He's just an astonishingly able leader.

The fact that the President actually talks to the Republicans in Congress, instead of sweeping the right side of the aisle with a flame-thrower, is enough to upset some progressives. I don't need or want rainbows and unicorns. Sterling leadership is more than enough. And that's why I support him.

about the question of whether President Obama is a "Christian" and whether he "loves America." My take-away from the OP was that President Obama is "hated" because he does not feel compelled to feed America's need for false bravado and imagery over substance, "We want a leader" but we define a leader is the most superficial of ways ... wearing a flight-suit and/or stomping one's feet equals leadership; whereas, actually accomplishing something along the lines of what you (the people) want is not enough to be branded a leader.

Sadly, this worship of (false) imagery is not limited to those on the right. Look at all the calls for President Obama to "grow a spine" and the glee whenever there is something we can spin into a "he really smacked them down that time!"

The accomplishments leave people empty because their emotional imaginary need is unmet. But, we all know from real life, that a fiery, impassioned, speech rarely does more than make us feel better ... feel led.

the ACA alone is enough reason.

Sadly most of Obama's "failures" have resulted from total and intractable obstruction from Republicans.

And most of any perceived "failures" have come from incessant slanted and right out propagandistic reporting from a nearly totally right wing press. And yes I include NPR in there.

the 'National Politburo Radio' by conservatives. Days of bygone glory, never to be seen again.

but I think they have an option to buy.

Last edited Tue Feb 24, 2015, 12:36 PM - Edit history (1)

I posted my comment here by mistake, and have removed it. I thought this was a GD thread.

You have been a member since 2006 so you must know the difference between a group and a forum. You must be aware of the rules. This is the Barack Obama Group.

You can take your comments to GD where they will be met with delight and many recs. I give you fair warning.

though I understand your point.

Interestingly, the responder seems to ignore that the "Sleight of hand", "meme act" is promoted by Warren and directly in line with what he has been doing since day one of his Presidency.

ETA: In order to respect this Group, and to allow you to respond ... I will cross post this to the GD.

Thanks.

Thought this was GD.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026272161

if you are willing to listen to, one, Elizabeth Warren, is not to pass anything this year ... or even next year ... (though that would be nice); but rather to run the table in 2016 and secure the House, the Senate and the Whitehouse. Then, and only then, will we get the legislation that supports/benefits the working and middle classes.

ETA: Are you suggesting that Elizabeth Warren and Elijah Cummings are a part of this "Sleight of hand", "meme act"?

When, exactly, did Democrats have the numbers to pass anything progressive?



And other times, the Quarterback plays for the Democratic team ... he just doesn't call the play the fans, sitting in front of the TV, on their couches (or in the bar), want him to call, when they want him to call it.

In short, there really is a "Team Democratic" {gasp}, working in concert to benefit the middle and working classes, and the Quarterback of that team is one, President Barack H. Obama.

Sometimes, the Quarterback hands the ball off; other times, the Quarterback passes the ball; still other times, the quarterback runs the ball his/her self ... but, always ... always ... there is a plan and that plan works best when everyone is running the same play.

Some here would have you believe that Warren is at odds with Obama. Not so~



Thank you for your post.

Some people are so shallow and addicted to controversy even where there is none, they sit around and just stir the pot. "A lot of sound and fury signifying nothing."

Stayed gone so long I lost my gold star temporarily - I'll give myself one for a birthday present - and totally missed Valentine's day. It was kind of the folks who sent me one though, and they were in my mailbox waiting. I'd swing by to read some BOG posts w/o commenting. Still enjoyed them.

I've been living w/o running water for TWO SOLID MISERABLE MONTHS now. Turned off a faucet all the way accidentally, took a nap, and woke up with frozen pipes. Things went from bad to worse which was just as well because it forces a replumbing project - if and when I can get a competent plumber to actually show up instead of talking a good game. At least the Methodist church I've been visiting offered to pay for the project, which is wonderful for a person who has no choice but to pinch pennies.

Anyway, they've been helping me haul water from the church basement in old milk jugs, so I manage - but it's a terribly unpleasant, labor intensive, and time consuming way to live. One lady who lives way out in the country started taking me to her house usually on the weekend for a real shower so I feel clean enough for church Sunday morning. But then that means a trip out there, sometimes running a couple loads of laundry first, then driving back etc etc etc.

Everything has to be done one at a time the hard way - no multi-tasking possible. Every precious drop of water at home has to be rationed carefully. All dishes, pots, and pans have to serve at least 3 days and stored in the refrigerator. You don't want to know the ways I've devised to take a halfway decent birdbath. The dogs' bedding hasn't been washed in 2 months; imagine how that's starting to smell. I've even had to use a homemade camp toilet except twice a week when the real ones need to be flushed once to keep out swamp gas. You can imagine how much fun that is. I've even been reduced to gauging exactly how much each activity requires per week so I can look at my current water supply and know pretty closely how long it will last. Good thing I don't get out much!

