And you were expecting... what?

[MannyGoldstein]

When Obama appointed Simpson and Bowles to lead a team charged with fixing government spending, the die was cast. America's two most vocal and experienced warriors against Social Security, together and with a big stage to perform from. The outcome was as predestined as that of an anesthetized gazelle in front of a starving lion, or an unguarded cash register in front of Tony Soprano. There could be no outcome other than a bipartisan call for slashing our social safety net, followed by a bipartisan war on The People's Trust Fund.

A war that the President and Congress intend to continue until our $3 Trillion or so in savings is in the vaults of the 1%.

And here we are.

We'll live through this episode. But the episodes will continue until the Predator class has everything of value on the globe.

Unless we stop them. Unless we stop them.

We will not stop them by walking off in disgust. We will stop it by pulling working Americans back together, to elect lawmakers who make laws for the 99%, instead of for the 1%. We will stop it by educating ourselves, our families, and our friends about the truth: that Liberal policies simply work better than any others, history provides stark proof of this. We will stop it by electing good people, tough people, people who will fight to win. And if they lose - as Elizabeth Warren says - they'll leave plenty of blood and teeth on the floor, so next time the bastards will think twice before starting a fight.

No more golden-throated orators. No more prevaricators. No more opportunists with shadowy backgrounds. Only folks with a proven commitment to the 99% who can throw a hell of a punch.

That's it.

[ProSense]

1. Yeah,

Unless we stop them. Unless we stop them.

We will not stop them by walking off in disgust. We will stop it by pulling working Americans back together, to elect lawmakers who make laws for the 99%, instead of for the 1%. We will stop it by educating ourselves, our families, and our friends about the truth: that Liberal policies simply work better than any others, history provides stark proof of this. We will stop it by electing good people, tough people, people who will fight to win. And if they lose - as Elizabeth Warren says - they'll leave plenty of blood and teeth on the floor, so next time the bastards will think twice before starting a fight.

No more golden-throated orators. No more prevaricators. No more opportunists with shadowy backgrounds. Only folks with a proven commitment to the 99% who can throw a hell of a punch.

...but what are you proposing to stop the cuts that the "golden-throated" orator/"prevaricator" will make?

FYI: There are 33 Senate seats up in 2014, 21 of them are Democratic.

[babylonsister]

2. We are doomed! But good for you for having a plan. nt

[ProSense]

3. .

[babylonsister]

8. At some point, you just have to

give it up!

[Skittles]

22. Prosense has a plan:

making a DEMOCRAT act like a fucking DEMOCRAT

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. To be done with demagogues would be lovely indeed

Particularly those of the maudlin rec-chasing variety.

Unless we stop them. Unless we stop them.

Oh Lawd!

[ProSense]

6. It's not looking good

for First Man Bill: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022623381

[Autumn]

5. And here we are. Sorry to say, I think the ones in charge

will give us who they want us to vote for.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. We are Dorothy

We still have the vote: if we didn't, then the 1% wouldn't bother working so hard to divide us.

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, we can fix this whenever we want to. As long as we all want to, and we know what we want.

[Autumn]

11. Manny, you are fucking awesome.

Thanks.

[GitRDun]

16. Clicks heals together 3 times!

There's no place like home!
There's no place like home!
There's no place like home!
I am rooting for that little dog too!

[xiamiam]

17. not elect anyone who continues the phony wars on terror

we're broke because we spend trillions to keep the mic and surveillance state running at full speed..until we wake up to that, we get more of the same

[cthulu2016]

7. The Bluff is an important maneuver in Chess. Educate yourself.

[dflprincess]

10. Chess - where the pawns are sacrificed to protect the royalty.

I would prefer the president not play games with our retirement funds.

[Dragonfli]

12. I think it's poker today, chess was yesterday, either way

It is a brilliant move!
When the Repugs don't call his bluff (apparently an axiom)
They will "look bad" for not taking the deal
but the best part is a grateful voting public will reward Democrats with amazing victories in 2014
As we all know, threatening cuts to SS resonates with the voting public, they hate SS
Most will vote to make damn sure the party that tried to help them defeat SS will be able to in their name with more support from congress.
Poker is fun and we get to witness the awesome brilliance of the best poker player in all of history.

Stop worrying, sure the Dems running in the midterms will be holding aces and eights because of this, but that is a very lucky hand to hold!

[dflprincess]

13. I've been saying all day that the best way to get the base out in 2014

is to alienate them first.

[russspeakeasy]

14. He's not playing.

[KoKo]

21. But...It's FUN...when one controls the "buttons." Although...

it may be a burden...it's very rewarding financially wise...down the road. That's the only reason I can come up with given his behavior.

That he's a "Long Term Vision Guy" and whatever he deals with these days is only something he has to deal with for the "REWARDS" at the end of it. After all Clinton and Bush benefitted handsomely... Bush II didn't need it....But, Clinton/Gore have done quite well.

What else are we to think?

Government is ALL ABOUT THE REWARDS LATER...these days in American History. Truman retired Poor....Carter did his Foundation but doesn't seem to live High.... but...something changed after Truman.

[dflprincess]

23. Eisenhower lived pretty modestly after he left office

I think the point of JFK's murder was to make it clear to anyone who came after him that a) they would be well rewarded for their cooperation and b) there was a heavy price to pay if they did not cooperate.

