| 'Change is hard': Obama one year on from election | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Nov 2 2009, 08:05 AM (16 Views) | |
| morninmist | Nov 2 2009, 08:05 AM Post #1 |
|
Several of these stories posted today. and the OBOTS are furious.  http://rawstory.com/news/afp/_Change_is_hard_Obama_one_year_on_f_11012009.html 'Change is hard': Obama one year on from election AFP Published: Sunday November 1, 2009 The tale of the turbulent year since Barack Obama's historic election win is told by his evolving political theme: once he promised "Change We Can Believe In" and now he warns that "change is hard". On November 4, 2008, Obama bathed in the adoration of a crowd of tens of thousands in a Chicago park, after beating Republican John McCain to the presidency in an election that promised to reshape his nation. They chanted "Yes we can" on that clear hope-filled night in Obama's hometown, and tears streamed down thousands of cheeks as the president-elect proclaimed America was still a place where anything was possible. "It's been a long time coming," Obama said. "But tonight, because of what we did on this date, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America." A year on, the historic promise of America's first black president is being tested by the grim grind of governing a divided nation humbled by the worst recession in decades. Abroad, Obama's policy of engaging US foes has so far yielded few breakthroughs, and the president who came to power vowing to end one war, in Iraq, must now decide whether to escalate another -- in Afghanistan. Obama is battered, his political magnetism is dimmed and he stands accused by opponents of masterminding a disastrous government expansion. ................ Had it not been for the huge expectations in the United States and abroad, Obama's first 10 months in office might seem more of a success. "Change is hard," Obama said as he signed a bill slashing wasteful defense spending last week. "Change isn't supposed to be easy," he said in Florida a few days earlier. "Change doesn't happen overnight," he told Democrats the next day in Virginia. Promises made in the monumental election campaign have proved tough to meet............................... One Year Later, What Is Left Of The Hope For Change? By Gilbert Mercier November 1, 2009 Almost a year ago, on November 4th 2008, an euphoria of hope was spreading in America and around the world. The wind of change that Barack Obama personified was expected, by some in America and elsewhere, to bring with it a peaceful revolution. With the election of the first African-American President the world was dreaming of a less arrogant America, an America open to international dialogue and consensus. One year later, the lofty, and quite frankly, unrealistic expectation have been replaced, at least on the left, by a growing sense of frustration and disappointment. The promises were countless: Americans would have universal health care; the US would take the lead on climate change; Wall Street and the banks would be regulated with a cap put on salaries and bonuses paid to executives; Guantanamo would be shut down by January 20010; most US troops would be out of Iraq within 16 months; the strategy in Afghanistan would be reviewed; the new administration would provide transparency and accountability unlike the practice of systematic secrecy from the Bush-era. The reality and results are quite different: Americans will be lucky if they get a water-down version of public option in the health care bill; the climate change bill is unlikely to have a strong enough carbon tax; Wall Street and the banks are doing well, getting ready to paid huge bonuses to executive while Main Street is still in shamble from the recession; Guantanamo will not be shut down by January 2010; Iraq is still volatile, and US troops are likely to be there for at least 5 years; the president is still pondering on workable solutions for the unsolvable puzzle that is Afghanistan; some progress were made on the secrecy issue, but the Patriot Act will be renewed and the President blocked the release of torture documents involving the CIA. Some Americans thought they were electing a man that would make deep structural change to a broken system, and of course they are disappointed. A temperament of boldness and passion can serve a political leader well; Winston Churchill and FDR had such a character. However, President Obama’s temperament is not bold, but instead cautious and analytical. The upside of it is that President Obama will avoid the catastrophic mistakes of someone as impulsive and impatient as Bush, but the downside is that if you don’t get forceful and blunt with your policy agenda, the inertia of Washington always prevails. The frustration of the progressives is linked to the fact that they thought President Obama would be a transformational president, and it is not the case. President Obama is a very intelligent man, and an able manager but not a bold visionary. Most progressives feel that he is running a “business as usual” presidency by maintaining the status quo on most issues. At some point the liberal democrats will have to take to the streets in order to make their voices heard, otherwise the corporate Democrats, Wall Street, and the industrial-military complex will keep the upper hand and privilege access to the ear of the President. Please read the complete article at: http://newsjunkiepost.com/2009/11/01/one-year-later-what-is-left-of-the-hope-for-change/ http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,204998,00.html?wh=news Hope Gives Way to Nope Joe Galloway | November 02, 2009 Bookmark and Share You may remember all those Obama campaign cheerleaders for change chanting, "Yes we can!" during last year's campaign events. This year, in the 10th month of his presidency, it doesn't really seem that they can, or that he can. Nothing much has changed except the size of the federal budget deficit and the National Debt, both swelling and swollen by the humongous bailout of Wall Street and the big banking corporations. Any hope that we'd witness and celebrate a return to the rule of law after the departure of George W. Bush and his unindicted co-conspirators has long gone a' glimmering. President Barack Obama would rather face an uncertain future than look back at an ugly past. Never mind that this nation was founded on the concept that no man, however powerful, is above the law, not even a king. The president-to-be promised a swift withdrawal from the Iraqi quicksand, but that hasn't come to pass, either. Instead, we witness a slow-mo' pullout that will sort of end things on the Bush administration's timetable of late 2011 for the last American combat troops to be gone, and God only knows when for the rest to leave. That's if the Iraqi parliament can pass a new election law in time for elections to be held on schedule in January........... |
 |
 
|
| Hill Fan | Nov 4 2009, 04:55 PM Post #2 |
|
Damn right "change is hard", especially if you are not interested in changing the way things are done. At last he speaks the truth. |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · General Discussion · Next Topic » |
12:56 AM Dec 8
