#1 Mistake Obama has made was Rahm Emanuel
#2 was to keep David Axelrod

Without those two, this country and this world would have so much better off. It is very difficult to distinguish between Obama days vs. Bush days when it comes to Foreign Policy and Economy.

Let’s get rid of Rahm Emanuel and his appointees.

Don’t let what is going on in Congress fool you!!! The health care corporations love the Bacchus plan$$$$$. It is just a show to give their Congressmen a cover. They want people to believe they don’t like it to boost the Congress credential as “defender of the people”. The health care corporations and insurers “don’t like it” so it’s probably good for the us the people…WRONG!!

They’re trying to “manufacture our consent” They have successfully killed single payer and now it’s the public option turn.

Don’t let this orchestrated play fool you

PRESIDENTIAL 9 MONTH PROGRESS REPORT

Healthcare- F I wish they would scrap it all. We need it to get even worse I think before we have the maturity and courage to make it better.

Economy- C- What he inherited was so awful it is hard to tell. Loses points for not coming down harder on banks/Wall Street.

Foreign Policy- C A real mixed bag. Has improved the tone with our traditional allies. However, we are still in Iraq, Gitmo is still open for “business”, and we still outspend China 100-1 on our military. Doesn’t lose points for Afghanistan because he is keeping his word from his campaign.

Overall- D+ A solid disappointment. Maybe no one individual can take on our problems, but Obama has let bipartisanship and special interests derail the entire Democratic agenda. Extra credit to the conservative howlers who have little else to offer, but will be damned if they’ll let anyone else’s idea see the light of day.

Dennis Kucinich in 2012/16!

Clinton once said about his failure to get Bin Laden: “I tried and I failed.” He could have said the same thing about healthcare: “I tried and I failed.” What I cannot stand about Obama is he can’t even says that. He has not even made a good faith effort.

“Don’t let this orchestrated play fool you”
Posted by wavre

Yup, I think you’ve nailed their modus operandi.

It’s as though we’re goldfish who’ve lived in the same water for years — eight years in oxygen-free, poisoned water. Along comes a guy who changes the water. The people outside the bowl — as far as Norway, for heaven’s sake – notice the change. But we don’t. The poison got to us so effectively that we don’t recognize the good stuff when it’s all around us.

The incremental changes — from acceptance (however grudging) of the notion that people should have equal access to health care to an economy which has gone from damn-near-depression to “gee, the recession is over!” in eight months, to an automobile industry no longer on the rocks, and some real respect from our partners around the world — all of this in a eight months following the most battering leadership America has experienced in decades prove that Obama is very much of an achiever.

I’m hardly uncritical of the administration and share the opinion that Emanuel is a big, cheesy mistake. I’d even go so far as to agree with some that Obama’s a little too available to lights and cameras.

But we have to stop letting democracy’s enemies define us. I mean the enemies within our borders, the ones who have the biggest megaphones, a lethal sense of entitlement, and no manners.

Cory,

I agree with your grades 100%

F– for Hiding from the Peace Activists who have been waiting for a new Administration for eight years

I agree with your selection of candidate for 2012/2016 200%

Good Job …. but not willing to throw the towel on Obama yet … he is faking most of his moderateness in order to avoid to be on the target board of fringe elements.

I agree with pw,

though he has not done everything i would want, he has got up out of the depression, he has changed the tone of the world towards use, which is a big thing to do.

He also prevented another cold war. This is what mccain and many of our harks were pushing against russia remember (We are all georgians after the attack on S.O.).He Back off from that crazy Georgian President who wished to use NATO against russia.

Did the imaginable by actually saying in the media and politics calling israel’s settlements illegal, the led-bitter act for equal pay, stronger hate crimes laws passed(at the cry of republicans) against gays. He has proven that he would be willing to reach across the aisles at the cost of his poll ratings, and still far more transparent(so we can complain) than anything bush was. Also global warming, and cap and trades (though weak) is on the table. Given good faith gestures towards the middle-east.

Yes he could of done better on the economy and pull the troops out of afghan, but no matter what he does the far-right, tea baggers will complain and cry out crazy crap about him. He managed to protect use within 9 months where bush could not is another plus. And unlike when 9/11 happen and the country rallied behind bush and he abused use and people who did if anything bad would happen the republicans and foxs would use it to curry favor instead of supporting our president.

The guy hasn’t even been in office for a year. To me this is an example of Americans wanting a fast fix, always, without any kind of sacrifice or pain.

It seems there is an almost magical belief that a new president will somehow make everything alright. Things are a mess. Perhaps things are more of a mess than we’ve ever experienced and it’s going to be a mess for a while, maybe a very long time. There are entrenched interests in the country. Does anyone really believe that one guy or one party is going to be able to stand up to these interests in nine months and remedy everything? Even if there is the political will, realistically how difficult is this? We’ve got healthcare problems, trade deficits, diminishing currency value, budget deficits acquired largely through overspending on the military, environmental problems, unemployment, foreclosures, California going under. How is one person going to be able to turn all of that around in nine months? It seems a lot of people believe, ok, I’ve voted that’s the extent of it, but really how active and tuned-in has the population been? And really, what can be done in nine months, I ask.

I think an awful lot of Obama supporters didn’t actually listen to him during campaign and — worse — during his inaugural address. A great deal of the excitement was driven not by what Obama was actually saying, but what they wanted to hear. We’ve kind of developed some bad habits when it comes to actually paying attention. Our ideas, reactions,opinions come more from commentators than from our own close reading and analysis.

The old armchair blame game….

Is Obama our dictator? If things aren’t happening fast enough for people, then it’s because our lazy, irresponsible citizenry has no sense of what a democracy is, and haven’t been hounding their corrupt-by-lobbyist representatives as strongly as they need to.

