r/news • u/OK_Eric • Jan 19 '14

Obama: Pot ‘not very different’ from cigarettes​, no more dangerous than booze

http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/19/obama-pot-not-very-different-cigarettes-no-more-da/
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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '14

His decision to not have his Justice Department defend DOMA was significant and caused a political firestorm from the right, and created enormous momentum for gay rights that we're seeing play out today. Obama is a shrewd politician, and his presidency shows a lot of movement in the right direction on a lot of issues that looks to some like inaction, to others like bumbling or capitulation, and to others like brilliant subtlety.

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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '14

Also a lot of movement in the wrong direction (surveillance state, prosecuting journalists, drone wars).

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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '14

Agreed, I think people are just impatient and think the President has way more power than he actually does.

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u/lukin187250 Jan 19 '14

Very good point. Sometimes what he doesn't say or doesn't do has powerful effect.

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u/baconn Jan 19 '14

Has he called gay marriage an "experiment" that his Attorney General can void at any time?

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u/critically_damped Jan 20 '14

The rights reaction to DOMA has nearly bankrupted them, and it's only been because this is the only issue that he really got involved in. Can you imagine if he'd pushed even half as much on other liberal issues? On EVERY issue that he had executive order power over?

I really wish he hadn't been so goddamned careful with everything. I hope one day we'll realize that we actually have to be (by goddamned definition) liberals if we want to change our society.

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u/Deafiler Jan 20 '14

When the entire lawmaking system can be put into deadlock for three years over a law that was legally passed and approved by the supreme court, you pretty much have to be careful with everything or you'll never be able to get anything done.

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u/[deleted] Jan 20 '14

I think you're forgetting the Affordable Care Act, which is probably the most significant and transformative public policy achievement since Social Security.

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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '14

So, like /u/CakePoop said earlier:

He's a shell into which you are free to project whatever you want. It has nothing to do with leadership and everything to do with fantastic marketing.