Free Advice: What President Obama Can Still Do To Excite Democrats
Dear President Obama,
We've had our differences. But because we're looking at a major disaster for the Democrats in November, I'm hoping for once you're willing to look for advice that doesn't reinforce what you and the other DLC-Third Way fetishists already believe.
If you preside over massive electoral losses in November, you have no one to blame but yourself. But you have some options, and if you're willing to take some bold steps that excite Democrats and independents, you can still mitigate your losses. When in doubt, ask yourself what FDR would do -- and do it! Talking like a real Democrat got you the White House. Acting like one will help you keep it.
1. Announce that you're going to allow everyone over 55 to buy into the Medicare program. More important, make Medicare the primary payer for the employed middle-aged:
The large health care expenses that many older adults incur raise the costs of employing them and may reduce their employment options. Employers who provide health benefits face higher insurance costs from older workers, and age discrimination rules limit their ability to offset these costs by paying lower wages. As a result, employers may prefer younger workers, reducing the demand for older employees.
One way to lower employment costs for older workers and perhaps improve their employment opportunities would be to raise the share of health care expenses paid by Medicare. Under current rules, Medicare is the secondary payer of health care costs for most workers ages 65 and older with employer-sponsored insurance. Employer-sponsored insurance reimburses health care costs first, while Medicare pays only for Medicare-covered services that it does not cover. But the available evidence suggests that making Medicare the primary payer for older workers would not substantially improve employment options for older adults, because the savings for employers would amount to only a small share of total employment costs.
What a great relief this would be, to so very many people right now. And short of funding WPA-style work programs, this would be the single best way to get people back to work.
2. Stop being so damned timid about fixing the economy. You have a lot of Wall St. lackeys working for you, Mr. President, and they have done an excellent job convincing you the only real economy is the one that makes millionaires happy, and not the rest of us. FIRE THEM. NOW. Then go full throttle on pushing public demand for a massive direct-stimulus package. No more pussy-footing around with tax breaks for businesses or all the other Republican-lite bones you love to throw to the Republicans. Announce that no one should have to worry about the rent because they lost their jobs, and demand that Congress provide unemployment benefits for anyone whose checks have already run out.
Oh, and appoint Elizabeth Warren right now, and fight like a pit bull for her. Blood on the floor would be good. It would help, a lot.
Thanks to the historical record, we know that you're now following in the footsteps of FDR when he screwed up in 1938: In the early years of the Depression, he listened to the Republicans who demanded he start cutting the deficit. BIG mistake. You're a smart man --- what's the point of studying history, yet still eagerly repeating it?
Haven't you figured out yet that the Republican's aren't going to support your plans anyway? You can churn up enough public support to back them into a corner. Shoot the moon!
Which brings me to my next recommendation.
3. Go all out in defense of Social Security. We know what you're up to with the Catfood Commission, and we won't let you do it. So the best thing you can do right now is to back off -- publicly, loudly. "Social Security is the backbone of our social safety net, and not only will we not cut it or attempt to raise the retirement age, we will look at expanding it, to fill the gap left by so many disappearing public pensions destroyed by greed."
Now, I don't believe you'll do any of these things. I hope so, but I doubt it. I don't know whether it's tunnel vision, intellectual arrogance or plain old stubbornness, but the odds are slim to none.
But you won't be able to say no one ever told you.
..it needed to be said and you said it well!
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Obama is a shill for corporate power.
He cowers in the corner when Repugnants yell at him.
He never was an FDR -- never will be.
Sad day for USA.
Some of the suckers who fell for his slick speeches and voted for him can apply for immigrant status in Canada. We need low wage labourers to dig up the Tar Sands.
Or Sarah Palin, perhaps?
"Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face?" - General Jack D. Ripper
It's Johnny.
Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/
I'm sure everyone in No. America would be much better off if McSame and Miss Sarah had been occupying the White House. I haven't noticed Mr. Harper solving any of the world's greatest problems....?1??
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
Harper is an aberation in Canuck politics. He exists only because of the cross-border influence of 'Merkin rightwing propaganda.
We will soon send him packing back to Western Jesusland, and resume the Liberal good government that brought us single payer healthcare and the most stable banking system in the world.
