Obama was ON FIRE tonight in WI. It was one of those "He's Back !" kind of things.

[RBInMaine]

I saw him stumping for Burke in Milwaukee tonight. He was on fire. He did get a hispanic woman protesting over immigration. He was civil but said she needed to be "protesting the Republicans in Congress blocking the comprehensive immigration reform bill because I SUPPORT IT !"

Obama is great in front of an audience. His theme was GOTV and he gave a great speech about the importance of voting and, best of all, no excuses for NOT voting. The stakes are too high, and your vote DOES matter.

[NYC_SKP]

1. I can't wait to see him open for Warren in two years!

I know, she's not running as far as we know.

But I'm a dreamer!

[RBInMaine]

2. Ain't happening. She's said so time and again. It doesn't get ANY clearer.

[Scuba]

11. She has NEVER said that she won't run, just that she isn't running at the moment.

[RBInMaine]

46. You are wrong. She has just recently said, "I AM NOT RUNNING." Enough of the pipe dream. She has

essentially endorsed Hillary. Please, don't waste energy on what is NOT happening.

[Scuba]

53. "I AM NOT RUNNING" does not rule out a future run. Logic 101.

[LawDeeDah]

5. I share that dream.

That would be so wonderful - two awesome people like that in a row.

[yeoman6987]

3. He's always a good speaker!

[Blue Idaho]

4. Our President is a damn fine campaigner.

It's got to be really frustrating for him to be sidelined this cycle.

[freshwest]

8. Not quite sidelined. Just not reported in MSM. Two days ago (pic heavy):

Thousands of people gather on the tarmac at Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport while waiting for the arrival of President Obama and the start of a campaign rally October 25, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio...



Running to the rally for the Democratic candidate...



Pete Souza: “At a late night rally in Cleveland, supporters react as the President delivered his remarks.” Oct. 25, 2012...

http://theobamadiary.com/

Everyday he and Michelle are in different states to promote Democrats. The photos and videos are out there if one looks at Obama friendly websites. This is what he does after a day's work at the White House...

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. Much like the folk like Scuba who continues to utter the false meme that Obama

fails to use the bully pulpit! You know it's a lie. I know it's a lie. But it's a meme that's been repeated so much by the MSM that even so-called liberals and Democrats repeat it. It's simply not true!

[JoePhilly]

23. And when he does ... they shout ... "Pretty Speech!"

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. Oh, yes. "All he does is make speeches." Yes. Tired of that shit, too!

[JoePhilly]

29. Here's the logic ...

Obama doesn't use the Bully Pulpit, because he's too busy making pretty speeches.

Makes total sense.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. But wait...I thought he was too busy cozying up to Wall Street interests who are

spending tens of millions to defeat him.

Oh yes, makes total sense.

[Blue Idaho]

24. OMG! Fantastic Photos!

Boy do I feel dumb! Thank you for sharing the photos - I should have known better...

[freshwest]

49. Two days later, he was in Wisconsin wooing the voters and making the case:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110226273

More photos and several videos, including one by the GOP who says Democrats are running from Obama!

So you're not dumb, it's all the rage online!

To those who won't give it up... Pull my other finger!

[Blue Idaho]

50. Awesome!

Just watched his latest Ebola update. We have a terrific President!

Thank you for the links!

[mopinko]

6. but but but his approval ratings are in the tank.

dems dont WANT him on the campaign trail.

that's why when i saw him last week he was hoarse as hell.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. Too bad he loses his resolve when he goes to Washington...

[RBInMaine]

10. Must you say that? He can only do what is possible with the Congress that is there. Still,

I guess there has been enough resolve to get criticized over and again for using too much executive authority.

So which is it?

To me his biggest flaws have been every thinking he could actually work with the TeaPublicans which he sincerely has tried to do and thought he could, and for not touting his accomplishments well enough. He should be far more combative with the TeaPubs and take the case to the people with those strong campaign speeches.

[Scuba]

12. Wrong. His failure to use the bully pulpit cannot be blamed on Congress.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. No! Your ability to pay attention, and the corporate media blackout of the president's

speeches are to blame. The president has used the bully pulpit. YOU just didn't listen!

