Because that's the impression I get from over here.
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Because that's the impression I get from over here.
I don't think so. I lived through Carter and he was far less effective. Obama failed to walk on water as many hoped but forced his disordered party to actually get some things done.
I'm with Jim - While I think that Carter's administration was unfairly blackened by the perception that it did nothing during the Iranian hostage crisis, there were a number of other problems that Carter faced where he couldn't get coordinated Congressional action his initiatives.
In particular, there's nothing one can point to as a major domestic change that Carter managed to get through. Whatever else one might feel about the particulars of the health care plan/bill that Obama got through Congress, it got done. Though - I do wish that Carter would get more popular credit for the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt.
I think he is more like Tony Blair than Carter.
Highly persuasive and charismatic, but ultimately nothing much will change.
As Loki pointed out, Obama did push through a fairly major health care plan here. A lot of things that people on the left are angry at him for not doing--such as fighting for LGBT rights--are less about him being ineffective and more about him being a typical* politician.
* So long as theocons dominate the Republicans, Democrats feel safe breaking campaign promises to LGBT people since being lied to and ignored is better than actively harmed. Other interest groups on the left are getting a similar treatment. This tactic is very likely to bite the Democrats in the ass eventually. Possibly very soon.
I wouldn't describe him as the black Jimmy Carter. I actively loathed Carter and just the sight of him on TV or in the newspaper was enough to piss me off...and I was a Democrat. Obama, on the other hand, has been largely a non-entity to me. He's just a placeholder for the office of POTUS. If he weren't black, he'd go down in history as just another one of the presidents that people have trouble remembering for history tests.
Curious, what promises were made and not kept. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is on the way out. He never promised to support Gay marriage. In fact I think he made it clear he was not going to take up that fight.Quote:
Originally posted by Zuul
Johnson is well remembered for pushing through several basically benevolent socialist programs and inheriting a war and in fact escalating it. I suspect at very least Obama will be remembered for the Health Care reform that did get through and the manning down in Iraq and the futility in Afghanistan. The Right will remember him as being to blame for the recession even though that clearly belongs to Bush.Quote:
Originally posted by Scumpup
DADT is on its way out, with absolutely no help from Obama. His administration has been working quite hard to keep it in place.Quote:
Originally posted by What Exit?
This PDF here lists all the LGBT rights he "supports."
I don't even know where to begin with where he has ignored those promises or else actively worked against us since taking office. I'll start at the beginning of his list and work my way through, I suppose.
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes - He did sign the first-ever passed federal LGBT civil rights legislation that expanded hate crime statutes. This was great.
Fight Workplace Discrimination and Promote Rights - He's expressed support for ENDA, but I'll believe it when he actually signs the bill.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples - He said he wanted to repeal DOMA? Fully? And give us federal rights? Gee, that sounds swell. Too bad he's not doing anything and instead his administration is releasing briefs supporting DOMA instead. Briefs that say gays don't deserve the consideration of other minorities and liken our relationships to incest and pedophilia.
Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage - See above.
Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell - Hey, what is it that's holding up repealing DADT right now? Oh, that's right. Obama's administration.
Fight AIDS Worldwide - Thus far, the funding he's offered for this has been very, very weak and there's been a lot of criticism about how he's handling it.
He promised us that he would be our "fierce advocate." He's broken that promise. I don't think it's that he's ineffective. I think it's just that he knows he's got LGBT voters over a barrel so doesn't have to work hard for us.
Like I said, it's just typical politician BS.
Well consider ignorance fought.
BTW, I realize Obama included it and not you but: AIDS and especially Worldwide AIDS is really not a LGBT issue.
Oh, I know. I considered bringing that up, too. As you said, especially in a worldwide context it isn't an LGBT issue.Quote:
Originally posted by What Exit?
Why hasn't Obama got more through Congress? He has a majority in both houses, so his party should be backing him to make the changes. The Republicans can't really filibuster away on proposals, so what went wrong?
Well the Republicans in the Senate have used every Senatorial rule to block appointments and legislation actually. It took some games with the rules to pass much of what they did. Also they have actually passed more than people give him credit for in my opinion. The common theme is lack of accomplishments and Health Care dragged on far too long but overall they got a surprising amount of legislation through a strongly organized opposition.Quote:
Originally posted by CatInASuit
So even with a majority, it's not as easy as it looks to get legislation through.
How much help has his own party been? You would think that after 8 years out the would have been looking forward to shaping America in their own image again.
Surely though, this will change after the midterm elections. How will he get anything further through if the Republicans are elected en mass.
Will he give up at this point and only stand for the one term or will he continue for both terms.
There are more conservative fractions of the Democratic party that fought him on several measures and basically prevented the Dems from exorcising their 60 seat majority when the briefly had it. Also some of the most Liberal held things up asking for stuff that was not going to get passed.
Obama made one key mistake, he left it at first up to Congress to work together, both parties, to create a Health Care Compromise Bill. Instead both sides dithered and effectively did nothing. Finally he effectively threw his hands in the air at the idiots in Congress and drafted his own bill and prodded the Dems hard to approve it.