>I recorded Obama's speech the other night, and watched it from beginning to end tonight.
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>Obama quoted many letters he receives from Americans who are frustrated - he almost seems to be suggesting that Americans are like kids begging for things to be provided by the government, and that people are "frustrated and angry" because govt assistance isn't coming fast enough. The colossal irony is the major outrage by voters in Massachusetts who expressed their views on being made dependent by the state. Whether Obama is in huge denial, or out of touch, or just plain dishonest, the irony is astounding.
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>But it got better...the health care bill is failing - because, according to Obama, it's a "complex issue", and he hasn't done a better job of explaining it. If that wasn't condescending enough, get ready for the biggest attempt to insult the intelligence of the American public: "Health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo." Once again, more irony....Americans have largely educated themselves on this bill, and have arrived at their own conclusion - and THAT is Obama's real problem.
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>And then, just like comic relief in a Shakespeare play, was the rib-tickler. "We haven't raised income taxes by a single dime on a single person". Even Obama realizes that the Democrats have increased spending by nearly a trillion dollars and propose to spend a trillion more - and ultimately, Americans will have to pay for it. (Which, of course, would not be so comical).
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>Then there was the rather insipid shot at the Republicans, when he acknowledged that his (tiny) freeze won't take effect until 2011....."that's how budgeting works" he stated, as he stared down the Republicans. One of the republican rebuttles later reminded everyone that the Democratic Congress didn't hesitate to toss out the official budget when deciding to spend $700 billion on TARP bailout and $800 billion on the "stimulus" package.
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>And I saved the best for last - "But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors and stop insurance company abuses, let me know." LET HIM KNOW?????? How, for Christ sakes???? Town Hall Meetings? Rallies on the DC Mall??? I got a better idea....an election....we could even hold it in a left-leaning state like Massachusetts, to give Obama an advantage..
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>Oh, wait a minute...all those happened!!! And Obama has made clear that he doesn't care what Americans have to say. And why? Because he has never really cared much for Americans in the first place.
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>I knew before the 2008 election that Obama would defeat Bush....because too many people were tired of Bush, who was rather bad. But I also figured that within 2-3 years, the American public would detest Obama FAR MORE. I was wrong... his high-handed, arrogant tactics have the backlash against him ahead of schedule. Here's another prediction - he will have the lowest approval rating of any president by the time 2012 rolls around.
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>But...until the day comes when the Republican establishment finds a better leader.....and acts on the fundamental principles of liberty....in the words of Thomas Jefferson, builds "a wise and frugal Government which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry ...and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.", then we're left with choices of a president who was really bad (men like Bush) and a president who is a million times worse.

Kevin, get a grip. You're a victim of decades of polarisation and don't realise that obama was fighting a mission impossible from day one. At least with the recent figure of the economy that riased 5.7% the last 3 months the voices about wasting money on the stimulus package has somewhat breathing space.

Its the same everywhere. Not only in your country, but also up here. People argue that the governement does not listen to the people. Well if you really want that you should emigrate to a true democracy, like in switserland where for each and every important decision the people are consulted. May I suggest asking the swiss whether they are proud of the governement? The problem with a direct democracy like in switzerland, it leaves no space for the government to do whats best for the country. This means that what the people want is not always best for the country and the government sometimes have to make impopular by very nessecary decisions. Take for example a footbal match:

What would be best. 16 million coaches on the couch or 1 that actually knows something about footbal and has a team of advisors arround him?

And this the reason that in any representative democracy de politicians do listen to the people, try to promise as much during the election to get the people votes, but (hopefully) will try to do whats best for the country en ignore the day-today grumphing of its citizens.

The problem obama is facing that in his first year, like he said before, can not solve all problems. At least there are signs he's got a handle on the crisis, but he is facing other problems that are immensely complex. People have rather simplistic views of what a president do, and shout in anger without being burdend by any actual knowledge esspecially against a president that does not have their color. Its just a case... if you or anyone else were in his shoes, would you really think they would do a better job?

Personally I believe in obama why? First of all, he truly wants to do something about a number of topics like the healthcare mess and he truly wants to do best for the people in stead of working through a doctrine born out of idealology. He knows that he cannot solve all the problems on his own, and he at least listens to his advisors. And that has not been demonstrated for a long time, esspecially with the republicans (Can you imagine Sarah Palin to be president, that would be a real nightmare).

I've got no single doubt he's doing all he can for america, even if he needs to ignore the american publics voice. Time will tell.