It's interesting to watch the discussions about President Obama. Fundamentally, I think the American people were scammed. I voted for Obama over Clinton because I'm inherently anti-dynastic and I thought Clinton would be too close to corporate interests.
Here are some links to previous Obama speeches where he shows much more strength, clarity, and passion than he's shown as president.
In any case, I wouldn't be as irritated about the current state of affairs if Clinton had won, because I would have expected it.
Video links follow.
Tensions Flare Between Obama and Clinton at SC Debate
Clinton fights dirty - we could use some of that right about now, actually. Obama lets himself get run around on some random Reagan quote. He should do a mock debate with Clinton before going on stage to give speeches... get that old fire back.
http://www.youtube.com/...
Edwards, Clinton, and Obama debate about Lobbyist
Obama hints at Clinton's support by lobbyists. Tries to stand out as a transparency, anti-lobbyist guy. Let's see how his new campaign goes, eh?
http://www.youtube.com/...
Barack Obama on the Debates in Greensboro, NC
Obama blasts McCain for what he didn't say. I have similar gripes about Obama. It's what he doesn't say that drives me nuts. He does say, however: "We need to stop giving tax cuts to CEO's.... We need a President who will fight for the middle class every single day..." Every. Single. Day.
http://www.youtube.com/...
Barack Obama: My Plans for 2008
He says the most important thing is to change the politics. "Our leaders in Washington are incapable of working together..." Instead, he got run over and wrapped around the snowball. Change? Well, that didn't work... Now it's "In." If Obama had truly stayed centered around this message, Republicans would have had a more difficult time winning the spin game. He should be making this point each and every day. Change the politics.
http://www.youtube.com/...
Barack Obama on Federal Spending Transparency Bill
Actually, Senator Obama for this one. He says most federal spending is well spent. He calls for transparency in spending. But he blows off a point that the senate has with secret holds. That'll foreshadow his presidency later when he has to work with a dysfunctional senate. As a senator, was Obama able to reform the senate? No? Then maybe we shouldn't expect him to be a reform-minded president, either. But at least here he's defending spending as a natural function of the government.
http://www.youtube.com/...
Obama AFL-CIO Video
OK, this is more subdued and boring. But he says... "The only way we can do that is to have a president that stops dividing us and starts uniting us." Fail. A fail at least judging by the two camps on this website, not to mention the horridly unopposed right-wing noise machine. If only... if only Obama had stayed on-message after he actually started the job...
http://www.youtube.com/...
There are lots of YouTube videos uploaded by user BarackObamaDotCom to remind you of the difference between pre-election Obama and post-election Obama. Why doesn't he use that bully pulpit, already!!! At least unleash the Biden and make him watch and duplicate all the old Obama messaging. Even if it did no good, at least if the White House got back on-message, I wouldn't feel scammed and it might help fire me up for 2012.
Updated by Wyrug at Fri Apr 15, 2011 at 01:20 PM PDT
Wow. I have to say, I'm watching MSNBC right now and everyone is enthusiastic about seeing a glimpse of candidate Obama.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Gotta say, it gives me hope, too. Nice to actually hear him say something that doesn't make him sound like a waffler, capitulator or empty shell.