Or blame Obama.

After 8 years with a man who did nothing and said very little. I’m pleased to have a president that speaks in complete sentences. To expect change to happen quickly is folly. Even before there can be a course correction, it has to be discussed. The right has nothing to say, considering what a chimp party they threw for 8 years.

By the way, PW, well said. I mean, seriously, things have been really, really bad. We’ll see. Let’s be reasonable here.

How about a Scorecard for WBUR?

When are you going to have the first guest who has been an activist against Bush Administration who has been a puppet of Tel Aviv?

Enough is Enough!!!
Time to deliver, Mr. & Mrs. Public Radio

Start with why we invaded Iraq…Scott Ritter, Ramsey Clark without any Think Tank type of Lying crooks who represent “foreign” lobby groups such as AEI, AIPAC and CFR or Sabaan Center for Peace (peace, my butt!)

Amazing how our ADD culture doesn’t see what Obama has done? Please!
The man has made massive inroads to reversing the devastating effects of the prior eight (or arguably more) years.
People who want and expect instant effects are not only naive but ignorant and maybe dangerous. What is needed is a realistic assessment based on what was…what is…and from that we can make a sober and sane statement of what will most likely be.
And the rest of the world can see all too clearly what we cannot because it is too close….we cannot see our own eyelashes because they are too close.
And as a result he has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
I have no doubt that when the myopic American public has a broader view brought by time and space, they will easily see how amazingly effective this man is.

I don’t think President Obama is too slow to act, I think WE are just (as always) too quick to judge.
Americans – this is real life, not a reality show!
Patience is a virtue we tend to forget in these times of “instant everything” …

Please remember that this nation is in an economic CRISIS right now. The fact that he has done -anything- other than address that crisis shows just how fierce his dedication he really is.

If you wanted Hercules you should have written him in on the ballot.

If Obama had done nothing in his first nine months besides scrapping that foolish, costly and dangerous missile defense system encircling Russia it would have been sufficient.

Can we ever stop using the weak defense that Obama’s not as bad as Bush? It may be true, but not very useful at this point. Jack drives me nuts every time he uses this to justify Obama.

Positives: The world does seem to view us more positively and that’s significant. He, at least, has a timetable for reducing our presence in Iraq. He says the right things about fiscal responsibility.

Negatives: There’s a boatload. Trillions in dept for the foreseeable future. Growing war in Afghanistan. We’re still in Iraq. Healthcare bill seems to have lost all it’s cost cutting elements (which was half the point of it), Wall street insiders are in charge of reforming our financial institutions.

Mitigating this a little is that Obama inherited many of these problems from Bush and the Congress. What’s sad is he’s accelerated the mess faster than even his predecessor was able to pull off.

Grade: All good intentions of the US will dissipate as we are dragged down by the weight of what we owe other countries. Reducing global warming, eliminating poverty, improving human rights will all be put on a back burner as the impact of our debt is felt. Even with style points, I gotta give him an F.

High expectations breed disappointments and that is how many people feel today about Obama’s little accomplishments. Shall we blame the hope-inducer or the people that were induced into the business of hope?

Bush used to say “America, be patient with me…am upto something good, trust me” without adding anything else and people were reasonable enough to believe it. May be that is what Obama needs to do now.

I think the Progressive expectations were too high. They expect too much too soon. President Obama inherited an unbelievable mess from Bush, who took 8 years to create it. And remember, it was also Bush who did the bank bailout with no controls–not Obama. The President also pledged to try for bi-partisanship, which he has done, but the Republicans–who gave Bush a blank check for 8 years can only say NO. If they have such great ideas, why did they let us get in this mess? And they completely shut out the Democrats for 8 years and have the incredible nerve to now demand that they be heard and taken seriously! They have offered nothing but a hatred of our duly elected President. Obama has to give up on reaching out to them and get on with a positive program and implement the ideas he campaigned on. He still has time. I would like to hear what Ariana would do about the economy. Easy to criticize with no suggestions or ideas.

The last time I checked, CONGRESS writes the laws. Give this President a break. The reason Gitmo is still open is because the minute he talked about closing it, the right wing in this country started howling about where we would put the people that are held there.

He’s not clearing brush…he’s working hard and has a lot on his plate. Stop this negativism.

Barack Obama’s patience and pragmatism, lauded by the left and derided by the right (as inaction), are characteristics we have not seen in the White House for far too long. I support the President and his ambitious plans for our great country, and I wish that we could all just stop judging this man and his policies prematurely.

Who can realistically levy all this blame on Obama when the executive branch is only one third of the government? He can’t impose change by his sheer force of will. He’s a president for change, but he’s mired in a stagnant, sluggish government.

I am so tired of the media, and yes you Tom, continually having guests and playing quips from right wing goof balls and stating this as fact and therefore President Obama is a failure. As another poster stated President Obama is not a dictator. He is working in a two party system with the opposition party having stated time and time again there goal is make sure the President fails. In spite of that goal, and shows like On Point constantly implying failure President Obama has advanced on many front, his approval rating remains very favorable by any standard looking at a 10 month old presidency.

“People who want and expect instant effects are not only naive but ignorant and maybe dangerous. “

So what you’re saying is that “Hope and Change” is nothing more than hooey.

“And remember, it was also Bush who did the bank bailout with no controls–not Obama.”

So, the fact that the economy is improving can be attributed to Bush and his policies which Obama continued, correct?

As for Obama’s promise regarding lobbyists, here’s the latest disappointment from him: http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/nobel-peace-prize-fail-obama-nominates-lobbyists-spread-gmo-crops

Thank you Arianna for your truthful insights. It’s sad that you are one of a few asking the hard questions around economic policy and bravo for pointing out the flaws with the current Treasury structure AND noting Elizabeth Warren….Please keep your commentary and thoughts coming. They’re appreciate and needed.