[KoKo]

35. That we still have questions

about JFK, Bobby and MLK's murders would make one speculate about that being the scenario. Then there's still "9/11" and the "Project for the New American Century,s" outline of what should be done if there was a Pearl Harbor Event... How to proceed with their list of Countries that needed "Reform."

So many questions....so few answers from speedy "official" investigations that don't seem to ring true after all these years.

[graham4anything]

29. President Obama will be sitting on the US Supreme Court around 2018...

That is public service for the remainder of his working life.

[MannyGoldstein]

30. And monkeys might fly out of my butt. nt

[spanone]

15. oy

[Flying Squirrel]

18. Ok, really... I have more respect for your intelligence than to think

... you really believe we can end this by electing the right people. It's much too late for that, the system is corrupt and TPTB will not allow the right people to be elected. It's over. The few people like Grayson and Warren are allowed because it gives us hope. They want us to still have a glimmer of hope, because it prevents us from revolting. It's all part of the grand plan. But they control everything now. We must vote because when we don't, the greater evil wins. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking anything will really change as a result of our voting.

[xiamiam]

19. it could change..but not by voting for anthing that exists now...we have one thing left..our vote

and every 4 years we give it to the person tptb chose...we are a culture who loves celebrity and they know it..forget issues..whomever came up with the obama brand was brilliant...and their timing impeccable. We're not up against chumps...they play us over and over..and usually win.
However, we still get one vote...last year I voted third party for the first time in 40 years. I felt bad enough after realizing obamas agenda have decided that I can no longer continue with the two party system charade..if we all did that, we might have a chance...other than that, I agree with you.

[KoKo]

20. A Pony with a PINK RIBBON tied around HER NECK!

and...RAINBOWS FLYING OUT ...all AROUND!

I thought this was "Third Way Manny"....sorry.

[DonCoquixote]

24. I hear you, but

"No more golden-throated orators. No more prevaricators. No more opportunists with shadowy backgrounds. Only folks with a proven commitment to the 99% who can throw a hell of a punch. "

What do we do in 2016 if we do not get them. I can say that, if things turn out then like now (which they may not) people can say there is not much difference between Jeb Bush and Hillary..How do we play the card that we do not give it to Jeb (which would be 200 redux) or let Hillary think we will just vote her as not that other guy (2008 redux)?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

25. I expected Democrats in the House and the Senate, with liberal/progressive reputations,

like Senator Dixon (D-IL), to stand up for traditional Democratic principles and be part of the system of checks-and-balances to prevent the destruction of America and the Democratic Party as we have known it.

We have had a lot of silence from them. Too much silence.

[graham4anything]

27. Tell me, where was Elizabeth Warren in 1980 election? Please, tell the class

1980 is all telling
Jimmy Carter vs. Ronald Reagan.
1984
Ronald Reagan vs. Walter Mondale
1988
Bush41 vs. Mike Dukakis

Are you saying we should do what Elizabeth Warren did in 1980?

[DonCoquixote]

28. allow me to offer an answer to my own question.

OK, let's go ahead and face some facts. The contest for the Oval Office is needed, but our chances of getting a liberal that gets past the elite are slim and none. 2008 showed that even if we put a woman and a black person, somethign that riles up the fasicists, we will still get someone that pleases Wall Street.

SO, how did tyhe GOP do it? They focuses on LOCAL ELECTIONS, because they realize power is LOCAL. The mega crops realize they have to buy billy and edna local yokel to run things. After all, what is ther power of the HOUSE, the JUNIOR branch of congress, but the fact that local people can put in people that can say "FUCK YOU" and know the locals will pour money and votes.

In other words, if the progressives are to take things back, they have to think local, that means local elections and the house...number one, take back the house. It seems silly to think the House can become the dominant branch, but let's face it, they did it. The main purpose of the respidential elections might be useless save for taking down Scalia's surpoeme court...though that is enough to work for. We also nered to shop local, let's face it, the only power we have left that the powers that be care about is our ability to BUY. India and China are trying to take upo the slack, but they are not there yet, so we need to outright skip government, and say "OK, who donates to senator scumbag, that person's prodcts rot on shlves."

[DemocratsForProgress]

31. Was expecting you to post this.

And, hey, you did.

[tclambert]

32. But Manny, only poor people need Social Security.

If you don't like the new rules for Social Security, then you should choose to make yourself rich. And of course, people who choose to remain poor will suffer. Some of them deserve it.

[delrem]

33. Yes

MannyGoldstein you're a terrific writer and a person of good sense. I like your posts.
You say: "Unless we stop them. Unless we stop them."
I say: We have to stop them before they get in power. That's the only way.

No protest, no reasoning, will change their minds. Protesting at them, trying to reason with them, presumes something that just can't be presumed anymore: that they give a flying fuck what we think. Opinion polls? It's proven that they don't give a flying fuck about opinion polls, else the US would have single payer. Else the US would never have started the war in Iraq. On and on in *every frikken case*!

What do I see? I see that the D and R politicians are on the identical path and depend on people getting caught up exclusively in their D vs R rhetoric, and what is more, *believing* that they mean what they say - even when it is categorically proven that neither D nor R feels bound in the very least by their actual word. D and R politicians are unlike everyday people that one meets with in business and daily life, in this way - and I think it's because they have proven time after time, for decades now, that they can get away with it. They know that people care more for political rhetoric than actual fact.

If there's anything in what I say, I've built a case that the people of the US are spell-bound.

OK, I've gotta leave off now because I need input.

[HiPointDem]

34. kr