Obama has dampened protest from American liberals though they know he has betrayed them

[Better Believe It]

Winding Down Obama
by Linh Dinh
March 25, 2011

As firemen and cops are being fired across America, as teachers are being told they must accept austerity measures, the country is broke, after all, as public radio and television, with their supposed liberal bias, lay on the chopping block, as more homeless sprawl and tent cities spring up, as casinos, a sure sign of desperation, mushroom, the United States has entered another costly war without any fanfare or discussion whatsoever. Obama didn’t have to persuade anybody, no sending a Secretary of State to make a fool of herself in front of the United Nations’ General Assembly, no congressional vote, which, last time I checked, was supposed to be a Constitutional requirement, no media blitz. No lies even. He simply ordered more than a hundred Tomahawk missiles, so far, to rain down on Libya, with many more to come. In any case, this it not even a war, but merely a “kinetic military action,” according to an Obama aide. Such straight faced butchery of language, even as one butchers real people, shows that the United States has entered a deep psychotic state. Upon winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama himself declared, “I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence.”

If this is Obama pacified, I hate to see him riled up, but of course he doesn’t get riled up. Suave, articulate and personable, Obama is proving to be just as deadly as Bush, but clearly more cynical. A great, loyal tool of the establishment, Obama has dampened protest from American liberals. Though they know he has betrayed them, they’re reluctant to show appropriate outrage because, not that long ago, they have cheered and wept for him so openly. The day after Obama won, Rebecca Solnit remarked in the Nation,“Citizenship is a passionate joy at times, and this is one of those times. You can feel it. Tuesday the world changed. It was a great day.”

The President of the United States is a traveling salesman for the military industrial complex. In 2010, Obama came to India to visit the Mumbai home of Gandhi, a hero of his, someone he would most like to dine with, very touching, before announcing a mega arms deal of GE fighter jet engines and Boeing military transport planes. Now, as he bombs Libya, Obama tries to sell F-18 fighter planes to Brazil. According to an aide, “President Obama underscored that the F-18 is the best plane on offer” as he made a “strong pitch” to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

As Obama fizzles out, as he loses legitimacy, the power brokers will come up with other figureheads and slogans for American liberals and conservatives to become passionate about. These candidates will jabber, jab and insult each other. As in professional wrestling, the battle will appear fierce. Barack, meanwhile, can look forward to a lucrative memoir and six-figure speaking fees. Even that man of malapropisms and snafus, the much despised Bush, is getting $150,000 each time he opens his mouth these days.

Read the full article at:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/03/25-2

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

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

[postulater]

2. Right now I don't know if I would go see him talk if I had a free ticket AND

dinner afterward.

[Enthusiast]

24. I would not attend. nt

[MissDeeds]

I wouldn't either. n/t

[Plucketeer]

120. Count me out as well.

I could stay home, watch TRMS or Ed and less likely feel as tho I'd been fed BS.

[Hawkowl]

42. I'd go if someone paid me $500

Then I'd donate that to a primary challenger.

[obxhead]

55. I would probably go, protest sign in hand though. nt

[polichick]

58. I wouldn't walk across the street to speak with him again - he has so...

...thoroughly and cynically screwed over the people of this country.

I just hope that a whole generation of new voters doesn't walk away from politics and stay away.

[daleanime]

64. Only if I had the right to question him....

don't think I could stomach eating afterward.:puke:

[Raine]

66. I wouldn't

anymore I can't even stand to see or hear him. I usually change the channel whenever he comes on the screen. :argh:

[Beacool]

128. You too?

I used to feel that way about Bush. At the time I didn't realize that I would feel the same way about a Democratic president.

:-(

[Ricochet21]

92. I wouldn't either

left WI to hang out to dry

[Peregrine Took]

132. We once drove 100 miles to see him and couldn't get in and didn't care -

we were so high on him with our Obama sign proudly in the window.

Now after observing his following in Junior's footsteps and then some - I wouldn't go to see him now if he was in my back yard.

[otohara]

134. Give Me Your Free Ticket

that doesn't exist, I'll go!

[JFN1]

142. I'd totally go

and ask him some direct questions, like, "Why is torture okay with you? Why haven't we prosecuted any banksters? Why are you selling engines for GE when they didn't pay a dime of income tax? Who has your balls? I'd be happy to go collect them for you!" before they bundled me out of the room and disappeared me to Gitmo.

