Robert Scheer: U.S. Elections Are for Suckers

[Better Believe It]

Elections Are for Suckers
By Robert Scheer
Editor in Chief
February 9, 2012

Let’s just dip our fingers in purple ink and pose for photos now that voting has the same significance for us as it had for those Iraqis who got conned into thinking they were participating in some grand democratic experiment.

Our own elections, the ones our government has modeled for the world, are a hoax. What other word should we use to describe this year’s presidential election, whose outcome will turn on which party’s super PACs gets the most generous bribes from billionaires? The Republicans, enabled by decisions of a Supreme Court they still control, were the first out of the gate and are far more culpable in destroying our system of popular governance. But the Democrats, no less committed to winning at any cost to political principle, have now jumped in.

The generally reserved New York Times editorial page responded to the Obama campaign’s decision to seek super PAC funding with a scathing editorial headlined “Another Campaign for Sale.” The Times reminded that Barack Obama, in his State of the Union speech two years ago, called out the Supreme Court justices sitting before him over their decision to free special interests from campaign spending limits. “I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests,” Obama said then. “They should be decided by the American people.” But sadly, as the Times editorial noted this week, “On Monday, the President abandoned that fundamental principle and gave in to the culture of the Citizens United decision that he once denounced as a ‘threat to our democracy.’ ”

Read the full article at:

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/elections_are_for_suckers_20120209/

[russspeakeasy]

1. Sad, Sad, Sad, and probably true.

[FarLeftFist]

2. I can't seem to muster up a 'give-a-shit' about this.

As a Liberal I'm all about leveling the playing field.

Edit: yes it should be reversed but let's work on that after 2012.

[SunsetDreams]

3. Guess I'm a sucker then

Interesting for someone who is railing against the use of Super Pacs permitted by the Supreme Court decision, only seems to be railing at the Democrats. At least he acknowledges that the debacle was made possible by a Republican controlled Supreme Court.

Also interesting coming from someone who supported Rand Paul's 2010 bid for Congress.

Support of Republican Candidate for Kentucky Senate
In the October 1, 2010, episode of the radio show "Left, Right and Center", Scheer, a self-described Liberal, expressed support for Rand Paul, son of former Libertarian presidential candidate Ron Paul, in his bid for the 2011-2016 Kentucky Senate seat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Scheer

Who's afraid of Rand Paul? by Robert Scheer

Rand Paul: All of Us Are Corporations

PAUL: Corporations are collections of people. I think we’re all corporations. To say we’re going to punish corporations like they’re someone else. All of us are corporations.

How Does Robert Scheer Feel Now?

I can understand the confusion for some Americans who do not understand what Baby Paul's beliefs really stand for. The media does a terrible job when it comes to explaining the positions our politicians take. And they are even worse when someone like Poppa Paul takes the podium because they either don't spend the time researching a fringe type figure, are afraid to expose their views publicly, or feel it's not worth the effort to do so.

...

I understand his frustration absolutely at what has happened since the 2008 election, but Scheer is either too angry to think straight or he's being played for a sucker.

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/how-does-robert-sheer-feel-now



Oh and I find it really disturbing that he blames the financial meltdown on Clinton:

The Democrats Who Unleashed Wall Street and Got Away With It

That Lawrence Summers, a president emeritus of Harvard, is a consummate distorter of fact and logic is not a revelation. That he and Bill Clinton, the president he served as treasury secretary, can still get away with disclaiming responsibility for our financial meltdown is an insult to reason.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-scheer/the-democrats-who-unleash_b_1249110.html

Once again he reserves his ire for a Democrat and not GW...wow

Does Citizens United need to go in the dust bin? Absolutely, it should never have happened. Unfortunately thanks to the Supreme Court which already leans Right, it is now law. The Democrats while not happy with that law, are playing by the rules that are now set in place. Do I like the fact that Obama is playing by the rules, in this case? NO, but I realize it is necessary. He needs to win re-election...if for no other reason than to prevent a true takeover of the Supreme Court that will last decades to come, and you will get even more disastrous decisions like Citizens United. It's already 5-4. A few of the Justices will be retiring soon, or worse die while on the bench. They are not spring chickens.

[Better Believe It]

14. I'm not a sucker for talking points and factless political spin.

You claimed that Scheer "only seems to be railing at the Democrats" and again that Scheer "Once again he reserves his ire for a Democrat".

