Obama has an opening.

[AmBlue]

I've been watching the OWS protests closely and have been struck by something. I see remarkably little in the way of criticism of Obama-- or any president for that matter-- just a virulent disgust for the rise of the oligarchs and plutocracy and diminishment of democracy in our country-- and a growing, fierce determination to take our country back. The way I and many others see it, there could be a tremendous amount of criticism leveled at Obama, for one, because he did not pass measures that would let the Bush tax cuts expire back when he had a Democratically-controlled House and Senate, because he's got Tim Geithner and Larry Summers working as close advisors, because he didn't push hard enough for Medicare for everyone... (I could go on, but will let that suffice). Remarkably, they are leaving Obama alone. For now.

The way I see it, they are giving him a gift. A window of opportunity. An opening. One all-important last chance for him to actually do the things he promised, to use his bully pulpit together with the full force of the American people behind him, to push hard for what might look to be impossible... to fight with us for a way to make the change he promised happen.

I saw Obama speak yesterday and it's troubling to hear him talking about the same old thing, trying to get the Republicans to be sensible, come along and see things his way. We all know they are NEVER going to see things his way. Even if he said, "Hey, don't jump off that cliff or you're gonna get hurt!" These tools from bizarro world would just go and jump. (...omg... there's an idea!!) But I digress.

Obama needs to wake up and smell the coffee right now. Obama needs to don the mantle of leadership and authority we all gave to him when we elected him. He needs to gird himself with the will of We, The People and the full weight and power of that will. He needs prepare himself for battle, to stand up for what is right. We are giving him the white stallion and all the weapons and armor he could possibly need for this battle.

Now, we need him to be our champion. If he does not take this opportunity, if he does not rise to this historic occasion and become that full-throated champion of We, The People that he promised, he will become irrelevant. We, The People will find another champion willing to do this job.

Let's *hope* he will use this opportunity to rescue this nation, as well as his own presidency.

[msongs]

1. OWS needs to keep away from Obama or any hijacking politicians. Especially ones in campaing mode nt

[FSogol]

2. Campaign mode? Why spread RW slurs? Obama is promoting his jobs bill.

:shrug:

[AngkorWot]

3. Because he doesn't like Obama.

You'd think if somebody really backed OWS, they would want the president to get behind their cause.

But I guess Obama is really that bad, and OWS just isn't that important.

[Gamow]

5. Er, no. Its about not putting a politician up front to be the lightnin rod of an important issue. nt

[girl gone mad]

24. His jobs bill never had a chance.

You would have to have been living on Mars for the last 20 years to believe it did. It's pure show. He had a chance to get things done in 2009 and 2010.

[Hutzpa]

16. Weren't you against OWS?

nt.

[gateley]

4. I was hoping you'd say the Sec of Treas slot is suddenly vacant, but

this is right on!

SEND this to him -- seriously, on the off chance he'll actually get input from others than those in his circle.

[Hutzpa]

19. lol

:9

[AmBlue]

20. One could only hope!!

Maybe I will send it. Couldn't hurt, that's for sure.

[tblue]

6. I've been thinking that too.

Personally, I would bristle if he got on the OWS bandwagon because, up to now, he has not embraced the principles at the centerpiece of the movement.

If he did REALLY move toward putting corporations in their proper place (NOT running our gov't, and well-regulated), I would be so glad to see him jump into the movement.

I don't think he will though. He's sounding a little more like them, but that's the easy part.

[AmBlue]

8. He doesn't even have to mention OWS.

He just needs to stop trying to play nice with people that wouldn't spit on him if he was on fire. He needs to be a lightning rod for breaking up these monolithic banking interests and any other monopolistic interests that have our nation in a stranglehold. All of this goes hand in hand with exactly what he campaigned on. He would not even have to overtly associate himself with OWS.

[Hutzpa]

21. I think he should

the top 1% are extremely frighten by OWS.

[piratefish08]

7. when Obama fires Geithner, OWS make take notice....... anything less is lip service.

[AmBlue]

22. Hear, hear!! n/t

[Kurmudgeon]

23. Let's give him a 2nd term, then see what he does without relection hanging over him.

Unless you'd prefer Bachmann, or Cain, or Romney or.....
Be sure to give him a Dem congress as well, or expect NOTHING to get done, just like 2010 to now.

[dionysus]

9. nice sentiment, but the "bully pulpit" won't stop the GOP from sabotaging the nation.

why does everyone completely ignore the GOP obstructiing everything?

[AmBlue]

13. No one's ignoring it.

I already see the conversation on the R side of the aisle changing. For goodness sake, Cantor-- of ALL people-- is getting ready to give a speech on income disparity!! Don't you also notice they aren't talking about cuts to Medicare and Social Security in the past 2-3 weeks? Seems like that stuff has been tabled. Just six weeks ago this would have been unthinkable. But even Rs feel the heat when this kind of pressure is applied. That's why I'm saying OWS is giving Obama all the tools he needs. This is a gift dropped in his lap. The only question is will he use it?

[kctim]

10. Just one problem

The full force of the American people is NOT behind OWS. Embracing OWS at this time would not be a wise thing to do. MANY of their current 'declarations' could be used against him, and there is no telling what will be on their list of demands as that list grows.

The people at OWS will not decide the outcome of the election, the average person will.

[AmBlue]

14. I didn't say he should embrace OWS.

He should work alongside them. He can ride this movement and use its momentum to support and pushalong much of the agenda he campaigned on. Like a body surfer on a wave-- remember that fabulous photo of him body-surfing?. OWS and Obama need to both be heading in the same direction. They can help each other without merging or becoming one and the same.

[Romulox]

11. It has to come from inside. The President just isn't wired that way--to challenge authority head on

:shrug:

[AmBlue]

18. He's the President for goodness sake!!!

How much authority does one need... to challenge power that has been nothing short of a blatant coup d'etat of our democracy?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. OWS is primarily anti-establishment. Obama is firmly part of the establishment they're against.

This isn't about politics-as-usual.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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

[Hutzpa]

17. Bravo!

could not have said it any better.

I think this is an opportunity for this president to
'take the bull by the horn' :evilgrin:


:thumbsup: