Obamamania

Mary S · Post by **Mary S** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:21 pm

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=obamania

Are Americans setting Obama up for a fall?

One would think this guy could walk on water given the hype and news releases and the anticipation of his presidency. I wonder how Americans will feel once the wedding is over the marriage begins and not all the problems are solved overnight. Lots of pressure riding on his shoulders....

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:04 pm

Hi, Mary! If I haven't mentioned this before, we miss you! Hopefully we'll find a way to connect (individually and via our group) in the near future.

I am in the minority who aren't enamored by "the anointed one." Politically I'm an obstructionist. I like different parties in the executive and legislative branches of government. I happen not to believe that Obama walks on water, or for that matter will be an exceptional leader. The truth is that we don't know. He's a charismatic man with no executive experience. That could be good, neutral, or bad. We will find out.

It's worth mentioning that the press has been excessively fawning over Obama. During the Democratic primaries, Saturday Night Live did a skit of a debate between Hillary and Obama where the interviewers were asking Obama if he needed a glass of water while asking Hillary impossibly difficult questions. Obviously being humor, they carried the skit to an extreme. But the point was made. The press is mostly liberal, and absolutely gaga over the man. So what you hear about him in The Great White North is a distorted picture of true public perception.

My sense from survey information is that most have high expectations, and Obama knows this well. If you listen to him in speeches, he's been very heavily trying to manage expectations. Just today I heard a speech from him where he talked about the many failures ahead in dealing with the challenging problems facing us. Obviously Obama is nobody's fool.

There were similar good feelings and high expectations when Ronald Reagan took office during the Iran hostage crisis, the OPEC oil embargo, and "stagflation" (high inflation during times of a contracting economy). He used that good will to leverage some significant legislation. Obama will likely do the same, and has perhaps 18 months to spend that good will capital. After that, typical Washington cynicism will set in. The problems we face now either will never go away (terrorism) or will take years to turn around (the economy).

A good parallel period of time to look at is the transition from Hoover to FDR just after the infamous stock market crash of 1929. From all of what I have read, Roosevelt's New Deal programs didn't have the positive effects that history sometimes credits for bringing us out of The Great Depression. World War II was largely responsible for our economic turnaround - a time where even women who typically didn't work were brought into a needy wartime labor force. Obama's legacy will face similar challenges, and IMO his reach will be similarly limiting.

Bill

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:05 pm

I think to some extent that has already happened, and he hasn't even taken office yet. He's not the ultra liberal a lot of young folks hoped he'd be. Still, I think most people realize it can be nothing but better after what we've all suffered through for the last eight years (world included, maybe even more so than the US!) I generally get a feeling of "anything but Bush; for god's sake even a dead ferret is better".

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:20 pm

To TSDGuy's point...

Those reading the political tea leaves from cabinet appointments have one general impression. Obama is avoiding ideologues, and sticking with pragmatism and pragmatists. In tough times, execution is called for. Most from all the many corners of political ideology give him an "A" so far for cabinet appointments and attentiveness to serious issues. That bodes well for him for the time being.

IMO the longer he can keep the ideologues out of the process, the longer he'll be effective as a leader during tough times.

- Bill

Jason Rees · Post by **Jason Rees** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:14 am

Someone on the news tonight called him the fifth Beatle. For the record, I think the Obama worship is disturbing on so many levels, I'm not going to take time to elaborate on all of them. It all reminds me of a Wendy's commercial.

Where's the Beef?

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:49 pm

My thoughts exactly, Jason, both on the Beatlemania and the Wendy's beef thing. We think alike. Scary...

- Bill

Gene DeMambro · Post by **Gene DeMambro** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:05 pm

Don't fall nto the trap of thinking that this great cult of personality, as it were, is any bof his doing. "The Chosen One" references were not his, but his political enemies doing.

And Bill is right about him choosing a cabinet of competant pragmatists. That's where the beef is.

Jason Rees · Post by **Jason Rees** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:10 am

Gene DeMambro wrote:
And Bill is right about him choosing a cabinet of competant pragmatists. That's where the beef is.

I'm sure you're right. I'm sure Hillary Clinton will surpass all past Secretaries of State because of 'competence.'

Jason Rees · Post by **Jason Rees** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:22 am

Gene DeMambro wrote:Don't fall nto the trap of thinking that this great cult of personality, as it were, is any bof his doing. "The Chosen One" references were not his, but his political enemies doing.

You're talking about two different things, and acting as if one is the effect of the cause respectively, and not a reaction to an action, which is actually the case.

Obama's handlers did an awesome job of creating this 'cult of personality,' and the Republicans responded, in some ways quite rightly, with derision.

mikemurphy · Post by **mikemurphy** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:37 am

I'm always amazed at the people who take the pessimestic viewpoint on a person who has yet been able to wield the power and authority the Constitution grants him. President Obama has been president for a whole two days and you're asking "Where's the beef"?? As much of a detractor of former President Bush as I was (and rightlyfully so

), at least I waiting until he was in office for awhile before ripping on his policies. The point is you may not like or want President Obama, but you're stuck with him for 4 years. Let's wait until he actually fails or suceeds at something before calling him an empty suit.

mike

Rising Star · Post by **Rising Star** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:46 pm

I am not thrilled about the choice the country made and lets not forget that although his electoral result was substantial the popular vote was only a 3-4 per cent difference, but I too will give him an opportunity to do well by us and I hope he does. If some of the positions put forth by him come to fruition, I will personally be very disappointed but campaign rhetoric and reality are often aposite,

As far as being 'stuck with him for 4 years" I guess that depends on what he does in office - we do have that little impeachment thing should his behavior and/or actions rise (or sink) to the established standard.

John

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:54 pm

I think someone dared Bush to get himself impeached, but he couldn't do it.

mikemurphy · Post by **mikemurphy** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:21 pm

"I think someone dared Bush to get himself impeached, but he couldn't do it."

But he certainly did try his best!

Jason Rees · Post by **Jason Rees** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:19 am

I'm always amazed at the people who take the pessimestic viewpoint on a person who has yet been able to wield the power and authority the Constitution grants him.

I'm still flabberghasted that a first-term Senator won the popular vote because he's attractive and makes a good speech. I don't think it bodes well for our country.

He has no experience, so I think being skeptical is a reasonable approach.

Gene DeMambro · Post by **Gene DeMambro** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:03 am

He was better than the multi-term Senator who had a difficult time showing how his experience beat youth and skill.

Gene