Liberal Groups Say They're Worried About Obama Keeping His Campaign Pledges
I don't think liberals expected to have to work quite this hard to get Obama's support on so many of his campaign promises:
Reporting from Washington -- Slowly over the last few weeks, some of Barack Obama's most fervent supporters have come to an unhappy realization: The candidate who they thought was squarely on their side in policy fights is now a president who needs cajoling and persuading.
Advocates for stem cell research thought Obama would quickly sign an order to reverse former President Bush's restrictions on the science. Now they are fretting over Obama's statement that he wants to act in tandem with Congress, possibly causing a delay.
Critics of Bush's faith-based initiative thought Obama had promised to end religious discrimination among social service groups taking federal money.
But Obama, in announcing his own faith-based program this month, said only that the discrimination issue might be reviewed.
And Obama's recent moves regarding a lawsuit by detainees have left some liberal groups and Bush critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, feeling betrayed, given that Obama was a harsh critic of Bush's detainee policies when running for office last year.
The anxiety is also being felt in the labor movement, one of Obama's most important support bases. Some union officials and their allies are frustrated that at a crucial point in negotiations over his massive stimulus package, Obama seemed to call for limits on "Buy American" provisions in the bill aimed at making sure stimulus money would be spent on U.S.-made materials.
Obama has been president for less than a month, and his liberal critics concede that the economic crisis has understandably taken the focus off their issues. But some of the issues in play were crucial to building excitement on the left and mobilizing grass-roots support for Obama's candidacy.
"He made very clear promises, and he should live up to them," said Arthur Stamoulis, director of the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign, which received an unqualified "yes" from Obama on a campaign questionnaire last year when the group asked if he would support "Buy American" requirements. "The fact that he's hedging on this is not promising. He's catering much too much to the desires of Republicans who are not going to support the change that voters wanted."
Thea Lee, policy director of the AFL-CIO, said, "We would like to have him stand more forthrightly behind the positions that he took during the campaign."
Look at your statement right here:
"Obama has been president for less than a month, and his liberal critics concede that the economic crisis has understandably taken the focus off their issues"
I think he is doing damn good for what he has on his plate. Good grief he has passed SChip, Lilly Ledbetter, the Recovery & Reinvestment Plan, getting ready to redo the Housing mess, and the Banking mess that Bush left for him. Working on the Auto mess that Bush left him. and like was said in the article he hasn't even been President a MONTH... I think he has done damn good.
What the hell do you want him to do...
must either be a concern troll, a puma or just very, very lazy.
She posted a screed below about (Oh Nos!) about Obama looking into social security...
His plans have been published and available for quite some time and they mostly involve making wealthy earners pay more by raising the cap on earning that are taxed for ss.
... but this writer thinks we should all be ALARMED .... because somebody told somebody who told somebody that Obama was going to look at social security (which is EXACTLY what he said in his campaign).
Sheesh - this writer's entire approach reminds me a true blue right wingers approach to stirring up the villagers with innuendo and rumor no matter how thinly sourced.
Susie isn't the writer, she is quoting an LA Times article.
We look at media framing here. If you have a problem with the article, blame the person who actually wrote it.
"I don't think liberals expected to have to work quite this hard to get Obama's support on so many of his campaign promises:"
She introduces the article by agreeing with it. Combined with her utter foolishness displayed below on the whole SS issue - I am putting her into the tin foil hat --- ignore category.
I can't imagine why someone who would write this drivel and introduce wildly speculative garbage as if it had actual merit is even front paging here.
thank you, I'm so tired of this bullshit some people try to pass off as news.
I agree about the postings being bullshit. She has posted other articles that I would put in this same catagory.
At the promises he has broken so far...
No tax increase on people making less than 250,000
http://news.aol.com/article/atr-obama-breaks-...
“no lobbyists will find a job in my administration”
http://campaign-promises.com/2008/11/we-have-...
5 Day promise, broken 3 times already
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/184...
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1446...
The liberal groups will see who they elected...a politician..
yeah he's taxing smokers.........bummer. tobacco which causes a plethora of adverse health conditons that cost multi-billion(s) of dollars.
both in taxes and higher than average health insurance.
Whats with this" Cocktails at the Whitehouse" bullshit.
Business and the business of politics have been conducted for centuries over drinks.
Hell, our own revolution was planned in pubs.
After 8 years of a "reformed" alky in the WH...it's refreshing to have Obama and Michele in there hosting cocktail parties...and I for one would love to go to one.
An extra dirty martini with the new administration sounds good to me!
We can all pay them off with $100,000 bills in a few years. Provided we're willing to skip a couple Big Macs.
that stupid to think this man was a liberal? There are very few real liberals in government. They'd never be elected. Lobbbyists wouldn't be able to persuade them with money.
Maybe THAT's why Rush and hannity hate liberals so deeply and completely... because Liberals don't care about money as a motivator! That one fact throws the Republican's reason for existance into a black hole, and nullifies every argument they could muster to pass their special-interest-legislation (and also break the laws they so wontonly abuse.)
minimal to mild criticism of obama at this point may have some merit. personally i feel it's much too soon.the magnitude of this financial crisis is the priority now. i feel some people need to get into proper breathing techniques and just chill a little. obama needs our support and wants our support. if there are concerns your voices should be heard but lets be realistic. call your congress person/senator.
amen
agree!
