"It's been 18 months and people continue to be surprised when i do what i said i'm going to do"

"I said i'm going to do HCR, they tell me not to do it because it's not good politically, but i still do it. They tell me not to touch DADT now, but it's the right thing to do and i'm doing it. I set a deadline to move all our combat troops from Iraq by the end of the summer, and that's exactly what's going to happen. And they continue to be surprised".

President Obama totally kicked ass in his press conference in Toronto right now. Totally kicked ass. He was beaming with confidence.

said we will see next year if they really mean it or are just playing politics.

And I'm going to do more than just "holler" about it.

The President better wake up to the fact that millions and millions of voters are concerned about the national debt.

"Entitlement Reform".

I really, REALLY wish he meant cutting back Military Spending.

You know, before the bashers jump on the bandwagon here...I would like to say THANK YOU MR> PRESIDENT

There are always thing we would like to be done differently, more action taken on certain agenda items...but the accomplishments he HAS made, despite the rethugs continued tantrums and death threats, have been very good. and steps in the right direction.

can't wait to see what he CAN do in two terms.... and he has a hell of lot of crap on his plate to fix and deal with.


do you have a link to the presser?

called out the Repubs. who changed their position on the financial bills and said he WILL be watching the so-called deficit hawks to make sure they aren't just playing politics.

"This was one of the president's better press conferences. He was relaxed and on-message and compelling, without making any news he didn't want to make. And his answers on topics from Kagan to deficit reduction, to US-Japan relations, to North Korea, to Afghanistan were all well modulated, well calibrated, smart, and (at times) nearly passionate".


http://thepage.time.com/

and I agree with him. :)

I'm still waiting for him to do what he said he was going to do. And since he brought it up, he didn't get HCR done: Public option, anyone?

accomplishments.

disappointment of a Democratic Presidency since, well not sure since when. Most of them did a decent job up until this point.

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your sentiment in one of the above posts above is what i was referring to, but i shouldn't have said it. my bad

and I love the way she does it.

"Rachel Maddow Compares Obama's Legislative Record to FDR"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/6/26/105311/597

<snip>

"MADDOW: He signed a bill that gave amnesty to undocumented immigrants. He grew the size of the federal government and the budget, added a whole new cabinet level agency and added tens of thousands of government workers to the federal payroll. He tripled the deficit. He bailed out and expanded social security with a big fat tax increase. He raised corporate taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars. He raised taxes on gasoline. He, in fact, signed into law the largest tax increase in history. He supported federal handgun controls. He called for a world without nuclear weapons. He was Ronald Reagan. As a conservative saint, as the right-wing rock star, as king of the Republican prom in perpetuity, as a transformative figure for people who call themselves conservative, the facts of Ronald Reagan`s legislative record are awkward. Ronald Reagan`s record has in it a lot of things that would get him kicked out of today`s Republican Party, which is not to say that President Reagan was a secret liberal. He was not. What he was, was complex, but accomplished in his own way.

With the passage of financial regulation in Washington today, President Obama took to the very un-momentous setting of "Twitters," as he called it yesterday, to say this, quote, "Last night`s House Senate agreement on Wall Street reform represents the toughest financial reform since the Great Depression." It turns out that a lot of things that have happened in the less than two years of this administration are the biggest or first or most important in generations. On the occasion of the Wall Street reform announcement today, Taegan Goddard at " CQ Politics" wrote, "Not since FDR has a president done so much to transform this country." Even before today`s historic Wall Street reform agreement, President Obama, of course, did what politicians have been trying to do for more than 60 years. He passed health reform, which, for the first time, establishes government responsibility for the health care of American citizens.