To believe that observation one only needs to ignore Scheers opening comment:

"The Republicans, enabled by decisions of a Supreme Court they still control, were the first out of the gate and are far more culpable in destroying our system of popular governance."

Did you read Scheer's complete article before deciding to comment on it?

And I found your statement on a different subject puzzling: "Oh and I find it really disturbing that he blames the financial meltdown on Clinton"

Do you deny the fact that President Clinton signed and supported the legislation that deregulated Wall Street which enabled the financial meltdown?

That's just a historical fact which you seem to be unaware of.


Bill Clinton signs repeal of Glass-Steagall Act

[L0oniX]

55. Indeed ...I too blame Clinton for the financial meltdown...

...and the loss of a lot of jobs ...and the destruction of Haiti's rice production.

On another point I find it discusting that some here are just fine with lock stepping which the GOP has been attacked for. What's even worse for DU is that there is an effort to quash any real discussion about anything Dem elected officials that might have done or is blatantly wrong. I may understand why someone who says they won't vote Dem may be attacked but those who are trying to quash discussion over matters of the truth are hurting DU ...and many have already decided to either go elsewhere or will no longer engage here. I'm staying here just to see what happens to those that are helping to screw up DU. I hope those in charge do something about it soon and if they don't then that says a lot.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

44. I was going to correct your factually-incorrect first sentence

But I see someone already did that.

[bhikkhu]

4. Expect that to be a big repug talking point next year

...as they reach desperately for anything to discourage our side from voting. "Poisoning the well", so to speak, is an old tactic.

Here's the message and marching orders I see:

Hate the government
Distrust the process
Emphasize how its all corruption and power-games
Minimize the actual role of government in life
"Attack them on their strengths" - the post office is bad, the roads are bad, the police are thugs, the schools are producing idiots, etc...

I would say I'm a Democrat because this is the party that takes the job of government seriously, and has a conception of what good government is. For the most part it is a matter of doing the best job, under difficult circumstances - difficult circumstances being all the obstruction from the other side, and the poisoning of the well (which affects both sides).

[L0oniX]

56. "Poisoning the well" because of a truth or a lie is still "Poisoning the well" ain't it.

[FSogol]

5. Unrec. Another post in your unrelenting campaign to encourage people not to vote for Obama?

[Better Believe It]

8. You're now on ignore for your unrelenting campaign of personal attacks on DU'ers you disagree with.

[Ikonoklast]

17. Please show how the truth is a personal attack?

I'm interested in you showing everyone how the vast bulk of your posts are not anti-Democratic Party in general, and anti-President Obama in specific.

[FSogol]

23. Awesome!

[snooper2]

36. Everybody should put you on ignore for lying to your fans

and not releasing that new record

[SidDithers]

21. Welcome to the biggest group on DU...

BBI's Ignore List!

Sid

[FSogol]

24. Maybe we should ask for our own forum.

[L0oniX]

25. Why would you care ...you're not a US citizen.

[snooper2]

37. What does that have to do with the cost of axle grease?

[L0oniX]

38. Was there something you wanted to discuss?

Did I ask you about it? pffft

[snooper2]

39. I already asked my question, and I inserted myself into the conversation

So again, what does your statement have to do with anything whatesover related to the OP?


And why is your caps lock randomly broken? Looks like youtube comment on a Bieber video LOL

[L0oniX]

41. Maybe you are part of the problem with DU in that you aren't interested in discussing...

anything but rather seemingly want to devolve DU into snipe and high school put down fests. If you have a problem with my question to Sid I really don't care. You are welcome to alert on my question to Sid, otherwise I am not interested in chatting with you about anything.

[snooper2]

48. Maybe, Probably, Never, who knows....

What I do know is several regular posters here need to smoke a few tokes and chill LOL. That's cool you think I can change how people interact on a public anonymous message board on the Intertubes by the way
As far as high school, several of the groups are way past that without any of my help. I'm feeling middle school maybe grade school at some level


Need a new keyboard by the way? My hoarding MIL has one under a pile somewhere I'm sure Just need an address-

[SidDithers]

42. Neither is EarlG...

What's your point?

