Letter to the Editor:

Obama, Democrats must move aggressively

Stanley R. Goldfarb, Las Vegas

Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 | 2:03 a.m.

Someone must remind the president that it was largely because of the efforts of students that he came to hold that office. He should ponder why it was that he inspired such enormous activity in those who were, until then, talkers rather than doers, watchers and complainers rather than activists. He must come to understand that thus far he’s let down the people who voted for him (voted for him, as opposed to voting against the other guy). They saw Barack Obama as more than just the lesser of two evils.

Of course I cannot be certain that people 50 years my junior see things the way I do, but I’m guessing students are even more disappointed than I am at Obama’s failure to lead with a firmer hand and to deliver on his promises to end our misadventure in Iraq and to provide access to health care for America’s poorest and weakest.

I look back with awe and envy at the way George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Tom DeLay pushed through law after law by cowing the opposition. Though coming to power with fewer popular votes than Al Gore, the administration falsely declared it had a mandate from the people and proceeded immediately to act as if it were true!

Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi need to remember they actually were given a mandate in 2008. After the 2010 elections, the Democratic majority in Congress will be weakened. If they expect to ever make good on their promises to do something lastingly good for the country, they must take firm hold of the reins of power and act surely and with absolute certainty today. Obama must lead. Hope is fading fast.

Discussion: 26 comments so far…

By LarryVegas

9/21/09 at 4:13 a.m.

Suggest removal

Stanley R. Goldfarb is a regular wailer to the LV SUN. Always plenty of rhetoric and very little substance...

That's right Stanley, Let have this administration ram another costly spending package through Congress and down the peoples throat without discussion or debate.

That, my friend is this Administration's way....
By brownln4

9/21/09 at 4:17 a.m.

Suggest removal

The dems are afraid to lead, least they make a mistake and have no one else to blame but themselves. With a dem President and congress, why is nothing getting passed ? The dems fear, that without republican support, the country will hold them responsible for their actions and they are afraid to act. Talk about a chicken way out. At least the republicans, when they were in power acted and passed legislation, not like the dems who can only admonish Joe Wilson - big whoop do. And Obama doesn't want to rock the boat and make any commitments without checking the polling numbers first - wouldn't want to upset the masses, they "may not like me". What a leader, afraid to make decisions. Can't wait until 2010 and 2012 when we can get rid of some these cowardly folks and get some real leaders into Washington.
By indythinker

9/21/09 at 5:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

StanG... remember this on 08/24/09? "I'm pretty sure that makes me a capitalist."

If that's true, which of course, I doubt...then why are you always arguing for the liberal agenda? Just askin'...
By SgtRock

9/21/09 at 7:05 a.m.

Suggest removal

Obama has/had his honeymoon period. Although, he did not win big but he did win good enough to get the standard mandates that all newly elected presidents get.

They have large majorities in both houses.

They seem to be in such a disarray that they can not even bring a bill up to vote to get the Republicans on the record.

Either the Democrats are incompetent or they are corrupt.

You pick.

Obama and his chief of corruption (Rahm) made deals with all kinds of groups...doctors, hospitals, drug companies and makers of medical equipment.

Rahm must believed that he was in the gaint candy store of corruption with the "stimulus" bills and cash bailouts for corporations fell into his lap.

Obama and his chief of corruption were born out of the US capital of corruption which is Chicago.

It is true that the only political language that Obama can speak is the lib language but I believe his true calling is corruption.

I believe that the Democrats have a corruption problem and you can put Blagojevich, Bill Richardson, Murtha, Moran, Visclosky, Dodd, Rangel, Burris, Dicks, Pascrell, Hobson, Doyle, Sanches, Holden, Ryan, Frank and Reid (his family members make millions in lobbying fees in DC each year) into the corruption pool. Pelosi is probably just incompetent.

But if you believe that is incompetence then go with that.
By Birdiedreamin

9/21/09 at 7:05 a.m.

Suggest removal

hey stanley...
good comment...
too bad the stupid pathetic republican liars simply can not comprehend the thought of doing what is best for the entire country...
they are so consumed with partisanship that everything is all out war...
they are so short sighted they can not even see when they are falling off a cliff like they did with w the scum bag liar loser clown...
they have no problem lying to get what they want...
they are like little itty bitty children...
want proof...
look at brownie comments above...
pathetic...
truly pathetic!!!
By Martel

9/21/09 at 7:21 a.m.

Suggest removal

The terrible truth for the Obama supporters is that he was elected largely because of Republican fatigue. His election was NOT a mandate and this is glaringly evident to anyone with their finger on the pulse of the current political climate. The few who "voted for him, as opposed to voting against the other guy" as Mr. Goldfarb stated are by their very nature unconcerned, and only acted when attracted by a bright shiney object and clever campaign slogans.
People who don't have the motivation to persist past the election were not that committed in the first place and probably voted for all the wrong reasons.
By indythinker

9/21/09 at 8:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

Well said...
By Phargo

9/21/09 at 8:59 a.m.

Suggest removal

Bright shiny object? Wassssssuuuuuppppppp!
By Johnathan_Abbinett

9/21/09 at 10 a.m.

Suggest removal

Prior to the 2008 Presidential election of Obama, there were only two other times in recent history when the college students turned out in force and voted, 1968 and 1972. 1968 they turned out or Goldwater - but, the student body politic didn't bring enough votes and Nixon won!

Then, in 1972 the studentbody politic turned out in even greater numbers (I was 19, and this was the first time I voted) - but, Nixon still won re-election! However, we did, finally, have a real impact in ending the Unjust War in Vietnam!