Actually, I'm sick of this false meme! It's wrong! And untrue!

[Scuba]

17. Please link to any of his speeches in which he ...

... advocates lifting the Social Security cap.

... advocates Medicare for All.

... advocates raising capital gains taxes.

... advocates raising corporate taxes.

... advocates free college tuition for all Americans qualifed to go to college.

... calls out voter ID as a Republican tactic to suppress the vote.

[66 dmhlt]

19. He not only advocating raising Capital Gains tax ...

He got it done w/ ACA!

ObamaCare raises Capital Gains from 15% to 28%.

Not going to waste my time debunking some of your other "claims"

[Scuba]

20. You got nothing. Even your claim on capital gains is false, per Snopes ...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/whathappened.asp

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. Scuba, it's so easy to mosey on over to Whitehouse.gov and see for yourself

all the activities that present has on his calendar on any given day.

In fact, you can go to "A Day In the Life". Just look it up and you will see all the speeches, appearances, Town Halls...

All the shit that you and the Corporate Media ignores.

Oh, and then there are those Weekly Addresses. Hell, you can go to YouTube to get those and SUBSCRIBE to them. Imagine that, Scuba!

I'll just give you the entire White House YouTube link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse

You see, because there is no excuse.

But, I understand. You hate President Obama so of course anything bad you hear about him from disaffected liberals, mainstream liberal talking heads in the Media or the Mainstream Corporate Media itself--that President Obama doesn't use the bully pulpit. When he does, "oh, he doesn't use it enough." BULLSHIT! And when he does, "oh, all he does he make pretty speeches".

You see, the false meme has been repeated over and over again by the haters who do nothing but complain.

On the left, they complain and hate the man because he's not 100% purely liberal and didn't give them exactly what they wanted WHEN they wanted it. They exercise no political nuance at all. Many don't know or understand how government works--how fast/slow things are; or, what decision makers face. The president doesn't work in a vacuum. He is forced to work with other people--people who may not share his values, may not be as liberal as we are, or may just plain hate the man. Whatever the case, he STILL has to work with these people and within an established system of governance. So, you can cry, kick, scream, whine and moan all you want, but the fact remains that he STILL has to work with these people. No amount of whining and complaining will change these facts.

On the middle, they are easily manipulated by the Corporate Media falsehoods and the Chuck Todds of the world who have convinced them that both parties are equally guilty of corrupting government and that it's not his or anyone in the Corporate Media's job to "correct the record" when there are blatant lies being told.

On the right, well, we know what they're all about. Just pure hate. I don't even have to go there.

[Scuba]

27. Instead of assuming that I "don't know or understand how government works" why don't you ...

... link to a speech in which he ...


... advocates lifting the Social Security cap.

... advocates Medicare for All.

... advocates raising capital gains taxes.

... advocates raising corporate taxes.

... advocates free college tuition for all Americans qualifed to go to college.

... calls out voter ID as a Republican tactic to suppress the vote.


After all, you're saying it's easy to find examples of him using the bully pulpit to advance such causes.

[Darb]

30. You forgot one,

your pony.

[Scuba]

32. And my rainbow and unicorn. Yeah, traditional Democratic Party values are just dreams.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

31. He has done and said all these things. If you were paying attention, you would not

need for me to link anything. You would take the time, not only to LISTEN to what the man says instead of whining on a fucking message board; and, you would get on the phone like I did in 2009-2010 and call all those Blue Dog Democrats, asking them why they would not vote for a "Medicare for All" bill or support a public option.

I don't feel that I need to keep repeating this story over and over again. In short, there were 3 health reform proposals in the House and 2 in the Senate. Each one of these, at the very least, contained some version of a public option or expanded health coverage via Medicare or Medicaid.

Now, it was not Obama's doing that Kucinich's Medicaid for All bill couldn't even get out of subcommittee. Why? Blue Dog Democrats blocked its passage.

The other two public option bills also failed in the House.

Tom Harkin's extended bills in the Senate failed. Every effort to expand health care through some version of a public option--at the very least what we federal government employees enjoy--every single one of those proposals FAILED!! Not because of Barack Obama! Because of cowardly Blue Dog Democrats!