Sid

[L0oniX]

45. I wasn't asking EarlG. Why won't you discuss it with me?

[SidDithers]

47. What does it have to do with BBI's ignore list?...nt

Sid

[snooper2]

49. Why won't you discuss it with me?

That's my question!!!!!!!!!

[SidDithers]

6. Keep trying...nt

Sid

[L0oniX]

43. I was just curious but if you don't want to discuss it then I am ok with that.

[Odin2005]

7. Alerted.

[SidDithers]

19. +1...nt

Sid

[SomethingFishy]

28. You alerted on an article that is anti-citizens united?

I thought CU was a bad decision. I read the article it's not a diatribe against Obama, it's barely about Obama, it's about the CU decision and the fact that political parties are being bought and paid for.

I don't see what the problem is here. Unless you are all for a political system that is purchased by the richest corporations.

[FSogol]

32. No, it sounds like an alert on a post that is trying to "depress" LW voting.

You can be anti-citizen's united without bashing the Obama admin or without encouraging others skip voting.

Want Citizens United to disappear? GOTV
Want Obama to lose and Santorum/Romney to pack the Supreme Court? Follow Sheer and BBI's advice.

[Odin2005]

33. One can be against CU without telling people not to vote.

Telling people their vote doesn't matter is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[whatchamacallit]

53. BBI's posts will have zero impact on democratic voter turnout

The president's own actions on the other hand...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

46. Failed.

[Zalatix]

62. Not necessary

The conclusion (telling people not to vote) is a bit over the top but not worthy of censorship. The premise, that both parties are bought and paid for, is spot on.

[spanone]

9. blame the supreme court...not Obama.

if the democrats shunned the pac money we would forever have a republican government.

[lunatica]

10. The term for it is "Sitting On the Horns of a Dilemma"

You're screwed either way. The horns are the two party system. What drives those horns is money, so what's new?

It's just more obvious now. Obama would be playing Pollyanna if he didn't face reality, and reality ain't pretty right now.

At this point in time what's happening is inevitable.

[Octafish]

11. Scheer makes clear the co-relation between MONEY and POWER.

Why that's so shocking to so many may be the cumulative impact of Corporate McPravda.

IMFO, he doesn't go far enough in tying the relationship between lobbying and legislative results. Why else would Congress and the Executive make certain Wall Street was made whole -- dollar for dollar -- on the "bad investments" they made, even though the public demanded that they banksters go broke and to jail?

Then, there's the matter of war. Who did what when millions protested the Iraq invasion...in 1990? The same for 2003.

[newspeak]

26. to me, the supreme court decision

was a "screw you" little people moment. If the american people are swayed by big money, instead of their own interest; then we are already in the category of corrupt "banana republic."

Any huge global corporation from any country will be able to influence our government for their own interests; above our own. It's very disturbing when corruption and greed rules the land over the people.

[Octafish]

31. Absolutely agree, newspeak. SCOTUS also has done a number on progress and people for a long time.

From my perspective as an old man, things have been very, very wrong since Nov. 22, 1963.
The traitors and their toady turds have become more brazen in recent years.

Seems the Masters are drawn together by something other than ideology...



[font size="1"]Baron de Rothschild and Prescott Bush,
sharing a moment together.[/font size]

PS: Most Bushes and Rothschilds are good folk.
This is intended to shed light on those who work
to concentrate money and power,
for themselves and to the detriment of democracy.

PPS: Money and Property mean Power -- and Plenty of It.

[ProSense]

12. Tell that

Last edited Wed Feb 15, 2012, 11:16 AM - Edit history (1)

to Wisconsin, now saddled with Scott Walker and missing Russ Feingold.


http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/when-worlds-collide-obama-meeting-scott-walker-in-milwaukee-visit.php?ref=fpb

Yeah, suckers vote, and suckers win.

Not voting or making a million excuses to show why elections suck is what's for suckers.


Scheer should run.

Obama-Biden 2012!

Signed,

Voting sucker!

[Ikonoklast]

13. Posting a rant from a Paulista telling us both political parties are the same?

Desperate times must call for desperate measures, since poll numbers are looking quite favorable for Democrats this fall, they must be excoriated for playiing by the same rules of political reality not set by them.

All of the criticism over Obama for using a Super Pac to get re-elected is farcical on the face of it, unless they are living in a Fool's Paradise; anyone who refuses to direct that same criticism against his political foes is being disingenuous.

