Obama is the Best Republican President Since Lincoln
There was a 90 percent top marginal tax rate under President Dwight Eisenhower. Ronald Reagan raised taxes nearly every year he was in office and still managed to quadruple the national debt. Teddy Roosevelt was an anti-business trust-buster who snatched Yosemite away from private profits. Gerald Ford ended a long pointless war in Vietnam even though pontificators like Pat Buchanan claim we could have won…eventually. George W. Bush bailed out the banks and the auto industry. I won’t even utter the names Herbert Hoover or Richard Nixon (Republicans sure won’t).
Historians agree the best Republican President was also the first: Abraham Lincoln. Who’s second runner up? Which President has represented Republican values best? Easy. President Barack Obama.
First off – his signature legislative accomplishment was to implement a Republican/Heritage Foundation idea from 1989. Assuring Affordable Health Care for All Americans reads, "[N]either the federal government nor any state requires all households to protect themselves from the potentially catastrophic costs of a serious accident or illness. Under the Heritage plan, there would be such a requirement...A mandate on households certainly would force those with adequate means to obtain insurance protection."
The Heritage Foundation has since recanted and even filed friend-of-the-court briefs against the mandate. This is only after an alleged Democrat was for it. There’s been a pattern of this partisanship before policy since Obama was sworn in.
But if you ignore the misplaced (and often misspelled) vehemence against the first African-American president as a communist/socialist/Marxist/bad “ist” du jour and instead just look at the policy – we have a stellar Republican in the Oval Office.
Obama renewed the Bush Tax Cuts. Republicans love those tax cuts even more than they love being against something once Obama has signed it. In fact the President hasn't raised taxes at all – just like Republicans say they won’t (see: “Read my lips – no new taxes.”). The only tax he’s raised is on smokers. Obama increased the tax on cigarettes even though he’s an admitted (reformed) smoker. But even that is ideal in a Republican hypocrite kind of way (see: too many anti-gay Republicans in gay sex scandals to list).
And on top of the Bush Tax Cuts - Obama cut even more taxes for 95 percent of Americans.
Plus, he’s cut the size of government! Yes. Regardless of all those email forwards your kooky great-aunt sends you from her decades-old AOL account – the public work force has been reduced under an Obama presidency – therefore “shrinking the size of government.” The reason we had no net jobs in August is because the public sector (i.e., the government) lost jobs due to cuts. The private sector gained the exact amount resulting in a push.
President Obama has managed to quell all anti-war protests and even start a new conflict. That is surely to be the envy of any Republican president who’s ever served.
Guantanamo Bay? Still open. Osama bin Laden? Shot in the head.
Talk about getting 98 percent of what they wanted. If the GOP didn’t have to change their goal post so Obama could never score in their view – Republicans could be dumping Gatorade on Rush Limbaugh by now.
How about the GOP-despised EPA? You know, that “job-killing” governmental regulatory agency GOP candidates Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Ron Paul all promise will go dark when they become president? That agency’s pinko plot for cleaner air estimated to stop tens of thousands of premature deaths? Gone. And guess who said this about it: “I have continued to underscore the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty, particularly as our economy continues to recover.” Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH)? Maybe Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA)? Some tea party speaker at some quarter-full rally somewhere? Who said it? The socialist Nazi radical – current occupant of the White House - Barack Hussein Obama! He’s a wonderful Republican.
The right-wing says Obama is left of Lenin – in reality he’s barely left of Goldwater.
What does this mean? It means we currently have eight GOP candidates running against what’s essentially a GOP incumbent. It means we have eight mediocre Republican candidates running against the best Republican president since Lincoln. The safe bet is that a Republican will win the next election.
To be clear, I’m not a Republican – but I have undeniably voted for one.
In the ‘80s there were Reagan Democrats. I’ll solve this whole thing by just calling myself an Obama Democrat.
Cross posted at tinadupuy.com
To be clear, I’m not a Republican – but I have undeniably voted for one.
I'm sorry, Ma'am, but your purchase is non-refundable. You do however, have the option of not renewing.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
Does she?
Excellent post.
Watch out, however, the Obamabots are gonna come after you...
Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
...
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
But since Clinton at least.
After Bush the Disaster; the corporate fascist elites' went out and got themselves an African American to run on the democratic ticket, knowing full well the GOP was toast in 2008.
That African American was a bought and paid for DLC GOP Manchurian presidential candidate - a complete dupe for Reagan's miserable policies of failure and poverty.
Knowing that continuing Reagan's horrid policies would only enrage the idiots and bigots into blaming liberals (as though Obama has a liberal bone in his body), the corporate fascist elites knew they were insuring the destruction of the people's popular mandate of 2008 - which in actually would never even be implemented by President DLC to begin with.
You gotta give it up to the fascist elites.
These guys are good, and they are lightyears ahead of most Americans.
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.
Sec Def Cheney (1991) abolished all full-time miltary positions not necessary in times of peace, to be filled by contractors in time of war - all "to save the taxpayers' money."
Contracted Halliburton ($5.4 million) to do the study that determined it was a great idea.
Then .. ten years later & we enter an era of perpetual war .. $$$$$$$
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
..."stuff", I'm thinking the "facist elites" are working on a four year schedule. They evaluate who they want for president and why, get him/her elected and start plotting for the next four year cycle. I hate conspiracy theories.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Don't forget the effect it has on the opposition. Obama did a great job of pumping everyone up and then setting them up for disappointment. He not only salvaged the Republican Party but also demoralized progressives.
