Great Expectations: the Obama Era is about to begin!

[browneyedgirl]

As challenges mount, ardor for Obama cools abroad -
http://news.mobile.msn.com/en-us/articl ... d=28720894

Is the honeymoon over even before the defloweration?

Obama administration is supposed to created over 4 million jobs. This is great! But, Where is the money coming from?

I voted for him because I hope he can get the country booming again within a few years.
Obama is not a miracle worker, but there are actually some folks that believe he can correct it all. I think these people will be sorely disappointed. Already, Hugo Chavez has badmouthed Obama as being the same as Bush, but a different color.

After tomorrow Barack gets to prove himself, and the next 4 years should prove to be very interesting indeed!

[NeverendingAbyss]

OBAMA for the win.... I hope

[browneyedgirl]

OBAMA for the win.... I hope

I sure hope he does a good job. IMO, the economic mess needs a do-over. Them Obama plans to pull troops out of Iraq within 16 months, but he might transfer part of them to Afghanistan.
I imagine Africa will get alot of help, and I'm not saying that just because Barack is part Kenyan. Also, the green movement supposed to get a boost from Obama.

Critics have accused Obama of being a Socialist, but at this point I think his ideas have been OK. He even is planning a better health care system to help the poor and elderly.

I hope this is not a case like on the movie, "The Land of the Blind", where a hated ruler is disposed of by a coup of a much loved leftist&his followers--- only the leftist winds up being a more rotten and hated president than the one overthrown!

[stratoplayer]

OBAMA for the win.... I hope

I sure hope he does a good job. IMO, the economic mess needs a do-over. Them Obama plans to pull troops out of Iraq within 16 months, but he might transfer part of them to Afghanistan.
I imagine Africa will get alot of help, and I'm not saying that just because Barack is part Kenyan. Also, the green movement supposed to get a boost from Obama.

Critics have accused Obama of being a Socialist, but at this point I think his ideas have been OK. He even is planning a better health care system to help the poor and elderly.

I hope this is not a case like on the movie, "The Land of the Blind", where a hated ruler is disposed of by a coup of a much loved leftist&his followers--- only the leftist winds up being a more rotten and hated president than the one overthrown!

His plans seemed solid enough and he's chosen some very competent staff for his administration. The rest is up to the little people...

[browneyedgirl]

Oh yes! Obama chose a great cabinet! He gets a +10 from me on his choices! :bigok: The staff can have alot of influence on a President so its essential for the choices to be right!

[Stealth]

Critics have accused Obama of being a Socialist

How can you "accuse" someone of being a Socialist? You can call or label someone a Socialist, but accuse? That term implies that being a Socialist is almost a crime by definition. I guess I would consider myself a social democrat, and I sympathize with socialists. I don't like neoliberalism, but I don't "accuse" people of being neoliberals.

[CottonCandy]

The ceremony starts at 10am CST today, so try to watch it if you can! Its going to be a very festive occasion this time around!

[Shurik]

Let's wait and see ...

[NeonVomit]

He is human. He will make mistakes.

Let's not go overboard here.

[Neorave]

He is human. He will make mistakes.

Let's not go overboard here.

True, indeed. I wasn't the biggest fan of Obama at first, but now he may be able to do some good things for this country. I'd say let time tell how his performance goes.

[browneyedgirl]

Biden gets sworn in at 10:30am CST; Obama at 11:00am CST.
However, the discussion on most networks has alrady started--this is indeed a history-making event.

LOL, many elderly people I know are saying, "I never thought I'd see a minority be President!" I'm sure if Hillary had been elected, they'd replace "minority" with "female"!

I think his plans to improve the nation will work, as long as some extremist does not throw a monkey wrench in them somehow. But, Dems have the control of both the house&senate, so how can Obama lose? :bigok:

[Noxica]

I did American Studies at uni, and my tutors were rooting for Obama as far back as 2nd year (06/07). Nice to see the rest of the world finally caught up with them


Expectations have been raised so high there'll always be disappointments, but if he pulls off even some of the big stuff (such as getting the US through the financial crisis, dealing properly with climate change), the majority won't dwell on what he didn't/couldn't do.

That said, the world will forget the disasterous years of Bush too quickly for my liking. The far-right will be calling him the worst president in history before the end of his first year in office, which is a bit much after they gave us Bush for eight years

I think he'll be good though. If he gets it right (which it looks like he will), he could be a major turning point.

Man...I've missed babbling about American Politics. I should never have graduated

[Neorave]

That said, the world will forget the disasterous years of Bush too quickly for my liking. The far-right will be calling him the worst president in history before the end of his first year in office, which is a bit much after they gave us Bush for eight years

It'll be hard to say what the far-right's opinion will be of Bush's presidency in coming years. You also have to consider the current events during his presidency. Of course, 9/11 being the biggest event of his presidential career.

[Noxica]

Of course, 9/11 being the biggest event of his presidential career.

Biggest event of his presidency, yes, but I suspect the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will end up being the most influential, and I also think that's what history will judge him on.


