Oh Happy Day! But....

[badstar]

Yes, I'm happy, Bush is gone. Yes, I voted for Obama. Yes, I am a little hopeful that things will get better. Yes, I think it was a damned good call for Obama to put a hold on all pending regulations for federal agencies until his administration can review them.

But reading over some of the posts on my friends list, and overhearing a good many conversations today and since the election, I feel the need to say this...(If this does not apply to you, feel free to be all smug or something :-P )

Barrack Obama is a man, a human being. He is not a god. He is not our messiah or savior or miracle answer to that which ails us. Even if he's here for two terms, he will not be able to make everything perfect, or even okay. He's inherited a global-scale nightmare of astronomical proportions. It's going to take a lot of detangling until even a tiny dent can be made. It's probably going to take several presidents to recover from this.

Don't put the man on a pedestal. Don't inflate him into something he's not because when he doesn't fix every little thing and make it all perfect, you'll hate him.

Bush may be now called one of the nation's worst-ever presidents, but I wouldn't be at all surprised of Obama ended up being one of the nation's most harshly-judged presidents once he's had his run.

Comments

[fervid-dryfire.livejournal.com]

Barrack Obama is a man, a human being. He is not a god. He is not our messiah or savior or miracle answer to that which ails us. Even if he's here for two terms, he will not be able to make everything perfect, or even okay.

I'd love to know how many of the people who actually chose him understood this before they cast their vote. =\



*Unnecessary disclaimer: I voted for neither of the two major candidates...essentially because I believe(d) exactly as you wrote above, regarding BOTH of them.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

I'd love to know how many of the people who actually chose him understood this before they cast their vote. =\

Yeah...I would too. That's not to say that I don't think that he's going to do a decent job, but "decent job" is relative, and in this case, sadly enough, I think I'll consider his presidency a success if, on January 20th 2013, we're no worse off than we are today.

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

The first time he does something these people don't like, the reaction is going to be hysterical. And probably undeserved, at least on the level it will likely manifest. People are expecting way too much out of him, I kind of feel bad for the guy.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

It's so true. I can hear the cries of "betrayal" already.

[unprotoize.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that happened when he named Rick Warren to deliver the convocation. That was kind of upsetting.

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

Well, I do know some Obama worshippers who understand what he was doing and excuse him for it (hell, I understand what he was shooting for, just think he could have accomplished that while choosing someone who is less of a flaming asshole). But yeah, good example. And it will only get worse.

[unprotoize.livejournal.com]

Really. There were people demanding their campaign contributions back. I'm like "what?" I mean, Rick Warren is a horrible human being and if I saw him I'd probably punch him in his sanctimonious face. Or at least be seeeriously tempted to. Still, though, I'm pleased that Obama won and that John McCain didn't win.

Looking back on it I see it as a lesson, that I can't expect this guy to do everything I want. I got some perspective out of the experience. And I guess Warren's convocation wasn't so bad yesterday. Maybe he'll learn something from his experience, too. I heard that while people on the left were excoriating Obama for his choice, right-wing loonies were hating on Warren for "selling out" and agreeing to do it.

Hearing that made me step back and appreciate the whole thing from a different angle.

[unprotoize.livejournal.com]

Noted. :) I don't believe in messiahs anyway.

Still, I admit I'm damn happy about it and I offer no apologies. I don't attribute superman powers to him, but we've backslid so far in our expectations of our elected officials over the past 10 years or so that it's kind of a shock that this guy's so fucking capable. It's sad, really. The idea that we're partly so enthusiastic because "Well, he can't possibly do any worse."

I do genuinely think it's a big deal, a big change in the direction things have been going, at least as far as our government goes and maybe it'll change society for the better, too.

Anyway, I don't really mean this in a defensive way, more just kind of honing my thoughts on the issue.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

It's cool, I don't think you were one of the people I was thinking of when I wrote this (were you? secretly? hehehe) I'm happy about this too, I just think that a lot of people aren't entirely realistic about what's going to happen.

It really is sad that we probably couldn't get much worse. But, in a way, good because well...you can't really get much worse. Like I noted above, I'll consider his presidency successful if we're no worse off in four years than we are now.

[unprotoize.livejournal.com]

Ha, I saw your comment after I posted, which rocks.

[droops.livejournal.com]

Good sentiments, I echo those myself.

[falnfenix]

i didn't vote for him because i didn't think he was prepared for what's ahead of him.

then again, i didn't vote for the crazy old man and the woman, either. and i got called a fucking racist for NOT voting for the Obamessiah (sorry, can't resist, i giggle every time i read the name).

that said, i do wish the man the best of luck. he's going to need it...the second he screws up even slightly, people will eat him alive. i just hope his potential foibles don't affect his daughters. they're cute, and don't deserve the negativity that will eventually hit his administration; the whole world is expecting him to be this perfect leader, somehow forgetting he's a human first.

meh. i'm just glad the election is over. this will be an interesting 4 years.

[silaria.livejournal.com]

I voted for Obama, not because I expected him to be a savior of the Nation but because (1) he wasn't a John McCain - someone I've had issues with for YEARS before he ran for office and (2) he appeared to have a good head on his shoulders.

I liked the fact that he came up from working class people. I liked the fact that he didn't seem to be stuck in the same old rut we've been in for decades. I believed it was time for someone new - not a Bush or Clinton; 16 years of that was enough (a Bush or Clinton was in the White House since 1993) - who may bring a different perspective into the issues facing the country.

I have NO illusion that he'll fix every issue in 4 or 8 years. I'll be happy if he gets the ship pointed in the right direction. Heck, our international relations are going to need kid gloves for a while. (I honestly believe Hillary as Secretary of State is a good move. Foreign leaders LIKED the Clintons.)

He's inherited a mess and its going to take a lot to fix it. I'm glad he mentioned in the Inaugural Address that things won't resolve themselves quickly. I wish him well.

[liritsvoice.livejournal.com]

The excitement, among other things, is because he's a breath of fresh air after 8 years of stupidity, paranoia, illegal wiretapping, waterboarding, and the suspension of our 'inalienable' rights as human beings living in America.

I don't think anyone really believes that Obama can magically make everything better. But he has a number of things going for him... he's intelligent, diplomatic, and he seems to have a healthy respect for the constitution in terms of NOT BLATANTLY BREAKING THE LAW as our previous 'leader' did. He's not going to fix everything, and yes the media are going to be all over him for every mistake he makes, but I think he'll be fine in the long run.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone really believes that Obama can magically make everything better.

Clearly, you have more faith in the human race than I do.

No, I don't think everyone thinks this, but there are far too many people that I've talked to that really and truly seem to think this.

[aphiorogue.livejournal.com]

I have no delusions that he is a god. I have hope that he is a GOOD man and the fact that our country was able to put him into office gives me HOPE.
To see the millions of people waiting in the cold to get sworn in gives me Inspiration in hits country. Hope, for our country is something I haven't felt in a long time. I am glad to be able to feel that way.

[caletara.livejournal.com]

"Barrack Obama is a man, a human being. He is not a god. He is not our messiah or savior or miracle answer to that which ails us."


Thank you. I don't know how many times I can say that. People are treating him like a god. My family is gushing and can't understand why I just don't join in. I'm extatic that Bush is gone. I'd do a little jig in celebration. But people seem to be thinking Barack Obama is like Jesus or the Buddha or someone. They're going to get disapointed when they realize he's human, like everyone else.