Now the next real progressive that comes along, if one ever does, who preaches a message of hope or change, it'll be like the boy who cried wolf. It won't matter if the next one is the real deal. Fewer will believe it.
The GOP was DOA, RIP, etc etc. Obama really is god! What a dick.
I'm reluctant to indulge in conspiracy theories (never attribute to subterfuge what can be explained by incompetence) but this one is hard to resist. If Obama really is some sort of 5th column put in place by a shadowy group of GOP power brokers, then however much they paid him, it wasn't nearly enough.
I'm also reluctant (but not totally resistant) to indulge in conspiracy theories, but this doesn't even have to be a sophisticated "conspiracy"... just an extension of how things actually work. Apparently, The Endless War is on, and how it works transcends Rep/Dem.
and, therein, lies the great power (see, danger) of a president from one party pushing policies that were historically supported by the other party.
from libya, to the (anti)environmental policies, to the challenge to social security, to gitmo, to afghanistan, to xe (blackwater) contracts, to pakistan, to drone warfare, to the use of state secrets, to the assault on whistleblowers, etc., etc., etc... had any of these measures continued, or, like with obama, accelerated under a mccain administration the entire democratic party would have fought tooth and nail against these policies. but, as long as a democratic president pushes these policies and initiatives a large segment of the democratic party is going to make excuses and support what they normally would be aghast at.
really, the most threatening political one-two punch going these days is a right-leaning democratic administration coupled with the horrifying tea party thugs. if this were a fiction novel it would have been such a predictable plot. has the duopoly found the perfect recipe for an anti-regulation, anti-tax platform?
maybe.
unfortunately, they sent him back. he also gave us the DEA (and a "war on drugs" to keep it occupied) and the Dept. of Education. hoover has a dam named after him! of course, he also had a bunch of shanty towns named after him as well. eisenhower gave us the interstate road system. of course, he also bequeathed us vietnam.
ok, guess i'll have to take obama for $100 alex.
With friends like these, who needs enemies? But go ahead, keep it up and when we get Perry, Romney, Bachmann or whoever as President, you won't have anyone but yourself to blame.
Perry or some other Teabircher is the only hope Obama has.
He can run as a traditional republican and win with a "D" next to his name, because the party of Limbaugh is so batshit crazy, evil, stupid and pychotic - that they are just too scary to most voters.
After another year of Teabagger lunacy, the American people are not going to make that mistake twice. In a presidential election year, 12% of the most extreme batshit crazy republican base is not goona win much of anything - unlike in off-year elections.
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.
but hey, you keep on hoping for that changy stuff...
Cue the Kabuki....
"when we get Perry, Romney, Bachmann or whoever as President, you won't have anyone but yourself to blame" , true . Obama has been a let down to say the very least , we were had big time , but anyone one of these Republicon candidates winning the White House would be a nightmare come true . I'm not going to cut my nose off to spite my face .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
right up to (and beyond) the moment we vote for him.
"Someday somebody related to some of these sufferers, these victims, these collaterally damaged souls, may try to kill you. And I have to tell you, I think you’ll have it coming." - Christopher Cooper
...spite your face? You vote for who vote for and for whatever reason you have. As far as I'm concerned, I voted for him, I supported him and I even sent money in for his campaign. I was repaid for that with him abandoning his oath of office to uphold our laws when he chose to look forward not behind and thereby perpetuating our status as war criminals. All the other stuff doesn't matter to me at this point. The post is correct, the best republican't president ever. Vote for the lesser of two evils; what do you get? We need more people waking up to the realization that the dems aren't on the left anymore. We need more people who want to move the country forward not backward. If it takes another stupid goober, er, I mean, governor from texas or massachusetts or alaska to do it, so be it.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Evil.
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
just because the GOP alternatives are horrifying, where is the error in the breakdown of obama's record?
or, is the only 'hooey' mentioning what is apparent to most observers?
i voted for obama so i'm already blaming myself.
It's not our attitude ruining the country. It's yours.
Your pitiful philosophy is that if you criticize a bad president for being a bad president, it's your fault if we end up with a worse president. That's the attitude that's killing us. It's like telling a brutally sexually-harassed employee that if she either sues or quits she has only herself to blame if she finds herself suffering unemployed hardship for many years.
You want to give me positive reasons to support this president? Fine. You want to explain to me the reasons you think he's a good president? My ears are always open. But here's what I will never listen to:
Be a coward. Be an enabler. But for the love of what we know, don't you dare try to make things better because they could always get worse in the process.
Neither the Democratic Party nor President Obama is entitled to our votes. They have to earn them. If they find that their constituency abandons them after continual slaps in the face, they don't get to say it's the voters' faults for abandoning them.
And frankly, they wouldn't even be able to make that argument if there weren't so many cowardly enablers in the populace making the argument for them.
The people who tell me I want to throw out the baby with the bathwater, when I really want to heal the baby before it dies. You guys won't even let us point out the symptoms.
The people who tell me Obama's a master political manipulator working wonders for our side, only to pivot in the wake of disaster and say such manipulation was impossible and ask how I dare expect to much.
You wanna support the president? Support him. Argue for him. DON'T ENABLE HIM! Or you will have only yourself to blame when too many people are so sickened they begin to prepare to endure Republican hardship again. (By the way, a lot of us are preparing. if you're not preparing for that, and life sucks under the next administration, see how far resenting us will get you in life.)
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
yeah!
I resent you people already.
Congratulations.
I can't imagine how anyone would remain unpersuaded by that insightful and thoughtful comment.
