Obama the Enigma

When you go to look up the meaning of enigma in the dictionary, it should have Barack Obama's picture. He is a perfect example of a contradicting person, at least he has been since his election. He is constantly changing his position and by doing so has alienated both the Right and Left. Nobody knows who Obama is anymore. Dictionary.com says "a person of puzzling or contradictory character: To me he has always been an enigma, one minute completely insensitive, the next moved to tears. " Sometimes, it can be complimentary to refer to one as an enigma, because it can almost hint at complexity in character. However, to refer to a politician as such, especially the President of the United States, is most certainly not a compliment.
Some of his vascillating could be do to the reality of his new office. I believe that he went into the Presidency a bit naive about what he could actually accomplish. He probably could have stayed more true to his values as a Senator than as the President. Our checks and balances system keeps him at bay. His agenda has shifted to the right out of necessity. He needs to survive as a politician and as the President. He must recognize that much of his goals will be compromised in this process. And yes, this has happened. Especially when it comes to the public option. http://yeswestillcan.org/?source=old-p-auto-tw
If you click on to this link, you will see that the progressive community is becoming highly frustrated with Obama's duplicity. They want to remind Obama, and all of America that Obama did indeed campaign on the public option, and he campaigned against the insurance mandate that has conveniently survived the bill.
He is in serious political trouble, because his flip flop on this issue could be political suicide, just ask John Kerry. And if you doubt that a politician's words can come back to haunt him, just ask George H. W. Either way, Obama is losing his base by moving further to the right. This is not a smart move considering he never had the right, and he never will have them.
Sorry, but what we have here is politics as usual. They all make grand promises that they can't keep. I will never doubt that he had pure intentions, but reality has come home. Hillary Clinton was right, Obama was living in a fantasy land.

Big labor gets "lump of coal" for Christmas

I hope the labor unions were not expecting any big gifts in the health care bill, scheduled to vote and pass on Christmas Eve.  Despite the fact that Obama has been the most labor friendly of many of the past administrations in  years, Obama has left a bitter-sweet taste in the mouths of the labor leaders.  The provision that will tax the so called "catillac plans" will inevitably hit many of their members. 
Likewise, AFL-CIU and the SEIU felt left out of the economic recovery plan that targeted Wall Street.  They also feel somewhat slighted that the Employee Free Choice Act has been pushed back to 2010.  But they cannot deny that the President has given them access and input given to few other organizations.  So, the AFL-CIU and the SEIU neither formally oppossed or supported the bill.  Sources claim that behind closed doors, they have voiced their frustration.  It seems that the Obama Administration has given them much reason to hope, but not alot of substance as far as actually granting the Unions something they desire.
The labor unions had pushed hard for a public-option, and it looks like they too will come away empty handed if and when this bill becomes law.

SEIU president Andy Stern declared in a conference last week that "We need his suasion.  We need his personal involvment and we are totally convinced that what we want is what he wants."  He was referring to President Obama and his lack of involvemnt in the Union's plight, and lack of influence in this health care bill.
Many on the left have attacked Obama for his seemingly indifferent approach to the contents of this bill.  It seems to me he just wants to get a middle of the road bill passed while not offending too many on the left or right. Is this compromise or lack of leadership?  Or just politics? 
He will never appease the Right, because they are just rooting for his demise.  It is political suicide to lose your base.  Still yet, the Unions are not ready to give Obama the finger just yet.  Staying in his good graces is a plus, and they are betting that eventually, it will pay off.  Right now, labor has seem little concessions.  Merry Christmas Big Labor.  Hope  you enjoyed that mandate!  Oh, I am sorry, that was a gift for the insurance companies.  Ho!Ho! Ho!

Blogging from the left, to make things right

The purpose of this blog is going to be a place where i can vent about politics, while giving the readers a chance to get some information.  Likewise, the reader is welcome to vent as well, through comments of course.  I have had it with politics in this country.  We need some real changes if we will ever live the true meaning of our creed.  I believe my political views are very American.  I believe in social, economic and political justice.  However, I am not naive.  I know the people in power will not willingly give up their power and priviledge.  They don't want to live in the America that our forefathers had envisioned.  They also think they have a monopoly on what it means to be an "american."  The right claims to embody the values of America. 
I couldn't disagree more.  America has always been about change.  We have moved to the left politically, over time, not the right.  We as Americans have pushed continually for America to live up to its own high standards of granting every citizen life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It has been a long hard fight, with many of our freedom fighters giving all for freedom.  Martin Luther King had a dream that one day we would live out the true meaning of our creed.  He died, but his fight lives on. 
I believe in fighting for what is right.  We live in a democracy.  We have more power than we realize.  Change will take place only if we push for it, everyday., never to give up.  Unrelenting, uncompromising  justice is what we should demand.  No less.  Some people give in, and give up.  Yet, some people never give up.  We all will die someday, but our plight will carry on.  That is who i want to be, I am no longer happy setting on my sofa bitching and moaning.  I want to do something.  Complacency is the enemy of change and progress.  Do you think the slaves gave up?  No!  Many of them whipped, beat and even killed, they still never gave up.  They demanded it!  Freedom is not easy and is not cheap.  The tree of liberty has often been replenished with blood.  So the dream lives on, and we the people, of this United States need to take back what is ours. 
So this is an overview of this blog.  Please read it.