Constituent believes that those who dare to criticize should, to use his rather banal phrase, "just chill a little." He then adds that "Obama needs our support and wants our support." I seriously doubt if the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, who have seen the remains of their loved ones scattered over the countryside by 500 lb. American bombs, have any great desire to "chill a little" and to give Obama their support.
Afghans and Pakistanis-resist the American empire!
i must say you are consistent. obama was given the war(s) and the financial crisis. the criticism has minimal merit at this point. NO one can do anything to resolve these issues in a one month time frame. your head is/has been in the sand.
Inability to resolve a "war" necessitates INCREASING the aggression. Anyone can see that.
But credit where credit is due: Obomber said he was going to step up attacks on Pakistan. At least he's kept one promise.
Constituent
You did a wonderful job of ignoring the fact that Obama has continued Bush's policies of bombing the hell out of the Afghan and Pakistan people. Obama seems intent upon adding the U.S. to the graveyard which has housed so many countries which have attempted and failed to conquer Afghanistan. There is absolutely nothing to prevent Obama, the former [alleged] antiwar candidate, from halting planes from dropping their 500 lb. bombs on innocent Afghan civilians and stopping drone missiles from flying into Pakistan where they have killed and maimed and crippled innocent Pakistani civilians.
Or do the fate of those people count because they are not American?
What's he done for me? Throw the bum out!!
Reality has a liberal bias
what did you want done, that could ABSOLUTELY be done in 1 month? just asking.
.....invite a bunch of kids to the White House lawn and have a cook-out using executive orders as fuel for the fire, for starters.
STFU.
Yeah, he should be enacting stem cell legislation over dealing with the economic crisis. Give me a fucking break...
more commonsense.
Common Sense
As my wife is afflicted with Parkinson's Disease, I certainly do believe that the [alleged] agent of hope should be doing a hell of a lot more in keeping his pledge to promote stem cell research. Otherwise he comes across as just another slick politician who has no trouble in breaking his campaign promises in order, apparently, to expedite his getting elected.
Do you really expect the U.S. to do everything for you?
Ron
It is unclear if your comment is directed at me. If it is [and given the fact that your comment is positioned directly underneath my comment], you seemed to have missed my point, which is that Obama was [or at least it appeared to be] attempting to separate himself from Bush and McCain during the election by advocating for stem cell research. That research could very much help people who have different maladies such as Parkinson's. People like my wife and others who are suffering from this disease are hoping that this research could provide enough avenues that could lead to a breakthrough with Parkinson's. I fail to understand why you feel that having Obama fulfill his pledge to help people should be seen as a reason for ridicule as those [like my wife] find the disease to be anything but funny.
And no, I am not from Canada but do reside in the United States, a place where single-payer health care is still not available and a place where criticizing one's government and one's leaders is, unless I am mistaken, still allowed to take place [courtesy of the First Amendment in a document called the U.S. Constitution].
I really did think you had posted before that you are from Canada. Aside from that, the research would probably take some time. I think that you have to realize that Obama has more than enough on his plate and he will get to the stem cell research issue. Please be patient.
There are slightly more URGENT matters than stem cell research (which I am 100% in favor of) that need Obama's attention at the moment.
Erroll, methinks thou dost protest too much.
Both Ron and LiberalNmoderation urge patience and claim that I "protest too much" regarding stem cell research. I suggest that you try telling that to my wife and other Americans who are suffering from Parkinson's Disease as they attempt to deal with the tremors and the fatigue which afflict them on a daily basis. One expects to read such uncaring nonsense from a Rush Limbaugh than from people who claim to be liberal.
"... more URGENT matters than stem cell research." Again, if you were to have a family member who would have to deal with this debilitating disease, then I strongly suspect that you would be urging [to use your word] Obama to keep his promise to aid research in this field. Every day that is wasted means more suffering for these people while any R & D that can be devoted to this crippling malady can mean [to use one of Obama's favorite words] hope that something can be done in the future to help the victims of this unforgiving disease.
dont treat him like carter
carter tried to please the left of the party and ended up making a mess of things
if the left is not careful, they are gonna hand the congress back over to the repugs...then nothing will happen
JUST STFU
thank you very much
I titled this poem "In Stereo":
Oh what a joy must be
To be a lib in this country
So you can be told
To shut the fuck up
By the Repugs and the Dems
... is that he was too naive about the crap the g.reedy o.ld p.erverts would do behind his back to undermine him.
it may seem as though obama's suffering the same weakness of character, but i think he's actually dancing the old rope-a-dope. just look how pissed off his entire base is getting.
he can't do this without all of us doubling down our efforts.
Joe McCarthy era un fascista
Spoken like a true fascist.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
throw money at stem cell research, make abortions a sacrament, throw out dont ask dont tell, ban all guns, bring all the troops home, cut all foreign aid, ban god everywhere
make the middle run to the right
and do it tomorrow....
whahahahahahah
oh....and tell the troofers that they were right...george bush was flying the planes
bush is probably one of the only ones who'll get off the hook if there's a new, independent investigation.
