Carters supporters and the Democratic party turned on Jimmy like sharks devouring one of their own , and if expectations for Obama's first four years aren't lowered to a realistic level, he will meet the same end. If that happens, and I hope it doesn't, it won't be Obama's fault, it wont be because he failed miserably, it will be the fickle loyalty of people who have their own agendas, rather than the greater good. So here is a list of people who would be well advised to get their heads out of the clouds, drop the jelly beans and cotton candy, and step away from the unicorn.
Gay people, if you supported Obama because you believe he will eventually back Gay marriage, I hate to burst your bubble, but it ain't gonna happen. If you haven't figured that out by now, you will, and when you do, rather than act like injured brides left hanging at the altar, ask yourself this; Despite his opposition to gay marriage will you be better off under his presidency than say a conservative, like Palin or Huckabee? And before anyone threatens to scratch my eyes out, I'm all for gay marriage, it's just not going to happen on a federal level, ever.Black folks, if you supported Obama because you believe it will automatically right history's wrongs in this country, if you believe the ridiculous notion that he will start doling out reparations money, or special favors by virtue of race, well you are wrong. We've come a long way baby, but at the end of the day, money controls this country. Money begets power, and the big money in this country is still white money. You would have a better shot at special favors if you courted the government in China. I believe we will see more social justice, we will see more help for the poor, and better chances for minority children to get a better education, all very much needed in a country that spends so much helping the world while ignoring it's own. Just don't make any plans on how to spend those reparations checks on that McMansion in South Leawood.
There is a long list of special interest groups, from Environmentalists to Unions, who naively believe that this is their guy. They foolishly believe that Obama will single handily change the way this government runs. If these folks don't temper their expectations, if they don't get a firm grasp on reality, Obama will be up to his ass in alligators , and the republicans will take control again after his first and only term.
Hey I'm not saying that people shouldn't be fired up, they should, Obama's swearing in is a big deal and should be celebrated as such. The thing is, and I honestly believe this will prove to be the case; better than 1/4th of Obama's supporters will have turned on him by the middle of his first term. Change. Change. Change. Like a mantra, that word has been repeated over and over, like a Bad Finger 45 with the turntable set to repeat. The first hundred times you hear it , it sounds really good. By the millionth time it just sounds annoying. Right now, as of this minute, the only thing that has changed in this country, is that we will soon have our first Black President. From here on out, change will come slowly, painfully, if it comes at all. The president Elect is taking over at one of the worst times in the last 100 years or more, perhaps not THEE worst, but pretty close. If he is competent, and I believe he is, Obama will focus on the big picture, the economy , Iraq, and Afghanistan. Everyone else can take a number for the next 4 to 6 years, he may or may not get around to you, but it wont be anytime soon. There has never , ever been a president in the history of this country who fulfilled all of his campaign promises, and there never will be. In between the promise and it's fruition, shit happens, things fall to the wayside. For some reason a large section of society believes Obama will break the streak, and while it's a nice sentiment, it ain't exactly reality.
My opinion, the most important one to me, is that Obama has all the makings of either the greatest president in my life time, or the biggest disappointment. The outcome will be determined by the willingness of Obama's supporters to put aside their own agendas and special interests for the greater good of the country. The jury is still out on that one, ask me again next year. Despite my less than rosy outlook, I really hope President elect Obama has a good run and begins to right the ship. I wish him Godspeed. Believe it or not, I am hopeful, I'm just not ready to call it a done deal.
**** My opinions aren't always met with cheers and confetti. Read for yourself here.****
I am going with the "disappointment" prediction. Yesterday he was asked if he would cancel executive order banning funding for stem cell research and he said something about "letting congress decide". Congress didn't decide to ban it, why would it need to un-ban it. Pussy.
ReplyDeleteWait just a damn minute! I was promised a check and by God I want my check! : )
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I know people that believed everything you just wrote there. Even some that thought they wouldn't have to pay on their mortgage anymore!!!
I'm not political, all I know is we needed a change. He's being handed a big ole' mess and the best I'm hoping for is that it doesn't get any messier and I'll be happy as a lark if it improves.
Nice rant MM. But I did like your previous one when he was elected, with the quote from "Pulp Fiction" to back it up.
ReplyDeleteBeing the pessimist I am, he will fail, just cause expectations are SO high.
On the news this morning, they had a story of how some metro folks were invited to attend the Inauguralation(sp?) "free of charge". Yeah, taxpayers pay for it, so that means its free.
Its already started people!
I think the ones that will turn on Obama are the Bush haters because Obama has already realized he cannot fulfill their dreams of keeping Gitmo open for Bush and Cheney while letting the current residents out for a stroll down main street America.
ReplyDeleteI heard a good line yesterday in reference to Obama's already very high approval ratings. We're all hanging onto the same life boat. We all think we are going to get in but if we do, the boat will surely sink.
God speed President Obama. I hope you have the skill of Captain Sullenberger.
He's still a political critter. Like all of the presidents before him. He'll be chained to the desk and very little (if any) actual "change" will happen. He'll spend 99% of his time putting out fires and schmoozing with bigwigs. Unfortunately, the time has passed when a "regular" guy could aspire to the presidency. What would work right now would be another Roosevelt or even a Truman. I'm going with disappointment, as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, pretty much echoes my own sentiments. I happily voted for him, and for the first time in my voting life, it was because I actually liked him as a candidate.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, he's not a miracle worker. He's not going to snap his finger and magically fix the ails of this country. It's a big hole we've dug ourselves into, and it's going to take a long time to climb back out. Hopefully people have a little patience...