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
... will always need scapegoats to blame, since you can't hold those in POWER accountable.
So blame the Proles!
Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit atrocities.
"you people?"
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Big whoop.
far left loon >.<
Well said. When will people wake up to the fact that we have two wings of a corporate party. The democrats turned their backs on us long ago...
at some point anyway. If not next year, then in 2016.
Obama's own hackish mediocrity guarantees it.
If Obama hadn't surrounded himself with corrupt Neo-Liberals to make policy for him, he'd probably be the most popular president since FDR. But it turns out he really dislikes FDR and especially his legacy, not to mention liberals and liberalism more generally.
Chances are Obama will win in 2012, if by the skin of his teeth. But his only selling point now is that he's not Rick Perry. Since he doesn't have a positive record he can run on, he's stuck with the old "be very afraid of the Republicans!" canard. Now, fear works really well on Right-Wing Authoritarian Followers, but it doesn't work so well on liberals and progressives, because we don't enjoy The Fear the way they do.
So good luck with that meme!
Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit atrocities.
and yet you're already blaming those who, like me, expect your favorite political sports team to actually work for our votes.
So let's turn the tables; what makes you think your "friendship" is so valuable to us?
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
and the DLC? Oh, I get it, it's the voter's fault.
Hmm, the same might be said of Obama viz: William Daley; Timothy Geithner; Robert Gates; David Petreus; Larry Summers; Robert Rubin; Joe Lieberman; Eric Holder; Leon Panetta; Rick Warren; Cass Sunstein; Lee Hamilton; Jeffrey Immelt; Rahm fucking Emmanual; Hank Paulson; Dennis Ross; and, as the King of Siam might say, "Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera".
Clean your own house first.
Funny how those who substitute guns for courage can't seem to find either when it all goes wrong.
Matt Taibbi - Obama and Jobs: Why I Don't Believe Him Anymore
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/09/06-6
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
for quite a while...
Cue the Kabuki....
Taibbi nails it. He slipped into the ghetto vernacular in a flash and the adoring fans ate it up
truth seekers and truth tellers put love of country over love of party
Were was Obama last winter during the massive demos in WI? He whips out his support of unions whenever it suits him.
"Someday somebody related to some of these sufferers, these victims, these collaterally damaged souls, may try to kill you. And I have to tell you, I think you’ll have it coming." - Christopher Cooper
Another parallel to Bush; the Presidential skill of lying to our face. "Hollow promises" sums it up nicely. My eyes hurt from the constant rolling.
Plain and simple. Sure, now he pretends to stand with unions - again. What a friggin joke.
A centrist isn't a bad place to be except that the center keeps shifting right. I keep hearing the Ralph Nadar mantra in 2000: There is no difference between them and then we got the Bush (stolen election...twice). Can anyone tell me honestly that we would be better off right now with McCain and Palin?
"Can anyone tell me honestly that we would be better off right now with McCain and Palin?"
Of course not, we'd be Drill Baby Drill, more usless tax cuts for the rich, cutting regulations, etc.
I don't like where we're at right now, but as ineffective as Obama and the Democrats have been, they're all we have from sliding deeper into the abyss.
see my post above
that's where we are. The tar sands APPROVED BY HILARY. The tax cuts for the rich. APPROVED BY OBAMA Regulations for banks GUTTED BY BUSH ECONOMIC TEAM, ONLY NOW IT'S OBAMA ECONOMIC TEAM, preemptive wars, CHECK, OBAMA FULLY ON BOARD, Brutal attacks on WHISTLE BLOWERS AND ACTIVISTS, check, Obama worse than Bush
truth seekers and truth tellers put love of country over love of party
Sad but true nomad . People better think twice before they say there would be no difference . I am really afraid that one of these Reich wing lunatics will take the White House , we would soon be wishing that Obama had won and would be kicking ourselves royally . We are caught between a rock and a hard place . I don't trust Obama , I don't respect him , I have no faith in him , he is just another politician and we were had , but Parry , Romney or ? in the White House ? Holy crap ! Please no !
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
you need support to get support and if everyone is convinced supporting the right guy that's too weak to win we will ALWAYS get the wrong guy.
but as ineffective as Obama and the Democrats have been
but as ineffective as Obama and the Democrats have been
but as ineffective as Obama and the Democrats have been
I'm voting for more of the same
...and you wonder why the country is in the shitter????
far left loon >.<
it's not where we'd be right now. it's where we will be ten or twenty years from now. every time obama gives in or compromises at the beginning of a fight he helps republicans frame the debate and makes their views appear reasonable. this pushes us all further to the right and we know the republicans will just keep pulling. so we might be better off now but more people believe the debt ceiling was a real crisis and rich people need tax cuts then they did before.
Good question, what do we get when we don't renew? It certainly isn't apparent how McCain/Palin would have been as good. The problem being, either a democratic nominee or republican nominee wins, yes most of us would like more progressive policies, a pony would be nice also. A more progressive candidate isn't happening and a third party isn't going to win this cycle. The choices are what we have, Obama, or a really crazy knot head, know nothing from the goopers, can we call any of the goopers sane?
You are right what we have is better than the alternative. Personally Obama has been a disappointment, but shitting in my mess kit by allowing a Perry or Bachman, or any of those other loonies on the right to win because Obama isn't everything I want seems rather short sighted.