"Both political parties are the same" is nothing but FUD from third-party supporters.

[nanabugg]

15. At this point in time, the only "suckers" will be the people who DON'T vote. nt

[Better Believe It]

27. Well, the fact is your single vote or mine will not determine who is elected President.

The electoral college or the Supreme Court will select the President.

We need to have democratic elections in the United States like in other nations such as Canada, France, Germany, etc.,

[FSogol]

29. Unrec. More "your vote doesn't count" BS.

Vote for Democrats, people.

[sharp_stick]

35. I can't recall

anyone with more "your vote doesn't count" posts than you on DU ever.

Democratic elections in Canada? It's not really that much better.

The party picks the Prime Minister with no input from the voters. At election time you don't even get to vote for the Prime-Minister you vote for the MP in your district and that's it. The vote is also first past the post meaning that if an MP candidate pulls in 22% of the vote but no other single candidate for MP gets more than that, your new MP is the guy with the fabulous 22% tally.

[Better Believe It]

40. My one vote might be counted (depends upon the machine) but it won't elect a President.

The Presidential electoral college or Supreme Court will select the President.

Not you or me and obviously our single vote won't make a difference.

[xchrom]

16. Du rec. Nt

[JoePhilly]

18. The effort to depress Dem turnout continues to become more and more shrill.

This article is just one of the more recent examples.

[msanthrope]

50. The article, or the OP's posting of it? Maybe both? nt

[JoePhilly]

57. I try to not question an OP's motives for posting links to an article ...

that attacks a Dem President, and yet for which the OP includes no stated opinion or perspective.

[RZM]

20. Proud sucker checking in n/t

[magical thyme]

22. I have many beefs with Obama, but this is not one of them

The suggestion that he should roll over and hand the GOP the election is ludicrous.

Citizens United is a travesty. But it is, at least for the moment, the rule of the game. What's a candidate to do?

[Bezukhov]

30. Both parties are for sale and eager to be bought.

"Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man." Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795.

[kemah]

34. This just ignores the social media and internet.

The internet and social media has leveled the playing field. Now a viral video can swing an election. Before the internet politicians could speak to different groups with a different message. You tube makes it possible to view previous positions political positions. That's why Romney with all of his super pac money can not seal the deal. There are videos on you tube "I am severely liberal." said Romney for all to see.
The Arab Spring prevailed even when there was strong dictatorial push back because of social media.
Look at Meg Whitman outspent Jerry Brown by whole lot of money and yet Brown prevailed.

[whatchamacallit]

51. From "root of all evil" in politics to "necessary evil"

Relativism rules in the age of Obama...

[woo me with science]

52. The truth hurts, but

Last edited Wed Feb 15, 2012, 06:04 PM - Edit history (2)

acknowledging it is the only way we will bring about meaningful change.

There is great efficacy in purchasing two parties, as we have seen in many ways over the past three years. You can put forth one candidate who will move rightward, and another candidate who will SPEED rightward, and the people will select a candidate moving rightward.

We will continue to hear the (true) argument that the Democrat is a less immediately destructive choice than the Republican. But people need to stop deluding themselves that by merely choosing the Democrat they are doing a damned thing to *reverse* the path we are on. At the most, it keeps the train to corporate fascism from speeding up.

We need people to understand that we are in serious, serious trouble in this country, and it has very little to do with the old red and blue labels. It has to do with the fact that the one percent have purchased our government, our media, and our electoral system. Of course most people here will choose to vote Democratic in the Presidential, once we are down to the two corporate choices. But our most passionate efforts, in terms of time and finances, absolutely must be aimed at getting the money out of our political process. We need to Occupy.

K&R for your OP.

[KoKo]

66. +1

[woo me with science]

54. Kick. nt

[fascisthunter]

58. I Love How People are Acussing you of Trying Alter this upcoming Election

keep those heads in the sand...

[Better Believe It]

59. Right. I have vast powers and influence over people. :)

[girl gone mad]

60. k & r

The time for hoping that a 'hope and change' candidate will bring about positive changes is over. He failed, we failed. #occupy.

[woo me with science]

61. Kick

[Karmadillo]

63. K&R

[woo me with science]

64. Kick. nt

[SidDithers]

65. Kick to expose the 'don't bother voting' message...nt

Sid