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Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
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On Obama as President

03 May 2016 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
Kimball Corson
James Zogby argues that a recent article in "The Atlantic" was disappointing in that it presents a portrait of a President who appears to have given up trying to deliver on the promise of his 2009 Cairo speech. Obama has resigned himself to an "unfixable" Middle East and "thrown in the towel", blaming the Arabs for this failure.

I take the Atlantic's criticism further and argue for the last year and a half or so, Obama has largely given up trying across the board and since then has more just presided over the country as an emperor, playing golf, taking many vacations and spending more time with his family. The fight has gone out of him. His promises of "Hope and Change" are a distant joke. Lobbying, money in politics, corruption, dishonesty and wealth and income inequality have gotten far worse, not better, under his tenure. He seems unaware of those developments or wills to ignore them. To say the Republicans blocked him is only to say he has provided no real leadership.

He panders to Wall Street and, in too many regards, simply became Bush II on matters economic and a definite Republican Lite. Conservatives set the agenda and he simply goes along, especially with deficit cutting budgets. Gitmo remains open. Wall Street and other big companies were bailed out. America's middle class was left clobbered and all but ruined without any help. Obama has also been a disaster for civil rights, and the economy lives in its new "lower low" relative to where it should be. 42 % of America's working age population remains unemployed under Obama. Capital's share of national income has risen substantially, while Labor's has fallen. Economics overwhelms Obama.

His base demeanor is discouragement. His fight for good and justice is gone. He is and has been no leader. He follows moderate Republicans he earlier fought. He plays golf with them and those at the helms of big banks which screw and cheat us. He has become resigned. "Hope" is gone and the "Change" generally has been for the worse, except for the 1% he plays golf with. Hillary follows in his footsteps.

______

Asked what I would have done differently than Obama were I president, I answer --

I would have listened to all, but then decided for myself independently what should be done. I would have used the bully pulpit to involve all America in everything I did and proposed. I would have spoken as much truth as I am capable of so all would understand my vision on things, and I would have fought the good fight hard on every issue until the very bitter end. I would not do what is expedient and I would have attacked my opponents on their failings and obstructionism. I would have been a serious and tireless warrior.

I wouldn't have had time to play golf.
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Vessel Name: Altaira
Vessel Make/Model: A Fair Weather Mariner 39 is a fast (PHRF 132), heavily ballasted (43%), high-aspect (6:1), stiff, comfortable, offshore performance cruiser by Bob Perry that goes to wind well (30 deg w/ good headway) and is also good up and down the Beaufort scale.
Hailing Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
Crew: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
About:
Kimball Corson: I am a 75 year old solo sailor, by choice. However, I did take on a personable, but high maintenance female kitten, now a full grown cat, named KiKiPoo when she is sweet, or KatKatPo after she has just killed something like a bird or bat. [...]
Extra:
Although I was a lawyer and practiced law with good success for thirty years, creating significant new law, I never really believed in the law, the politics of law or in the over reaching self-interest of most lawyers I met. Too much exposure to Nietzsche and other good and seriously thoughtful [...]
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Profile

Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