I think we agree on more than we disagree. But there are a handful of things I'd like to point out-
Is governmental service really a qualification for anything other than continued governmental service? I'm fairly certain an ape with a typewriter would make a more effective member of Congress than most of the ones who are actually elected so what honest to god good does serving 25 years in the House or Senate really do except verse one in the art of bureaucracy (not overcoming it but how to get reelected in spite of not doing so)?
Be that as it may, but my point is that with all of the political gamesmanship in Washington these past couple of decades, it takes being more than "smart" to figure out how to get your agenda to be THEIR agenda. Obama would have benefited greatly from some more time learning the ropes, and perhaps some tutelage from Bill Clinton- had Hilary won and Bill became the First Husband, on how to get shit done!
Like I said, I think he means well and yes, I do think he inherited a rotten cesspool of a situation, but I also think he had no clue how to handle "Washington" and therefore, even WITH control of the Senate and Congress, he got NOTHING substantial accomplished when it comes to the vital everything things, like, oh say, a JOB!
Yes, he gets major props from me for presiding over the end of DADT, but you know, much as I think everyone should be treated equally, and should be able to serve their country without fear of being kicked out just because they are gay, that is a hell of a lot less important to me than making sure that our economy doesn't crash and burn. I'd rather people have homes, and jobs so they can buy food to eat!
He has not done much, if anything about the lack of jobs, the foreclosure crisis, the downturn in the economy in general, and in fact, his lack of addressing the economy will likely turn him into a one-and-done President. Which is as it should be, IMHO.
It's more or less a given that if you didn't have ties to the shadowy wealth we all know runs this country before you were elected President, you certainly do afterward or you wouldn't have won. I think when phrases just that way most people would agree. Barack Obama's appointees ties with Wall Street are so much more palatable than the ties previous administrations have had.. but even if that weren't the case, I think it boils down to being very hard pressed to find a Presidential victor without some dubious ties somewhere.
How is Tim Geithner "more palatable" than Hank Paulson? They're essentially the SAME GUY.
Went to Ivy League school? Check... in fact double check since they went to the same one! (Dartmouth)
Pushed and pushed and pushed to use tax dollars to "bail out" banks? Check.
Worked (hard) to bail out AIG? Check.
Has many "friends" on Wall Street? Check.
Here is an article that talks about Ol Timmy and his buddies at Goldman, who, by the way, he GAVE a 30 BILLION (yes, that's with a Capital B) interest free "loan" to, as part of a SECRET "Float" to the banks! (By the way, Goldman wasn't a "bank" until Timmy made them one.)
Robert Scheer: Geithner and Goldman, Thick as Thieves
Just reading this gets me boiling mad and your beloved President WANTS this scum sucking, lying, tax evading fool to STAY!
Obama urges Geithner to stay as Treasury chief - Yahoo! News
Seriously, I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama. I don't see anyone on the R side that I can tolerate, let alone "like"; so I may be FORCED to stay the hell home on election day.
Our country has gone to hell in a handbasket and the great black messiah, everyone was hoping for and voting for, didn't fix shit.
Oh, and before anyone jumps on me about calling the big O a " black messiah", here's a detailed examination of why some behaved as if he was indeed the Messiah.
Max Blumenthal: Obama, the Fallen Messiah