Give Obama time, he just got in office. The loser Reslugs get off making up bullshit and lies.
obama was very clear:it's going to be hard work. the BUSH administration made this very difficult by design. kooler heads will prevale(sp). we need to keep our heads in the game. the "change" is being heard
vs. the BUSH administration being ignored. we need to contact our representatives not just when our backs are against the wall. the "change" is intentions to change. he can't do it himself. having said that there are current priorities. let's get a grip.
It just boggles my mind how many people think other people are only capable of doing one thing at a time. "Relax, he's got to think about the economy!" "Don't disagree with him, he's got to think about the economy!"
Excuse me if I continue to believe that a president like Obama - Harvard Law Review President Obama - can delegate tasks in order to do more than one thing at a time.
most of us realize he is currently multi-tasking big time.: the economy,iraq,detroit,russia,iran,afghanistan
foreclosure,wallStreet bonuses,gitmo,his cabinet just to name a few.
Yes, I wish all the people who keep up with the "He's only been president for X amount of time." would just clam it. Obama is no liberal, even though he's a billion degrees more sympathetic to liberal ideas than Bush or Cheney, I think it is only appropriate for us to keep his feet to the fire. What are you all afraid of, that's he's going to snub us liberals and go full-blown conservative on us if we don't at least express our dissapointment? Are you honestly expecting us to take a wait and see approach when so much is at stake? This shit is for real and people better sober up from the inauguration hangover and recognize.
thanks for the dose of your reality. by the way you "clam it".
then buzz off.
yeah that's all i have, wise one with all the answers.
apparently you think Obama has all the answers and we're just supposed sit and wait. Spare me.
I'm as liberal as they come.
Obama is about as pragmatic as anybody I have seen (so far) in the White House. You are absolutely correct that he needs his feet held to the fire but if anybody thinks he is going to do anything super radical on the liberal side they will be let down.
should be repeated and often Captain. Some people seem to have lost sight of that fact.
This ain't gonna be no cakewalk for progressivism.
Yeah, baby! What you said.
*clapping*
The president has been in office nearly one month. He was saddled with a complete meltdown of the economy a couple of months before he took office. He finally got his Attorney General installed and is still trying to get the rest of his cabinet installed. The whining is stupid and I cannot think of another thing to call it. The investigation of the previous administration will be handled by the justice department, not the president. The wars are being addressed. Maybe some of you should back off and get a grip or just grow the hell up.
to hear from someone with some common sense.
i'll drink to that. this is what the (r) want. people on the left to have high/unrealistic expectations. this is partly the doing of the right and obama haters. can't forget there are some people who get off bitching about anything/anytime.
the fact that alot of citizens don't have a party that represents them? The Repubs represent mostly business rich. The Dems have some center left support. Leaving the true liberals with nobody.
I'd be damned if I ever would label myself a Democrat. I am a progressively minded liberal waiting for shit to happen. Screw centrism.
I'll drink to anything
Even sobriety.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
no surprise there. you've been on a roll lately.......lately.... like last 5 months.
my american grandpa died 36 years ago today in a drunk driving crash.
tomorrow i'm sobering up for a while; i told myself i wouldn't have another drink until patrick fitzgerald reads "uncle" donny his miranda rights.
You have the right to wear fruit on your head while dancing the cha-cha, and shaking your moracas.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I'm so mature I'm still being patient with the democratic congress.
was impatient. There is a time and place for everything and now is that time.
You just can't change 8 years of distastrous policy in one month. It's just not possible, especially with an enconomic meltdown happening. Yes, I am anxious to see stem cell research FULLY funded, the faith-based initiative crap CLOSED UP and criminal investigations regarding torture and illegal wiretapping begin - but I'm willing to wait. If after the first 100 days these things are not addressed or at least given a clear signal to them happening THEN I'll bitch and moan, tear up my voter registration card and live the rest of my days in quiet contemplation about what could have been.
if it was as originally written....but that didnt happen
bush made sure to funnel monies only to right wing christian groups
there are alot of local charities, synagogues, churches, mosques, etc, who do alot of good in their communities
obama knows this...that is how he got his start
damn constitution....
Oh wait, my ass itches, can you tear me off a piece?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
putting party over country, and lack of critical views are two very important reason for the situation we find ourselves in currently?
Obama is not beyond cajoling or criticizing. This is a Republic, let's act like it.
go ahead worry if you like. i'm just asking for some realism. call your representative otherwise it's the futile cycle.
Is maintaining a passionate front for what you believe and not expecting a POLITICIAN to run on auto-pilot. None of them will do anything expeditiously unless constantly reminded that they are being watched. That's realism.
you are asking for denial.
Some of us are perfectly capable of multitasking. We can write our representatives, support activism, and actually keep a critical mindset regarding our elected officials.
When Obama does things right, he receives the deserved praise. When he screws up, he is/will be judged accordingly.
Those concepts really should not be that hard to grasp in a democracy, really.
It's a basic principle of war, don't try to fight a war on multiple fronts.
I think Obama has no choice at this point, but to try to tackle the bi, big problem of the banking crisis and the banking lobbyists.
