Spiegel: "Dashed Hopes: How Obama Disappointed the World"

[primavera]

As America's first black president, Barack Obama electrified an entire nation. But now that the nation is in crisis, he seems unable to connect with the people. He wanted to change America and restore its reputation in the world. But now his opponents are dictating the country's political course.

...

When Barack Obama was elected almost three years ago, the country seemed intoxicated. The world allowed itself to be carried along by this wave of enthusiasm, and by its hopes for a new, more peaceful America. A crowd of 200,000 people came to hear him speak at the Victory Column in Berlin; Kenyans spent the entire election night dancing in front of their television sets; in Japan, the residents of a fishing village named Obama celebrated his victory; in Gaza, where hatred for America is normally the prevailing sentiment, there were exuberant parties; and in London, Madame Tussauds wax museum handed out free tickets.

Obama's election was the self-affirmation of a nation that wanted to prove that the American dream was still alive. Not voting for Obama would have been cynical, timid and un-American.

The world also had high hopes for a changed America, a country that would be less militaristic than it was under his predecessor, George W. Bush, and one that would pursue smarter policies, both in dealing with the Islamic world and on issues of environmental protection and climate change.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,779043,00.html

[Cool Logic]

1. A disappointed world...? Well then, the world is in need of a philosophical transformation.

For those who commit themselves to men, rather than ideas, are destined to experience a perpetual state of disappointment.

[primavera]

2. It's not easy to vote for an idea

Not too many of those on a ballot, mostly you see human beings on ballots and you have to vote for the one who hopefully embraces the same ideas you're seeking to promote.

[Cool Logic]

11. "hopefully embraces the same ideas..."

I think that was part of the problem. Hope is not an idea.

[pscot]

5. But Obama offered himself as the embodiment of an idea

He was the great symbol of American idealism made flesh. Hence the bitterness of the disappointment on realizing that he's just a tool of the established order.

[Cool Logic]

14. "He was the great symbol of American idealism..."

Symbol...? I wasn't looking for a symbol, I was seeking the real thing. You know, someone who believed in the idea that we should follow the law and end a couple of illegal wars.

[KoKo]

3. "He has only listened to the voices that shout the loudest..."

"He has only listened to the voices that shout the loudest, and it's all those reckless right-wing forces," Belafonte told CNN. "It's almost criminal."

The clash with the Tea Party has highlighted Obama's shortcomings. His opponents have everything he seems to lack. They are loud, confident and uncompromising, sticking to their principles while he repeatedly hesitates and delays. In the US midterm elections, dozens of Tea Party candidates managed to get elected to Congress by capitalizing on the rage of people who Obama had failed to connect with.

[primavera]

6. The author asked what I thought was an interesting question

Namely, whether Obama might have been able to harness the populist anger that is so abundant in the US these days, and directed it towards some useful purpose. If Obama were the sort to stand up and cry "I'm mad as hell and I want you all to be mad as hell with me!" and then went on to clarify: "Republicans are making you suffer so that they can give your hard earned tax dollars to billionaires to buy more yachts and private jets!" Would that have made any difference? I don't know, but I think it's an interesting question to ponder as we enter into a new election year. Clearly the meek, mild-mannered, reasonable, conciliatory approach does not achieve positive results with the Teabagger types, who are very much in street-fighting mode and not in pleasant cocktail party mode.

[Foolacious]

8. Obama will never achieve positive results with Teabaggers.

He could scream, scowl, bluster, threaten, or offer them everything they'd ever dreamed of twice over. They despise him. They've decided they despise him and that is the end of the decision-making process. Why do they despise him? I have my theory but it doesn't matter. If you've ever dealt with people like this, you know what I mean.

[primavera]

10. Well, no, that's true

I don't imagine for a minute that Obama can ever make any inroads with Teabaggers themselves - their political fortunes depend upon them hating him, which is the same reason why trying to compromise with them makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. The question is more along the lines of, if Obama could whip up a fire and brimstone sort of appeal of his own, could he tap into and re-direct the anger that has given rise to the Tea Party, sort of steal the Teabaggers' thunder, so to speak.

[KoKo]

13. +!...That's a good question...and I can't even find an answer...

Thanks for the Question because of what it raises.

[a simple pattern]

9. Yeah. He's kind of like Alan Colmes.

Weird, isn't it?

[KoKo]

16. You know that's one of the saddest things...I could ever think of...

given Alan Colmes performance for years. I think our President HAD more Charisma than Colmes and that's why he packed stadiums in the 10's and 100's of thousands during his long campaign across America.

But, these days...every time he speaks it seems like a "rehash" of what he used on the Campaign Trail...it goes on and on...that there's nothing "fresh" in what he says.

I never watched enough of Colmes on Faux News..(cause I just don't do that site) but a few times when DU'ers complained and gave links I did watch...and I thought :wtf:

I don't think Obama is to the level of Alan...yet...but, he might be getting close and that's why Good Dems out there in Establishment Media and Blogosphere are giving him HELL the past couple of weeks.

Oh Dear Heaven...please NOT Alan Colmes!

[yurbud]

15. he has only listened to the voices that have the most money

[bvar22]

4. A HUGE Popular Mandate for "CHANGE",

and an ARMY Standing in the Streets.





I cry for what Could Have Been. :cry:






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[roguevalley]

7. you and me both, honey

[Skittles]

12. he has squandered everything

he officially SUCKS