One of my professors said today

[nemo137]

something along the lines of "FDR's greatest strengths became his weaknesses." And I got to thinking, isn't that the same for Obama? During the election, I liked that he was cool and level-headed. He seems to be a genuine believer in moving with caution, which I generally think is a good thing. But during this whole HCR thing, and others, he's been maybe too cautious.

Anyone been thinking along similar lines?

[KurtNYC]

1. No, I'm thinking more: chess game

it doesn't look like much until he gets a little advantage. Then it will be obvious.

[nemo137]

3. Does he have the temperment to push for the advantage?

Again, I tend to be cautious and I tend to like caution and planning, but I wonder if the President missed opportunities that a less calm person might have grabbed.

[bvar22]

16. Chess?

Isn't that a game where The Pawns are sacrificed to protect The Royalty?

Sucks if you are a Pawn without Health Insurance.
I don't recall a Pawn ever winning anything in Chess.

[CrispyQ]

20. ...

:applause:

Best reply ever to the ridiculous chess analogy!

[Garam_Masala]

21. Brilliant answer! +1+1+1

[Teaser]

2. this whole argument is FUCKING TIRED

.

[depakid]

4. That's EXACTLY right

What works well in forgein policy doesn't work in governing domestically in America.

Conflict aversion ans conciliation (with the right wing) has come back to bit this administration time and time again.

Lately though- it seems like they're learning from the process- which is a good sign for fights to come.

[applegrove]

5. Your greatest strength is always your greatest weakness. It doesn't just go for great men. It goes

for all of us.

[boppers]

6. Water.... is WET! Who knew?

All action is criticized. Regardless of speed, it will be too fast for some, too slow for others. Regardless of size, it will be too big for some, too little for others. Regardless of time, it will be too soon for some, too late for others.

Of course, people who mistake criticism for intelligent thought also spend a great deal of effort on showing other people just how smart they are, because.... they found a way to have an opinion. Brilliant!

[mkultra]

7. not really.

i like his pace and i hate it when people in charge of big things crash around.

[redsovin]

8. obama/fdr

no fdr had a vision that he wanted everyone to know. obama
lies constantly. he doesn't want most people to know what he
wants because if we do we wont want it

[Rowdyboy]

9. Enjoy your pissant miserably brief career at DU fuckwad

The best part of you trickled down your daddy's leg.

[MissMarple]

11. Way harsh, sweetie.

And, I concur with the accuracy of your motivation.

[Rowdyboy]

23. He made it to 5 posts before being tombstoned....better than I expected...

I can be a bit judgmental when you catch me in the wrong mood. I just didn't like the sound of the sneer in his original post....

Today is a better day.

Thanks for perhaps the kindest reprimand I've ever received here at DU or anywhere else. On reflection, perhaps I was a bit over the top.

[Vickers]

14. You're just mad because Sarah Palin thinks you're a loser.

She really does, you know. And now I am going to put a hex on you:

YOU WILL NEVER HAVE SEX WITH SARAH PALIN!!!!!

Damn, it feels GOOD to put a hex on someone...

:headbang:

[olegramps]

15. Get the hell out of here you stinking Repukian.

[mikekohr]

18. Please list a specific "lie" on the part of President Obama

and list the source your are pulling it from.

mike kohr

[Thrill]

10. Hey it is what it is. My biggest thing with Obama is I thought he would

be a much tougher President. I thought he would be the toughest Democratic President we had in a long time.
I've just been shocked by the lack of fight. He almost seems afraid of confrontation. Oh well....

[MissMarple]

12. I wonder how long it took FDR. I'll have to check, and factor in all the other stuff going on.

War, economic collapse, internal insurrection, global unrest...et cetera, et cetera, et cetera...

I think this could take years.

[MarjorieG]

13. I think Obama could have pushed opt-out if in conference, now we may have shot too soon to get out

of Senate. House was planning on opt-out. Plus a trigger Medicare would have been nice.

[ItNerd4life]

17. What that means is the person isn't able to adapt.

Obama's great strenght was his ability to communicate with people. However,
he has to adapt to government life instead of staying in the same rutt. He acts like
he's still on the campaign trail instead of leading the country. He has to adapt to his new role.

[Honeycombe8]

19. Too soon to tell. It's far easier to judge FDR, since that was about 80 years ago.

Besides, I'm not so sure it's correct that FDR's strengths became his weaknesses. Depends on what your professor meant. You DO think for yourself and don't automatically believe your professors, right?

[ljm2002]

22. I think there is definitely some truth there...

...mostly I think that any trait is a double edged sword. For example, is it tenacity, or is it stubornness? Is someone being adaptable, or are they just being unprincipled? Are they showing great initiative, or are they steamrolling everyone around them? Prudent, or afraid to act?

In President Obama's case, I think that his natural tendency towards caution and compromise, coupled with his relative youth and inexperience, may turn out to be an issue for his ability to be effective. In other words, he's green, but he doesn't get that he's green. Yes, he does have political experience; but there is little to prepare one for the office of the Presidency. And since he did not spend that much time in the Senate, he seems to be a little slow on the uptake as to how it works: the Republicans will always go in for the kill, always. There is nothing to negotiate with that lot, nothing.

In the meantime he's pissing away his mandate trying to please a bunch of assholes who will never be pleased, and in the process angering his base who really believed that he would fight for change. So far his approach seems to be, don't rock the boat.

Sorry, just feeling a little jaded today. I do want him, and us, to succeed. But it's not looking that good, IMO. It's not all his fault, of course; arguably he is doing as well as anyone could do. So don't think I'm just on a bash-Obama kick, please. But I wish he'd roll up his sleeves and throw a few punches. And I'm not talking about making snide remarks about Faux News. As enjoyable as it is to see those gloves come off, I'd rather the energy was spent effecting real change that helps the people and curbs the excesses of the corporations. And I'm not seeing that, at all.