[madrchsod]

3. mr linh dinh is a very interesting person

i noticed that some object but his writings can not be ignored.

http://www.sevenstories.com/book/?GCOI=58322100305410&fa=author&person_id=31

http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/

[somone]

17. I agree

Never paid much attention to him before, but this guy is one hell of a writer. Powerful stuff.

[somone]

4. That article is a keeper

There are so many truths in it

[rhett o rick]

5. Obama made a deal with the devil. The devil said that either Bush/Cheney declare

a national emergency and retain control of the country in 2008 or Obama can become president if he agrees to certain conditions. Like not prosecuting the war crimes, like not repealing the Patriot Act or MCA, like continue with the FISA violations, and on and on.

Pres Obama is doing the best he can under his agreement with the devil.

[hifiguy]

35. The more I see of Obama

the likelier that scenario seems. Clearly someone had a "little talk" with him after he won the election and told him that certain things could never be allowed to change. And he's smart enough to know what happened to the last President to buck the MIC: JFK.

[truebrit71]

36. Bill Hicks talked about that many years ago...

...the shame of it is that it is probably true..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX2jcNlofO4

[tavalon]

53. This needs it's own posting

I had heard that one before but it needs a bigger audience.

[defendandprotect]

75. We've had 50+ years of right wing political violence -- that's the only way the rw can rise --

well -- that and stolen elections -- lies -- great wealth to buy candidates/government.

[yurbud]

91. the only thing that I think isn't true is showing the film: they don't have to.

Somebody smart enough to run for president can put 2+2 together, or in the case of Baby Bush, pay someone to do it for them.

[RedCloud]

46. That's why he is no JFK or MLK. We got his back for him and he pisses on us.

[rhett o rick]

108. Exactly how do we have his back? What can we do to protect him from those willing to do most anythin

to get their way? Who had JFK's back?

[roguevalley]

127. we wouldn't need to protect his back if he would stand up like

a dem and beat ass with his bully pulpit and do what he promised. The pugs will crumble in front of a real dem. THey are nothing but a house of cards. but he won't do it because at heart he is one himslf.

[rhett o rick]

135. The point i was making in post 5 was that he doesnt have a choice.

To get the job he made a deal to cooperate with the corporatists and neocons.

[CoffeeCat]

47. I was a precinct captain for Obama...

...and I was particularly impressed with Obama as a candidate, because his "Blueprint
for America" included a passage on the importance of restoring Habeas Corpus. Habeas
forces the government to produce "a body of evidence" against a person who is charged
of a crime. Bush took away Habeas. Obama vowed to restore it.

Habeas is a relatively obscure issue. No politician will campaign on it, or even mention
it because most don't know or don't care.

For Obama to include the restoration of Habeas in his "Blueprint" signals that he truly
cares about our rights and about preventing our government from slipping into Fascism.

Obama had a chance to restore Habeas. His administration declined to do so, and went
one step further. They fought its restoration.

That only happens if someone else is controlling the decisions. You called them the MIC.
Whoever they are, they are much more powerful than any President and they make the decisions
for our country. That should keep us all up at night.

I wish someone - anyone - had the temerity to tell us what is happening. By now, thousands of
insiders know what the score is. Is there not one person who isn't a sell-out scumbag--who can
speak out against these third-rate thugs?

[defendandprotect]

76. Former presidents have all talked about wealthy controlling nation -- hidden power ....

Ike talked about MIC, as well --

but truth is still their enemy --

corporate-press isn't enough to keep truth at bay --

they're after internet, libraries, etal --

[rhett o rick]

138. Well put. nm

[mistertrickster]

65. Yup. They tried to kill FDR too, and failed. With JFK, they didn't make that mistake again. nt.

[obxhead]

59. You can take that crazy somewhere else

I'm not buying it.

Obama made deals with the corporate donors who will pay him handsomely one day and will fund his 2012 campaign. He does all this of his own free will, not because Bush or Cheney are playing with some grandmaster puppet strings.

I put all of this squarely on Obama's shoulders where it belongs.

[mistertrickster]

67. It's a quibble. Does Obama cave to special interests because its so much easier, or does he

do it because the powers that be tell him how it is?

Doesn't matter.

Same result.

[Lisica]

69. Obama is acting rationally

Agree completely. Obama knows what he's doing, which makes it all the more bitter to swallow. He figured out how to play the game to maximize his own interests.

[defendandprotect]

78. At the state America is at, he's sacrificing his own family to BP and nuke industry ....

Obama is pushing nukes and more oil drilling -- even in Arctic --

Both oil and nukes are connected to the MIC -- "national security" issues --

We were given nuclear reactors to prove that our nation's fooling around with

atomic energy wasn't all about weapons -- that it could be used for peaceful

purposes!! it was the counter propaganda to "Ban the Bomb!"


Last thing that Obama said before the BP disaster was -- "Oil rights these days don't leak" --

Well, oil rigs do leak -- BP has brought severe damage to the Gulf and its residents --

and nuclear reactors also leak -- and have brought grave damage to citizens with illnesses --

and now much more in Japan which will also effect us all.

[rhett o rick]

109. It's crazy alright. When people have unlimited power, they will do crazy things. And I am not

speaking of Pres Obama. Life would be so much easier if we only had Pres Obama to blame. Rationalization is the key to happiness.

[Raksha]

83. You're probably right. Terrifying thought, but probably true.

[Better Believe It]

136. I don't agree with that scenario. I think he is doing his best to represent his class, not us.

It's really that simple.

Obama's doing what he's been educated and trained to do.

What more should we expect from him?

[rhett o rick]

139. Then why the change in Bush and Cheney from the egocentric maniacs to the timid mouses

that crawled away in 2008? I truly expected them to figure out a way to stay for a while longer or at the least go out with a roar. No someone got to them and told them to shut up and let Pres Obama fail. That will kill the left for sure.

[Toucano]

6. R&K n/t

[cliffordu]

7. LOL. This runs counter to reality, but that's OK.

free country and all.

:hurts:

[JTFrog]

68. +1

[inna]

8. K&R for some food for thought

[OhioChick]

9. K&R n/t

[sabrina 1]

10. This is looking more and more like the reality of the situation:

The President of the United States is a traveling salesman for the military industrial complex.

Our biggest busines, the MIC.

So sad to think that the POTUS is going around selling weapons. Especially one that was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

[polichick]

60. Weapons are the only export we lead in - sad beyond words.

[defendandprotect]

79. Quite ironic: Obama ... "Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize" -- !!!

[Shining Jack]

125. "the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize"

I wonder if this thing is worth anything anymore. Kissinger got one in '73. :(

[sabrina 1]

143. I suppose if you believe that 'war is peace'

it might be worth something?

[Shining Jack]

145. Sorry, I've been up for too long and what I said is not what I meant.

I'm just disappointed that people like Obama and Kissinger receive the Nobel Peace Prize when they didn't do a thing for peace, on the contrary. I didn't mean to diss the prize itself but after reading back my reply I realize that it's what I did.

[sabrina 1]

149. No, your comment was fine. I should have used the

:sarcasm: tag as I was agreeing with you. My fault! :-)

[iwishiwas]

11. "The President of the United States is a traveling salesman for the military industrial complex." .

This comment really struck me--it is so true and horrifying.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

12. Yeah, we got taken on this last deal

So looks like plan B is now in order.

[defendandprotect]

80. How about Sen. Bernie Sanders for Plan B?

And how about Tom Hayden for VP -- we need two strong anti-war candidates!!

Both can run on a Dem ticket --

And we have tons of dems around who can run on a Dem ticket --

We need a humanitarian in the White House -- not someone working for corporates/elites.





The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know -- pass it along!

:)

[Shining Jack]

126. Wow, didn't know about that.

Thanks for the link. :)

[bvar22]

13. That was brutal.

I can't disagree.



Who will STAND and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?
Rhetoric, broken promises, and excuses mean NOTHING now.
"By their WORKS you will know them,"
and by their WORKS they will be judged.

[grahamhgreen]

14. We been neo-conned.

[Autumn]

15. That article is very true.

I find myself unwilling to show my anger or disappointment at some of what he does to people that I know.

[opihimoimoi]

16. Where is the Positive side??

[ProSense]

18. "Offshoring began under Clinton...

Offshoring began under Clinton, and has continued unabated. Under the banner of free trade, the only goal of Globalism is to couple capital with the cheapest labor available. Since organized workers are anathema to the bosses, American companies have moved their factories to totalitarian countries where workers have little rights, where they cannot be unionized. The idea is to roll back the clock to the earliest days of industrialism, where workers toiled all day long for next to nothing. In February, a bill was even introduced in Missouri to eliminate child labor laws. It seeks, in part, to get rid of “the prohibition on employment of children under age fourteen. Restrictions on the number of hours and restrictions on when a child may work during the day are also removed.” Don’t laugh. This may be a sign of things to come.