When events prove this show wrong will these same folks come back on and take back their current loopy comments?

With the exception of Jack, your guests have locked in points of view and only talk about Obama (or anything else) in terms of how the discussion promotes their brands as pundits. They strike me as extremely unreliable narrators and their predictable bias, hype and spin take away from what could have been an interesting discussion with better guest booking by OnPoint.

Cheers

“Who can realistically levy all this blame on Obama when the executive branch is only one third of the government? He can’t impose change by his sheer force of will. He’s a president for change, but he’s mired in a stagnant, sluggish government.”

Yes, a stagnant, sluggish government where the Republican minority in the Congress doesn’t matter anymore, since the Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate and an overwhelming majority in the House. With control of Congress and the WH, the Democrats are still unable to make any progressive inroads.

What you’re saying is that the Democrats are their own enemy.

Give me break! I agree that the Executive branch is only one third of government, he can’t go it alone. Why isn’t Obama given any credit for saving our economy from the next Great Depression? Joblessness is a part a recovery from any Recession, I think Americans need to look back at Recessions over the last 50 years. And oh by the way the Dow has almost fully recovered from last year and the joblessness rate is steady.

Arianna Huffington hit it on the nail, special interest rule Washington.

It seems most of the above comments have covered my critique of Obama’s tenure so far. I would also add I think he tried too do way to much. The health care debacle is such a mess and again Arianna is 100% right what will happen after it is passed. Everyone will pat each other on the back and nothing will change, in fact I suspect it will get worse.

Summers has to go as does Geithner. Now.
I’m not impressed with Rahm Emanuel so maybe he should be on the “to boot list”.

Just look at how quickly the ‘ Patriot ‘ act got passed!

I am not being fooled, Bush, Obama and the vast majority of them are in the pockets of their Corporate Masters. Except for two, I will Never look to democrats and republicans to run this country! I learned my lesson. Yes I blame Obama, If Bush could do so much Evil in so short a time, Obama could do at least a little bit of good by now. He wont because he is one of THEM.

Millard…your pretzle logic leaves me blank. I have no idea what you’re implying…that ‘Hope and Change’ are somehow unconnected to patience to let the effects of the President’s policies manifest?
What are you trying to say?

Please remember that Obama campaigned on policy positions, but from the get go promised to work across the isle in an effort to achieve bipartisanship. Of course, this was not a realistic approach because of the intransigence of the right
My perspective? The American economy enriched, supported and lifted a powerful middle class during the post WWII period when government was held in high esteem by all but the most radical on the right. That same right has brought deep dishonor on the American government and it will take a long time to re-educate the people.
The time for Democratic/progressive/liberal partisanship has come. The time for action has come. There are problems to be solved only by government and the time has come to solve them.

“The last time I checked, CONGRESS writes the laws. Give this President a break. The reason Gitmo is still open is because the minute he talked about closing it, the right wing in this country started howling about where we would put the people that are held there.“

And why is that not a valid question or concern?

“He’s not clearing brush…he’s working hard and has a lot on his plate. Stop this negativism.”

As Jon Stewart said, “It’s frakking chow time, brother.”

Our problem is structural…..we cannot pass this type of legislation with a bicameral legislature…..It is the senate that is the obstructionist body……Remember, we are modelled after the British Parliament with a House of Lords and House of Commons. But they neutered their House of Lords( our Senate ) in the early part of the 20th century. The House would be ready to pass health care, climate change , etc……Unfortunately, the Senate blocks everything……the Western states with very little population, still have two senators per state…….They do not care a whit for the urban agenda. We need to emasculate the Senate as they did to the Lords. Ed

The Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, Extreme Rendition/Secret Prisons/Torture, John Warner Defense Authorization Act, domestic Warrant-less Wire-tapping and searches, etc., etc.—not to mention his failure to hold Bush/Cheney accountable for their administration’s unconstitutional assaults upon liberty by these policies. Obama has not only failed to repeal these threats to liberty, but he has expanded some of their powers since he has taken office.

Bring back the Glass/Steagall act.

“I am so tired of the media, and yes you Tom, continually having guests and playing quips from right wing goof balls and stating this as fact and therefore President Obama is a failure.”

Denis Johanson is absolutely on target. NPR really has to address the issue that it’s becoming part of the problem, not the solution. WBUR’s “On Point” (which I have to get on sat radio as streaming isn’t working well) isn’t really doing the job it once did. I wish the producers of On Point take a fresh look at themselves, and start again — this time with fewer crummy imitations of “fair and balanced” and more intellectual rigor!

While this is redundant, THANK YOU Arianna – that you’ve brought up the cram down law that the banks lobbied against and won and explained the economic situation with the clarity you have is refreshing. I totally appreciate your comment “we have socialized the losses and privatized the gains” and couldn’t agree more. THANK you for being outraged.

Obama is not the problem. Real, fundamental change takes time. He said that. All these years of runaway capitalism and now we want him to come in and change everything in minutes. Our fast-food culture mentality is amazing.

“I have no idea what you’re implying…that ‘Hope and Change’ are somehow unconnected to patience to let the effects of the President’s policies manifest?
What are you trying to say?”

The time to implement one’s agenda is right at the start of one’s term, when the President is riding high and the opposition is still trying to recover from its defeat. The fact that Obama hasn’t capitalized on that is disappointing indeed – for those who believed in his “Hope and Change” and still believe – contrary to facts – that there’s a huge and meaningful difference between the two corporate parties.

Then again, for the faithfuls, he can do no wrong, just as for the Republican faithfuls, Bush did no wrong. Two sides of the same coin.

