Obama reaches out to liberal groups to shore up Democratic base after tax deal

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Washington Post

In the wake of President Obama's tax-cut deal with Republicans, the White House is moving quickly to mend its strained relationship with the Democratic base, reassuring liberal groups, black leaders and labor union officials who opposed the tax compromise that Obama has not abandoned them.

On Friday morning, hours before the president signed into law the $858 billion package extending George W. Bush-era tax cuts as well as jobless benefits, White House aides e-mailed leaders of the black community to hail the compromise as a "major victory for African Americans."

Friday afternoon, Obama hosted a group of union presidents in the Roosevelt Room for what participants described as a cordial meeting in which the two sides agreed to look beyond their differences.

One participant in the 90-minute session said the group asked Obama to help establish a "formalized structure" of communication between the White House staff and the labor movement. The tax deal came up only briefly when Obama explained the benefits of the deal to workers.

-----

Much of the White House's interaction with liberal groups has taken place at a weekly Tuesday meeting at a downtown Washington hotel. The "common purpose" gatherings are closed-door sessions between top Obama aides and officials from dozens of left-leaning interest groups such as unions, youth voting groups, women's organizations, gay rights advocates and civil rights activists. Attendees are required to keep all proceedings secret and off the record.






Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/19/AR2010121903537.html?hpid=moreheadlines

---

Keeping the proceedings secret & off the record - brilliant f'ing idea there. :sarcasm:

[bitchkitty]

1. No, he hasn't abandoned them.

He has, however, abandoned seniors and the disabled.

[aquart]

8. AND the long term unemployed.

And the middle class. And the poor. And....

[subsuelo]

21. As long as the ultra rich elite are never abandoned. n/t

[NeoConsSuck]

45. So True!! Thank you!

[primavera]

89. ... and immigrants, and human rights...

... the list of sell outs is long and distinguished.

[avaistheone1]

104. as well as civil liberties

[HillbillyBob]

2. We are supposed to LIKE being kicked to the curb repeatedly

what are we supposed to fucking say "Thank you Sir, may I have another?"

How bout kiss my ass as a reply.

I am a former vet who was outed and ousted. Now I am disabled and on minimum ssd.

[whathehell]

7. Damn Straight...n/t

[leveymg]

3. It's going to take more than free weekly coffee and finger sandwiches to fix those fences.

Why even bother keeping up the pretense that they give a sh-t about what the "F-cking morons" think. They're just going to do screw us again. BOHICA.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. LOL. this is fromThe Onion, right????

[closeupready]

30. LOL, should be - Exactly.

:D

[skyounkin]

5. Awww...you mean your "new" friends the rich aren't going

vote for you? No way!! You just gave them a few billion dollars in tax breaks and they STILL won't like you? Shucks...guess you got to turn back to the purists and the sanctamonious crowd now for friends.

Boo-fucking-hoo.

Go fuck yourself.

[DesertDiamond]

13. Do keep in mind, the midterm losses prove he hasn't kissed the asses of the corps enough yet. ;-/

[DesertDiamond]

14. (sarcasm thingy here)

[Joe Bacon]

131. No, but we know whose asses WILL be kicked!

Ours.

Once upon a time, Hubert Humphrey said that the moral test of a society is how it treats those in the dawn of light--the children, those in the twilight of life--the elderly, and those who through no fault of their own are never able to be in the light--the disabled, the helpless and the hopeless.

The current occupant in the Oval Office flunks that test and gets a D, the sole reason he gets a D and not an F is that he was able to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell. But at what cost...

[Lorien]

25. +1.

Won't be fooled again.

[NeoConsSuck]

56. + 1,000,000

for the 'Go Fuck Yourself' statement. My thoughts exactly.

[Vincardog]

6. When was the lat time he ate a s*it sandwich and was told to like it?

[aquart]

16. He's been dining on steak.

We're the ones getting served the sandwiches.

