Barack Obama continues to be attacked by nearly everyone. Members of his own party who make racial comments (Harry Reid and take your pick among the others), members of his own party who call him weak and indecisive, members of his own party who say he is too conservative and not liberal, members of his own party who say he too liberal and progressive. Where does the buck stop? Mr. Obama says it’s stops with him and he’s right.
The trouble is Obama is so focused on being politically correct and safe in nearly everything he does that he has lost his identity as a person, which is the main reason for all the attacks he has received from the left and the right. You cannot serve two masters and think you can lead a country. Most people really and truly want to know where you stand on issues; on anything. Obama is so set on treading water in the middle ground, that will be his undoing and perhaps dash any hopes for a second term.
He has not endeared himself to either the right or the left because of his waffling and indecisiveness and he can’t seem to pull himself out of this hole. He is a likable person, but he is the cause of all the problems he faces. Obama must learn you cannot serve two masters, pick one; or resign yourself to the fact you will be one term in the White House and out or better yet “one and done”.
President Obama continues to work diligently by working first with Congressional Democrats and now with Senate Democrats on the heals of passing sweeping Health Care Reform in Congress. Obama’s main argument is that Health Care Reform cannot help but improve the economy while driving down health cost and keep the insurance industry honest. The economy continues to improve modestly, But President Obama feels Health Care Reform will help to jump start the economy ever further.
As the economy continue to operate on a fragile time line, unemployment continues to hover at an increasing rate. The current unemployment rate is currently over 10 percent. Many corporations continue to downsize and layoff workers. The Obama Administrations’ view is that Health Care Reform is the final piece of the puzzle to bring back the economy from it tailspin.
The house passed the Health Care Bill tonight by a margin of 220-215 for the bill. It is a culmination of nearly 75 years of attempts to pass a bill. With the passing of tonight bill it is the first step in the process. The Senate will have to pass their version of the bill. 39 Democrats actually voted against the bill. Which says volumes about the split between progressives and so call Blue Dog Democrats.
President Obama, congratulated Nancy Pelosi, for a great victory in overseeing a house majority in the vote for Health Care reform. The passing of the bill insures that every American will have affordable health care. Only one Republican voted for the the Health Care Bill.
Apparently Obama administration aides are taking it as an affront to President Obama that a Democratic Strategist appeared on Fox News. This in the aftermath of the Obama administrations assault and ban against the perceived biased reporting of Fox News. We are beginning to see a not so kinder/gentler Obama. Some think he could use a little bit more of a mean streak. Perhaps he is trying to deliver on that wish list.
President Obama spoke with Congressional Democrats today at the Capitol to discuss the upcoming vote on Health Care Reform legislation. Obama reminded them that this is their moment and a moment in history to deliver sweeping Health Care Legislation and to foster a feeling of unity. Perhaps in response to nearly unanimous opposition from Republican Congress, Obama felt the need to speak directly to Congressional Democrats to remind them to hold ranks and not defect from promises made to the electorate regarding health care.
The American people are saying that they like President Obama, but do not like some of his policies. President Obama has straddled the fence on nearly everything; not taking a clear stance on Health Care, Afghanistan, and a number of other issues. Those on the left, feel he is not living up to campaign promises and those on the right or calling him a socialist.
Obama has not made a stance on anything. He has not clearly articulated his stance on Afghanistan and his approach on Health Care Reform has been wanting; particularly his passive approach to passing a health care bill without a public option.
I must admit I am an avid Obama supporter, but feel jilted with his lukewarm support for the public option and his continual praise of Republicans, who could care less for him or his policies. When he campaigned as the catalyst for change we can believe in. We believed. So far he has not delivered.
The more we learn about President Obama, the more we are exposed to his strategic and calculating nature. Obama is a consensus builder and at times appears reluctant to lead. That is both a deceiving observation and a simplistic analysis. Obama is calculating and patient in his approach to foreign policy. He waits for the right opportunity to act and uses unconventional tactics to achieve an end result. His leadership at the G-20 summit was nothing short of brilliant, convincing many of America’s allies to act in opposition to Iran’s nuclear activity.
This is a staunch contrast from the George Bush days when all too often the ship headed to sea without a rudder. Bush felt that a consensus was something on the agenda at at fine restaurant. Buy in and getting other nations on board during the Bush administration was a non starter. Obama waited patiently to act against Iran. During Iran’s presidential elections, Obama withheld comments on the political unrest during the Presidential elections . Like a poker player, he did not play his hand. Despite criticism from less enlightened rivals, Obama held firm until just the right moment. By maneuvering into a leadership position on the world stage, Obama finally suggested unilateral action against Iran with support from world leaders.
Gov. Paterson pushed back yesterday against President Obama’s stunning attempt to shove him from New York’s political stage, insisting he won’t abandon his run for governor.
People are under huge misconceptions regarding health care reform. The biggest items are cost/affordability and whether are not pre-existing conditions are covered. If you lose your employer sponsored group insurance plan and you have a pre-existing condition, under the current laws you will not be covered by any insurance company. People are arguing about the cost and what it will cost and probably those people who are arguing have a pre-existing condition. Meaning they are one pre-existing condition away from no insurance coverage at all.
This is the most important item in the total health care debate. If you have a sickness you will not get coverage and you can lose everything trying to pay for the coverage on your own. Unless you are rich. You are done. We hear about people with cancer not getting coverage, but it is a lot more than cancer that is considered a pre-existing condition. It could be diabetes, thyroid conditions, high blood pressure, kidney disease, you name it, you will not be covered.
This is why we need health care reform now. I don’t believe there is anyone without some type of chronic sickness that could be deemed a pre-existing condition. Yet we talk about cost and future cost. We need to wake up and fight for the most progressive bill we can get. It simply may save your life.
President Obama has taken a hit. Primarily because of his decision to leave the passing of the Health Care Reform bill to the congress and the senate. It is a strategic decision that has cost him dearly. He lost the control of the debate and the jury is out on whether or not he can get it back. It will take a serious effort on Obama’s part to get it back. President Obama is a consensus builder by heart, and this perhaps may be his downfall. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking the high ground. Obama seems to have nailed that tactic. He is quite skilled at taking the high ground.
The trouble is, he is in an occupation where people play to kill. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing . Perhaps Obama is operating in the wrong arena. Is he too much of a good and moral guy to fight with scoundrels and snakes? The Republicans are attacking him left and right, slowly chipping away at his popularity. It appears that members of his own party are engaged in the same tactic. Maybe some in his own inner circle of advisers and cabinet members. So perhaps in the first time in history we have a president who has values and moral character. There’s a book, literally thousands of years old, that promotes that virtue. It’s called the Holy Bible.
OUR nation is now engaged in a great debate about the future of health care in America. And over the past few weeks, much of the media attention has been focused on the loudest voices. What we haven’t heard are the voices of the millions upon millions of Americans who quietly struggle every day with a system that often works better for the health-insurance companies than it does for them.