Millard, it’s not that he can do no wrong….but do you really believe that you would see instant effects given the massive changes he’s trying to implement? And the FACT that he staved off a total economic collapse, is that not worthy of your acknowledgment? That climate change bills are moving thru the cogs….is that not worthy of a few brownie points? That health care is facing the real possibility of getting support….maybe a nod or so?
Give me a total break!

,…not to mention his constant integrity displayed by NOT attacking his protractors…by constantly keeping a broader view to unite the members of this deeply divided government and his our citizenry….man, if you don’t see any of that….get some high-powered glasses and do some serious introspection.

Now see, democrats are said to have a filibuster proof majority. Yet, look at the current state of affairs. I saw no such problem getting the “patriot” act passed!

The reason is simple, whom do the Representatives in Congress ACTUALLY Represent? Since when is 60 not enough?

60 is not enough when some of those 60 actually are watching out for the interests of someone other then, those doing the counting, are looking at. Ah those Hidden Constituents!!! The same entities who ‘ Help ‘ write the Law! ! ! !

Obama is not the problem. Real, fundamental change takes time. He said that. All these years of runaway capitalism and now we want him to come in and change everything in minutes. Our fast-food culture mentality is amazing.

Obama is part of the problem, he hired Summers and Geithner who are nothing more than lackeys for the banks and wall street.

We now have 4 huge banks, were is the cry for breaking these monsters up? Change does not take time, in 1933 the Glass/Steagall act which change how banking was done in this country. For 60 years things went pretty well, until the act was overturned by Robert Rubin, Summers and guess who else was working in this group, Tim Geithner. Change can happen as fast as congress and the President want it to. Witness the Patriot Act.
Don’t give this nonsense about Obama needing more time. It’s the corrupt system and the fact that this country is now an oligarchy.

“That health care is facing the real possibility of getting support”

What healthcare bill? The one written by special interests? In spite of Democrats controlling both houses of the Congress and the WH? You, delusional, you.

Anything less than universal single-payer (which Obama was in favor of while campaigning, before killing it) is not good enough.

For the New Hour, Revolution.

To prevent the possibility of Revolution, which would be insanely horrendous, what is needed is a reinvigoration of, and new role models and public speakers about, Pragmatism and Rational thought about our shared Reality. We have suffered greatly from the media driven ultra-partisan, left – right divide, that makes idealogical bullet points more important than understanding facts and how to make progress, as well as all the religious fundamentalist influence that has undermined rational thought and a scientific, realistic world view.

If we continue to ignore reality, and practical progress, then yes, perhaps we will suffer the hell of revolution… a Revolution based on nonsense, instead of progressive principles.

Putney, then why don’t you insist on that Glass/Steagall Act be brought back?
Go to your congresspeople and senators and make it happen! Educate the public about its effectiveness and create whatever wave of support you need to implement it. This is a democracy afterall. Take responsibility for your power as an individual.

“…not to mention his constant integrity displayed by NOT attacking his protractors…by constantly keeping a broader view to unite the members of this deeply divided government and his our citizenry….man, if you don’t see any of that….”

Elected officials are paid to do their job, not to play nice and sing “Why can’t we all get along?”. They are public servants – not our lords and masters. I’d rather take a prickly President who gets the job done, rather than one who “doesn’t attack his protractors” but leaves the progressive agenda by the wayside.

Ok Willard FiIlmore,…what have you done to get your universal single payer done to get supported and passed?
It’s so easy to sit here and glibly pass judgement. How are you putting your money where you mouth is dear??
How are you walking your very big talk?

Elected officials are paid to do their job, not to play nice and sing “Why can’t we all get along?”. They are public servants – not our lords and masters. I’d rather take a prickly President who gets the job done, rather than one who “doesn’t attack his protractors” but leaves the progressive agenda by the wayside.

Have you ever considered that someone who does not attack their protractors have a greater view for the country beyond the sharp dualism of liberal or conservative?
Maybe we have the great good fortune to have a man in charge who actually has a more universal view of humanity than the extreme divides that our political/spiritual/intellectual/emotional preferences tend to highlight.
In my mind that is the most progressive view possible.

pm, I voted for a candidate who was unequivocally for single-payer healthcare, as well as send emails to my representatives regarding the issue. That’s my circle of influence, and that’s where I act.

“Have you ever considered that someone who does not attack their protractors have a greater view for the country beyond the sharp dualism of liberal or conservative?”

So what? How does that affect law-making and the agenda on which Obama got elected, along with the Democrats winning overwhelming majorities in the House and the Senate? Nice-sounding words that make Obama to be a messiah who will unite the masses and rivers of love will flow, are just that – words and projections, not reality.

I thought Obama was a different kind of politician. One that would take this country back to a proud place. What he has done in his 9 months, the promises he has broken, the direct contradictions he has made all lead me to believe that he is as corrupt as the rest. Completely beholden to special interests at the peril of the people. He has abandoned those who were so galvanized by this rhetoric. But that’s all it was, empty rhetoric designed to get him power and feed his ego.
I am so disappointed in him and in myself for believing in him. We need a new path and new leaders.

Byron York thinks there is no urgency when it comes to healthcare reform? Really??

The most recent study of our current system concludes that roughly 45,000 people die each year because they don’t have access to adequate healthcare. If 45,000 deaths doesn’t create a sense of urgency for Mr. York, then how many deaths would it take … 50,000, 100,000, 500,000? I think the honest answer is it would take just one death, if that person was close to Mr. York.

