It may not last as long as you hope.
I hope Obama is successful in his presidency. I find most Conservatives feel similar to me. We hope he does well but we also understand the left’s euphoria is likely to end at sometime not too distant. Obama is not Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and MLK all in one person like the left seems to think. I saw so many people grinning today as if all their troubles are behind them now that Obamessiah is in the house.
Guess what. He’s not going to be able to do any more than any other President. The troubles he faces are not going to go away just because Obamessiah is in office. He’s also going to have to realize he can’t just “Change” everything put in place in one fell swoop like Moveon.org would like. He will have to do things slowly or he’ll find himself in big trouble.
I wish him well and won’t do what the left did to Bush unless he ends up deserving it. I don’t expect that, but I also don’t expect the miracles like the left does.
He has become a tangible representation to any minority that they can achieve the same greatness. For that, he is a role model. We’ve had many young men who have said they now have a true hope. A man who started out in the inner city of Chicago, can make it. And I know he wasn’t born in Chicago, and didn’t grow up there.
He has also had more people show up then there ever has been. We need someone that people can believe in. Sometimes, that’s the best way to change. Not by the law makers, but the law abiders It’s not that there is no money in our country. It’s just not being spent. I’m hoping people can feel more comfortable now. That our country can jump start it’s own economy. It truly is in our hands.
Comment by Jocelyn — Tuesday January 20, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
He does have one advantage insofar as getting changes made — his party is in control in both houses of congress. Whether or not the changes that he and his congress make will solve any or all of the problems facing the country, only time will tell. Like most Americans, I wish him well.
Comment by Richard — Tuesday January 20, 2009 @ 7:33 pm
You’re right Richard. He won’t have as much trouble getting the things he wants done as many previous presidents. I consider that a bad thing only because sometimes doing nothing is the best.
I would definitely agree with you Joce. He is a role model for many young Blacks. I would hope they now stop claiming they are “victims” and can’t get ahead because the white man is holding them down. I don’t think they can use that excuse any more.
Comment by Don — Tuesday January 20, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
It reminds me of the Philippines when Marcos was overthrown. I was in a business call with some Filipinos during the revolt, and they were so excited and happy, as if all their problems would now end and utopia had arrived. One of the Americans in the room with me was starting to warn them that there would undoubtedly be trials in the future, but I advised him to not rain on their parade. They would find out soon enough (as, of course, they did).
I am very happy that Obama won, and I think he will be a good president, certainly better than Bush43, maybe better than Clinton and Bush41. I understand that he will make mistakes and that he will do things I disagree with. But I’m glad to enjoy the “Honeymoon” as long as it lasts, and hopefully after the Honeymoon we can settle into a solid marriage (to extend the metaphor) with good and bad times but overall agreement and mutual respect and support throughout.
Regarding racial prejudice in America, we have certainly seen that the majority of Americans have moved beyond it. But there are still clearly large pockets of bigotry and bias throughout the country. People still get hired or not, allowed to rent or not, get stopped by the police or not, given better restaurant service or not based on their color. But I also agree that the excuse is thinner.
Comment by Daryl — Tuesday January 20, 2009 @ 10:56 pm
The only thing I think to say when someone says “Obama will be a very good president, better than Bush4x or Clinton” is WHAT HAS HE DONE AS PRESIDENT SO FAR FOR YOU TO BASE THAT ON?
Sorry for yelling but that’s got to be one of the stupidest statements someone can make. It’s almost as stupid as picking someone as the winner of American Idol already.
Comment by Don — Tuesday January 20, 2009 @ 11:39 pm
Disagreement with your position doesn’t necessarily indicate stupidity.
I base my opinion on his position on issues that are important to me, the competence with which he ran his campaign, the competent and non-partisan people he chose for his advisers and cabinet, the lucidity, fairness and insight he showed in his two books, the composed manner he responded to crises during his campaign, the opinion of his students and fellow professors while he was a Law Professor, the opinion of his fellow Senators from his brief tenure in the Senate, the skill he showed getting people to compromise and agree during his time as a community organizer, and his extreme hard work ethic, shown all through his career. You may disagree that this is adequate to judge future performance, and call me ignorant if you like, but I’m not stupid.
Contrast that with W Bush at his inauguration: A failed businessman, a pilot who skipped most of his training and duties and got out of going to war, and a governor with a poor (to me) record. A man born with a silver spoon in his mouth who rode his daddy’s coat tails to the White House, vs a completely self-made man who rose from poverty and a single parent home to great achievements.
