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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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 OPINION 
8

No, We Can't: Meet the Pessimist in Chief

Despite the rhetoric, Obama offers realism, not hope: Finkelstein

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(Newser) – Barack Obama, elected on a tide of optimism, insisted yesterday that a new generation could meet the challenges of the age. Yet he described economic crisis and a collective failure of will, with no promise of rebirth or redemption, Times of London columnist Daniel Finkelstein observes. And that may be just what America needs: a president who campaigns with "Yes, we can," but governs with "No, we can't."

"It is not hard to see why many election campaigns are relentlessly optimistic," Finkelstein writes. "Optimism works at the ballot box." Obama, seen as the candidate of hope, has in fact always nursed his pragmatic, even pessimistic streak; his memoirs are full of downbeat ruminations. "Obama's election has widely been seen as ushering in a new era of ambition and optimism," writes Finkelstein, "but prepare for quite the opposite."

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance at the Midwest Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance at the Midwest Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama appears at the Midwestern Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
President Barack Obama appears at the Midwestern Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama waves as he walks down Pennsylvania Avenue on his way to the White House in Washington Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
President Barack Obama waves as he walks down Pennsylvania Avenue on his way to the White House in Washington Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Barack Obama greets guest after he is sworn-in as the 44th president of the United States and the first African American, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
President Barack Obama greets guest after he is sworn-in as the 44th president of the United States and the first African American, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, pool)
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The Dreams from My Father of his memoirs were not the thunderous proclamations of Martin Luther King's dreams. They were quiet, somewhat pessimistic, ruminations on identity and belonging. - Daniel Finkelstein, Times of London columnist

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8 comments
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radnip
Jan 21, 09 12:16 PM CST
Strange. I did not come away from his speech with any negative impressions at all. I thought it was reassuring, actually, that we finally have a President who is in the moment and not off in Timbuktu some place. I thought it was reassuring that our President can dance and roll up his sleeves all at the same time. That's a very positive message and quite a contrast to the pessimistic and depressing I'd-rather-be-somewhere-else message from the previous occupant of that office. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
YouAreWrong
Jan 22, 09 12:19 PM CST
shut up
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Caps
Jan 21, 09 1:02 PM CST
radnip, I agree, I did not hear any negative in his speech. It was a very positive message. But the right will complain until he is out of office in the next (8) years. Reply
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myvoice
Jan 22, 09 8:01 AM CST
To say he campaigns with " yes we can" and governs with "no we can't" implies absolutes! This is another reason I like President Obama, he understands that not everything is black and white. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
YouAreWrong
Jan 22, 09 12:20 PM CST
It's lawyer double talk you fool. Pull you head out of your arse and clean out your ears.
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