My good friend Michael Tomasky has a blog over at The Guardian...
What's up with Barack Obama? The candidate
for change once promised to take on the powerful banking interests but
is now doing their bidding. Finally, a leading Democrat, in this case
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, has a good idea for
monitoring the Wall Street fat cats who all but destroyed the American
economy, and the Obama administration condemns it.
US President Barack Obama came to office
promising hope and change. But on climate change, he has followed in
the footsteps of his predecessor George W. Bush. Now, should the
climate summit in Copenhagen fail, the blame will lie squarely with
Obama.
As the world awaits Barack Obama's decision on Afghanistan, a lethal
myth has spread. It says that standing up to the military will doom him
to be a single-term president.
Dear President Obama:
It has been long enough for you to demonstrate courage
and wisdom in many areas. So far
rhetoric has been your saving grace, but beyond that I remain hopeful but
disappointed.
I suppose all elected officials - particularly at the
federal level -- are by the very nature of those positions, incompetent in most
areas they must address. One would
hope they realize this and would surround themselves with experts in areas where
they are not expert themselves. You
have failed to do that in all too many instances.
So, let me see if I have
this straight.
One year ago, the Democrats
won commanding victories resulting in control of the presidency and
lopsided majorities in the House and Senate.
One year ago, the Republican
brand was so weak that the party was on death watch, literally capable
of sliding into the history books alongside the Whigs and the Federalists.
MADISON, WI -- One year ago today, Barack Obama had redefined American
electioneering to such an extent that it was possible to believe that
his transformational campaign would lead to a transformational
presidency.
After all, he had already changed most of what America "knew" about politics.
The freshman senator from Illinois was not only winning an election for the presidency of the United States on November 4, 2008.
Yeah, I'm disappointed, too. I thought we were sweeping into power; I
thought change meant Change. I believed all that talk about another
First 100 Days, a la Roosevelt. Well, that didn't happen. The question
is, is this as good as it gets from Obama, or is he pacing himself? He
may have a four and eight-year plan and they included a first year of
just gettin' to know you and not gonna rock the boat too much. Well,
Mission Accomplished on that.
It's time for your close-up, Mr. President.
Now that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-Nev.) has announced he'll try to push through a health care reform
bill with a public option, liberals are turning their focus - and their
frustrations - on Barack Obama, the man who brought them to the
outskirts of the progressive promise land.
