This is not the way I imagined a Democratic presidency.

[Imperialism Inc.]

Things could have been so much different for Obama. Instead of a reasonably stable, if somewhat worse for wear, country, he has inherited a country , and indeed a world, in shambles. Think of how much easier it would be to get his major priorities passed. I realize this is all too obvious at this point but the full weight of it just sort of hit me out of the blue.

[villager]

1. Thirty years of unchecked Republican destruction has destroyed much of what we used to take

...for granted...

We'll be lucky if the Obama era can restore much/any of it...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. Exactly what I was going to say! That's exactly what it is. nt

[JackRiddler]

33. So you're including Clinton in that, I see.

[villager]

35. Clinton didn't really "check" a whole hell of a lot...

n/t

[JackRiddler]

36. Agreed. It's just an important point that the "D" is not enough...

It has to be the program, too, not just the party label.

[villager]

37. Indeed, JackRiddler! And hey, nice avatar, methinks! ;-)

n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. On the other hand,

what he inherited was so bad that I think he will continue to have a majority of the people behind him. They realize that the GOP has nothing, and if they return to power, it will be more disaster.

[cliffordu]

3. Yep, that's my feeling.....

[Old and In the Way]

13. It provides the opportunity to finally push through real change.

Universal Healthcare, War on Drugs, and Mass Transit are 3 areas that are ripe for reform. Had the Republicans only messed things up a little bit, we'd have more political resistance to fundamental change.

[Captain Hilts]

4. If the world weren't a disaster we might have had a Republican president.

As is, we had an absolutely dreadful president and an enabling Republican Congress and people started to smack 'em in '06 and did again in '08.

[MadMaddie]

5. Just as Roosevelt inherited a country in crisis

Obama has inherited a country in crisis.

That's why when I read on DU people slamming him for decisions he has made or may make I truely do not believe they understand the enormity of the weight on President Obamas's shoulders.

We worry about our individual worries and burdons, President Obama has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

[madokie]

20. And thats why I give him 100%

I'm damn near 61 years old and I've not had a President like Obama so I'm going to keep my mouth shut and try to be as supportive as I can. I appreciate that he is willing to try to do something about this mess.

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. Republicans ruin things. Democrats burden is to fix them. It is Obama's time.

[KakistocracyHater]

28. that is SO TRUE

it always looks like this, a cratered ruined wreck-only this time it's MUCH worse than 1991. When I watched the campaign in 2000 I couldn't believe how the media just really PUSHED Bush in, I couldn't take any of their claims seriously: fiscal conservatives? After Reagan's massive deficits? Please! Tough on crime?! After the Right is done crime is always up because there are no jobs to be found. Truly the media has shown what a danger to democracy they pose; it should be illegal to continue as is.

[CountAllVotes]

7. this is not what Pres. Obama had envisioned either ...

you cannot blame him but I do believe he needs to proceed with great caution. Better late than never might I suggest?

:dem:

[Imperialism Inc.]

15. It is certainly good to see that he is proceeding anyway.

His budget is planning for things like health care and energy independence but it is such an uphill struggle.

[Avalux]

9. This country is desperately in need of Obama's leadership.

Imagine if he had NOT been elected? After being in office a little over a month, it's clear Obama has the aptitude and the fortitude to accomplish great things and undo the damage done by Republican policies.

Don't look at is as a negative - Obama's time is now and we're all right there with him. He will succeed with our help.

[virgogal]

10. Hey,think if how HST felt?

[margotb822]

11. Always the Dems to clean up

That's the way it seems to go...

I'm seriously hoping that we are about to see a splitting of the Republican party. I can handle the conservatives, but the wingnuts need their own party or they're going to drag us all down with them (plus a splitting of the conservative vote wouldn't be a bad thing).

[blues90]

12. Obama did not inherite a damn thing !

Why not say he knew the conditions for the most part and ran for the office on his own free will . I doubt any candidate for the president does not know most of what's wrong well before they run for office to say that is to say they went in blind and to know that is to know they are in a way taking it on blindly.

Those are Obamas words that he inherited this mess.

[Imperialism Inc.]

16. He started running in '07 really and the depth of our problems was surely not

apparent then.

[blues90]

17. Sorry , I don't believe that for a second.

Most of the economists as well as a lot of the population had a pretty good idea where we were headed. There have been massive job losses and foreclosures well before he tossed his hat in the ring.

[Captain Hilts]

25. He talked to Daschle and Durbin about running in '06. nth

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

19. Just because he ran of his free will doesn't mean he didn't inherit a mess.

"Inherit" doesn't mean "walk in blindly".

