Since I’ve often been critical of President Obama, it’s nice to point out two bits of positive news you probably haven’t heard on national media: First, this press release reports that the bailout is actually working; the government has now been repaid more than the amount outstanding–and if I’m understanding this correctly, the program should [...]
Entries Tagged as 'barack obama'
Bailout a Success, Missiles Reduced: Recent Obama Victories
June 13th, 2010 · Comments Off · Abundance and Prosperity, Peace and War
Tags: bailout·barack obama·nuclear disarmament·tarp·washington spectator
Afghanistan: The Death Toll Is Much Too High
June 9th, 2010 · View Comments · Peace and War, Politics
Yes, we elected him knowing that he had pledged to focus the war effort on Afghanistan instead of Iraq. We also elected him to reform Wall Street, push through meaningful healthcare restructuring (NOT the wimpy thing he worked so hard to get through), move the economy forward and convert it to renewable and clean energy sources. I voted for hm in spite of his Afghanistan pledge, not because of it.
Unfortunately, while breaking so many of his campaign promises or soaking them in so much compromise that they disintegrate, this is the one he has chosen to keep. OK, Barack—you made “good” on this campaign promise. Now it’s time to proclaim victory and get the hell out. The lives of Americans and Afghanis are too precious for this nightmare to continue.
Tags: afghanistan escalation·barack obama·barcack obama·campaign promises·peace
Social Media: A Tool for Social Change
April 20th, 2010 · View Comments · Democracy, Networking, Politics, Web 2.0/Social Media
The convergence of social media and progressive causes is very exciting to me; I see enormous potential to leverage social media for social change. Even as far back as 2000, I used social media as an essential building block of a successful local activist campaign (in fact, I discuss this in my latest book, Guerrilla [...]
Tags: barack obama·david axelrod·Politics·social media·two-way comunication
Hospital Visitation Directive: Finally, a Reason to Thank Obama
April 17th, 2010 · Comments Off · Diversity, Politics, Social and Economic Justice
Finally, a decades-overdue move to allow hospitalized patients to choose who should be allowed in to see them! President Obama issued a presidential directive Thursday night making federal funding contingent on nondiscrimination in visitation, and providing much greater respect for patients’ wishes in carrying out healthcare decisions. This is a victory not only for gays [...]
Tags: barack obama·gay and lesbian rights·presidential directive·same sex hospital visitation
If Obama’s Supposed to be a Liberal…What’s a Conservative?
March 31st, 2010 · View Comments · Energy & Sustainability, Politics
President Obama, do NOT take our votes for granted. I wrote months ago that we would “have your” back if you pushed for the progressive agenda, the change you promised to bring. By the same token, we will desert you if you continue to desert us.
Tags: barack obama·energy policy·offshore drilling·sarah palin
Obama is Timid, But Not Progressive
March 12th, 2010 · View Comments · Politics, Social and Economic Justice
From a marketing and PR point of view, Obama could have taken a leaf from Franklin Roosevelt’s book: When Roosevelt couldn’t get things through Congress, he turned to the people; he appealed directly to voters. He used Republican intransigence to build up pressure, and then at election time, was able to replace some of the obstacles. For the last year, Obama has totally blown the opportunity to blame the mess both on the past administration and on the unwillingness of Republicans to let him through to make the change he promised during the campaign. If he had used different strategy, 2010 should have seen a sweeping housecleaning in the House and Senate and a vast Democratic majority in place for the next two years. Instead, I think Obama’s cushion will be a lot thinner, and he’ll have even less room to work. The result will be a one-term presidency with meager accomplishments, and probably another round of Republican aggression.
The last Democrat who was willing to use some muscle to move his agenda forward (an agenda that was not at all popular in large sections of the country) was Lyndon Johnson. From his grave, LBJ must be wondering why Obama is afraid to lead.
Tags: barack obama·energy reform·george w. bush·george will·health reform·lyndon johnson
Obama’s Nuclear Plant Pre-Bailout: His Dumbest Move Yet?
February 17th, 2010 · View Comments · Democracy, Energy & Sustainability, poverty
Nuclear power is not necessary. It is not sensible. It opens great risks for small returns that can be much more easily achieved in other ways. It is a gift to the terrorists, a robbery from the taxpayers, a diversion of resources away from better and far more proven technologies that could meet all of our energy needs safely, and a serious threat to the well-being of future generations.
Tags: barack obama·clean energy·loan guarantees·nuclear power plants
To Obama and the Dems: Wake Up, Move Left, Be Powerful
January 20th, 2010 · View Comments · Marketing Techniques and Philosophies, Politics, propaganda
THIS strategy will result in one year writing good laws that won’t get passed, throwing the bums out, consolidating power, and having an amazing third and fourth year. Franklin Roosevelt used this strategy successfully in his first term, showed the public that he wanted to make real change, and swept back into office not just for a second term but for a third and a fourth.
Obama, as a former community organizer, knows how to do this.
Tags: barack obama·democratic party strategy·democratic senate majority·framing·martha coakley
How Progressives Can Move Obama to the Left
January 3rd, 2010 · View Comments · Politics, Social and Economic Justice
The Civil Rights movement gave Lyndon Johnson (no progressive) room to push through several major pieces of Civil Rights legislation. Earth Day and the environmental movement of the early ’70s gave Richard Nixon (not a progressive bone in his body!) a mandate for the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Environmental Protection Agency. yet we on the left (and I include myself in that) have largely stood by
Tags: barack obama·lyndon johnson·organizing·progressive politics·richard nixon
Obama, International Communication, and the Need to Organize
November 25th, 2009 · View Comments · Marketing Techniques and Philosophies, Politics, language, propaganda
This is not about politics; it’s about communication style, using a politician as an example. My wife teaches business communication (with a heavy focus on international dos and don’ts), and she and I both give Barack Obama high marks for his sensitivity to other cultures. Two quick examples among many: For his state dinner last [...]
Tags: barack obama·cultural differences·india·international communication
