Barack Obama

[Ned]

So, a year and a half into his presidency, what do people on this forum think?  An intelligent, long term strategic thinker, or a tool in way the hell over his head?

I hate to say it, but in my opinion he gives the impression that he is a man overwhelmed by the power of the presidency.

[Recusant]

While I find your negative view of President Obama unsurprising, Ned, I am pleasantly surprised by the restrained language you used to express it.  

I was not a backer of the candidate Obama.  I'm not a huge fan of President Obama, either, but I think that he's handled himself fairly well.  I see him as merely another centrist politician, contrary to the ravings of the far right elements of the US population, who see him as some kind of pinko out to destroy the "American way."  I think that these people have decided to hate anything other than leaders who pander to their myopic view of the world.  They are encouraged and egged on by such mendacious blowhards as Beck, Savage and Limbaugh.  These tendencies toward extreme divisiveness, including mutterings of "armed rebellion," do the US no good at all, so I look at this trend as much more "anti-American" than President Obama will ever be.

That said, President Obama is such a huge improvement over his predecessor that any fault I find in him seems very minor in comparison.

[Ned]

That said, President Obama is such a huge improvement over his predecessor that any fault I find in him seems very minor in comparison.

I can't argue with that!

[GAYtheist]

President Obama has so far signed an Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity to the hate crimes law. Has fought tirelessly to remove DADT from the military. Is trying to get DOMA removed. He is trying to make this a nation of equality. Unlike many other presidents, he has tried hard to keep his promises, and has done well so far.  I personally think that President Obama is the best president we have had at least since Kennedy. Yes, he is going slow, but he has looked at things with a secular eye, and has fought toot and nail for equality, we can't ask much more than that.

[Martin TK]

I like President Obama for two reasons and have ONE bone to pick with him.  First, I am proud that Americans voted for and elected an African-American for the Presidency in my lifetime, which I never thought would happen.  As I grew up in the Deep South and saw a LOT of the sadness inflicted upon African-Americans in my youth, and then the Civil Rights Movement, this is a great break through.  I know the arguments that he was elected only because he is African-American, but I don't buy that and he is a HUGE improvement over the idiot from the previous eight years.  Secondly, I feel he brings back the true sense of what a President should be for this nation, a man with confidence and poise, even in the face of adversity.

My bone is that here is a man who taught constitutional law, and has stated that his administration will appeal the recent lower court ruling that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.  I truly believe that Obama is an atheist, if by nothing else but his actions, and is now appealing to the Right Winged Faith-Heads with this move.  Just my opinion.

[Sophus]

He's not a perfect politician of course, and I'm not sure such a thing exists. However, he is a huge step up from where we've been recently. I admire the progression he has made, as noted by GAYtheist, including on Health Care Reform although I would have been better if they stuck with the original plan. He has also improved our world image and relations greatly, is nominating honorable people like Kagan to the Supreme Court, and he didn't let the fact that he received campaign money from BP stop him from getting on to them (unlike Mr. "I apologize to BP for this shakedown." who, BTW, received more money from BP than anyone else). Although I would have preferred it if Obama came up with a good plan for getting off oil and made a promise that we will get off it.

Despite all of this, my favorite thing about him is that he is not a vain war pig like Bush. We need leadership that looks to prevent war at all costs, not makes up lies about weapons of mass destruction so as to avenge daddy.

Unfortunately, if the economy isn't better by 2012 there is no way he will be re-elected. The reason I say "unfortunately" is because we will probably end up with whoever the Republicans end up picking. We may have a Tea Bagger as President. This deeply worries me.

[pinkocommie]

Unfortunately, if the economy isn't better by 2012 there is no way he will be re-elected. The reason I say "unfortunately" is because we will probably end up with whoever the Republicans end up picking. We may have a Tea Bagger as President. This deeply worries me.

I think it depends on who the Republican nominee is.  I wouldn't give the Tea Baggers that much credit, though.  They're loud and they get a lot of attention because they're batshit insane, but I don't think they're nearly as popular as their leaders/propaganda would have everyone believe.  Or maybe I'm just an optimist living in a liberal oasis, which is also possible...

[Anthemyst]

As far as I know, he's the first president to acknowledge that American atheists exist, and are valid members of the country, and for that he will always have my gratitude.

As far as what kind of president he is, the jury's still out. I remain optimistic, though!

[philosoraptor]

In a year and a half, Obama has accomplished more than Bush ever did in an entire 8 years.  I get tired of people claiming he hasn't kept his campaign promises, when he very obviously is trying to.  He has been pushing health care since he got into office, which was a major component of his platform.  People want so much of him without realizing what he is battling against to get reforms passed.  Law making is a slow-process, and it's like people expect him to be pushing 80 or 90 new laws at a time, when it just doesn't work that way.  You don't have to like what Obama is pushing, but you can't claim he hasn't made changes.  He certainly hasn't spent 8 months vacationing while the nation is in crisis.

As a woman, I was overjoyed when he decreed that abortion providers could receive government funding.  It was always one of my pet peeves that places like Planned Parenthood, that do more than just provide abortions, could not receive funding just because of one service they provide.  The only reason to deny funding is very clearly rooted in religious belief, which is entirely inappropriate when deciding how federal monies are allocated.  I love my PP, because I feel like the people there actually give a shit about my health.  When I was an unemployed grad student, they usually told me not to worry about it, or to only throw up $5 when I went in to get my BC.  They were more concerned with me as a person than getting money out of me.

I'm also pleased to see that he is working to bring equal rights to the GLBT community, as some of my closest friends are gay.

While I'm not really keen on the health care plan that is currently circulating, I will give it to him for following through on his plan for socialized health care.  I hope he works harder to bring a public option to the table.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Unfortunately, if the economy isn't better by 2012 there is no way he will be re-elected. The reason I say "unfortunately" is because we will probably end up with whoever the Republicans end up picking. We may have a Tea Bagger as President. This deeply worries me.

A rookie campaign manager could take Sarah Palin in about 10 days, I think, between her ethics investigation and her sudden resignation.  The best thing that could happen for Obama would be for a Tea Party Republican to be nominated in 2012.

[Tank]

[karadan]

He seems honest. That goes a long way in my book.

[Martin TK]

All I can say is IF, and I hope it's a big IF, Sarah Palin is nominated in 2012 and somehow wins the election, I will move to England, because the United States of America will be unsafe for any and all atheists.  Mark my words.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yeah, I wouldn't buy those tickets yet.  There's a gravitational field that keeps her feet in her mouth.

[joeactor]

All I can say is IF, and I hope it's a big IF, Sarah Palin is nominated in 2012 and somehow wins the election, I will move to England, because the United States of America will be unsafe for any and all atheists.  Mark my words. :bananacolor:  :eek:

(best thing that could happen for the dems...)