[blues90]

21. I know what inherite means and it has nothing to do with how

The word is being used. It does not mean took on . Obama took this task on and he uses the word inherite over and over like is was a surprise what the situation is or was when he tossed his hat in. If you listened at all to the so called debates well before it was just Obama and McCain , every candidate was talking about the debt , the foreclosures , job loses , schools , the cost of the wars and health care , need I go on?

This has been going on well more than two damn years and if he didn't know that then he was not listening.

If you choose to buy into this fine , I don't. I still feel for the most part this is a one party system as they are for the most part friends once off the publics view. All their money comes from the same corporations and they all play the game at the expense of the people , if this were not the case then in 2009 this country would not be even close to this mess that it is in now. And just to add , evey political criminal has always walked away from their crimes and this time will be no different , bank on it.

The banks and wall street all contribute to the campaign funds as do the unions and corporations.

It's a damn game to these people outside of a few who really don't have the power to do a thing to stop this.

Think about this , Obama said 17,000 troops are to go to Afghanistan then right after this it is said he is looking for an exit stratagy , why was this not said all at the same time , because they want to get the public response and weight it . We are no where close to bio-fuels or everyone driving an electric car and we don't have the oil the ME does so to keep going we need their oil and the pipeline you can bank on this.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

22. The Republicans are going to make every attempt to blame the entire economic collapse on Obama,

as if none of it began before his election, and are counting on braindead Americans to forget that the whole collapse began in earnest well before Obama was elected.

President Obama would be foolish not to point out that he inherited a disaster, so as not to shoulder an undue portion of the blame.

If he were to say nothing and accept all the responsibility the Republicans are laying on him, he'd be a one termer for sure.

There IS a game of politics here and it MUST be played to a degree, like it or not.

Obama is good at playing that game and that's why he's president. But to do what's necessary to get into office and try and stay in doesn't mean he's forfeited all principle.

[ReliantJ]

24. Yeah

lets forget he is inhereting this recession seems to be the logic of the right

[blues90]

27. doesn't mean a thing .

He has 4 years right now and if he pulls the country out of this then it won't matter what the repubs have to say at that point.

It's a given that Omama was not president when this all went to hell and this is used as a talking point for fools as in the media to send this meaasge and the people dumb enough to buy it.

No matter how this is framed there will still be people using the blame game, this is a given, you are not going to change their minds.

The only trouble Obama will find is what he brings on himself at this point. Also Obama did not run his campaign all by himself or have all the ideas so don't give him credit where it is not due. He is one person with hundreds running behind the scenes and they all have their intentions as well as personal gains to be made. The end of the line are the people.

[EmilyAnne]

31. What the hell is your problem? You want to debate people on the proper use of the word "inherit?"

Your contributions to this thread are some of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on DU.
If this is truly how you think, truly how your brain works in response to the OP and others who have answered you, you seem incredibly irrational and plagued with misplaced anger.

BTW- the accusation of playing the "blame game" was in overdrive in the Republican/ MSM echo chamber in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to shift the focus off of Bush and his FEMA.

[blues90]

34. It's my opinion sorry it does not jive with yours

I try to see things how they are right now. The entire picture not just all the talking points that clutter peoples minds where there is no focus . Tell me what I've said that is not the truth. Spare me the lecture as if you have it all under control and the insults , is this how you push your opinionated power trip? What's the problem , are you in denile and just trust in everything Obama does and says like one of his many blog handlers. Now you're a shink with your own diagnois?

[dkf]

14. Actually, he has a better chance of getting things passed simply

because he can call huge spending increases a stimulus package.

Also, people are hurting in the exact areas he has wanted to change.

Lastly, we are jaded seeing super large numbers go down the financial hole. Sums that would have seemed crazy have become ordinary.

[SoCalDem]

18. It's how we usually do it..

[madiba]

23. it could have been worse

...imagine Bush trying to fix this mess.

[Lisa0825]

30. Welcome to DU!

:pals:

[4lbs]

26. In a recent interview last week, President Obama himself said that each major issue he's dealing

with right now (the economy, the wars, the banking system, health care, education, energy reform) could have easily taken up his entire Presidency all by itself.

He's having to deal with everything all at once, while things are still getting worse.

[Lint Head]

29. Actually the Shock Doctrine explains this.

Destroy the economy before your enemy takes over so he can't do anything. The same way the Nazis, the Japanese and even American soldiers destroy equipment and supplies when they had to abandon and area the enemy was going to occupy.
:dem:

[EmilyAnne]

32. So true. That is such a great book, BTW. n/t