(Editor’s comment: Mr. Kluesner, you are conveniently forgetting virtually every initiative proposed by Obama was obstructed and undermined by Republicans in Congress, even some initiatives that had at one time been championed by the Republican Party. One of their weapons, to prevent any good legislation from passing, was the filibuster used repeatedly by Republican obstructionists, especially Tea Party crazies, whose only goal was to squelch any legislation to deny Obama any successes. These obstructionists have proposed absolutely nothing to make this country better. Their do-nothing, balking, obstructionist tactics were caused by one thing and one thing only: an irrational, paranoid, deep-seated hatred of Obama. In short, they couldn’t tolerate the fact a great man was elected, not once but twice.)
Kevin Kluesner, St . Joseph
Dennis Dalman’s May 24 column is of interest insofar as, as a liberal he lets the so-called “ultra-right-wing-paranoid-fantasy fringe” (URWPFF) get under his skin, when in reality, politics has always been and will always be a dirty business. Every president before and after Lincoln has been pilloried by the other side. (Experience the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Ill. to see how bad he had it). Overreacting to one’s political enemies just feeds the flames of polarization!
What should be an affront to liberals is the president not delivering on much of what he promised. (Yes, Mr. Dalman will blame the Republican Party. No news there). The president has been elected twice and should be held accountable by his liberal base and by all citizens for not effectively leading the nation. The president had a unique opportunity in his first two years, with all three branches of government, to do something more than pass the health-care bill on a partisan vote.
Liberals should be asking why the unemployment rate is too high (especially for young college grads and young African-Americans); Gitmo is still opened; U.S. citizens are killed by U.S. drones; no climate-change legislation has passed; and no gun-control legislation has passed. Much of what the president has done has been by executive order. From a leadership standpoint, whereby a president leads the entire country, not just the voters he’s pandering to, he has failed. Reagan/O’Neil, Bush/Mitchell, Clinton/Gingrich, Bush/Kennedy are examples of previous presidents/congressional leaders working with one another.
Some liberals get upset with the “URWPFF.” Other liberals are disappointed with the president. He is popular. He is cool. However, at the end of the day, he lacks in leadership. The writing was on the wall when the Nobel Committee awarded him the Peace Prize before he entered the White House. The U.S. has twice elected a “Celebrity in Chief,” not a Commander in Chief.