And yet I'm still relatively fortunate in that it could've been so much worse. Believe me, I'm grateful for having dodged most of the bullets. But I walk past my new dishwasher - the very first ever - and have to pat the damn thing and promise to run it again ASAP. Well, I'm not quite that squirrely but I'm getting there.

I've always wanted to ask you a question but usually get distracted and forget. Are there currently any plans or even thoughts for what the BOG will do when President Obama's term ends? I know he'll still be plenty busy and the group name doesn't specify PRESIDENT - but I hope we'll still hang together at least now and then when he's in the news.
O
I'm certainly impressed with how he's making his last 2 years the least lame-duck type in history. Instead he seems to have ramped things up. It dazzles me. Literally dazzles. And I'll chuckle the rest of my life whenever I think of one thing he said at a presser - "You know, Speaker Boehner is a man of color too; unfortunately it's not a color found in nature." Or words to that effect. I've been laughing ever since.

The growing carpal tunnel problem will have to be addressed medically at some point. Meanwhile I've been trying to read more than write. If you ever find yourself with absolutely nothing to do one day, you might check out my FB news feed. Somebody turned me in for a false name so I had to switch to Veronica Austin, my real pen name. https://www.facebook.com/irishayes.reprised Of course when FB promised the new account holder that a username could be arranged, they flipped the two. The news feed includes the usual liberal lineup of DailyKos, Media Matters for America, Crooks and Liars, etc. I pretty much avoid DU's GD because of so many highly offensive posters, and I can't block them from posting. At least on FB, with all its flaws, I can kick trolls and/or idiots off my personal threads entirely, not just hide them from my own sight. There's a certain satisfaction in that.

The BOG still offers the best reading around, though.

you have been missed! so sorry to hear about the plumbing problem. i know it is very hard because we run off a well with a pump. we have to keep the water on a little more than a drip at night and open all of the cupboards so the inside heat can get to the walls supporting the pipes so they don't don't freeze. and then, if the power goes out - no water or heat.

love that you have a dishwasher - this will be my next big purchase. it will have to be portable, though.

we can keep this group going because president obama will be on to new things and i know we are going to want to talk about them.

hope things get easier for you in the water department in the near future. i will check out your fb page

I truly hope to live long enough to see Barack Obama addressed as Chief Justice.

As for the dishwasher, for 2 1/4 months now, I've only been able to give it dirty looks. The effort to find a plumber who'll actually show up and do the work is very frustrating.

they often have a list of time proven dependable professionals.

Unfortunately the one here has only people who are really quite feeble. You might not know this, but due to financial pressures I had to retire to a remote corner of the Midwest. To give you an idea of how small the town is, it's the county seat and STILL doesn't appear on a lot of state maps! Another good reference: we're 60 miles from the nearest big box store. So there are very few people here, and the ones who are mostly lean so far right it's pitiful. Many are xenophobic as geese. I've had death threats for Letters to the Editor, and all sorts of garbage going on. The few home repair specialists don't all think my $'s any good.

I still think I landed easy under the circumstances, though. I like my hundred-yr-old home built around an 1847 slave cabin made of sturdy logs, we're 850' above sea level, as far north as my wallet would take me. Same gardening zone as southern Maine, 5B. Despite the hardships and problems, there are mitigating factors.

however the town i live in is only 45 miles from the nearest big box stores. and, with the legalization of recreational marijuana in oregon, i expect the economy will improve some since this is prime growing area - now that the weather here is more similar to what mid/central california used to get. they are even planting more vineyards and larger properties are selling for millions. ach!

my best to you, irish ayes.

President Obama and the Democrats do have an agenda that is being advanced in a very careful and thoughtful manner

since Day One of his Presidency.

The problem with too many is they would run head long into the wall that they know is there ... just for the sake of being able to say they appear to be doing something.

that although normally I can hardly bear to watch, much less listen to, the Repukes on tv news or anywhere else, I find it highly entertaining now to hear them squawking about 'Democrats' obstructionism'. Tooo funnny!

I recall, years ago, I posting something in response to a comment calling President Obama naïve or stupid ... I said something to the effect that President Obama is more intelligent, more aware, and more driven, than the vast majority of folks posting on DU.

Man ... the howls and gnashing to teeth that comment received.

hmmm ............ Saved it to my hard drive. Okay if I submit it to the letters section of our local weekly? That paper's a Republican rag sheet, but the editor/publisher loves controversy, and his paper has an amazingly wide regional circulation. I would of course give credit where credit's due, by whichever means you prefer - DU username or real or even anonymous.

are ramping up Elizabeth for President try to spread division from the President and his supporters.

They don't like to acknowledge anything progressive that President Obama has done.. it's all about the whining for them.

just won't acknowledge that the progressive stuff Warren and Cummings are coming up with was a part of President Obama's platform.

