This first year in the Presidency of Barack Obama with the Democrats in charge of the Capitol hallways can be called “The Squandered Year” in the life of America and Americans.
Unlike many who voice their opinions of presidential performance, I am puzzled. Most who write or talk about the first Obama year in office seem to have a much more cut and dry opinion as to what went wrong — or right on those rare occasions. I am confused for the most part, not that I haven’t spent time trying to sort it out.
I don’t believe that President Obama picked his battles this year. I believe they picked him, and yes, some of the challenges of the year were leftovers. But, whether the problems Obama faced this year were of his own choosing or outliers from past administrations, what is is what is. Sometimes presidents just don’t get to pick. Unlike the early days of the Bush administration — pre-9-11 — Obama has probably never had the time to try to decide which problems he wanted to tackle.
We have all heard laments supposedly from Bill Clinton wishing for “something” to define his presidency. We heard the tales of the blundering Bush trying to decide what would define his time in office before the terrorists defined it for him. I seriously doubt that Obama has wandered the halls opening closets looking for his legacy. Instead, I quite imagine him to be more like the untidy housewife expecting company, running up and down the hall trying to close the closets to push the clutter inside sufficiently to get the closet doors closed.
Here’s where Obama lost me. At first I was tolerant and patient. I was proud of his representation of America to the world. If anything President Obama brought a favorable light onto our country. Once again America was seen as a country willing to work with others for a common goal instead of the western bully who would step on anyone to do what he wanted. Okay, that part was good. It was politics on the home front that pushed me out of the wagon.
Let me just say that based on President Obama’s first year in office I wouldn’t want to be the White House cook any more than I want to be the cook at my own home some evenings. The conversation goes something like this.
I ask, “What do you want for dinner?”
My husband replies, “What do you want?
I answer, “Don’t answer my question with a question. Just tell me what you want for dinner.”
“What do we have?”
“It doesn’t matter what we have. I will cook what you want if you will just tell me.”
“I’m just trying to make it easy for you.”
“I appreciate that. Easy for me would be for you to tell me what you want.”
My husband has been known to answer, “I want dinner, whatever you cook.”
Well, that sums up the way I see the Obama dialogue with Congress. He says, “I want health care reform.”
Congress says, “What would you like included in the health care reform bill?”
If they had been asking about dinner the President would have suggested a meat and two vegetables.
Congress takes the vague description of dinner and for the next year they argue among themselves as to which meat and which two vegetables should be served up. That’s about the way I see the health care reform debate. In the meantime almost everyone starves to death and for those who survive the wait anger and hostility begin to emerge. Finally, it is decided that we are better off to go to bed hungry rather than continue with the debate.
When President Obama goes before Congress on Wednesday night to deliver the State of the Union Address, he will face a nation that has gone to bed hungry — for a year — some figuratively, some literally.
Organizing for America
I am still getting those emails about organizing for America from the Obama camp. I don’t read them any more. I have two in my inbox now from David Plouffe. I may read those. Interesting that he is back. But, here’s the thing about many of the emails. It is suggested that I call one of my red state senators to push for health care reform. I would like to do that. But, I don’t know what health care reform is all about now.
There are suggestions for house parties to discuss health care reform. Okay. What do we discuss? The truth is we have no facts. None! Nada! Zilch! Not the first of us have an idea what the health care reform bill is about today. Some time back I agreed with Howard Dean and threw in the towel. It’s not that I am against health care reform now. I would love to see it pass, if I only knew what “it” is.
On President Obama
In the overall scheme of things I continue to support our President. But, I feel more and more as if I voted for the pig-in-a-poke. For those who are not from the South, it means I voted for something and didn’t know what I was voting for. I thought I understood the President, pre-election. I was even willing to swallow some of my liberal pride — universal health care, public options — to get a little something, a first step. Quite honestly, I don’t know what the first step is today.