Give them the White House , give them their mandate to cut the hell out of social security , medicaid and medicare or to eliminate it ! Brilliant ! That's what we would be doing , cutting our nose off to spite our face . Look what damage was done just in the last mid terms because people didn't vote and abandoned the
DemocraticRepublicon lite party ! Things are bad , I can hardly stand to listen to Obama anymore and I am as pissed off as the next person but let's not do that again ! I am voting against the full blown Republicon's , casting a vote for Obama is the only way to do it .Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
if voters decide long in advance that a primary challenger will automatically let republicans win and this can't be allowed to happen there will be no primary challenger. if they demand a primary challenger their will be one, and it might be somebody better than obama. the people that still like obama are just like him. they give up long before the fight even starts.
if you had to choose between executing a group of innocent people or imprisoning them OR getting behind a guy who won't win but would shed a national spotlight on how wrong those choices are who would you vote for?
If centrism is okay, then is it also okay that "the center" keeps moving into Wingnut Loonieville? The answer is simple: if you're fine with moving ever rightward, then centrism is just fine. If, on the other hand, you'd like to dig the country out of a long-term depression and make the country somehow healthy again, then centrism is a really bad idea.
As for your question, consider this: The policy direction of this country is the same under Obama as it would be under those other nasty people. The only real differences are in style. The substance is essentially the same. More wars, more poverty, more people losing healthcare, more homelessness, more foreign policy stupidity, etc.
The real difference between the two regimes then, is this: with Thugs in power, we wouldn't be having these bitter arguments about whether to support McCain. We would be relatively united in opposition. But under the current regime, we are split into opposing factions and rendered powerless as a result.
In this sense, I would prefer a Thug in the White House, since Dems would opppose the Keystone XL pipeline... whereas now they are largely mute. They would oppose the wars, but are now largely mute. They would oppose the obviously corrupt policies coming out of the White House... but are now largely mute.
Divide And Conquer the liberals/progressives. It's the only things the Democratic Leadership is any good at, besides throwing free money at their corporate benefactors while issuing flatulent excuses to a gullible electoral base.
Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit atrocities.
McCain and Palin. As easy as it is to say it would be worse - there is no way to know. Perhaps McCain would have scared voters shitless and they would have turned out en mass and voted in huge majorities in both houses. I think that's quite likely.
Would those dems have had enough balls to stand up to republican proposals - sadly, probably not.
that Clinton was the best republic president ever?
me-oww!
i've been waiting a long time for this site to publish something like this. even in this thread people are still yelling what if the republicans win?! who cares if the democrats are only a step behind them and we are all sprinting to the right. democrats are under the same fear based politics republicans are. republicans hate obama because they "believe" he will wreck the country. democrats are afraid republicans will ruin everything. it's what the oligarchs want, whichever side is in office does what they want and the incumbent supporters will stand behind their person no matter what they do. it's blind loyalty to fear of the other guy. thanks for laying it out there tina.
That's what got us 8 years of Bush and into the mess we're in today. And the purity squad on the left is damned determined to repeat that mistake.
that should be the question. rather than be so concerned with what people that others consider crazy are doing we should be worried about what people we say are sane are doing and be worried if that looks crazy too. we are better off losing an election then letting EVERYONE shift to the right. obama got elected because people hated bush. then he acts like bush and of course republicans hate him anyway but democrats fail to see it's one man holding two puppets.
is because we don't have a proactive president. He's a wimp, and a republican who let war criminals off scott free.
...a winner!
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
.. of how far this country has crawled to the Right.
Dr. David Korten called it about right, he noted that we have shifted from a Capitalist economy into a Capitalist society, that even our personal relations must turn a profit. Love is not profitable, neither is honor, throw them out. Empathy? hah!, that's for suckers, and you don't wanna be a sucker, do ya?
And now I rant......
From my perspective, the down side of the boomers getting everything they wanted is that they have raised spoiled brats that expect everything, but are clueless as to where, and how it comes from. They call themselves Liberal because the are willing to pay taxes, but never participate in a single PTA or city council meeting. They are very happy to let someone else do the dirty work, while they take credit.
And now those spoiled children are having more spoiled children, noses buried in electronic distractions, and taught to treat working folk as indentured servants. Being social (albeit shallow) is the new currency.
So, of course, they might think Obama as a liberal, cuz it's cool to say you are a liberal, 'cuz that means you're nice, right? Even if you are not, you don't want to be perceived as a douche.
So, here we are, with a black Republican president, elected as a Liberal by people without a clue as to what that really means.
I will again be campaigning for leftists and progressives in my local elections, and will vote my Green party conscience, and encourage my fellow citizens to educate themselves and vote, as I do every election cycle.
And I will be further ostracized by society for doing so. Sigh....
how people have forgotten what the point of politics is and instead turned it into a two team football league.
That always AMAZES this Canadian. What a fucked system. It's like, I know Obama sucks, but MY team must win.
Perfect formula for the shitpile you've got now in 'Merika.
far left loon >.<
we just have a few more choices of parties. Same mindset, though.
I don't always vote for the same party.
far left loon >.<
And I'm a Canadian too Edwin. But I always vote against the CONservatives. Always. Whoever of the Libs and NDP has the best chance of beating them gets my vote. I'd include the Green Party in that mix if they'd ever had a chance in my riding.
"In theory theory and practice are alike. In practice they are very different."
The one thing I am firm on is NOT voting conservative.
far left loon >.<
We should have seen this coming when Obama had Rick Warren praying at the inaugural.
Harry Chapin wants you.
and said so.
me-oww!
really didn't like that. it's one of the most depressing i told you so's ever.
I was on a perfect white beach in Thailand and missed every bit of it. (poor me)
Make sure Thailand is on your to-do list!!!
far left loon >.<
How about electing a House majority again, AND then vote in a filibuster proof Senate.