Consider also the stimulus bill. It didn`t just throw a lasso around our entire economy and yank and yank it back from the brink. It also pumped about $100 billion into the crumbling embarrassment of our national infrastructure and transportation system. It was the largest investment in infrastructure since Ike. For solving our country`s energy problems, something Obama has compared to man walking on the moon, it contained about $60 billion in spending and tax incentives for renewable and clean energy, also a historic investment. It also included an unheralded but giant investment in science and tech, amping up the budgets at NASA, the National Science Foundation, and an experimental energy research agency that was created under President George W. Bush, but never funded until now. President Obama also expanded state kids` health insurance to cover another four million kids. He signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act amending the 1964 civil rights act for equal pay for equal work. He signed a nuclear arms deal with Russia that would reduce both countries` arsenals by a third. He created a new global nonproliferation initiative to keep nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists. He set forth an international way forward on that radical left-wing proposition of Ronald Reagan, a world without nuclear weapons. Then there are the legislative and policy achievements that don`t just build on previously-set precedents, but set new ones. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act. It had languished in Congress for years. The Food and Drug Administration permitted for the first time to regulate tobacco. Better late than never, he dismantled the scandal-plagued Minerals Management Service, broke it into three parts so that the folks who collect money from oil leases aren`t the same ones regulating the industry. And now, it will actually investigate the industry that it was busy schtupping and doing drugs with during the last administration."

<more>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=356233&mesg_id=356233

as to why you felt this way and didn't just knee-jerk react.

:eyes:

I have noticed that a lot of Du's fans bash this President. He has done more than Bush did in 8yrs. You can't get everything that you want, nothing in life is how you want it. Give the man a break, he inherited more than any President in the history of this country has inherited. Public Option can come another time. We should take some governing classes before you we start bashing him.

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his plan. I was against Hillary because of her plan, and now I am stuck with a watered down version of Hillary's plan.

Presumably you were going to be for whichever Democrat was nominated.

if after 8 years of the worst president in our history, you could have sat the last election out, you clearly have no valid opinions when it comes to politics.

difference.

And, this is coming from someone that listened to Kyl, Graham, etc. in the Kagan confirmation hearings.

Transparent and irrational Obama hatred, one post after the other.

For the dumbest post of the year..

... but used the same tactics you advocate here.

I was a Hillary supporter. When the primaries were over I worked my ass off for Obama, but I never put him on a pedestal. Maybe that's why I am not as disillusioned as so many people on here are with Obama.

Then again, I also feel I had at least somewhat realistic expectations about what a president could actually accomplish in a year and a half. It seems like many people on here expected that the moment he was sworn in that our country would magically change into a place full of shiny happy people holding hands. That wouldn't happen even in eight years. And to get *anything* accomplished there has to be some compromise.

The people he appointed for his committee (which will hopefully make it where we *aren't* eating cat food when we're old because Social Security ran out of money, and will hopefully do that by making people who make more than $250k a year have to start paying more Social Security, Medicare, and FICA taxes), even the hated Republican co-chair Simpson, have a record of bipartisan work, which means understanding how to bargain and compromise. People who bash him for trying to compromise need a reality check -- because all you have without compromise is gridlock.

1) Mandates to BUY Health Insurance from a For Profit Insurance Corporation

2) No Public Option, and a provision to prevent individual states from starting their own Public Option.

3) A Tax INCREASE on Union Plans (Cadillac Tax)

Would you have supported for him?

He can't make Congress vote a certain way. Surprising that so few DUers understand that after everything the Republicans and blue dogs have done.

he had run on those three promises, and I said no. You can blame Congress all you want, but this starts at the top. When the bill failed to address the real issue, cost control, it should of been vetoed. Veto the bill and shame Congress into sending you a bill with what you really want in it. And don't tell me that it can't be done, because Reygun did it, Clinton did it, and Dubya did it.

In particular, the Conservadems.


Obama can't legislate by decree, no matter how many here think that's how it all works.

It'll be interesting what the apoligists have to say when SS and medicare slip away. Oh yeah that's right, I'm old and in the way.

that's B.S. and has been talked about here numerous times.

what he wants to change is the 109,000 income ceiling, to lift it higher so the richer can pay more into it.

if you think thats threatening to you, I guess you must be one of the richer ones.

