What if the Obama of the campaign trail was a swindler?

The procrastination about Afghanistan is prompting dismay from hawks and doves on the issue and as a result is calling in all the campaign promises in similar fashion.  It's only been nine months, and the challenges presented in both foreign and domestic issues have been sustantial. I am not making excuses for indecision, just trying to survey where we were in December 2008 and where we are now.  In fairness, campaign promises need to be given four years and we have three plus years yet to go. 

At this point we are moving beyond blind faith and believing, I agree.   This article is an expression of frustration by many of us who voted for change, but at the same time we need to be realistic about the process of change.  Obama said in campaigning that the road might be long.  There were no promises of quick fixes or simplistic solutions.

The bills should be put online for viewing, no excuses for this.  Expediency like the extension of unemployment might prompt not doing so, but to build trust this must be done.   

Thanks both of you,  and you both make excellent points. True,  Obama may not have known himself, may not have known what projections he was evoking with his mantra and his poetic utterings.  Just as true that things are complex,  messy,  difficult to steer thru these waters.  And that change does not come easily nor swiftly.  

The Afghan decision is evidence of the absence of rationality in politics.

He can commit to massive cost increases for the Afghan campaign, yet face no criticism from the hawks for increasing the deficit.

He is criticized domestically for attempting to intervene in the economy and rationalize the health system. yet the opposition seems to think that doing this at a distance in Afghanistan (creating an economy and social services there) is admirable.

So the exact same measures that cause criticism of the Administration domestically are somehow in the eyes of this opposition suddenly admirable when attempted by the Administration in Afghanistan.

Bipartisan politics is impossible with that level of opposition posturing. If I were to condemn Obama it would be for still attempting to appear bipartisan. Undertake the policies on the platform he was elected on, ignore the GOP no-go to anything attitude and then be judged by history on what was achieved.

The way he is currently be measured is by what he hasn't done, and you can make that list as long as you want dependent on your world view. He hasn't cured cancer or made the unicorns reappear. He won't get anything done as long as he keeps trying to convince the GOP to come along with him. He just needs to do what he was elected for - let the Tea Party crowd, Fox, fundamentalists etc do what they will. It is not that important. What gets done is

If I were to condemn Obama it would be for still attempting to appear bipartisan. 
You spoke well,  brother.  

I agree totally.  Bipartisan politics is an admirable goal, but in reality its not happening because of the entrenchment of the GOP.  I saw the committee on climate change a few days ago where all the Republicans did not show up for the meeting--in efforts to make some kind of statement en masse.  How can we have bipartisanship, if they won't even come to committee meetings to discuss amendments?  

Let's move forward with the platform of change and let Americans decide in three years if its made a difference.

Right,  the GOP does not WANT bipartisanship,  so why should the Dems try.  Move ahead with the campaign promises,  and as you say,  see how it all turns out.  

So the exact same measures that cause criticism of the Administration domestically are somehow in the eyes of this opposition suddenly admirable when attempted by the Administration in Afghanistan.

rng

It does appear to be incongruous, but if you add protecting Americans from terrorism, then the monies allocated abroad take on another quality not considered at home.  Defense budgets historically are approved without confrontation when couched in the spirit of protecting us here from foreign invasions or supporting the military in conflict areas.  Bush came under fire here when it was felt he was underfunding the war in Iraq and putting soldiers at risk due to being ill equipped.   

Yes I admitted it on purpose It is the catchall for all sins and should not be the sole differential. If Obama coud link health reform here with making AMericans safer (not a stretch really when you think about it) then they woulod be queuing to vote for that.That is why politics is a filthy business and why the current system is so bereft of any morality. They can argue Obama is misguided. I work also argue the GOP are cynical hacks bent on self-advancement regardless of social cost to Americans.

To be sure, health care reform is about safety at home and protection from health insurance companies that attack American's income and their right to have dependable health care without loopholes or price fixing guaranteed by insurance company's exemption from anti-trust laws.  When we look closely, who are the misguided or misinformed or just out of touch with what the average American has to deal with every day?  We spoke of the monied rich on some other thread, but its applicable here. 

A lot could be solved with the elimination of or limiting of campaign contributions.  And why are politicians so afraid of this,except for the possibility that some of the money goes into personal pocket books.  If every person running for office was given a finite amount to spend by the government and only six months to spend it and free and equitable tv time for all candidates, there would be no need to return favors or show alligence to anyone except the electorate.   

I think this is a perfectly valid question. Of course, it is asked in some form of other about every democratically elected President/ Prime Minister the world over who appears to be failing to deliver. What's important, in my opinion, is not the question itself but the fact that the electorate continues to demand to see results, and the results that they were promised.