Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Helpful Advice for President Obama?

In a recent opinion editorial, conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks offers a diagnosis for President Obama's sagging approval ratings and advice for 2010. Read the column here and then offer your reaction - what do you think about Mr. Brooks' point-of-view? What advice would you offer President Obama for 2010?

10 comments:

Kramer said...

I think that David Brooks makes a good point in his last paragraph. Obama needs to realize that he himself does not run this country, but the people, as stated in the Constitution.

Katherine F. said...

Obama is fighting and pushing for health care reform because he has had it set in his mind for so long to get health care reform. I think Obama should listen to what the American people are trying to tell him from the Massachusetts election: we do not want a government run health care system. If he passed the healthcare bill I think that would be very arrogant of him to neglect what the people are saying, because the majority of the population want government to serve as little a role as possible.

joefirth45 said...

I think David Brooks is correct in saying that the people want a say in everything, but when things get serious people want to know that they can have a government that is "helpful" and "subordinate". Also I agree with Kramer where "Obama needs to realize that he himself does not run this country, but the people, as stated in the Constitution." Scott Brown proved this as well when he made the point that its the people's chair in the Senate not Kennedy's or the Democrats'

TWELLS said...

Scott Brown makes very valid points throughout his argument with saying that the people run the country and not obama, but with saying this comes in another view point that if the people want to be the brain of the country and not just followers then people must do so with presenting ideas to the country's problems. I'm not in favor of Obama nor am I against him but if we don't lead him in the correct direction then he will continue to attempt to pass bills but be shut down because he is uncertain on what the people want. Yes, Scott Brown does make good examinations of Obama's first year but if the people are intended to be the brain of the country then we must think on our own and use government to express the public's power.

Fahrin Aziz said...

Although I don't classify my self as a Democrat or Republican, I think it is very crucial for the president(Obama) to listen to everyone. I think Obama is determined to get universal health care because from his election time he has made it a point and in my opinion all he cares about is to prove to the American people he can stick to his words. By doing this he is avoiding what others (in different states) have to say about it. I think it would be quite atrocious for him to pass the health care bill because he is just looking at the democrat side, he wouldn't be appealing to the people who classify themselves to be in the middle of the political spectrum. If he keeps this up the re-election will be quite competitive and Obama's stakes of staying in office could be low. This leads me to conclude that I agree with what others have said that "Obama needs to realize that he himself does not run this country, but the people, as stated in the Constitution."

Katherine Savoy said...

I agree with David Brooks on some points he makes but in the end i think that we need to rely on President Obama more and doubt him less. Yes, the people must remain in control, but they have to stop doubting every single thing the President does and just trust him.

will hall said...

I agree with David Brooks mostly because it seems like President Obama has become the brain of this nation. He seems reluctant to make the changes that Americans are wanting in health care and he has started many programs that aren't neccessary. If President Obama wants to win back the people, he will have to play a lesser role in controlling the United States and start listening to what the people want from health care.

BigBoyVan said...

I certainly agree with Mr. Brooks because President Obama is beginning to "stick his nose where it's not wanted", and is trying to do too much at one time. For example, all of these programs that are being started to try and stimulate employment may be needed, but not right now when the controversial health care bill is trying to be passed as well. All of these programs will be payed for mostly by the taxpayers, and the taxpayers really do not need more taxes, while many are still struggling to find jobs. Also, most of the programs President Obama is starting are not very necessary.

MeganT said...

I agree with David, I think that Obama is "sticking his nose where it is not wanted." I think that Obama is not only trying to do too much at once but he is not communicating his ideas well with Congress and the American people and because he is not communicating well, that is the main cause of his sinking approval ratings. Although I do not agree with most of Obama's plans, I think that he needs to play more of his role as Chief Legislator to influence Congress in its law making. We need to make a firm decision, wether it is in agreement with Obama or not, because just waiting around where we are now, in a terrible economic depression, is the furthest place Obama promised to be a year ago.

BICKEL said...

Although my opinion, at 17, is mostly uneducated and does not matter, I will add to this anyways. Obama seems to be in over his head. He is hardly through his first year and struggling. In his eyes, the weight of the world is resting on his shoulders. When really, the people hold all control. There are reasons why one of the most popular president's approval ratings are steadily decreasing. I feel he has a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that America is not his. It's ours. He is pushing too hard in some areas and not hard enough in others. It almost seems he has lost sight of the war and is now fighting the fact that he really IS losing popularity. I believe his focus right now is to gain his approval back and not on really what matters most, the well being of the American people.