Obama disappointments

[tjakey]

What are your top three disappointments with Pres. Obama so far; (and I know it has been less than 100 days).

Mine:

1) Giving the Bush administration a pass on law breaking and war crimes.

2) Not ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

3) Sending Money to Wall Street instead of sending Wall Street to jail.

[Harry Bosch]

What are your top three disappointments with Pres. Obama so far; (and I know it has been less than 100 days).

Mine:

1) Giving the Bush administration a pass on law breaking and war crimes.

2) Not ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

3) Sending Money to Wall Street instead of sending Wall Street to jail.
These aren't very realistic expectations. Did you vote for Obama?

[LoneWolf]

1. Hasn't cured cancer

2. Hasn't put a man on Mars

3. Hasn't brought about world peace.

But as has already been mentioned, we haven't hit 100 days yet.

[Redshirt]

I was disappointed that he brought in mostly market fundamentalists (i.e. Chicago school Friedmanites), the very people whose ideas led to the economic crisis in the first place, as his prominent economic advisors. Why didn't he bring in people who got it right and predicted the crisis like Stiglitz or Galbraith?

[nygreenguy]

He hasnt saved the world in a matter of months....

[Notta]

Hasn't given me a job in his administration in any capacity (yet).

Hasn't won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Hasn't put on a cowboy hat for a photo shoot.

Oh, and his kids probably get B's in school, too!!

[Lisa0315]

Obama is doing exactly as I thought. I am neither impressed (yet) nor disappointed. He seems like a man who knows exactly what needs to be done and exactly how to do it. I imagine that the first year will be more of a foundation than anything.

Lisa

[Spherical Time]

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

[Lisa0315]

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

2nd term, hon. I imagine he has a priority list, and part of the difficulty is that he has to get re-elected.

2nd term? Civil unions for everyone. Marriage ceremonies will be optional.

That is my prediction.

It is not easy to wait, but perhaps a little bit easier knowing that there is hope.

Lisa

[sohy]

I was disappointed that he brought in mostly market fundamentalists (i.e. Chicago school Friedmanites), the very people whose ideas led to the economic crisis in the first place, as his prominent economic advisors. Why didn't he bring in people who got it right and predicted the crisis like Stiglitz or Galbraith?

That has been my biggest disappointment as well.

[VoxRat]

I was disappointed that he brought in mostly market fundamentalists (i.e. Chicago school Friedmanites), the very people whose ideas led to the economic crisis in the first place, as his prominent economic advisors. Why didn't he bring in people who got it right and predicted the crisis like Stiglitz or Galbraith?Galbraith? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kenneth_Galbraith) Much as I respect the man, I think we need someone younger.
And, ideally, less dead.
(Perhaps there's another economist Galbraith I'm not aware of.)

How about Paul Krugman?

[Redshirt]

Galbraith? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kenneth_Galbraith) Much as I respect the man, I think we need someone younger.
And, ideally, less dead.
(Perhaps there's another economist Galbraith I'm not aware of.)

James K. Galbraith (John K. Galbraith's son)

Role in promoting the 2008–2009 Keynesian resurgence

In March 2008 Galbraith used the 25th Annual Milton Friedman Distinguished Lecture to launch a sweeping attack on the free market consensus, especially the monetarist version. [1]. He argued strongly that Keynesian economics offered a solution to the Financial crisis of 2007-2008 whereas monetarist polices would deepen the recession. Towards the end of 2008 policy makers around the world began acting in line with Galbraith’s recommendations, in what the Financial Times described as a "a stunning reversal of the orthodoxy of the past several decades"

[Harry Bosch]

I was disappointed that he brought in mostly market fundamentalists (i.e. Chicago school Friedmanites), the very people whose ideas led to the economic crisis in the first place, as his prominent economic advisors. Why didn't he bring in people who got it right and predicted the crisis like Stiglitz or Galbraith?

That has been my biggest disappointment as well.
You guys simply lack patience. There are lots of signs that the economy is at it's bottom and is heading up. I think that we'll be out of recession towards the end of the year.

[LoneWolf]

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

2nd term, hon. I imagine he has a priority list, and part of the difficulty is that he has to get re-elected.

2nd term? Civil unions for everyone. Marriage ceremonies will be optional.

That is my prediction.

It is not easy to wait, but perhaps a little bit easier knowing that there is hope.

Lisa

I think he'll attack Don't Ask Don't Tell this term, but probably not this year. He has already said he doesn't want to do it by executive order, he wants it codified in law, which will take a bit more coordination.

[Lisa0315]

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

2nd term, hon. I imagine he has a priority list, and part of the difficulty is that he has to get re-elected.

2nd term? Civil unions for everyone. Marriage ceremonies will be optional.

That is my prediction.

It is not easy to wait, but perhaps a little bit easier knowing that there is hope.