Speculation that relies on President Obama's policies resulting in the same outsourcing that Clinton's did.

As Obama fizzles out, as he loses legitimacy, the power brokers will come up with other figureheads and slogans for American liberals and conservatives to become passionate about. These candidates will jabber, jab and insult each other. As in professional wrestling, the battle will appear fierce. Barack, meanwhile, can look forward to a lucrative memoir and six-figure speaking fees. Even that man of malapropisms and snafus, the much despised Bush, is getting $150,000 each time he opens his mouth these days.

Yeah, and his detractors will find wisdom in RW lunacy.

Two years into his first term and people are writing predictions about his life after his Presidency.

[madrchsod]

19. off shoring started in the mid 70`s and it has`t stopped

[MannyGoldstein]

117. But Clinton's NAFTA and almost-free-trade-with-China deals put it in overdrive nt

[MannyGoldstein]

118. "Obama's policies resulting in the same outsourcing that Clinton's did."

Have you seen signs that Obama will substantially change Clinton's "free" trade sucker deals? Almost-free-trade with China is obliterating living-wage jobs. H1B visas are lowering salaries for scientists and engineers.

[UrbScotty]

20. Funny, I don't feel the least bit betrayed!

Disappointed every now and then? Sure. But that's to be expected.

But betrayed? Nope!

[2banon]

43. you support all of these policies?

more wars

more torture/abuse

more illegal detentions

more stripping of our civil rights

more wealth for the wealthy

more poverty for the poor and working class

more privatization for public institutions

more secrecy and less transparency

more unaccountability

no prosecutions for CEO's and other managers of the Banksters, BigPharma, Medical Insurance Carriers, Wall Street Thugs etc, etc etc..


That stuff didn't bother you when it was happening under Bush/Cheney ?

[UrbScotty]

114. Show me the evidence. Which of these has Obama done?

[jaxx]

21. According to the complainers site......

As published in Common Dreams, Dissident Voice, CounterPunch and OpEd News, 3/26/11:
http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/

Not exactly fine, upstanding sites. More to the dissident side.

But he does pan for money from his fellow complainers:

Posted by Linh Dinh at 5:45 PM 0 comments
Labels: Philadelphia
Sick of these Philly photos?

So am I, actually. Well, you can help to kill me, or at least give my wife a heart attack, by sending me back to Detroit. Since my last visit in July, I've been itching to get back to the D, but first I must raise $500. If you donate at least $50 through Paypal, I will send you one of my books as a thank you. I'll sign it and, as an added bonus, enclose a postcard size image (from this blog) with a poem in the back.

Just pick one of the books below and

http://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/

There is nothing of merit in this rant, nothing of substance. Only a complaint by some fella who wants money. Caveat emptor.

[Bluebear]

23. Common Dreams is not a 'fine upstanding site'? You are truly sad. nt

[QC]

28. Common Dreams used to be a very good site.

But someone forgot to tell them they were supposed to stop criticizing the government at noon Eastern on January 20, 2009.

[dbackjon]

34. Why should they have stopped?

The Government is STILL BETRAYING US.

If you think otherwise, you are blind

[QC]

37. I guess I should have added the sarcasn smiley.

Have you noticed how the very same things that used to make this place melt down in righteous indignation are now sensible and pragmatic?

[dbackjon]

50. Ok - sorry :) Missed that sarcasm

And yes, I have noticed that...

[Ken Burch]

111. It's the "It's OK when OUR guy does it" thing again.

I KNEW that would happen. Just knew it.

[Bluebear]

141. It's just a site for dissident complainers now!

:cry:

[QC]

148. They never really, well, you know. n/t

[polichick]

61. Stop shooting the messenger - the sooner you wake up, the better.

[jaxx]

89. The messenger had nothing to say.

He ranted his personal opinion. It stunk.

[Tatiana]

96. The conclusions you reach are somewhat horrifying.

Do you honestly not see how the President is traveling to other nations in order to sell weapons for our American weapons manufacturing companies?

Can you not relate to the countless Americans who are suffering under this administration's economic and domestic policies?