I live in a Blue State (Maryland), so I voted early, canvassed, took days off to call U.S. Senators, many of them Blue Dogs, some of them moderates, like my own senator Barbara Milkulski--she was one of the Democrats who were reluctant to sign on to a public option proposal!!

Now, Scuba, a lesson on how government works:

None of these cowardly-ass Democrats--no matter how many times we called and begged--would agree to Medicare for All, any kind of "universal" health care proposal, or any form of public option.

NONE OF THEM!! I repeat: NONE OF THEM!!!!!!!!

I've told this story countless times and many others who worked our asses off did, too! But you folks who hate this president so much--you do little other than sit on this discussion board day after day complaining about how awful Obama is. And yet, you say NOTHING about the Democrats that were so weak--nothing about why Harry Reid didn't put a stop to the filibuster and obstruction! You say NOTHING about why the Blue Dogs joined and colluded with Republicans to obstruct and sabotage the system! You say NOTHING about the Republicans' efforts to deliberately destroy every single thing the good Democrats were trying to do to create jobs and get this economy back on its feet.

What irritates me more than anything is to sit and listen to Democrats whine day after day after day after day. And do nothing but that.

Get up! Get out! Get off your bum and get people to the polls. Make phone calls!

Do I agree with everything Obama has done! FUCK NO! Am I angry with some of his decisions! HELL YES! But I understand the environment that he is forced to work in, and given all that has faced this country and what the Republicans have done to it and laid at the feet of ONE MAN, I will never fault him for it. There's nothing you or the other whiners can say or do that will ever get me to back down because this country was going to hell! They put shit in this man's lap and now you and others are blaming HIM for not cleaning it up!

You do realize that the Republicans will be rewarded on Election Day for doing absolutely NOTHING, don't you? I hope you realize that. While you sit here and shit on this president, you need to stop and think about the ridiculous notion that these Republican idiots are going to be rewarded by the American people for doing absolutely nothing!!

I'm going to let that last point sink. I wrote this post out of anger and apologize in advance to you, but I will let this last point sink and hope you will reflect.

[Scuba]

33. This sub-thread isn't about Congress, it's about President Obama's failure to use the bully pulpit.

Perhaps you meant to respond to some other sub-thread.

On edit: your "sit here and shit on this President" comment is patently offensive. Dissent is critical to a functioning democracy.

Further, your assumptions that I'm doing nothing to help Democrats get elected is hugely wrong.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. No, Scuba. This isn't a subthread. It's actually off-topic.

And you're still wrong. The president *has* utilized the bully pulpit.

You're engaging in a tactic that Republicans use: thinking that by repeating a lie over and over again, it becomes truth.

We're Democrats. We don't operate that way. No matter how many times you repeat this false meme, it won't become truth. Sorry.

[Scuba]

37. So link to some videos of him using the bully pulpit instead of ad hominem attacks on me.

I'd love to be wrong on this.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

39. You think this shit is funny. I don't have the time nor the energy to entertain you.

I have work to do. You have the white house link I sent. You have YouTube and you have Google.

This is a common tactic from DUers who attack others--asking THEM to find and post links and shit. I gave you links. Stop being lazy and do your own fucking homework. Either that, or from now on, pay attention to the president's schedule. You have the link. It clearly shows his schedule, when and where he's speaking.

The president gives Weekly Addresses, too, as I said. If you want to learn what's on his policy agenda, either tune in to that or go to Whitehouse.gov or the Office of Management and Budget, omb.gov. You have the YouTube link that I already sent and can also stream the Weekly Addresses and Republican bullshit rebuttals on C-SPAN every single fucking week!!

The point is you assert that the president does not use the bully pulpit. That's a lie, and it's obvious that you don't know because you haven't mentioned any schedule, no mention of the Weekly Addresses...nothing.

Pay attention and stop demanding that folk do the work for you! Do the fucking work yourself!

