doesn't he ever frickin' learn?

[cali]

Or does he like being slapped down by Orange Man and the republicans? And I don't want to hear about how he can now use this and say to the American people "see? the republicans won't compromise." That's just a go after the independent vote gambit, but more importantly, just by agreeing that Social Security and Medicare "changes" should be in the mix, he's "legitimized" the concept. He HAS put it on the table by going along with republican insistence that it MUST be on the table.

All these months he could have been using the megaphone of the White House to tell the American people that he'll fight for the programs we've EARNED.

But he didn't.

Or as my late mother-in-law would say with immense disgust and the emphasis on the "aw":

Phaw.

[charlyvi]

1. He needs Pelosi's balls. n/t

[phasma ex machina]

2. Rimshot!

:rofl:

[Renew Deal]

13. Name one of these big initiatives that Pelosi hasn't supported.

You can't because there isn't one.

[Fumesucker]

33. Impeaching Bush and Cheney?

Oh.. Wait..

[Renew Deal]

44. That was a big Obama initiative that she voted on?

The answer is that there isn't one.

[Fumesucker]

48. I was being ironic..

And humorous..

:hi:

[TheKentuckian]

3. Exactly! What he is doing, granting the best of intentions is still an almost completely doomed to

fail gamble with some modest to pitiful returns on the gamble.

[csziggy]

4. Maybe this is part of his chess game? Purely speculation - fact free.

I don't even know anymore what to believe but I wonder if the "deal" that has fallen through may have been a ploy. That Obama knew that people on all sides of the political spectrum would scream about messing with Social Security. That he knew that Boner and the GOP would back out, no matter how much he compromised. That he was hoping that maybe, just a slim possibility, that some news organization would credit him with being willing the give up some of the Democratic programs and blame the GOP for refusing to bend on increasing taxes for the wealthiest.

But I am just pulling crap out of my ass because I really do NOT have a clue. And frankly these days I am really tired of trying to figure out if this country is going to survive the next ten years.

[cali]

6. I don't have a clue either. I just wish he'd stood up and in clear and

unambiguous words and fought for us.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. Obama aims to seek compromise and consensus.

He likes to build bridges and reach across the aisle.

He's not a confrontational person. It's not in his nature.

[polichick]

10. Then he should have run as an independent.

[cali]

11. and that make him a weak- and dangerous- president

There are times when one has to be confrontational and issues where compromise is not the right approach.

[sad sally]

37. Compromise, bipartisanship? When did we last hear that?

Memory lapse...oh, let's see...December 2010?

President Obama: Tax cut compromise is right thing to do
By President Barack Obama - 12/07/10 11:32 AM ET

President Obama gave the following statement after a deal was reached with Republicans over the extension of the Bush tax cuts yesterday:

-snipped-

As for now, I believe this bipartisan plan is the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do for jobs. It’s the right thing to do for the middle class. It is the right thing to do for business. And it’s the right thing to do for our economy. It offers us an opportunity that we need to seize.

It’s not perfect, but this compromise is an essential step on the road to recovery. It will stop middle-class taxes from going up. It will spur our private sector to create millions of new jobs, and add momentum that our economy badly needs.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget...

[dbonds]

41. And that is his weakness.

He is in over his head and doesn't have the constitution to stand up to people, even if he has convictions - which it seems he doesn't.


And when it is all said and done, no matter who gets elected can help us. The wealthy own it all, they control us all. It is all a game and it just doesn't it matter. "It Just Doesn't Matter, It Just Doesn't Matter. At the end of the day all the really good looking girls will still go out with the guys from Mohawk because they got all the money" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3S_k1dRbXY

[csziggy]

32. I wish that, too - but would it give the right wing more ammunition

Against him? Sometimes I think he is walking a tight rope, trying to keep the right wing nuts from going more batshit crazy, to keep us left wingers off his ass and to keep the middle of the road voters on his side.

What I do see is that the completely batshit crazies are so confidant that they are no longer hiding their crazed schemes (pRick Scott, Scott Walker and ilk) and are going so completely far off to the right that most middle of the spectrum voters are getting frightened of their goals, so may be more willing to vote for Obama again. The Democratic left is splintered, also, but if enough middle ground voters can be kept, Obama does not need us.

