Obama's Critics Call President's Economic Vision Hazy

The Los Angeles Times:

Reporting from Washington - With congressional support eroding, his popularity falling and his renomination of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke potentially in trouble, President Obama faces an even more daunting task to save his entire domestic agenda -- convincing millions of angry Americans that his economic policies will bring them a brighter future.

Even as the economy has begun clawing its way out of the Great Recession and job losses have slowed dramatically, critics on the left and right -- even party loyalists -- say the president has failed to articulate a clear economic vision.

Read the whole story: The Los Angeles Times

Comments

[oldfart1]

11:27 AM on 01/26/2010

"job losses have slowed dramatically"? Actually unempoyment is still climbing rapidly, because a lot of people have given up. The economy is the biggest priority (45%) in all polls, so what does Obama do? Tomorrow night he will propose freezing domestic but not Pentagon spending, while Afghanistan is considered first prioroity by 2%. This is just what Bush would have done, and it's economic and political suicide.

[LibVikingWarrior]

10:47 AM on 01/26/2010

Mr. President :

Your ideas for the country as a whole have been a breath of fresh air. There is hope . The Previous administration slashed and burned the economy and left you with the mess. THeir playbook was to do so and make you look bad. Their policies are limited to ONE now and that is simply to say NO. You have overcome. You and your staff are doing a wonderful job (especially from starting off at a minus due to Bush).

The economy is strengthening . The view of the US from around the world has turned positive once more. You have put representatives and senators front and centre in the public eye by letting them show their true colors during this health care debate. The amercian public finally sees that the President does not just dictate and the congress ratifies that dictate. The congress makes policy . They must do their job . The american people now see the special interests hold on these members . Soon the ones beholden to those special interests will be voted out and true work that you had in mind Mr, President will begin.

When majorities increase for the dems after November,EVERY American will have the possibilty to achieve their true potential...I believe in you sir...their are so many people that believe in you sir...there is a majority that believe in you sir.. you will not give up or give in .. you will succeed!!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5uWRjFsGc

enjoy!”

[fya]

10:27 AM on 01/26/2010

When righties and lefties are mad at President Obama, I tend to feel he's on the right track.

[smiththomas]

06:13 PM on 01/25/2010

He has no idea what he is doing. He is a socialist that is expecting capitalist results. He is another Carter and will end up hurting the people he is trying to help. Just like president Carter.

[keepacoolhead]

07:34 PM on 01/25/2010

You people are like little parrots repeating what you heard on Fox News without knowing what it is. Obama is a corporatist.

[Gmoney1]

12:32 AM on 01/26/2010

Obama is brilliant - rethug - go pound sand -

[stevebol]

06:13 PM on 01/25/2010

In the next year Obama will learn to hate republicans the way he should have from the start.

[smiththomas]

06:18 PM on 01/25/2010

He did from the start. That is why he ignored them ending up needing 60 votes and turning off the independents

[stevebol]

06:26 PM on 01/25/2010

Baloney smiththomas. Obama doesn't want to become another FDR. He doesn't want the government to have to have to step in and create jobs on that level. He should know by now that's exactly what will happen.
He made the mistake of thinking some republicans are OK. They're not. They're all greedy pigs and Obama will figure that out fairly soon.

[Scentedflower]

05:26 PM on 01/25/2010

This is why We like this Pre sident
staying in Tough job unlike the Qui tter Tw itter
putting up with Nay ers & Obs tructionists
assembling competent Cabinet with political rivals
grabbing the Mop to clean mess of 8 years
rescue of auto, financial, wall & main street stimulus
human rights, equality, constitutional law- his standards high
Race Relations, War & Peace & Noble Prize, go in history books
inspiration, motivation for millions in the world
polishing tarnished image of America on world stage
foreign travel across the world to reach out even to Mus lim countries
gained respect of peers, established his rightful place as great world leader
passing dozens of challenging legislations, bills, executive orders
historic campaign, win & governance -lamented on a learning curve
vision , mission & mandate with two wars, analysis of Dots for security
eyeing major reforms with monumental blocks, bick ering partisanship
education, economy, energy, health care, immigration, deficit – plate full
readiness in natural, unnatural, disasters, te rrors, threats
man of mixed heritage, understands diversity in the face of this nation
tolerance for ignorance, ra cist jokes, comments thrown at his face by foes
hall of fame carved & stoned his place in history that no one can steal
unwavering commitment for staying on the right side of wrong history
family, faith, friends, balance of public & private life- model for many
eloquence, manners, tone, temperament, humility
handsome cool cucumber, only envy of the world
Congratulations on your successful first year,

[Ifticar2]

05:45 PM on 01/25/2010

"Congratulations on your successful first year,"

Indeed. Keep it Mr. Obama. Carter had his fans too. Some actually still like Mr. Carter.

[bigteffie]

07:11 PM on 01/25/2010

You guys got it all wrong Obama has one bad flaw he wants people to like him. As a supervisor for many years I worked with other supervisors who worried about how well they were liked, needless to say not much got done on their part because they were too busy making sure they didn't hurt anyones feelings. He has a job to do we put him in charge now he needs to take charge we may not like what he does but we have complained about every President we have ever had.... so who cares if we don't like him as long as we don't go under.

[onthehunt]

06:08 PM on 01/25/2010

Did you raid your mommy's liquor cabnet today?? See what alcohol does to your mind. Run along now young one, put the bottle back in the cabnet before daddy comes home.