[comtec]

28. Being he's half black, all the fucking time i'm sure...

every day he was a child from his "peers"
every day he was in a foreign school as an American
every day in the pit of the Illinois legislature
quite often in the senate

I don't like the race card, but seriously dude? really?
he's a half-black politician who grew up in Hawaii!

you really think his life has been EASY!?!?!

I will fight this man on so many of his EXECUTED policies, but really?

He's had to eat a shit sandwich everyday for 30 years at least!
every day since he entered society!
No dad, white mom, living with gran, traveling.... do you honestly think he hasn't had to work his fucking fingers off?!

[Tansy_Gold]

31. The word is "mulatto", and his grandmother was white. n/t

[comtec]

32. *facepalm* edited, thanks nt

[BrklynLiberal]

40. as was his mother...

[Tansy_Gold]

47. I was responding to the poster's identification of Obama's

GRANDMOTHER -- the one who raised him -- as black, when in fact she, like his mother, was white.

The poster has since corrected his/her errors.


TG, TT

[BrklynLiberal]

54. oh. Thanks for the info. Did not see the pre-edited post.

[sulphurdunn]

34. Personally, I don't much give a damn

about who his mother was or where he was born or who raised him or how tough he had it growing up. I do very much give a damn about the disgusting, bootlicking doublecross he calls bi-bipartisanship.

[comtec]

62. That particular sentiment i completely agree with

he's completely fizzled out..
but he did pay his dues to get to where he is.

[sulphurdunn]

83. In many ways Obama

is an admirable man. I think those qualities would have served him and the rest of us better had he remained a teacher.

[U4ikLefty]

92. He's eating the white-man's mayonnaise now.

don't really give a shit about Obama's past....it's his present/future that are my concerns.

[Psephos]

91. Actually, he's had a good life, been the cynosure in family, school, and politics...

...and was elected Senator and President.

I'm not buying the shit sandwich dining history. We all have our share of trouble, but I would trade my lifetime load for his in a nanosecond.

[Lucky 13]

9. I don't see how this will work.

I've spoken to some who have attended previous "common interests" meetings and have been told they consist of the administration using appeasing language, but highlighting that movement will not be made soon and not to come out against the administration in the press or else.

It's very frustrating. The trust is gone with these groups and it will take more than this, AND PUBLICLY, for people to change their minds...

[timefortherevolution]

11. They don't realize how much of the base has fizzled away.

But if they just snap their fingers, we'll all reappear, right??!!

I can recall a time when if you posted Obama's incorrect eye color,
you were shouted down by a virtual army of Obamabots.

Now, radio silence. Few come to his defense anymore. Very telling.

[Lord Magus]

93. No, they realize that it hasn't.

Despite what you may wish were the case.

[DesertDiamond]

15. Looking closely, we see that the "or else" is already happening....

and will continue to happen, until we the people change it. Yes, we do need to stand up. And that day is coming.

[Le Taz Hot]

128. Good points.

Notice the fact that he's meeting with so-called "liberal" groups but the contents are not released. Why? Because the meetings offer no substance. They're feel-good meetings meant to appease the liberal natives but never actually DO anything. DADT? Great! Just in time for the De Jure primary season. What timing! This is all a game to get back the liberal base whom he, once again, underestimates.

[kenfrequed]

10. Well...

Something will be accomplished when DADT is repealed.

But otherwise almost every progressive initiative has been watered down, compromised, or ignored.

[Balderdash]

17. DADT would have happened anyway

but now Obama will get to sign it into law like he did anything
to make it happen. Thank you Joe Leiberman (never thought I'd
say that again).

[kenfrequed]

35. If Lieberman hadn't led this thing

His career would have been over. There is no way he would stand up again as an independent candidate against a proper Democrat and a Teabagger.

[Piggy56]

67. That's something

McCain would never have signed it. I give Obama some props just for his signature.

[ProudDad]

114. mcshame is an unprincipled, PTSD'd out chameleon

I think he WOULD have signed it...

He was posturing for the far-right in Arizona...

[aquart]

18. Watered down was expected.

That's why you don't give away anything before negotiating starts, because you know you'll have to give up something...oh wait.

