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"As a Democrat, I am disgusted with President Obama."

Title says it all really. I'm no Democrat and no liberal, but I'm pretty disgusted with him too and this article spells out pretty well why.

As a Democrat, I am disgusted with President Obama | Jeff Jarvis | Comment is free | theguardian.com

It's a well written article with nothing to argue against. I think the only addition I would make is that I believe Obama to be an extremely weak leader, easily manipulated by his inner circle, and he has none, absolutely none, of the finer qualities, intelligence and vision that Nixon had and that made him one of the most influential Presidents of our time, even with his many flaws.
 
The evolution of my perception of Obama has been very gradual. I voted for him in 2008 enthusiastically. It was the first presidential election I voted in and I believed that he would accomplish a lot even if it took a while and even if he didn't accomplish everything. Throughout his first term, I started to see things that raised red flags with me - things like not pushing harder for UHC and appointing Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. Both actions in addition to others rubbed me the wrong way, but I let them go with the understanding that he was doing his best and perhaps misguided on some issues.

As time went on, I started to become even more disappointed with his performance, but before completely dismissing him as many of my liberal friends did, I decided that I would at least see what he did in his second term. Perhaps, I said to them and myself, he knows that he can't do certain things until the second term because he would be up for reelection. Perhaps, he just didn't have enough time the first go around. Then, the second term came around and he was pulling the same stuff.

He appointed a man who had never been in the FBI as the head of the FBI - an absurd move. He did a lot of other problematic things and then the NSA scandal broke. When that happened, I was extremely disappointed in the government in general although not surprised. However, what really disappointed me was how Obama responded to criticism of the programs. He was dismissive, arrogant and disrespectful to his critics including me and millions of others who voted for him. At that point, I was completely disillusioned. While I still believe he has done positive things - including, most recently, making the speech he did about race in America, I'm mostly disappointed. I don't subscribe to all the criticisms conservatives have about them, especially the hyperbolic and trivial ones. Instead, I'm disappointed that he didn't live up to the liberal principles I believe in. He's a fraud.
 
The evolution of my perception of Obama has been very gradual. I voted for him in 2008 enthusiastically. It was the first presidential election I voted in and I believed that he would accomplish a lot even if it took a while and even if he didn't accomplish everything. Throughout his first term, I started to see things that raised red flags with me - things like not pushing harder for UHC and appointing Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. Both actions in addition to others rubbed me the wrong way, but I let them go with the understanding that he was doing his best and perhaps misguided on some issues.

As time went on, I started to become even more disappointed with his performance, but before completely dismissing him as many of my liberal friends did, I decided that I would at least see what he did in his second term. Perhaps, I said to them and myself, he knows that he can't do certain things until the second term because he would be up for reelection. Perhaps, he just didn't have enough time the first go around. Then, the second term came around and he was pulling the same stuff.

He appointed a man who had never been in the FBI as the head of the FBI - an absurd move. He did a lot of other problematic things and then the NSA scandal broke. When that happened, I was extremely disappointed in the government in general although not surprised. However, what really disappointed me was how Obama responded to criticism of the programs. He was dismissive, arrogant and disrespectful to his critics including me and millions of others who voted for him. At that point, I was completely disillusioned. While I still believe he has done positive things - including, most recently, making the speech he did about race in America, I'm mostly disappointed. I don't subscribe to all the criticisms conservatives have about them, especially the hyperbolic and trivial ones. Instead, I'm disappointed that he didn't live up to the liberal principles I believe in. He's a fraud.

Your analysis fits mine pretty well, especially considering the 2008 election was also the first presidential election that I voted in. I would also like to add that if you look at his past comments about whistle-blowers and transparency within the government to what he says now, it is completely hypocritical. What he says now is completely different than what he said before.
 
It's a well written article with nothing to argue against. I think the only addition I would make is that I believe Obama to be an extremely weak leader, easily manipulated by his inner circle, and he has none, absolutely none, of the finer qualities, intelligence and vision that Nixon had and that made him one of the most influential Presidents of our time, even with his many flaws.

I agree with what you say, with the exception of your depiction of Nixon, who was possibly the worst President in over a century. He was also a war criminal.
 
Damned racist Obama haters....
 
I will bet a dollar to a doughnut that no will EVER vote for him for president again.
 
As a former democrat, I am disgusted with the democrats in general. I do not find Obama the most contemptible of them by any stretch of the imagination though. He is the epitome of the Peter Principle applied to politics, but that does not make him nearly as nefarious as others.
 
I will bet a dollar to a doughnut that no will EVER vote for him for president again.

Well, thanks to the Constitution, we won't know that for sure ;)

But, if last years election happened a little later, I'd bet that he wouldn't be elected for a second term.
 
When he bashed Kim Kardashian he lost my support. lol

Seriously, he is turning out to be quite a disappointment I'm sorry to say. I was hoping for more of those "teachable moments" and it's been almost five years now and all I've learned from him is
 
Obama has been a disappointment, but mostly because of his failure of leadership. I have mixed feelings about the surveillance and related issues mentioned in the article. I do not think he is a bad person, but I think now he probably would have been a better Senator.
 