[Scuba]

41. So you call me a liar but refuse to provide a single shred of evidence. Got it.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

36. You DO shit on the president every day. I see your posts everywhere when I visit DU.

Every single post is something negative, false or offensive about the president. You don't let up.

[Scuba]

38. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025679057

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4005

[Phlem]

54. Dude, I can't stand the fingers in the ears from this crowd.

There's a lot of fantasy here in DU and very few who will backup their assertions. It's very much like talking to republicans. I'm with ya Scuba.

[Scuba]

55. I don't like being accused of hating President Obama, when I've supported him ....

... in both his Presidential campaigns and hundreds of other times when I wasn't in the "safe environment" that I consider DU. This is one place we should be criticizing our Democratic Party leaders when they do wrong, or in this case, do too little.

I wonder sometimes if these folks would support anything the President does regardless of what it is.

[Phlem]

59. your preaching to the choir my friend.

I have a very different view about Obama and I think he's done a lot of great things but when he said "I am a new Democrat" my "Oh shit radar went off and he's been nothing than what I expected. I swear I thought I was listening to an actual Liberal Democrat but he's not the same man in those speeches.

I have FB friends that are all about inspirational out looks and being happy all the time. And I agree with that to a certain degree but at some point your actually going to need to look at the plumbing to see why it's not working.

[Darb]

66. You two are very helpful.

If Tuesday doesn't turn out to well I am sure you will have much more success in the next Congress. I know I know, it is all Obama's fault because he is busy governing in hard times instead of out...what is it....oh yeah... "advocating" for the things that you think are vital and seem to think are even remotely possible in the current political climate. Which is a pipe dream.

Nice going. Now get busy getting that Sanders/Kucinich ticket elected in 2016. It will be a walk in the park for sure, because all of you "real" Democrats will flood the polls and crush Jeb Bush and whatever cutout they put forth. I know you can do it. And believe me, I will back you all the way and you can bet your ass I won't just sit here on DU and whine like a stuck pig about them relentlessly. I will help the far better side. I won't piss and moan, because I am better than you.

Thanks for nothing.

[Phlem]

67. uh yea

us 2 are going to blow up the inevitable one's chances.

I've always voted and I've always voted Democrat, take it somewhere else. FFS

I personally hope she wins it so we ALL can live a neo-liberal dream.

Some people overestimate how smart they think they are.

[phleshdef]

40. Theres no such thing as an effective bully pulpit anymore. Get over it.

That whole thing died when political news turned into partisan political entertainment.

[Phlem]

60. Warren has done quite well w/o the bully pullpit.

It'd be nice to see some effort from O in the slightest. What was it last I read Hillary is copying Warren's populist rhetoric? Speaks volumes.

[phleshdef]

61. First off, his name isn't fucking "O". Secondly, I love Warren, but she hasn't accomplished anything

...yet.

Third, President Barack Obama has been out there giving populist speeches, consistently, since before he was even elected. Just because you aren't paying attention, doesn't mean it isn't happening. Its mostly worthless. The political entertainment media machine gets to decide who gets to stand in the real pulpit. That's the way it works now. Its shitty, but its also reality.

[Phlem]

62. Take a nap bud.

I've' been watching it even before him and finally you are not the "Gold" standard of politics FFS. As if. Go take a selfie.

[phleshdef]

63. Hows about you thicken your skin and step outside your bubble.

[Phlem]

64. Now your getting personal.

"Thicken my skin?" You have no idea what your talking about. I would end it here.

[phleshdef]

65. LOL. Or what? Cmon, don't act like a tough guy on the internet.

We all know where that goes.

[Phlem]

68. How tough a skin does someone with PTSD need to have.

I've lived a lifetime of abuse, your a joke and a sad example of a human being.

I've hurt for a very long time and now it's just numb now, thanks to folks like you.

toughen my skin? You have no idea.

[RBInMaine]

47. I have said I agree he should be out making more speeches, etc. But that doesn't change the reality

of the R House of Reps. Remember, the President is ONE branch of government. There are TWO others.

But yes, he needs to be LOUDER, tout his accomplishments, and stop pretending he can work with the TeaPubs.