I suspect that is why, President Obama's name is not associated with this initiative ... like middle schoolers, if you are friends with Suzy, you can't be my friend!

with a little reverse psychology sprinkled here and there for good measure. he is very democratic in the way he listens to everyone's 2 cents and then engages people from their strengths... asset based community development - abcd - straight out of northwestern university and his community development days.

to apply the psychology to too many on the left, that thinly hide their constant sniping as a healthy skepticism and distrust of politicians.

it seems simple enough.

I suppose it's because there is such a blatant dislike for Obama, it seems to color their interpretation of every move he makes.

it's a basic distrust of all things government (which is unusual for Democrats and Liberals) coupled with President Obama's "otherness" (on so manner levels, i.e., Black, unflappable, even-keeled, intelligent, honest, committed, etc.) that color/blind some.

There is a goodly portion of population right here on DU, that claim to be DEM and Lib yet........

Especially with this part --

Now ... look at the progressive stuff being put out there: Pension security, Reduction of education's cost burden (e.g., cost of higher education and cost of educational financing), day care support, etc., all paid for by closing loop holes of (i.e., raising the taxes on) the wealthy.

Now ... look at where these progressive ideas came from: See President Obama's campaign Platforms for 2008 and 2012.

So much for the "he's not a progressive" narrative.

I get pretty nauseated almost every time when someone here says that President Obama isn't a liberal.
Or that he didn't campaign as a liberal.
I have no idea who they were listening to when Senator Obama was first running for President in 2008, but his speeches were chock full of liberal ideas, and liberal methods to solve real-world problems that we faced as a nation.

I guess they didn't realize that losing 750,000 jobs a month for 6 months back in 2008/2009 due to the financial crisis that was caused by the Republicans in 2007 was such a tremendous blow to the world's economy.
Or maybe they don't have such good memories, having been removed from reality much of the time.
You really have to be consider just how removed from reality they are not to give President Obama credit for restoring the nation's economy within such a short period of time.
The stock market is way over 18,000 today, and no one could have predicted that back in 2008!

I don't care who they are, or what position in life they have, or what the color of their skin is, or if they wear a hoodie or a white pointy hat on their head . . . they ALL benefit from President Obama being in the White House.
They ALL benefit from Michelle Obama being the First Lady, as well.
It doesn't matter to me if they ever admit it or not.
Because President Obama's policies and positions on the issues, and the First Lady's positions on the issues are all positive, and wind up benefiting everyone, regardless of age, race, color, creed, religion, or sexual identity.

That is why whenever someone in real life gives me much grief for President Obama being the President, after awhile I just look at them and say "Whatever . . . eat your peas."
You know why?
Because eating peas is good for you!
On top of that, griping to me about President Obama is a ginormous waste of time and energy!!!

President Obama is not just a President, he is a leader.
And he has been leading from Day One!
He has set the bar so high for the next President, I don't have a clue who could follow him.

President Obama is a great example for all men in this country, to stop being so mealy-mouthed and grousing about the situation so much.
Instead, do something positive about it!
Get off your behind and do something good instead of just watching the hands on the clock spin around the dial.

Complaining never solved a single problem in this whole world.
Ever!
That's why President Obama is so effective, he doesn't complain about the people blocking progress, he just goes around them!
Where there's a will, there's a way.
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
There's a lot of truth in that saying.
And I think we all know who the problem is in this country.
And it sure as hell isn't President Obama!!

Those who say he is not are right wing trolls.

No POTUS has ever been so forward looking.

The Santa Fe Community College, not far from where I live, is thriving thanks to federal funds and local support. Whenever there's a local bond question, we vote in favor. I help teach a class there now.

There's recent improvements to parking & infrastructure, beautiful upgrades at the art school, cafeteria & gymnasium. Enrollment & staffing is up, spirits are high. When I visit every week it reminds me of this team work in action. There's many continuing ed courses and cool people of all ages.

Last edited Wed Mar 4, 2015, 02:31 PM - Edit history (3)

I posted an OP awhile back, suggesting that a strategic move was made (particularly, by President Obama) that gave Democrats significant leverage on the Immigration fight with republicans ... (segments of) DU said I was nutz ... Last week, I posted an update pointing out that; but for, the strategic move, there would have been no intra-gop fight over Immigration ... and that same segment of DU, again, told me I was nutz, even as everyone saw, and most celebrated, the gop embroiled in that intra-party fight that showed the gop as the ungoverning/ungovernable party that it is.

Seems like, even, ted cruz is now willing to acknowledge what I said was true!

What happened in December, pray-tell?

And cruz is right, only the wackiest of the right opposed not funding the DHS because they opposed President Obama's Executive Orders on immigration.

Yes, Treestar ... President Obama is the most forward looking President we have seen in a long time.