Here is what he said on February 19th of this year:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-town-hall-meeting-henderson-nevada

------But the fixes that are required for Social Security are not huge, the way they are with Medicare. Medicare, that is a real problem. If we don't get a handle on it, it will bankrupt us. With Social Security, we could make adjustments to the payroll tax. For example -- I'll just give you one example -- right now, your Social Security -- your payroll tax is capped at $109,000. So what that means is, is that -- how many people -- I don't mean to pry into your business, but how many people here make less than $109,000 every year? (Laughter.) All right, this is a pretty rich audience -- a lot of people kept their hands down. (Laughter.) I'm impressed. (Laughter.)

No, look, what it means is basically for 95 percent of Americans, they pay -- every dollar you earn, you pay into the payroll tax. But think about that other 5 percent that's making more than $109,000 a year. Warren Buffett, he pays the payroll tax on the first $109,000 he makes, and then for the other $10 billion -- (laughter) -- he doesn't pay payroll tax.

So -- yes, somebody said, "What?" (Laughter.) Yes, that's right. That's the way it works.

So what we've said is, well, don't we -- doesn't it make sense to maybe have that payroll tax cut off at a higher level, or have people -- maybe you hold people harmless till they make $250,000 a year, but between $250,000 and a million or something, they start paying payroll tax again -- just to make sure that the fund overall is solvent.

So that would just be one example. That's not the only way of fixing it, but if you made a slight adjustment like that, then Social Security would be there well into the future and it would be fine. All right? (Applause.)-------'


glad to be of help to you

a recommend feature on individual posts as well.

:toast:

Welcome to DU! :hi:

either critical or complementary about my elected leaders.

Welcome to DU.

But, keep complaining; maybe some day he will finally do something that makes you happy.

Gitmo is still open.

There hasn't been REAL healthcare reform, just a Corporatist give-away to the insurance companies..

Do I need to go on?

Scream at your Senators if you're complaining about Gitmo. As for health care reform---and as for someone who was originally blacklisted because of a pre-existing condition, I can say shit has changed. No need to go on because your examples are very weak indeed.

He didn't try to get a public option? News to anyone that was paying attention.

Again, he can't make Congress do what he wants.

WTF!! Some of you are nuts.

did. He jumped right off the tv screen in comparison to the other two.

but he is healing us all from those horrible Bush years and beating back the wingnuts. It is nice to have a great leader to look up to.

HCR: Mandate to buy insurance. No price cap on premiums. No public option.

GITMO: Still open and removed from the priority list.

IRAQ: We are being warned that 2011 might not be attainable.

AFGHANISTAN: We just fired the top commander and replaced him with the guy can't get us out of Iraq on the timetable laid out by our President.

Need I go on?

After everything we've seen in the past 9+ years do you really think it's easy to make real change?

As far as we know, President Obama is trying to end both wars by the end of next year. If you have proof otherwise, please post it.

You have no proof that Gitmo isn't still a top priority. And, for that matter, why should it be with the crappy economy he's trying to deal with?

So, YES you need to go on. And, try mentioning something nice this time; otherwise you're no better than Hannity or Rush.

After everything we've seen in the past 9+ years do you really think it's easy to make real change?

No, but no one said it would be easy. From my point of view, he's not really trying.


As far as we know, President Obama is trying to end both wars by the end of next year. If you have proof otherwise, please post it.

Here you go: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/22/AR2010022202933.html

Ahhh, a good old fashioned two parter. Let's take one at a time.

You have no proof that Gitmo isn't still a top priority.

If it was the priority he made out to be during the election, then it would of already been closed. This does not take Congressional legislation to do, it's as simple as signing an executive order.

And, for that matter, why should it be with the crappy economy he's trying to deal with?

If you were one of the many people in Gitmo that was being held, and no proof that you had done anything wrong, then I bet it would be at the top of your priority list.

So, YES you need to go on. And, try mentioning something nice this time; otherwise you're no better than Hannity or Rush.

I find it truly hilarious that you compare me to Hannity and Rush, because when you really think about it, you're the one acting like them. One of the Democratic party's biggest criticism of right-wing media is that they don't hold their own accountable. It was on this very board that many accused people like Limpballs and shamity of being blind followers and that Bush could do no wrong. Now who does that sound like when it comes to President Obama, me or you?