:)
Hear, hear. Send that fucker packing. He's an abberant glitch in the programme that doesn't belong. I'm so glad we have 17 parties to choose from.
far left loon >.<
the raygun democrat president really cares.
Some stuff you can't make up!
Why aren't Democrats learning?
Ezra Klein, staff writer for the Washington Post, explains why Congressional Democrats continue to make concessions on legislation in the name of bipartisanship when they get no Republican votes in return.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/38049...
Some stuff you can't make up!
That's a good piece.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
is the Medicare buy-in, because so many conservatives in the heartland actually understand what would happen. It takes less than a four page bill. The only problem is you'd have to start it at a higher premium than we liberals might like. You will never actually get a chance to raise premiums ever because the Republicans will scream "tax increase" any time you do, and there will be hell to pay in Congress from constituents any time you try. That makes it hard to cover the costs of such a move with premiums over time. Perhaps you can automatically tie cost of living adj. to the price in the bill.
Nope, we need single payer. This looks good on paper but people won't want to pay anything amounting to real costs for government health care and government will be setting prices based on polls rather than costs.
We have subsidized single payer here in my country. No complaints yet. I'm still loopy but i can't blame anyone for that.....yet.....i'll find the one to blame and fecking kill ya......arrrggggghhh!
Bite my shiny metal ass.
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I'd be thrilled to pay that for Medicare.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
about 100 Euros for me .( with subsidy. about 45 Euros) :D
Bite my shiny metal ass.
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... but I don't think that's the cost. Maybe Medicare part A, but not both A & B.
My employer is self insured, meaning no insurance profit margins, and my Cobra (102%) would probably run close to $700/month. Medicare isn't going to be able to do better than that. Something is missing with $300/month, if the buy-in starts at age 55.
Do you assume Medicare isn't cheaper to run than the for-profit industry? I don't think you understand how self-insured plans work. You still have to pay the insurance company to administer them, and those third-party administrators charge a LOT.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
and probably the best path to universal single payer. It's also the best one to push from a political point of view.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Single payer, yes!
1.Where on earth did you ever get the idea that Obama or any president could extend Medicare to the groups you just suggested without legislation being passed by both the House and the Senate?
2. Where did you get the the idea that there are any magic solutions or even non-timid ones that could undo the recession as it now stands? Even the most aggressive of policies will do no more than depress unemployment until a stronger economy develops.
3.Where did you get the idea that SS is under some dire threat?. It requires very little to be made stable for the next seventy five years and no Democrat I know of has suggested otherwise.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Regarding #1. Agreed, would look a little too knee jerked at this point, even if the Senate and House was brought aboard.
Regarding #2. Free trade has destroyed our manufacturing sector. It was masked for a while by the run up in real estate values, the run up being mortgaged, and then spent, but that's over, and I don't see a new bubble taking its place. They can engage in deficit spending, but, unlike WW2, I don't see an exit strategy. Roosevelt dealt with his deficit spending with a 40% dollar devaluation. I'm not clear on the implications if that approach was used during the current scenario.
Regarding #3. Social Security is under threat, from the deficit reduction commission. The threat could be removed by ending the Bush tax cuts that undermined the surpluses that would have enabled the repayment to Social Security, the amounts loaned to the regular Federal budget.
But there is a freebie out there. It's jumping aboard the Ron Paul/Barney Frank proposal to reduce overseas military bases and reduce our "world's policeman" costs. I don't know why the Dems have their heads up their butts on this.
They could be running commercials with Ike and his warning, and how the Democrats are heeding Ike's warning, unlike the war party.
Marilyn Monroe sexbots?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Electric sheep?
Bite my shiny metal ass.
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Electric sheep dressed like Monroe?
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Sure, whatever floats your boat. ;)
Bite my shiny metal ass.
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http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ww...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHIWyj2Bsa8
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHIWyj2Bsa8htt...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Way to go Susie. Thanks.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
This year is rethugs win big in Nov. I've been around long enough to see many political predictions fail. People still vividly feel the pain of Bush, they won't win big. The corporate media really is shameless in yelling this meme from the rooftops, I've never seen a more disgusting display of brainwashing from m$m.
As pathetic as the democrats are, I see another 1998 coming. Wonder what the GOP MSM will say then?
