Obama ~ has your opinion changed?

[Hijo]

Voted for him with high hopes and was shocked about the result of the midterm election. The struggle between a democratic president and a rep majority in congress was what people voted for. I agree with others that he cannot pull the carriage out of deep mud in one term. Too much had been neglected and done wrong during the Bush era. All efforts of GOP to put the ongoing crisis into his shoes are so wrong. The housing crisis, Wall Street desaster were a result of GOP politics, even the bail-out of the banks had been signed before he took office. Thumbs up for his recent decision against the Keystone XL project (despite direct threat of electoral consequences from Big Oil), but he left several doors open for it to be revived. I am disappointed that he did not live up to several of his promises, one being the mandatory labeling of food (GMO ingredients!). Also, what I did not expect from him, is that he appointed Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack is ex-Monsanto. How can you make the fox the guardian of the henhouse? We already have enough Monsanto in key positions: Supreme Justice Clarence Thomas, USDA, FDA - you name it. The policy of revolving doors between big corp and government is not new, but from a president who grows an organic garden I would have expected different. The President's Cancer Panel advised President Obama "to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation's productivity, and devastate American lives." I haven't seen any decisions going into this direction. Instead the USDA and FDA are approving more crap than ever. Next is going to be 2,4-D resistant GE corn, another pesticide promoting crop. 2,4-D is highly toxic and causes major health problems from cancer to Parkinson. It also contains Dioxin (see Agent Orange) and is prone to drift thus damaging neighboring crops. Let alone the danger for humans, especially children. This is what really makes me nervous about a president who is so educated and has young children of his own. I guess it does not matter who is sitting in the White House, big corporations make the decisions here. The Citizens United rule (Supreme Justice Clarence Thomas presided) has opened all the gates for them to pay for what they want done. And since ALL our politicians receive money from corporations (they themselves call it "horing" - look up their income at opensecrets.org, it will shock you) they will listen, adjust and adhere to their pimps. And these pimps will run over every politician out there.
Sorry, big disappointment and skepticism for OUR future speaking here... and with that I do not mean the economy. For heaven's sake what are we going to do with money when we are sickened by what we eat, drink and breathe?

"Only when the last tree has died, And the last river been poisoned,
And the last fish been caught,
Will you realize that you cannot eat money.''

[lovelace]

Those who did not vote for Obama

• What are your opinions of him now? SAME AS IT WAS 4 YEARS AGO.
• Has your view point changed at all? No
• If you had it to do over again would you. NO

[joshmamabear]

I wasn't expecting miracles and although I voted independent, I had high hopes and supported him to see how he fulfills his promises of change. For me, he blew his chance and if he gets a second term, we all deserve it knowing what he has already done.

Sad to say, I am greatly disappointed and majority are in far worse situation, than when he came to office. Although I know no one who will replace him, whether democrat or republican, can work magic on our gargantuan complicated problems, if he wins a second term, then shame on us.

I'm leaning towards Ron Paul since I've been following what he's saying and so far, he's been consistent. He was one of those against the signing of NDAA into law.

[rheavon]

Yep, I voted for the guy.

What are your opinions of him now?
Not happy with him. Plus my life has changed dramatically from optimistic college kid to fiscally conservative homeowner. I don't appreciate how he keeps increasing the debt more and more without major major cuts (in my opinion, anyway).

Has your view point changed at all?
Definitely. Partly because my own life has changed and partly because I'm realizing he's out of touch with what's going on in America today (again, in my own opinion).

If you had it to do over again would you still vote for him?
Nope. I'm crossing my fingers for Ron Paul, honestly- but other than that, I don't really like anyone.

[434Teresa]

I voted for him. I agree with others that he cannot pull things up in one term. Probly will vote for him again. Why pay another person a president pay each year that is not the president? That only digs us futher in the hole