[kenfrequed]

37. Exactly

With healthcare we should have gone balls to the wall with a universal single payer and compromised down to a strong public option.

[Tempest]

53. Obama was against DADT repeal

How else can you explain his office directing the DOJ to defend it in court?

As someone else pointed out, it was Lieberman who was behind the repeal.

[kenfrequed]

60. That isn't completely accurate.

(and I find it strange that I of all people have to rush to his rescue on this)


President Obama favored a legislative fix over a court fix. Why he favored it is an open question. It is possible that he didn't want to take the chance of it going to the Supremes and having them lock in a prescribed discrimination. That is sort of the optimist in me talking. I was angry at him for pushing the DOJ against it myself.

The less appealing and more negative reasoning would be that he wanted it to be a part of his legacy as commander in chief. Something he could sign with great flourish and claim as an accomplishment when it came time for reelection.

Again, Sen. Lieberman arrived on this scene late. A lot of military personal and civilians pushed long and hard to get this legislation passed. And there were a lot of legislators that were in favor of the repeal of DADT long before Sen. Lieberman. As a matter of fact Lieberman was rather buddy buddy with the social conservatives at times and was on TV with Falwell and Robertson repeatedly.

[Lord Magus]

94. Saying it's not "completely accurate" is an understatement.

More accurately, it's an outright lie to claim that Obama opposed DADT repeal, given that it's one of his signature issues.

[kenfrequed]

105. Right...

But I still think it is an open question whether he wanted to cut the courts out to protect the repeal from being judically overturned or whether he was looking for something he could list under his accomplishments. I hope it is the former.

[Lord Magus]

102. Total nonsense.

And I suspect you realize it. You just want to attack Obama regardless of whether you have a factual basis for the attack.

[truebrit71]

12. DCCC called me repeatedly over the weekend looking for $$$...

..."in support of the President"...I told 'em I no longer supported the president but as soon as I saw some of that 'hope' I was promised they would see some of my 'change'....Judging by the reaction of the caller I wasn't the first person that had told her that either...

[Tansy_Gold]

19. This was also posted

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x41940

Just sayin'




TG, TT

[Roland99]

20. WTF? Nice Republi-Speak there, Mr. President.

I've abandoned you but I'm here to tell you that I'm not abandoning you.

:wtf:

[shawn703]

22. And we're supposed to believe he'll stand up for progressive principals?

Sorry, his track record of caving speaks for itself. If he ever told the corporations to fuck off because he's standing up for the little guy no matter what, maybe I'd have some sympathy. Until that day, I'm going by the old saying "fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me."

[Ruperto31]

134. The Principal is your pal. That's a good principle.

:)

[bowens43]

23. Sorry Obama, you burned that bridge..... ..................... nt

[left coaster]

24. Along with a box of chocolates, and some flowers, the day after an abusive husband beats his wife..

I promise, baby, I'll never hit you again!



Yeah. Rrrright.

[shanti]

55. that's exactly

how this seems! :grr:

[nckjm]

61. Great analogy

[AnneD]

77. DADT.....

was the box of candy and flowers. What I want to know is where is my Kentucky jelly:argh: :nopity:

[egoclothes]

87. I concur. Correct analogy.

[Lorien]

26. "Attendees are required to keep all proceedings secret and off the record."

Nice new era of transparent government, eh? And I notice that once again environmental groups are left out in the cold. Gotta stand up for the "rights" of mega corporations to kill our planet!

[Ruperto31]

135. It's an old management trick: "Can I speak to you in confidence?"

It makes people feel like they are part of the in-crowd while permitting the boss to lie, slander the opposition and make promises he never intends to keep.

[sirthomas66]

27. When Obama cut social security funding, he lost my entire family

some of which have been Democrats since FDR. On Wednesday, we are having a neighborhood meeting to discuss what he has done to social security. Some of the people are very scared. But they are old and some infirmed, ostensibly those not real important to this administration. None of these people will vote for Obama again.

