http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/22/obama.ohio/

More evidence that Obama is an avid reader of chrisweigant.com :D

Michale.....

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/22/obama.ohio/

All he has to do is clearly state where he stands on issues. Not in terms of policy. But in terms of belief.

Here's a sample: "Our economy needs to work for the benefit of all - this includes Main Street and not just Wall Street."

I think the bank reform bill he announced is a great step, but he has to be sure people understand his moral stand on the economy. Because I guarantee that the banking lobby will be trying to outflank him and coming up with a moral justification to block any reform. As Chris mentions, he has to be seen as fighting on the "right side". He has to be seen as taking a stand and not just trying to iron out a policy that everyone will accept.

And if he still hopes to accomplish anything with health care, he'd need to do the same thing. Explain how the current system works not to benefit people, but to the benefit of the largest health care organizations. Then explain what he believes in. Right now, it's hard to tell because it seems like he just believes in getting something passed - anything.

As I think we're all saying - even Michale - it's better to lose on principle, than to pass something that sacrifices your principles.

When I hear people like Michale saying "I want the Obama I voted for" to me this means standing on some principles. It means what everyone here has been saying for months - time to fight.

I think he may have finally picked the right fight with banking reform.

Hopeful as always,
David

p.s. As for health care. Since the bill has been watered down so much by corporate interests and seems to contain very little in line with the principles he stated during the election, I think he would be smart to either state his principles and fight for them, or let it die.

I still hope he fights. But if he doesn't, better to let it die than accept LieberCare and lose the support of the people.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/mzuckerman/2010/01/21/mort-zuckerman-the-incredible-deflation-of-barack-obama.html?PageNr=1

Michale.....

{{{cough}}} Al Gore {{{cough}}

And things did actually get done.

Which things were that, exactly?

And did those things achieve the desired results?? IE keeping unemployment below 8%??

As for "Let Obama Be Obama"??

You have to accept the possibility that President Obama, while full of lofty words and high aspirations, doesn't have the experience or the will to put his words into action.

In short, it's possible that Obama IS being Obama. And we all have to live with that.

"We can't discount one possibility, simply because we don't happen to like it."
-Martin Sheen, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

I did note one thing, CW..

There was absolutely nothing in this current commentary about CrapCare.

Can I assume that you agree that CrapCare is dead?
:D

David,

It's my understanding that there were no exit polls on the MA election because no one thought it would be much of a race.

Once it actually became a race, there wasn't time to set up an effective exit polling procedure.

Michale....

@Chris
Did you see any exit polls from Massachusetts? Would be interesting to get more of a read on why the shift to Brown.

The only thing I saw came from a firm called Research 2000 - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/20/obama-backers-more-commit_n_429673.html

Their read was that, of the Obama voters who voted for Brown, many believed that current Democratic policies were doing more to help Wall Street than Main Street.

They also found that many were against the health care reform bill. But not because went too far, but because it didn't go far enough.

It's surprising that not much in the way of exit polling was discussed on any of the news channels. Now I'm no reporter, but you would think they might ask some of the people who voted why they voted the way they did.

But no. They just keep repeating the tired line that Brown won because the Left is controlling the Democratic party. Now that's a laugh ... the Left I know hasn't gotten much of anything from the Obama administration so far. So I'm not exactly sure how this mythical "Left" is controlling the Democratic party.

-David

Welcome to the site, and thanks for the kind words.

It's always a pain entering in "keywords" after I post, but this is why I do it, to catch people surfing on things like "Let Obama be Obama."

Anyway, just wanted to say "welcome" and "stick around" -- check out the last week or so's postings, and I think you'll find we're largely in agreement.

-CW

I was originally a supporter of Hilary Clinton's, but was drawn away by the hope that Barack Obama would create change. I read his books to understand his character, ideals and possible strengths. I read the positions on the websites of each of the candidates. I found positions most closely aligned with my hopes for this country in Barack Obama's words. I gave him my vote and then began to wait for him to put his words to action.

A year later I'm sorry to say that I'm still waiting. I long for him to do great things and make great strides. I have been patient in the understanding that the previous administration left a horrible quagmire that would hold any successor still for at least a time. But I still WANT for Barack Obama to be a great president. He has the potential to be great. I want him to live up to it. That's a show I'll tune into tirelessly. PLEASE "Let Obama Be Obama!"

GlynnisI
NC