reply to post by AngelHeart
I thought your OP was very well done.
As for me, Obama is pretty much what I expected so far. I agree with him on many things and disagree with him on some, too. But I knew that before I
voted for him, so not too many surprises.
What I like:
His willingness to talk instead of bomb
His position and work on people's rights (children, disabled, women, gays) Ledbetter act
His appeal to the world
His plans to end Iraq war and shut down Guantanamo (both of which I think will happen in his first term)
His inclusive behavior (religion, nationality, politics)
His energy platform
Economic Stimulus
His support of volunteering (AmeriCorps)
His loosening of stem cell research restrictions
Health Care Reform (his efforts so far)
College student tax credit
His efforts toward Bipartisanship
What I don't like:
His
insistence on Bipartisanship
Afghanistan - We should get out. Too many have died.
Hiring lobbyists
His support of the Patriot Act and DHS
The way he's gone about the Health Reform Bill. A total screw up, in my opinion.
He isn't working (enough) to prosecute Bush/Cheney
Hasn't repealed "Don't Ask Don't Tell" or DOMA, although they still might happen. (They should have happened on day 1, IMO.)
Undecided:
Corporate Bailout support - I did NOT support it, although now, I'm not sure it is a mistake because the economy is doing better and didn't
completely bottom out. No bread lines. Really, it appeared to be just a little bump in the road compared to what it could have been and what I was
expecting.
As far as my overall opinion of him as a president, I like Obama. He's an intelligent, thoughtful, articulate, confident person of real strength as
opposed to bravado. I'm proud to call him my president. And I love his family and his relationship with Michelle.
I really like a lot of things he has in the works and I have high hopes for what he'll accomplish in his first term, but I won't be able to make a
judgment about his presidency until I see some actual results. I think it's too early to make a final judgment. I think that may take a couple of
years. But I feel pretty good about him. I wish he had more power to get things done. The bureaucracy and politics in the government is the worst
I've ever seen it.