Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the day Barack Obama was elected president of the United States. Although he has only been in office for nine months, I thought it would be an appropriate time to reflect and re-assess my vote for him and see if I made the proper choice, based on what I know now. As I did I remembered his speech on the night of November 4, 2008:
All but the president's most ardent opponents on the extreme right will admit that he was dealt a bad hand, to say the least. An economy on the brink of collapse, wars on two fronts, and a country divided. Add to that an opposition party with the singular goal of obstructing his attempts to provide solutions to these problems at every turn. A steep climb indeed.
In dealing with economic conditions not seen in this country since the Great Depression, President Obama proposed and Congress passed an economic stimulus package. The naysayers on the right decried the massive government spending, but anyone with even a cursory knowledge of economics knew that it was necessary to avoid turning a recession into a depression. And it's working, we recently saw the first rise in GDP in 4 quarters. The unemployment numbers are still high but anyone who is willing to take an objective look at the history of recession and recovery knows that unemployment numbers are always the last thing to improve. As he said on election night, "The road will be long."
President Obama has also taken on the tough task of reforming our broken health care system. I'm sure many of those who voted for him, me included, aren't satisfied with all the twists and turns we've seen in this process and would like to see him be more forceful in directing the legislation, but let's keep in mind he is dealing with entrenched elected officials in Washington, many of them in his own party, who are satisfied with the status quo and to whom the idea of "change" means alienating the corporations who make large donations to their campaigns. More steep climbing.
I also give the president high marks for his attempts to break down the partisan divide in Washington, D.C. He has reached across the aisle on the issues of the stimulus and health care reform and tried to include Republicans in the process, and I think the majority of thinking, rational Americans see this too, as polls show. Although these attempts have been largely unsuccessful, back to the single-mindedness of the opposition, this wall of division has been years, even decades, in the making and won't be easily or quickly dismantled.
There are some things President Obama has done with which I disagree. I didn't, and still don't, agree with his policy of "looking forward, not back" in dealing with the wrongs of the Bush administration in what I consider to be war crimes. I don't like that the Bush policies of preventive detention, rendition, and wiretapping are still in effect. I didn't agree with the appointment of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary, and I don't like where I see the war in Afghanistan heading, as has been noted here many times.
All that being said, one year later with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight would I change my vote?
My answer is an absolute, unequivocal, unwavering, "No."
"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government cant solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way its been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand."
All but the president's most ardent opponents on the extreme right will admit that he was dealt a bad hand, to say the least. An economy on the brink of collapse, wars on two fronts, and a country divided. Add to that an opposition party with the singular goal of obstructing his attempts to provide solutions to these problems at every turn. A steep climb indeed.
In dealing with economic conditions not seen in this country since the Great Depression, President Obama proposed and Congress passed an economic stimulus package. The naysayers on the right decried the massive government spending, but anyone with even a cursory knowledge of economics knew that it was necessary to avoid turning a recession into a depression. And it's working, we recently saw the first rise in GDP in 4 quarters. The unemployment numbers are still high but anyone who is willing to take an objective look at the history of recession and recovery knows that unemployment numbers are always the last thing to improve. As he said on election night, "The road will be long."
President Obama has also taken on the tough task of reforming our broken health care system. I'm sure many of those who voted for him, me included, aren't satisfied with all the twists and turns we've seen in this process and would like to see him be more forceful in directing the legislation, but let's keep in mind he is dealing with entrenched elected officials in Washington, many of them in his own party, who are satisfied with the status quo and to whom the idea of "change" means alienating the corporations who make large donations to their campaigns. More steep climbing.
I also give the president high marks for his attempts to break down the partisan divide in Washington, D.C. He has reached across the aisle on the issues of the stimulus and health care reform and tried to include Republicans in the process, and I think the majority of thinking, rational Americans see this too, as polls show. Although these attempts have been largely unsuccessful, back to the single-mindedness of the opposition, this wall of division has been years, even decades, in the making and won't be easily or quickly dismantled.
There are some things President Obama has done with which I disagree. I didn't, and still don't, agree with his policy of "looking forward, not back" in dealing with the wrongs of the Bush administration in what I consider to be war crimes. I don't like that the Bush policies of preventive detention, rendition, and wiretapping are still in effect. I didn't agree with the appointment of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary, and I don't like where I see the war in Afghanistan heading, as has been noted here many times.
All that being said, one year later with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight would I change my vote?
My answer is an absolute, unequivocal, unwavering, "No."
Today we learned that the unemployment rate rose above 10%—the first time since 1983—and the conservative news pundits have gone wild blaming it on Obama. I thought about two things.
1. Gee, wasn't 1983 well into Reagan's presidency—so far in fact that Carter's earlier policies would have been irrelevant?
2. Bush's big bank bailout sure helped the fat cats on Wall Street, but has not benefited most working Americans. If ever there was an indictment against "trickle-down" economics, this is it.
i have a practice of doing as much exploration as possible but in a timely fashion, making decisions and not having "coulda, shoulda, woulda" monday morning quarterback-mindtalk. for over a decade my philosophy has served me well, being decisive without being impulsive. only a few times have i allowed "what if" to take up any significant time, but yesterday i could not help wondering where hilary would have had us on healthcare? happened to me after a cspan caller (callers i usually dismiss as bob's, as in "bitter old biddy's" for hilary) said reluctantly she followed hilary's request to support obama when hilary's campaign ended, but felt healthcare would have been hilary's main cause. she based this upon hilary learning all the lessons of her first efforts twharted by the GOP on healthcare reform, as well as obama's lesser experience in that area. gotta say i have to wonder myself.
