Frank Schaeffer (HuffPost): ….. commentators like Paul Krugman owe President Obama an apology, an “I was wrong” about the economy, the direction of our country, the success of President Obama’s methods of “compromise” (as opposed to their’s of “bold” ideological intransigence…)
Why? Because 2011 will see the USA rebounding, the Democratic Party doing well in 2012, the country in boom times by 2013 and the President having a great second term.
….We find ourselves in the position of survivors of a shipwreck clinging to a life raft. President Obama is that “life raft.” Our young president is leading us at a time of extraordinary peril. He and we face overwhelming challenges including two wars and a financial crisis he had dumped into his lap by fools.
….A reassessment should come from what might be called the Krugamites. They could do what Rachel Maddow did when she said “I was wrong” while speaking of how she’d given up hope that the President could pull out his year end list of remarkable victories.
Then again Maddow hasn’t staked her reputation on our president’s failure, as have people like Krugman, who has never warmed to our first black president …. he never forgave Obama for winning the election … his support for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama was clear in 2008 …
….The President keeps proving himself smarter than his detractors. (This must be tough to take for Krugman. When you are a Nobel Prize winner in economics and stake your claim on a place in history by second guessing a man who – it’s turning out – is smarter, even about your own field, than you are, it’s time to prepare to eat crow….
Obama’s lefty critics … seem to be blind to the fact that the President is a genuine progressive but not a fundamentalist crank. He’s proving that he’d rather get something actually done than achieving nothing while grandstanding, as do the ideologues of both the left and right.
President Obama also keeps proving that, compared to the talking-head Left of the Democratic Party, he knows how to get things done that actually change lives and matter – health care reform, actual gay rights (instead of mere slogans), actual education reform, etc….
…..his Lefty critics look more and more like petulant teenagers who are too small to admit that they are wrong.
Read the full article here
The Obama Diary 
The point Mr. Schaeffer made is a proven fact that the left will not admit. The left must stop being know it alls and learn to work with others.
I read this article earlier, on the HP. I hardly go there anymore. Because of the hateful paid (my thoughts only) people who post there. But Frank Scheffer got it right. Down to the nitty gritty right. I write and post about the same thoughts often. Our President seems to look at a glass half full as opposed to a glass half empty. He would rather work to get something for the American people as opposed to nothing after a long hard battle. Just for the sake of battle.
He is very strategic with everything he approach. Even to his speaking about a topic. If he do it’s to bring something to the forefront for a national conversation. He never do anything without thinking it through. Watching him talk or answer questions, he is always thinking while he is talking. This is why so many people think that he is the smartest person in the room when they leave him.
Mr Scheffer wrote what many Democrats and Republicans think of our President that is why his polls stay 45-49%. People have stopped listening to the naysayers and bashers because he is proving himself time and time again.
That’s tell them! Mr. Scheffer has a way of speaking the truth!! A lot of the noise we hear is coming from the PUMAs. They are still at it for sure!
I love how all these articles are coming out now. Where were these articles in Sept and Oct when we needed them?
Hi Jessica,
Mr. Schaeffer is pretty consistent. He is always a sane voice amidst the noise. He had another good piece on 12.21.10: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/new-start-and-dadt-obama-_b_799532.html\
Exactly! but better late than never.
I admire Mr. Schaeffer for having the decency and temerity to take on the president’s critics on both sides of the aisle, and I appreciate his willingness to use his access to the media to do it. I think it’s time for all Americans to grow up and realize that changing times and circumstances require new solutions, and patience. I read somewhere recently that people in other countries really don’t understand why so many Americans are angry at PBO. IIRC, it was on alternet.org. Many foreigners think we’re blessed to have PBO, and I agree. I never expected him to solve all of our nation’s problems in less than 2 years, but I did expect him to work hard, make wise decisions, and to do his best, and in my opinion, he’s done all of these things. Whoever expected ponies and rainbows after January 20,2009, really didn’t listen to what candidate Obama was saying in his campaign speeches. Our job in 2011 will be to support the president by reaching out to our neighbors and friend to let them know what the president has done and how it will benefit them. We can also continue working with our local Democratic Party, writing LTEs, and calling members of Congress to make our positions on the issues known. I have no intention of allowing the frustrati and/or the Professional Left to give the general public the impression that they represent my view of our hardworking, dedicated president.
friends
Thanks for this, Chiipsticks. I never visit Huff Post and wouldn’t have seen it myself. Krugman and others do need to apologize, so does Keith — he should have following his Special Comment on our president. My husband has watched a couple of times, however, and he hasn’t mentioned any apology or backtracking. And these past few days, someone was taking his place — Sam Seder? I noted in Wikipedia that Seder’s been subbing for Keith often lately.
