President Obama goes on the attack, to Democrats’ delight

[highplainsdem]

Source: Washington Post

There is a noticeably more aggressive, confrontational President Obama roaming the country these days, selling his jobs plan and attacking Republicans for standing in the way of progress by standing up only for the rich.

In Texas on Tuesday, the president went after a leading Republican by name: “Yesterday the Republican majority leader in Congress, Eric Cantor, said that right now he won’t even let this jobs bill have a vote in the House of Representatives,” Obama said. “I would like Mr. Cantor to come here to Dallas and explain what exactly in this jobs bill does he not believe in, what exactly he is opposed to. Does he not believe in rebuilding America’s roads and bridges? Does he not believe in tax breaks for small businesses or efforts to help our veterans?”

The emergence of this more pugnacious Obama has heartened Democrats, especially the most liberal ones, who spent the past few months dejected by what they saw as the president’s unwillingness to engage his opponents in political combat.

“We don’t see it as confrontation; we see it as leadership,” said Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union. “We see the president exerting strong leadership to make the case to the country that everything we had to listen to during the debt debate was wrong.”

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/president-obama-goes-on-the-attack-to-democrats-delight/2011/10/04/gIQAZdfQML_story.html

[Lint Head]

1. Words and lip service. Action please.

[backscatter712]

5. Is this not what we've been asking him to do?

Did we not complain about him failing to use the bully pulpit?

Well, now he's using the bully pulpit, calling the Rethugs out on their obstructionism and refusal to do what is right for the country and the people.

What more do you want? Define the actions you ask for, bearing in mind that he is President, not Dictator. He's trying to get a law passed, but our dysfunctional Congress has to vote to pass it.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. It is, and I'm crossing my fingers.

But I'm not holding my breath.

He's talked a good fight before.

[backscatter712]

10. I'm a believer in positive feedback.

When President Obama does something right, we should be supportive.

When he screws up, we should correct him.

[Plucketeer]

14. Hell, if BOEHNER "did something right"

I'd be supportive. And I have the same expectations of him as I do our demo president.

[JDPriestly]

13. I'm happy that he is finally speaking up, but I don't like his job plan.

I don't like the cuts to the payroll taxes that fund Social Security.

You can't claim that "entitlements" are contributing to the deficit and then cut the payroll taxes. That is dishonest in my view.

[Name removed]

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[Itchinjim]

29. 233...

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[quaker bill]

32. The "bully pulpit" is words.

I have seen many here calling for use of the "bully pulpit". This is what that looks like.

[PassingFair]

35. We can be forgiven for not recognizing it.

We haven't seen it very often.

[MineralMan]

36. Well, that was fast...

Uff da!

[Akoto]

39. The 'action' is the jobs bill. If you don't get that ...

Then you have only the Republicans to blame for a lack of 'action'. Obama has pushed and pushed for it.

[NYC_SKP]

2. He paces himself quite well, just as he did in the primaries and general elections.

And for the little help he gets from congress, he's managed to get a fair amount done.

[andym]

3. More words please!

Liberal talking points were present but not at the forefront in the first two years of the Obama administration. They were sorely needed. They are sorely needed to balance the Fox news/talk radio libertarian perspective. Especially putting the blame for the economic crisis/recession on GOP/Reagenesque deregulatory policies.

With the GOP in charge of the House, nothing major will happen, so liberal talking points are all that is really possible. And if one studies history, one sees that Reagan's biggest effect on the USA weren't his policies so much as his conservative talking points that made selfishness seem equivalent to freedom. We need the liberal equivalent.

[No Elephants]

4. The DLC has been recommending an infrastructure bank and investment in schools for years.

And a super commission as to whose recommendations Congress can say only yea or nay to "sunset" programs.

I am not saying the first two things are bad or wrong, though I think the third may be sticky Constitutionally.

I am just saying that there is a consistency to what Obama does and has been doing all along.

How he sounds may seem different, but it's campaign season.

"The emergence of this more pugnacious Obama has heartened Democrats, especially the most liberal ones, who spent the past few months dejected by what they saw as the president’s unwillingness to engage his opponents in political combat.
"

What the hell would WAPO know about how America's liberals are feeling?

"Ooooo, Obama actually said Cantor's name. Well, that settles it! I'm sold!"

I love how these stories are planted.

[dkf]

15. The weird thing about investing in schools is that much of the time that means

Investing in school buildings.

Is that really the best way to invest in education?

[The Magistrate]

16. Often, Ma'am,Yes

Setting means something.

[lbrtbell]

23. No, that money needs to be spent on the kids

They need computers more than shiny new buildings. They need teachers. And they really need schools to be supplied as they were when we were kids, so that parents aren't given a list of expensive school supplies to buy (Kleenex? Zip-loc bags?). Where are poor people going to get the money to buy all that AND new clothes for growing kids? :(

[The Magistrate]

37. Not Sure If You Are Being Facetious Or Not, Sir

To take just your first element, many older school buildings in the cities do not have wiring that can support computers in the classroom.

Children are not fools; the intellect of children is devoted to, and very good at, understanding patterns and assessing significances in what the see and hear. Put children in a shabby surrounding, with crumbling plaster and leaks in the ceiling, and they will conclude that very little real importance attaches to the place, as otherwise it would be much better kept up, and their attitude towards it, and all that takes place in it, will follow from this understanding of the circumstances.

[stockholmer]

20. Beatings Will Continue Until All Not-Yet-Right-Thinking Lefties Support the Infrastructure Bank Scam

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/10/stuart-zechman-the-beatings-will-continue-until-all-not-yet-right-thinking-lefties-support-the-infrastructure-bank-scam.html

snip

And make no mistake about the role of Third Way. Third Way runs the policy apparatus of the Democratic Party. In Congress, staffers attend regular Third Way policy briefings, where the group hands out pre-packaged legislative amendments in legal form, generic press releases, polling around those policy ideas, and talking points. It’s a soup-to-nuts policy apparatus. Most of these ideas are harmless – like increased volunteerism – but some are not, like various tax proposals.

