I’ve been noticing an odd phenomena amongst like-minded liberal folks since January 2009. It’s a total and complete reluctance to question anything President Obama does and then ostracizing those who do. I don’t really fit with any political party – I’m socially liberal and tend more towards the middle on fiscal issues. I’m not a libertarian. I never vote a straight ticket. I like President Obama. I voted for him – I have nothing to hide here. And on the whole, I think he’s doing a decent job especially given the crappy hand he’s been dealt. Finally some healthcare reform for starters that actually has promise and is implementable. But let’s be real here – whoever took office in 2009 was inheriting a big pile of doo doo and runs the risk of being a one-term President. A few things have been weighing on my mind and I just have to get them off my chest. First is the Don’t Ask-Don’t tell stinking pile of crap. I’m disappointed President Clinton both supported and allowed that. And I’m further disappointed that President Obama is doing NOTHING about it. Inaction is no better than signing a piece of bad legislation when you are the President. Second is this whole bi-partisan stimulus/bailout mess. I’m no more in favor of bailouts under President Obama than I was under President Bush. Yes President Bush never put the war costs on the budget because it was already unsupported and he didn’t need more dissent. President Obama did the right thing in doing so. But there is plenty of other porky nonsense going on. Take this for example. 18 million stimulus dollars are going to the redesign of recover.org – a government-run website! Holy bank accounts Batman I’m in the wrong line of business. 18 million dollars? That is so ridiculous. I guess really my point in mentioning any of this is it’s our duty as voting citizens to question what ALL of our elected officials are doing no matter what political label one assumes.
Finally, I was promised change in the fundamental ways business gets done in Washington and I’m not seeing it on the whole. I know there are other things that need to be tended to, and I don’t believe President Obama is deliberately letting Washington business as usual go on but he’ not stopping it. And while we are on the topic, Nancy Pelosi needs to go. She’s his worst enemy if you ask me. And get the lobbyists under control. I know one person can’t undo years of inflated bureaucracy but someone needs to try.
To be clear I’m not voicing a lack of support for President Oabma. I still believe he’s the right person for the job. But like-minded liberal friends – let’s get over this reluctance to question what’s going on and help problem-solve.
