The Problem is the SENATE and not Obama...

[Windy]

No matter what Obama would have done in the way of yelling and screaming and threats, the money Lieberman and his wife along with Nelson and the other blue dogs get from the industry (and their fear of being voted out in their districts)has put the breaks on true, full and all encompassing reform. Money talks with these blue dogs and Lieberman as well as the repubs. Can't forget them.

Its the me me me BS that has always been the affliction of career politicians and until you get the money out of politics you can forget true all encompassing reform.

Unfortunately, Obama is getting unfair over the top flack from the left because he has chosen to let democracy work as designed...and its an ugly process especially when individual human greed instead of what's best for the populous becomes involved.

Until the congress is reformed by way of elections, you can forget progressive change.

OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND NOT A DICTATOR!!!

MOST OF THE IDIOTS TRASHING OBAMA NOW FOR NOT BEING MORE OF A HARD ASS DICTATOR LOST THEIR MINDS OVER BUSH/CHENEY WHEN THEY ILLEGALLY AND THROUGH DUBIOUS METHODS GOT WHAT THEY WANTED THROUGH THEIR TERM!!!!

Hypocrisy is bubbling over on DU!

If you think that Obama has any real sway over Lieberman/Nelson/Landrieu, et al, your living in a dream world!
This president would have signed ANY bill put before him with a public option gladly...he would have supported a medicare buy in...
He was even for single payer while recognizing that it would NEVER get through the congress!!! We have a president in the WH who wants full and meaningful reform and I believe truly wants what is best for the citizens of this country. It is the alleged DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS who won't give him the bill to sign!!!! He does not write the bills, its the congress. Study CIVICS 101 please!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. If he cannot lead he should resign

Leading is the JOB.

You don't seek the job and then say "it's everybody else's fault for not following"

[Windy]

5. OH he can lead and does lead... Its just that the congress doesn't listen

They have NEVER been challenged by someone who wants true reform and frankly, were never forced to really show their true colors until now when we do have a progressive leader.

Funny, you didn't hear them giving Bush a hard time during the 8 years of his presidency did you!

[kiva]

30. Leaders lead. They are able to

convince/cajole/force/persuade/overwhelm (depending on the circumstances) others into following them. If they can't, they are not good leaders.

[taught_me_patience]

35. Please give examples of how Obama has "lead" on HCR

[taught_me_patience]

40. Hmmm... disappeared. I guess you can't provide any. n/t

[tridim]

6. Who would have been a better leader?

If you say DK I'm gonna LMFAO.

The OP is correct, the Senate is fucked. Democracy is 50+1, not 60.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

14. Out of 150 million eligible Americans maybe there was someone better

This OP is yet another in an endless series of DU posts offering excuses for why Obama cannot do his job properly.

President is a serious deal... nobody cares about excuses.

Obama ran on his ability to get the Liebermans and Nelsons to listen to him.

In fact, he ran on getting the DeMints and Coburns to listen to him!

So he is incapable of fulfilling his central campaign promise.

The excuses for that failure are of limited interest.

[tridim]

20. At least I'm not excusing the Republicans like you seem to be.

That's insane.

But you're right, Obama is not a comic book super hero. I wasn't expecting that. We're you?

[grytpype]

11. Oh, get lost.

I'm fed up with crying libs who think Obama can twinkle his toes and make any laws he wants.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Windy]

18. +1 nt

[babylonsister]

25. +2. nt

[liberalmuse]

12. Yeah, those asshats in Congress will do what he says...

if he becomes dictator, that is. Otherwise, they do what they want and no President can actually sway most of these fuckers.

[Windy]

19. +1 nt

[uponit7771]

17. more vitriol...

[demosincebirth]

21. Who would you be happy with?

[Posteritatis]

24. LOL, basic civics fail. (nt)

[freddie mertz]

2. It is both, actually.

[Captain Hilts]

3. He supports this, or he would have used his leverage, and that of the DNC to

twist some arms.

I see no sign he did that. I think Baucus and Emanuel are doing exactly as he wants.

[paulk]

4. you are assuming that Obama wanted

a public option or the medicare buy in.

I'm not convinced that the bill he's getting isn't the one he's wanted all along...

[Windy]

7. I am convinced because I read more the liberal blogs and I pay attention to what

has been going on in government instead of listening to talk shows and sound bites.

I am very aware of the man's policies and positions.

I just think its a damn shame that some liberals can't put blame where blame belongs and work to change things!!!!!

