What US Needs in a President

[Demeter]

When we had Kennedy, they shot him. He was exactly what we needed to maintain the United States as a representative democracy and a true leader (not boss) of the Free World. That's why they shot him. And his brother, and Martin Luther King Jr, and on and on. A whole political generation wiped out by bullets. Gun rights people ought to contemplate this occasionally.

When we had Johnson, the oil bidness had their claws in him, but he was a strong man, and fought back. He very nearly won, but Vietnam was his bear trap. He was probably pushed into it at the point of a threat...not to mention some clever lying. I suspect BP wanted the oil there.

When we had Nixon, nobody had him. He was unstable, to put it mildly. He did some very great things, and some truly horrible things. I'd say Kissinger acounts for much of that horrible stuff.

When we had Ford, everybody took a timeout to regroup. But the people, incensed by the pardon of Nixon, put Carter in, much to the dismay of the elites.

Carter was a basically honest, intelligent and ethical man who played fair, but he had some really unfortunate friends, and that's not counting the Israelis. And then there was the Bush Family Evil Empire, in charge of the CIA, setting up the Iranian hostage trap and putting the greatest evil of all into office: Ronald Reagan, a man who was more than willing to read the script as written by the neocons and neoliberals.

And after Reagan, Bush himself, the man who would be king, but couldn't admit it on television. We needed a crusader after that--but we got Bill Clinton.

Poor Bill. A moral relativist if ever there was one. Abandoned by his DLC friends during Monicagate, rescued by the New Deal Democrats from the ignominy of public mores, a man without a base. At least his wife loves him; she says so, and I believe her. No other reason to put up with his antics.

And after Clinton, we got Caligula, I mean, Little Boots, I mean All Hat No Cattle. At this point, we needed a Cromwell. Our rights and liberties were raped from us. The world was in flames.

Instead of Cromwell, we got Barack Obama. A cypher-man, a blank page upon which American dreams were writ large by a desperate people. A man who does not live up to his press. No justice, no peace, no economy, and no hope or change we can believe in.

Our next need will probably be someone like Hugo Chavez. I shudder to think what we really will get.

[ixion]

1. Until we assert our will as We, the People

we will continue to have a government representative of the top 1% only.

Just my two cents. Hope your weekend is going well, Demeter! :toast:

[tridim]

2. You have no idea who Obama is.

I suggest you read your sig line and think about it for a few minutes.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. I think the Good and Bad a President does is his responsibility...

We do not say, well he did some good, but those low lifes in BP, in the Military, Kissinger, etc. pushed him to do bad. It was the President's decision.

Kennedy was a great President, but we should never forget how close we came to nuclear annihilation under him. If millions had died in a war of mutual suicide between the U.S. and the Soviets, our view of him would not be so rosy.

And Kissinger was Nixon's asshole, chosen by Nixon for his incredible intellect and his absolute kcold lack of anything like moral's or ethics. Kissinger was the realpolitik embodied. Not to mention that Nixon was probably the craziest most fragile person every elected to the office.

Presidents are good and bad. They do what they can with the resources at hand. Some things are good. Some things are bad. Some things are ugly.

But everything in the Presidents responsibility.

[nightrain]

4. knr. One of the more distressing aspects of this Administration for me is

how easily and quickly they dismiss their people--the Reverend--gone, personal physician for years--gone, Van Jones--gone, Sherrod--gone, and the list just keeps growing.

I can't determine, what Obama values and would fight for anymore... what does he treasure? If his actions over the past 18 months are any indication, then I'd have to say he values corporate protection, not rocking the boat, avoiding controversy, catering to his political opponents, and protecting the rich.

Those are not my values.

[Raschel]

6. Yes, he should have kept Reverend Wright by his side instead of being elected.

:rofl:

[nightrain]

8. I think you are missing the point that if he keeps on tossing the folks that

have been so helpful to him, then what does he stand for anymore? Speak to that instead of acting juvenile and sarcastic.

[Karenina]

5. You'll get what you (collectively) have so richly earned.

Some part of me hopes he will defer to your (collective) wish in 2012. He was quite clear in stating that the huge ship of state could only have its trajectory changed. That was a "dog whistle" blown by a black man who hoped ALL would hear. Indeed he blew MANY that were above the frequncy that Americans could decipher. I do believe he has done all he can to change that trajectory. Americans blame Obama and take NO RESPONSIBILITY for the Boehners, DeMints, Bachmanns and Angles in their midst. Indeed, teh whack jobs are promoted by your media and NO ONE AS YET HAS ORGANIZED ACTION AGAINST FOX NEWS TO DISRUPT THEIR BIDNESS AS USUAL. Blame Canada.

[Monique1]

7. Just maybe

we need to let go of the past and look to the future. I don't think we can recreate the past. We need to create a future. Stop the blaming and set up a plan. There is no more shoulda, coulda there is only hope left. I'm not sure if I am coming across correctly.

[nightrain]

9. oh my goodness, if that were really an option then the justice system wouldn't

be necessary. In my view people need to be accountable for their actions. Watergate, Bush crimes, etc etc.

Your comment sound like some sort of childish dream--oh if only... Well it isn't and it wasn't. Do you prefer to have folks not be responsible for their actions?

[Karenina]

10. Welcome, Monique1!!! Please do say more...

I so do agree about the shoulda, woulda, coulda, distraction. TOTAL WASTE OF TIME.

At the same time, we need to acknowledge history as people have where I live. We can't move on without confronting the past and what it has to teach us.

[suzie]

14. + 1 trillion

[silversol]

11. Amazing!

I recommend and the total stays at zero!

[Demeter]

12. Thank you for the rec

I expected that there would be some people whose ability to accept dialog would be strained by this. I'm not in it for the "points", but to make a point.

I think by the collection of acrimony above, an additional point has been made...

[silversol]

13. I recommend

because you make good points but when I recommend and the total doesn't change I have to ask, who's running this show Diebold?

[Butch350]

15. A president now can not do it alone...

The best keeper of the country are its citizens. Hint, hint.

[Vidar]

16. I regret that I am allowed only one recommendation to give this brilliant post,

Demeter. It deserves a hundred

[Demeter]

17. You Are Too Kind!

One recommendation like that is worth a thousand "me toos"!