When he walks in, they play "Hail to the Chief," they don't all stand and yell "Hail Caesar!"
Bush got what he wanted because he had Republican Congresses with cowered, compliant, and sometimes complicit, Democrats.
I have a lot of issues with Obama, but I think he's gotten done what he can with the Senate he had.
And we really need to thank Nancy Pelosi for the progressive legislation that did go through.
Cue the Obamabot accusations...
Most of the ones in there now are like the Republicans of the 70's-90's.
The're Whoreporatists.
More Main Street - FUCK WALL STREET!!!
Do You really think he did the best he could? He gave in before he even bagan to fight. It is better to have fought and lost than to never fight at all.
But that's his fault, no one elses.
Look, I've long been screaming about him taking more liberal initial positions. But if he had, I'm not sure what that would really have accomplished.
Would it maybe make a starker contrast between the two parties more evident to the ignorati voters? I'm not sure. Most of the voters in this country cover the gamut from uninformed to misinformed, and from fucking ignorant to downright fucking stupid.
And the MSM already allows the right to frame Obama's already right-of-center positions to sound like they were uttered by Marx or Lenin or Mao - and they don't say "Boo!".
Besides, the Democrats can't message anything, ANYTHING, worth a fucking shit! They pass the beginning of health care, and then the Republican messaging had D's running for the hills as if they'd really authorized Death Panels.
We need to restructure the entire Democratic Party. As is, it's about as useful as mammaries on a male bovine.
Obama advocated more liberal positions? I guess we'll never know - Because He Never Did.
it seems that the filibuster, and the secret holds and the such could have been dealt with--in that, they would be less likely to be abused if one had to physically filibuster not just give intent of--by a simple majority vote when they vote on the rules at the start of the new congress.
if the dems actually chose to do that--which they did not. because of that, the filibuster-excuse seems to be just that, an excuse.
. . . by a Democratic Senate since 2007. They're not a reason; they're an excuse.
And notice how the filibuster will magically disappear when the Super Cat Food Commissions recommendations come for a vote.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
The Obama faithful always say he doesn't have that much power and point to Congress and the Blue Dogs, so what does it matter if Obama is re-elected? He has no power anyway, right guys? I mean, seriously, what's he gonna do, use the bully pulpit? Pffft.
far left loon >.<
This is a consequence of a two party system. A third party would produce discrimination between the parties, two parties become more and more alike. But failing a third party why are we not seeing primary challenge to this loser? Where have all the real Democrats gone? Come back Hillary, your country needs you, all is forgiven.
but yes. elections are the only thing that holds these jokers accountable. if democrats were willing to hold obama to flame he probably wouldn't roll over so fast. being behind him so you're not behind whichever republican is a pathetic way to use your political will.
Please, don't make me puke.
Lincoln has been my idol all my life - and one of the things I love about him is that eh was a man, as Carl Sandburg put it, "of steel and velvet." He had principles - beliefs he was willing to stand up for, fight for, die for. Obama is nothing more than 6" feet of cream cheese. The man has no beliefs or principles, cares about nothing, will fight for nothing. The worst political mistake of my lifetime was my backing him over Hillary Clinton.
So, I understand what the author was trying to say - but, seriously, putting Lincoln and Obama in a sentence together, declaring that Bambi Obama is comparable to Lincoln in ANY regard whatsoever is just wrongheaded. It's like comparing a fly to an elephant.
.
...over Hillary Clinton."
Maybe mine too.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Not really because flies have wings and elephants don't. And why do you hate cream cheese?
far left loon >.<
I just don't believe this guy anymore, and it's become almost painful to listen to him.
Taibbi stealing my material again.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
Listening to his speech the other day made me want to puke. Then he makes it worse by putting on his folksy, country voice. I can't believe how badly we've been had by this imposter.
First time poster - thank you, I enjoy the site's humor, insight, and snarkiness.
99%
Musta missed that latest speech. Oh well, they're all the same.
far left loon >.<
after Obummers first 100 days - ...."wait, be patient, it takes time"
after first year - ....same bullshit
Finally! C&L has admitted the truth!* statusquObama is NOTHING but a CROOK and a LIAR!
*Welll at least one of their authors**
** It was a great read (full of TRUTH!), where are you going to post once good ol' C&L decides that your work is no longer needed here.***
***buuuut we jus gotta win da mostess important election evaaaaa! ....-LesserEvil2012!
Cue the Kabuki....
...while I'm often guilty myself of painting things Repug/Dem it might be interesting to try to find a media outlet ANYWHERE, ANYWHERE that looks at candidates/pols and defines their beliefs by their actions and lines them both up with what their party appears to condone/promote. NOW, that would be informative and still allow those with functioning brains to make an assessment of what matters most to the country and themselves. IN THAT ORDER if that's still possible. I don't seriously expect this to happen any more than I expect to see any real REVOLUTION to get the money and length of campaigning FIXED in this country...oh, for the billions spread around to get someone elected for favor and POWER to be available to pay down our debts/defiets/whatever...we are becoming an increasingly STUPID people and you can't fix stupid! Add to all this the problem of knowing what to even BELIEVE anymore...honesty and truth were bought up by GREED!~
Polls show voters prefer GOP Hill
But buried in the Journal/NBC poll is a contradictory nugget: Registered voters, by a 47 percent to 41 percent spread, would rather have Republicans in charge of Congress. That’s the highest level of preference for Republican control since the question was first posed 15 years ago. At a time when the White House is fond of the mantra that an election is “a choice, not a referendum,” it appears that voters aren’t ready to choose Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi over Speaker John Boehner.
