's politics fall short of the ideological purity desired by the Right & Left.

Right-wing & Left-wing politicians have a constituency, but moderate politicians have no constituencies.

Robert Gibbs attacks the fringe losers of the Left - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com

I love your thoughtful and concise analysis of President Obama's method of governing, though I personally believe it to be totally flawed in its analysis.
No one I know "hates" President Obama. It is just that to some of us, as much as we wanted him to succeed, he has proved totally inept as a leader when we are in a period where one is what everyone desires and seeks. The fact that he is a poor leader, arrogant and is still campaigning and evidently does not realize he has won the Presidency, does not bode well for him at this point in time.

 

[Will B]

Your question does raise another pertinent question...

If he is truly a moderate democrat, then, whose agenda is the country following? The stuff coming out of the Legislative branch is anything but moderate, IMHO. So, does that mean that Obama is calling the shots, or are Reid and Pelosi calling the shots? If it's the latter, it pretty much reduces Obama to an insignificant talking head.

Personally, I feel sorry for the guy. He's in, seemingly, over his head and has built an inner circle of people who are political lightning rods. The rest of his term is going to be a "damned if you do damned if you don't" scenario.

 

[Lynnie]

I can only speak for myself. Hate is much, much too strong a word. However, he is not my favorite president during my voting lifetime........by a long shot. Some of his moves/decisions, I have no respect for and others I do.....pretty normal for any Presidency I'd say.

Maybe the far left is ticked because they thought they'd get more than what they already have. Still two and a half years to go and trillions out there to rack up during that time. They need to relax a bit and enjoy the ride like the rest of us.

 

[ugabuga]

Your question does raise another pertinent question...

If he is truly a moderate democrat, then, whose agenda is the country following? The stuff coming out of the Legislative branch is anything but moderate, IMHO. So, does that mean that Obama is calling the shots, or are Reid and Pelosi calling the shots? If it's the latter, it pretty much reduces Obama to an insignificant talking head.

The Health Insurance Reform Act that came out of Pelosi's & Reid's Congress, after incorporation of several hundred amendments from the Repubs is, overall, a bit to the right of Richard Nixon's proposal. It leaves our health care in the hands of private for-profit corporations.

Obama's passion for the Afghan war is IMHO not the mark of a moderate, nor is continuation of rendition, or military tribunals, nor is his support of the "Patriot" Act.

He kept his predecessor's SecDef. He cleverly pretends to support the military by supporting the military.

If he's an enemy of business/capitalism, he shows it by bailing out the banks & auto companies.

Gays say he hasn't done enough for the gays (he opposes gay marriage).
Blacks say he hasn't done enough for the blacks (hasn't done Anything!).

My point is that there are plenty of Obama policies to pick on whether you're Right or Left (or maybe even in the middle).

 

[30ashopper]

Your question does raise another pertinent question...

If he is truly a moderate democrat, then, whose agenda is the country following? The stuff coming out of the Legislative branch is anything but moderate, IMHO. So, does that mean that Obama is calling the shots, or are Reid and Pelosi calling the shots? If it's the latter, it pretty much reduces Obama to an insignificant talking head.

Everything that has come out of congress since 2006 has had the clear mark of Pelosi and Reid. They are currently running the country. Obama seems more like a figure head who's twisting in the hot wind Pelosi and Reid blow.

 

[UofL]

I think they pushed through the health care debate - at a time when it wasn't fiscally responsible - because of the declining health of Senator Kennedy. His supporters convinced the President to do that.
Trying to be a fiscally responsible, I wouldn't have tackled health care until something was done with the mess he inherited and he pulled our young people out of the wars - no war will ever be 'won' again. But because he pushed for health care reform now - there's very little he can do to regain support. But I think his presidency does reveal the desperation of the white male to hang on to what he can.
It has just been in my life time since laws have been changed to allow equality. The trouble is, as that happened, our country has become more divided economically which doesn't allow for minorities any piece of the American pie. CEOs, actors, athletes, etc. making 7, 8, 9 digit salaries?
The great divide is getting greater. Why are powerballs only popular once they reach $250000000? What can one person do with that much money?
But think what 2500 could do with $100,000? Washer, dryer. New (used) car. Down payment on a house. School. Vacation. Saw the thread. You got me started Ellen
(My husband and I never moved up. We have no debt. That allows us to be UL fans and come to 30A. We made the right decision. I can't imagine not being able to go to all of the UL games these past 25 years, nor come to 30A 2 or 3 times a year plus dine out, etc. I could have been sitting in my 2 1/2 story foyer watching others do that Or not!