Regarding the nature of “crisis” – The economic meltdown was a sudden, overwhelming event. But the underpinnings that led to it had been operating for years. The fact that the cost of health care now consumes such a high proportion of average people’s income has also been years in the making – but there has been no sudden, OVERWHELMING event to label it as a crisis.
The selfish, partisan, lobby-funded nature of Congress will pass bills for a SUDDEN crisis because it’s so visible. They want to make it invisible – in the short term. They’ve thrown money at it, but has the underlying greed of corporations that control money changed? Did Congress really address the underlying causes?
But it’s easy to ignore a slow-growing,incremental decay that affects a large percentage of citizens who do NOT have enormous financial clout. Such a situation is diffuse, not a focal point, and it’s easy to ignore it and treat it as INvisible.
It has taken years for the gap between the lowest-paid people in the US and the richest to grow to the enormous (and to me, undemocratic)size that it is now.
Frankly, I think that the companies and executives who did everything they could to wring profit out of “air” (scheme after scheme with no basis in reality, no foundation)– should be charged with treason — they’ve endangered the well-being not only of the U.S., but of countries all over the world. They have caused hundreds of thousands of people to lose their homes; cities and states have lost their ability to fund schools, street repair, social services for the most vulnerable, programs for lifting people out of poverty. How is it possible that losing BILLIONS of dollars of other people’s money is not embezzlement???
To finish my “rant”: The narrow, self-serving, short-sighted, partisan, infantile, name-calling, money-controlled nature of Congress, superficial in a desire to govern for the good of the WHOLE country — just disgusts me. I think that members of Congress should be required to read David McCullough’s biography of John Adams and then fill in a questionnaire asking to what extent their principles, their care for our country, measure up against his.
And thank you, thank you, thank you, NPR and Tom Ashbrook for the astounding timeliness and depth of the discussions on On Point.

And this is the kind of bully behavior that the two major parties indulge in. Nice. So much for freedom and democracy.

Third Parties rise up at NYC Mayor debate: Rev. Billy heckles; report says Villar supporters ejected October 14th, 2009

Billy Talen, an activist and performance artist who uses the name “Reverend Billy” is running for Mayor of New York City on the Green Party line. Reverend Billy and other third party candidates were excluded from the October 13th Mayoral debate. Reverend Billy attended, heckled, and was escorted out of the venue. A commenter at the NY Times site says that two supporters of the Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Frances Villar were also thrown out. Reverend Billy received extensive press coverage, including: The NY Times; The Daily News; Gotham Schools and Ballot Access News.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/10/third-parties-rise-up-at-nyc-mayor-debate-rev-billy-heckles-report-says-villar-supporters-ejected/

…Sorry about not adhering to the request to be brief!…

Let me 1st say that i am NOT as smart as the rest of you.. or the ppl on the air.. but i have to say a few things..

1. Am i the only person surprised that we as a country as The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA do not support OUR country and OUR president?? It seems like everybody is so smart.. but what about simple support? Encouragemnt?

like i said.. im not as smart as all the rest here..i dont know all the conspiracy theories.. but i DO think that our president wants what is BEST for his country.. and im fine with supporting him until he proves me wrong…

when i applied to the government for my passport.. it took me almost 3 months to get it back…(with expidite service!) and for our country to start bashing our president becase he has not changed the world in 9 months…seem well…dissappointing.. i would think NOW is the time he would need our support..now is the time would ALL do what each could do to help our country succeed… thats how they did it in FDR’s days..(yes i did learn that!! lol)

we can bearly make a newborn child in 9 months (and boy does that time fly by!!) and we expect a NEW Health care plan, The end of a war(s), Economy fixed, Fix global warming, Close Gitmo bay… oh yea.. all the other day to day president “stuff” we have NO knowlege of…

.. but i guess it makes good SNL skits…

awesome roundtable… thanks!

Obama is not providing what the country needs the most – leadership. He’s trying to stand back and disown problems like healthcare to avoid political liability. That things are not happening fast enough is not the issue. The issue is Obama is not even trying on many fronts. On the other hand, he has had enough time to sell out to banks and health insurers.

So what? How does that affect law-making and the agenda on which Obama got elected, along with the Democrats winning overwhelming majorities in the House and the Senate? Nice-sounding words that make Obama to be a messiah who will unite the masses and rivers of love will flow, are just that – words and projections, not reality.

Willard Fillmore East or West….
Uniting a divisive group of people need not take on the guise of some religious redeemer. Could you consider that someone who places more value on unity rather division would be someone valuable for the country and that their actions/policies would reflect that? Maybe the extremists on both ends of the spectrum cannot see truly, much less appreciate someone that plays to the far greater middle.
With much peace and LOVE and no sarcasm!

We are all paying for Obama’s inexperience. He gives good speeches but there’s no substance under his media-ready surface. He lacks leadership and those who would follow are fleeing. He’s lost my confidence completely and I fear for our nation. I think we got so excited about showing the world we could elect a non-white male, we forgot to make sure he wasn’t an empty suit.

I am not impressed with the intellectual rigor provided by the Obama sheep on the On Point panels. It must be possible to get guests better than these, especially Jack. His comments are totally predictable and fact-free. I’m not sure why he has this platform.

We need a show on the rising deficit and debt facing this nation. We are on the verge of bankruptcy as a country. Please Tom, let’s focus on this issue. Yes, the math is complicated and big, but we cannot go on like this. The public needs to understand that our future is being mortgaged by trillion dollar deficits.