Well if he fails as bad as Bill Clinton did, we can look forward to alot more prosperity. I'm delightfully hopeful, because the Bush Reign of Terror is over. He'll have to be the Anti-Christ, like my sister-in-law thinks, for me to be disappointed. As long as he doesn't torture people and wage war under false pretenses while his family has lots of money in defense contracting, I'll be okay. He'd have to kick a blind dog to disappoint me. I don't expect miracles. But just the fact that the Bushes are outie and right-wing thinking has been rebuked by the American electorate brings on the joy. Even if he's as bad as any bad president other than Bush, I won't be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteThis is the controversial post? This is the post that made some dude go off on you?
ReplyDeleteSome people have thin skin
Yeah, I know, I guess I'm just to abrasive for the French Poodle crowd. I left him a comment, no flame war is imminent, At THIS time, but I'll reserve the right to a preemptive strike if I think he is going to throw a Frapucinno or baby seals blood on me.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love the hipster blogger crowd in this town.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post, per usual.
ReplyDeleteHe will fail on all of his promises, like every president has before him.
The only interesting thing about tomorrow is that a black man will be put into office. Oh, and I get to see a bunch of degenerates rockin out to Beyonce on my (and yours) dime.
Effing awesome.
What would be awesome, Sinic, is if you would drop the flag.
ReplyDeleteMM - Dan is pulling his usual "I'll insult you and then disclaim any insult". It's his M.O., fundamentally dishonest, and you handled it well.
ABB
ReplyDeleteKiss your sister with that mouth?
Is that all you got? I figured.
ReplyDeleteSo, if you're young, IQ below 90, and think you are feeling mad, your ace in the hole, slam dunk point is to accuse someone of pickle-smoking, and end your sentences with the word bitch.
ReplyDeleteWow, hand that bong around and see if your friends nod. Lol.
I think the situation here in the blogging world between Dan and MM can be summed up in one phrase:
ReplyDeletemuch ado about nothing.
With that said, I have to say you are spot on in this blog about Obama, MM. The left is putting unrealistic expectations upon the man. But there's one thing different between Obama and Carter. Obama seems to be a savvy political animal with a level head. Carter was too much of a naive idealist, which is why reality overwhelmed him. It wasn't just his supporters who contributed to his downfall in the 70's.
I think Obama will operate in a mature, patient, and well-thought out process. That won't make him another Lincoln or FDR, but it will make him moderately successful and that's all that will be needed for reelection. Remember if Clinton and Bush could get reelected despite their troubles, it doesn't take a whole heck of a lot of accomplishment for anyone else to warrant the same thing. And let's remember that in the end the left has no other option. If they sit out the next election and let the GOP take over again, they know they're not going to get any better results. So I don't think Obama has to unduly worry about the support of the various interest groups on the left. They'll be there for him again in 2012. What he will need to consider is that if he gets reelected then he'll need to make good on some items of the left's agenda or be savaged in a more unforgiving arena, the history books. Nothing hurts a politician more than having their ego bruised by being portrayed as leaving behind an unsincere legacy. George W. Bush is already very aware of that pitfall.
Johnke has a good assessment. Carter was indeed a different animal from Obama. Carter came from a governorship (rather than Congress) to the presidency, and he brought along all of his own people out of loyalty -- people who didn't know Washington and didn't care. They were insular and arrogant and damaged the effectiveness of his presidency.
ReplyDeleteObama has chosen his staff with great care and political acumen. That will serve him well, as I believe he is a man who is willing to listen to his people but not be smothered by their influence.
The special interest groups are fools if they think Obama is going to kowtow to each one of them individually. Whether one supports gay marriage, reparations to African-Americans, stem cell research, no off-shore drilling, whatever -- he must understand that the office of the president by itself is not the seat of ultimate power in America -- there is no presidential magic wand that can make any of these things happen.
Money is still power, but perhaps not always in the way most of us think of it. For sociopolitical change to occur on a national, legislative scale, the House of Representatives is the crux of power where those changes are going to live or die. The lobbies and caucuses, the party structure and the committee membership in the House all determine the outcome of anything new that will change the face of American society.
The relationship between Obama and the Speaker will be important (and should be cultured), as will be the relationship among the president, the president's staff and the key House members. If Obama is shrewd enough to realize this and pull it off, he will accomplish much of his touted change. I wish him the best of luck.
I think Obama is a smart man who can do a lot of good as a leader. Now having said that I have to admit that I agree with your post. Too much is being expected of him, and that can't end well.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't gotten my check dammit!
ReplyDelete"They foolishly believe that Obama will single handily change the way this government runs"
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing people saying this and yet I neither know nor have read any Obama supporter who expects this. I think it's total BS. Just because people are excited about something, why does this make them idiots? I for one, prefer to hope for the best even tho I don't think everything that should or even could will change.
I find it very telling that people managed to pick and choose what they read here. I think it's fair to say that this post had more positives and hope regarding Obama than negativity. In fact, not once, not a single time did I say a single negative thing about Obama, not one. You need only look to the internet, the news, even hollywood douche nozzles like Oprah if you want to verifiy the unrealistic expectations placed on Obama. Maybe the people who think Im seeing the glass half empty or think I'm being critical and close minded should look within themselves and read this post a couple more times. I think that the reactions from other blogs and some commentors here, have only proven my point. When a less than star struck , happy ever after opinion was written, or as I like to call it, reality, look at the reactions. It's like the entire post was only 4 sentences rather than 4 paragraphs. That said I appreciate everyones comments and respect your opinions. I'll be happy to retract every word I said when Im proven wrong. I hope I have to.
ReplyDeleteMay, you wrote: "I keep hearing people saying [that Obama will change the way government runs] and yet I neither know nor have read any Obama supporter who expects this."
ReplyDeleteI think MM is referring to comments like "Imagine having a government that works for the people again instead of against it! How exciting is that?"
Atlas is Shrugging people!
ReplyDelete