First of all, let me come outright and say that I voted for Obama and I made a donation to his campaign. I want to mention this up front because, after people read what I have to say, I don't want anyone to think I am a right-wing nutcase using this forum in spreading negative news about Obama.
I am an registered independent and usually vote based on the candidate - never based on a party politics. And, in the past I have voted for republican and democratic presidents alike based purely on the candidate. And even though I participate in the actual election, I have never participated in a campaign or donated for a candidate - ever. That changed with Obama - I had high hopes and felt that I must do something to make sure he wins and got involved - maybe it was because I wanted the nation to undergo a cleansing period after Bush.
Obama's strategy and tactics as far as the health care debate are concerned was an utter failure. In fact, as far as I can tell, there was no strategy to counter the partisan attack. I am absolutely amazed that this media blitzkrieg was not anticipated. For weeks on end there was no response - and I am not referring to lack of response at the townhalls, but lack of response even in the media and talk-shows. The right-wingers were all over the media spreading the same lies over and over again and there was no counter-point to these lies. The Obama team was utterly and completely unprepared.
That is frustratingly disappointing - in fact, disappointing to the extent that it made me angry. Angry in a sense that we potentially are letting this golden opportunity to get this reform done slip by us because we did not plan this right and did not anticipate this negative campaign and did not have a immediate response for it.
Even though I voted for Obama, now I am having second thoughts - because President Obama turned out to be different than the candidate Obama. When he was a candidate, his message was crisp, clear and we knew what he wanted to do. Now, he basically leaves everything to congress to figure out and stays out. He should have known those highly intelligent and well organized life-forms in congress will completely mess everything up. Where's the real change?
Example: the stimulus plan. What a mess! It has so much spending for the wrong things that it was a disaster. Look at how much money was in the stimulus plan for alternate energy? for high-speed rail? for alternate means of transportation? for scientific research? Pennies on the dollar!! Compared this to money given to other useless things. And alternate energy, alternate modes of transportation and other things I mentioned above were his campaign talking points. In fact, these were some of the things that made me vote for him. And, by letting congress figure this out and messing it all up, he completely lost an opportunity to spend on the things that he said mattered to him - things that would have made a difference!
Example: cash for clunker. Even though there were so many bright sides to this, congress in their infinite wisdom, managed to mess this up too. Instead of making it a simple program, they managed to make it so complicated that it was not clear for most people to understand the rules. And why did it have to take a dealer to fill out a 15-page form to submit for rebate when it takes less than half-page to submit an application for a Visa card?
And, one more thing - why does he have to be the one always selling anything to us? Why can't his cabinet members do this? It was unbelievable to hear the president of the United States telling Americans that if they buy the cars, their warranties will be honored. I mean, come on! I did not vote for him expecting him to sell me cars for gods sake! This kind of thing cheapens the presidents stature. I realize that the economy was in shambles when he took over and saving the auto industry may have been important. But, he should have left such things to his transportation secretary.
In fact, where are his cabinet members? I don't believe I have ever seen any of his cabinet members out there pushing his agenda other than perhaps secretary Clinton whom we see once in a while. Why aren't they on the airwaves every day forwarding his message? Does he even have a cabinet? Other than a few - Clinton, Geithner and Gates, I can't even name anyone else. I hardly anyone else out there. If he has these posts filled, why are they hiding? They should be out on the airways spreading his agenda and countering the right-wingers. After all, unfortunately, nowadays it has come down to who wins the propaganda war, isn't it?
Here's my perception so far - It appears to me that president Obama has become a spectator:
- Instead of making history, he seems to be content just watching history being made. Instead of laying out his plan and setting strict conditions on what he expects congress to do, he is content just watching congress make a mess of his agenda (eg: stimulus plan, health care reform).
- Instead of having a strategy and tactical plan to deal with the media blitzkrieg, he is content just watching others spread lies and negative campaign derailing his agenda.
- Instead of sticking to his campaign promise of making things efficient (real change, remember?), he is content just watching congress complicate the heck out of even simple things (eg: cash-for-clunkers, mortgage relief program).
In other words, instead of working hard making history, he is working hard in being too nice and letting others make history. And we all know what happens then - we may all wake up one day scratching our heads and wonder what happened?
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