President Obama has become the national negotiator-in-chief. Well, it is abundantly clear that you cannot negotiate with unwilling parties. The first clue was last year when Joe Wilson yelled out “Liar” during a presidential speech in the Senate chamber. Of course, Wilson gave a half-assed apology and Obama accepted it. But, the truth is the outburst was an omen of things to come. It set the tone for the Republicans on the Hill.
Anyone who watches any television news knows by now that Boehner is going to vote “no” on anything and everything offered by the Democrats. The Repugs have drawn the line in the sand. They are the party of “no.” Face it and deal with it. At some point it is time to take a stand rather than continue to kiss ass. Push the policy of the President and take a few lumps.
To the President, some of us mistake a willingness to negotiate for weakness. Take a stand. You won’t get everything you want. But, you will get something. Maybe Ted Turner can send the quote on his desk: Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of my way.
Congress Has Squandered A Year
To the Congress I can only say that this year has been a year that can be folded out of the calendar entirely. If anything the Congressional activity of the past year can be exemplified as how to waste time and squander opportunities with more pizza nights than in history. No one was fooled by those middle of the night votes. It was just a big sleep over to try to fool us into thinking you were doing something — most likely boosting the sales of Pizza Hut or Domino’s.
We are not fooled by ineptitude. The voters in Massachusetts told you that last week. Martha Coakley took the Democratic vote for granted. Laying low and hiding in the bushes will not squeak anyone into the Senate or the House. According the Coakley camp, Ms. Coakley said she ran the best campaign she could. Let’s be thankful if that was her best she lost.
Take a stand on something! Even if we disagree, have the courage to take a stand.
The Senate and the House is a Campaign Platform, Nothing More
In fact, this entire year in Congress has been a campaign for the next House election and one third of the Senate. The only work done has been to give the appearance of working hard while doing nothing. It’s really easier to just do your damned job than try to look as if you are doing it.
Once elected to Congress it is the responsibility of those Senators and Representatives to work. Maybe we should institute the 90 day probation period for members of Congress like so many employees face in the work place. If you don’t show performance during the first 90 days you are fired. I guess the only lights in Congress would be the exterior flood lights because all of you should be fired.
As for “It’s the Economy, Stupid”
Today President Obama began talking about the middle class. There is no middle class or if there is it is dwindling fast. You cannot be unemployed and remain a vibrant middle class.
We have been willing to wait for the economy to turn around. We all realize that getting the economy turned toward the positive is about as slow as turning the Titanic. However, we are pissed off because for over a year Wall Street has been the code word for the economy. For all the talk about economic conditions someone needs to realize that those of us who live across this nation and vote do not work on Wall Street. We used to work on Main Street. So, when the talk turns to “the DOW is up” or “the DOW slipped 200 points today” none of us give a rat’s ass. We don’t own huge chunks of stocks.
When the talk turns to bonuses and executive salaries, we are fed up. The FREE MARKET ECONOMY that everyone talks about isn’t free. It cost us two years of recession, hundreds of thousands of jobs across America, continuing unemployment, foreclosures, and forced families to live in their cars. There was nothing FREE about the TARP program or any of the other bailouts. And, when FREE stopped being FREE, those who wanted to do their own thing on Wall Street came whimpering to the rest of the Americans pleading for another opportunity to screw us over. And, Congress is giving them a FREE pass. Have you seen any financial reform?
By the way, too big to fail is too big to exist. Listen to Volker.
And, as far as all the talk about the “brightest” among us going to work in other countries for other banks — spend some money on airline tickets. Let them go. The money one of them makes in bonuses can be a stimulus plan for a small town in America.
The Reset Button Points to Middle America
Right! And, just where is that Mr. President? On the street, under a bridge, eating at the community kitchen, standing in the unemployment lines? Let’s just hope that the “new” plan isn’t too little, too late although I am inclined to think it is. Congress will find a way to fumble the ball again.
But there is Hope: Starting All Over Again
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