:rofl:

he had a few one liners that the Pugs still like to obsess over, thats about it. As to overall intelligence and communication skills (talking to his camp and what they wanted to hear doesn't count), Obama leaves the turd in the dust.

to buy insurance without a public option and no government control to reign in prices. My premium just went up 20% after Obama "sternly warned insurance companies" against raising premiums.

in reigning in health care costs?

"Premiums are going up 20% due to the newly enacted legislation." Now I know it's a bullshit excuse as to why my premiums went up, but on the other hand, the new legislation didn't address the core problem of health-care: Soaring costs. He did campaign on reeling in health-care costs, so my question is quite simple: where is the cost control?

It's hard to take you seriously because you make yourself so obvious.

But, when you really break it down, slogans and excuses are all it's ever been about with the President and his rabid rapid responders.

Obama was on board with the military's plan to wait until after the election, so it's a bit disingenuous for him to claim that he has championed doing it sooner rather than later.

He did however agree to a brokered compromise, which I believe is his strong suit. He listens and takes action when a rational course of action is proposed to him.

The compromise is what has saved the repeal of DADT, as no one knows if it would have passed after November.

The next step is to have him issue an EO explicitly forbidding discrimination in the armed forces based on sexual orientation. Or he could back a statute in Congress effecting just that. Which, unfortunately, isn't likely, as that language was explicitly dropped from the bill in this latest compromise.

they got some time.

I can understand people hating the fact that it wasn't done as quickly as they wanted but I hope they can also understand what a mess it would have created if Obama tried to do it with the Military fighting him on it.

After how the Dems who were supposedly in favor of closing Gitmo turned around and went NIMBY and voted to block funding to close it acted, I don't think anyone should feel particularly confident that they would have all voted to get rid of DADT if the Military, along with Republicans and the Media, were fighting it and attacking Democrats over it.

telling them not to vote on repeal until after the "study" was completed (in December.) He didn't go rogue on that - the letter wouldn't have been sent without the CIC's assent.

I agree with you that Obama reached some kind of deal with the brass - in return they asked him to wait, which he was willing to do until Congress and activists got impatient and forced his hand. The way he applauded himself in this particular speech ("They tell me not to touch DADT now, but it's the right thing to do and I'm doing it.")is not really the way it went down, but, hey I'd much rather have a President who can be pushed into doing the right thing than one who won't do anything or one who actively opposes equality. Obama hinted during the campaign that he might follow FDR's dictum ("I agree with you, now make me do it") and in some instances he is living up to that.

I'm still concerned about the fact that the compromise stripped out the anti-discrimination language. What this repeal will do is return us to pre-DADT status where any individual President going forward can essentially call the shots.

interrupt the all important plea for cash helped kick the DADT can along the path as well.

:hi:

like Afghanistan. Many voters were not paying attention to his actual words

he promised.

Maybe some day you will get it.

Democratically controlled Senate?

When they vote they way he wants, he's the greatest leader ever and can sell ketchup popsicles to ladies in white gloves. When he fails to rally support or to support the rally, he's just one man struggling against an unbeatable conspiracy against him in DC. Blimey.

That's like 12 years when you're the President to be dogged. Why hasn't he done more? LOL!

and on and on and on and on. Stick to copy and paste, deploying thoughts as if they're your own is a failing strategy for you.

..... just saw him quoted on "Twitters" (that's what we're callin' it now ya know) .... awesome quote.

some positive things.

:thumbsup:

regarding HCR, I'm not sure about "surprised", but I know that I did not expect what we got. During the campaign, no candidate was promising Romenycare, but we ended up getting pretty much Romneycare.

is label the guys they have their non-combat troops and expect people to be impressed?

The occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan is not ending, not surprising.

Go Obama!

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:kick: :patriot:

to what actually transpired vs. what the campaign promise was. My #1 reason for supporting Obama was the promise of health CARE reform with a public option. Instead, we got a health insurance welfare program with a couple of feel good provisions thrown in. Check. (I'll eat crow if the pool for uninsured people with pre-existing conditions that is supposed to start tomorrow is actually affordable to average people.)