Sunday, January 22, 2012

It could be worse.


"She's tellin' me about the things that her girlfriend's got
What she ain't got, and she wants me to go out and get ‘em for her
But, but girl, I can't be in two places at one time

If you think you're lonely now,
Wait until tonight, girl
(If you think you're lonely now) I'll be long gone
(Wait until tonight, girl) And you'll find another man that'll treat you right" [Video]

O should have been singing that classic Bobby Womack song instead of "Let's Stay Together" the other night at the Apollo. I am hearing a lot of liberals and progressives express disappointment with O lately. Many of them actually say that they regretted giving him their vote.

I love Bruce Dixon over at Black Agenda; fam is a true field Negro in my book. Bruce has been relentless in his attacks of O because he believes that he has been a huge disappointment as president. A sampling:"Next week will mark the third anniversary of Barack Obama's inauguration, and the unveiling of his fourth budget. Already White House spokespeople admit that it will be bad news for black and poor Americans. In three years this president has investigated and prosecuted not a single Wall Street banker or institution, not held up the wave of foreclosures a single week, not addressed the issues of black unemployment or black mass incarceration. But black America has silenced itself to protect the career of the First Black President."  [Source] I honestly don't know what folks like Bruce expected from Obama. Those of you who know me and read my writings know that I have said all along that there would be nothing spectacular in terms of progressive changes with an Obama presidency. I have said all along that he is a Democratic politician who is a product of the Chicago political machine, and that he is first and foremost a political moderate when it comes to governing.

His election was historic only for its imagery and the possibilities it represents; not because it was going to bring any fundamental changes in the American political landscape for poor people and people of color.

What Barack Obama has delivered is exactly what I expected. Nothing more, nothing less. In terms of foreign policy, he has kept the country relatively safe and he has improved our standing in the world with our allies. Domestically we have come back from the brink of an economic disaster, and growth has been slow but steady.  His justice department has been going after civil rights violators more aggressively than the previous administration, and his single appointment to the Supreme Court so far will act as a voice of reason on a body that is precariously close to being hijacked by a group of right wingnut extremist. (Just imagine how the court would look if McCain and Palin was elected. )

But let me go back to what Bobby Womack was writing about to that woman of his: If you think that Obama is bad, wait until either Mitt or Newt gets into office. I suspect that a lot of you progressives will be crying for the good old days of O again. But O won't be around, he- like Bobby told his woman- will be "long gone". And sadly, it could be a long time before you find another leader that will treat you right.

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