I say this with all due respect, but can you tell us a bit about how this administration has benefitted you?

[Bluebear]

140. Good luck with that.

[Rincewind]

22. Betrayed?

I have always been pretty liberal, and I don't feel betrayed by President Obama.

[liberation]

112. I think he meant "liberal" as in "left" not liberal as in "neo"

[Hannah Bell]

25. kr

imo, he was annointed precisely for that reason

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[disillusioned73]

27. k&r

:dem:

[xchrom]

29. recommend

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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

[indimuse]

31. WE won't get FOOLED again! (sarc) KNR! n/t

[pasto76]

32. really? so libs dont like him, but they dont protest?

really expect me to buy into that? Maybe all of us are getting a notion about how hard it is to move ANYTHING in this country these days.

I see his "lack of participation" in the teachers and unions and stuff as appropriate. The fights have a larger implication, yes. But they seem to have enough traction without a detached DC spokesperson saying something stupid for the right wingers to grab onto.

The right wing is FLOUNDERING right now. Let them hang themselves.

besides, how much better do you think it'll be if a republican gets elected next year?!?

[davidthegnome]

41. It always comes down to that, doesn't it?

Who else do we have to vote for?

Our options are corporate sycophant (D) or corporate sycophant (R). I suppose I'll go with the D because it sucks somewhat less. Not exactly anything to get excited about - and it's not just the right that is floundering. The democrats seem to move further right with every passing year, with every passing year (IMO) they lose more and more of what made them democrats in the first place. The government really isn't representative of the people, that would require them actually representing our needs.

I'm reminded of what Bush had to say at a dinner party... "My favorite people. The Haves and the Have Mores." Corporations, at least in part, manage to evade taxes because of government influence gained through their financial support of candidates and elected officials (this is no secret). The left is just as guilty of this as the right. In recent times it has only grown worse. It's beyond corruption - and there are very few who can or will tell us the truth. Obama is no exception.

[neoralme]

33. I've been a Democrat since 1964. I have never seen anything

remotely like it. And some of the the responses these posts engender are pure lunacy. I am really having serious doubts if America will even be around for another Presidential election. At some point China will say that's enough, and through a series of already contemplated actions they will end this country before it can kill and destroy any more for oil and to please the MIC.

[polichick]

63. We might actually be better off under Chinese rule - at least they've...

...got a sane green energy program and are investing in infrastructure.

[Ikonoklast]

81. You have GOT to be kidding.

People in China have been imprisoned for doing exactly what we do here, criticizing elected officials and the government.

You would trade your rights for green energy? Really?

I'm glad that you're not in charge.

[Shining Jack]

129. I disagree with the other poster but...

When it comes to imprisonment:

"With more than 2.3 million people behind bars, the United States leads the world in both the number and percentage of residents it incarcerates, leaving far-more-populous China a distant second, according to a study by the nonpartisan Pew Center on the States. "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/02/28/ST2008022803016.html

[neoralme]

107. Right now, that would not be true. Another few years, it would be

a push, maybe. And the question is immaterial if there is no choice once the US goes down because their Kill People can't afford bullets for their toys.

[BklynThirtyThree]

38. couldn't have said it better myself

"The President of the United States is a traveling salesman for the military industrial complex."

[kudzu22]

39. We wanted someone who knew the names of world leaders and pronounce "nuclear"

and that's exactly who we got. Next time we need to insist on a spine, too.

[matt819]

40. Reluctant to show outrage?

It was easy to show outrage in the Bush years. His administrations were so openly corrupt that outrage was almost too easy. But outrage was also more potent because of the expectation the life in the US under a democratically elected Democratic president would be a vast improvement. That has not been the case. Outrage might be a valid response, but what about expectations? What does one call out for? Republicans? Teabaggers? I don't think so. And where are the Democratic leaders that stand a chance to be elected and to in fact return this nation to a more rational course? I can't name any. So I don't think Obama has dampened protest. I think, rather, that protest has been dampened because there's a sense that there are so few options left.

[neoralme]

44. That is a large part of it. Weariness and despair giving way to numbness.

It may be time to start moving away from politics and moving toward our respective families, to enjoy whatever remaining time we have left in whatever state of circumstances we abide. The real turning point for me was the allowance of the extension tax decreases for the wealthy combined with the "temporary (right)" decrease in the social security tax withholdings. Since then it's been a more or less quiet acceptance of a suspected fate, kind of like when a pet gets real sick and you know what's about to happen.