As for the far-right;s opinion of Obama..that's really not too difficult to predict. In the context of American politics, he's relatively left-wing on a lot of subjects, ergo the far-right will denounce him regardless of how much good his left-of-centre policies do. Unfortunately I'm acquainted (and not by choice!) with a lot of people who are part of the American far-right (and a fair few fundies as well) who started calling him a disaster and the worst president in history as soon as he got elected. One springs to mind who not was not only saying these things long before the election, but was/is also convinced that he's Muslim (that being a bad, bad thing), 'pals around with terrorists' and all the other propaganda that came out of the McCain camp. Unsurprisingly, she worships at the feet of Sarah Palin

The majority of the far-right may wait slightly longer to denounce him as harshly as the few I've experienced, but I strongly suspect they'll come out with it all soon enough.

[browneyedgirl]

It was a beautiful ceremony!
An estimated 4 million people were present!

[Neorave]

It was a beautiful ceremony!
An estimated 4 million people were present!

No doubt it was a beautiful ceremony, thought I'm concerned about how hyped up it was.

[AAAAAAAAAA]

The so called "economic crisis" is fueled exclusively by the stupidity of the population and the usual fear mongering propogated by the media! Ever wondered why sales in some industries are down 30% even though the unemployment rate rises maybe 1%?

After being brainwashed into thinking the economy has declined, my naive compatriots decided in these dire times of armageddon it would be financial suicide to spend any of their money. And so they cut their spending dramatically and sales decline...in this sense a pseudo-problem becomes a real one.

The only way to eliminate the "economic crisis" is to pretend it doesn't exist.

And as for Barack Obama, he has yet to impress me. And it'll take more than a grandiose ceremony and a pompous politicans hollow words.

[Neorave]

The so called "economic crisis" is fueled exclusively by the stupidity of the population and the usual fear mongering propogated by the media! Ever wondered why sales in some industries are down 30% even though the unemployment rate rises maybe 1%?

That, and the idea of "pure capitalism" needs to happen (which, btw, doesn't work

The only way to eliminate the "economic crisis" is to pretend it doesn't exist.

Not to slander, but I think that's part of the problem there as well. In other words, companies that B.S. their budget and accounting practices make things worse.

And as for Barack Obama, he has yet to impress me. And it'll take more than a grandiose ceremony and a pompous politicans hollow words.

I'm guessing you're going to wait for him to turn water into wine?

[Shurik]

I'm guessing you're going to wait for him to turn water into wine?

You know, judging by the reaction to his election some people do expect this to happen
Or at least a small resurrection ... Of some pet, if it's not a big deal ...

[NeverendingAbyss]

President Obama has something that not a lot of presidents had: confidence and a great amount of support from the people. Today is history, PEOPLE!

[miditek]

The Second Coming, this is not, sheeple.

[NeonVomit]

Oh the irony...

[icecab21]

The economy consists of nothing but imaginary figures for the stupid consumer and the stupid producer to randomly fear or blow their wads over. Everything can be simplified down to “perception” (with no further need to analyze the process and variables) and “people are idiots” and all problems are solved once they are forgotten and the purple unicorns dance through the air as their horns sodomize flying pigs.

[browneyedgirl]

The Second Coming, this is not, sheeple.

Right, but don't spoil their fun. By the time the worshippers realize that President Obama doesn't know everything maybe all the problems will be solved anyway.

@icecab21, in my opinion many economic problems start when middle-classers try to live like the upper class, and drown themselves in debt. This principle can be applied to countries as well.
Obama wants to start a job program and create 4 million new jobs. If these are government based jobs, where is the money going to come from? Especially if there are tax cuts!

[NeonVomit]

didn't you vote for him?

[icecab21]

Many people voted for him for many reasons. There will always be similarities and differences between values and expectations. Some of the president’s goals will be looked at and some won’t and most that is anything will have variation.


http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

[browneyedgirl]

didn't you vote for him?

Yes, definitely! But unlike some people I accept that he is a human who cannot work miracles. At least overnight! Also, he is going to have people fighting against him tooth and nail every step of the way in Congress, the media, and in the general public. Obama may be the new FDR, but its going to be a hard sell to some people.
I wish him alot of luck, and I hope he can fulfill alot of his promises.

[icecab21]

Who are these people that expect miracles from him? What miracles are they expecting? How do they expect him to perform these miracles? At what time do they expect these miracles to be accomplished? Where do they expect these miracles to take place?

[browneyedgirl]

Who are these people that expect miracles from him? What miracles are they expecting? How do they expect him to perform these miracles? At what time do they expect these miracles to be accomplished? Where do they expect these miracles to take place?

Its just a figure of speech.It just means many people have such very high expectations about Obama and think he can solve all the nations problems in record time. It won't be that easy.
For example, lots of people were calling on Obama to try to stop the recent Gaza squirmish. He was not even President then, so how could he have stopped it, even if he had asked with sugar on it! Talk about unreal expectations!

[CottonCandy]

Refreshing News: How good-looking is my wife? Suave Obama and stunning Michelle dance the night away with galaxy of stars
http://refreshingnews.blogspot.com/2009 ... obama.html

They are certainly a good looking, classy couple! It is so evident they love each other so much!