What, the Obama administration can't multitask and do more than one thing at a time? Wasn't this the taunt he cast at John McCain during the campaign -- can't you multitask?
Obama and his cadre, I believe, think his centrist position an rhetoric enabled his election, and Centrists are enough to support his platform. If so, than he'll have a very long four years. While the left and right come from very disparate visions of America, most believe in responsibility and accountability, no matter who or what they may be. Obama could frame his approach, no matter the issue on what's good for America, not the undertone that whats good for The Beltway is what's best for all of us.
should just calm down. The next stimulus bill in spring or summer could possibly have something more in it for them.
"He made very clear promises, and he should live up to them." Exactly.
The stem cell thing is especially troubling to many of us. With some folks, this is a life and death issue.
understood,but so is the economy crisis for some,gitmo and the war(s).
congress has to do this anyway. All Obama can dio is sign the bill. and it is about being able to use stem cells not funding it.
This is a very complicated deal. If you start a trade war then you will very likely hurt the American worker rather than help. As with everything else this point is not black or white. One thing that should be encouraged is to get the U.S. back to manufacturing stuff that they have moved off shore. The American worked can compete with anybody when all things are considered.
I've read your posts alot and you seem to have a shitload of common sense. So with that in mind, how much stimulant do you think the just passed bill will do? Numbers being tossed around by economists, point out that states and local governments right now, are all going to be short 400 billion roughly to even balance their budgets. The Stimulus bill apparently gives them 140 billion. When do you guess the next Stimulus Bill will be brought forward, spring or summer? The numbers don't jive.
Or the Obama apologists will come in with the Homer Simpson Defense (aka but it's his first day).
Regarding your question, I don't see it doing much especially as some of the gains will be offset by the tax cuts which will bring about more debt. Then of course you have the $1.5+ trillion wealth transfer that's taking shape. And as you said, the individual states are broke plus the US doesn't produce anything so you end up transferring a lot of wealth to China et al in the process. Add over a trillions worth for "defense" spending, the occupations, funneling money to Israel so they can kill more people. I'm sure you can see where this is going.
your right, we're NOT being realistic look what moses did and look what noah did. surely Obama can fix/solve: iraq,gitmo,economy/financial crisis,cabinet appointees,iran,russia,healthCare,afghanistan,pakistan in 30 days.
And bringing in a bunch of mythical fairy tales into the discussion.
Let's see, Obama himself has said he doesn't like China's growing influence in Latin America, foreshadowing more Monroe Doctrine bs. Obama has stated that he is not planning a withdrawal from Iraq just a redeployment. Obama used the states secrets defense to block any further inquiry into the torture of a British national instead of doing the right thing and asking for more time to review the case. He threatened the UK government for disclosing details of said torture. He supported TARP 1 and is now proposing TARP 2 which are both nothing but transfers of wealth to the banksters class. Oh yeah, he let repubs water down what little actual good spending there was in the stimulus bill. Let's also not forget all the neocons in his administration.
Let's not forget his moving forwards bs as well instead of addressing the issue of the chimp's criminality and don't give me the bs that he said no one was above the law ESPECIALLY when he follows that with the "but lets move forward and not look backwards".
Yes, we can't possibly make educated guesses as to where he is taking the country based on that. Let's ignore everything and be apologists because he's a repub with a D next to his name. As someone told you above, spare me.
Add to that his support for expanding the unconstitutional Faith Based Initiatives, reserving for himself Bush unitary executive powers like being able to spy on Americans. The man isn't a liberal, he isn't a progressive. He's a corporatist/CFR true believer with better rhetoric than the moron who just left office. They're all on the same team.
You askin me? That is funny! If I knew the answer to your questions I would have Paul Krugman's job. I don't think your questions can be answered well. In economics there are just to many variables. I think that if the banking problem is fixed (more or less at least) then the broad economy will fix itself faster than only looking at the stem package. As Obama says the stem deal is only one leg of the stool.
I'd be happy if Obama would do just two things, both of them biggies, but neither of them would require partisanship (though the R's would certainly try to make them partisan).
First, I just wish Obama would commit himself and his administration wholeheartedly to undoing the constitutional and legal devastation the Bush administration has visited on America. That means undoing every single illegal thing Bush did. Revoke those Executive Orders. Pull out quickly from Iraq and Afghanistan. Repeal the Patriot Act. Reject all faith-based government programs. Close all US supported prisons where people are tortured. End extraordinary rendition, the CIA's beloved baby. The list is LONG.
And the second thing is to deal with the economy in ways that benefit Americans who must pay for the government to "help" the corporatists and Wall Street.
There is absolutely no reason these two tasks can't be addressed AT THE SAME TIME. The government is large, with many departments, and we are a nation of more than 300,000,000 people, some of them with the skills to accomplish these tasks fully, ethically, and efficiently. Obama promised he'd review all the agencies and departments and streamline them or cut them altogether if they weren't needed.
Well, we need plenty to undo Bush's damage and to pull us out of this economic collapse. Just not plenty of the same that's in Washington now. America has the know-how to clean out the stable, and get rid of bloated fat lazy stablehands who do nothing.
