The only good news for us is that the GOP is sinking faster than Obama's credibility.

[deacon]

Crisis times demands a leader with courage. His agenda is somewhat okay, after bush mostly anyone's agenda would be okay- but his lack of strength, his lack of steel in facing our recent past in regards to torture is a hideous wrong that throws the "change" theme under the bus.

A monster size disappointment.

[Birthmark]

1. You'll probably take some heat for that post.

But I pretty much agree with you.

[Patchuli]

23. Then you both need to learn some patience

If you developed nothing else during the last 8 years reign of terror, it should have been patience.

[skipos]

2. Do you have evidence to back this up? Or is this just a hunch?

Even though I don't like a lot of what he is going, I am not delusional enough to ignore the very high approval ratings for Obama.

[deacon]

4. So his approval ratings are more important than the rule of law?

You can't move forward without dealing what is our recent past. Restoring credibility requires that. Why is Pelosi the scapegoat? Because Obama wants to be the Ghandi of D.C.? The Justice Department has rightly so be taken to verbal task under gonzo and mulkasey- where is Holder showing courage?

Sorry, I must be missing something.

[skipos]

31. So the the answer is "no"

That is all you needed to say.

[paulsby]

20. he said

"credibility" not approval ratings.

those are different metrics.

the former is also at least somewhat subjective.

the latter is a statistical fact.

[lamp_shade]

3. Well good morning to you too Sunshine.

[deacon]

5. And good morning to you with those rosey sunglasses. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

6. The Art Of The Possible...

I'm sorry everyone's pony hasn't been delivered in 4 months. Yes, it's a shame that all of the booosh cabal aren't in orange jump suits awaiting sentencing. Life sucks.

No President has come into office with such a large mess to clean up. There is an economy in free fall that was hemoraging defaults in the final boooshie days. No sooner did he come into office than the corporate media gladly threw the blame of not "fixing the economy" on President Obama. Then there is the ongoing quagmire in Iraq and Afghanistan and a military that is over-stretched and a State Department that had ceased to function since 2002. And that was for starters...

Then there's the agenda to get important campaign promsies accomplished. A "bail-out" that saved many pensions and investments, a budget that reversed 30 years of increases for important social services. There's plans for major reforms for health care, education, EFCA and getting a new SCOTUS Justice nominated and confirmed. This mean governing vs. politicking.

The key to President Obama's victory last year was his ability to be a prgamatist...promising to reach out to all. His attempts were rebuffed, but it's worked to his benefit. In reaching out, he's somehow now alienated people on the left as he's not doing enough, fast enough...or that he isn't delivering on promises he never made...or, more important, that he sees things in a 4 year picture rather than a 4 month one. It's a matter of priorities.

The crimes of the past 8 years are just starting to come to light...each day comes a new revelation and the demand for investigation gets louder. Justice and the beltway moves slow.

Now we just barely survived 8 years of a "strong leader"...whose "steel" led us into the messes this President is trying to clean up. As has been said here...you can't sail a ship while you're still taking on water.

[deacon]

7. This current fiasco wouldn't be happening if he hit this head on...

And yeah, today, repost your stuff after we pick up on military tribunals.........today.

[KharmaTrain]

12. And There's Sufficient Evidence Yet?

IMHO, the ultimate judges in this matter are not military, but international. The demand grows as each revelation comes forward for the U.N. to convene investigation in the Hague. While people were obsessing about Miss California or what Pelosi knew or didn't, there was important testimony by Phillip Zelikow that put the order of torture right at cheney's doorstep...one more piece of the puzzle revealed. Then there was Charles Dulfour on Rachel Maddow's show last night all but pointing to cheney ordering waterboarding to get "evidence" for launching their war for profit in Iraq. These were people who had been silence under Executive privilidge and other intimidation that are now starting to come forward. There are sure to be much more to come...but it's well beyond what our partisan/political system is capable of dealing with.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. No one expectes their pony in 4 months

The concern is not the completion of stuff, it is the DIRECTION in which we're being led.

[deacon]

9. What kind of direction is it when you ignore what happened?

What direction is this that I'm missing? I see what he's doing. Not from the MSM tongue waggers, but from his mouth. HE is the one getting in the way of the rule of law.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Ignoring? Hardly...

Now explain, if you can, how is President Obama obstructing law? He not just allowed, but pushed for the release of the torture memos that have rekindled the long needed "debate" that is currently going on. Polls still show 50% of American believe torture was either "justified" or even a good thing. What I hear from much of the corporate media "tongue waggers" is pyschobabble...talking points and broad strokes...few specifics.

Now, if President Obama had pulled a Jerry Ford and issued a pre-emptive pardon for all booooshie officials, kept boooshie's draconian "executive privilidge" claims in place when he took office or came out against any investigation, then I'd agree that he was getting in the way of the rule of law.

Appears some here prefer vengence over justice...

