How's that Change Coming Again, Mr. Obama?

Barack Obama promised to bring change to Washington, D.C. How's he doing so far?

He hasn't done shit so far. I can't think of a single bill he's signed, a single policy he's implemented, a single treaty he's negotiated, or a single executive order he's given that's accomplished any change at all.

- joe, January 14, 2009

KT|1.14.09 @ 11:56AM|#

Man, is this guy fuckin' useless or what? He was elected all the way back in November and he still hasn't done shit!!! I want my money back!

TallDave|1.14.09 @ 11:59AM|#

On the other hand, he's already been interviewed by federal prosecutors.

Hope.

ktc2|1.14.09 @ 12:01PM|#

Clinton retreads > Bush's Nixon retreads.

New would have been better though.

|1.14.09 @ 12:04PM|#

On the other hand, he's already been interviewed by federal prosecutors.

True, but he refused to if they didn't allow Joe Biden to sit in on the questioning.

Seward|1.14.09 @ 12:05PM|#

When the incoming Obama administration negotiates an end to the U.S. sugar subsidy I'll say he's changed something. Is that bar too high?

Seward|1.14.09 @ 12:06PM|#

Or something like that action.

|1.14.09 @ 12:34PM|#

I'm not a huge Obama fan, but you guys do recall what happened with Jimmy Carters team of outsiders in Washington right? Didn't it create a rift between him and congress?

If he wants to accomplish things in Washington, isn't it better to have people who know Washington on his rolls?

That said, I don't have much faith in Obama and change, but what he's done is just smart politicking. He's not a dummy.

Willam Jefferson |1.14.09 @ 12:38PM|#

On the other hand, he's already been interviewed by federal prosecutors

Word of advice, Barack: the freezer is not the best place to keep incriminating evidence.

Willam Jefferson Clinton|1.14.09 @ 12:39PM|#

On the other hand, he's already been interviewed by federal prosecutors

Remember, Barack: they can't find you guilty of anything if no one really knows what "is" means.

|1.14.09 @ 12:42PM|#

I wonder if the people using "interviewed by a prosecutor" as evidence of criminality consider themselves libertarians?

Jefferson Clinton|1.14.09 @ 12:43PM|#

I'm a hotel in Syracuse

Ben1|1.14.09 @ 1:28PM|#

So far, he's promised to keep us in Iraq for another 18 long, expensive months (and to NO benefit to the nation that I've heard described); he's promised to escalate the war in Afghanistan (likewise, no benefit I am aware of other than to the arms manufacturers); his "team" says it'll take a long time to close the obscenity of Guano-tanimo; there are NO plans to reverse Bush's massively unconstitutional wiretap policies, NO plans to prosecute Bush for his crimes, his blatant breaking of his presidential oath... but hey, there's going to be one hell of a party for his inauguration.

Hopechange, hell yes.

The US political system is completely broken.

However, in the realm of interesting news, apparently the law no longer matters at all starting with the top down, and so we can all do whatever we want.

sage|1.14.09 @ 2:06PM|#

- joe, January 14, 2009

Yep, keep milking it, joe. You've got less than a week before you'll be wishing it's ALWAYS 1-14-09.

Taktix®|1.14.09 @ 2:19PM|#

I am no Obama fan at all, but after seeing footage of Bush press conference last night on Daily Show, I'd be excited if a baked potato were to be inagurated on the 21st.

Then again, a baked potato would likely sign fewer spending bills and do less to expand executive authority than an Obama administration.

You know what? I got it:

Potato/Bacon Bits '12

|1.14.09 @ 2:36PM|#

Oh, leave joe alone. He's got less than a week to enjoy his unsullied vision of the OBamatastic future. His little reverie will end soon enough.

Speaking of which, didn't you just love the way Hillary stiffarmed the committee yesterday when they rather gingerly asked her if, perhaps, she could forego having her husband cash checks from foreign governments while she was actually serving as SecState?

|1.14.09 @ 2:46PM|#

OK, just so we're clear:

Drawing conclusions about a president's term in office before he is sworn in: clear-eyed realism.

Saying it's too early to tell: delusional, probably resulting from partisanship and ideology.