And that is all I want from Obama. Not half of it, with the Bush administration walking away free, but I want our constitutional government and economic stability BOTH restored. Before we got word of the economic collapse, I counted on and supported Obama to restore America's integrity from Bush's depredations as much as possible.
He'd better do these two things, or his approval ratings will fall into the pits.
To address your points:
Obama voted to extend the Patriot Act which is even more shameful than the first time as the people that voted for it the first time have the somewhat plausible excuse that they didn't have time to read it.
Obama has no plans of withdrawing from Iraq, just a redeployment around Iraq. He's planning on an escalation in Afghanistan and has already had several drones bomb people into oblivion in Pakistan.
Obama is keeping the faith based bs.
Obama supported TARP 1 and his administration is proposing a $1.5+ trillion TARP 2.
On your last point, Obama voted for telecom immunity and is using the chimp's state secrets defense to stop any further inquiry into the rendition and torture of a British national while threatening the UK gov that if they don't cooperate, he will not provide intelligence to them.
i noticed a lot of comments here mocking the concern the left has of obama.
there are some who are being unrealistic in their expectation of a barack finger-snap to fix everything. obviously it is going to take time to right the USS America. granted. and i think the more serious people understand this. but to discount honest criticism smacks of idolatry. you put obama on a pedestal at your own risk.
considering who he chose to be a part of his admin (geithner, summers, daschle, clinton, etc.) should give anyone pause who really voted for change. you might disagree, but it is a legitimate question to wonder how someone like summers or geithner or clinton will lead to substantive change.
then, on top of that there are issues like this:
"In the Ninth Circuit, the Obama Justice Department defended the Bush administration's assertion of the state-secrets privilege to short circuit the claims of five men who are trying to sue Boeing."
not good. bad. bad. bad.
or the aforementioned unconstitutional funneling of taxpayer money to religious groups.
long story short: there are some honest to god questions the left and liberals have for obama, and--speaking for myself--the 'questions' are not intended to hurt, damage nor bring obama down (as if), but, instead, to pull obama to the left as much as the right is pulling him to the right.
I voted for change, which is why I wouldn't vote for Mr. O. It only took FISA for me change course.
I didn't ask for my Mr O campaign contributions back though I was tempted.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
The same people that were appalled by the Bushies responses of "so" and "shut the f*ck up" are now doing the exact same thing and have been since the election. It's amusing. Especially reading them on a progressive blog. Repug supporters responded quite angrily to any questions, and a big part of Obama's do the same.
Obama promised change, but has moved towards the GOP position on virtually every issue - tax cuts, free trade, stem cell research, funding for faith-based organizations, FISA, etc. His cabinet appointments include several hardcore Republicans, as well as many of the Clinton advisors whose policies are directly responsible for the current economic crisis. I think you have to be either a fool or a closet Republican not to be concerned about the direction his administration has taken.
Of course the behavior of Obama and Congressional Democrats doesn't surprise me in the least, because I realized years ago that the Democratic Party is nothing but a subsidiary of the GOP.
so then your saying the democrats are just the nozzel on the douchbag of the repig party? interesting , very interesting!
understood......it's a Catch-22 for obama/administration. to me i always felt there would be a transition to move left from 8yrs. of dominate right/being attacked on our soil. the right have done a lot of damage. to go (near) extreme right to left takes time/requires majority involvement. sure those are "legitimate' questions. some of these appointees want "change" also. the past is NOT an absolute indicator of the future. it's often forgotten by idealists regarding the real world of compromise.
Constitutionally objectionable executive orders out of existence. An he doesn't need any kid of consensus to do it.
No president can keep all his promises.
He has to contend with Congress who has all their interests to maintain.
If they're honest it's who they represent.
Do we really want a Democratic "strong" president when we all complained boosh ignored the the Democratic Congress, where constitutionally the bulk of power rests?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
absolutly!
Give him time. He hasn't been in the White House a month. This country is so traumatized by BushCo that we're ready to jump on him at every step. It's bad enough the Republicans are already looking for an impeachment.
NOBODY 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TGtb7QsG9w
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Are liberals finally waking up to the reality that maybe, just maybe, they're the "loyal base" that the dems give lip service to only to win elections? And then after they win, the dems virtually ignore the left-wing. Just as the GOP have been doing with the religious right.
That's how politics work, ladies and gentlemen. If you don't speak up and start pushing, your chosen politicians will stay loyal only until you give them the election and then they do whatever they want.
that was part of obama's message he wants our help to achieve agenda. your correct it'sNOT over because obama was elected and been in office 4-5 weeks. he listens/consults with the legislative branch.
What do you have to say about Obama's talk of committing even more troops (and money) to Afghanistan? Hmm?
Sending Holbrook there to start negotiations is a good start.
The sooner that Afghanistan gets it act together, the sooner we can leave.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
as soon as he signed off on fisa, i knew he was just another republican dressed as a democrat. change we should not hope for.
what god wants, god gets! god help us all.
but the FISA thing STILL pisses me off.