[polichick]

62. I agree - lack of options is the problem. People don't know what to do now.

[democrank]

45. I don`t know many true progressives or liberals

that applaud President Obama`s policies any more than they did when they were President Bush`s policies.
Obama has betrayed his base, but I guarantee you.... he`ll be back with more empty rhetoric when the time comes to try to get our votes and our checks.

Obama isn`t a leader, he`s a get-alonger, but apparently that`s what most Democrats want so they can "win."

[Autumn]

48. We needed a Mohammad Ali, we got

Mr. Congeniality.


"You lose nothing when fighting for a cause ... In my mind the losers are those who don't have a cause they care about."
— Muhammad Ali

[bvar22]

86. We needed a Churchill,

and got a Chamberlain.

Obama will share a page in the History Books with Neville Chamberlain:
The Great Appeasers

Chamberlain thought he could compromise with the Nazis.
Obama though he could compromise with the Republicans.




Who will STAND UP and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?
Rhetoric, Empty Promises, and Excuses are meaningless now.

"By their WORKS you will know them,"
And by their WORKS they will be held accountable.

[Autumn]

90. You can't negotiate with those bastards.

Either Obama is too stupid to realize that, which we all know he isn't stupid, or he identifies with their values and platform. IMO it's their values and platform he identifies with. It sure isn't the Democratic platform and values. He has gone beyond appeasing. He is on their side.

[MannyGoldstein]

119. Barack Hoover Obama

A great article from Harper's magazine: http://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/07/0082562

[KoKo]

49. Interesting read, thanks! K&R

[tavalon]

51. I'm dampened not because he's a Democrat,

I'm dampened because I'm demoralized because of the betrayal. Because, because, because, because,........because of the wonderful guy I thought he was! (sung to Wizard of Oz)

I knew Bush was a snake. I thought Obama was different. He speaks more fluently and is a much more sauve and personable fella than the last jackass. But he's just as dangerous and I started to suspect that really early and nowadays there are few who will deny that, at the very least, he's been a bit of a disappointment.

[southernyankeebelle]

52. Thank god he is calm but I did expect him to support the liberal base who put him in office. How

sad this has turned out to be. We really have no where to turn. The thought of any republican as president scares me. They have to play to the extreme right. Who do we turn to? I am afraid we will screw ourselves again in 2012 and stay home. I will vote for Obama again knowning he'll screw us the least. Oh knows maybe he'll get reelected and really standup for the people who voted for him this time around. Either way we are all screwed.

[tavalon]

54. Look to your right and your left, these are your neighbors and friends

They are where you turn. Your government considers you a statistic and thats it.

[defendandprotect]

72. You always have somewhere to turn and somewhere to go --

depite what Dem Party leadership may want you to think -- !!!


Let's draft Sen. Bernie Sanders for president -- he can run on the Dem ticket --

find another anti-war candidate like Tom Hayden, perhaps?

But there are tons of democrats who can run as Demcorats --

just not pre-bribed and pre-owned as so many in Congress already are!!

Not to mention the White House!!



The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know -- pass it along!

:)

[BlueIris]

56. A lot of us have just totally written him off.

I don't see much point in trying to "convince" those reluctant to abandon him, and protesting is no longer my thing anyway.

I appreciate the author mentioning the other real reason few of his most angry detractors will stand up and say it: most are too ashamed to suck it up and admit we made a mistake here. It's pride (and arrogance) plain and simple.

[Raine]

70. Totally agree. nt

[defendandprotect]

74. Agree -- reluctance is hooked to acknowledging these are all corporate candidates we're given --

the corporations/elites are giving us candidates they pre-bribe and pre-own --

we simply get the choice of voting for either corporate candidate --

on a GOP-controlled computer voting machine!


This is huge corruption of government which I'm sure seems overwhelming to most citizens --

Indeed, it is fascism.





The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know -- pass it along!

:)

[polichick]

57. Well, I'm not "reluctant to show appropriate outrage" - he IS a "great, loyal tool...

...of the establishment"

The sooner we come to grips with that, the better - for the party and, more importantly, the country.

[defendandprotect]

71. If the Obama experience hasn't yet woken up Democratic voters, nothing will !!!

Rather than the Democratic Party 0making rightwing a radioactive word --

the rightwing was resurrected by Obama -- as he kowtowed to the GOP, and led

Wall Street, Big Pharma and the private health care industry to the table --

effectively shutting down the most major issue for voters -- MEDICARE FOR ALL --

which would have been a tremendous economic boost to the nation.