[totodeinhere]

36. He hasn't cut Social Security funding. The payroll tax has been rolled back as a means

to stimulate the economy. But the amount of money being paid out in Social Security benefits has not been cut. You can argue that the roll back in the payroll tax might have a long term deleterious effect on Social Security. Time will tell if that happens. But emphatically, Social security funding has not been cut.

[rfranklin]

41. Straight out of the playbook of the Heritage Foundation...

This is just too stupid for words. already Mitch McConnell is saying that Social Security is an "unfunded entitlement." Seeing what Obama has done so far, I don't see him restoring the FICA to previous levels. Which is the first step in the right wing plan for destroying Social Security by "privatizing" it.

There were so many other things that could have been done to stimulate the economy but we continually have to "compromise" which always means adopting the right wing memes.

[totodeinhere]

44. That may all well be. But what I was responding to was the claim that he has already cut

Social Security funding. That has not happened. It might happen some time in the future, but it hasn't happened yet.

[MrTriumph]

48. Yes, funding has been cut. And look out. Benefits are next.

x

[sirthomas66]

64. If benefits are cut, there will be mass riots and there will not be

enough police or army troops to quell it. This is why Posse Comitatus was revoked by Bush. They knew this was going to happen.

[Lord Magus]

97. Still wrong.

Funding has not been cut.

[Joe Bacon]

132. Gee, was the tax increased from 6.2 to 4.2%?

Sure looks like it was cut to me.

But then again, Fox News tells us our chocolate rations have been increased from 10 grams to 5 grams.

PRAISE THE LORD! :sarcasm:

[yurbud]

59. yep--it was a slow, underhand pitch to the GOP. Then Obama will act shocked when they

knock it out of the park.

[Lord Magus]

96. Repugs have been saying that for 60 years.

Nothing has changed. They're always say that Social Security is unfunded, because they don't care about the truth.

[BrklynLiberal]

42. The foot has been firmly wedged in the door....and the repukes will NEVER allow it to be removed.

They will not stop until SS is dismantled.

This little ploy will change the entire structure of how SS is funded..
http://www.ncpssm.org/

[Lord Magus]

95. The Repugs don't have to "allow" it.

They have to make it continue. Which they don't have the votes to do.

[sirthomas66]

63. Until the fund is paid back, the fund has been cut ( or set to

be cut). You do notice that Obama has said nothing as to how and when the reduction will be paid back. You won't because that was part the scheme. I will advise everyone who can to NOT spend that money, but to add to the amount all the taxes taken from it and then invest it in something safe that earns approximately what social security does. And they should do the same thing the following year. Everyone should do this or they will have nothing when they retire. I will be checking year-end statements next year for many people to see if the refunding was done. If not, I will explore doing a class action suit for misrepresentation of a material fact. Others will be doing the same. However, with respect to the specifics of your statement, technically you are correct. As of this date, SS has not been cut. First paychecks in 2011 will show a cut, though.

[Javaman]

75. Yeah, "until it's paid back".

Borrowing from Paul to pay Peter with no intention of ever paying Paul back.

[ProudDad]

116. As the cost of living DOES go up

and we miss two straight COLAs...

My Social Security has been cut...

[Ruperto31]

136. He is cutting FICA by two percentage points.

What do you think that will do to Social Security? Send it to heaven? Hmm. It might.

[LongTomH]

88. Good for you!

For holding the neighborhood meeting!

[Lord Magus]

98. Apparently no one present at your meeting was familiar with what actually happened.

Because Social Security funding was not cut.

Leave the low-information voting to the Repugs.

[ProudDad]

117. I'll give you 2 to 1 odds that the "temporary"

payroll tax deduction cut...

Will be made permanent in a "compromise" with the new republican House...

[Buns_of_Fire]

133. Of course. But what then of the employer portion of the contribution?

Well, in the interests of "fairness" and "compromise" we'd just HAVE to cut their portion by 2% TOO, wouldn't we? Oh, what the hell -- let's just cut their share by THREE percent. Then, next year, we can cut the employee portion by 2% in the name of "fairness" and "compromise". But wait, then the poor corporations would be paying 1% MORE, and THAT'S not right...