I really do not think it’s been long enough to be too critical just yet. I do wish the President would raise his voice like he did during the campaign. He needs to make more noise. He also needs to take a serious look at bailouts. If these companies aren’t successful running their businesses why do we have to pay for it? If it were my business no one would bail me out?

break down of lobbying in the U.S. government

http://www.bethesda-list.com/datacards/ColumbiaBooksLobbyists-listrental.htm#

Gender:
Female 7,118
Male 14,067

Registered Lobbyist (LDA)
12,953

Registered Foreign Lobbyist (FARA)
1,636

Role
Consultant Lobbyist 7,925
Employee 23,349
In-house Lobbyist 7,269
Pac Contact 567

Organization Type
Client 20,356
Firm 9,894
Government 426
Pac 693
Section 527 Entity 93
Think Tank 408

Business Description
Legislative Interest Quantity
ACCOUNTING 154
ADVERTISING 114
AEROSPACE 258
AGRICULTURE 1,222
ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE 152
ANIMALS 197
APPAREL/CLOTHING INDUSTRY/TEXTILES 104
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT 222
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY 267
AVIATION/AIRCRAFT/AIRLINES 703
BANKING 866
BANKRUPTCY 241
BEVERAGE INDUSTRY 96
BUDGET/APPROPRIATIONS 4,400
CHEMICALS/CHEMICAL INDUSTRY 229
CIVIL RIGHTS/CIVIL LIBERTIES 424
CLEAN AIR & WATER (QUALITY) 951
COMMODITIES (BIG TICKET) 80
COMMUNICATIONS/BROADCASTING/RADIO/TV 772
COMPUTER INDUSTRY 398
CONSTITUTION 154
CONSUMER ISSUES/SAFETY/PROTECTION 751
COPYRIGHT/PATENT/TRADEMARK 864
DEFENSE 2,036
DISASTER PLANNING/EMERGENCIES 416
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 63
ECONOMICS/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 703
EDUCATION 1,776
ENERGY/NUCLEAR 2,378
ENVIRONMENTAL/SUPERFUND 2,025
FAMILY ISSUES/ABORTION/ADOPTION 228
FIN. INSTIT./INVESTMENTS/SECURITIES 1,090
FIREARMS/GUNS/AMMUNITION 82
FOOD INDUSTRY 451
FOREIGN RELATIONS 799
FUEL/GAS/OIL 505
GAMING/GAMBLING/CASINO 239
GOVERNMENT ISSUES 1,467
HEALTH ISSUES 3,572
HOMELAND SECURITY 1,419
HOUSING 803
IMMIGRATION 791
INDIAN/NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS 406
INSURANCE 727
INTELLIGENCE AND SURVEILLANCE 67
LABOR ISSUES/ANTITRUST/WORKPLACE 1,211
LAW ENFORCE/CRIME/CRIMINAL JUSTICE 702
MANUFACTURING 451
MARINE/MARITIME/BOATING/FISHERIES 523
MEDIA (INFORMATION/PUBLISHING) 149
MEDICAL/DISEASE RESEARCH/CLINICAL 879
MEDICARE/MEDICAID 1,773
NATURAL RESOURCES 860
PHARMACY 552
POSTAL 145
RAILROADS 252
REAL ESTATE/LAND USE/CONSERVATION 492
RELIGION 60
RETIREMENT 537
ROADS/HIGHWAY 321
SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY 1,040
SMALL BUSINESS 465
SPORTS/ATHLETICS 66
TAXATION/INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 3,090
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 1,112
TOBACCO 225
TORTS 329
TRADE (FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC) 1,890
TRANSPORTATION 1,885
TRAVEL/TOURISM 141
TRUCKING/SHIPPING 165
UNEMPLOYMENT 56
URBAN DEVELOPMENT/MUNICIPALITIES 326
UTILITIES 481
VETERANS 420
WASTE (HAZARDOUS/SOLID/NUCLEAR) 272
WELFARE 186

I suggest that one read “The Miracle of Dialogue” by Ruell Howe, in order to understand what President Obama is trying to do both nationally and internationally. The world appreciates his effort, but I only wonder at the ability of Obama’s critics to understand.
Many mistakenly consider dialogue to be a feminine behavior, and view the Cheney-Bush philosophy as the “cowboy” approach, popularized by that roughneck R.Reagan. In this approach, threaten first, then shoot, and then bury the mistakes; then take all the credit for solving the problem.
Dialogue considers the other as a possible friend, excommunication assigns him to Hell.

What do they mean that there is no sense of urgency when it comes to health care reform? People are filing bankruptcy in record numbers mostly due to medical costs. People are harrassed by debt collectors and garnishements take a toll on everything in the household when the income drops. We need a break. Stop talking and do something! Use that energy on our behalf if you want to make a difference. Analyze this and verify that. It needs to stop. People are loosing everything. Retirments are being spent on medical care. Where is our bail out? We need a special vote on this..let us decide our fate! Get a panel of regular people in there and let us tell them what we want.

Where is our bail out? We need a special vote on this..let us decide our fate! Get a panel of regular people in there and let us tell them what we want.

“Regular” as opposed to what??

The state of our country is not an US vs. THEM debate.
We’re all in this big boat babe….better get used to it.

We’ve got a naive president and treasury secretary and we’re paying the price for it. Look at this financial/banking crisis, phone logs indicate Geithner is taking his orders from the CEOs of Morgan and Goldman. Ok, so maybe not taking orders, but he’s getting all of his info from these guys and basing policy on those conversations. That’s fixed the books for them. He has totally abdicated all responsibility because he is in completely over his head. We need some gray hairs, some wise men and women who help these boys. Otherwise we’re going to get the economy as brought to you by Goldman and Morgan.

Ok.. Its me again.. The not so smart guy… and I have to jump on to this comment made by anthony:

“We are all paying for Obama’s inexperience… He lacks leadership….He’s lost my confidence completely and I fear for our nation. I think we got so excited about showing the world we could elect a non-white male.”

1st of all there is NO book titled: “How to assume the President of the United States of America while fighting 2 wars, During a Financial Crisis , Rising Unemployment, A needed Health Care Reform”

Well when i went to the polls.. i DID NOT CARE what the world was thinking!! That was the LAST thing on my mind.. if it was even on my mind at all!! (sorry for you if you base your beliefs on what other ppl think.. you will always be blowing in the direction of the wind..) i placed my vote based on what direction I wanted my country to go in based on how each candidate presented his/her stance

example: 1. (a) Definitely more war or (b) the opportunity to start bringing our brave soldiers home and we solve conflicts as ppl who have to all play in the same sandbox together..

