Friday, November 05, 2010

How Obama's Administration is Stacking up....Exaggerated Expectations

President Barack Obama is close to the half-way mark of his presidential mandate, a good time for a brief look at health care, unemployment, war, the level of the oceans, the health of the planet, and America’s image. They all featured in a 2008 Obama speech whose rhetoric soared to stratospheric heights.

“If…we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I’m absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs for the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last best hope on earth.”

The date was June 3, 2008. Obama had just won the Democratic Party’s nomination as presidential candidate. He was also winning the adulation of the majority of the American people, who shrugged off mockery from curmudgeonly Republicans who pointed out that the last historical figure to affect ocean levels was Moses and he had divine help when he parted the Red Sea.

Obama took to the campaign trail again this month to help Democratic candidates for the mid-term elections on November 2 and he would need divine intervention to prevent his party from losing control of the House and possibly the Senate. The vote is in part a referendum on his first two years in office and the adoration has faded, not least because it would have been difficult for anyone to actually meet the high expectations he raised in dramatic speeches.

There is a certain symmetry between next month’s mid-terms and those four years ago, when Democrats took control of both houses of Congress (and consolidated it in 2008). The result stemmed from dissatisfaction with the economy, with the Republican Party and with President George W. Bush. Now there is dissatisfaction with the economy (much more troubled than in 2006) with Democrats, and with Obama.

And how does today’s reality match the exuberant pre-election promise of 2008? Better care for the sick, provided by the controversial health care reform bill Obama signed into law in March, is on the way but will not kick in fully until 2014. Good jobs for the jobless? The unemployment rate is stuck at around 10 percent. Slowing the rise of the oceans and healing the planet? The prospects for ambitious climate change legislation are bleak.

Ending a war? The number of American troops in Iraq has been cut from a peak of 176,000 to 50,000, whose role is to assist Iraq’s armed forces. As American forces pulled out of Iraq, the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan swelled to around 100,000. They are to begin withdrawing next summer but the U.S. military presence won’t end.

Securing the nation? Time will tell whether America is more attack-proof now than it was when Obama took over. Finally, restoring America’s image. This is the one lofty promise that comes closest to reality. As global brand manager-in-chief, Obama can claim credit for having softened the image of the Ugly American in large parts of the world. This is no mean feat – being disliked makes diplomacy more difficult and is bad for business. There are no polls on how many people around the world see the United States as “the last best hope on earth” but there are extensive surveys on the popularity, or lack of it, of America, Americans, and their president. The Pew Global Attitudes Project, which has monitored such sentiments since 2001, shows that the number of countries where a majority of citizens hold favourable views of the U.S. almost doubled from 2008, the last year of George W. Bush, to 2009, Obama’s first.

Bernard Debusmann is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are his own-

54 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:05:00 PM

    I think someone is here....let me go see. Hahaha

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  2. Anonymous10:10:00 PM

    The leader is only as strong as the people he's leading and Obama is leading a lot of fools.
    They don't know what side of the road to walk on.
    I never understoon anything Debusmann says , looks like sometime he talks out both sides of his mouth.

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  3. Debusman does make a few good points. I guess we should show both sides of the story, that's why I posted it. He's kind of middle of the road like most people.
    I left dad the second part of my note on SH.

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  4. Anonymous10:17:00 PM

    I started a big pot around 4:am this morning and have one on now, they love it, the white haired baby sent Mac after some shrimp, I am also making shrimp soup. I think it's the steam that do the trick.
    I am so glad my twins are better, the cough may linger on for a while .

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  5. I made a chicken stew. They love my stews. The twins and Nana cleaned that pot out and it was a big one. The boys asked for some more stew for breakfast, of all things.I had all kinds of breakfast food ready but that's what they wanted.

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  6. Anonymous10:24:00 PM

    I like to show both sides of the story, they can't say we take sides. I always have to read him a couple of times. Debusmann is an egg-head and sometimes it shows. I heard he's a nice guy.
    Dad got your note this morning and say he know he don'r snore, but he can fart real well and going to sit by Henry and fart on him a couple of times.{giggles]

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  7. Shrimp soup sounds delicious. I fancy that right now. Dad demands a lot of attention. How come he is at your house when there is a qualified nurse practically next door who loves taking care of him?
    Your hands are pretty full.