Wow! Major achievements are coming, the stimulus package is a foundation "to build on" and it's only been THREE WEEKS and the bill passed.That is a major success! Let Obama work and protect him and help him and you will all get what you want. Stem cellers, you'll get it. Homeowners, you'll get it. Unemployed people, you'll get yours too. There's a lot of crap the republicans left us that needs to be cleaned up and pruned to get it's motor running. But you have to relax...just a little. This American tree was just planted. Now, water it, till it and nourish it. Don't act like all those damn republicans acted after Moses parted the sea. Remember how they back-stabbed the guy cause he didn't act fast enough. This administration WILL SUCCEED! But we have to eat this apple one bite at a time. Just help and watch it grow. Faith, without works is dead.....Let's just come alive together. WE ARE ALIVE, now, support THE LIFE!
Barabas
Is that Obama wants to commission a group of economists to study and recommend changes to the "entitlement" programs including social security.
What does he want to do with social security and why is he commissioning people that know nothing about how social security works to make recommendations to him?
I am becoming deeply concerned from the nominations to his cabinet by this man and his bipartisan fetish that he seems to have.
He does not want to investigate and prosecute the Bush administration for war crimes nor their trashing of the Constitution.
I want a patriotic statesman, not another politician.
I am sure that there are a lot of people on this blog that can eloquently state what needs to be said. Please do that for the rest of us. Please get a petition going that we can send to Obama that shows our passion for investigating and prosecuting these war criminals. We do not need a Truth Commission. We know the truth and the Truth Commission would only cover up the truth and give immunity to the guilty so that we would NEVER know the truth.
People including liberal groups need to back off, change take time. Give the man some time, it took bush two years to start plunging this once great country into the abyss.
Back off, let President Obama do his job, in a years time if we are not on our way out of Iraq than I agree its time to push, but come on its only been six weeks, give this man some space to work
MrEthiopian
I was very much for SChip but was against only one segment of society paying for it. If kids need health care we all should pay for it. This really is a tax on poor people as most of the people who smoke fall into that category.
I have to vent a moment. Liberals and Progressives need to TAKE A CHILL PILL. I am a huge Obama fan. I am shocked at how quickly people, especially progressives are turning on him. He has been President for less than a month. He is dealing with a massive financial crisis, multiple wars, political instability in Israel, Pakistan, etc., etc. I think everyone needs to chill the F**ck out and give the man some time. You are all acting like the wingnuts. If you are not careful you will blow the mid-terms and ensure that we will have Bush version 2 in 4 years.
I'm willing to give him some benefit of the doubt. But putting together a commission to study a reworking of "entitlement" programs like Social Security worries me. Suggesting that we should commit more troops to Afghanistan after it worked so well in Iraq worries me. Continuing the war-hawkish saber rattling toward Iran when every UN *and* US intelligence estimate says that they are not working toward Nuclear weapons worries me.
Giving him a fair chance is all fine and well, but that doesn't mean we should just blindly trust him. We *do* need to keep a very careful watch.
I was for Obama, but no more. I've already accepted Bush version 2. We got fucked. I actually believe there is going to be so much civil unrest and terror that we will welcome the firm hand of the Wingnut Cabal after Obama's impeachment or military takeover. My advice to the young unemployed, join the Marines. You betcha.
Nationalize the insolvent banks, most of then are technically bankrupt and not worth the money they claim to possess.
Take them into public ownership, free the monies, and thus the economy from crashing into the grave.
The various banking dynasties do not deserve to be protected at the cost of ruining American manufacturing and peoples jobs and lives.
The important things in life are food, transport, goods and infrastructure, the parasitic service industry called fractional banking is not worth preserving in its current incarnation.
Obama doesn't NEED anybody to "give him time". He's moving right ahead and breaking his campaign promises left and right. The genuine alarm and disappointment of many of his supporters will not wait -- they are directly related to his actions in the here and now that have long-term repercussions.
2 months, 100 days, Or are you people going to be able to keep bullshiting till his 1st term is up like they did with Bush?
Seriously when will it be ok to hold Obama Up to what he promised he would do?
Because if you think for one second that it's OK to give him a free ride like the GOP did for Bush then you are no better then they were and are.
Dare you all to read Chris Hedges article over at truthdig.com titled " Bad News From America's Top Spy.
I don't need to know you to realize that you could never live up to your own standards. It truly takes great courage to place incredibly unrealistic criterions on the President from your computer in the middle of the night...Progressive my ass.
And I'm still giving obama a chance. At this point it's neutral he's done some good things but he has also done some bad things.
My problem is with the reactions of many Other Obama supports. I see they are so in love with the guy that No matter what they can't criticize him it seems, and that is not good for the country.
You can pretend all you want that isn't the case but it is, and I fought against it when they did that for Bush and I will fight against it when it is done for Obama.
You can insult me over the time of my post are whatever else. All it really does is show that you know this is going on, yet you still don’t want to admit it
I don't think that's the case. If, after a period of time (i.e. 100 days) there isn't substantial movement to correct the Bush wrongs you will hear major sturm and drang from progessive quarters and it won't be pretty for Obama.
With heat from both the Right adn the Left he won't be getting a free ride any time soon.
But I have been around politics too long to ignore the Writing on the wall. If it changes then great I hold Obama as on his way to being a great president, but I still will not stop holding him to any word he didn't follow through on.
