For some of our less evolved RW posters, they automatically equate oppossition to Romney with endorsement of Obama. Even though their support of Romney is not based on any love of Romney, but hatred of Obama because he has a D behind his name.
So in the interest of fairness, I thought I'd list the things I am critical of Obama for doing or not doing. Nearly all of these I've criticized him for in the past. People forget that now because even though I said as far back as July I would never support the Weird Mormon Robot, they thought I was kidding and would come around by now, I guess.
1) Obamacare- The problem with the ACA is that it doesnt really address the underlying problem, which is not so much the non-insured (most of whom are young enough to where buying insurance is impractical) but the spiraling costs of insurance. It does little to control the cost of health care, it just spreads the costs around by forcing people into the system.
2) Stimulus- It was focused on bailing out state governments and delaying the day they had to make tough choices on pensions and personnel and benefits. The ugly truth is weve never gotten out of a recession without a burst of Keynesian spending. This was even true of Reagan, who doubled defense spending. This was just about putting off the reckoning.
3) Budget showdown/Debt Ceiling- Never, ever should have gotten to that point. It was the most reckless game of chicken ever. Both parties deserve blame and scorn for it. Obamas comments about peas and his daughters homework were patronizing, and missed the national mood. Again, this is where you really miss a Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan, who had the instinct to Ju-Jitsu the opposition with their own momentum and co-opt the good ideas.
4) Keystone- A great example of how certain special interest groups hold good ideas hostage. Obama could have gotten behind starting construction while still minding environmental concerns.
5) Afghanistan- this is an example of how rhetoric can cloud reality. Obama called Afganistan the war of necessity, so he could look hawkish while still reaping the benefits of the Iraq Wars unpopularity. But really, any purpose there was over when Karzai stole the 2009 election. So why are we still there? Because no one can admit it isn't worth it.
6) Libya- Another great example of sticking our hands in a hornets nest and hoping we can find nice hornets which wont sting us. Its like we never learn. the people we helped are hip deep in with Al Qaeda, but we helped them get rid of Qadaffi, who really hadn't been a problem in some time.
7) Holder- Needs to go. Period.
8) Wright- this is water over the damn, really, but the way he handled it 2008 was kind of reprehensible. Particularly the way he threw Granny under the bus.
9)Free Trade= Still drinking the Free Trade Koolaid, but both parties do that.
Now, again, none of these things are to me a compelling reason to vote for Romney, a guy who would make the economic problems worse because he do more of the same things we are doing wrong.
So in the interest of fairness, I thought I'd list the things I am critical of Obama for doing or not doing. Nearly all of these I've criticized him for in the past. People forget that now because even though I said as far back as July I would never support the Weird Mormon Robot, they thought I was kidding and would come around by now, I guess.
1) Obamacare- The problem with the ACA is that it doesnt really address the underlying problem, which is not so much the non-insured (most of whom are young enough to where buying insurance is impractical) but the spiraling costs of insurance. It does little to control the cost of health care, it just spreads the costs around by forcing people into the system.
2) Stimulus- It was focused on bailing out state governments and delaying the day they had to make tough choices on pensions and personnel and benefits. The ugly truth is weve never gotten out of a recession without a burst of Keynesian spending. This was even true of Reagan, who doubled defense spending. This was just about putting off the reckoning.
3) Budget showdown/Debt Ceiling- Never, ever should have gotten to that point. It was the most reckless game of chicken ever. Both parties deserve blame and scorn for it. Obamas comments about peas and his daughters homework were patronizing, and missed the national mood. Again, this is where you really miss a Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan, who had the instinct to Ju-Jitsu the opposition with their own momentum and co-opt the good ideas.
4) Keystone- A great example of how certain special interest groups hold good ideas hostage. Obama could have gotten behind starting construction while still minding environmental concerns.
5) Afghanistan- this is an example of how rhetoric can cloud reality. Obama called Afganistan the war of necessity, so he could look hawkish while still reaping the benefits of the Iraq Wars unpopularity. But really, any purpose there was over when Karzai stole the 2009 election. So why are we still there? Because no one can admit it isn't worth it.
6) Libya- Another great example of sticking our hands in a hornets nest and hoping we can find nice hornets which wont sting us. Its like we never learn. the people we helped are hip deep in with Al Qaeda, but we helped them get rid of Qadaffi, who really hadn't been a problem in some time.
7) Holder- Needs to go. Period.
8) Wright- this is water over the damn, really, but the way he handled it 2008 was kind of reprehensible. Particularly the way he threw Granny under the bus.
9)Free Trade= Still drinking the Free Trade Koolaid, but both parties do that.
Now, again, none of these things are to me a compelling reason to vote for Romney, a guy who would make the economic problems worse because he do more of the same things we are doing wrong.
