Syd Lexia wrote:

People voted for him expecting to get a great big government that will fix the economy, hand out welfare checks and healthcare vouchers aplenty, end the war in Iraq, babysit their children, cure their halitosis, and give them oral pleasure. Well it ain't gonna happen. Obama might fix the economy to some degree and will probably decrease our presence in Iraq, but four years from now, Barack will have a lot to answer for when most of his 2008 promises and rhetoric are revealed for what they are: the same old empty pledges from another run-of-the-mill politician. People have themselves convinced that Obama is somehow special or different from other politicians. He's not. He's cut from the exact same cloth.

Unfortunately, I think this is what we've allowed ourself to become. Obama's election, while potentially beneficial for the country, is essentially a commentary on how we've become a nation of individuals who want instant gratification. We want our lives fixed now, and if we can't do it ourselves, well by gummit, we're going to get the government to do it for us. Nevermind working for financial assets and healthcare, everyone should get it. Disregard the real problems that could pose for the economy. College as well... who cares if you lack the aptitude to really succeed in an institution of higher learning. We'll be glad to put you through to the next level, provided you "want it enough." Free money for all. The gimme-gimme-gimme-now attitude I sense from our country is a little disheartening to me. And unfortunately for Johnny Mac, we, like baby birds, were willing to sit there and beg for every piece of rhetorical chum that Papa Bird Obama was ready to spit up.

Obama ran as the anti-Bush, which for the purposes of this election, was enough. Bush fucked up enough that people equated "Republican Party" with his fuckups (real or fabricated) and John McCain, however qualified, didn't stand a chance.

Despite the harsh tone of my post, you might assume that I'm adamantly anti-Obama. I'm not in the least. I'm actually quite curious to see what he can do. That said, I have essentially three thoughts regarding his election and his presidency:

1) He's been built up to be God, and no matter how good he is, he can't live up to the hype. Nobody could. The Democrats created their Messiah, and I think that eventually, there may be Hell to pay unless they can heal lepers within two years.

2) Handouts are for high school cheerleaders trying to get me to buy muffins to get them new uniforms. They are not for citizens. I hope that Obama espouses a philosophy of personal responsibility and hard work rather than "The nightmare is over, friends. We'll fix everything. Sleep. Sleep."

3) I'm stoked that we can finally say that we have elected a Black president. That's very groovy. Still, I hope people don't mistake the coolness of that fact for competence in the office. I think Syd hit the nail on the head: at his core, Obama is just another politician who happened to come along at a time when a majority of the country was looking for something, anything different- and he benefitted from it.

Greg the White wrote:

I don't get the devotion to Bush. The actions of his administration have weakened the economy, sent us into two losing wars, rewarded war profiteers, sent our generation to slaughter into a country for no reason, illegally detained citizens without trial, turned the justice system into a partisan hatchet crew, and a host of other offenses. It's beyond just sticking to your beliefs when you are too blind to admit you're in a bad place.

Devotion isn't the issue here. Devotion to any political party is outright near-sighted and dangerous. And whether or not the left wants to admit it, blind devotion isn't exclusive to the Republicans. In November, all you had to do was ask ten Obama supporters why they're voting Obama, and at least three would look at you blankly as if to say "Well why wouldn't I?"
I (and many other Republicans) are willing to criticize Bush on issues with which we disagree. Just as I'm sure you (and many other Democrats) will be willing to criticize Obama on issues with which you disagree. That said, people neglecting to disagree with a policy that you take issue with isn't an indication of that person's devotion... it's a display of their values.

As far as the actions of the Bush administration goes, of course you can argue that there have been government failures between 2001 and 2008. But, you're painting with extremely broad strokes. If you're going to bring up the weakened economy, be sure to mention the legislation developed under the Clinton administration that allowed for mortgages for people who couldn't pay for them and the dot com boom that the Clinton administration enjoyed in the mid- to late-90s. If you're going to bring up the decision to go to war in Iraq, be sure to mention certain parallels to Bosnia-Herzogovina in the 90s (the mass killing of non-Serbs in eastern Bosnia). And, of course, Clinton allowed bin Laden to operate relatively unbothered for his entire two terms in office; and planning for the September 11th attacks began between 1995-1997.

Helping the middle class is fine... to an extent. What worries me is the level of talk about "FREE HEALTHCARE! FREE THIS! FREE THAT!" That's a really nice thought if you don't have to worry about maintaining gross domestic product and a spot in the worldwide commerce game. FDR benefitted from World War II... war, despite generally sucking, is typically fantastic for the economy. Clinton, again, the dot com boom. The problem with giving away free shit in a time when the economy is slumping (for whatever reason) is that it provides a disincentive for work. Failure to provide an incentive to work risks having a shitload of people just staying home to suckle the governmental tit. If you want healthcare, you should be provided for to a limited extent, then you have to work for it.

I agree with you, Greg, a bit... the government SHOULD help its people, particularly those that can't help themselves for a time. Still, I think that that assistance should be primarily focused on infrastructure and national defense, things the whole populus utilizes. As far as governmental control over other aspects of the economy, I still say fuck that. You want access to assets- work for them.