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
And you also need a "Gimme The Truth" Media Task Force to blitz out the facts and the truth.
We don't have a chance unless we counter all the LIES AND MISINFORMATION propagated by Fox News and parroted by every wingnut talking head and corrupt Republican/Conservative politician.
I will personally volunteer to run that committee.
Progressivism is dead. It's time to embrace the horror.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
From Talking Points Memo:
In today's speech, Obama takes a clear shot at House Republicans and issues a warning shot to the deficit commission on Social Security: "To those who may still run for office planning to privatize Social Security, let me be clear: as long as I'm President, I'll fight every effort to take the retirement savings of a generation of Americans and hand it over to Wall Street. Not on my watch."
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/201...
He's looking to raise the retirement age, which amounts to a massive benefit cut. It's a classic good-cop, bad-cop scenario: "We won't privatize it --- but we do want to raise the retirement age instead, because it won't make you as angry. That makes us the good guys!"
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
So "raise the retirement age" to what?
I like to know before i get angry.
Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/
Instead of raising the retirement age, raise the threshold for FICA contributions. That way, those that can afford to pay more, do so.
The GOP is hoping that more people dropping dead because they never get to retirement age can be blamed on the Democrats...and then...they win.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
You must be talking about Compassionate Conservatism?
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
That's an oxymoron. :)
Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/
... espoused by morons and/or charlatans.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2...
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
I have NEVER hear President Obama say he wanted to raise the age.
BUT Republican John Boehner has said that: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-200091...
He has never even implied any such thing.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Sure, but when he decides to be bipartisany, it WILL be his idea.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Who's gonna win the next Kentucky Derby? I juss gotta know!
What is your conceptual, continuity?
It won't be the filly.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Why do you suppose the Catfood Commission is pushing for it? Of COURSE he's not going to say it. He doesn't have to.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
Would that be 67?
What is your conceptual, continuity?
But there are enough of us born after the baby boom who can't foresee a future where we won't be working until we're 70 to 75-years old. And the way I see it, if this does happen, it won't be for at least another 10 to 12 years, when the peak baby boomers hit 65.
Think I'm wrong, Susie? Why do you think that the proposal to drop the eligibility age for Medicare was set at 55 instead of 45? There was a helluva a lot, if not quite enough, traction in that proposal.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
At the age of 70 to 75-years you can get insanity care. Give everyone a two finger salute and feck em up. You did not get that old to get fecked over. Bastards!!!!!
(but don't drive a car because i hate you old people driving that fecking slow)
Bite my shiny metal ass.
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And this would make them more attractive to employers.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
Did i just entered Bizaro world?
Bite my shiny metal ass.
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Right now, I think my unreduced Social Security retirement is 66. But Medicare still kicks in at age 65. He starts monkeying around with that, and he monkeys around with my retiree health insurance that assumes a Medicare kick-in at age 65.
It all depends on the time frame. He better not change the rules for people only a few years away from retirement.
As far as younger people are concerned, I would say, don't smoke (anything, anything at all), make sure you take in enough vitamins (especially D), avoid HFCS like rat poison, maintain weight, and you'll do fine. That advice applies to older people, but to younger people, learn from my mistakes.
I think right now, that the financial incentives in health care is in causing recurring payments, but with the result being double digit inflation in health care costs, that the incentives will shift to cures, which will allow people to enjoy a longer retirement.
Transcript of President Obama's speech today in Milwaukee here.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Full speech (three parts) can be found on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/user/NewsForAmericans
Well, my dad was the captain of the Muskegon Big Reds football team- one of the best high school football teams of all time- and he can beat up your dad!
:)
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Pffft, i can beat up your dad....with a baseball bat.
Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/
Obama's "Deficit Reduction Commission" is meeting in SECRET and when their recommendations come out AFTER the November elections there has to be an up or down vote in the House and the Senate with no amendments.
Word on the street is that Social Security is gonna get the shaft and if the Republicans find majorities this November there might be nothing Obama can do to stop them.
Remember. Obama appointed this "Bi-partisan" commission. So he won't have a whole lot to argue about when they come out with their likely Draconian B.S.
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_green...
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
The democrats will be the majority in the senate.
And I doubt the republicans will take the house, but even if they do the senate won't approve anything the house does.