Only recently did the student body poltic turn out in sufficient numbers to lay claim and earn credit for contributing to an historical victory with the election of Obama in 2008 - KUDOS to ALL! But, this is just the beginning of a new generation of political activist that must build and sustain a movement that empowers them to brind the sort of change they want for their future and America!

Our youth should not make the historical mistake of becoming lacks and apathetic, or counting on the older folks to carry the burden of activism - that will fail (as it has in the past)! I'm 56 (and disabled) and my primary reasons for continuing to be very active politically remain the same - but, the #1 goal is to pass the torch of activism to this next generation of Americans as activists!

We are counting on all of the youth vote to get their stuff together, organize, train, activate every group on every campus nation-wide and Get Out Their Voice and Get Out The Vote (G.O.T.V.)!

There are only two major goals: To elect like-minded representatives AND pass legislation. It's all about winning elections and winning on issues!
By Martel

9/21/09 at 10:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

Be careful of what you do when you're young, because inevitably, you'll have to live with the consequences when you get a little smarter and see a little more clearly.
You need to be especially careful of old liberals who try to tap into the vigor of youth to advance their own failed causes.

In the words of Winston Churchill:
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.
By POWERPLAY

9/21/09 at 10:36 a.m.

Suggest removal

Hey Stanley: Most of the people that voted for President Obama wrongly thought he was just another Democrat instead he really was a SOCIALIST the whole time. And thats why those (Blue Dog Democrats) will not go to the mat for him.
By teamster

9/21/09 at 10:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

Health care reform will pass.

THE PARTY OF NO IS DONE.
By LarryVegas

9/21/09 at 10:39 a.m.

Suggest removal

Young voters are easily brainwashed by those on the both sides of the political spectrum. But the far left have an upper hand by brainwashing most students with far left teachers, instructors and professors.

Community organizers also pray on the youth, promising them everything but giving them nothing.

But in the long run, the youth does not usually turn out in very large numbers to vote.

Read the post by Socialist Johnathan_Abbinett. He spreads propaganda like a "Honey Wagon."
By LarryVegas

9/21/09 at 10:44 a.m.

Suggest removal

Health care reform will pass only with input from both sides of the isle.

If the Democrats try to ram HR-3200 through by themselves, they will lose control of Congress for a decade..

Both the Republican and Democrat parties are headed down the path to nowhere.

And that's all I got to say about that.
By LarryVegas

9/21/09 at 12:53 p.m.

Suggest removal

....OBAMA, DEMOCRATS MUST MOVE AGGRESSIVELY....

Is this aggressive enough???

The Washington Post reported over the weekend that the Justice Department's review of CIA will center on a narrow portfolio of cases.

The article also said that Holder DID NOT READ key memos before making his decision -- the memos were written by prosecutors under the Bush administration who explained their decision not to pursue charges against the CIA officers.
By NLV-Indep13

9/21/09 at 1:38 p.m.

Suggest removal

Obama & the Pelosi-Reid Dems HAVE moved aggressively across a number of fronts -- and they've failed. Where more modest changes might have succeeeded and benefited all, they opted for grandiose, and we're all paying the price. And the longer they continue to play to their far left, the more likely they will turn 2010's expected defeat into a rout. It's just too bad the the first "post-racial" Presidency will turn out to be such a Carteresqe failure. Guess Hillary was right.....
By LV4LIFE

9/21/09 at 2:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

Martel, you are absolutly wrong. You don't know what truth is. As for the rest of you, you really are not as clever as the words you parrot from your favorite talking head shows lead you to believe you are. I just love it when I hear words like "obamanation" and "repukes" again and again. Why is it that supposedly grown men and women turn in to 8th graders on sites like these. I mean really name calling....Does it get any more childish? Does anyone have anything constructive to add to the conversation?
By jlb101

9/21/09 at 2:07 p.m.

Suggest removal

Even if obamacare passes (or is shoved down our throats as few want it) the Republicans will take control of Congress in 2010 and they can stop funding to stall it very easily. In 2012 Obama will be out on the street and with a Republican Congress the whole thing can be scrapped. It is not scheduled to take effect until 2013. NO FREE CARE FOR FREELOADERS.
By LarryVegas

9/21/09 at 2:13 p.m.

Suggest removal

LV4LIFE:

Martel is absolutely correct. His post was well thought out. You don't have to agree with him.

Your rant is nothing but a bunch of garbage.

Here you go again and just putting people down for your self gratification.

The only child here appears to be YOU!!!
By Martel

9/21/09 at 2:56 p.m.

Suggest removal

Thanks Larry!
People who attack the messenger remind me of a dog my grandfather had that once attacked a porcupine. The more he tried to bite it, the more quills he received and the more quills he received, the more enraged he became until he was absolutely out of his doggy mind.

In the end the dog was a bloody mess and we had to spend 2 hours pulling quills with a pair of pliers, while the porcupine slowly ambled back to his tree no worse for wear.

Attacking the messenger only hurts the attacker. And in the end, there stands truth; independent, unfazed, unapologetic and no worse for wear.
By sheckyvegas

9/21/09 at 3:31 p.m.

Suggest removal

I have two words for all of you -- IRRADIATED TERMATERS!!!!!!!!
By indythinker

9/21/09 at 3:36 p.m.

Suggest removal

LOL...
By LarryVegas

9/21/09 at 3:54 p.m.

Suggest removal

There aint no bugs in them there termaters, because them there termaters been irradiated...
By Phargo

9/21/09 at 10:31 p.m.

Suggest removal

teamster:

Ain't gonna happen.
By teamster

9/22/09 at 12:01 a.m.

Suggest removal

You fools will soon find out that
Obama can walk on water.
By POWERPLAY

9/22/09 at 9:15 a.m.

Suggest removal

Hey teamster: GROW UP!