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Over the last few months Obama promissed to end the Iraq war, fix the economy, resolve the health care crisis, stop global warming, end our reliance on foreign oil in 10 years and provide ponies for everyone (okay I made up that last one). Now that he's won the election, is it even possible for him to keep his campaign promisses? The way I see it, he could be the best president ever and still fall short.

Matt, you have made a great point. IMHO, I think he's really going to try, and that statement is based on the fact that he is surrounding himself with bi-partisan think tank types. I really hope that comes to fruition. All that said, I think expectations are way too high.
Tim

Agree w/Tim. Expectations too high. Still voted for him though.

Those promises were made before the financial meltdown. The last 2 or 3 weeks he has been backing off a lot of that and acknowledging that the economy will have to be fixed first. He could do health care and energy and maybe another thing or 2 IF he ties them to the economy, as in ways to fix it. Health care and energy are part of the problem, so he might be able to do it like that.

How much he gets done is also going to depend on if they can find some moderate republicans who are willing to help them end philibusters.

Ironically John McCain, is likely to do that. His speech made me think the old McCain is back.

I fully expect him to live up to my expectations, though I pray that he doesn't.

I didn't think much of his final speech. My view is, what do you want him to say? Lash out and say how unfair it is that he lost or try and unite people and stand fully behind Obama so he can leave with some dignity and character from his Karl Rovism style campaigning.

I think a lot of people are afraid of Obama, and the fundamental change America has gone through with his election. And by a lot I mean the minority that supported McAmnesty.

That being said, I hope for his sake, for America's sake, for History's sake, he makes wise choices, and fulfills the promise he has brought with him. Not the campaign rhetoric, not the "I will do" this and that, but the change he promises, the dreams he can inspire, the difference he can make.

Man, I'm still high off the brilliance of the other night, that America proved the American Dream is alive and well. What am I thinking? He will be like every other politician, and accomplish little but be a politician.

To be honest, I don't know yet if he ever intended to keep any of his campaign promisses. I'd like to think he'll at least try, but I'm suspicious of politicians, especially those who promise me the world.

Also, there are a few campaign promisses I'd prefer he didn't keep. For example, he pledged to support a bill that among other things would legalize third-trimester abortions nation-wide, and force doctors and hospitals to perform abortions on-demand regardless of moral or religious objections.

First issue with that, *ELECTIVE* third trimester abortions are almost unheard of. Almost everyone is in favor of banning them, even Obama would go along with that. The thing is, third trimester abortions are nearly always because of a medical reason.

Doctors and hospitals would NOT be forced to preform abortions. Abortions are done by specialists in their own clinics. Doctors and hospitals would be forced to *REFER* patients seeking an abortion.

Just because someone has blind faith is some unproven nonsense is no reason for them to deny people access to abortions, or refuse to sell them morning after pills or contraceptives. If they can't get out of the dark ages, they need to get a different job. Preferably one that does not involve trampling all over other peoples medical rights.

Peoples right to worship the magic invisible sky daddy end when it starts to affect other people.

These ideas you express come from the religious right. A very questionable source.

Those are the same people who want to outlaw abortion (and in some cases birth control) even if a woman was raped or is likely to die in child birth. Because woman are 2nd class citizens to these fascist, theocratic, Authoritarian bedroom police.

Then there is the stem cell research issue. Well science is all crap to these people since half of them are creationist retards. Then the rest of then care more about a single 50 cell zygote then they do about a bunch of already self aware people with lives. People with families, people who are suffering. Just because something can become a person does not mean it is one. It's 50 FV(K1ng cells! It is about as sophisticated as bacteria at that stage.


Then there are the gay people. The religitards make federal cases and ballot measures to stop them from getting married. Just so they can take those peoples rights away.

Let me quote from the Declaration of Independence.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

That means everyone. No wiggle room at all, absolutely positively EVERYONE. When we declared our independence it was made clear everyone is equal here.

Then there is 9th amendment to the constitution which basically says, that just because you don't see the right here, it doesn't mean you don't have it. So chances are, if it doesn't infringe on the rights of others, it is your right.

Then of course they immediately think of marriage to children, animals and relatives as the natural progression since many of them are quite disgusting and depraved due to the sexual repression of religion. They actually consider two consenting adults of the same sex who love each other with all their hearts to be the same thing as molesting children. It makes me want to puke.

Fv(K them all and the horse they rode in on for saying my marriage is invalid because I don't have kids! (another excuse they use to ban gay marriage). If the Mrs and I want to get pregnant we will, until then they can kiss my formerly fat ass!

This brings me to the pure hatred spewed at atheists. Like I am some amoral animal. Yet they seem to have the ethics problems. So many of them are sick twisted bigots.

So anyway, that's why I had to point out those flaws in your logic. Because of where you must have gotten them.

In response to the first point, I too would have been cynical had I not read Audacity of Hope and gotten a good feel for his character.

As it turns out, he is already looking into keeping his promises. He hit the ground running considering this was just days after his victory. He is also showing he doesn't mess around considering the fact that he doesn't take office until the end of January.

http://www.chroniclet.com/2008/11/10/ob ... rders_122/

I'm in agreement with Ironman here. I to am a roman catholic but I support abortion. The US is nothing like the Islamic world where life itself is built around their religon. I won't view the issue based on my own religon, if a person is an atheist or w/e why should they be forced to live by the moral standard set by my religon?

Gay Marriage - I don't support that but I support a civil union which would give all the benefits of marriage would be fine.

I'm impressed by what he's done so far, he won't even be in there for another 2 months.

Presidnt elect Obama has certainly hit the ground running, and so far, so good, but time will tell. He's certainly faced with a lot of challenges; the economy, health care, two wars, etc. What I like is he is surrounding himself already with knowledgeable people based on their abilities, rather than their party affiliations.
Tim

You know it's funny Ironman, you're obviously very sensative about the stereotypes and misconceptions people have about Atheists, and yet you're so quick to stereotype anyone who's views differ from your own. I don't remember saying anything about birth control, stem cell research, or gay marriage.

As for the bill I refered to ... yes it would legalize elective third-trimester abortions, since it would end all state restrictions on abortion. If I can find the article I'll post it.

Meanwhile, my personal views on abortion are as follows ... Life begins at conception. That isn't a religious belief, it's a scientific fact. Exactly when that life becomes a person is a matter of opinion, so I can understand the argument for allowing abortions in the very early stages of development (although personally I'm against all elective abortions). Elective abortions performed in the late stages of development are another matter entirely. A nine-month-old fetus is a baby, and I don't see how anyone can argue in favor of legalized infanticide.