Obama's disappointments.

• Author: Weisberg, Gudrun
• Position: Letters to the Editor - Letter to the editor

Thank you for a great summary of Obama's shortcomings, as well as the good things he has done ("Obama's Failings," By Matthew Rothschild, October issue). I sense not only disappointment but also surprise.

I, for one, have not yet been surprised by Obama's disappointing way of governing. From the start, he has preached the mantra of bipartisanship. I was shocked to hear this, as I have no intention of striving to work together with evil people like Republicans.

I voted for Obama only because my favorite Senator, Ted Kennedy, supported him and because otherwise my daughter might have stopped talking to me. With Hillary, at least I would have known to expect a centrist government.

The euphoria from November 4, 2008, is kaput.

Gudrun Weisberg

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

I enjoyed reading Rothschild's "Obama's Failings." But I've got news for him--there's no way a centrist like Obama is going to end up "striding purposefully" in a progressive direction.

When I voted for Obama to become a U.S. Senator, I did so under the mistaken belief that he would become a progressive voice for the state of Illinois. While he usually voted the right way, he scored a big zero as far as becoming a progressive leader.

He does not have a progressive bone in his body. Anybody who doesn't realize this by now needs to pour her Kool-Aid down the drain.

Kevin Kious

Collinsville, Illinois

I opened my Progressive magazine yesterday to read "Obama's Failings" and thought this is what I've been thinking--what a disappointment our new President has been. Believe me, I was not naive in expecting he'd change the world, but I did have some hope. I voted for him as I knew John McKook and his choice of VP would be a disaster if elected. If Palin had a brain instead of crickets...