The group has enormous juice. On the Congressional side, it has six honorary Senate co-Chairs http://www.thirdway.org/co_chairs , and seven House-side co-Chairs. Jim Clyburn, a co-Chair, is in the House Democratic leadership. Two current cabinet members are former co-Chairs. Steny Hoyer, the House minority whip, held regular briefings for the freshmen member staff in the last Congress. On the administration side, former Third Way board member Bill Daley is now White House chief of staff. Ron Klain, who was Biden’s Chief of Staff, is now with Third Way. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0411/Klain_to_join_centrist_Third_Way_.html The White House is pretty much full of Third Way-style apparatchiks.

Third Way also echoes, nearly entirely, the White House’s political line (though it is slightly ahead on gay rights). Here’s Third Way praising the Gang of 6 talks http://www.thirdway.org/press_releases/165 , opposing cut, cap, and balance, encouraging entitlement cuts http://www.thirdway.org/press_releases/164 , pushing various free trade agreements http://www.thirdway.org/press_releases/161 .

snip

What is wrong with you magical-thinkers? Why can’t you accept that political reality dictates that you not exist! And yet, there you are, complaining about inept policy blundering again, moaning about an obvious, overwhelming lack of positive economic results from our Consensus program for ordinary American voters. Listen, the Democratic President of the United States stood in front of Congress and literally demanded that this body pass his Administration-endorsed National Infrastructure Bank! He called for the passage of Kerry-Hutchison, loud and clear! He said “jobs” many times!

snip

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


so much more at link above


----------------------------------------------------------

earlier post

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/07/third-way-document-proves-democratic-party-supports-institutionalized-looting-by-banks.html


Third Way Document Proves Democratic Party Supports Institutionalized Looting by Banks

[No Elephants]

27. The DLC website too, but the DLC website is not echoing Obama, unless the DLC

has perfected time travel.

The infrastructure bank and the super commision have been on there since before Obama took office--and I'd bet he heard them before they hit the website.

Progressive Policy Institute, too.



As you no doubt recall, when the DLC started, it had only two full time employees, Al From and Will Marshall. Marshall signed the 2003 PNAC memo and went on to found the Progressive Policy Institute, "the place for pragmatic progressives."

So, no surprise that the two websites echo each other.

And, Goolsbee, who worked for the DLC, was part of Obama's initial economic team, having left only recently.

[subterranean]

6. .

[backscatter712]

7. Boehner is Speaker of the House. Cantor is Majority Leader. n/t

[subterranean]

9. It's late. I'm confused.

Never mind.

[backscatter712]

12. No problem!

:hi:

[PSPS]

17. I've seen this movie before. I didn't like the dénouement.

[No Elephants]

28. You mean the freedom ending?

(Real patriots don't use French.)

Watching the Prohibition thing on PBS that Ken Burns produced, I learned that sauerkraut had been referred to during WWI as "freedom cabbage."

And, here I had thought that things "freedom fries" were strictly a modern insanity.

[think4yourself]

18. Too little.

Too late.

[on point]

19. Now if he would follow up with prosecuting the bush war criminals and profiteers he might be real

[99th_Monkey]

22. WOW!!!! TIME WARP CUBBED!!!! MORE HOPE & CHANGE?

OBAMA NEEDS TO PUT IT IN WRITING AND PLZ GET IT NOTARISED THIS TIME, OK?

OH WAIT .. WE DO HAVE THE VIDEO FROM O8, NO?

[99th_Monkey]

24. BUT OF COURSE

I'LL STIL VOTE FOR HIM AND TELL MY PEEPS TO DO THE SAME,

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THAT IT'S ONLY CUZ I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE,
GIVEN HOW THE GAME IS RIGGED.

[NuttyFluffers]

25. Oh, it's campaign season already?

How exciting. I always look forward to this season to watch the propaganda change color. Fiery red rhetoric, blazing orange terror alerts, etc.

[harvey007]

26. I am interested in Obama's actions, not his words

Let his record speak for itself.

[newfie11]

34. Me too. n/t

[AverageJoe90]

30. Thank you, Mr. President.

Please do continue on this course. The American people, even many of those who may not always agree with you, will thank you for this one day. =)

[unionworks]

31. easy to be a democrat

...back in the Clinton years, with all that peace and prosperity. So much harder now, when we are most needed, isn't it? I support my President. GoBama!

[Bucky]

33. Hey remember that final episode of Mary Tyler Moore when Ted started stand up for the gang?

Of course Obama is a LOT smarter than Ted Baxter.

[bvar22]

38. I applaud Obama Speaking Up, but....

..I remember THIS Obama from 2008... Campaign Season and more promises.

I also have serious problems with the "JOBS" program.
We really don't need MORE Free Trade
or reductions in the funding for Social Security.

"Investment in Education" means Privatizing Education in ObamaSpeak.

So, while it is nice to see a Democrat Speaking Out,
he isn't leading the nation toward a traditional Democratic Values (FDR/LBJ) direction.
He's Hard Selling Moderate Republican policies.

Thats the problem I have with "Centrists".
They agree with Republicans too much.



You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Marrah_G]

40. I'd me more impressed if it wasn't campaign time.

To be honest I just don't believe anything he says anymore.

[nichomachus]

41. He's a great campaigner

Now, if he would only follow up on an action level . . . Fool me once . . .

[fascisthunter]

42. re-election time

the progressive mask is on again.