[mountainweb]

05:23 PM on 01/25/2010

Its not hazy, it is socialist and not in line with the majority of the democratic party. Also, he is still in campaign mode, he has NO CLUE on how to create jobs, the HC bill is a rolling pile of garbage that more people everyday realize could sink the country and therefore realizes that his fans base is shrinking.
If he takes a stand, it could well be the wrong one so his safe bet is to continue to vote "present" which was his track record in the Senate.

[LivingDebtFree]

04:53 PM on 01/25/2010

Only thing that needed to be put under the headline is this link to an earlier article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/15/voters-who-lost-faith-in_n_424834.html

Exactly why so many people are pissed off at Obama and why the are disillusioned.

[mikerobjohn]

04:52 PM on 01/25/2010

Mr. President, you disapproval rating is all ABOUT RACISM! Don't worry about it!

[KnowzyRowzy]

04:56 PM on 01/25/2010

NOT!

[mikerobjohn]

05:01 PM on 01/25/2010

Really? Then what do the repubs have to disapprove of?? Tax cuts, military, deficit, can't be the federal debt.

[ldmason45]

05:10 PM on 01/25/2010

I am a life long dem recently turned Independent. I'm also mod conservative, educated, black female. I do not agree with Obama's policies and know quite a few black friends and family members that agree with me. Do not use this racebaiting tactic because you do not have a legit point to defend yourself. It's sad and overdone. It cheapens the "real" examples and complaints of racism. It's shameful of you to even try this.

[Gmoney1]

12:40 AM on 01/26/2010

try again - you're not black nor are you educated - the only thing shameful is your comment -

[watchful123]

04:50 PM on 01/25/2010

bogomil:
This is interesting because the Holy One's economic vision is perfectly clear: enact policies that create an ever expanding social class that is increasingly dependent on government handouts. Once this group of unproductive and noncontributing people is large enough, they will be able to elect and keep in office the politicians that will keep the gravy train going. Not one unproductive or noncontributing citizen will vote for a politician that promises to cut off their handouts.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's almost as bad as the group of corporate welfare recipients who continue to recieve grants, tax breaks, subsidies and other special favorable treatment from republicans.

[mikefina]

04:37 PM on 01/25/2010

It seems like the groundwork is being laid for the POST-ELECTION damage-control.

The line will be a paraphrase of the crazy-construct "Jobs saved or created"--this time, "Congressional seats saved or created".

The critical error of this WH is that they promote the addition of Mr. Plouffe as a prescriptive fix of what ails them (policy) while advancing an insider politcs-only agenda.

Moreover, it ISN'T correct for the WH to say that politics and policy are "in sync". They are not. The POLITICS of HCR are to "kill the bill"--that's where the polling is. The POLICY says, advance and repair the Bill. No less a personage than the President argues that as a matter of POLICY, some Health Insurance Reform is required, even as the popularity of the Bill plummets.

Finally, the pivot to "populist" rhetoric, and a "taking-on" of Wall St. is a fool's errand. The President is not convincing when he stumps for reform, when the Republicans can rightly point out that HE took all the Wall St. money in the '08 campaign and HE enabled the free-money profiteering that occurred on his watch.

[yankee222]

04:51 PM on 01/25/2010

The country needs leadership and vision. All that Pluff will bring is spin - Dana Perino without the hoots.

[livinreality]

04:37 PM on 01/25/2010

Obama's economic vision is this an attempt at a bad joke?

[coolkraft]

04:35 PM on 01/25/2010

Term Limits and VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT...this is our only hope to get this country on the right track....

[ElsaIndy]

04:27 PM on 01/25/2010

Obama's economic policy, like most of his policies, are incoherent. He wants Bernanke to be confirmed while trying to sound like a populist. Obama has no idea what he is doing so he takes all sides of every issue. What a mediocre and ineffectual president...not the man we need for the job.

[AwakenYoshikawa]

05:04 PM on 01/25/2010

Can you tell me what is the repub/conservative plan or what they have done in the last 8 years to help the common man. Just one major thing, can you name it?

[Citizen13]

05:40 PM on 01/25/2010

They don't even know who was president in September, 2001.
Sad but true.

[MadeandBakedintheUSA]

04:26 PM on 01/25/2010

Meanwhile- GOP stalls delays slows down says no

US Tax payers allow Shell Oil to operate and profit in Iraq!

But healthcare in America- TEA party says no - so-

SLOW DOWN

Small baby steps!

Think SHELL takes small baby steps?

[LivingDebtFree]

04:40 PM on 01/25/2010

What?

[MadeandBakedintheUSA]

04:49 PM on 01/25/2010

Oh- you do not know who got the oil contract in Iraq?

SHELL OIL

Shell Oil was not in Iraq pre USA invasion

Do you know that?

Do you know that Shell is not an American Company?

Who do you think paid for Shell to even have the capability to operate in Iraq?

[MadeandBakedintheUSA]

04:50 PM on 01/25/2010

Did you miss 2009?

SLOW DOWN JAN 2009
SLOW DOWN FEB 2009
SLOW DOWN MAR 2009
SLOW DOWN APR 2009
SLOW DOWN MAY 2009
SLOW DOWN JUN 2009
SLOW DOWN JUL 2009
SLOW DOWN AUG 2009
SLOW DOWN SEP 2009
SLOW DOWN OCT 2009
SLOW DOWN NOV 2009
SLOW DOWN DEC 2009