2. BECAUSE of the financial crisis that we are i now.. which agenda will (in theory) get us back on track.. its a HUGE problem.. so we have to expect a HUGE solution…it may NOT be what we want..but it HAS to be expected.. doesn’t it??

Have you ever thought about NOT ONE person in this country.. or probably on this PLANET knows FOR SURE the solution to OUR financial crisis?? .. but i could be wrong.. maybe one of you do….

But…. i do believe ..and you call me stupid for this.. thats fine.. im the FIRST to admit that im not smart as everybody on here.. but i do belive that the US of A has eleceted people that DO care about the future of this nation..and these ppl are going to (i pray) do what they can to fix these problems.. if they dont.. then we elect someone new that will…from the president on down…but can we give em a lil longer than 9 months??

and bye the way.. do you have ANY idea how differnt YOUR LIFE WOULD BE TODAY (14-Oct-2009) if there were NO bank bail out and our government allowed the banks to suffer the consequences of THIER own greed???? if you dont.. take an accounting class!! (level 1 is fine..)

pm I have done that and more. I wrote to the President to many times to count.

We the people are not in control. pm I don’t know what you expect people to do here. I’m one person, my state senator, Kerry, does not respond to to e-mails or phone calls.

These people, the congress do not care what you or I think.

Putney….I disagree wholeheartedly that ‘those people’ don’t care what you and I think. I also thoroughly disagree with the implication that our efforts do not count.
I’ve had the excellent opportunity (as we all have if we so choose) to simply sign (as an example) on-line petitions that are sent to our representatives by many organizations that coordinate such efforts. The ones I usually sign are concerning ecological protections. I cannot tell you the numerous times these have been successful in bringing the precise results we wanted.
Maybe your phone call or email isn’t answered directly. But I for one am utterly confident that our representatives indeed do listen to what we say, especially collectively. It is because of such examples and direct experience that I still have great confidence in how our intentions, motivations and efforts can result in what we want.

“The state of our country is not an US vs. THEM debate.
We’re all in this big boat babe….better get used to it.”
Posted by pm

Wrong! The state of our country is absolutely an US vs. THEM debate. WE may all be in the “big boat,” but THEY are directing the winds. WE as a people need to learn to trim our sails and tack, and become independent from the control of THEM.

During the program someone inferred that Barrack Obama is not spending enough time at work. Considering that Bush and Reagan spent outrageous amounts of time at their respective ranches, I don’t see any basis for that criticism.

I think that Mr. Obama has been effective so far. However he is only a short time in this office. I do share the view of Meg LeSchack that in handlling the financial crisis he should have (and I suppose still can) ordered the Justice Dept to investigate and prosecute any responsible parties. Simply put, the police would be called for any other bank robbery.

Since Obama became president, more than 2 million Americans have lost their jobs, unemployment has risen to 10%, the value of the dollar is plunging, the federal deficit is soaring to record levels, home foreclosures are up, and the Taliban and Al-qaida are resurgent. If that isn’t a failed Obama presidency, then the term failure needs to be removed from the English languge. Not only is the Obama presidency a failed presidency, until he can present his original birth certificate, the Obama presidency is an illegitimate presidency as well.

Todd, who is the big bad THEY in your mind?
I suggest you look into your big bad mirror!

I kinda figured Louise would be a “birther” type…that doesn’t really explain much more than already has been explained, though…

I don’t know…that “big boat” as a figure of speech kinda metaphor sorta worked; but, when it became more elaborate, it got kinda convoluted…what with confusion over who’s controlling the wind and sailing in the face of the wind, the crew not needing the wind, etc…sounds like a lot of wind!!

I guess I’ve learned something: the “power elite” control the weather!!

…But I for one am utterly confident that our representatives indeed do listen to what we say,…

PM, contact me, i think i have a bridge for sale.

It astounds me how cynical so many of us are….must be all those outside the beltway!

Now, we have the bridge being inserted into the metaphor, which makes it even more confusing. Mutiny on sailboats because others are controlling the wind; people buying and selling bridges to illustrate their points of views…I wonder…do the boats sail under the bridges?

Next thing ya know, we’ll be invited to listen to Richard Gage speak about bridges and sailboats collapsing…

I can’t believe people are sniping about Obama not making progress fast enough. In the campaign he stated that he was going to try to work across the aisle. I think he is learning that the Repbulican Party is less connected with mainstream America than he thought and that a victory for them is failure for him. His strategy on this topic will have to change.

Its a HUGE topic, but the REAL solution to this is to do away with the seniority system in congress. This system motivates legislators to run over and over again so that when they have been there long enough they get a committee chairmanship. The longer you are there, the more powerful you are. This makes all of them very susceptible to lobbyist money and influence. Re-election is the ultimate goal, not doing the will of the people. The motivations are skewed.

The Dow Jones has hit 10,000 today, the first time in 12 months. The stock market is no longer in the panic mode, which is an achievement.

The Dow hitting 10K … that should make Obama’s masters feel better, and I mean that in the puppet sense. He is a tool of the military-industrial complex if there ever was one.

pm I have signed lord knows how many online petitions and other letters to congress. I don’t see that much change going on. You have a lot faith in the system which is refreshing in some ways. But just look at the health care debacle. It’s a mess and what will come out of it will be a bill that favors the insurance industry and big pharma, which has already cut a deal behind closed doors with Obama. As far as I’m concerned the power brokers in Washington for the most part are more interested in staying in power, which means raising money, than in caring if I have good health care.

