I'm so frustrated I e-mailed the White House

[WI_DEM]

I like the president, I still support him--but I want him to get tougher:

I hope you see this Mr. President. I support you but I'm not sure you are getting the message. The Republicans are trying to destroy you and all we ever see is you trying to accomodate them! They won't even extend unemployment benefits unless there is blackmail. You gotta start to get tougher and stand up to them! I'd rather you let all tax cuts expire than give into blackmail from the GOP. Then next year send up a new tax cut bill for middle class/working class and dare them to vote it down. The issue is not the deficit (if it were why are we spending billions on tax cuts?) but jobs! 9.8% unemployment today. We need another stimulus. We need Unemployment benefits extended. You have fine qualities and I'm proud you are my president, but please don't take it anymore from the GOP. Thank you.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. You see that sentence right there: "The Republicans are trying to destroy you"

He either doesn't believe that and thinks that they have "the best intentions although misguided". Or he does believe it but is not willing to convey that message to his supporters.

[WI_DEM]

2. I think he thinks he has to appear bi-partisan so that indie voters will come back, but

I think he needs to stand up to the GOP and point out what they are doing and enough indies will eventually see it and back him.

[emulatorloo]

5. +1 on he's trying to get indie voters and +1 on standing up

I worry though that many indie voters are low information voters. Do they even know that House Republicans voted against their tax cut? Or that Senate Republicans are going to kill their tax cut today?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

7. You get no argument from me there. nt

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Your to kind. I gave him the pep talk and then told him to borrow balls from Pelosi.

[Clio the Leo]

4. Did you call your Senators?

Obama would end tax cuts for the rich this second if it was ONLY up to him. Has nothing to do with his skeletal structure, EVERYTHING to do with the United States Congress.

[WI_DEM]

6. Of course and my congresswoman (Baldwin) last week,

of course the Senate has to do this and house. But the President needs to be more aggressive in pursuing his agenda. He needs to more effectively use the bully pulpit. I like many things he does and support him again for 2012 but I think there is legitimate critic sm that the WH doesn't fight back hard enough and doesn't tout its successes well enough. The GOP are masters at it.

[emulatorloo]

10. Mostly the GOP are masters of distortion and lies.

They are very good at pushing the message of "DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES" when the reality is Democrats are going to cut everybody's taxes except the top 2%. And Republicans want to add 700B to the deficit just so the ultra rich can have tax-cuts.

Outside of MSNBC I have not seen any news outlet reporting that, even though Dems and the President have said it.

But a prime-time speech would be really good right about now.

[Clio the Leo]

12. 3/4ths of the public agree with him, he doesn't need to convince us...

.... but those voting are being controlled by a very small, moneyed elite. We can either speak louder than them, or we can live with the best of the bad when can get.

[emulatorloo]

8. Good bill coming to the Senate floor today - Middle Class Tax Cuts + Unemployment Benefits

Sadly, Senate Republicans are going to kill it. Why can't there be a handful of rational Republicans.

Senate Democrats Introduce Middle-Class Tax Cut Bill(With unemployment reauthorization)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9680069

Calling my irrational Republican Senator anyway.

[WI_DEM]

9. the so-called moderates are afraid of being tea-partied.

And then we have our own problems like Nelson of NE and Leiberman.

[GoCubsGo]

11. I'm going the paper/snail mail route.

I'm not getting unemployment benefits. I need a job. This shit has been going on way too long. They say his staff reads all the letters, and I would rather they had mine in their hands, rather than on an e-mail.

[treestar]

13. do you really want that risk taken?

What if it does not work out? And the tax rates go up?

It is not blackmail to make deals with Congress of any type. It is not "weakness."

The world could not function if everyone insisted on "standing up" for every single thing. Nothing would happen at all. That would be very "frustrating" too.