Comments on: So Why Is Obama So Hated?

By: Sachiko

Sachiko — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:56:21 +0000

As I’ve said before, the Democrats’ greatest problem are not conservatives, but liberals who have unrealistic expectations. To say that Obama has continued and expanded Bush/Cheney era policy is just outrageous – he is pulling the US out of Iraq, he has ended the human rights abuses and the military trials at Gauntanamo Bay, and given the prisoners who remain there access to proper legal representation. He is genuinely trying (at his political peril) to improve the US health care system in a way that is acceptable to the many competing political interests he has to pander to so he can get it through congress. The bank bailout is an ongoing problem that all the governments of the western world are still feeling their way through. And he has never made any promises about reducing the US presence in Afghanistan – in fact he has always shown a commitment to this war (rightly or wrongly). What will it take for liberal idealists to realise that Obama can’t just snap his fingers and undo all the (massive) damage done by the Bush administration? What will it take to make you realise that this stuff takes time, initially requires compromise, and can lead to further improvements in the future?

By: tom

tom — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:27:56 +0000

He refuses to investigate torture and has allowed those programs to continue, despite promises to end it.

He’s refused to re-instate habeas corpus or guaruntees to basic legal rights, despite promises to do so.

He’s anounced that he wont be closing Guantanamo bay afterall, despite promises to do so.

He actively lobbied (and got) even further “powers” of indefinate detention and inprisonment without trial, despite promises to end those practices.

He’s expanded the war in Afghanistan — where he’s now building permanent military bases — and started a new war in Pakistan, despite promises to cut back on militarism.

He promised public oversight on the bank bailout, but but refuses to follow through even though the bailout has now hit 23 trillion dollars.

He promised an effective national healthcare program, but the program he’s pushing is now admited to have been written by insurace companies, and will provide less service at a higher cost than the current system.

He’s expanded the use of mercenary firms like Blackwater (now called Xe) despite thier proven human rights violations.

Basicly, he’s sold us out and is continuing and expanding all the Bush/Cheney-era policy that we voted him in to fix.

Where’s the change? He gives truly fantastic and well informed speaches about what ~should~ be done, but if you follow the policy closely then you soon realize that he just says what’s good for getting votes from the public, and does whatever gets him paid by the major financial and military-industrial interests which have run our country into near ruin.

It’s frusterating.

By: jr

jr — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:34:28 +0000

and another thing regarding the malign influence of the USAmerican churches, particularly the Pentecostal variety: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33356826/

By: jr

jr — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:10:25 +0000

if I had to speculate why the church-loving USAmericans hate Obama so much I’d have to say either their brains have been turned to mush by bible studies and prescription drugs, or, perhaps, latent racism — both deeply unattractive thoughts.

on the Nobel Peace Prize issue — this has been discredited (IMO) since at least 1998 when John Hume had to share his with David Trimble (!). anyway, the medal and certificate will sell on eBay, if nothing else

By: alcove6409

alcove6409 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:08:47 +0000

It is indeed quite irrational and a betrayal of a thin layer of cranial grey matter to hate Obama, on one hand, and sing the praises of Cowboy Bush (or indulge related sociological sentiments). Even though the latter is a confirmed warmonger and capital punishment orgiast, and the other a city slicker well-groomed to represent the putative gentlemanly triumph of reason and tolerance over bigotry and civil strife, they are both children of the same institution, playing paid-for roles on the media-stage of mainstream politics. They put on a puppet show for The People, rather like figurines that change places with the striking of an old-fashioned pendulum clock, when the appointed time came to change the perceived political venue. But all the while, as folks were watching the record-breakingly expensive pageant, these folks were being robbed behind their backs. Of course, in all fairness to the Sponsors (“Gods”?), we have to admit that some of the biggest bailouts were actually announced. And some shrewd people who stole glances to the rear were given timely assurances that they had indeed deftly noticed some rotten apples messing up here and there. History is full of them — nothing new.

Do I hate Obama? No, I like him, but really can’t imagine walking in his boots. Do I hate Bush? No, but I don’t like him, and, risking ignorance, would try to avoid walking in his boots. Do I hate Al Capone? No, but I never met him in this lifetime, and have not experienced anything that I can remember that would seem like walking in his boots. Do I hate Adolph Hitler? Yes. Sorry, folks, can’t help it, even though I’ve made it less extreme by certain private metaphysical disciplines.

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:01:42 +0000

And a child shall lead them………It is amazing how humans refuse to learn from history, and therefore history constantly repeats itself. When I hear snipettes on the car radio from the repetitive mongers of hate in the USA, it reminds me of old news clips of the megalomaniacs Hitler and Mussilini spewing their filth to inflate their own egos. I wonder to myself, what a boring job? How can they stand to do that day after day. Answer: $$$$$ and ego. It’s very unfortunate that the developing minds of children are exposed to such nonsense, when their young brains do not have the filters in place yet to screen it out.

By: Firefly

Firefly — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:52:27 +0000

As Joseph Campbell pointed out, there’s a difference between religion and religiosity, which the so-called “Christian” right continually blurs. “Religion,” by its very derivation means “linking backward.” It’s a way of reaffirming who we are through a shared tradition of beliefs. That’s why it’s so easy to conflate religion with religiosity, which is nothing more than strict conformity to forms and rituals. Therefore, it’s easy to go to church on Sundays, sing all the hymns, quote chapter and verse, and connect NONE of that to one’s daily behavior.
Jesus of Nazareth gave us a way of curbing human aggression and selfishness for the benefit of all. The Protestant Ethic in America has perverted that message beyond all recognition. The rich are not successful because of “divine election.” They are that way because they IGNORE the teachings of the gospels — not because they honor them.

By: Alistair

Alistair — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:25:57 +0000

The reason is his race and his for some policies.