Would you change your vote?

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Permalink Reply by Jamar Cobb-Dennard on September 15, 2009 at 9:11am

I would not change my vote.

In the throws of changing an economy and political culture that has been ruled by mis-management and financial corruption for decades, President Obama has done a formidable job of bridging the partisan gap and accomplishing what he said he was going to.

In a year, I will look back on the decisions that were made by the Obama administration, and then evaluate the effectiveness of their work.

So far, they have:
- Saved the American automobile industry, which could have knocked out 30% of our economy and jobs.
- Started a national conversation about healthcare that has sparked more national emotion than we have seen about the 2nd Iraq war.
- Began building an economic and structure that could help us sustain our growth and ability to compete on a national level by reforming corporate transparency, education, energy use, and healthcare.
- Gotten the media to recently remark that the recession is slowing.

To the current leadership I say, keep up your work, and stick to the vision that you set out to achieve - every bit of work is being done in support of the success of the American people.

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Karr on September 15, 2009 at 7:37pm

- Re Auto Industry - It's not saved yet - far from it. Ford didn't take a bailout, so it's not the American auto industry... it's GM that the government saved. Closing 1100 dealerships and another 400 dealerships per year until 2012 and all the associated layoffs don't sound like they were 'saved'. After cash for clunkers, Chrysler is already seeing a nosedive in sales. And you can thank the Indiana teacher and police retirees who lost their retirements in the process.
- Re Healthcare - I agree with you. I hope something comes to fruition here.
- Re Economy - time will tell. Never in history have enormous deficits and stimulus packages saved a country.

You are more optimistic than I am, Jamar! I hope you're correct and the change is for the better. I'm not so sure, though. I feel like Obama's administration has been run by folks like Nancy Pelosi... and that Obama would get much more done if he took charge and made these lifetime politicians take a back seat.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Seidle on September 16, 2009 at 8:43am

I'm hoping Obama can overcome this spectacularly bad congress. So far, Pelosi and Reid are winning.

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Karr on September 15, 2009 at 10:17am

If we look at the real numbers and statistics, this hasn't been a very good start for Obama. We have more troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and it doesn't appear to be going well. Obama touted diplomacy yet we just used rockets to kill Al Queda in Somalia. We're in a trade war with China - raising the tariffs to a country that we're out on loan to. Gitmo is still open and nothing done with the prisoners there.

"Cash for Clunkers" was a nightmare... over budget and most dealers have yet to get their money. 9 months in and the stimulus isn't fixing anything - the only jobs we're creating are government jobs. Obama bailed out big business and left the small businesses out to dry. Acorn continues to be found doing illegal stuff and taking tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer money.

The budgets have all been done behind closed doors. We're voting for crap that hasn't even been read. Obama is promising healthcare reform but his statements don't jive with what's actually in the bill. We have Czars all over the damn place that have power, staff, and budget - but haven't been voted or reviewed to see if they are wackos. Barney Frank still sits in power after HIS team buried the housing market with Freddy/Fanny Mae.

Don't think that I'm a 'right winger' for saying all this. I'm an independent. I think the Republicans are doing a despicable job as well. They don't offer up any solutions, only pointing fingers and yelling "You Lie!" disrespectfully.

I want Obama to quit getting used by the left wing and stand up and do what he said he was going to do. Quit blaming crap on Bush... you said "Yes, we CAN!".... not "Yes, we may be able to unless Bush really screwed it up!"

Would I change my vote? Nope.

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Permalink Reply by Arik Flanders on September 15, 2009 at 10:31am

One comment is backed up by facts and one comment is not.

I think this is why the election worked out the way that it did.

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Karr on September 15, 2009 at 7:42pm

Arik,

You make this sound like I was on a 'side' when it came to this election. Those closest to me know that I'm far from taking sides. The greatest thing to date about this election was that it was a fantastic step forward in American history in voting in Barack Obama, providing hope that racism is in the minority and will continue to struggle to rear its ugly head.

As for facts... we honestly don't have a lot yet, do we? American auto industry 'saved'? Economy saved? Wars over? Healthcare reformed? The case is still out on all of these.

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Permalink Reply by Arik Flanders on September 16, 2009 at 9:24am

I did not intend for it to sound that way, my apologies. From my personal experiences, many votes were swayed this year by friends, family and media (for both sides), while others were actually heavily weighted and thought out decisions.

I also agree that it was a great step forward in American history, by voting in Barack Obama (in terms of equality). However, I truly think that racism has continued to decrease over the years, but this election has begun to refuel the fire. There are just too many (on both sides) that want to blame everything on racism, when in most situations that is clearly not the case. i.e. Jimmy Carter's comment yesterday.

As for facts? You are right. I would say they are more like educated guesses based on minimal factual evidence. History shows us that bailouts are bad, trade restrictions backfire, higher taxes help no one, government run healthcare will only increase our national debt and at some point all great super powers will fall i.e. Egyptians, Persians, Romans, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Shepler on September 15, 2009 at 11:20am

I wouldn't change my vote. I think he's doing a lot better job than he's being given credit for. Obama has lived up to his promise on many items, but certainly not all of them. There's only so much he can do in a year, especially in a system as slow as ours and with the economical situation he inherited from the previous administration.

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Karr on September 15, 2009 at 7:44pm

Where did he live up to his promises, Jack? I'm not being sarcastic - I'm being honest. I hope he DOES live up to his promises, but I've lost some confidence as I've watched the partisanship that continues to destroy our progress (blame on both sides of the aisle, there!).

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Permalink Reply by Jeb Banner on September 15, 2009 at 2:58pm

I've been really impressed by Obama. I think the country in general is still reeling from the Bush years and this new kind of leadership, admitting mistakes, open to ideas etc, is pretty new to us. Let's give him some time to get settled in before we judge him too harshly.

But so far I would give him a solid B. Not perfect but as good as one could expect. His speech on health care was stellar and demonstrates his ability to understand nuance and see both sides of an issue. He is much more moderate than the liberal left wants to admit. Look at his inaction on Gay rights which is disappointing to me and many others that support that cause.

I would not change my vote. Palin one heartbeat from the presidency? I have trouble thinking of any politician I have less respect for than Palin. Maybe Dick Cheney, maybe.

Doug- I'm a little confused about the argument that these bills going through Congress are somehow stamped by Obama just because his party is putting them forward. I would argue that he has intentionally, and wisely, let Congress go its own way on health care in order to position himself as a moderate. Something he did really well in his speech. He's playing chess and several moves ahead of everyone else. At least that is the way I see it.

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Karr on September 15, 2009 at 7:46pm

Jeb - we may agree more than we don't. I'm concerned that Obama is letting politics-as-usual run these bills. Congress doesn't have a history of success - we voted in Obama to 'change' that, didn't we?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on September 15, 2009 at 6:20pm

No, because I voted Libertarian. As far as policy with Obama, we will still be in a bad place with or without them passing. No one is addressing true economics and I don't get caught up with slogans like "New Economy" and "Hope and Change".

I have made arrangements to be protected with any of the social experiments this Congress will be attempting. I used to be worried about this guy and Congress, but not anymore. Dems have a veto proof Congress and still can't pass anything.

Just will have to wait out the next 3.5 years until we get some true reformists running.

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