Good grief — I accidentally deleted my reason for not watching Keith’s Countdown. I stopped following his special comment, “Obama has turned his back on his base.” Actually, I heard it was coming, took note of the subject, and stopped watching from then on. I was surprised that Keith would look at something so complicated and spout off about it in such simplistic terms. I really liked Keith, so it was, for me, the fall of an idol. And although Rachel Maddow has apologized after the passage of DADT’s repeal, and I was glad to hear it, I’ve been skipping both of them these past weeks.
Why? Because I have The Obama Diary and the only adult in the room, and all of both site’s blog rolls to follow! Much more enjoyable. And they don’t upset my stomach.
Joan,
I’ve found that sometimes when people make fools of themselves, they have too much pride, embarrassment, and shame to admit that they made a mistake. After the PL and frustrati online and on teevee went nuts, I stopped watching/reading/following their blogs. I refuse to associate with anyone who cannot admit when they’ve been wrong. Down through the years, I have witnessed the republicans make mistake after mistake and never apologize. The frustrati and PL are now doing the same thing. I have refused to vote for republicans because of this, and I made a conscious decision to not listen to anything the PL and frustrati have to say. Neither of these groups have any credibility with me anymore. When I would make a mistake that affected one of my students, I would apologize to the students in the presence of his/her classmates. I didn’t have to do it, but I did because doing the right thing is very important to me. And besides, if I offend someone and I don’t apologize, I can’t sleep at night and my conscience worries, so I do the right thing—I admit my mistake, and I apologize. Some people see an apology as a sign of weakness. I see it as a sign of strength and good character.
majji,
Thank you for your reply, majji. I agree with you entirely. I’d like to include an update, though.
I just went through blackwaterdog’s jam-packed-with-goodness kickoff mish mash for January 1, 2011, among which wonderful stuff was a video of Rachel Maddow’s interview of the director of the recent secret movement of highly enriched uranium from the Ukraine to a secure site — a project that was instigated by President Obama’s diplomatic efforts to lock up dangerous material to lessen the possibility of a rogue nuclear attack, following the START treaty. Rachel did a beautifully clear and fact-filled segment on the project, a scoop, actually, and I think I’ll crawl out from my period of outrage and go back to her. It really was impressive and educational and not (of course) covered very well by our very lame MSM.
If you haven’t yet visited blackwaterdog’s blog with that clip in it, I highly recommend it. At any rate, I’ve decided to go back to Rachel — she did apologize, after all, and I also miss her enlightening stories and interviews.
Joan – I’m also giving Racehl another chance. Her coverage was really good with the nuclear segment.
Thank you Frank Schaeffer!! Thank you for telling the truth and calling it as it really is in the midst of so much dishonesty, underhandedness and too many fairweather friends.
Frank Schaeffer, God bless you good man!!
This is a beauty by Schaeffer. Truer words were never said. I just hope that it will be read by those who need to read it and acknowledge those truths. Probably not. I think they like the familiar little nooks they’ve carved out for themselves and have a lot of trouble adjusting to new realities. Can we get a siren? 🙂
Thanks for sharing this article. Reading Schaeffer’s words made me feel very hopeful. Reading the first few reader comments which were critical was at first deflating, then it just motivated me. I posted a comment of support and hope you all will too. We have the power to make a difference with just a few lines of encouragement and hope.
Thank goodness that someone is speaking up with the facts and the truth. This site has helped me define who I am when it come to politics. I don’t need to be near those who are constantly complaining and acting like immature children. That is exactly what they are doing. Thank you Chipsticks for weaving though the web and posting the positive. I have ignored the naysayers and bookmarked you as my “go to” for the story that fits my needs and highlights our President in the manner I believe to be the truth.
barb
PS……..I wanted to also comment on that littly guy with his sign. He looks like he is yelling at the top of his lungs……..”We Won’t Turn Back”…….that is how I feel when supporting our President.
thank you for this site and I also agree with the comments here
Finally!!! Someone bold and honest and forthcoming with the truth!!! Thank-you Mr. Schaeffer, you rock!!!
I would normally go and post a supportive comment on Huffington Post in response to this great article by Mr. Schaeffer, but I do not wish to give Arianna any more hits in support of her dubious and self-enriching quest for malicious power and influence. The woman sucks in every way and will get what’s coming to her!!!
I agree with your assessment of Arianna, an Opportunist with a capital O, I am instictively suspicious of her motivations and no longer frequent the HP website. I appreciate Frank Schaeffer for his publically steadfast support of President Obama and this administration. He has much insight into the religious right, having once been a active part of that movement. I trust him.
Thank you Frank Schaeffer for another truth-telling article. I wish we could clone you. You said it all. Thanks for standing by our President.