Wednesday, March 04, 2009

holding judgment

there are many who are criticizing president obama- the man behaves as a president and i am happy to give him his proper title after 8 years in the wilderness- on both sides of the aisle. the rethuglicans i expect it from. the dumbocrats i do not. there should not be one dem criticizing president obama until after his first 100 days in office. the man has been in the white house exactly a month and a half.

most of my big bitches- he took care of-

he wiped away many of the cheney civil liberties violations against the constitution- and the doj and congress are looking into others as i type

he has wiped away many of the egregious environmental actions the cheney admin rammed through

he lifted the gag rule on contraceptives- and condom distributions throughout the world and is working on repealing the caregiver rule where folks in the medical profession have the right to not treat you based on their religious persuasion

he plans on funding stem cell research

he announced today that the no bid trillion dollar private contractors are history- and i know that at the very least that blackwater's- oops i mean xe's contract in iraq is over

the man is getting shit done. he can't do it all overnight- and there is congress to contend with. whatever his agenda, i have to go by what he promised to do while campaigning and what he is following through with. so far, his track record is pretty good. not perfect- but pretty good. i intend to give him and his administration his full one hundred days before i criticize. i hope more people in this country do.

4 comments:

Frederick said...

I'm sorry, I can't say as I feel the same. He can do all the nice things in the world, but when he goes to lengths (in court) to uphold the Bush-Cheney line on Executive Privilege and the Imperial Presidency...I see no reason to check fire.

Unknown said...

I agree with you, Betmo. I am quite pleased that he is negating so much of the Cheney-Bush distruction of our country. I say, too, give him time before criticizing him.

HAPPY IN NEVADA said...

I also think he's doing a wonderful job!

Imagine this: Obama is brilliant; he's an orator - he could easily have taken the 'celebrity route', by going on some major television station as a talk-show host (or commentator).

He can see through all the political crap; he could eloquently be 'critical and insightful' with his remarks, and his following would put him at the top of the 'commentator' game.

He's make millions of dollars a year - he'd have publicity; be present at all the various gatherings of 'great minds', and have not one iota of responsibility on his back or mind.

Instead, he takes a modest-paying job; he risks his life and his family's comfort, by taking over the 'war-zone' called the presidency - left in a state like never before, from Bush and cronies....

Admire him just for this courage; for the fact he had a myriad of other options that would have left him time at night to spend with his family - enjoy vacations; have a sizeable income, and 'lounge' in the comforts of the many who are right now, busy throwing barbs and rocks because that's what they 'do'....

Everyone is playing 'target practice'; everyone is throwing darts at a board - a board that will crumble when they blow enough holes in the bull's eye - then they'll build another 'target' and start on that one.

You can go to the White House web-site and read/see what Obama's been doing.

You can go to http://www.recovery.gov and read even more.

You can read this article, and see what he's doing about health-care - this man is energetic; caring, and determined to bring us back to our senses - regardless of political choice!

Not since JFK, have I been so happy to have 'my president' speak to me on the television; to see his smile, and see the clarity in his eyes - the wisdom and calmness of one who is truly dedicated to all.

Now this article - from Reuters:

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama opened his drive for a healthcare overhaul at a White House forum on Thursday, seeking momentum to change a costly and inefficient system he says is dragging down the U.S. economy.

Hoping to learn from the mistakes of the past, Obama gathered about 120 experts, from doctors and patients to health insurers and lawmakers, to discuss possible approaches and find areas of agreement.

The U.S. economic crisis makes the task even more critical, said Obama, who plugged his goal of passing a comprehensive healthcare measure by the end of 2009.

"Health care reform is no longer just a moral imperative, it is a fiscal imperative," Obama said. "If we want to create jobs and rebuild our economy, then we must address the crushing cost of healthcare this year, in this administration."

Obama said he understood public skepticism about the possible success of his effort given President Bill Clinton's failed plan in the 1990s, which died amid heavy opposition from insurance and drug companies.

"I am here today because I believe that this time is different," Obama said. "This time, the call for reform is coming from the bottom up, from all across the spectrum -- from doctors, nurses and patients; unions and businesses; hospitals, health care providers and community groups."

He added: "This time, there is no debate about whether all Americans should have quality, affordable health care -- the only question is, how?"

U.S. healthcare costs have grown to $2.5 trillion annually as the ranks of the uninsured have swollen to some 46 million people. The country consistently ranks lower than other rich countries in preventing and treating many diseases such as diabetes.

MOMENTUM GROWING FOR REFORMS

Political momentum for an overhaul has grown in recent years. Obama and his Republican rival in the presidential election, Senator John McCain, both proposed extensive changes in the healthcare system during the campaign.

The nonprofit Commonwealth Fund released a survey last August showing more than 80 percent of Americans want reforms and in a budget plan announced last week Obama proposed setting aside $634 billion to help pay for the overhaul over the next 10 years.

Obama has not presented a specific reform plan to Congress, seeking to avoid the problems that killed Clinton's effort and build support before he dictates an approach.

"He isn't sending a bill up to the Hill," said Melody Barnes, Obama's senior domestic policy adviser. "He's articulated some of the principles that are important to him, but I think he also strongly believes that to get this done he's going to have to ... be open, pragmatic and listen and engage with Congress to get a bill done."

The attendees at the White House session included a broad range of congressional, industry, unions and think tanks including some, such as the insurance and pharmaceutical industry lobby groups, who could oppose a final plan.

Health Care for America Now's National Campaign Manager Richard Kirsch believes the effort can work this time.

"We have unity in a common position amongst the Democratic leadership of Congress and the large, organized progressive base representing the American people," Kirsch told reporters in a conference call.

Obama pledged during his election campaign that he would expand health insurance coverage to virtually everyone and find a way to control costs, which businesses complain are making their products less competitive in the global markets.

(Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Maggie Fox and David Storey)

billie said...

i suppose fred- i don't know that those were niceties. he had been making progress towards keeping campaign promises and i never had the illusion that he was a progressive. he is an astute politician and a highly intelligent human being who has seen what the opposition's game is- dem or rethug- and is beating them at it. again, i really think we should give him his first quarter. we have every other president.

there are many things i disagree with him on- but i understand why he is doing them. we have four years to pressure him--- and congress--- to see things our way. i don't think four months is much time to hold a gripe.