And Obama will still have the option to veto anything that both the Senate & House sends to his desk.
p.s. The Deficit Reduction Commission is only putting forth 'recommendations' - that does mean squat ;)
All they can do is recommend. They are not proposing any legislation. Contrary to the hysterical belief of the people who think this is a "Cat Food Commission", they have no governing authority.
Just more hysterics . Just a great way to divide.
Kudo's to the person who coined the term Cat Food Commission.
Well done/. Meanwhile, the GOp still want to privatize Social Security. Even after he last stock market crash, they still think Social Security in the stock market is the best idea.
That's a great idea. Then cat food would be a feast.
feckin dimwits.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
it goes to the house for a vote and NO amendments can be added. If it passes there, it goes to the Prez to complete the circle and the screwing. No dinner is involved. All the nay-saying about how it won't happen is what they are counting on. If they thought differently, dinner would be involved, at least. We are all so screwed, and the head up ass attitude assures it.
http://firedoglake.com/2010/07/01/breaking-pe...
She hasn't been right about very much. But, she is good at twisting it to meet here needs.
Thanks, but I'll pass.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
House, then Senate. Then Oval office.
1st of all, you' re assuming it will fly right through the House. I seriously doubt it.
Secondly, you're assuming that it will fly through the Senate. I seriously doubt it.
Thirdly, you're assuming that the Prez will sign it. That depends on what lands on his desk. Doesn't it?
That retirement age has been in fluctuation since the Reagan admin(actually it began somewhere around 92). Just don't try to blame this whole thing on this guy.
And that's IF he signs any controversial changes to SS.
I don't see it happening. Yes, I could be wrong on this. If I am, I will come hat in hand, admitting that I was wrong. Will you?
Oh, up above. Way to many assumptions for my liking.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
From the article at the link above:
"..... And the House has passed a non-binding resolution calling for an up-or-down/no-amendments vote on the Commission's recommendations, ..... "
---------------------------
Where to start...
First of all, the House passed a NON-binding resolution calling for up-or-down vote.....
A committee recommendation is not a legislative bill.
The person that puts bill to be voted on in the SENATE is Harry Reid. He won't put it on the Senate agenda.
And the bottom line is if the House and Senate passed anything that Obama doesn't like then he will NOT sign it ;)
Everyone can sleep peacefully tonight.
Very well done.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Wait a minute. It's too late now, because we have no power at all. Simpson is a shiny thing, and BHO will "adjust" it and it will go to the Senate and the House, and, pay attention here, BHO appointed the commission, so he WILL sign it. Are you blinded by his glibness?
Simpson has already come out with 'two controversial comments'.
People have been hollering for Obama to fire him.
I think Obama will probably try to put as much room between Simpson and himself as he can in the long run.
Only the GOp'rs are stupid enough to touch that one.
Like Reagan did in the 80's. Although, it didn't harm his presidency one bit. His reputation? Well, yeah. Obama won't touch this. He'll let the GOp take a stance or position on moving on Social Security. Just to show the country how fooked up the GOp are.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
In an era, where various issues, like the Bush impeachment, or single payer is "taken off the table", it would be nice if Obama took reductions to Social Security "off the table".
But, instead, it's looking a lot like the repayment to Social Security trust funds, the amounts "loaned" to the Federal government is in jeopardy.
It's looking like an either/or situation. Either repay Social Security and let the Bush tax cuts expire, or continue the Bush tax cuts and cancel the treasuries that Social Security holds. (Of course they'll not cancel the treasuries, they'll restructure Social Security so that the holdings won't have to be repaid.)
It was the destruction of the budget surpluses by the Bush administration that initiated this issue. When they did so, they fully knew that there were Social Security treasury holdings. The class warfare started with the destruction of the surpluses.
... the class warfare started with free trade, the policy that "drive work to the lowest cost centers on the planet, reduce wages to a global average, and benefit the corporate managerial and ownership class." ¹
It was definitely intended to put blue collar workers in direct competition with 3rd world labor, and remove said blue collar workers from the middle class and make them the working poor. Funny thing now, it's hitting some white collar workers as well.
The taxation on the various incomes has mirrored the assault on workers, most of the tax relief goes to dividends and capital gains, while a pittance is reserved for earned income. And the end of estate taxes - we're supposed to have our Social Security reduced in order to facilitate the "inherited dynasties" that were legislated against 150 years ago?
