Time for more audacity?
President Barack Obama is taking heavy fire from the left this week. Comedian and liberal spokesmensch Bill Maher declared, "This is not what I voted for."
"If you can't shove some real reform down [the Republican Party's] throats now -- when?" he asked.
EJ Dionne argued in the Washington Post today that Obama's healthcare reform has already incorporated too many Republican priorities without winning any conservative support.
As it is, President Obama and the Democrats have already compromised a great deal. They are not proposing a government takeover of health-care financing, as single-payer advocates prefer. Instead, they are working within the confines of current arrangements.Dionne calls bipartisanship "a trap."
The NY Times, meanwhile, is running with a think-piece this morning that compares Obama (unfavorably) to Franklin Roosevelt -- who is sketched as far more bold and decisive.
Three quarters of a century ago, President Franklin Roosevelt earned the undying enmity of Wall Street when he used his enormous popularity to push through a series of radical regulatory reforms that completely changed the norms of the financial industry. Wall Street hated the reforms, of course, but Roosevelt didn’t care.Obama has also drawn mixed reviews for his muted response to the turmoil in Iran.
Wall Street and the financial industry had engaged in practices they shouldn’t have, and had helped lead the country into the Great Depression. Those practices had to be stopped. To the president, that’s all that mattered.
And he's infuriated gay and lesbian groups for backpedaling on his campaign promise to end the military's "Don't Ask-Don't Tell" policy. (A boycott is spreading, with gay donors declining to give to Democratic candidates.)
So what do you think? As we approach the half-year mark for Mr. Obama's presidency, is it time for him to swing for the fence on SOMETHING?
Do we want the President to show more spunk? More conviction? Or is his steady-as-she-goes, temperate style a good thing in these tumultuous times?
posted by Brian Mann @ 6/18/2009 07:22:00 AM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
The record so far is disappointing, especially on reforming the financial/banking sector, as the article in today's NYT explains. But here's the big question: BHO does not have a certain majority in the US Senate; there are members of his own party who are much more conservative than he and will resist or even thwart aggressive reforms. So is the problem that BHO is himself too cautious, too cozy with Wall Street? Or is he facing the realities of what he can actually get passed and then proposing legislation and reforms that are less forceful than what he wants but more palatable to conservative Dems? I can see arguments for both of these possibilities. In any case, I think we're missing a great opportunity for serious and much-needed reform of the financial sector, which, with its irresponsible use of derivatives, credit-default swaps, etc., etc., got us into this current mess.
It's easy to armchair quarterback the presidency.
I voted for this guy because I trusted his intentions, abilities, and judgment.
It's going to take time for him to turn things around.
Mike
I have a concern that as Pres. Obama proceeds cautiously on many of these issues and doesn't make the swift changes that are demanded at this time, the problems that the administration continues to claim were inherited will become his. I am trying to remain patient.
It is almost as if he is still (or should I say already) campaigning for the presidency. Those of us who were looking for change have yet to see it, at least not of the magnitude that we had hoped.
My list of disappointments is as follows:
1) We STILL have troops in Iraq.
2) We are escalating in Afghanistan.
3) He has not nationalized healthcare.
4) He has not placated the gay community sufficiently.
5) The stimulus money is not moving fast enough and when it starts, is too tied to pet projects that will not achieve the intended objective.
6) He has not nationalized the auto industry. (The administration wants to stay hands-off)
7) The torture pictures have not been released.
8) His administration has not moved to begin prosecution of the Bush adminstration for war crimes and deception of the American citizens.
9) We conintues to pander to Israel.
The President has not, to my satisfaction, taken advantage of his control of the main-stream media and his party's control of Congress to push through his progressive agenda.
I am pleased with the decision to stay out of the Iran mess. The recent election is not too far removed from the elections that we have in this country. Voter fraud and voter intimidation are rampant.
Obama might consider taking a page from Republicans and consider not paying attention to the Republicans.
I would love to see private health insurance made illegal and all their assets confiscated and used to give national health care a jump start.
I would love to see credit cards made illegal. With debit cards, who needs credit cards? But if they must continue to exist, how about a 15% cap on interest?
Pulling the troops out of Iraq is not unlike delicate brain surgury - if it is done badly, even greater damage results. Also, as regards Afghanistan, Obama stated on the campaign trail that he would increase troop levels there - and I am glad to see him doing so.
I am grateful that my president is proceding with thoughtful care in these complex matters.
As for the torture photos, transparency must be balanced against safety - do we need more US service people targeted, maimed, mutilatied, &/or killed - in retribution for the actions of others? Don't think these things don't happen just because they might not be reported in the media.
Again, I am grateful for a president sensitive to these concerns.
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