I'm proud of my President.

There was a time, not so long ago, that when I saw The President of the United States on television I cringed. When I visited Italy and Canada back then, I felt like I should apologize for him and explain that I didn't vote for that guy. I was regularly disgusted by his need to wage endless war and his constant use of fear to take away our rights.

When Barack Obama was elected, I breathed a hefty sigh of relief. I am not in exactly the same spot on every topic as President Obama, but he is smart and pragmatic two qualities I think are essential for a President.

I try to see things from a realistic point of view. I don't see the government as inherently good or evil because I believe the government is us-people, so likely it's both at any given time. Power corrupts but I believe that's why we need good, smart, ethical people in high office so that their own moral code will drive their choices.

This President has dealt with the most hostile, obstructive Congress I've seen in my lifetime. And this at a time when we faced two wars, a recession, wide-spread unemployment and a housing crisis. But despite what he's faced, President Obama has managed to pass healthcare reform, which I'll proudly call Obamacare which I think is the most important legislation of my lifetime. Is it perfect? Hell no! I want single payer, but its a baby step and that's simply how our government works-baby steps. He's also cut the deficit, got us out of Iraq and he's now working on Afghanistan. The economy is slowly improving despite all Republican plots to stop it.

President Obama has made mistakes. Many mistakes. I don't agree with a lot of things he's done especially continuing the Patriot Act or any Bush policies for that matter. I give him credit for trying to work with Republicans as I think that's how our government has always worked. But not with these Republicans! I wish he would stand up more and push for the issues that we elected him to work on.

That being said, I'm glad that we have a man I respect and admire in the White House. Is he perfect? No, but I don't expect perfection from anyone. Nor do I expect our complicated system to always bring the desired outcome. Or at least I don't expect it to happen quickly.

To me this isn't about the lesser of two evils. It's the choice between evil, greedy and ignorant and honorable, ethical and smart. Again that's not to say that The President hasn't done things wrong or dropped the ball. I can accept the shortcomings and mistakes of a man I respect particularly when the alternative is someone like Bush, Romney or McCain. We can stand on principle and say we're going to vote for a third party but the reality is in our system that's pretty much the same thing as not voting. And I simply can't buy the argument that the major parties are both the same. I'm sorry, but if you think that you weren't paying attention during the Bush years.

I am proud of President Obama.

And contrary to what some may think, that doesn't make me an apologist, paid-poster, authoritarian or Nazi.