The funny thing is, I can't find anything about "inherited dynasties" and the inheritance tax on the internet. Yet, I was taught this issue in public school, not at the college level.
There has been a laundering of history going on. And it happened before the internet kicked in.
¹ Comment from an unknown over on Huffington.
Wow. Thanks.
I must say I'm going to like it here on this website.
I been a 'lurker' for the past couple of months, but only registered here on this website earlier this evening and already you've commented twice that I've been 'correct' ;)
I'm sure you'll meet more who don't agree with you.
But, welcome to the wacky world of opinions.
Most of the folks here are great people. We argue like family. We agree on some things and disagree on other things. We're Democrats.
That's one of the great things about the Democratic party. We don't always see eye to eye. We don't always agree. No purity test here.
And yeah, we take cheap shots at each other occasionally. So don't take it personally if someone does. Hey, it's a blog.
Nice meetin ya. See ya .
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Social security. Of course he said he wouldn't let the Repubs privatize social security, because they are not threatening to privatize. The commission will submit its report to the Senate and then the House will have an up or down vote on it. This is thanks to Nancy Pelosi adding language to a war funding bill that allows it. Obama is in cahoots with the Repubs to cut SS benefits so he can get his tax cuts for the middle class and not renew tax cuts for the rich. This story is on Firedog Lake, Mother Jones, and the Nation. Obama is a DLC Democrat/Corporatist and will finish what Bill Clinton tried to do.
Thank you.
"If you preside over massive electoral losses in November, you have no one to blame but yourself."
Don't agree with Gibbs' "professional left" meme, but sometimes I understand why he get annoyed. Now, if I were king, here's what I'd do ...
thank goodness you didn't agree with Gibbs....
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Finally, Obama got something right. See http://bit.ly/b7Qsr4
is right on. But you left out two important ,even critical items from your list.
1. DADT. The President must sign an executive order allowing Gays to serve openly in the military and he must reinstate those who have been fired wrongly.
2. The President - MUST- begin in earnest honoring his oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United states from enemy's without and - within. That means holding Bush/Cheney accountable for war crimes in the run-up to the Iraq war.
That along with those things you mentioned in your post Susie is what he must do to save this country not only from the radical right seeking to bring Theocracy not Democracy to the nation this November but also to save our country's children from future despots who will do again what Bush/Cheney did. Only next time, in the name of their God, worse.
I must remind everyone and hopefully the President too, that as a result of his incessant capitulation to Christian-right GOP extremists, The President has, after just two short years, lost -any- hope of nominating a Justice to the Supreme Court with even a modicum of Progressive/Liberal views.
What The President will do in the face of this looming tragic legacy is another matter entirely. I am still hopeful. I hope I am not wrong to be so.
There is a 'permanent' repeal of DADT in the Defense Appropriations Bill which the Senate will be voting on soon. It is better to have Congress repeal DADT than it is for Obama to sign an executive order that would NOT be permanent.
Yes. You are of course correct on both counts. An executive order to repeal DADT would not be permanent.
It would be "Leadership".
It would be an excuse for fence-sitters to take no action. If Obama had issued an executive order, the proposal now in the Defense Appropriations bill would get shitcanned before an up or down vote in one chamber of Congress or the other.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
The "compromise" (and why is the civilian-led military compromising with the civilian government again?) only allows gays to serve at the whim of the Pentagon, meaning the next homophobic president can start kicking them out again.
Whereas a halting of DADT would establish a record of gay service, debunk homophobic excuses, thus making the full repeal a mere formality rather than another policy debacle like health care or financial reform.
And even if Congress refused to pass a full repeal, it would give future activists and future Democrats years of open, honorable service to point to.
And when even a majority of Republican voters back ending DADT, there is simply no excuse whatsoever for continuing the policy. Obama has taken an easy win-win-win that would make the base happy, make eventual repeal easier, and keep Arabic speaking West Point grads like Lt. Choi from being discharged.
Instead, Obama has made it a loss-loss-loss for no reason whatsoever.
I don't really know what is going to happen in Nov., and I don't think anyone else knows either. All I can do at that point is vote for whom I believe will best serve the interests of my community and country. If there was something else that was more productive that I could do I'd do it, but there doesn't seems to be one.
