Listening to Rahm Emanuel's interviews. It doesn't sound like Obama is going

[Thrill]

to put off any of his programs.

Rahm said they can't afford to put off Healthcare or the Energy Programs.

I'm just sitting back smiling listening to these interviews. I think we're going to have a Progressive President. I want him to spend all he wants!!!!!!

[still_one]

1. They can't. They have two years before the next election. He will also reverse

the signing statements, anti-stem cell research, and other outrageous committed by the bush administration

[patrice]

2. Americans know that "we" have all of the money in the world and in time for Killing, so they're also

wondering where's their piece of the pie.

[Two Americas]

5. we have our piece

We get to feel good about winning. That is the piece of the pie we get.

[patrice]

7. Definition of "winning"? Oh, and also of "feel good"?

[Two Americas]

18. simple

"We" personally identify with one of the two parties, as though it were a sports team, and then feel good when our team wins.

[asdjrocky]

8. That's a little fatalistic just a few days in, isn't it?

I mean, shouldn't we give him til, oh I don't know, Jan 21 before we cut off his legs?

[Two Americas]

9. cutting off his legs?

Before the election it was "helping the Republicans" and "discouraging us." There is always a reason for staying silent. The reasons evolve, and even contradict one another.

I thought, and felt confident that you agreed, that success on the election was the starting point, not the end point, and opportunity, not an accomplishment. I haven't criticized Obama, I have merely disagreed with those here who are insisting that this victory is a victory for the conservative wing of the party and who are telling anyone even slightly to the Left to get lost.

What difference does it make how much time we give the new administration if only conservative voices are to be heard and have an opportunity to influence the new administration and the party?

The right wing economic political program has just been thoroughly and utterly rejected by the public. The grass roots volunteers and Dean's 50 state strategy turned the entire country around and delivered us from the clutches of the extreme right wing. But now we are being told that power must go back into the hands of the insiders, that the grass roots network is to be disbanded and ignored as irrelevant, that we must govern from the center - halfway between the rabid extreme right wing and moderate free market Republicanism - and that the election was a resounding endorsement of centrist politics.

That is significant, and deserving of comment. When will be the right time to speak out for the people, for the poor, for the abused and neglected, for the other America? During the primaries was the wrong time - "we need to beat the Republicans!" - before the election was the wrong time - "we have our nominee!" - now is the wrong time - "give him a chance!" - a year from now will be the wrong time - "the Republicans are attacking him, and we need to side with the Democrats against the Republicans! - two years fro0m now will be the wrong time - "we need to focus on the midterms!" and three years from now will be the wrong time - "we need to re-elect Obama!"

[asdjrocky]

10. Ok, what do we get beyond winning?

First off, they have to at least listen with at least half an ear. This is far more than we got from the last administration. And I don't see only conservative voices being listened to, if that becomes the case I'll be out there in the streets just like I was during the Clinton and Bush administrations.

That's the starting point, small but in no way insignificant. Perhaps I was playing a bit with the "cut off the legs" comment. Being one of the poor, I certainly want my voice, and the voices of the millions of other poor to be heard and the Obama victory gives us a chance, however small, to push our agenda for once.

Look, if I got everything I wanted out of a particular party or candidate then America would look far different but I've yet to find a candidate that has a chance of winning who is behind every single issue I believe in. I want pot decriminalized throughout the country, free med care for everyone, all military bases everywhere but the USA closed, a guaranteed living wage for all Americans, and oh yeah, I want free ham sandwiches for everyone too.

I'll take some of the things. Right now, I'll take a step in the right direction. I'll crawl before I walk.

I don't know who sent out the memo that the power has to go only to the insiders, I haven't seen that memo yet and I've yet to be told that the grassroots doesn't matter. There are struggles ahead and issues to work on, no doubt, national rights for all citizens no matter race, religion or sexual orientation would be at the top of my list, along with health care. When I saw the new COS on TV this morning he said they were moving forward with the programs discussed in the campaign and until I see firm evidence of them doing otherwise, I'll give my support.

My President right or wrong? No fucking way and I think you know me better than that. But I won't start holding my breath to get my way until it's clear to me that I'm not going to get my way. That's not clear to me yet.

By the way, great to see you old friend, I always look forward to what you have to say.

[Two Americas]

11. business as usual then

You are describing business as usual.

"Ham sandwiches for everyone?" Are we children, begging at the table? Is politics about our personal desires?

