Like President Obama, I too prefer compromise and balance. But not now.

[Armstead]

I tend to agree with President Obama about the need for a balanced system. I also share his personal preference for balance and consensus and compromise over needless conflict and polarization. (despite my ranting tone on DU sometimes.)

However, these are NOT the times that call for what is considered "balance" in this right wing environment.

Because the GOP has become so batshit crazy, uncompromising and ideologically rigid -- and their Corporate backers have become so obscenely powerful and wealthy -- we need to fight like hell JUST TO GET BACK TO ANY KIND OF BALANCE IN OUR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

Alas Obama and the Democratic "centrists" either don't get it -- or they don't want to get it.

If we do not want to become a banana republic under the boots of an oligarchy, then we have to stand up for basic liberal and progressive principles.

We can't keep feeding the GOP/Corporate beast by accepting their right-wing assumptions.

President Obama -- Please get your head out of the sand and recognize that they are only going to eat your olive branches-- They will also grab hold of your outstretched arm while they're at it.

[polichick]

1. This is kabuki theater - even the discussion is unbalanced...

...with the prez regurgitating Republican framing of the entire issue - of pretty much all issues.

Time to ask, is he really just dense? REALLY?

[Armstead]

2. Same kabuki that got us into Iraq

[polichick]

3. Yep - imo it's time for principled Dems to accept what's happening and do something about it.

[jaxx]

4. If the President is regurgitating republican framing,

what is going on here?

Thread after thread going on and on about supposition. It's a big fat joke to read this place when it gets off on a tangent. Nobody knows anything. Nobody. Not the left or the right. It's a conspiracy fest, who can make it worse.

Dense? Uh huh.

[polichick]

5. The point is, he's NOT dense - he's doing exactly what he means to do...

And THAT should be a huge problem for every principled Dem.

[jaxx]

7. I didn't say the President was dense, you brought that up.

How do you know what he means to do?

The meeting started 40 mins ago, are you there?

[Armstead]

6. There shouldn't be reason for speculation...

That is a big part of the problem.

We KNOW what the GOP is going for....Perhaps they will take a few token concessions at the end. But basically we know they wanmt to slash both revenues and spending to massively shrink the role of the public sector, so that corporate oligarchs can have it all.

Where do the Democrats stand on this? Really, not just in some nebulous ever-shifting message that leads to total lack of clarity of what the goals, values and principles are.

[jaxx]

8. Negotiations are going on right now.

We know nothing. Speculation is rampant here.

[polichick]

9. If you don't know anything, you haven't been paying attention for a good long while.

[jaxx]

10. I'm not a speculator.

I prefer facts. I see none in the vitriol here.

[polichick]

11. You never seem to see facts when it comes to things you don't want to see about the prez.

[jaxx]

12. Really?

I think you just pointed a long finger at me and need to take it back.

If you have to make it personal, you lost.

[polichick]

13. As I said, that's what it seems.

[jaxx]

14. As I said, getting personal is losing.

[polichick]

15. imo burying your head in the sand is losing.

[jaxx]

16. Ok, then quit it.

[polichick]

17. Nice try - but I'm not the one who pretends not to see what's happening...

imo the sooner we accept it, the sooner we can do something about it.

[jaxx]

18. I don't accept "what if" as truth.

[polichick]

19. Me either - but I accept "what is" even if it's not pretty.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. I reckon we've got two choices - either he is dense, or he is deliberatly

choosing to use Republican framing because those mirror his own beliefs.

Which is it?

[Armstead]

21. Don't know at this point....Im nervous the public sector is being put in a straightjacket