Here's what will happen:
Despite 300 + days of GOP cheer-leading and giving a few knuckle-headed idiot bigots (tea baggers) way more coverage than they deserve, the American people will say no to the party of NO - just like they did in 1998, when the republicans were going to win all 435 seats in congress according to the MSM back then.
You remember? They were soooooo surprised, that they jettisoned Newty, the brainless child of their evil 1994 contract on America.
True, a few bluedogs may lose, but good riddance.
Personally, I am looking forward to seeing Blanche Lincoln lose 70% - 30%.
So long you corporate sellout bee-otch!
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
I really do hope that's what will happen, we can only wait and see.
democracy? Now he's back to rub it in. What nerve. His fat ass is not the only reason he has a closet full of "Dockers."
Single payer, repeal Patriot Act, end wars/occupations today, legalize HEMP, a real energy policy.....but no, we have endless supplies of Susie Bots with crappy ideas and platforms to snuff out real progressive values.
Always somebody standing in the way, if it isn't a blow hard republican it is gonna be a blow hard Hillary Clinton BOT. :D
Couldn't have said it better myself!
That anyone who points out that someone, somewhere is better at something than Obama is officially a BOT. Thanks for reminding me, it's difficult to remember to switch my brain to knee-jerking.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
And it's ironically for the same reason that the Republicans kept their majority after the Clinton impeachment: The American public's demoralized and outraged by the bullshit coming from its home team, but it doesn't feel like the party in charge has over-stepped its boundaries. The Dems would really have to betray our trust-like the Republicans did with the Iraq War-to be kicked out en masse. So unless shit goes down with Iran, or the Dems start shipping service jobs overseas, they're probably good for the year.
Wee, lol, nice one fuckface. :D
Edit: should i delete my post now, as it doesn't make sense now?
Bite my shiny metal ass.
http://www.startalkradio.net/
President Obama's speech must've hit a nerve.
I'm seeing the exact responses from "liberals" on this site as I am conservatives on the DMN site.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
At last! He has reached his goal of perfect bipartisanship! He's pissed off everyone!
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
The speech was really AWESOME.
You should take the time to check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfimPc8NUp8
Obama's got his groove back again just like in 2008 :)
Can anyone help me here? I try to reply to specific posts, and yet everything I send gets sent to the end. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Tried to use the reply button?
Bite my shiny metal ass.
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What Kevin meant was that after he replies to someone he doesn't see the reply as a 'threaded' reply where the original comment was. In order to view the comments as threaded and not flat a simple adjustment to the settings is in order ;)
Oh, like that. I feel like an idiot now. ;)
Bite my shiny metal ass.
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Go to the top of the page and click on 'MY ACCOUNT'
then on the EDIT tab.
Then in there there is somewhere to say you want the comments to be THREADED.
Remember to click on save when you're done.
Hope that helps you :)
This message was for YOU
Go to the top of the page on the right side and click on 'MY ACCOUNT'
then click on the EDIT tab.
Then in there there is somewhere to say you want the comments to be THREADED.
Remember to click on save when you're done.
Hope that helps you :)
...using the Options pop-up (next to the New Comments pop-up) at the lower right portion of the screen.
Is our dad fight still on?
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
All I did previously was post the link to Obama's speech to which you posted the 'dad' reply.
Are you sure you don't have me mixed up with someone else ? :)
Or is posting a link to a speech video 'fighting words'? LOL
p.s. I'm a woman and I don't know much about football and my dad is dead.
Thanks for all your help guys. I think I've got it worked out. Here's hoping.
... enter Bizarro World?
No, but you're looking at it from beyond our borders.
Later folks, I'm signing off.
But Obama doesn't care. He is a servant of the oligarchs and their corporations. He is a builder of the totaloitarian fascist way. He doesn't care if he is re-elected or not, because he knows that only similar-minded people from either party will be the only ones that the machine allows to rise to prominence. It doesn't matter who is elected, only the onligarchs, corporations and fascism will end up being served. No others.