And notice I only said “maybe” better that HW or BC. It will be OK, though disappointing, if he is only as good as they were.
Comment by Daryl — Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
You did notice I was kidding about the stupid part right?
I stand by my feelings that suggesting Obama will be better than those other presidents when he hadn’t even had 24 hours in office is, well, stupid isn’t quite right, how about naive?
How about you at least wait until he’s had a few months and then you’ll be able to point at actual accomplishments as president, or not.
That reminds me of the woman who said she didn’t have to worry about gas or her mortgage now that Obama was president. You’ve got to agree that’s a bit stupid.
Comment by Don — Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 2:42 pm
As for whether Obama will be better than Bush 43 I’ll wait for 7 years to see if we go without an attack on American soil. If he does that then I’ll agree he’s at least as good. I already know he’s going to spend money faster than Bush did and that was pretty fast.
Comment by Don — Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 2:45 pm
I’m sorry, I saw the woman who said she didn’t have to worry as saying she saw the economy could now come back. not that he was going to give her the money. Like she felt Obama was going to create jobs. keep gas prices down. and help re-write “ARM” mortgages. those things only helped the people that wrote them. For a little while anyways.
Comment by Jocelyn — Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
Ok, I saw her as an idiot who thinks Obamessiah will solve all her problems and she doesn’t think she has to worry about anything real.
Comment by Don — Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
Btw, how is the economy going to “come back now” under Obama? Does he have a magic 8 ball? Man I hope so. Again, just showing your naivete.
It’s the same congress and senate. Your side has had it for the last 2 years. Has it gotten better in the last 2 years?
Comment by Don — Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 6:47 pm
I did see the reference to American Idol predictions and knew that you were softening the blow with humor, but I also still felt I needed to clarify my position. I thought a little indignation was fair.
And let’s not judge anyone based on his fans. A woman with irrational expectations that the economy is now going to come right back is no reflection on Obama. Bush had plenty of supporters who believed that God had appointed him and guided his hand. Crazy is crazy on either side.
I don’t give Bush any special credit for the lack of attacks on American soil. Remember, he was president when the worst one in history happened, but I’m not saying it was all his fault. The whole country was asleep at the wheel. The FBI, CIA, TSA and police forces around the country and world get most of the credit for the current improved security. Yes, Bush played a part, but I’m quite sure any president would have done as well, and perhaps with fewer losses to personal liberty and fewer strains on the relations with our allies (and adversaries). Obama now adopts the security systems that went into place since 9/11 and if there’s an attack tomorrow or next year the existing system will be partly to blame, even as Clinton’s systems were partly to blame for 9/11.
Comment by Daryl — Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 10:49 pm
Where’s the turnip truck? 😉
I’m glad you’re not saying 9/11 was ALL Bush’s fault. I would prefer you admit it was barely his fault at all. Clinton was the one who kept treating terrorists like common criminals instead of people at war with us. If Clinton had done his due diligence I wonder if 9/11 would have happened? Probably. They were all asleep at the wheel and I’m including Bush 41.
My main fear now is Obama is going to go right back to treating them like criminals. Shutting down Gitmo is a bad idea. Doing away with water boarding is a bad idea. In fact Obama is full of bad ideas. But as I chided you I should also wait and see if his changes have any repercussions. Perhaps we’ll all be sitting around the campfire with the terrorists singing Kum Bay Yah in a few years and I’m just being silly.
Comment by Don — Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
A possible historical model for the Obama administration might be the Carter administration, though I hope not.
I was full of hope for Jimmy Carter when he was elected. It was obvious to me that he was sincere, honest and I agreed with most of his policies. Unfortunately he turned out to be relatively ineffective and was a disappointment as a president. Obama could turn out to be just as disappointing. But I’m still hopeful.
Of course the full measure of Obama’s presidency isn’t just measured by the number and severity of terrorist strikes. Civil liberty, support for and acceptance of science, and relations with the rest of the world all count for a lot.
Although there was way to much reference to God and too many prayers and religious observances in the inauguration, I was heartened by the comment in his speech that we are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Buddhists and nonbelievers. I never heard Bush, or any previous president, acknowledge that freedom of religion includes freedom from religion.
Comment by Daryl — Friday January 23, 2009 @ 11:17 am
I never said I think that. I just see that as a much more plausible reason for her hope. Then again I guess I’m just being naive in thinking the best of people.
Comment by Jocelyn — Friday January 23, 2009 @ 5:49 pm