[Scuba]

52. My point exactly.

[Jamaal510]

9. I'm so glad

He was civil but said she needed to be "protesting the Republicans in Congress blocking the comprehensive immigration reform bill because I SUPPORT IT !"

he said that! Whoever that woman was clearly is an idiot and doesn't pay attention to politics whatsoever. It frustrates the fuck out of me whenever I see these immigration activists (and supposed-progressives in general) chastising allies on various causes, while letting the true culprits of our woes off the hook. Why is she not harassing John Boehner or John McCain? Because of this BS, not much of what we want ever gets done!

[Scuba]

13. "... clearly an idiot ..." Or a Republican plant.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. He never left. We left him!

[Fred Sanders]

51. We wanted HIM to change everything, even as he constantly reminds us change comes from the

bottom up, meaning US....time to listen up and vote. Vote in droves, overwhelm the pollsters with turnout.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

57. Yes! You're absolutely right. You get it, and thank you!!

[JoePhilly]

18. Didn't take long for the whiners to show up in your thread.

They think their endless negativity is helpful ... I guess.

[Andy823]

21. Never does take long

I really don't know what they think, but a constant negative attitude is not really good for anyone, and it must be terrible living in a world of negativity all the time and not being able to be positive. The doom and gloom crowd really need to get some help before they go over the edge.

[JoePhilly]

22. For a long time ...

... I thought that the RW was nothing but pessimists, and that the left was primarily optimists.

DU tells me that's not accurate. There is a segment of the left that is perpetually disgruntled. If something good happens, it was an accident or unintended. Something bad happens, it was done on purpose with evil intent.

Obama isn't pushing some point hard enough ... "He's not using the bully pulpit!".

Obama pushes the point they want pushed ... "Its just a pretty speech!"

I think some of them fell off the edge.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. I don't care what anyone says...

"THE BLACK TAX"!!

Clinton was never treated this way by the political left! NEVER!

[polichick]

43. The difference isn't about color - it's about people waking up to...

the corporate takeover of the party. Few Dems had figured it out during the Clinton years. Neither Clinton gets a pass these days on DU.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

44. The difference isn't SOLELY about color, but color compounds the issue.

I tire of people denying and deflecting from this fact. It's not the ONLY factor. They hated Clinton because he was a Democrat. They absolutely abhor Obama because he is a Democrat who is black.

The Black Tax simply means that he is expected to work 3, 4, even 10 times harder and will never measure up. The standards are raised beyond reach and no matter how many successes or the magnitude of those successes, the yardstick continues to me moved forward. Standards get higher and are applied to this president that have not been applied in any other context.

I could go on and on, but I hope folk understand the point.

[polichick]

45. 'long as you're not talking about "the left."

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

56. I most definitely fucking am! I've seen loads of racism from "the left"!

The notion that racism doesn't exist on the political left or in the Democratic Party is false. It is wrong and false.

[polichick]

58. Makes an easy excuse to chalk complaints up to racism...

Too easy. #43 explains what's happening on the left.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

71. Unless one is a person of color and have firsthand experience with racism and

discrimination, then he/she can make these judgments.

But if a person is not from a marginalized group who experiences these things every single day, how the HELL can he/she make the determination that racism doesn't exist? How?

You are NOT the target of racism/discrimination. So how do you know? And how can you make the judgment? (YOU is general)

[polichick]

72. I thought we were talking about "the left" and the prez...

Blaming complaints from the left on racism overlooks the real problem - which is the President's embrace of the corporate status quo.

Not everything is about the color of one's skin.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

73. "Not everything is about a person's skin color"! Wait for it...

...about to shock you, but...

WE FUCKING AGREE!!!!!!!

Imagine that?

I did not assert nor imply that "everything is about skin color".

You really should learn how to read better. Go back and read what I wrote, then try again.

[polichick]

74. Try reading your own words - #28

[RBInMaine]

48. The TeaLeft is never satisfied. They are almost as unrealistic as their TeaRight counterparts.

[Phlem]

69. lol that's cute.

[polichick]

42. He never had trouble campaigning - very energetic and charismatic.

[Sunlei]

70. Wish we could elect him for a 3rd term!