i distinctly remember debating friends who were falling for the savior act, but at the same time wishing, hoping they were at least partially right. i thought that obama could NEVER fail to step up in some fashion with the opportunity given him, i felt like the ball had old-school stickum all over it and that there was no way he could drop it.

(~snearing~ why because he is young and black)

Best line:

But if we insist on applying metaphorical correlates to the object of our presumptive adoration, it might be more appropriate to regard the president as some kind of UFO -- an unidentified flying Obama. Or better yet, as the ultimate balloon boy. An entire nation breathlessly follows his flight across the political skies, fixated on his trajectory, preoccupied with his actual whereabouts and eventual destination, only to discover in the course of time that he was never really where we thought he was. He was always elsewhere. Sadly -- and this is inevitable -- we will, sooner or later, learn that we were the credulous and willing dupes of an elaborate hoax.

Here's a post that I feel like I could have written myself; I'm guessing some of you could have, too.  Here's an excerpt:

Like any good progressive, I've gone from admiration to hope to disappointment to anger when it comes to this president. Now I'm fast getting to rage.

[snip]

Did this clown really say on national television that "I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of you know, fat cat bankers on Wall Street"?!?!

Really, Barack? So, like, my question is: Then why the hell did you help out a bunch of fat cat bankers on Wall Street?!?! Why the hell did you surround yourself with nothing but Robert Rubin proteges in all the key economic positions in your government? Why did you allow them to open a Washington branch of Goldman Sachs in the West Wing? Why have your policies been tailored to helping Wall Street bankers, rather than the other 300 million of us, who just happen to be suffering badly right now?

Are you freakin' kidding me??? What's up with the passive president routine, anyhow, Fool? You hold the most powerful position in the world. Or maybe Rahm forgot to mention that to you. Or maybe the fat cat bankers don't actually let do that whole decision-making thing often enough that it would actually matter...

But, really, are you going to spend the next three interminable years perfecting your whiney victim persona? I don't really think I could bear that. Hearing you complain about how rough it all is, when you have vastly more power than any of us to fix it? Please. Not that.

Are you going to tell us that "I did not run for office to be shovel-feeding the military-industrial complex"? But what - they're just so darned pushy?

"...I did not run for office to continue George Bush's valiant effort at shredding the Bill of Rights. It's just that those government-limiting rules are so darned pesky."

"...I did not run for office to dump a ton of taxpayer money into the coffers of health insurance companies. It's just that they asked so nicely."

"...I did not run for office to block equality for gay Americans. I just never got around to doing anything about it."

"...I did not run for office to turn Afghanistan into Vietnam. I just didn't want to say no to all the nice generals asking for more troops."

Here's a guy who was supposed to actually do something with his presidency, and he's turned into the skinny little geek on Cell Block D who gets passed around like a rag doll for the pleasure of all the fellas with the tattoos there. He's being punked by John Boehner, for chrisakes. He's being rolled by the likes of Joe Lieberman. He calls a come-to-Jesus meeting with Wall Street bank CEOs, and half of them literally phone it in. Everyone from Bibi Netanyahu to the Japanese prime minister to sundry Iranian mullahs is stomping all over Mr. Happy.

And he doesn't even seem to realize it.

Did you see him tell Oprah that he gave himself "a good solid B+" for his first year in office? And that it will be an A, if he gets his healthcare legislation passed?

Somebody please pick me up and set me back on my chair, wouldya?

I think we get where he's coming from, and I think to call what a lot of people are feeling "cynicism" is to discount how far toward rage many people have traveled in the last six months or so.

But I do feel suckered when I have been led to believe they believe in the same principles I do, and then it turns out they don't. On issues such as FISA, civil rights, unwinnable wars, and holding past government lawbreakers accountable I believe Obama's PR machine distorted the strength of his principles. The difference between him and Clinton in those cases was advertised by him as the difference between him, the young idealist change agent, and her, the establishment accommodater, and to some extent I believed that, but supported her because I thought she was smarter, tougher, more competent and able to actually accomplish things. When he was nominated instead, I supported him against McCain because I believed that at heart he had the same principles I did.

Its not completely people's fault they feel betrayed even when they knew better about obama. obama's misdirection is sophisticated. That said:

a) 'let the buyer beware' always rules
b) the real alternatives were barely different so progressives were always going to be frustrated.

he's basically been Bill Clinton 2.0(this time with personal discipline

You and he BOTH wish. You must not have been alive during the Clinton presidency. Anyone who was, can tell you it was fantastic, and not just for the rich. Was Clinton perfect? Find me a politician who is. But overall, for the country and for the Democratic party (assuming that party still matters to you--it doesn't to me, although it sure as hell did during the Clinton presidency), Clinton stands head and shoulders above any president, from any party, of the past three decades.

 There's a reason Clinton's popularity remained high throughout both his terms, including during the vicious impeachment proceedings.

 Oh, and that "personal discipline" sneer? Straight out of the Newt Gingrich/Joe Lieberman playbook. Your parents must be so proud.