Obama disappoints me...

[rvg]

His first trip has achieved, shall we say, modest results. Nothing tangible, actually. He has presented himself to the world as a spineless wimp ready to bend in any direction. North Korean openly laughs in his face, Iranian government has largely ignored his good will overtures, Russia and China do not seem to be taking him very seriously. He might be liked abroad, but I don't think he is respected. Very disappointing.

[CountArach]

Give him time to build up some gravitas.

[Vladimir]

Give him time to build up some gravitas.

A very sexy word but that is what one brings to the office, not gains over time.

Politics and politicians in general are disappointing. All the more so for Obama because of his rockstar image.

[InsaneApache]

I said this to 'mom' last year. She was overcome with glee when he beat Hilarious to the Democratic nomination. I tried to warn her that all politicians are the same. Cynical Brit that I am.

He's just Blair MKII.

You heard it here first.

[Furunculus]

roflmao - at this topic.

[Vuk]

You see, I am smart. I got my expectations of Barack Obama so low, that if he does not plunge us into WWIII I will be pleasantly suprised. I think it would be impossible for him to disappoint me now. The only thing that does cause me disappointment is the stupidity and spinelessness of modern Americans. (The same can be said about the rest of the world, but my expectations were so much higher for Americans because of all they have been blessed with) I know people who have voted for Obama because for reasonable considerations that I simply did not agree with, but so many people who I know supported him and voted for him when they knew absolutely nothing about him at all. I hate to say it, but it is mostly women who have dissapointed me with it too. When I ask them why they voted for Obama, it is not because they think he will make a better president, it is:
a) because my friends did
b) because it is kewl
c) I do not know much about politics, but it is my duty to vote, and he looks like a nice guy

Then in the most blatent show of racism I have ever personally witness in my lifetime: "He is black , a black man getting into office will be final step in ending racism" Sadly, that is the one I have heard the most. You know when racism ends? When a black guy and a white guy run against each other, and the general public is concerned about their policies, personalities, and experience, and race is NOT an issue. Those people who voted for Obama because he is black did the exact opposite, they showed that this country is not past race (and never will be as long as there are people like them), and that it is a key factor in politics.
If you cannot honestly tell the world that if McCain and Obama were the same people in all other respects, but their races were reversed, that you would have voted the exact same, then you go against everything this country stands for and you do not deserve the right to vote, because you blatantly dishonour those who fought for civil liberties, those who fought for equality in the revolution, and your very country. If you voted because of race, then you are a racist. Plain and simple.
I got nothing against people who vote for what they think is better for their country (whether they vote D or R), but when people base their choice on race, that really does disgust me. Certainly not a majority of the people I know made their decision based on race, but enough to disappoint me in Americans and people in general...way too many for the 21st century in an age where we are supposed to judge people as individuals, not by their skin colour... Almost as disappointing is some of the other brainless reasons I have heard people give, which have to do with popularity rather than ability. Obama cannot disappoint me, but Americans certainly do...

[Seamus Fermanagh]

...Then in the most blatent show of racism I have ever personally witness in my lifetime: "He is black , a black man getting into office will be final step in ending racism" Sadly, that is the one I have heard the most. You know when racism ends? When a black guy and a white guy run against each other, and the general public is concerned about their policies, personalities, and experience, and race is NOT an issue. Those people who voted for Obama because he is black did the exact opposite, they showed that this country is not past race (and never will be as long as there are people like them), and that it is a key factor in politics....

You are correct that some of those voting for Obama soley because of his race -- and I'd agree that the number who'll admit that motivation is likely to be smaller than the number so motivated -- are themselves practicing a brand of racism. Unfortunately, getting to the non-racist end-state you describe probably DOES involve some of this "reverse" racism. Eventually the penduluum begins to gyrate less and less wildly and we will arrive at a new, non-racist balance point. I suspect it is all an inevitable part of the process.


As to disappointment, I have to agree I am disappointed. However, given the penduluum of US politics, an Obama was almost inevitable. We'd been under GOP leadership with a "tough" foreign policy for some time. The electorate likes to mix it up a bit and, mostly, wanted someone who'd take a softer approach. They'll learn that softer isn't necessarily better and creates its own raft of problems -- just as did the harder stance effected by the Bush White House.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Give him time to build up some gravitas.

How exactly? By having the likes of North Korea and Iran scoff at him?

CR

[rvg]

How exactly? By having the likes of North Korea and Iran scoff at him?

CR

For real. Obama is good at one thing though: bashing the USA in his speeches.

[Tsavong]

For real. Obama is good at one thing though: bashing the USA in his speeches.

Relay? I thought he was saying the USAs government has maid mistakes not bashing the USA.

[Lemur]

How exactly? By having the likes of North Korea and Iran scoff at him?

Are you suggesting that insulting, dismissive rhetoric out of North Korea and Iran is a new development? Explain, please.

-edit-

Freebie: 8/4/04 "North Korea yesterday called President Bush an 'imbecile' and 'a tyrant that puts Hitler into the shade' in a stream of insults that seemed to rule out any progress on nuclear disarmament talks before the US presidential elections. 'The meeting of the working group for the six-party talks cannot be opened because the US has become more undisguised in pursuing its hostile policy toward North Korea,' a foreign ministry spokesman told the state-controlled news agency. [...] Pyongyang's diplomatic spokesman called Mr Bush 'an idiot, an ignorant, a tyrant and a man-killer'. He added: 'Bush's assumption of office turned a peaceful world into a pandemonium unprecedented in history as it is plagued with a vicious circle of terrorism and war. The president's aides and allies are a typical gang of political gangsters'."

