This cartoon accurately sums up how I feel about the Obama administration and Obama in general. While I am glad that we are getting a change of pace from Bush, I am uneasy about Obama. Everyone seems to be cannonizing him, without him having accomplished much at all, yet. Yesterday, as I was watching shots of innaguration, I saw that the announcers were calling the throngs a “pilgrimage.” You know, like a hajj or a crusade. Those were also pilgrimages.
Anyway, the reason I am not impressed with Obama as of yet: his voting record in Congress as well as his fervent desire to expand the government and continue bailout programs started by Bush. I am all about some regulation, but if a business is failing, that’s what the free market is for.
Regarding his voting record, he has strictly voted on the party line, understandable for a junior senator. He has sponsored only 13 bills, which include the issue of a commemorative Rosa Parks stamp and allowing an Air Traffic Controllers’ Union. Unions are great for boosting government control and inefficiency. And, although I am happy with his Israel position, he has clearly flip-flopped on this under pressure of the AIPAC lobby. While I support AIPAC, I don’t support someone who can change their position, just through political and monetary pressure, which is the name of the game in politics, I suppose.
Here are some things I specifically love about him:
- Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs’ effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
- Voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
- Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
- Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
So, for now, I remain skeptical. I did, however, really enjoy Mobama’s dress. Fluffy!
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Testing comments: I totally would buy that dress.
About Hamas being good to Palestinians by supporting hospitals, charities etc…
Imagine a sensitive murderer who only kills other people but takes a good care of his elderly mother and unmarried sister…
Please comment under the appropriate post.
Now, regarding Hamas:if you are going the ideological route, why would the murderer’s mother and sister care if he was killing other people as long as he was taking care of them. And to play devil’s advocate, suppose the other people he was killing also oppressed him a little bit by cutting out all escape routes from his territory before he became a killer.
Skepticism is healthy. I do hope for all of our sakes he can live up to the legend forming around him. Its funny watching the inauguration I had the same impression, this was nearly a religious experience for many. Obama wasn’t my first choice or even my second, but once he took the primary I was all in. I don’t know maybe I drank the Kool-Aid, but since he won the General Election I have had more hope for this country than I have felt in years.
Corey, that’s great. Thanks for sharing your views. It’s great to know that, even if we might not agree with all his policies, he inspires us, at least in some way.