[paulk]

37. can you link to his "policies and positions"

concerning the public option and medicare buy in? I don't recall him taking a solid stand on either one. It seems to me he was always willing to let Congress work it out, instead of defining exactly what it was he wanted.

How do you propose to "change" things? Wasn't Obama supposed to be the change agent? That was his campaign slogan, wasn't it? "Change you can believe in"?

And really, other than our vote, what are we supposed to do? Call, e-mail, write letters? Poll after poll has shown that the American people support a public option. A NY Times poll a few months ago showed that even a plurality of Republicans supported it. These people don't represent us.

[Cronus Protagonist]

8. Your OP blames the Senate and then bashes Congress

I suppose you're blaming BOTH, but hey, Obama seems to be incredibly PASSIVE over this important reform. I think we need an ACTIVE leader who will wring arms, shake hands and kick ass, not one who sits back on a rocking chair contemplating history all the time.

[Windy]

10. Congress is the Senate and the House of Representatives!

I blame both bodies!!!!!


Keep crying online if it makes you feel better. I've been on the phone with reps and senators as the bills must be reconciled when the Senate finally passes something.

[Cronus Protagonist]

16. Listen

I am not crying about anything. The OP subject line bashes the SENATE, which is NOT both houses. Then your post bashes the CONGRESS, which yeah, include both, but is most often used to describe the critters. SO you fucked up. The OP subject was about the SENATE, not Congress in either interpretation.

You might have acknowledged that, but no, you slag me about "crying online" instead, which I have never done in my entire life.

Keep on chewing, pal, but shoe leather doesn't get any tastier the more you eat.

[Windy]

22. Go ahead and Nit Pick my post. I have no problem understanding Civics like many here

But if it makes you feel better.... go ahead!

Lets see...the House passed a good bill but had its detractors...

The Senate has been a proverbial clusterf*ck.

The point of my post overall was apparently lost on you in your zeal to criticize my "post structure".

[valerief]

9. Leading means convincing others to accept offers they can't refuse.

It seems the pres is being lead and not leading.

[O is 44]

28. Convincing crooks to do what is best for

the people. Yeah that is a pretty funny thought. Many on this board believe Obama should act like a mafia Don instead of a President. He can’t just threaten congress members that their family members will end up in a river if they don’t vote how he wants them to. By the way there are reasons why the senate and house appoint leaders. It is their job not the Presidents to get the votes.

[valerief]

29. Politics ain't summer camp. Wish it were. nt

[elocs]

13. Ummm, where exactly is it where the buck stops?

:shrug:

[valerief]

38. Not with us. They don't let us keep our bucks. Must be the bankers. nt

[calico1]

39. Good one! n/t

[elocs]

42. I thought the reference would be obvious enough.

Harry Trumans' "the buck stops here", that is, with the president.

[valerief]

43. Oh, it was! Just taking it a step further. Of course, to some folks,

the president has no responsibility. Well, I guess in real life, he doesn't. He's just a mouthpiece for his masters.

I hate it when I lapse out of the pretense that he has some real power and Congress does, too. They're all Muppets.

[Purveyor]

15. So far he demonstrates that he is a 'piss poor' leader and quite a disappointment.

If this continues I can promise all that come 2012, the gov't in DC will again be controlled by the GOP for many years to come.

He will never be able to get out his base when they realize they have been deceived and left 'high and dry' by this him and the Democratic Party. No, they will just stay home and conclude..."why bother"?

[tridim]

26. Why bother indeed.

Quit threatening us Democrats and just leave.

[Purveyor]

31. I'm not threatening 'you Democrats', I'm merely calling it as I see it.

I've have done as much as any, if not more, on this forum to boost the Presidents agenda and point out the positive economic trends that the economy is experiencing.

[styersc]

23. Fine. Now Obama has to veto this horrible bill.

Or are you saying he has no control over his signature. Do you have an excuse for the possibility he will sign this gift to the insurance companies that screws the working class?

[maryinthemorn]

36. He wants to sign a bill-Any bill will do.

[Popular Front]

27. Right. n/t

[msongs]

32. obama couldnt be bothered to present a health plan of his own. he'll let Joe decide for him nt

[Starry Messenger]

33. What a nice calm and nonvitriolic post!

[taught_me_patience]

34. I respectfully disagree

He has not shown leadership skills. He has not set the strategic direction for the debate or really made a stand about what he is for. The president does not have to simply lay back and wait for congress to take action... he needs to press the action. He also needs to take responsibility if he fails to get the legislation passed. Obama whiffed on this one.

[angee_is_mad]

41. Thank you Jesus

a post with some sense.

Thank you Windy.