While, all the time, Alan Simpson cackles in the background.

So many "bipartisan compromises" to be made, so little time.

[closeupready]

29. I have no further support to give him, aside from the bare minimum.

n/t

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[totodeinhere]

38. There is a justification for it. It will stimulate the economy and hopefully help some of the

unemployed get back to work.

[Enthusiast]

43. I should have said 'valid' justification. nt

[MrTriumph]

49. But there were better means to reduce unemployment.

And Obama won't fight for them (because he hasn't a clue).

Example: THREE YEARS of Bush's weak dollar policy has yielded minimal new jobs. But despite the negative consequences of a weak dollar, like higher oil prices, Obama continues on.

[shanti]

57. yea, "some"

unfortunately, it won't help my son and brother, 99'ers both. :(

[sirthomas66]

65. It will do nothing except terrify people know that will not have

their social security (or part of it) when they retire.

[saigon68]

81. Hope they like their $8.00 an hour jobs

[Lord Magus]

99. If you think there weren't right wing attacks against SS in the past you weren't paying attention.

The Repugs have always attacked it, and they've always failed. They'll continue to fail. This will make no difference, and funding was not compromised.

[ProudDad]

118. "funding was not compromised."

yes it was...

By taking it out of the realm of an un-severable part of our Social Insurance program...

And turning into a bargaining chip from an "entitlement program"...

But Obama never was any good at framing...

[Lord Magus]

121. Nope.

Still wrong. Social Security funding isn't compromised. If anything it's a good thing that a little bit of the funding is provided by something other than the horribly regressive payroll tax.

[ProudDad]

123. You really don't know much about S.S. do you?

The "funding" is still all from the regressive payroll tax system...

Obama's sin is to conflate the deficit and the "payroll tax holiday" -- to intertwine the two in a previously impossible manner...

To "fund social security" as part of the general fund is the first major step to killing it...

That's why I suggest NO CAP on payroll deductions, payroll tax also applied to capital gains, etc. These steps would allow the percentages to be adjusted to be much lower (for everyone at first then for the working classes and progressively larger for the rich)...

[Ruperto31]

138. Right. The solution is to lift the cap on FICA, not to cut it. nt

[Ruperto31]

137. You're mistaken.

SS will not be funded by the 'more progressive' income tax. As we know that will continue at reduced levels.

SS will be "funded" with funny money printed up at the fiat of the Federal Reserve. They just did another tranch of $800 billion that is not backed up by taxes. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97443894

Result: inflation and possibly hyperinflation--the cruelest tax of all.

[JackDragna]

39. From one liberal to the president: get bent.

eom

[williesgirl]

46. He lost me forever with this latest tax cut deal for the rich plus the first ever attack on SS.

His administration is more secret that Bush's which I never thought possible. I could go on and on, starting with his cave-in on health care. He's a Republican as far as I'm concerned.

[Doctor_J]

71. I thought that SS would be a line in the sand

It's the one thing that IDs us as Dems - guaranteeing that our seniors will NEVER live in poverty, even though the wingers would like to live in Dickens' England. what do we have left?

[Lord Magus]

100. Maybe we could have facts.

Or maybe not, since so many of you think that Social Security is gone or even weakened.

[Still a Democrat]

50. ....

[Javaman]

51. Obama hasn't abandoned me!

His train just flew past my station without stopping.

Wait! wait! was that a wave? Naaaa, just some papers flying in his wake.

So he wants to make all nice with us now, huh? Is this the official start of his presidential campaign?

Sorry Obama, but you lost me.

[Tempest]

52. I'd like to reach out to Obama

And plant my foot up his ass.

He's abandoned the progressives and the sooner he's honest with himself about it, the better for everyone.

[NCarolinawoman]

58. Most of his former supporters on the left are much smarter than Bush's right-wing base.

Bush always depended on the stupidity of his supporters, and their general lack of information. Obama won't be able to do that with the left.