A "candidate that has a chance of winning who is behind every single issue I believe in?" Politics doesn't work that way. That is how Republicans frame politics, and it is an argument used to suppress the Left and Labor. The corporations get everything on their wish list, and get it all in a heartbeat.

How about this? Repeal Taft Hartley.

You want baby steps? You want to crawl? OK, then how about we merely start advocating for the repeal of Taft-Hartley? Or even tamer and safer and more cautious, how about if we even mentioned it once in a while? That would at least be a start.

The people overwhelmingly rejected corporate corruption and dominati0on of our government, libertarian economics, the "free market" and all of the rest of the Reaganomics program. Why do we continue to think as though that were not true?

Democrats won because millions of people previously voting Republican switched. All around the country in the reddest of red areas, what I heard continually from working people, in the farmers coops, the packing plants and in the fields was "we need another New Deal" not "we need a middle of the road centrist post-partisan to slowly make a few minor changes."

Good to see you too, as always Rocky.

[asdjrocky]

14. But TA,

I don't see anyone beating the "we need a middle of the road centrist post-partisan to slowly make a few minor changes" drum. I want change, you want change and at least 53% of the electorate wants change so I'm just proposing we give them a little time to change.

Hey, I've never been the smartest guy in the world and whenever I pretend to be I end up getting myself into trouble, so I tend to watch and wait sometimes. That's what I'm doing now.

The election has made me happy, it's given me hope and I'm not ready to beat the drum of discontent yet. When I do believe it's time to beat that drum, I've got my sticks ready.

[Two Americas]

16. bigger than that

Let's not start selling this massive shift by the public short. 53%? Maybe. Given that the Republicans did everything they could to suppress the vote and outright steal votes. Given that the public is bombarded 24 hours a day with the most extreme right wing propaganda as never before in our history. Given that half of the people are so beaten down and discouraged that they cannot see how any politicians care about them at all.

Repudiation of the right wing under these circumstances, and to the extent that it was repudiated, is - by definition - a mandate for the left wing. That is what the Left is about - fighting for the interests of the working people against the wealthy and powerful few, rejecting "free market" and "trickle down" ideas.

Within hours of the victory, people are advocating letting the wealthy and powerful few and the entrenched interests and power brokers back to the table, and spinning this victory as a triumph for the "moderates" and "the center" and an invalidation and dismissal of the political Left. Those advo0cating a more conservative program forced the first salvos here, and then when Leftists responded to that they accused them of whining, of being irrelevant and God knows what else.

Now is the tome to discuss this, the best time. The corporate shills and "business as usual" crowd will wasted no time moving in on the new administration and demanding influence and power. They will not take a "wait and see" approach, nor will they "give the man a chance." They have no loyalty to Obama. They plan on winning from this, plan on lining their pockets, plan om consolidating their power. My must we hesitate or remain silent, or settle for a symbolic win and a few good feelings? Obama can not fight and resist these powerful interests on his own, and if we abandon him now - and accepting this move to the right bullshit is exactly that: abandoning him and betraying the people - this victory will be empty and meaningless.

[Lex]

3. They've got 2 years

to move swiftly with a Dem Senate and House.

After 2 years, we don't know what the makeup of Congress will be like.

[genna]

4. I think they should only put in the programs they can pay for and cut these tax breaks for these co.

[kid a]

6. It was a good morning for Sunday Talk - First time in months I watched without angst

[CADEMOCRAT7]

12. I hope Obama goes all out and right away !

It is indeed a new day ! Carpe Diem !!!

[sandnsea]

13. It's the foundation of the future economy

Health care and renewable and clean energy. They have to do them or we will never be competitive again. That and kick the Israel/Palestine peace process into high gear and get it done.

[Undercurrent]

15. .

Winning was the appetizer, or as Obama says the beginning. Our first "piece of the pie" will be an intact, functional economy, and stopping a looming depression.

We won! Yippie! I'm still over the moon with happiness and joy. But, we don't yet have a President Obama. We're still in the "pre work" stage of governing. On January 21st the hard work of governing actually begins.

All this nay saying sure reminds me of all the second guessing, criticizing, and kibitzing during the election. Now it's clear that Obama knew what he was doing. I trusted him then. I trusted him enough to give him my precious vote. I trust him now to make the right choices to try and save our country from economic ruin.

[Nathancummings]

17. I hope the budget deficit doesn\'t grow to unhealthy proportions

Let\'s wait and see.