Lisa

I think he'll attack Don't Ask Don't Tell this term, but probably not this year. He has already said he doesn't want to do it by executive order, he wants it codified in law, which will take a bit more coordination.

I haven't heard that but it will be much harder to overturn if it is part of the law. I at least understand why gay marriage is an issue for some. However, an issue for serving in the military??? That is just stupid.

Lisa

[Notta]

Much as I respect the man, I think we need someone younger.
And, ideally, less dead.
(Perhaps there's another economist Galbraith I'm not aware of.)

How about Paul Krugman?
Did you read the Newsweek article about Paul Krugman? It was extremely interesting. He was on the cover, with the article titled "Why Obama is Wrong."

[Hevvin Machine]

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.But surely you would agree that digging us out of the mess that he inherited from Bush must be his top priorities. The economy and the wars need fixing more than marijuana laws or DADT.
I wouldn't be surprised if he has informed the military top brass that DADT won't last much longer and that they should be preparing for the change. Obama is a veteran of Chicago politics. The clever thing to do on a hot button issue like that is to first fix the problem, then get the law passed that makes the fix official.
And while I agree that refoming drug laws would be the best thing for everybody(especially Mexico!), trying to do that right now could easily derail other plans he has that are more crucial at the moment. Obama's many enemies are just itching for some issue they can use to smear him and his policies. I doubt that he will expend political capital on drugs laws any time soon.
Hev

[epepke]

But surely you would agree that digging us out of the mess that he inherited from Bush must be his top priorities. The economy and the wars need fixing more than marijuana laws or DADT.

It's the prohibition repeal argument, that legalizing marijuana and taxing would provide an increase in revenues.

[Christina]

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

I'm not sure that I want to see it legalized other than in medical marijuana situations. I think I'd prefer to see it decriminalized for mostly financial reasons. It's one of the biggest revenue generators in California and they would tax the hell out of it. It will be worse than cigarettes and I don't want the State to have the opportunity to raise the taxes by however much they want every time they've spent themselves into a hole. It wouldn't affect me personally because I can legally grow up to 10 plants for a friend with cancer and there's no cost other than some plant food, but if she had to buy it at market costs she wouldn't be able to. I suppose if they somehow exempted MM from taxation it wouldn't worry too much, but people in less rural areas (or who have a black thumb) can't usually grow it themselves.

[sohy]

[QUOTE=HarryBosch] You guys simply lack patience. There are lots of signs that the economy is at it's bottom and is heading up. I think that we'll be out of recession towards the end of the year.
Harry Bosch is online now Comment to Harry Bosch Report Post Reply With Quote

I still really like Obama. He's the only politician I ever supported financially. I want him to do well and I haven't given up hope. That doesn't mean I can't be worried or skeptical about some of his policies.

I think it's still very much up in the air as to whether or not we'll be out of this financial crisis by the end of the year. Unemployment is still growing at a rapid rate and there's still more shoes to drop, i.e. commercial real estate, credit card debt, another wave of foreclosures due to those that have lost jobs, and who knows what else.

I will give Obama a lot of credit for working hard and trying to tackle many problems at once. There hasn't been another president in my life that has started off with so many challenges. My 83 year old mother says the only one who had anything similar to deal with was FDR.

[Spherical Time]

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

2nd term, hon. I imagine he has a priority list, and part of the difficulty is that he has to get re-elected.

2nd term? Civil unions for everyone. Marriage ceremonies will be optional.

That is my prediction.

It is not easy to wait, but perhaps a little bit easier knowing that there is hope.

LisaI'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.But surely you would agree that digging us out of the mess that he inherited from Bush must be his top priorities. The economy and the wars need fixing more than marijuana laws or DADT.My response to both of you is: I believe that this president is capable of multitasking. Also, unless Palin is the nominee against which Barack Obama is running, the potential to do something in the future is absolutely not outweighed by the ability to do something now that he actually has the authority to do so.

If he can't reform DADT and fix the economic crisis at the same time, then he's not much of a multitasker. Especially since starting a review would probably take less than a minute of his time: instructing his staff to investigate and draw up the paperwork, and then signing it.

Note that I'm not even asking for it's repeal: I'm only asking for the possibility to be investigated.

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

2nd term, hon. I imagine he has a priority list, and part of the difficulty is that he has to get re-elected.

2nd term? Civil unions for everyone. Marriage ceremonies will be optional.

That is my prediction.

It is not easy to wait, but perhaps a little bit easier knowing that there is hope.

Lisa

I think he'll attack Don't Ask Don't Tell this term, but probably not this year. He has already said he doesn't want to do it by executive order, he wants it codified in law, which will take a bit more coordination.That would be nice, but he's going to need a preparedness study from the Pentagon before that will happen.