In a way, this latest "reach-out" meeting he's had with liberal groups is down right insulting. :thumbsdown: x(

[Nite Owl]

70. That is a point that I find personally

angering. He thinks that there is a valid comparison of both 'wings' of each party. Sorry but there isn't. The left is not the other side of the loony right coin. I resent being compared to them and I think he does it on purpose to make himself look 'centrist'. He kicks us in the ass and expects to make up to us so we can go work for him again? Not going to happen, not here anyway. I refuse to be abused. Let the mushy middle do the work and give money if that is who he wants to be.

[Vidar]

66. Go talk to the Republicans you've been kissing up to!

[annabanana]

68. Don't talk of stars Burning above; If you're in love,

Show me! Tell me no dreams
Filled with desire. If you're on fire,
Show me! Here we are together in the middle of the night!
Don't talk of spring! Just hold me tight!
Anyone who's ever been in love'll tell you that
This is no time for a chat! Haven't your lips
Longed for my touch? Don't say how much,
Show me! Show me! Don't talk of love lasting through time.
Make me no undying vow. Show me now!
Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme!
Don't waste my time, Show me!
Don't talk of June, Don't talk of fall!
Don't talk at all! Show me!
Never do I ever want to hear another word.
There isn't one I haven't heard.
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream;
Day one more word and I'll scream!
Haven't your arms Hungered for mine?
Please don't "expl'ine," Show me! Show me!
Don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow,
Show me now!

[Javaman]

73. My Fair Lady? nt

[annabanana]

85. of course, but somewhat germaine, no?. . .n/t

[Javaman]

106. Yes, indeed. nt

[EndElectoral]

69. It would be nice if he didn't have to keep "mending" with the left

[Myrina]

80. Yeah seriously ...

... stop slapping the shit of out of us in the first place, then you won't have to keep apologizing!

:spank:

[ProudDad]

115. You've got that right!

First he could read and heed a copy of this:

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Think-Elephant-Debate-Progressives/dp/1931498717

Then get rid of those execrable jokes in the war department, treasury and his "economic" advisors...

[crim son]

72. And I'm afraid it will work.

There are simpletons on the left as well as the right. He lost me at health care reform and it's hard to imagine what he could do to get me back.

[Javaman]

74. I'm sure Obama has his own...

24%.

[crim son]

79. Exactly, yes. n/t

[Lord Magus]

112. Oh, I agree that there are simpletons on the left too.

I just disagree about who they are.

Could Obama have done better? Certainly. But he's still, in just two years, already accomplished more than any president in the last 40 years.

[Jefferson23]

76. Just incredible; hail the compromise as a "major victory for African Americans."

The definition of compromise has changed substantially.

[AnneD]

78. Major victories were won for African -Americans.....

because there was NO COMPROMISE. They did not get to ride in the front of the bus but still not have the the right to vote. Some things are lines in the sand.

[LeFleur1]

82. Chipping Away At Social Security Did It For Me

If African Americans and those supporting them had said, "Well, I don't really have to ride anywhere I want. If the best I can get is a fourth of the way toward the front, I can live with that. A fourth of the way up is better than the back." Do you actually believe they would have won their civil rights battles?

I was alarmed that Obama willingly left women out in the health care bill.
I was alarmed that he wouldn't really stand for anything.
But when he put a chink in Social Security and acted as if it was a good thing, that did it.

Who does it affect?
The middle class who want to be sure there is money for them when they retire.
Children under eighteen whose father has died.
The disabled.

Who has he helped? Some of the unemployed, but he could have helped them anyway without tying it to giving the rich mo money. The 2% payroll tax cut isn't a cut. It's borrowing money from social security. I wonder how many people know that.

The only way he can win the next election is if the Republicans run a Michelle Backman/Sarah Palin ticket.