I do know that I cannot physically or emotionally volunteer for the Obama campaign again. If I were physically capable, I would volunteer for another candidate, but that is not going to happen.

[dbonds]

15. From his track record he doesn't seem to be good at these 'chess games' some ascribe to.

The game was playing the character of Candidate Obama.

[Myrina]

42. No shit. He's playing chess, the GOP is playing 'world of warcraft'.

We're fucked.

[polichick]

5. At this point I just don't believe his agenda is anything close to what...

...the voters thought it would be.

Nobody is this clueless.

[kenny blankenship]

7. 18 months from now, when we're doing this all over again, SocSec + Medicare can be put on the table

and it won't seem so unprecedented or outrageous anymore. Uh hey Beavis, didn't they do that last time? Yeah yeah I think they did. This is something that happens Butthead. No big deal. They do this. Oh- Ok, because I thought they didn't. Except... I guess they do.

[polichick]

9. Yes, the door has been opened - by a "Democratic" president.

[Renew Deal]

12. Obama always comes out of these situations with higher poll numbers

and right in the voters eyes. So yes, he's learned quite well.

[cali]

14. Some things are more important than polls. lots, actually.

[Renew Deal]

16. Tell it to President Al Gore.

[dbonds]

26. Does that you mean you think Obama getting re-elected is more important the SS and medicare?

I don't care who runs the country as long as they implement the policies I (and the People of the country) needs. That is the greater cause. Poll numbers are temporal artifacts of a political career, pretty meaningless in the bigger picture of the countries needs.

[Renew Deal]

29. That's a trick question.

Obama getting reelected does more to protect social security and medicare than the alternatives. As far as poll numbers, they address the original point that voters seem to like Obama's position on these big deals.

[dbonds]

31. So what are the alternatives, right now they are just possiblities.

But if we can primary Obama and get a progressive in the mix then that would go a lot farther for the good of the country.

And IF SS or medicare get put on the table by Obama, or they have already been on the table, the he doesn't deserve a 2nd term. I think I had rather know who my friends are than have to wonder. And an enemy that is against my goals isn't as troubling as a friend that seems to be undermining them.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Renew Deal]

43. Let them run against Obama in a primary.

The last 10 Democrats to do so all lost.

[dionysus]

45. yeah, he's so lazy.

:eyes:

[polichick]

17. That's not true - look at the turnout in 2010. Voters were not inspired.

[Renew Deal]

19. What did Obama run for in 2010?

Reread what I said.

[polichick]

21. I don't know many voters who think he's "right" to cut these lousy deals.

[Renew Deal]

25. Your social circle has nothing to do with Obama.

[dbonds]

27. You are right on a level you don't even know.

Obama doesn't care about the people and our social circles. He cares for corporations and the wealthy power brokers.

[Renew Deal]

30. OK

:shrug:

[Angry Dragon]

20. When was the last time a poll put food on the table

found someone a job
paid for medical
paid the rent or house payment??

[ejpoeta]

18. ok who wants to post the picture of lucy pulling the ball out from charlie brown

right as he tries to kick it. it always seems so appropriate in these situations.

[Palmer Eldritch]

22. He wouldn't get anything done if he did as you would.

Watch and learn.

[cali]

23. uh huh. I've been waiting and watching for a couple of years now.

[KittyWampus]

34. Then you should have noticed he's accomplished quite a lot.

[jaxx]

24. Surely this isn't turning Boehner's running away into being PBO's fault.

That is so wrong. You have Cantor and now Boehner quitting. You have the President telling them there must be tax increases. They run and he stands.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bonobo]

28. "He has legitimized the concept".

Yes, that is the crux of it and that pattern has been repeated over and over in his presidency.

even his lack of advocacy for important issues, his silence, does this to a lesser extent.

[KittyWampus]

36. You'll never learn. Obama never mentioned SS> Just some quote in a paper. Fools spouting crap

Whatever.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MrTriumph]

40. Yes, he did. Obama put entitlements on the table. That will be his legacy.

x

[Renew Deal]

46. Proof?

[xphile]

47. The answer would appear to be no.

Isn't this exactly what people are complaining about?