So Irratated

[marutidas]

It has been more than 100 days since Obama took office. In the beginning of his term, I felt like I could believe in America again, that is was alright to hope again. Within two days of beginning his term he signed a executive order to have Guantanamo Bay shut down, and stop all torture. During his campaign he promised that he would moved to end DADT.

But apparently 100 days is a long time and he has seemed to forgot all about the people who put their hope in him. He is so articulate, so charismatic, all the reason the disappointment tastes that much bitter.

Gay Marriage aside

There has been no move to end DADT, something that he could do as commander in chief of the of the military could do via executive order, but wants do do it by the legislature, from which there obviously no support for on either side. Every year highly trained, in some cases highly decorated officers are discharge for no other reason than being Gay. Something that costs America millions of dollars to train someone else to replace them. See rachel.msnbc.com 5/19/09 for the full story.

I may not support war, but do support a persons right to choose.

Torture on the other hand,
Resistance from the Obama White house to pursue a truth commission or prosecution, to even close Guantanamo, and other prisons that conducted torture. Even keeping the Bush era tribunals going, instead of allowing actual prosecutions on the detainees of these prisons. A measure earlier this week that would have actually closed these facilities and move the Detainee to U.S. Prisons, was defeated 97-6, Republican fear baiting is the reason that one. Check out rachel.msnbc.com 5/20/09for the full story.

Everyone says that he can't do these thing because he is so overburdened from the crap left by the Bush administration, and yes that may be right on somethings, like the economy, for example. But peoples' lives hang in the balance and doing the opposite of what you said that got you into office, isn't that just a little hypocritical?

I might just be ranting right now, but I just feel less and less hopeful everyday that our New President reverse course on so many important promises.
~MD

[Pablo Rafael]

I share some of your frustration with the course of things in Washington. I was hoping for some great turn-around in the course of events in our nation.

However, I think maybe the President's approach in the long run might be beneficial. He is willing to compromise and work with others to get things done. It may not be 100% of what he wants, but it at least gets things moving the in the right direction.

Bush seemed to have bliners on. He was unwilling to work with anyone or look at any points of view other than his own. He surrounded himself with people of the same mindset as himself. As a result his presidency was a disaster.

Obama, on the other hand, seems willing to look at other points of view. I am more willing to put up with small changes that move the country forward than an explosion of energy that soon fizzles out and accomplishes nothing.

We are getting progress on LGBT rights, universal healthcare, domination of this nation by big corporations, unbridled free enterprise, and moral issues. With all that moving slowly in the right direction, I am encouraged.

[Gennee]

I believe that we the people need to be more active in the issues that matter to us. Washington can only do so much. I am involved with a group looking to create an independent media (no corporate funding or government backing)that addresses the issues of ordinary people.

I am seeking to be more involved in transgender issues. I desire to speak to groups and organizations about my life as a transgender person. Nothing beats sitting and sharing with people one to one. May fols don't know that much about gay issues either.

Gennee

[u-dog]

Marutidas,

Keep in mind that Obama is trying to move forward on a hugely broad front all at the same time. get the economy back on track, reform banking and wall street, reform health care, fight global warming, fight terrorism, undo the excesses of the Bush administration and fight two wars. He needs an enormously broad coalition of supporters to do what he is trying to do and therefore has to move forward carefully on controversial issues like DADT and DOMA.

I believe he will keep his promises on these issues and probably has a time frame in mind for them. The important thing for the GLBT community to do is to BOTH keep the pressure up on his administration and congress (lest they come to believe that throwing GLBT issues under the bus is cost free or that we no longer care about them) AND to actively support him in his OTHER priorities (Global warming is no better for GLBT people than it is for anybody else).

Just my thoughts. If Obama succeeds at all that he is tryng to do we and our children (and neices and nephews) and our grandchildren (and great-nieces and great nephews) are ALL the big winners.

U-dog