obama ... the first year

[luke]

so americans, what are your views? what have you liked? disliked? did you get 'full blown socialism'?!

[SpursFan1902]

I was never expecting "full blown socialism". It was a ridiculous idea to begin with. That was the Republicans trying to scare the old people into voting for McCain and Palin - as if the thought of them being in the White House was somehow comforting!! The ideas Obama was putting forth were no more socialism than what we already have with Social Security and MediCare. I think he made great strides in getting everyone some sort of medical coverage and it seems the economy is slowly making a come back, so yeah, I think he did alright. We have a long way to go and he still has things to do, but so far so good... Of course, this is completely my opinion and I fully expect to get blasted for it, but you asked, so I answered.

[pirtybirdy]

I liked Obama's response to Haiti and the donation he sent. That's all I can say about the likes. Oh, and he dresses well. That's it. He sucks in every other capacity. I can only hope he doesn't irreversibly destroy this country before his term is up. Hopefully 3 years isn't enough to do too much. Time will tell.

[luke]

sorry, i was only joking about 'full blown socialism', it was quoted from pirty before he won the election

pirty, i thought you'd be pleased he hasn't closed guantanamo, kept troops in iraq and sent more troops to afghanistan and pakistan? he's kept up pressure on iran? kept the blockade on cuba? gone easy on israels building of illegal settlements? supported the coup in honduras? you were worried you were going to get 'full blown socialism' - surely then that america is just as capitalist as it was under bush would be a good thing to you?

condoleezza rice said obama would follow the policies of bush's second term - you say you only like obamas response to haiti - can i take it from that you didn't like bush's second term

[Colston]

Wolf in sheep's clothing...

[modern]

Bitter disappointment - Trying to please everyone, ending up pleasing no one.

The Right hate him for all the wrong reasons and the Left hate him for pandering towards the Right.

He hasn't backed up any of his pre-election rhetoric or promises. Can't you Yanks sue him under the trade descriptions act???

[SpursFan1902]

He has FOUR years to make good on his campaign promises and we all vote knowing that all promises won't be kept.

[modern]

It will probably only be FOUR years.

His foreign policy stinks just as much as Bush's. He continues to support the terrorist state of Israel. Creating another 'Nam for Americans and it's lapdogs in Afghanistan. Continued sanctions against Cuba...I could go on.

Unless he's playing a game, I doubt very much things will change within his whole term of Presidency, and he will go the same way as Jimmy Carter.

Then again us progressives should really already know, it doesn't matter who is leader of the Capitalist Empire, their orthodoxy will always remain the same...

Here's to the revolution!

[major.tom]

[Kezza]

Considering that Obama inherited the majority of the issues that are in question, it's too soon to tell.

I'm comforted in the knowledge that the President of the US is smarter than I (and holds an education that wasn't bestowed upon him because of his family / social connections). I most definitely believe that he is more qualified and intelligent than his predecessor and I challenge anyone in Obama's position to "do better" in only 12 months.

Just my opinion -- with the full acknowledgment that no matter what Obama does, someone will criticize him. I wish the pundits who berate the current administration would focus on unity, moving forward, and offer feasible alternative policies that work towards the common good instead of putting forward negative viewpoints that promote division and fear.

[Ash]

No change coming with Obama: http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/20090124.htm
Crisis and Hope - Theirs and ours: http://bostonreview.net/BR34.5/chomsky.php?chom

Noam says it all!

[luke]