Then when he leaves office I will compare what he said he would do with what he did and Make my final determination. I will not stop holding Obama to his word Like I've done with Bush(what didn't he brake his word on gesh) if it be Obama's 1st day or long after he left office and I'm on My death bed.
This is the standard we should hold our leaders too, Ignoreing the bad a new leader does for the sake of waiting to see is something we shouldn't do. Sure wait on your final judgement but there is no reason "Final" and "Right now" have to be the same.
Obama has not even been in office a solid month, and he has a lot on his plate, to say the least. Cut him a break for God's sake. Yes, I'm talking to all the liberal whiners. To make big change, you need to bring the People along. Rome wasn't built in a day, and he is up against tons of opposition. The GOP/conservatives and their media pundits are gearing up for all out war. This is going to be an extremely tough fight, and progressives/liberals aren't going to get everything they want, probably not by a long shot. Having said that, we need to keep the pressure on regarding those issues that matter most.
I still say HACK, but add that it will be interesting to see what happens when/if 60 Dem senators are seated. until then does he really have a choice but to pucker up?
Cajoling and persuading haven't worked so far to accomplish a damn thing. Despite progressive alarm and outcry, Obama has veered right on every single issue he's touched since his inauguration. AND on FISA before he was elected.
Admittedly, most of the public criticisms by progressive supporters and professionals of note have been "polite" and served up with indulgent attitudes, but if he doesn't listen to these "soft-spoken" criticisms and protests, it'll have to be hard-ball and not so friendly.
It's time for the Obama apologists to stop trying to convince us that Obama "needs more time" or "he's got a brilliant plan" that nobody knows anything about, or "he's outwitting the Republicans". These things are not true, just conjecture or projectionism. We are ALL judged by what we do in the here and now, including Obama, not what we say or what others say about us.
...not to see this coming.
It is fascinating to watch the convergence of those who only want to sling mud at Obama join the unfortunate group of "progressives" who are choosing to act like the children of the far right demanding their needs and interests be met absolutely right now. This notion that solving our problems as a nation can effectively be met by adhering to anyone's particular set of theories or ideas is foolish. Obama has tried - from the beginning - to make it clear that he has chosen to be "everyone's President" - you know, the President of the United States. This declaration of intent, in and of itself, is progressive. He has also said "it is not about me." And he is right.
We who were so thrilled, for the right reasons, that Obama was elected must now commit to a minimum of 4 years of support, work and effort to help bring this country back to its collective senses. To get our knickers in a knot in the first 30 days because he hasn't done exactly what "I" want is disrespectful of Obama and everything we have worked for to date. It is clear the Republicans have chosen to play a political game with our future. Let them. The rest of us should focus on the hard work of achieving substantive change and supporting the leader we have chosen to make this happen.
These "Progressives" have yet to explain their peculiar and sudden alliances with Rush, Hannity, Coulter, etc.
{ I can see where this is going. Do Not post in all caps or in all Bold lettering. SiteMonitor}
Isn't it bad enough watch FOX to have to deal with this stuff here. Don't be alarm. This is typical of for any new President and typical of any voter who's candidate did not win.
Eight wretched years of substained hell should have corrected already. Lol! You folks shouldn't (and certainly can't) advocate Obama doing something that you know you couldn't do yourselves...pathetic.
The NYTimes had this article...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/business/17...
If the Steel industry unions like him it must be good news.
It certainly looks like good news!
We'll all keep our fingers crossed for the good guys to hold their ground against the anti-union Republicans!
Speaking of openness, accountability, and transparency in government, this might seem like a small thing to some, but it IS reflective of President Obama's policy thus far, which I find greatly disturbing, disappointing, and downright evasive.
President Obama has removed comments@whitehouse.gov from the White House website AND has forwarded president@whitehouse.gov to comments@whitehouse.gov, so the same This-Email-Address-Is-No-Longer-Monitored message is bounced back to citizens, forcing Americans to contact the White House solely via webforms which only allow 500 characters, to avoid returning Read E-Mail Receipts to citizens AND prevent citizens from receiving Deleted-Without-Being-Read E-mail Receipts,which proves messages aren't read by White House staff and certainly not by the President--and in the current economic crisis, it is irresponsible to expect citizens struggling to survive to spend what little funds they have available on certified mail, which yet again is slated for another postage increase.
This is NOT what President Obama promised, and I have never received any acknowledgment or thoughtful response whatsoever from President Obama's webforms, nor has anyone else I know, except the occasional roboresponse. Citizens have a right to be provided with proof that their messages to President Obama are at least being opened, which can only be accomplished through the return of Read E-Mail Receipts.
The Dept. of Justice, as well, refuses to post Eric Holder's e-mail address on the DOJ website, and AskDOJ@usdoj.gov yields nothing but roboresponses, so "business-as-usual" with the DOJ. No surprise there.
When I called the White House, the switchboard operator unprofessionally transferred me multiple times to the Comments line, without even initially answering, forcing me to call back several times, and when the operator finally answered, he was unnecessarily rude and abrupt. The same was true when I called the Dept. of Justice. Among the millions of Americans unemployed, I am sure President Obama can find some citizens out there who can teach government employees who are currently on the payroll, how to answer phones and speak to citizens in a respectful, professional manner.
