The Rise and Fall of President Wilson Obama
Well, he has had a "fall" in terms of approval numbers, but it's
still wishful thinking on cons' part to say already that his is a "failed" Presidency with only about 11 months into office.
One op-ed deserves another:
With your permission, of course, I will once again defy popular suppositions. For while the free-floating disappointment with President Obama, not the thinker but the actor, is all too real, the fact is that in less than one short year, he has wrought change so profound in the American scene that one would barely recognize today's country compared to that of 2006 and 2007.
First consider health care and insurance. Do you recall ever hearing anything about health during the George W. administration (except in their beloved gruesome battlefield hospitals, of course)? Obama has made health into the subject du jour; the papers and TV are full of it; individual cases of insurance denial are being taken apart, bit by bit. Many Americans have noticed that the health insurance companies have not dared to tell "their" story -- when one did come into the news, it was because it had turned down a desperately ill insured man needing around-the-clock care, calling him a "dog." So much for the moral stature of the insurance companies we trust with our lives!
Next consider Wall Street. The negative coverage of the big brokerage houses and their outrageous gaming of the system has become so clear to Americans over this last year that no one could expect them to reclaim their former place of respect in our society. While there is still a lot of questioning on whether the administration's enormous stimulus package will rescue the economy and bring enough funds to small business, the undeniable fact is that the administration has acted, and acted swiftly. Now the discussion is about how the nation responds when its economy is failing.
And finally, consider our foreign policy. Under George W. Bush, and especially in the hands of Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, all three of whom seemed to get a Viagra punch out of insulting our allies and trying to wipe off the face of the Earth anyone they didn't particularly like, America had sunk to its lowest place in the world order for many years. Obama has changed that.
Change has come to the national debate -- chicagotribune.com
Now this is kind of repartee I like.
First of all, thank you for the style, posting a cogent document as an answer. So different from the vituperative ravings of the immature 'wingy,' whose posts are more on the line of "so are you..."
To the fray:
1. You are correct, of course, as to the limited duration of his Presidency, and things may well change, but you are not correct that one must wait until the term is over to voice opinion or criticism.
Based on the 11 months alone, he has failed in so many ways that independents are fleeing his camp, and he is taking fire from the left as well. From your post:"...the free-floating disappointment with President Obama..."
Point for my side?
2. As for "...he has wrought change so profound in the American scene that one would barely recognize today's country compared to that of 2006 and 2007...." this is truly comic relief.
Notice the columnist did not list any actual changes, and, being fair minded, you must admit that had a traveler visited in 2006, and now, he would find any differences, let us say, far from jaw-dropping.
The line reeks of high school journalism, and, at best, is overwrought polemic.
3. Next: "...First consider health care and insurance. Do you recall ever hearing anything about health during the George W. administration..." Hearing is the operative term. Nothing has been done. Can you point to any changes?
Now, as to the explanation of the import of the sentence: a) since 85-90% of folks with healthcare are happy with it, there was no reason to trumpet it, and b) the real reason for the healthcare bill is to allow bigger government and more control over the economy.
If you like, I will document that the United States Healthcare System is the best in the world, and results in the greatest longevity.
4. Unintentional truth: "... the papers and TV are full of it..." You can say that again!
5. "...individual cases of insurance denial are being taken apart, bit by bit. Many Americans have noticed that the health insurance companies have not dared to tell "their" story -- when one did come into the news, it was because it had turned down a desperately ill insured man needing around-the-clock care, calling him a "dog." So much for the moral stature of the insurance companies we trust with our lives!"
Which Nationalized-Universal Healthcare has 100% satisfaction, no flaws, or the outstanding record that the US system has?
Which Insurance companies in the US can sell policies in every state, or which ones are allowed by state law to determine exactly what they cover?
None and none.
These are government problems, not problems of healthcare.
6. "...no one could expect them to reclaim their former place of respect in our society..." The scribbler needs to retake that high school journalism class.
What was their previous level of respect?
Is this a prediction that folks will stop investing, and secret their money in the mattress?
7. And this one: "While there is still a lot of questioning on whether the administration's enormous stimulus package will rescue the economy ..."
Isn't this covered by "...he has wrought change so profound in the American scene..."
So, the economy which is viewed as our biggest problem, hasn't been profoundly changed?
Kind of insipid in the 'change' department.
8. And "...undeniable fact is that the administration has acted, and acted swiftly..."
So we are to salute actions which, according to the previous item, hasn't worked?
I think this is the hallmark of public education.
Might I venture a guess that you are a graduate of same?
9a) "... consider our foreign policy..." Which aspects, outside of bows and apologies, has President Obama reversed vis-s-vis President Bush? Afghanistan? Iraq?
And if you can list any other forieign policy actions, which have borne fruit?
9b) "...insulting our allies and trying to wipe off the face of the Earth anyone they didn't particularly like,..." Documentation, please. Are you including returning the Churchill Bust, and the DVD's as insults? Those would be Obama. Withdrawing support from Poland, as in the missile defense plan? Obama again. Telling Israel where they can build? Obama.
I missed which ones we were "trying to wipe off the face of the Earth"- please list some.
10. "...America had sunk to its lowest place in the world order for many years. Obama has changed that..."
Reality is defined by actions, not words. But this misunderstanding is shared by most liberals.
Please show the dramatic change in the actions by the various nations in their actions vis-a-vis American interests since the Obama Apology Tour.
So, thank you for posting that article.
Having dissected that, I will now return to cooking, so that we may dissect another turkey.