[Lord Magus]

101. Fortunately none of those things you listed are true.

And you're delusional if you think it would've been possible to get any unemployment extension without the tax cuts. You haven't been paying attention to the Repugs, who without the tax deal would have filibustered any extension of unemployment benefits. Then come back with a House majority next month and pass the tax cut extension without anything we want attached to it.

[Jefferson23]

84. Exactly and why Obama's statement is so inaccurate, but I do believe he knows

that regardless. The spin continues...

[BlueIris]

86. Lost cause.

A lot like this Admin.

[Laelth]

90. Where's the beef?

This is all talk. Show me some liberal action! I have no use for the President's liberal talk.

-Laelth

[Lord Magus]

120. You mean like repeal of DADT?

Or a 13-month extension of unemployment benefits, when most people thought Obama would be lucky to get 3 months?

[Laelth]

122. That's a soy by-product of huge tax cuts for the rich.

I want to see some real meat.

-Laelth

[Lord Magus]

125. What the hell would you consider "real meat" then?

Those are a huge deal.

[Laelth]

126. This is what I consider meat, if you're really interested.

Lyndon Baines Johnson is responsible for Medicare; Medicaid; federal funding for education including creation of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Public Broadcasting Act; the Revenue Act of 1964; the Economic Opportunity Act; Legal Aid; the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Voting Rights Act of 1965; plus a lot, lot more.

Under Obama, my liberal diet is protein deficient. I need a lot more meat.

-Laelth

[Lord Magus]

127. LBJ was also responsible for the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the Vietnam War.

That rather tarnishes his legacy.

[Laelth]

129. It does. LBJ was not perfect, by any means.

But he got a lot of good stuff in exchange for that awful war.

-Laelth

[delightfulstar]

103. Too little, too late?

The base is very much on to the deal he cut with the Rethugs. He wasn't there for us when we needed him to be, and didn't ccome through on keeping our tax cuts, but sure let them stand for the deep-pocketed ones, didn't he?

[Lord Magus]

119. What tax cuts did we not get to keep?

Do you mean the ones that were part of the stimulus bill and never intended to last more than 2 years?

[Little Star]

107. "Obama reaches out to liberal groups"......

Reminds me of the battered women syndrome. Get the shit beat out of you last night and a apology in the morning.

[NoodleyAppendage]

108. Obama is acting like a domestic abuser.

It's not uncommon for a domestic abuser to come back and apologize after beating the CRAP out his/her spouse. This abuse/regret behavior is fairly typical of an abusive relationship.

It's HIGH TIME that the labor movement and other remaining power sources of populism to WALK AWAY FROM THE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP. Only then, does the abuser truly understand the extend of the damage he/she has wrought on the relationship.

J

[saigon68]

109. Well put his LITTLE ACT to extend the War got our blood up

Good luck getting any national money from the proletariat this time

[Lord Magus]

111. You mean doing exactly what he campaigned on?

Throughout the campaign, Obama pledge to end the war in Iraq (pretty much done) and expand the war in Afghanistan. Were you just hoping he was lying about that when you supported him during the campaign?

[Laelth]

130. Oh, yes. He promised he would escalate the war in Afghanistan.

That doesn't mean it was a good idea, nor does it mean I support escalation of the war.

If he's going to escalate a senseless, un-winnable war, as LBJ did, he had better bring home a lot of solid, red meat for the base, or he's toast.

-Laelth

[saigon68]

139. Stick a fork in him

He's done

Mr One Termer

[closeupready]

110. +1000.

n/t

[blindpig]

124. The important thing.....

These last minute 'goodies' don't cost the ruling class a thing, they have gotten damn near everything they wanted, the people got things which in no way affect the rich adversely, and which btw do not materially benefit the people to any measurable extent.

[Creative]

113. The base is made up of the people who knock and doors and man the phone banks.

He will need them in 2012.

[jmowreader]

140. There's a very easy way to shore up his liberal base

Reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act.

We got quite a bit--the New START Treaty and the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell. With all the Republican filibusters I didn't think we'd get either one, but we did. So...if we could get Glass-Steagall back we'll get about as much as the Republicans are going to let us have.