The one time I did speak to the Comments line, I requested a call-back but never received one. The message I left with the Office of Public Liaison was never returned, as was the message I left with the Appointment Scheduler.
I know you can do better than this, President Obama, and so can your staff. You now govern a country full of fed-up, frustrated citizens in need of housing, healthcare, food, clean air and water, and most of all, to be refreshingly treated with respect by their government--by ALL employees of their government, be they City, County, State, or Federal employees.
Over the past two years alone, I have received Deleted-Without-Being-Read E-Mail Receipts from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Hillary Clinton, numerous Florida government agencies & politicians, et al., and the worst incident of all is when in 2005, a US Senator from my home state, whom I voted for, Senator Bill Nelson, actually had the unmitigated gall to threaten to have me arrested by Capitol Police if I ever phoned or e-mailed his office again, this after sending him thank-you letters for food stamps assistance provided by his staff, and after engaging in a conference call with one of his aides and the student health insurance company with whom I had requested the Senator's assistance, this issue and that of price-gouging and failure to disclose names of their Board of Directors by Capital Regional Medical Center, these issues which were suddenly dropped without a by-your-leave, obviously for "political" reasons, and in spite of many letters subsequently written to Senator Nelson on my behalf by my friends and supporters, he has never had the common decency to acknowledge the faux pas and apologize.
I am a native Floridian and lifelong Democrat, until 2005 when the Democrats in Tallahassee and Democratic Party chose to treat me like something to be scraped off the bottom of their shoe, at which time I registered as an Independent. I voted for President Obama and celebrate this most historic of Presidencies, and still hope and pray that he will come through for us and save this country from its current free-fall into oblivion, brought about by its own arrogance, greed, corruption, power-lust, fear, and shortsightedness.
I am one of many Americans whose lives and (two) careers have been destroyed, blackballed from State of Florida full-time employment due to my medical history and past Blue Cross/Blue Shield State of Florida Self-Insured health insurance claims, in addition to many other abuses of power and injustices, the stress of all which, eventually took its toll on my health, and I am now living on a meager Social Security Disability and Florida Retirement System income, which frankly "isn't enough to keep a bird alive."
I have been forced to seek justice in whatever way I can and have been forced to represent myself pro se for the past three years in a disability discrimination employment case against a Florida community college, which has been awaiting decision for the past four months following submission of the final Briefs, by three First District Court of Appeal judges, whose names I am not permitted to have disclosed to me until Decision is rendered, a case which, if I lose, I will have to appeal to the FL Supreme Court, whose rudeness I have already encountered, and then to the US Supreme Court, which will guarantee for me more unnecessary physical pain and financial and housing hardship.
I have suffered homelessness as a direct result of a PIP-scam which Florida politicians, the Florida Bar, Leon County Courts & Clerk of Court involved, and so-called "enforcement agencies" would do absolutely NOTHING about, and actually violated Florida Statutes and my civil and Constitutional rights themselves, and now I am in danger of homelessness again, since the condo I'm renting may be foreclosed upon, as the owner, who has been an exceptionally kind and understanding landlord, is in the car business, and his businesses have suffered to the point where he can no longer afford the mortgages on his investment properties.
I don't think it is too much to ask, therefore, to be treated with respect rather than disdain, professionalism rather than rudeness and blow-me-off abruptness, and caring and compassion rather than coldheartedness and abuse.
I hope and pray that when President Obama addresses foreclosure next week, he will remember the millions of tenants renting investment properties who face homelessness as a direct result of foreclosures, as well as resident homeowners.
I hope and pray President Obama gives citizens such as myself an opportunity for our voices to be heard, acknowledged, and thoughtfully and respectfully responded to by him and his staff, rather than "cry to heaven" throughout the "blogosphere" of cyberspace for truth and justice, and our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Carol Tucker, MA
Court Reform-NOW
{Deleted, Blogwhoring. SiteMonitor}
Current headlines over at, rawstory.com---Obama, Not Bush, Now Seeking Delay of Rove Deposition,---Obama Justice Dept. Backing Bush Secrets. Oh yeah change you can believe in.
Good times will soon be over. Not only will we see long soup lines but there will be medical clinic lines stretching for miles. Having the patience to wait for days to get free service will become a leading virtue. Suicide providers will become top earners.
And Now For The Disillusionment Phase, over at truthdig.com
The fact that Obama has not made clear moves on the stem-cell research or removing the faith-based program is somewhat strange. President Obama had clearly stated his views on these matters during his campaign. These groups, most likely, expected his undivided support. It is true that there are many issues demanding immediate attention--namely, the economy and this country's wars. Yet, it does not seem as though signing a paper or two in hopes of changing a few of these Bush policies would require that much time. It would appear that the President is signing on them for particular reasons. This could be for the sake of more bipartisan support. But, as plainly shown with the stimulus bill these past few weeks, such efforts tend to be rather futile. Where does the bipartisan line end?
LOL, BUY AMERICAN!
But I am going to buy from where I want.
http://uscrewu2.blogspot.com/2009/03/white-ho...
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