Obama's policies are Obama's policies, no one else's. What Bush Junior and his ilk did last decade should not be used as a cudgel with which to batter the current administration.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

You're never going to agree with everything a President does. There isn't a president in history that has been 100% right on every issue. It would be unprecedented. My advice for people would be to stop looking for leaders and be a leader.

But 80% is pretty darn good if you ask me.

That I don't expect to 100 percent agree with everyone.

Unfortunately, in the case of President Obama, the 20 percent I personally disagree with are very fundamental and important. They are not minor points, or differences of degree of reform.

I think the trade agreements are going to continue -- and intensify -- problems like deregulation of business and Big Money, outsourcing of jobs and productivity, and ultimately further enslave us to the power of the oligarchs. (Pardon the hyperbole, but that's what I honestly feel.)

Net Neutrality is the basis of the good things that the Internet technology has brought in terms of commercial opportunities, freedom and diversity of expression, etc. Overturning that is goin to create a further divisiion of inormation "haves and have nots" and will also give Corporate Monopolies greater advantage over small and medium businesses. It will also give Big Media the power to do to the Internet what they did to cable and broadcasting -- thus limiting our choices.

Those are both corporate $$$ stances and have nothing to do with protecting the welfare of the American people.

Of course the Republican politicians will never complain about his stances on those issues because those are THEIR issues.

jmo.....

I never post disagreements with Obama on economic issues because I am always impressed mostly by my own ignorance on such issues. What will happen is TPP is passed? I really don't feel that I understand the issues well enough to make a prediction. Indeed, I wouldn't be surprised if Obama's generally conservative approach to economic issues is partly motivated by humility--he knows that he isn't an expert on such issues and so he plays it safe by not rocking the economic boat. That's one reason why someone like Elizabeth Warren is such an attractive potential candidate for President. She has the right values and is a genuine expert on many economic issues.

I generally criticize Obama on issues that I feel I am an expert on (I have expertise on some constitutional issues and some issues pertaining to war) or I am relatively well-informed on.

I know what you are saying. I basically oppose the XL pipeline, for example, but I am a dumbass about science, so I don't get worked up about it, and I tend to give President Obama the benefit of the doubt on it.

However, I think part of the job of leadership is to make things transparent, and promote understanding of issues. With agreements like TPP, instead of allowing business i siders to negotiate them in secret, Obama should 1) Also include people with alternative perspectives in the negotiations. 2) Publicize the details in clear terms, and the implications. It should not require expertise to understsnd the effects of these things....If after a full and open debate people want to support it okay....But it should not be snuck in through closed doors, or a cover of unecessary obscurity.

1.) Honestly, I haven't paid enough attention to this issue to offer an opinion.

2.) I can't defend the TPP. Well, at least what I know of it.

Perhaps there's some good things in this agreement but since it's being negotiated in secret I can't say.

So until proven otherwise, I can't support the President on this issue.

I would just say that that 20% feels quite heavy... I cannot defend either one of them...

They are as Kryptonite is... to Superman.



He need to vigorously oppose both!

why not work on getting opposition to it ? call members of congress.

do regular campaigning among regular people and inform them of the issues and why you oppose it and why they should also.

But this being a discussion board, am also trying to discuss.

I really appreciate your OP. I promise not to engage in any unlike-Obama incivility.

Like you I am puzzled by the President's position on the two issues. I certainly cannot defend his actions.

Few people want to hear, see or even know the truth as to what is really going on...........Blissful Ignorance is enjoyed my most.

When the truth is posted it is routinely ridiculed by many who are in denial.

That is OK one day many people are going to wake the F up and be very surprised and very unprepared for reality.

It sank like the proerbial stone, maybe because it was a nice weekend.

So giving it one last shot.