I wouldn't be surprised if he has informed the military top brass that DADT won't last much longer and that they should be preparing for the change. Interestingly, from what I've heard, the military top brass has done more to research and prepare for this change than the white house. But they can't do it officially without authorization.

And while I agree that refoming drug laws would be the best thing for everybody(especially Mexico!), trying to do that right now could easily derail other plans he has that are more crucial at the moment. Obama's many enemies are just itching for some issue they can use to smear him and his policies. I doubt that he will expend political capital on drugs laws any time soon.
HevI will accept that as probable and politically astute. However, I don't have to like it.

I'm not sure that I want to see it legalized other than in medical marijuana situations. I think I'd prefer to see it decriminalized for mostly financial reasons. It's one of the biggest revenue generators in California and they would tax the hell out of it. It will be worse than cigarettes and I don't want the State to have the opportunity to raise the taxes by however much they want every time they've spent themselves into a hole. It wouldn't affect me personally because I can legally grow up to 10 plants for a friend with cancer and there's no cost other than some plant food, but if she had to buy it at market costs she wouldn't be able to. I suppose if they somehow exempted MM from taxation it wouldn't worry too much, but people in less rural areas (or who have a black thumb) can't usually grow it themselves.Interestingly, it's probably also about a big of a spending drain no matter how much they make off legal fees and fines for it. All those people in jail is expensive.

[Christina]

Interestingly, it's probably also about a big of a spending drain no matter how much they make off legal fees and fines for it. All those people in jail is expensive.

I'd have to look into that because at least here in California the prisons are so overcrowded and pot is such a low priority that even among homeless people I never saw anyone charged with possession or low-level sales spend more than a night in the local jail over it and it was almost always a secondary charge to what they were picked up for. I'm not sure if the cost of incarcerating people for pot is a real issue or a theoretical one in this state.

[Spherical Time]

Interestingly, it's probably also about a big of a spending drain no matter how much they make off legal fees and fines for it. All those people in jail is expensive.

I'd have to look into that because at least here in California the prisons are so overcrowded and pot is such a low priority that even among homeless people I never saw anyone charged with possession or low-level sales spend more than a night in the local jail over it and it was almost always a secondary charge to what they were picked up for. I'm not sure if the cost of incarcerating people for pot is a real issue or a theoretical one in this state.Well, technically, holding that person overnight and processing the charges against them still costs money. And there are lots of people for whom that is the only charge.

I'd be interested to know what you find.

[tjakey]

What are your top three disappointments with Pres. Obama so far; (and I know it has been less than 100 days).

Mine:

1) Giving the Bush administration a pass on law breaking and war crimes.

2) Not ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

3) Sending Money to Wall Street instead of sending Wall Street to jail.
These aren't very realistic expectations. Did you vote for Obama?

I voted for Obama with really only one goal, that he end Bush's idiotic "war on terror." What I see is a commitment to continue the war in Iraq, (leaving 40 to 50 thousand combat troops in a country is not ending a way - even if you change the name of the "combat troops" to something else) and an expansion of the war in Afghanistan. In addition his budget expands military spending by at least 4% and perhaps as much as 8%. Not exactly an anti-war stance.

Bush's administration engaged in repeated criminal activities and it seems likely many on Wall Street were as well. Prosecution is an unrealistic expectation?

[Christina]

WT, I'm not going to be looking it up. I would only look it up if I wanted to make the assertion that the individual cost to each taxpayer for incarceration overhead for pot offenses was more or comparable to individual sales tax on pot for those who smoke it, and I didn't make that assertion. I'm content to be unsure and not make assertions either way. To be accurate would take an enormous amount of work in analyzing the statutes and statistics for each state and the amount of money spent on pot wouldn't be available so it will still be inaccurate anyway. I feel pretty comfortable that my taxes would not be reduced if pot were legalized but I also feel pretty comfortable assuming that sales tax on pot would make it more expensive for individuals to buy.

[Lisa0315]

I'm disappointed that he is dismissive of legalizing pot. I'm also disappointed that he hasn't asked the military to start considering getting rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.But surely you would agree that digging us out of the mess that he inherited from Bush must be his top priorities. The economy and the wars need fixing more than marijuana laws or DADT.
I wouldn't be surprised if he has informed the military top brass that DADT won't last much longer and that they should be preparing for the change. Obama is a veteran of Chicago politics. The clever thing to do on a hot button issue like that is to first fix the problem, then get the law passed that makes the fix official.
And while I agree that refoming drug laws would be the best thing for everybody(especially Mexico!), trying to do that right now could easily derail other plans he has that are more crucial at the moment. Obama's many enemies are just itching for some issue they can use to smear him and his policies. I doubt that he will expend political capital on drugs laws any time soon.
Hev

^^^This!

[Joykins]

I've had some disappointments with these bailouts and the stimulus. But overall I guess he's doing OK :dunno: