Biggest Mistake Made By President Obama Since He Took Office (Congress, Iran)

[LauraC]

In your opinion what was the ONE biggest mistake made by President Obama since he took office?

Please don't just say the issue (like the economy, big government, Iran, the border, gay rights, the oil spill, global warming, bailouts, etc.) but say specifically what he did or didn't do to make it what you consider to be his biggest mistake. I suspect liberals/progressives think he at least made one mistake even if it is different than the mistakes non-liberals/progressives mention so I hope everyone weighs in.

[joseph107]

not addressing freddie mac & fannie mae (the governement agencies that created the housing bubble & bust)

[delusianne]

I think he's doing fine except for one thing: he must communicate with "us" better, in the way Americans like/need. I don't understand what the problem is there. Surely they understand the need. He's doing the right things but he needs to walk "us" (ah, that means the suspicious and confused among "us") along with him as he goes. The RWs have a point that he says "I" too much. The radio addresses are pointless if no one listens. Surely they know his image that's been created in the RW. It's so incorrect and they could fix it but they don't.

Don't see why they don't hire some good writers and fix this problem, it's hugely important. Peggy Noonan and the other writer, Jim Whatsisname, weren't the last of the decent writers.

[TempesT68]

Reaching across the isle. I do give Obama respect for being the bigger person trying to put aside the politics and work with the republicans, which they strongly opposed.

[le roi]

I'm torn. Obama's biggest mistake is either:

a) not standing up to the insurance industry when dealing with healthcare
or
b) not standing up to large financial institutions when dealing with the economy. (this includes Fannie & Freddie, since F&F are just a tool to socialize risk for Bank of America, Citi, Chase, Goldman, etc.)

in both cases you have rent-seeking industries that push the boundaries of a state-sanctioned monopoly or a cartel, where average Americans would be better off with more market competition. Obama missed his opportunity to frame a lot of these as antitrust issues.

I think of it like this: Americans hate socialism, and rightly so. However, as a new president in a crisis situation, Obama was issued one "Socialize one industry free" card. Instead of using it on something "for the people", he used it primarily on large financial institutions.

[Win lose or draw]

Assuming that the GOP was reasonable and willing to compromise.

[HistorianDude]

Actually expecting the Republicans to be interested in governing.

[joseph107]

Originally Posted by le roi

I'm torn. Obama's biggest mistake is either:

a) not standing up to the insurance industry when dealing with healthcare
or
b) not standing up to large financial institutions when dealing with the economy. (this includes Fannie & Freddie, since F&F are just a tool to socialize risk for Bank of America, Chase, Goldman, etc.)

in both cases you have a rent-seeking industries that push the boundaries of a state-sanctioned monopoly or a cartel, where average Americans would be better off with more market competition. Obama missed his opportunity to frame a lot of these as antitrust issues.

I think he has scared the hell out of the financial industry so much that they will not even provide mortgages.

If you get a new mortgage there is a 95% chance it is from the federal government. (it however is just be serviced by a bank--statements ect)

[DowntownVentura]

Originally Posted by TempesT68

Reaching across the isle. I do give Obama respect for being the bigger person trying to put aside the politics and work with the republicans, which they strongly opposed.

Originally Posted by Win lose or draw

Assuming that the GOP was reasonable and willing to compromise.

Originally Posted by HistorianDude

Actually expecting the Republicans to be interested in governing.

Obama started off with that reaching across the aisle charter but it was all news spots on meetings. He did not ever intend to implement any of the republican ideas. It was just for show. At this point, Obama and the democratic controlled senate and house have done so much damage, I applaud the republicans stand to try to limit the damage. It does not work when one party calls all the shots, either party. The only way to control that is to have the president one party and congress the other.

[Upton]

Originally Posted by LauraC

In your opinion what was the ONE biggest mistake made by President Obama since he took office?

Please don't just say the issue (like the economy, big government, Iran, the border, gay rights, the oil spill, global warming, bailouts, etc.) but say specifically what he did or didn't do to make it what you consider to be his biggest mistake. I suspect liberals/progressives think he at least made one mistake even if it is different than the mistakes non-liberals/progressives mention so I hope everyone weighs in.

I've got more than one.

Obama has pretty much ignored his base...progressives. I'm not happy about it, and I'm far from alone.

HCR was a mistake. Obama should have put his administration to work on the economy from day one almost exclusively. Instead, not only did he polarize the opposition with HCR, but the final bill was little more than a giveaway to the health insurance industry. Meanwhile there's been little if any improvement to the economy..no wonder people are upset.

He was slow on the draw with the BP leak..giving the impression that he wasn't doing anything. At a time like that, the country needs a leader...not some dude acting cool...

Then there's Afghanistan, it's become his Vietnam, his Iraq. We're spending billions over there, losing lives..and for what, to prop up a corrupt government? I can get that kind of garbage from a Republican.