    I guess the kids brought it home from school. I am afraid you will have at least four cases of every virus that comes home. You poor woman.

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  8. Anonymous10:32:00 PM

    Shit I will be in my 60's before I get my first grand.

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  9. If you were up at four AM please don't feel you have to chat for too long. I understand fatigue.

    Are they all peacefully asleep right now?

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  10. Anonymous10:36:00 PM

    Dad said Brian is going to do good and he will be able to still be active. Dad says what Brian has been through , this is just a bump in the road no big hill to climb.

    Did dad tell you what the nurse did to him?

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  11. S was very scared. She is only eighteen/nineteen and she thought everything was rosy and so easy. She got a shock when she woke up in a puddle of blood and water.

    They keep preemies in hospital until they are five pounds here too.

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  12. Anonymous10:40:00 PM

    Dad called Sis and told her he was to weak to walk so she is here.
    There are two nurses next door..NAN is also a nurse before she went to work for the casino.
    Dad know Sis is going to be here if my babirs get sick , Sis don't think I know how to do shit when they are sick. [giggles]

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  13. Tell me what that nurse did to him.

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  14. On the subject of farts, Sammy's farts can clear a room. He is very proud of them. They also do a good job of clearing your sinuses.

    In a fart-off contest I would put all my money on Sam.

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  15. Anonymous10:44:00 PM

    Yes they are asleep.I don't think Gilly is , he's hid under the covers with his daddy...
    I got up put on the soup and crawl back in bed.
    I have some on now and when I log off I will cut the fire out.

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  16. Anonymous10:52:00 PM

    Dad said he wouldn't tell you that you may wanted to stay in there with him.
    Did I tell you NAN was a nurse before she started work at the casino?

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  17. Anonymous10:53:00 PM

    Has K/S picked out a baby name yet?

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  18. Anonymous10:55:00 PM

    It wouldn't surprise me if S didn't go back home to her mom.

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  19. Anonymous11:00:00 PM

    I meant it wouldn't surprise me if she went back home with her mom K.
    Really that's where she need to be.

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  20. Like I told dad before I never touch guns that don't belong to me.I talk the talk but I don't walk the walk....HA! Sis can have the honors.

    They are a lucky couple if that gun still fires after all it has been through and all it has been into.

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  21. Anonymous11:05:00 PM

    I think NAN nursed for about 9/10 years.I told her she had to help me now.

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  22. Anonymous11:13:00 PM

    I sent you an E-mail...

    you miss read my note about the nurse and Dad...Dad was at the hospital with the doctors nurse.
    dad would never get out his place with you ...he respects you too much.

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  23. I imagine Nan is very efficient. She has a good head on her shoulders. I enjoy talking to her.
    You and she are a good balance for each other. And you always have each other's backs.It's lovely to see a nice relationshop like that.
    Dad and Sis have good relatonship too. They understand each other.

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  24. I sure did misread your comment. I thought the nurse you were talking about was Sis.

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  25. Tell me, do you like El Divo. I have added a bunch of new songs to the music list. El Divo is at the bottom.The music thing still has a couple of glitches but I understand them now, I will fix it and make one for SH. I think it would need to be more current and funkier.

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  26. Anonymous11:23:00 PM

    NAN always want to boss me because she's older, we are more like sisters , we fuss but never have fought each other , I do feel more closer to her than I do Susan/Emily they seems more like aunties.

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  27. Another hurricane advancing on Haiti. If I lived on Haiti I would beg borrow or steal to get off that damned island.One disaster after another. Like New Orleans.

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  28. Anonymous11:32:00 PM

    I like El Divo, I couldn't remember the name and it's been in my head , it's beautiful, you can't miss me on good music.
    The funkier the better .

    INCOMING MAIL

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  29. Anonymous11:34:00 PM

    I went to ask blogger and asked them when was we going to get our edit pencils back and they said soon.
    It's a hassled to edit the post, I always lose some. I lose the hiccup girl post yesterday.

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  30. Anonymous11:38:00 PM

    If you asked the people in Haiti where would they wanr to live most would tell you right there.
    But like you I would try to get out.

    We have narrowed it down to 3 people.

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  31. Anonymous11:46:00 PM

    I watch the video and it's so sad, they are just like the people in N.O.
    NAN/Lois ran the meeting today, the weather was raimy and cold , NAN says about 10/15 bossier people showed up and they seemed to be quite impressed.

