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Originally Posted by Livia

So you think during the time he's been in office, all of the problems you listed should have been sorted out? Or at least have begun to be sorted? The electorate thinks their money has been wasted... nothing new there, sounds like every country in the world. Guantanamo was shut down... about time too. His climate change bill was abandoned because Americans are gas-junkies who refuse to acknowledge there's a problem with climate change. He's made no progress in Afghanistan... and neither has every other country that's ever fought the Afghans so why would you think Obama could make a change in a year and a half? Home repossessions and a large deficit are not limited to the USA, it's happening all over the developed world.

I think the fact that Obama's black has MUCH to do with his current unpopularity. Watching one programme recently one of the Tea Party nutters was carrying a banner that said "Go home to Kenya". Or maybe you didn't see that. Or maybe you haven't heard that they're accusing him of not even being American! Your gun-toting, red-neck Republican is not down with having a black boy in the Whitehouse. And if you don't think that's really an issue, then you're dreaming.

You expect him to make some progress after close to 2 years in office. Two years ago unemployment in the States was 7.7%; now it's 9.6%. If that is not a failure I dont know what is. Ironically, unemployment has been rising the most among those who Obama promised to help, those who voted him into power: young people, black people and the white working class.

I'm not saying that all of America's economic problems should have been solved, they were too large for him to have done that completely. But that was something he didnt acknowledge back during his campaign, he was misleading as to his limitations.

And Livia, I seem to recall you supporting the Tories cuts to the public sector? If that is the case then why are you adamantly defending Obama when his only solution has been to try and stimulate recovery through high state spending which has effectively failed.

The Tea Party are morons, I never denied that, I'm happy to admit it. I'm sure some of them are racially prejudiced against Obama, but they are not the only ones who have criticised his Presidency. He has an approval rating on 37%, and that is not to do with his race. Believe it or not, not all opposition to Obama has been from racist, gun-toting, deep-South Republicans.

Obama's first two years have been a failure, no matter what spin you put on it, or how you try and excuse it.