[madokie]

17. That my friends is as close to the facts as one can get.

[KharmaTrain]

10. And We Even Know That???

The real issue is priorities...what is important to deal with now and what needs time to develop. Right now I'm seeing a direction for investigations and further disclosures of the war crimes of the boooosh regime. Is it Obama's job to push this or just allow the situation dictate what can and can't be done? For 8 years people here properly lamented about an Executive that was too powerful...and now Obama is being blamed for not being "strong" enough? I thought restoring the Constitution and the balance of powers was more important. Guess they're heading us in the wrong direction as well.

As Henry Waxman said when the Democrats regain majority in the House in '06, it wasn't the matter of what to investigate, but where to start. We're just starting to come out from under a 30 year cloud of "deregulation" and "trickle down"...we're only seeing the tip of the corruption iceburg. I want justice but I want it thorough...not rushed. Events always set the direction.

In the next month, Congresscritters will be home; stumping for cash and holding Town Halls...if you want to push the "direction"...there's one hell of a place to start.

Cheers...

[FSogol]

21. Well said Kharma. Did everyone expect Obama to be able to

correct long standing problems instantly? Seems many people here are happy unless they are griping about something.

[Sukie]

11. Excellent post, Kharma

Obama still has my strong support because I have faith that he is trying to do the very best that he can under the situations that have been dealt to him. He is a good, decent man who is making decisions that aren't always going to mesh with everyones idea of right. I saw a post on DU yesterday that basically said that if you don't agree that the photos should be released, then you aren't welcome here and don't let the door hit you on the way out. It was quite sobering to realize that even people on this site could turn so easily on others over this issue. Well, my opinion is that if Obama feels that there is a reason he won't release those photos yet, I respect him enough to know he might know what he is talking about. I heard it said that while the others are playing checkers, Obama is playing chess. He has a plan. Wait and see.

[madokie]

18. That's the way I see it too

and that's the way I feel about it. One of the first things President has had to deal with is changing the tone of washington, of which he is well on his way of accomplishing. I notice today I don't hear as much bull from the re:puke: as I was two months ago so he is winning them over one by one, not necesarily changing colors of strips but in dropping the old gingrich ways of throwing wrenches in the works. As long as the :puke:s are sabotaging the machine that is government there is not much chance of fixing it. I have faith in President Obama in delivering what he told me he would do. I give him time because it isn't going to happen over night and I know that, he knows that, hell I think everyone should know that, all of us anyway.

[graywarrior]

13. .

:thumbsup:

[KharmaTrain]

15. I Think I Stole The Bailing Water Line From You...

Thanks for the thumbs up!

:hi:

[bvar22]

24. That has absolutely nothing to do with campaign promises of:

"Transparency", "Rule of Law". and "No one is above The Law".
Those promises can be readily visible "On Day One".

It IS about Direction, not Speed.

[KharmaTrain]

27. Smoke Never Clears Quickly....

Do you believe that President Obama knows all about the crimes of the past 8 years? Or are you hoping for a rush to judgement before real evidence comes forward? I wish things were so cut and dried...but ain't the case.

Direction indicates manipulation...I'm for justice and there is no direction other than the truth...one that is dictated by evidence and investigation, not snap judgement. It's direction dictated by people coming forward to add more light to clear the smoke and allow real transparancy to happen.

I saw a change on Day One...a new administration popularly elected...not one perpetuating the lies and crimes of the past. Now how do you think a John McCain would have dealt with this issue?

Direction is always determined by speed. Go too fast and you're sure to veer off course as opposed to slow and steady.

Cheers...

[bvar22]

29. Smoke ALWAYS clears quickly....

...unless someone is making more smoke.

[dflprincess]

32. "..was his ability to be a prgamatist...promising to reach out to all"

Would a pragmatist think he could "reach out to all" - wouldn't a pragmatist know there are some people you will never reach?

:shrug:

[madokie]

16. In other words he's going up because they're falling down

I'm not sure I like that analogy

[Coyote_Bandit]

19. Telecom Immunity

That's when I knew for a certainty that there would be no meaningful change.....

I've had lots of confirmation since then.

[Mari333]

26. that was a huge disappointment. nt

[Patchuli]

22. Snap Judge Much?

We have a lot to fix after the neo-cons' destruction. You folks that have your panties on fire to have everything you want done NOW need to learn a little patience. Everything didn't get fucked up overnight and it won't get fixed overnight. You think YOU know how to run this ship? Run for office. oh wise one...:sarcasm:

[Mari333]

25. STOP PICKING ON OBAMA

Actually, I agree with you. the naysayers who want you to shut up dont get it. its the direction he seems to be headed in. If I see my friend taking the wrong turn on a dangerous road, I will tell him or her about it. Obama is taking some bad turns (esp with the neverending occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan), and his flip flop on a few other things.
If he deserves kudos, I will give them. But I will also criticize, whether the party before principle people like it or not.

[scheming daemons]

28. Obama's credibility is fine with me

He released the memos. That shows his mind and heart are in the right place.

That gives him leeway with me with regards to the photos. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on those, because he has already proven his trustworthiness.

[leftofthedial]

30. He is letting us down.

Sad. But true.

[DU GrovelBot]

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