Those interested are encouraged to read the whole thing.
we can all vote one more time for the lesser of 2 evils (for president anyway) and hope he doesn't keep doing what he's doing...but he will.
the key is in the primaries. WE have to stop playing the MSM game of "who (they decide) is electable" and put a Democratic Candidate forward who doesn't suck big hairy donkey ****. Why has Kucinich never won the candidacy? One reason and one reason only: WE (or shall I say YOU, or at least not many of US) haven't voted for him. We put our money on who we were told would "Win". Gore? OK, yeah, he was VP of one of the most successful administrations, so fine. (and on top of that, he actually won the election). But John Kerry? Really?
The Left is far too afraid of voting for Left-of-center candidates! Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face? We (collective) do it every election. Every time we vote Centrist or, in the case of Obama, Right Wing, we kick ourselves in the proverbial nuts.
If you want a candidate on the Left to win, you have to vote for him/her. Voting for Center-Right and hoping they do what you want doesn't work.
thank you
I backed Kooch in the 2004 AND 2008 primaries. But he is a glaring example of how the media and the establishment Dems manipulate the electorate. You see, he once saw something in the sky that he could not explain. The media killed him over this. Then the DNC blocked him from debates. They tried to keep him off of ballots in many states.
But the most offensive opposition to Kucinich came from the left wing blogs. When the blogs started up I thought it would change things. But the big players took centrist positions on many issues and squandered maybe one of the last true opportunities to move this country to a more progressive ideology.
"Someday somebody related to some of these sufferers, these victims, these collaterally damaged souls, may try to kill you. And I have to tell you, I think you’ll have it coming." - Christopher Cooper
it appears that voters aren’t ready to choose Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi over Speaker John Boehner.
Shocking! She's soooo progressive! And effective!
I guess the base isn't energized enough by "doesn't suck as much as". It didn't work in the mid terms and it ain't gonna work this time around either.
I can understand C&L's position on this. It's so hard to give up the "B" list appearances on TV and invites to have the Democratic leadership lie to them directly.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
Both lied. However, at least Bush didn't promise to end wars and didn't http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDwO1oVcsWw. Bush/cheney were warmonger chickenhawks and we knew it going in. Let more batshit crazy republicans win instead. Maybe I will get lucky and they will deport me to Canada. I have grown tired of being betrayed by my own party as well as my own government.
Obama wants to win on the ticket that it is him or a crazy person. Fuck him. I will vote for progressives and if necessary, abstain on the presidential vote. He does not get my vote. I need a better platform, as Obama is letting batshit crazies get what they want anyway. http://youtu.be/o5d-apDoxyg
Obama has not and will NOT nominate a right winger for the SCOTUS. And that is the ONLY thing that concerns me. The SCOTUS is a lifetime appointment. Obama is only 4 or 8 years.
Aside from W's total abject failure as a human being (he was a dry drunk), who's unrecovered alcoholic brain destroyed the country's economy, he deliberately left a legacy of destruction every single time he opened his mouth.
Obama's Republican-like demeanor is caused by his caving to Republican pressure. Otherwise, he is NOT a Republican nor is he a Teatard, nor does he regularly say stupid things like 'Jesus is the way, the truth and the light' (which is a total lie anyway).
So, you can compare him to Republicans, but do NOT insult my intelligence about him being one.
do you mean republican as in now or 10, 15 years ago when we had social conservatives and fiscal conservatives?
are. It's safe to side with the minority when you know the conservatives have the majority. Just saying.
And as far as Bush being a dry drunk - I assume you've seen photos of him totally plastered at the olympics.
As a liberal, I’m afraid that I’m coming to the conclusion that, as responsible citizens, we might have to vote for the Republican candidate next year.
Now give me a chance to explain before you tear my head off.
As liberals, we are the ones who strive for the long term good for our nation(rather than our opponents, whose work begins and ends with increasing next quarter’s corporate balance sheets). Therefore, we must be willing to sacrifice our near term aspirations if it means that the nation we love is safer for it. Today, it looks like our nation is not safer if Barack Obama is president.
What would happen to America if the nation was faced with an existential threat while Obama was president? Imagine if he had been president during the Civil War or the Great Depression. If Obama had been president during the Cuban Missile Crisis, I suspect that World War 3 would have resulted. If we’ve learned anything in the last 2 ½ years, it’s that he is fundamentally unable to show leadership on any issue. The US can’t afford to have a vacuum in the White House.
Now the US has not faced an existential threat since the break up of the Soviet Union, so it can be argued that we can afford to have a nonentity in the White House, but who can say what might occur between now and 2016.
By the way, I hope no one is going to say that terrorism is an existential threat to America. Terrorism could never be that, though the Bush response to 9/11(which Obama is continuing) was and is such a threat.
Admittedly, most of the Republican candidates don’t show much chance of developing into leaders, but at least there is some unlikely chance that they will, which has to be better than the zero chance of our current president.
That’s what I’m thinking. You may proceed with the head tearing.
Is beta-testing China as the Next Big
ThingThreat.the notion that obama is weak, or easily cowed over, or a failure of a leader is only one take on his actions as grand poobah.
there is another possibility: what has transpired under obama's watchful gaze is actually more aligned with obama's goals than most liberals who voted for obama would ever care to admit.
obama is not a weak liberal president, but a very effective neoliberal politician.
That sums it up.
please... tell me you were.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Go here. http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/07/obama....