If he is turned out of office, he will be rewarded with some influential position in the Trilateral Commision, where he will work the rest of his days advancing a global system that is based upon exploitation and injustice. He's proven his worth by making his bones during his presidency, and is earning his way towards becoming one of the world's permanent global elite. He could care less whether the rest of Americans and humanity lives or dies.
3 great steps ,but, Obama is just to much of a pussy to do any of these things because he's still AFRAID of the republicans!
like Obama can just pass legislation and programs with a wave of his hand, you need to wake up and smell the coffee. He's got a tough sell, on everything. If you think he doesn't care, you haven't been paying any attention, either.
Yaaawn...
I'll just roll over and dream on...
The President MUST take on the Mortgage companies (any that do loans with any type of Federal rules--which means ALL loans/lenders).
Immediate approval of EVERY SINGLE ONE WHO WAS IN A TRIAL PAYMENT PLAN WHO MADE THE THREE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON TIME!
There is no room for anything less than approval as the homeowner has met the obligation of payment.
Today, he must also require any underwater HAMP participants to have the CRAM DOWN in effect for each and every one who passed the trial test payments timely.
NO FURTHER YEAR OR MORE DELAYS. Mortgage holders/services have 30 days from date of completion of trial period payments to have the new loan approved and all paper work done.
Curtis L. Walker
FreeFlightNewMedia.TypePad.Com
CurtisWalker.posterous.com
the silliest work you have offered up yet.
I like the fact you managed to drag out a 2003 study that was replete with the word "might" to back up your first suggestion that Obama wave his magic wand and announce changes in Medicare which would add billions to the deficit. I particluarly like the way you highlight its direct contradiction to the conclusion
you reach:
"the available evidence suggests that making Medicare the primary payer for older workers would not substantially improve employment options for older adults," (Study cited by Susie M.)
"What a great relief this would be, to so very many people right now. And short of funding WPA-style work programs, this would be the single best way to get people back to work." (conclusion derived by Susie M.)
It gets sillier. Hey Mr. Prez....
2) Fire everyone you have hired and appoint Elizabeth Warren to a secondary post. Then announce nobody need to pay rent and will get unemployment benefits until futher notice. Then demand Congress do what it will not do.
3) Announce you will not support an increase ten to twenty years from now in the Social Security age.
Wow. The economy will recover. Democrats will turn out in droves. Susie will be free to blog more for free.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
4. Pull out of all "Free Trade" agreements
- Give the notice as is required by the agreements, go on national television and explain why we are
getting out and then just get the hell out.
5. Push for the end of corporate citizenship in the lame duck session.
- This is one of the roots of the evil that now besieges us. It shows clearly the corruption at the core.
Get rid of this and be public about it. A whole lot of caselaw that has went horribly wrong could then
be reexamined.
6. Fire Arne Duncan, Geithner, and hire Krugman as the new Secretary of Treasury.
- Arne is just a god damned disaster. I am not sure when politicians thought they could fix education
especially when they can't seem to fix anything else. All this man has done is tried to turn the
discussion into destroying the people on the front lines of education and I am tired of seeing good
people who work hard for children every day being destroyed and even worse slandered for the job
they do. We need a Secretary of education who will deliver a tough message. A message most
people don'twant to hear, the message that our schools are a reflection of our society and they are in
decline because we are in decline as well.
- Its really rediculous that we have perrenial Goldman Sachs execs as our Secretaries of Treasury.
Furthermore its rediculous that we continually have the same people, who have the same disproven
philosophy in one of the most important economic offices in the country. Can we please have a non
Greenspan acolyte in this position? Its really rediculous when you think about it. We have the guru
who admits his Ann Rand philosophy was wrong and failed continually at the helm of our economic
machine. Can we please get a "change," isn't there anywhere we can go to find someone who has a
new idea, is incredibly knowledgeable, and can lead us in a new direction?
7. Use the laws already on the books to finally break up "too big to fail." Please can we have a
democratic president with the stones of a Roosevelt? It has never been a good thing for us to have
corporations that were too big. They have always done nothing but harm our economy and our people.
Take a clue from history look at the good that was done by busting up AT&T and bust up these banks,
insurance companies, and medical mega HMOs. Please BREAK THE BACK of these large
corporations. I don't know anyone republican or democrat that wouldn't be in favor of this and be sure
to go on national television and use words like "taxpayer bailouts have consequences."
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