This is the kind thread where it starts off funny and when people start to comment it turns to disappointment.
 
While I am definately dispaointed with Obama as president, it is not for the reason listed. Investigating and prosecuting lawbreaking is something I consider a good thing.

So how do you feel about the officials that have been breaking the law systematically, as revealed by Manning, Snowden and Assange? Is it the revelation that is the crime or what it is that is being revealed, because in all this outrage and fury against the likes of Manning and Snowden, the perpetrators of the corruption, over-reach, infringement of privacy, denial or rights, torture, rape and murder seem to be getting relegated to lesser offences than blowing the whistle on these practices. I'm certainly not hearing about any NSA officials being indicted.
 
So how do you feel about the officials that have been breaking the law systematically, as revealed by Manning, Snowden and Assange? Is it the revelation that is the crime or what it is that is being revealed, because in all this outrage and fury against the likes of Manning and Snowden, the perpetrators of the corruption, over-reach, infringement of privacy, denial or rights, torture, rape and murder seem to be getting relegated to lesser offences than blowing the whistle on these practices. I'm certainly not hearing about any NSA officials being indicted.

See the part I bolded? That is where your and so many others logic breaks down. It is not an either/or thing, it can be and is both.
 
The evolution of my perception of Obama has been very gradual. I voted for him in 2008 enthusiastically. It was the first presidential election I voted in and I believed that he would accomplish a lot even if it took a while and even if he didn't accomplish everything. Throughout his first term, I started to see things that raised red flags with me - things like not pushing harder for UHC and appointing Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. Both actions in addition to others rubbed me the wrong way, but I let them go with the understanding that he was doing his best and perhaps misguided on some issues.

As time went on, I started to become even more disappointed with his performance, but before completely dismissing him as many of my liberal friends did, I decided that I would at least see what he did in his second term. Perhaps, I said to them and myself, he knows that he can't do certain things until the second term because he would be up for reelection. Perhaps, he just didn't have enough time the first go around. Then, the second term came around and he was pulling the same stuff.

He appointed a man who had never been in the FBI as the head of the FBI - an absurd move. He did a lot of other problematic things and then the NSA scandal broke. When that happened, I was extremely disappointed in the government in general although not surprised. However, what really disappointed me was how Obama responded to criticism of the programs. He was dismissive, arrogant and disrespectful to his critics including me and millions of others who voted for him. At that point, I was completely disillusioned. While I still believe he has done positive things - including, most recently, making the speech he did about race in America, I'm mostly disappointed. I don't subscribe to all the criticisms conservatives have about them, especially the hyperbolic and trivial ones. Instead, I'm disappointed that he didn't live up to the liberal principles I believe in. He's a fraud.

Fraud is a bit much, but yea, you're pretty much on point. Obama is a disappointment.
 
Title says it all really. I'm no Democrat and no liberal, but I'm pretty disgusted with him too and this article spells out pretty well why.

As a Democrat, I am disgusted with President Obama | Jeff Jarvis | Comment is free | theguardian.com

So you agree that Obama hasn't been progressive enough and hasn't been diligent in dismantling the conservative policies that built up under Bush's misrule?

Wait, you don't! You support more conservative policies a la Bush and Nixon. Oh for fun!
 
I agree with what you say, with the exception of your depiction of Nixon, who was possibly the worst President in over a century. He was also a war criminal.

I came of age in the Nixon years and had first hand experience with his governing style and accomplishments - I believe the explosion of Watergate has clouded some people's view of Nixon but that will continue to change over time.
 
I came of age in the Nixon years and had first hand experience with his governing style and accomplishments - I believe the explosion of Watergate has clouded some people's view of Nixon but that will continue to change over time.

Nixon was a Dick, no pun intended...
 
I voted for him in '08 because there was no way in hell that I was going to vote for that charlatan McCain.

I held my nose when I cast my vote and didn't really expect much from a 1/2 term Senator with zero leadership experience.

Despite my low expectations President Obama had suceded in thoroughly disapointing me by about the half-way mark of his first term.

I voted against him in '12.

I expected him to continue to disapoint, and at least on that note I guess he hasn't disapointed me.

The man has gone from bad to worse to worse to worse to worse.
 
Toward the end of the Reagan years, it became apparent that conservatives were split in their opinions of him.

I voted against the President, but I am not going to gloat that pockets of liberals are disappointed in him for one reason or another. I am concerned about the NSA as well, but in many other aspects of his administration, liberals are also disappointed in him for needing to respond to American political necessity.
 
So you agree that Obama hasn't been progressive enough and hasn't been diligent in dismantling the conservative policies that built up under Bush's misrule?

Wait, you don't! You support more conservative policies a la Bush and Nixon. Oh for fun!

Anda is at the very least a democratic socialist with a number of his leanings. He'd probably make you blush.
 
Nixon and Trudeau are why I love politics - two different people you'll never find.

Although never introduced, Nixon was the first President to consider UHC for the US. He also managed to give us the EPA...
 
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