Listen, during the primary and the general election, there was a natural tendency on the part of many on the left to over idealize him and make him into something he is not. He was a community organizer. He is educated, decent humane and intelligent. He does share our values. His entire life path wasn't a sham. It was real. His speeches were self written and spoke to a cohesive world view and vision for this country.
I know that there are many, now, who are more and more irate and bitterly disappointed. Actually, I have had these feelings too. How could I not?
Between some back pedaling on the environment and capitulation to the coal industry, to FISA, the bailout and, of course, the recent torture debacle, it's obvious that things are not going the way that we want. It's easy to start comparing Obama to W when he actually takes some of the same positions. AARGGH!
Still, I think it all makes sense. (Not that it's right.)
Obama, IMHO, really does want to do some good and create, you know...."HOPE" and "CHANGE" in the world. I don't think it's a bunch of crap that he doled out just to win the election.
That said, he is and has always been a pragmatist. He has ideals, but he is primarily a people person. He works with people, not abstract paradigms. He assesses situations quickly and adapts to the situation.
Secondly,
remember. We did not elect him emperor. He is president. He cannot work in Washington by being a stubborn Ralph Nader. If he was that type, he wouldn't get anything done. He wouldn't have even become a senator, let alone the president. Did you really think that he could single handedly wrest our nation from corporate control in one or two terms? or five months?
I don't agree with the way he is doing things, but I understand why it's happening. I wish our government wasn't run by corporate interests. I wish we could undo every grain of the last administration down to uncovering every single person who colluded and was part of corruption lies and torture. If we want to move in that direction, we have to continually press for transparency and honesty. We have to remain active and diligent. We still have to "fight the power."
Still, the power has changed. The person in the WH may be swayed by special interests and he may do things that are patently wrong. But he still is light years away from W and Cheney. They didn't capitulate to corporate interests. They were the corporate interests. They had a world view that didn't just justify, but lauded their behavior. They had values that are completely foreign to liberals. I really think Cheney relished the idea of "enhanced interrogation" methods.
It is better.....
just not great.