Like all of you, I wouldn't change my vote. The alternative would have been just too painful to think about.
That said, I would like to see a follow through on the minimizing of lobbyists he promised. Geithner was a bad choice as he look to be to firmly in the beds of the big financial firms. He needs to use the power of his office to bring the blue dogs in line with the majority of the party. A firm, fast decision needs to be made on Afghanistan. Currently he seems to be waffling on making decision, on a lot of issues. As some one said, he can't do everything immediately, but he can show the direction hes going on a lot of these issues. It doesn't mean take action, but just to affirm what he said during the election process.
I also agree with what has been said so far. I'm glad that Obama was elected and I would vote for him again in a second. I don't regret my decision. Electing the farce of McCain/Palin would have been a catastrophe! Obama saved the country from financial ruin and let's face it, he inherited eight years of horseshit to clean up. I do wish he would act more like the reform president and tackle some of the small hanging fruit issues like gay rights. Also, glad he is taking his time on Afghanistan but hope he makes a smart decision and does NOT send our troops there to fight a losing war.
I agree with the comments made thus far. In addition to the issues presented so far, Obama has also disappointed the LGBT community. They're especially angry about his failure to address "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and his silence before the gay marriage referendum in Maine. I suppose it is a matter of priorities. He can't tackle everything simultaneously.
After reading the previous posts, I must say I also agree with carol and shortsuff. But I am gonna give him a little more time to learn how to "ride this tricycle" that is the POTUS. I think he's finding the handle bars are bent way worse than he thought.
Miemaw, spot on! There are a great many Democrats that better start worrying today (or looking for a new career).
I think Obama should publicly continue to say the same thing concerning "the past" but in private tell the DOJ to go get those SOB's. Let Justice assign a "special prosecutor" with a "perceived objectivity" but with a private vendetta against Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld.
(I'm kinda mean sometimes. Got that from my mom.)
There aren't many people with whom I agree 100%. But you and I seem to be of one mind most of the time.
You said everything I was feeling.
Admittedly, I am a "Give Me Patience - RIGHT NOW!" person.
However, I also have a logical mind.
It took eight (or more) years to get us into the mess we are in. He couldn't have dug us out of that hole -- in a year -- no matter how hard he tried.
Would I change my vote" Not only NO - BUT HELL NO!!
However, to the Democratic Party I would say this:
Ignore 60% of the country at your peril (those of us who want a Public Option in Health Care - and want the war in Afghanistan ended - who want the big money out of our politics, - who think DADT and the DOMA Act is really stupid, etc.) We will not continue to vote for you -- simply on the premise that you have a (d) after your name on the ballot.
Witness: Tuesday's election when we didn't.
Don't make promises -- you can't (or don't intend to) keep just to get elected --- so you can ask for money just to get re-elected - so you can ask for money just to stay elected.
That game is wearing thin on a lot of people (including me.)
Witness: Tuesday's election.
If you are going to talk like a Democrat - walk the walk.
Would my vote still be the same? YES.
Do I regret it? Not in a million.
I think that maybe the president acts in a deliberate, thoughtful manner. He takes his time making decisions which I hope is due to his desire to make the RIGHT decision.
I much prefer this to Bush's tendency to make snap cowboy decisions. Or to let Cheney make the decisions. I don't know what was worse.
Pres. Obama inherited the worst of all options: the quagmire that Dumbya created. We knew last November that it would be a long hard road back. We can't give up now just because it seems hard.
(Although I would enjoy seeing a few wingers' butts nailed to the wall publicly, but Pres. Obama is a calm, no-drama individual!)
Meanwhile, let the nutters sputter. Their heads are exploding, poor dears. Bless their hearts, they can't help that they were born with no working brain cells.
Quite simply, I trust his judgment. I won't make the call on whether or not my vote was the right one until he's out of office.
Right on the money as usual. I too am disappointed with the results so far regarding Health care Reform, but I'm optimistic that we will have real reform.
I remain concerned that President Obama will fail to yield ground on wiretapping, signing statements, troop levels, and the like. We will see.
Great post as always.
On far too many issues, Obama has been found severely lacking. There has been lots of speculation as to why he has behaved as he has, but, I think the reasons don't matter, the results do. It is very sad for this country, but, it looks like we missed a great opportunity to inspire each other and have a truly transforming moment in our history. And, so, we are stuck with him.
Did we make the right vote? Given our choice? HELL YES. Would I make the same choice again? HELL YES. If he chooses to run again (of course he will) in 2012 and my choice is, once again, a repub or him, will I still vote for him? HELL YES. But, I'll not donate another dime to any politician who does not PERFORM and have a RECORD of PERFORMING in a very PROGRESSIVE way. I will NEVER EVER EVER vote for any other person who is not a FIRE BREATHING LIBERAL. (It would take about 40 years of them ruling before we could get this ship turned back to a just left of center position!)
I don't imagine that I would change my vote, but I am deeply concerned about several of his decisions, mainly people in critical positions - such as Geithner - and the lack, to date, of the strength needed to get the Dems in line.
I am, quite frankly, less concerned about bipartisanship then I am about the quagmire that we appear to be in regarding health care.
here, here, Des...
Are there any plans in the works regarding the wiretapping thing?
I think Obama is totally lacking animosity but his 'people' will get the former administration before they're done.
Was Geithner an example of bipartisanship...Can he be bent to the 'force' against the dark side?