For the past few weeks, the Republicans on the Hill have been wallowing in their giddiness over the lowering of the poll numbers of Obama’s presidency. It is obvious that the only way they will be satisfied is if he becomes an abject failure, even if it means taking the country down with him.

Even Dick Cheney is showing his face and mouth, again, as if he thought he still had some credence among civilized society, who have observed his actions for eight years. He credits himself with keeping us safe, but from my perspective, he and George Bush were the greatest recruiting tools that al-Qaida and the Taliban could ever hope for, due to their condescending attitude toward the rest of the world.

Now, Obama has been criticized for blaming Bush for everything that’s gone wrong, but let’s face it — there has never been a presidential turnover in history that paralleled the 2008 election, unless it was Harry S. Truman’s takeover after the sudden death of F.D.R. in the thick of the greatest war in modern history.

It was in those times that most presidents did not confide in their vice presidents. Truman was kept in the dark on so many issues that he didn’t even know that we were developing the atom bomb. He said upon F.D.R.’s death, “I feel as though the weight of the sun, moon and stars have fallen upon my shoulders.”

Obama came in facing two wars, a financial meltdown, unimaginable debt, and the task of repairing relationships with longtime allies. He came in with staggering unemployment figures, banks and businesses failing by the thousands. And if he and his advisors had not taken the steps to shore up the banking business industries, the unemployment figures would be 35 or 40 percent, instead of 10 percent. And the Republicans just love it — that it’s on Obama’s watch that we are facing a financial malaise that no one knows exactly how to pull out of. And they have such short memories that they don’t remember whose watch this economic tailspin started on.

I am sorry if I sound so bitter, but we have a young president who has been working his tail off, trying to do so much for so many, all the while being rhetorically savaged, which is what they do best, by a well-orchestrated group of hate mongers, such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Michael Steele and the like. And then there is the leader of the Republican Party, Mitch McConnell, the abusive obstructionist, who along with his wife, Elaine Chao, the former labor secretary, have been feeding from the public trough for years. And if Mitch McConnell has ever done anything positive for anyone, please let me know.

We have been engaged in this health care debate, and the right wing has been fighting tooth-and-nail against it. They are saying that 85 percent of the public are against it, which could only mean that 85 percent of the people have adequate health insurance, so don’t tamper with mine, and “be damned with all these poor slobs. They wouldn’t work if someone gave them a job anyway.”

Remember, all men may be created equal, but all men are not created with equal opportunities. So be thankful that you either have good parentage or good mentorship and have no physical or mental disabilities and are endowed with decent looks. Of course, many people succeed despite the lack of these attributes, but it isn’t easy.

I am aware the one shoe doesn’t fit all, but it seems to be a Republican tradition to have less feelings for their fellow man. Remember, after Lincoln freed the slaves, the South went Democratic because Lincoln was of the Republican Party.

Then, when President Johnson signed the voting rights, the South went back to Republican. When F.D.R. pushed Social Security through, the Republicans were against it because they don’t believe in government involvement. But I don’t know of anyone paying their Social Security checks back to the government. And they are frightened to death that the government is going to take one of their nickels and give it to some silly government program that provides for the less fortunate. And they call themselves the party of values — huh?

I have always maintained a smattering of respect for John McCain and I could almost forgive him for choosing Sarah Palin in his desperation for a running mate, but having made the ridiculous accusation that Harry Reid’s statement about Obama’s “light skin” and Caucasian accent was comparable to Trent Lott’s tribute to Strom Thurmond’s — it went a little over the top.

He’s beginning to sound like Mitch McConnell or Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican Party. Reid merely stated some obvious facts. Now, if we could talk Mitch McConnell into giving us another (contract with America) like Newt Gingrich did, maybe we could talk Tom DeLay into redistricting the United States like he did for Texas. He’s a typical right-winger that should be under the jail.

In all this, I’m not saying that Obama is without fault. I don’t agree with his flying to Copenhagen while lobbying for the Olympics. And I feel that he is somewhat cavalier toward some issues at times that should be given more attention. Having said that, I feel that his overall performance has been a breath of fresh air after the eight years prior to the election.

Like I said before, one size doesn’t fit all, so I hope I haven’t alienated or offended many of my Republican friends. But being the liberal that I am, you know that I can be very forgiving. Maybe, you all can learn to do the same as well.

Now, moving to local issues — to Mr. Harry Harper, regarding your “Jeers” comment a few days ago, I agree with you that Kelly Curran, if not related, must be in close collaboration with Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. I don’t know Kelly personally, but someone pointed her out to me at Baron Hill’s Town Hall meeting at Indiana University Southeast, which in one of her recent columns she referred to Baron Hill as performing shamelessly while failing to mention the rednecks trying to shout down the speakers, who were mostly pro-health care reform. He acted with dignity, while mildly chastising an unruly group that was probably bussed in for the express purpose of harassment.

— Charlie Gregory is a Charlestown resident.