"Spy On Everyone" won't change while Obama is President

Based on what I've observed, our President seems to categorize people into two groups:

1. Peers to be treated with great respect, such as bankers and other people of great wealth, and other US politicians save for non-authoritarian Democrats. These are people he can work with to solve problems, there is give and take.

2. The governed, whose opinions are of no consequence. This group includes the press, leaders of countries in the Southern Hemisphere, and the rest of us. Like sometimes-unruly children, we must be taught that he is the daddy, and he will have his way.

Witness Obama's struggle to cut Social Security, which he began a month before taking office, and continues to this day. No matter how hated this effort is by the 99%, no matter how obvious it's become that his proposals will cause some of our aged to go hungry, he continues to cook Social Security's books to claim that it needs "reforms".

Witness the freezing out, even the arrest, of those who wanted a workable solution for health insurance reform.

Witness the war of intimidation against the press.

Witness the widely-hated Trans-Pacific Partnership, a treaty so wretched and destructive that Elizabeth Warren tells us it has to be kept secret or else people would demand that negotiations cease.

Now witness Obama's pledge to "reform" Spy On Everyone, the program he's steadfastly defended. It is a program run for group 1, against group 2. The "reform", by his own admission, will only be around the program's PR, and Clapper will be in charge of it. Is this any different than putting Simpson and Bowles in charge of proposing "reforms" for Social Security? The outcome is decided, and it's not one that most Americans want.

In fact, I can't think of a single issue involving us little people that Obama's ever changed his mind on, ever stopped fighting to get his way on. If I'm wrong here, please let me know.

So I suppose that we can hoot and holler, but unless we pry the Presidents hands off of his security apparatus' levers with a crowbar, ain't nothing changing until 1/20/2017. And if, God help us, a Republican takes the oath of office that day, he or she will have some pretty awful precedents involving suppression of civil liberties and the press that will allow for some incredible mischief.

I was skeptical that Obama would succeed, but I was wrong.

Candidate Obama presented himself as a transformative-President-to-be who would unite the Left and the Right.

He did it.

We now have the Left and the Right united in our anger at the pervasive spying apparatus being operated by the White House, with a side order of lying like crazy and mooning international law to force down an elected leader's plane, intimidate reporters, and so forth. A broad bipartisan coalition, both in Washington and across America, want this @#$% to end.

What's weird is that at this moment of triumph, it's Obama's most fervent supporters who are trying to keep Left and Right far apart. Oh well.

No, it's not time to shack up with the crazy Right. Because they're crazy. And little good comes from partnering with people who can't grasp history, math or science. But at least we have a little bit of common ground we can agree on, a little sliver of hope. Who knows, perhaps in time we can build on it a little and get some things done. Or not.

Why is the White House shilling for Rand Paul?

By their full-throated endorsement of Spy On Everyone, the White House is showcasing one of the only issues where most Americans agree with Paul: that our government should follow the Fourth Amendment.

They'll turn Paul into a folk hero!

Why is the White House doing this? Who's behind it?

Fuck Rand Paul!

Seems like it's checkmate. We lost.

Looks like only a few of us *real* Democrats left who haven't become Rand Paul acolytes. Just 9 months ago we won big in the national elections. Today, there's only a few of us left who believe in the need to spy on everyone and lie like crazy about it. And some even speak of not starting wars. What, I ask, could be more Paulistic then not starting wars?

We've fallen so far, so fast.

Well, I for one will never, ever become a Paulite! Any other true Democrats out there who are with me?

Regards,

Third-Way Manny

It's time for the Left to stop the gotcha politics

More drivel today about how politicians shouldn't make stuff up.

Remember when Obama said the NSA wasn’t “actually abusing” its powers? He was wrong. Gotcha!

Huge Majority Wants Clapper Prosecuted For Perjury - Salon Gotcha!

Note that there's nothing in the Constitution that says our politicians shouldn't lie, because our Founding Fathers wanted politicians to lie like crazy.

The Republicans lie too, so we have to do it too to stay competitive. I mean, do you think any Democrat could get elected if they were truthful about amping up free trade agreements, giving the 99%'s cash to Wall Street, and spying on every American? No, Americans would not vote for a candidate who said they'd do those things. So we have to lie. No choice.

So grow up, Liberals. Politics is a game for adults like me.

Regards,

Third-Way Manny

Next Fed Head Should Meet the Bernie Sanders/Elizabeth Warren Standard

What, "Crash" Summers ain't good enough?

US Olympic team should wear rainbow uniforms in Sochi

Shame the @#$&ers.

Sen. Warren Wants to Know Why Gay Men Can't Donate Blood

Show of hands: who here thought that Spy On Everyone was really going to be reviewed?

I mean, reviewed for real, not some bullshit?