Barack Obama just isn't up to the task of dealing, negotiating and besting the radical Right-wing element called the Tea Party that has hijacked the GOP...don't get me wrong, they are a hard bunch to control...I get that. Even Boehner can barely survive in the House and he's the GOP leader...but I've come to the sad conclusion that though Obama's heart is in the right place, he doesn't really have the skill or temperament for the brinkmanship and hard-ball tactics they are willing to use to accomplish by extortion what they could never accomplish through actual elections.. so as a result he gets his (and our) ass handed to him on every confrontation.
I am quite disheartened with the lack of skill (maybe even lack of balls) that Obama has exhibited since he got elected and especially as it has manifested itself this year.
He won the Democratic Party nomination in 2008 by being bolder, smarter and stronger than his opponent Hillary who thought she could coast to the nomination...he won the election mostly because he was a much better candidate than the constantly capitulating McCain who shamelessly pandered to every right wing group, contradicted his earlier reasonableness and basically looked like a complete incompetent fool when he took on Sarah Palin hoping to revive his flagging campaign(America is still paying for that desperate tactic)...
But since his election Obama has proven to be an inept strategist, a terrible negotiator and more concerned with what he thinks will endear him to the "middle" of the country instead of his base that he craps on us while getting crapped on by the Right.
He's become so openly concerned with his 2012 re-election it makes him transparent and easy prey to anyone who threatens to tarnish his standing with "Independent voters" (whom I doubt even exist in the numbers we see represented in polls, I think people claim to be independents but usually vote for one party much more than the other)...
Don't get me wrong, I still like Obama, I think he's good man but after this latest catastrophe on the debt-ceiling deal getting bamboozled by the Right-wing I have lost faith that he's up tot the task.
Getting Bin Laden was a good thing and he deserves credit, getting some kind of healthcare through Congress after 40 years of trying was also very very good and saving the country from the possible depression was a feat of great courage, skill and strategy...but as far as his performance on things that are still important to his base such as the safety net of the Great Society and hard-won protections provided by New Deal...this was the worst, most limp-wristed handling anyone could have imagined.
Some say he was surprised by how radical and hell bent on either getting their way or letting the country go over the edge the Tea Party was and that nobody was prepared for that...well I call Bull Shit!.
He should have been because most of us out here in his base knew this was coming (it wasn't hard...they told us it was coming!)...
He has given us a lot of faith in the politics of the American People and especially of the Democratic Party who threw off the shackles of racism and nominated, then elected the first Black President...but that's not really enough is it?
We expected him to fight! We expected him not to care more about getting re-elected than standing up for principle (which in my mind would have been his BEST chance of actually getting re-elected by showing some spine!).
But this one goes down real hard.
It won't be forgotten as a lesson, his credibility and strength are definitely in question after how poorly he handled this completely predictable situation.
Remember, it's not just Obama who got screwed here...it's millions of Americans, especially the most in need, who will lose the meager protections we fought years and spilled blood to attain...WE got screwed because HE can't negotiate (or fight!).
It sad but simple...he's just not ready to be in this kinda fight so we as the Progressive base needs to have a Champion who is.. and one who can win!!
It gives me no pleasure to say this...I campaigned, contributed and voted for Obama...I am a staunch advocate of his among my friends, family and neighbors...but after this one...I have to admit to myself finally that poor Barry O is outmatched, he just ain't got enough fight in him for this and we need someone who does!