More warmed over Obama bullshit. No REAL money being put directly into anything. Noo...tax cuts and incentives and cross your fingers and hope industry rebuilds the infrastructure.
Shit, why not fall back on the REAL GOP playbook. Just put the interstate highway system up for sale, just like they did with Conrail two decades ago.
I'm done. I'm not even going to listen to this GOP lite failure on Thursday.
Oh...here's the sop for the left wing. A proposal to extend unemployment benefits. Which of course, in typical President Zero fashion, will be negotiated away or wittled down to nothing. Just like healthcare.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
instead of just agreeing -- which I do -- I'll go one farther...
"everyone" (so-called experts on the R and L) are saying that there is a need for real innovative solutions. I've heard the terms "innovative", "creative", and "imaginative" thrown around like candy at a parade. Why does that always result in the same tired BS of "tax cuts" from the right and "unemployment benefits" (or nothing) from the Left? I know that they know the definitions of those words because they're quite proficient at finding innovative loopholes, creative kickbacks, and imaginative sex scandals.
How about a jobs program focused on removing the heads from the asses of our politicians?
and then when obama didn't strut into the white billionaires and general's house and kick ass you didn't vote in 2010 and now you're doubling down on that stupidity?
if you're a dedicated activist who never compromises on anything, then my apologies.
What would happen to America if the nation was faced with an existential threat while Obama was president?
I welcome our existential overlords.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
What would the U.S. have done if the Chinese were pounding the shit out of the middle east for oil? It's not even good to contemplate.
China as the Next Big Thing Threat.
Asia can bring America to her knees just by raising prices on flat screen tvs.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
Obama has not and will NOT nominate a right winger for the SCOTUS.
Obama is not nominating ANYONE for the SCOTUS, 'cause the GOP in the Congress will never approve ANY appointment, and Obama is too big a pussy to fight for it.
He threw Elizabeth Warren over the side in a heartbeat.
This shit is not that difficult to figure out, guys.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
I'm as anti-Obama as any thinking person can be, but, err, um, uh . . . he's already successfully appointed two center-left women to the Court. Perhaps you've heard of them? The better of the two begins has a Latina surname that begins with the letter "S".
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
what makes either Kagan or Sotomayor center-left?
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
:^(
y.
there is NO ORGANIZED OPPOSITION TO THE RIGHT''S BEST WEAPON- talk radio. 1000 think tank coordinated radio stations blasting scripted repetition to 50 mil a week.
until there is, the left cannot say it got or is getting obama's back. and for that reason it emboldens all this craziness.
why the fuck does the left expect obama to do anything clinton couldn't do, or what the left itself couldn't do when they allowed the bush crime family to steal two elections and lie us into iraq?
It was the Obama administration that put forth most of the money and also the restructuring plan for the auto industry rescue. A success that is way too often overlooked and for which Obama courageously stood firm in the face of public opposition saving millions of jobs and the backbone of our economy.
but, what undermines part of your point is the concessions that the union had to give up in order for the deal to go through, in a very shock doctrine-like manner.
from the white house web site:
The UAW has made important concessions on compensation and retiree health care that, while difficult, will help save jobs for active employees, pensions and health care for retirees, and make GM more competitive. In virtually every respect, the concessions that the UAW agreed to are more aggressive than what the Bush Administration originally demanded in its loan agreement with GM. Among other things, the UAW’s existing VEBA – to which GM has a $20bn obligation – will be replaced by a new VEBA as described below.
now, had the obama admin put the kibosh on any wall st deal that didn't include reforming executive compensation, or replacing upper mgt, etc., this UAW concession ditty wouldn't be as hard to swallow.
This is why being a dickless half wit will cost Obama the election.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/09/06/romney...
The GOP sells the same bullshit, but knows how to sell it.
Why would the voting public buy warmed over bullshit, when it can get the same shit fresh.
The Democrats will NEVER win by offering Burger King when the other guy is offering McDonalds.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
the biggest bait and switch candidate since Johnson 1968...
Don't you mean "Johnson 1964"? Johnson didn't run in ' 68.
Harry Chapin wants you.
obama is the biggest bait and switch candidate since Johnson 1968...
YEAH! How dare that Texan give the Nears civil rights.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
Can you imagine BO fighting to bust the corporations like TR did? No, because he has done everything short of kissing their asses. TR was a giant. BO is a corporatist fart in the wind.
Why do you want to throw out the baby with the bathwater? There are problems with Mother England to be sure, but have you any idea how bad things could get without her?
You speak of the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's god entitle you, and toss out platitudes about self evident truths as though it were really possible for all people to be created equal, endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Of course that was the promise of the new life you were to get here in the colonies, but it's just rhetoric. Come on, folks, grow up!
You've said yourselves that mankind is more disposed to suffer evils while they are sufferable, but you think now is really the time to abolish the institutions to which we are accustomed? The long train of abuses is really insufferable? And you pledge your lives, fortunes and sacred honors to ideals? My fellow colonists, have you really thought this through? Do you know how bad things could get if you do this? You'll have only yourselves to blame, and don't say we loyalists didn't warn you!
You have nothing but bad things to say about our King and his empire, but you fail to understand his accomplishments, and how you benefit from his rule. Do you even want to hear it? Or are you just a bunch of haters?
You say he has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good, but it's not all good laws he refuses. You can't have everything. He has a whole empire to run.
You say he has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only, but what do you want? Full self governance? When there are savage tribes in those regions, and a populace not ready for such a thing? Who has ever heard of such a thing anyway?
