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This was engineered; it is no accident that the right wing derisively mocked Obama as a "Messiah." My expectations of Barack Obama were never so high, and although I am disappointed, I think much less so than many of my fellow liberals and progressives. For one thing, there's no doubt in my mind that Obama has earned reelection.
We have competence in the White House again. In fact, all through government, we're starting to see a different attitude, a "get things done" kind of attitude we tend to associate with President Obama, because it is reflective of his character. Obama is undoubtedly the most capable President since Reagan, and I think he has higher motives than the Great Prevaricator. Barack Obama is the best President since Kennedy, methinks. The best in my memory, without doubt.
So how could I possibly be disappointed, even a little? Because this much competence, this much effectiveness, for all it has been so rare in Washington, is something we should have expected in the first place! We have people in Washington now who are actually doing their jobs. This is a welcome change. This is reason to reelect them. But this is not enough to justify hosannas and handsprings. Government that works is what we haven't had for decades; now that we have government that works, it becomes clear that this is something we should have expected, or rather demanded, all along.
We're getting the minimum from Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress. This is more than we ever got from the Republicans, and yes, I am grateful. People who do their jobs deserve to keep them. People who do their jobs very well deserve some commendation. Nobody is entitled to carte blanche, though.
I thought Barack Obama was a visionary. He has paid ample lip service to the notion of a green economy but virtually nothing is happening in that direction. He has thrown the left a couple of bones with the Lilly Ledbetter act and the upcoming repeal of DADT. Aside from this, all his actions have been to try to fix broken government or markets. He undid Bush's damage to the student loan program. He got a healthcare insurance reform bill passed which effectively rewards the companies which have financially raped the injured, the sick, and the dying - but still takes steps toward fixing the problem. He is getting Wall Street reform passed, which like HIR takes steps toward fixing the problem but doesn't go far enough. He gets high marks for his competence; he gets my vote for reelection. But I had hoped for a visionary, like one of the Kennedy brothers or FDR. I'll take the "Great Mechanic", because it's a whole lot better than what we've had, but Barack Obama did raise my expectations of government.
I had hoped for new direction. The nation is going in the same direction; only now, we're doing it more effectively. Sure, some are going to call me a troll for this view, and it isn't like I want to criticize Barack Obama! I like the guy. I almost trust him, too. But I think he can be a much better President, even while I recognize he's the best I've ever seen. He has the capacity to be a real visionary and take this nation to another level. But it would require a change in direction. I sincerely hope he redoes his cabinet in the second term; I can hardly wait for it.
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