And I heard somewhere that throwing your shoe isn't the biggest sign of respect. But please, feel free to explain how North Korea and Iran have been more insulting in some new and ingenious way than they have always been.

[rvg]

Are you suggesting that insulting, dismissive rhetoric out of North Korea and Iran is a new development? Explain, please.

Their rhetoric will remain insulting and dismissive regardless of what stance we take towards them, therefore there's no reason to play nice with them: they will not reciprocate.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Their rhetoric will remain insulting and dismissive regardless of what stance we take towards them, therefore there's no reason to play nice with them: they will not reciprocate.

No reason to play tough with them, they won't change their ways?

This is a non issue. Right wing people like to see their president act tough, left wing people like to seem him be "diplomatic". If it's just acting either way, what's the difference?

[Tribesman]

Are you suggesting that insulting, dismissive rhetoric out of North Korea and Iran is a new development? Explain, please.

Thats easy to explain .
When N.Korea previously did its "bugger off we can do what we like..but please send us food" line it was because they have this crazy shortarse running the country , but now when they say it its because of Obama .
When Iran said "bugger off , lift the sanctions and give us our money back " it was because they were pissed at America , now when they say " nice words , but we want action not words so bugger off , lift the sanctions and give us our money back" its because of Obama .

Surely you can understand that Lemur , after all it make perfect sense .

[Crazed Rabbit]

Are you suggesting that insulting, dismissive rhetoric out of North Korea and Iran is a new development? Explain, please.

No, I'm simply saying that's not going to get him gravitas, and asked how exactly he'd get it.

CR

[Louis VI the Fat]

To be honest, Obama has grown on me. He wasn't my preferred candidate. He has since overcome many of my reservations about him. He is serious, moderate, flexible, reliable. I get the feeling that he is well respected over here, irrespective of the inevitable disappointment of the Obama = messias crowd.

Concerning Obama's foreign blitztrips of the past weeks, each country's and region's expectations and response to Obama are a different subject altogether. The G20, the EU, NATO, Turkey, and overtures to Russia and Iran each were very different projects. On the whole, I think Obama performed an excellent job. Of course, he's got a truly outstanding Secretary of State who laid the groundwork for him.
Any disappointment I think has got more to do with unrealistic expectations than with failures of policy or 'tone of voice' of the Obama administration.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

He's a much more experienced campaigner than he is president

[Prince Cobra]

His first trip has achieved, shall we say, modest results. Nothing tangible, actually. He has presented himself to the world as a spineless wimp ready to bend in any direction. North Korean openly laughs in his face, Iranian government has largely ignored his good will overtures, Russia and China do not seem to be taking him very seriously. He might be liked abroad, but I don't think he is respected. Very disappointing.

About foreign policy. I think it's better for USA to be liked than feared. The Obama's predecessor put USA in mess esp. in Afghanistan and Iraq. The crisis is also a factor.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Let me ask a very frank and serious question.


Obama detractors:

You know he won't have Republican-like policies while in office. So setting that aside, WHAT must he do to gain your support or respect? Be honest and serious. I want to know.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I am getting sick of conservatives calling him the Messiah when no one else does, wanting him to fail and abusing the symbols of Americas past for their own ridiculous message. It makes actual, sane conservatives look bad.

EDIT: Also, Obama not doing what half the country wants is not tyranny, its called losing.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Sorry, but if you don't want people to say that he is the Messiah, then do one of two things:

1) Stop making out that he is a hero coming to save us.
2) Criticize him for encouraging things like that on his campaign.

That being said, ATPG's question is a valid one.

[Askthepizzaguy]

My political affiliations, in case you're wondering, are admittedly ambiguous. I'm neither Republican nor Democrat; I liked Bush I and Clinton I. I hated Bush II and Clinton II. I thought Gulf War I was good, I thought the present war (the sequel) sucked big time.

I am economically conservative and socially liberal. I like more liberties and less government involvement, but I also see the merits of government intervention and regulation, to prevent terrible disasters, but not to attempt to "make everything all better".

Right now I can't find a job, and my college savings are all dried up. I'm in a miserable situation, and I could really use the help. But frankly, I'm not dying, and others could use it more.

I consider myself fair-minded and less partial to partisanship than most. That being said, I voted Obama and was appalled by McCain's campaign and Bush and Cheney in general.

[a completely inoffensive name]

My political affiliations, in case you're wondering, are admittedly ambiguous. I'm neither Republican nor Democrat

I am economically conservative and socially liberal. I like more liberties and less government involvement, but I also see the merits of government intervention and regulation, to prevent terrible disasters, but not to attempt to "make everything all better".

I consider myself fair-minded and less partial to partisanship than most.

This describes me perfectly as well.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Sorry, but if you don't want people to say that he is the Messiah, then do one of two things:

1) Stop making out that he is a hero coming to save us.
2) Criticize him for encouraging things like that on his campaign.

Because I have been totally riding on the Obama train. /s

The second one makes me laugh, because the job of a politician is to pretend as if you have all the answers and solutions.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Because I have been totally riding on the Obama train. /s

The right in question here is not mocking anyone who supports Obama, they are mocking those who give him an air not seen since Trudeaumania or Beatlemania - and rightly so, if I may add.

The second one makes me laugh, because the job of a politician is to pretend as if you have all the answers and solutions.

Having all the answers (or pretending to) does not make you Obamamessiah. That isn't what I said at all.