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  32. Anonymous11:48:00 PM

    The big meeting is Monday and I'm sure NAN said she will be sending you a draft and I'm sure Dad will leave you some notes about how bad he was.

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  33. i want the pencils back too. It is so awkward having to go back and forth to edit.

    I agree people who have never been anywhere else don't want to. They just want their homes back.

    That was a good turnout from Bossier for a first time. They will tell the others and maybe more will come next time. They were checking you out. Was my article of any use to them?

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  34. Anonymous11:54:00 PM

    Obama looks so tired, I feel sorry for him and the things he's trying to do.
    America is not ready for a black educated man, especially the south.

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  35. Nan didn't say she would leave me a note in drafts. But dad did say he would tell me what happened.And he said he would answer any questions. He said he knows my life is not my own right now. But if I still wanted to write a book about his life he would wait for me.

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  36. Anonymous12:02:00 AM

    Yes it was and NAN says she went and asked Anita to run some more copies so she could give them some to carry with them.
    The weather was cold and rainy and they was surprised to see our space. NAN had coffee,hot chocolate,hot tea and cookies , they asked questions and wanted to know if anyone could join and Nan told them as long as it about endangered species or global warming bring them on .

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  37. The popularity of the US in the world has doubled since Obama took office. He has worked so hard for so little praise and people are not listening when he tells them it takes time to fix things like world economies.To have patience.
    I agree he sometimes looks exhausted and he is looking older.

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  38. The twins like your theme song and mine too.

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  39. The video of the fake alien scared them.

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  40. Anonymous12:07:00 AM

    NAN is looking for her pictures and she thinks aunt Mae has put them up, NAN gorgot to tell you I quess, she told me this evening about her note to you .
    Dad said maybe next spring or so things would be better for you, he wasn't going anywhere and the only thing Gil was writing was a journal about his family.

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  41. Anonymous12:13:00 AM

    I bet they was so cute looking at the alien...See, I told you that you had good taste in music.
    I am so glad they like looking at our stuff.
    I showed mine the fake alien and the girls and Jonny was scared and Gilly tried to hit it.

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  42. Anonymous12:18:00 AM

    Gil is writing a book about my daddy's side of the family it will be some truth mixed with fiction to spice it up a bite, until he get to mama/daddy and the rest of us and he's writing the truth about him and I .

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  43. Anonymous12:21:00 AM

    Are you looking at Craig now...
    Cornell West has an IQ of 147 and he has his hair combed.

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  44. His mom got in touch with him. We don't know where the hell he has been but she got him on his cell phone and he said he would be at the party. I don't have to do anything or make anything.Steve is taking care of everything. K won't be there. She and the boyfriend ( still don't know his name) will take turns up at the hospital so S won't be alone at any time.

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  45. Better log off for the night honey. Those babies will be demanding tomorrow.

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  46. Anonymous12:26:00 AM

    I have faith in Obama and I will support him all the way. He's the best we have had since Clinton .
    It takes time to fix anything.

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  47. Anonymous12:32:00 AM

    I will leave you some notes over the weekend.
    Tell Brian I wish him a Happy Birthday and many more and I know all his wishes will come true.

    I will see you at twilight down by the pond .
    GOODNITE...HUGS & KISSES...Witchy.
    Kiss the Rock....

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  48. I didn't turn the TV on. I am listening to our music.

    I can't find too many current songs that I like. Everything I like is from the mid nineties back to the seventies. Off course jazz is timeless and I love the classics.

    I know West is smart but that is very very smart.

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  49. Anonymous12:34:00 AM

    PS;
    If it's alright with Brian go see him...Brian knows where your heart is ...Maybe A will come too.

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  50. Anonymous12:37:00 AM

    They say Obama has a high IQ...I think I will look it up.
    That don't mean he has any sense...you need more than book-learning...NITE

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  51. Goodnight Sweetie, nice talking to you and have a peaceful weekend. I rather doubt that. Some of those babies might get cranky.

    I will also leave you a note. That pond in the woods looks pretty good to me on hectic days. Bring lawn chairs next time. I get a wet ass sitting on that grass...HA!...LUV PIC

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  52. Damn Straight about the book learning...LUV & HUGS

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