You say he has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. But do you not recognize the dangers we really do face from immigrants and foreigners? We have the rule of law for a reason!
You say he has protected war criminals, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States. Do you have any idea how divisive it would be to try such criminals? Pitting brother against brother here in the colonies we have built up, which we would never have been able to do in the first place without the help of the British Crown? You want to risk it all? For mere principles?
You say he has imposed taxes on us without our consent, but there are too many in the British Empire who could not bear that the colonies be given actual representation. You get the compromise of virtual representation - which the King did not have to allow at all - and still you complain?
You say that in every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Well, fine. Revolt. Rebel. See where it gets you! You'll get war! Death! Suffering! And in the end, you might not win! And if you lose, well, if you think the King's policies are bad to you now, just wait until your rebellion is crushed!
Dear friends and colonists, think about what you are doing! Are principles really worth all that? Support your King, and things will get better in the long term!
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
Teabaggers = loyalists? I'm in.
Of course, though, we have to vote for Obama. Don't question it, just do it!
And the circle is complete.
Funny how those who substitute guns for courage can't seem to find either when it all goes wrong.
Dear friends and colonists, think about what you are doing! Are principles really worth all that? Support your King, and things will get better in the long term!
And if not...at least it will suck less.
Following your argument we'd still have slavery in this country.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
That's the joke...
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
. . . . right?
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
he's already successfully appointed two center-left women to the Court.
Those appointments never were about tipping the balance of power on the court.
The next one does. He will not be allowed to tip the court. Period.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
I didn't vote for him.
With FISA I saw right through him. status quObama, change, my ass…
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
That was when I knew that Obama wasn't going to be what he tried so hard to get everyone to believe he was. The man showed his true colors with his statements and actions during that debacle.
Funny how those who substitute guns for courage can't seem to find either when it all goes wrong.
Myself, as well.
He showed us he was a sellout before he was even elected - with the support of those supposed "progressive democrats".
And, he's right: Progressive Democrats are just as blind of voters as Teabagging Republicans.
"The right-wing says Obama is left of Lenin – in reality he’s barely left of Goldwater." It appears C&L is going the full firebagger route. It's certainly entertaining if foolish.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Simply breathtaking, your analysis of the flaws of the piece. A true masterpiece.
Funny how those who substitute guns for courage can't seem to find either when it all goes wrong.
benightedly dumb this post is but I suspect I'd just be wasting my time. The author, judging by this post and others, has but a tenuous grasp of politics and no knowledge whatsoever of history. Goldwater? Seriously? Red meat for the hounds and listen to 'em bay.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
offer it
I have lots of free time today. Fire away.
far left loon >.<
You Do Realize I'm Satirizing. . . . right?
Sorry, I didn't. See what happens when ineffective Democrats get me pissed off!!! LOL.
"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you." --Mr. Burns
I like the cut of your snark.
The grave threat to the country isn't the Republicans in Congress, it's the Republican in the White House.
DRAFT HILLARY '12
Why draft her to fight when she and Chelsea volunteered?
Hillary Wasn't Lying . . . Bosnia Gunfire footage discovered.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
I voted for him, went door to door, and did about everything I could within my means to get him elected.
I have been pissed off more than once. Disappointed hell yes!
Given up hell NO!!
Yes I think he has given way to many concessions! But I also realize what he is up against.
What if he didn't start out in the mess he inherited??
This congress has done more to hinder him then any congress in my lifetime. 54 years!
Look at what he has done with what he could do.
Blue dogs, and filibusterers have lurked around every issue.
Call me naive, call me what you will. Obama bot???
I will probably lose my job in the next year ( down sizing, Where I work our jobs are going to China & Malaysia), after that my guess my house! Next stop... I hope the kids have a room??? The outlook sucks!
I will still believe in him SO HELP ME GOD! The alternative is to hard for me to imagine!
Bob
is what gets plenty of folks stuck in the first stage of grief for far longer than they should.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Yes, but you're a garden gnome. Fantasy is your thing.
far left loon >.<
What is the saddest part is that Obama is what we are left with. The loony index of the GOP is astronomical. I received an email today asking me to give $500 to the campaign. I wouldn't if I could afford it now just because the inertia created by the disappointment and lack of understanding that I feel at the way Obama has governed is ovewrwhelming. You can't reason with Republicans. You can't deal with the stupid obstacles that they have created and the way that they treat the middle class and the poor. You have to fight back. Turning the other cheek just means that they slap you twice. I just wanted Obama to fight back. It is better to have tried and lost than never to have tried at all. Maybe he has been trying and what we see is what is there. So sad for us.
If Tina is going to be a regular contributor, I might have to start frequenting this page again.
Right on, Ms. Dupuy.
Now, don't fall in the trap that your blogging peers do: Don't enable the Democratic Party by basterdizing the term "progressive". There is nothing progressive about it or them.
Instead, we need a resurgence of a Progressive Party of America that followed - and ended - the last guilded age.
You can help.
if obama was fighting a primary challenger on tv well before the primaries he wouldn't have conceded on so many things because there would be somebody to call him out. republicans master this. republicans don't break ranks even when they are competing. democrats don't do anything but hope the republicans don't win. putting all your eggs in the obama basket make it easier for him just to concede. when sarah palin says something it's usually stupid but it can effect what all the republicans will talk about for the next week. everyone else just has obama and pundits. he needs pressure which won't come if people are going to vote for him no matter what.
with a snarky "tsk-tsk" towards the anti-Obama crowd?
Comments are closed on this entry