Barack Obama was elected president in 2008 with an abundance of "hope" in the air. Change was possible, a "yes we can" atmosphere was prevalent among many in our society who had seen their hopes dashed in preceding years. Younger voters who had been disenchanted with the political process returned to the voting booths in increasing numbers, sensing that hope and change just may be possible through this new political voice out of Illinois, who spoke so compellingly about the "Audacity of Hope". Cautious optimism was spreading among those who wanted a government more responsive to change, to the will of the underrepresented and underserved in our nation. Obama may be lacking in experience, but he seemed sincere, his heart was in the right place, with the needs of the majority of people. He approached assuming the presidency with a real sense of purpose, was reading extensively about both Lincoln and FDR and how they engaged their presidencies. Would he govern more like Lincoln, form a team of rivals in his cabinet and try to gain consensus with Congress in pursuit of his primary initial goal, in Obama's case, major health care reform, or would he govern more like Roosevelt, form a cabinet of strong believers in his vision of what America needs, mainly economic recovery through basic financial, governmental, and social welfare change?Would he be able to follow through with some of the success that history has bestowed on these notable role models?
True to his campaign promises prior to the economic collapse of 2008 fully hitting, Obama held to health care reform as his primary initial focus, after several stop-gap economic stimulus attempts to spur the economy. These attempts had rather limited effects--they succeeded in saving some of the "too big to fail" financial institutions that had been instrumental in bringing on the economic downfall, may have prevented further decline, but any real recovery was painfully slow to offer help to the millions of middle class and more impoverished Americans who were most hurt by the housing and financial collapse. With health care, wanting to avoid the problem that the Clinton administration had when it formed an independent commission to plan a new health program, Obama involved Congress, then Democratically-controlled, in planning the program, and was able to get one through, but at great political cost and, as with most congressional creations, it was a hybrid program with some strong features, but offset by some key central weak aspects. So far, Obama could claim a partial success, but the main initial factor diluting the hope with which he was elected was the extent of the almost overwhelming challenges he was encountering. The reality of these challenges has been a continuing, and detrimental, influence on virtually everything Obama has attempted to achieve.
The challenges Obama has faced emanated from three main sources--the economic downfall and the pressure for austerity that it triggered, markedly limiting the resources available to meet existing needs, not to mention new programs involving change; unified opposition from congressional Republicans to virtually everything Obama was proposing, starkly stated by their Senate leader proclaiming at the outset of his administration that their main objective was to insure that Obama is a one-term president; and the success of the tea party movement in capturing a great deal of public interest and enthusiasm away from the populist goals that Obama's programs were meant to address and turned much popular sentiment into anti-government, anti-Obama fervor. Rather than strongly fighting back and pursuing his policies in a steadfast way, Obama responded in a cautious, reasonable way, continuing to seek cooperation from Republicans and find consensus with them, typically to no avail. He was clearly no FDR as a leader. Financial institutions were not reined in, abuse of consumers was allowed to continue, CEO's and those responsible for the mortgage collapse and illegal financial manuevers were not penalized, major bargaining chips in negotiating for controversial changes were given away at the outset, like the failure to include a public option as at least one alternative in the health care changes. Obama could talk a great game, but the follow-through was often lacking, he had lost his momentum, his mojo to produce change. Audacity was nowhere in sight. His base, and younger voters, were no longer believers, in this context it was not surprising that he lost significant ground in the 2010 elections. While he could talk like a progressive at times, he governed more like a moderate, and a somewhat indecisive one at that.
In the period between 2010 and 2012, Obama's administration could point to some gains, the economy was gradually recovering, however slowly, we had extracted ourselves from Iraq, and had reasonably firm plans to leave Afghanistan. In contrast to the foreign policy deceit, disasters, and wars of choice of the Bush-Cheney years, Obama's foreign policy seemed responsible, realistic, steady. The public was in no mood for optional overseas involvement, and Obama's reluctance to get any more involved than absolutely necessary in Libya, Syria, Iran, No. Korea, Yemen, etc, struck most Americans as just fine, Bush had shown how American involvement and arrogance could misfire. With the concern on economic survival of American families at home, the finer points and potential problems of overseas policies were mainly under the radar of people's concerns. The unresolved problems that concern us overseas, such as questionable drone use, failure to close Gitmo or grant those there some hearing to determine their status, continuing search for a just solution to the 65 year old conflict between Israel and the Palestinians over a secure homeland for Palestinian arabs, Iran's nuclear ambitions, governmental uncertainty and anti-american sentiment in Pakistan, are all important, but easily deferred from demanding immediate attention. Obama's caution internationally is appreciated, Republicans pushing for more aggressive policies do not have a receptive audience. Our sole superpower status now bears an asterik, our power is not unlimited, we need leaders who respect that fact, it seems Obama does. Both domestically and internationally, change and hope aren't at the forefront, the adrenalin rush of positive momentum is not evident, but that seems appropriate, in keeping with the realities of the current time.
That Obama won the 2012 election was a personal victory for him, and partial vindication from the barrage of attacks that have plagued his years in office, but also an indication of the absolute paucity of decent candidates the Republicans had to offer. Romney ended up being their default candidate, nobody really strongly wanted him, but after rejecting the likes of Bachman, Cain, Gingrich, Perry, Santorum, and virtually running any remaining moderate Republicans out of the party, Romney was the last man standing, his style and words alienated much of the electorate, the Republican base was smaller than ever, and he lost the election as much as Obama won it. Obama's sense of elevated "hope", unfortunately, has not returned. He does have renewed energy, his good intentions are there, his integrity is intact, but his leadership ability is not sufficiently strong to engage and endure the obstacles. The challenges are as strong as ever, in the Republicans in congress, in a politicized Supreme Court, in the economy, in domestic and foreign factions that resent and are out to oppose any interference they see as our government imposing on their lives. While Obama may not be the person who can break through the existing stalemate and initiate some of the changes that many in our nation desire--a revitalized middle class, more economic fairness and equality within a vibrant free enterprise system, a less intrusive government in relation to personal privacy and security, a govenment that is a true champion for the growth and needs of a majority of its citizens, not just the special interests and more priviledged few--the sentiment for those changes still exists, deeply embedded in the hopes of many Americans. Obama stimulated that hope, that "yes we can" spirit, in 2008. It may be lying largely dormant now, but it awaits being awoken and aroused again, and next time, perhaps with fewer obstacles and a different leader, brought more fully into actuality.
