IF you voted for Obama, what concerns you most about his presidency?

[Anonymous]

I am most concerned that he will not step up and tell the American people that the economy is a mess, that it will take a long time to recover, and that we will see some austerity.

I don't blame him for the economy, that mess occured before he came in. WE bought the houses we couldn't afford. WE had to have all the cheap crap made in China.

[jsteele]

My biggest concern is his seeming lack of negotiating ability. He repeatedly gives away the house for nothing. How many times does he have to make concessions to Republicans (and some Democrats) who ultimately vote against him before he figures this stuff out? Then, when we criticize him for placating his enemies instead of his allies, his spokesperson says we should be drug tested (and his Chief of Staff calls us f'n retards).

[Anonymous]

agree with PP, he needs to grow a backbone.

[Anonymous]

The reneging on the positions that we elected him to take. The failure to repeal (not just "allow to expire") the Bush tax cuts, the failure to withdraw troops from the two wars abroad, the failure to push for economic policies that would actually help the economy, the failure to stand firm on cap and trade, backing down on off-shore drilling, et cetera, ad nauseum. Whether or not these reversals are because of a misguided desire to work with people who will have nothing to do with any of it (Republicans) or because the leadership on which he depends to actually make the legislation happen has no spine (Reid, Durbin, Hoyer, I'm talking to you!) doesn't really matter to me. It's disappointing, and belittling the values of the people who elected you because you've been stymied in the political process is juvenile behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reneging on the positions that we elected him to take. The failure to repeal (not just "allow to expire") the Bush tax cuts, the failure to withdraw troops from the two wars abroad, the failure to push for economic policies that would actually help the economy, the failure to stand firm on cap and trade, backing down on off-shore drilling, et cetera, ad nauseum. Whether or not these reversals are because of a misguided desire to work with people who will have nothing to do with any of it (Republicans) or because the leadership on which he depends to actually make the legislation happen has no spine (Reid, Durbin, Hoyer, I'm talking to you!) doesn't really matter to me. It's disappointing, and belittling the values of the people who elected you because you've been stymied in the political process is juvenile behavior.

Specifically what? Just curious, not threatening.

[Anonymous]

An assassination attempt from someone "not ready" for a Black POTUS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reneging on the positions that we elected him to take. The failure to repeal (not just "allow to expire") the Bush tax cuts, the failure to withdraw troops from the two wars abroad, the failure to push for economic policies that would actually help the economy, the failure to stand firm on cap and trade, backing down on off-shore drilling, et cetera, ad nauseum. Whether or not these reversals are because of a misguided desire to work with people who will have nothing to do with any of it (Republicans) or because the leadership on which he depends to actually make the legislation happen has no spine (Reid, Durbin, Hoyer, I'm talking to you!) doesn't really matter to me. It's disappointing, and belittling the values of the people who elected you because you've been stymied in the political process is juvenile behavior.

Specifically what? Just curious, not threatening.

More focus on economic stimulus; current policies are being driven by a fear of the deficit, which is a (politically) conservative approach. Many economists agree that this fear will keep us from pulling out of the recession sooner and ensure a "lost decade" where there is no actual growth (in jobs or GDP). The sooner we can recover in real terms, the sooner we can address the deficit; the longer we stagnate, the more the deficit looms.

[Anonymous]

So, I guess as examples, funding from feds to state and local systems to ensure that infrastructure maintenance and school functioning remains high would be good (which both keep people employed, fixing roads and teaching kids). Programs to support small businesses, to aid in technology transition, and just general unemployment assistance (so that fewer people default on their debts while out of work, which continues to feed the banking and cash flow crises) are other areas. Basically, what Congress was doing on the advice of a slew of respected economic advisers before the "oh no, the deficit!" rallying cry gained traction and made them afraid of continuing along that path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am most concerned that he will not step up and tell the American people that the economy is a mess, that it will take a long time to recover, and that we will see some austerity.

I don't blame him for the economy, that mess occured before he came in. WE bought the houses we couldn't afford. WE had to have all the cheap crap made in China.

Just about everything.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:My biggest concern is his seeming lack of negotiating ability. He repeatedly gives away the house for nothing. How many times does he have to make concessions to Republicans (and some Democrats) who ultimately vote against him before he figures this stuff out? Then, when we criticize him for placating his enemies instead of his allies, his spokesperson says we should be drug tested (and his Chief of Staff calls us f'n retards).

I usually agree with you 99.9% of the time on just about every topic - but the far left wing needs to give the guy a break! He is doing more then anyone else could/would do and he's the best thing we have. If we do not unite together with him, all those crazies will win and take over and then where will we be?!

[Anonymous]

I'm worried that he will not get a chance to do what he wants to do (because the other side and people in his own party won't let him) and that the crazies will use their scare tactics to brainwash America again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reneging on the positions that we elected him to take. The failure to repeal (not just "allow to expire") the Bush tax cuts, the failure to withdraw troops from the two wars abroad, the failure to push for economic policies that would actually help the economy, the failure to stand firm on cap and trade, backing down on off-shore drilling, et cetera, ad nauseum. Whether or not these reversals are because of a misguided desire to work with people who will have nothing to do with any of it (Republicans) or because the leadership on which he depends to actually make the legislation happen has no spine (Reid, Durbin, Hoyer, I'm talking to you!) doesn't really matter to me. It's disappointing, and belittling the values of the people who elected you because you've been stymied in the political process is juvenile behavior.

Specifically what? Just curious, not threatening.

More focus on economic stimulus; current policies are being driven by a fear of the deficit, which is a (politically) conservative approach. Many economists agree that this fear will keep us from pulling out of the recession sooner and ensure a "lost decade" where there is no actual growth (in jobs or GDP). The sooner we can recover in real terms, the sooner we can address the deficit; the longer we stagnate, the more the deficit looms.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Probably his underestimation of the disconnect people feel between "the government" as an abstract and the individual services provided by the government.

I'm not expecting him (or anyone, really) to be able to explain that America's post World War II power was an anomaly and how to manage the transition to a more multi-polar world without every right-winger and low-information voter thinking that "He hates Amirkuh!"

As an example of this disconnect, I'd imagine many/most of the over-55 Tea Partiers would be in the streets if even a modest means testing proposal for Social Security and Medicare were proposed. Look at the GOP opposition to Obamacare -- it centered around defense of Medicare -- aka socialized medicine.

The Gen X and non-Southern Tea Partiers, I think, are more libertarian in bent; the older and Southern Tea Partiers are more socially conservative/nativist in bent.

He also seems to be in la-la land (politically speaking) from time to time -- letting the healthcare bill stall for several months and not thinking Michelle's vacation might trigger a flurry of silly season reporting are probably the two biggest ones.

But most importantly, the economy continues its imitation of post-1990 Japan. Ain't no one going to last in power as long as that happens.

[Anonymous]

Every time he opens his mouth. I will not vote for him again.

[Anonymous]

My biggest concern is the administration's failure to focus on unemployment. The country is facing a serious employment crisis, one that shows no signs of ending. Bob Herbert has written eloquently and compellingly about this in several of his NYT op-eds, most recently in this one:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/opinion/10herbert.html?_r=1&ref=bobherbert

Even now it is unclear that the Obama Administration and Congress have any real understanding of the urgency of this situation. The optics of the First Family's multiple vacations this spring and summer, especially the First Lady's trip to Spain, seem to suggest that the president doesn't understand the enormous toll that unemployment is taking on this nation. (And I say that somewhat reluctantly, as I'm a huge Michelle Obama fan. But that Spain trip was just plain tone-deaf.)