'kay.

|1.14.09 @ 2:47PM|#

NO plans to prosecute Bush for his crimes, his blatant breaking of his presidential oath... but hey, there's going to be one hell of a party for his inauguration.

I have no idea whether or not Obama will pursue legal action against members of the Bush administration once in office.

But if he does plan to, I wouldn't talk about it much until he was actually in office.

Crystal Methodist|1.14.09 @ 2:48PM|#

Doing absolutely nothing would be a big improvement on wasting our military building an Islamic theocracy in the Middle East, bankrupting the country by doubling spending, splattering his shit all over the Constitution, and destroying his party's prospects for 12 years.

|1.14.09 @ 3:03PM|#

I've had the same thought, davebo.

Probably too much to hope for that this is all strategery, but one never knows.

sage|1.14.09 @ 3:03PM|#

Drawing conclusions about a president's term in office before he is sworn in: clear-eyed realism.

Who on earth said, joe? Besides you, I mean.

sage|1.14.09 @ 3:06PM|#

Argh. Who on earth said that, that is.

|1.14.09 @ 3:22PM|#

You, RC Dean, everyone who's thrown out "CHANGE!" by way of declaring their superior ability to perceivepolitical reality...

|1.14.09 @ 3:26PM|#

Okay, you guys, I need help writing a follow-up to my last paper. (Which you guys helped me get an A on, thanks! :) )

Here's a rough version of my questions and stuff.

Anyway, it's like really immature to think that deregulatory policies weren't at fault in the current mess. How do you think Obmama's new stimulus can be combined with better regulation to get us back on the right track?

sage|1.14.09 @ 3:29PM|#

Oh, so now we've declared our superior abilities? Do you have any other assertions you'd like to make up and attribute to others? Or are you saving them for another thread?

BDB|1.14.09 @ 3:35PM|#

Obama has a pretty low bar to clear: don't fuck up as bad as Bush/Cheney. I don't even care if he fucks up--just don't fuck up as bad!

|1.14.09 @ 3:47PM|#

Oh, so now we've declared our superior abilities?

Yes. Repeatedly. You in particular, and numerous other commenters as well, have spent the last two months declaring how much smarter and more worldly you are for not thinking that Barack Obama's administration will accomplish meaningful change.

I've made nothing up; I've merely restated your own argument, which once again, you made here:

Yep, keep milking it, joe. You've got less than a week before you'll be wishing it's ALWAYS 1-14-09.

This is declaration that you know better than I what the Obama adminstration is going to accomplish, and that I will be proven wrong in a week.
I've made up nothing. If you're going to say something, sage, you should stand by it.

sage|1.14.09 @ 4:11PM|#

You in particular, and numerous other commenters as well, have spent the last two months declaring how much smarter and more worldly you are for not thinking that Barack Obama's administration will accomplish meaningful change.

I'd like to see one of those statements. By me, in particular. If you're going to say something, you should stand by it.

I think you're reading a little too much into these comments. I think you are inferring that people are "declaring themseleves to be smart and worldly" when in reality they are being cynical, skeptical, and used to disappointment. However, I'm speaking for myself. I wouldn't try to put other people's opinions in their mouths.

|1.14.09 @ 4:13PM|#

We can only speculate on what Obama will do better. joe is right, the man hasn't been sworn in yet, so lay off!

MJ|1.14.09 @ 11:02PM|#

"He hasn't done shit so far."

Obama has not done anything? Why is Hiliary going through confirmation hearings for Sec State if no one nominated her?

Obama has made some Presidential descisions and they point to same tired old Democrat thinking.

nobody u no and big fan of joe|1.15.09 @ 6:20AM|#

trashing obama, our greatest hope for change, before he even takes office while holding a church prop, just shows how self important assholes think they are smarter than the real people.

if you are not down with the revolution then you just do not know.

nobody u no and big fan of joe|1.15.09 @ 6:22AM|#

hillary might be in office as ag before obama. now that is doing shit.

nobody u no and big fan of joe|1.15.09 @ 6:34AM|#

he is bringing over 4 million jobs with him too. that is something.

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