They don’t care, they really don’t give a sh!&.

Tom, you and your guests always refer to FDR. But you never refer to Ronald Regan. He had an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent. He cut taxes and the economy boomed. You have had many shows that have discussed the economy and not once during any of them did you mention Ronald Reagan. That is unbelievable. You cannot just delete him from history.

How upset are we really that Obama is taking his time making decisions about our economy, our army, and our health? We had a president for 8 years who thoughtlessly made decisions quickly, I’m all for this one considering his options carefully and think its absurd to condemn him.

“Tom, you and your guests always refer to FDR. But you never refer to Ronald Regan. He had an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent. He cut taxes and the economy boomed.”

The 1980s did not end well economically speaking. If cutting taxes is all that Reagan has to show to posterity as far as his handling of the economy, I would not mention his name too often.

here’s the decisive scorecard after the first ten months in office:

Bush: allowed us to be attacked and directed us into wars costing trillions of dollars and probably culminating in WW3.

Obama: wins the nobel peace prize (by not being bush)

Dennis Kuncinich was THE progressive candidate.

Roger, very good…minus of course, the WW3 bit. You can keep the other points, but for that you can get a good dose of yoga and meditation to make your mind a little more positive.

The issue that was just beneath the surface of this show was that progressives elected a slightly left-of-center president, and now they want him to be a progressive.
Arianna suggested at one point that Americans want to get out of Afghanistan, but Obama campaigned on a promise to bring the focus back to that war.
She’s very good at sounding certain, but her arguments fall apart under scrutiny.
She also suggested that Goldman Sachs would have a similar showing as JP Morgan Chase: http://trunc.it/2ly4a
She’d do a lot more for her side of the spectrum if she was more careful with her assertions.

I was astonished that the whole program about the Obama scorecard did not mention Ssonia Sotomayor – surely a Latina Supreme Court Justice counts for something?
Obama has tried to go through the system for the big things that Tom and his guests talked about, but nobody except the caller from West DesMoines mentioned the massive amount of change coming through the administration via EPA (end of mountaintop mining! yay!) Justice, FDA, and all the other branches that reach into our lives every day.
I understand that Arianna wants to keep Obama’s feet to the fire, but Tom should have raised those substantial advances to keep her on her toes, too.

Deep down, I honestly believe that Barack Obama has nothing but contempt for this country, capitalism, individual liberty, and free speech.

Louise, your deeply negative projection of Obama reflects just that.
You state that you ‘believe’ Barak Obama has ‘nothing but contempt for this country..’.. Gratefully you took responsibility and acknowledged that it’s “belief”.
Belief and reality are often at odds. It might behoove you to consider that your beliefs may not reflect the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
And certainly it might benefit you to realize the reality that more than half of the voting American public feel/believe very much to the contrary (not to mention a huge swath of the rest of the world).

This comment is not intended for public posting.
This was a very interesting show and kudos for doing it. There is another angle that I would like to see covered in a subsequent episode and that is the public reaction to Obama’s policies. Is it over-reported in the media or is it representative of the attitude of the population. It seems that the polls are represent the wishes of the pollsters and therefore leave me wondering what to believe. While there was certainly a strong reaction to many of Bush’s policies, I don’t remember people taking to the streets with pictures portraying him as Hitler. Any coverage of this type would be appreciated. Thanks

“To you Obama haters — I agree that Obama’s top financial people seem to be part of the same old group and the same old syndrome of helping the rich get richer. But what I don’t understand is all the rhetoric about it from the Obama haters, who are overwhelmingly politically conservative.

You folks should be happy! After 30 years of conservative voodoo economics, during which the rich got richer faster and more extremely than at any other time in history,conservatives have gotten all they’ve asked for:

* unions are weaker than ever

* banks are bigger than ever

* taxes on the wealthiest are lower than ever

* the defense budget is bloated and we’ve wasted well over a trillion dollars on 2 un-necessary wars

* we’ve thrown billions at the banks to keep them from failing and gotten nothing back except more bonuses for the fat cats

So how come you guys are only now complaining about it??!! And what do you expect Obama to do, when he is blocked at every turn by rhetoric from people like you who keep telling us how wonderful the private sector is, how inept the government is, how restrictions on the rapacious practices of big business are some kind of creeping socialism.

Every attempt to re-regulate our economy has been blocked by Congress people in the pockets of big lobbyists aided and abetted by right-wing media pandering to the likes of you guys.

You sneer at “change we can believe in”? Well, the USA has to want to change. If you want a country in which ordinary, working people can prosper, then stop supporting regressive ideas!!”

http://business.newsvine.com/_news/2009/10/17/3392161-bailout-helps-fuel-new-era-of-wall-street-wealth#comments

Please give president obama a bit more time for his undertakings which are not only major but delicate ventures indeed to affect our nation and beyond. the president has not even been in office for a year but already making good on his promise for a health care overhaul to the betterment of all americans and which change is more likely soon to be realized. the president’s economic stimulus plan passed several months ago is, by many accounts, beginning to make some positive impact in light of the total collapse of our economy created by the sheer recklessness and ignorance of the previous administration. people certainly have the right to their criticisms but it clearly seems to me that too much is being expected of our new president too soon. with saturday night life, they blew it! they just rushed to misjudgment just too soon as well on mr. obama. Please give him time!

Please give president Obama a bit more time for his undertakings which are not only major but delicate ventures indeed to affect our nation and beyond.

The president has had enough time to show the kind of administration he wants, and it’s more akin to Clinton’s tenure. He has shown his mettle and set the tone. His economic team are the ones who helped create this mess. So far they have just been appeasing wall street and the banks. On health care, well that’s a joke with all the back room deals.

Granted he was handed huge problems left by the last administration, but I have yet to see enough of the change Obama promised.