Americans continue now trying to deal with corporate criminals running insurance

companies and the health care industry -- and Big Pharma.


Senior citizens still paying exhorbitant prices for the Bush "Big Phama" coverage --

and MEDICARE still unable to negotiate on drug prices --

all thanks to Obama and Rahm Emmanuel!!



Rahm .... crowing about preserving "private health care industry" ... business s/b grateful!

”In a Thursday interview, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel argued that rather than recoiling against Obama, business leaders should be grateful for his support on at least a half-dozen counts: his advocacy of greater international trade and education reform open markets despite union skepticism; his rejection of calls from some quarters to nationalize banks during the financial meltdown; the rescue of the automobile industry; the fact that the overhaul of health care

preserved the private delivery system;

the fact that billions in the stimulus package benefited business with lucrative new contracts, and that financial regulation reform will take away the uncertainty that existed with a broken, pre-crash regulatory apparatus.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=B2F85DDF-18...





The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know -- pass it along!

:)

[Major Hogwash]

94. "The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC" Really?

Because I was told it was a grassroots movement to get Clinton elected.

[defendandprotect]

137. Really !!! Sadly -- !!

DLC was, however, always known as the right leaning corporate wing of the

Dem Party --

Seems that Clinton realized that there was so little left of unions that they

weren't going to have the money he would need to run for president so they

founded the DLC --

Obama now talks about being a "New Dem" -- and from what he's doing presume

that 180 degrees opposite what FDR was!!

[democracy1st]

105. +1

[elleng]

73. Nothing like a damned repuke to 'persuade' that our Prez is NOT our Prez.

Enough of this b.s. on DU, I say.

I would have thought that smart Dems had learned the lessons from Wisconsin, Ohio, Penna, etc, but oh no, lets see MORE Dem/Obama bashing? Give us a break!

:thumbsdown:

[bvar22]

87. "lessons from Wisconsin" ?

The lesson from Wisconsin:
Don't count on the White House for help if you have a Working Class problem.

Wisconsin happened despite Obama,
not because of Obama.

[elleng]

88. Wisconsonites were/are happy that PrezO stayed out of it,

allowing the issues to be recognized as Wisconsin issues, thus AVOIDING all the anti-Obama + teaparty b.s.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

77. Oslo should recall that faulty Peace Prize. K&R

[old mark]

82. K&R.

[Gman]

84. What a naive crock of shit

[Octafish]

85. ''America has entered a deep psychotic state.''

Been there since November 22, 1963, although it's taken a while for the other parts to catch up to War Inc.

Thank you for the heads-up on a very biting essay, Better Believe It. The truth hurts, fortunately.

[Frisbee]

93. Now I understand the need for these wars!

They are just huge advertising campaigns!

[Name removed]

95. Deleted message

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

[NeedleCast]

97. 81% Approval among Liberal Democrats

Sorry the fringe isn't happy.

[Ichingcarpenter]

100. And Chocolate Rations are up too

time for some of that victory gin eh comrade?

Cheers to the 81% Approval

It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party.

[truebrit71]

102. 81% my hairy arse...

..Cheers!

[liberation]

116. And remember, we've always been at war with Libya

Thanks for the chuckle, one has to laugh at this as I refuse to cry over lunacy...

[Better Believe It]

103. So "the fringe" is: Women, gays, workers, racial minorities, civil libertarians, the elderly

You're right.

Consider me one of those "fringe" people as opposed to the silent majority on Wall Street.

[Bobbie Jo]

110. Did he say that?

...or did you just add your unique "twist."

[DeSwiss]

98. K&R

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzULm4d8h8w">


- DO NOT expect a savior from outside oneself....
(And you will not be Open To Deception)

[CelticThunder]

99. k&r. Amen.

[gracchorumspes]

101. Good post

What is sad is not the disappointment in our leaders, but the shifting away that has occurred for so many of us (I admit, MYSELF included) from values that are not really "liberal", but humanitarian, considerate, helpful, good. You are consistent, I'll grant you that, since I've read much on DU for while now, but posted not so much, and only with a brief experiment in Latin, go figure. I admire your tenacity. While folks may be weak and helpless, they are not down and out so long as there are fighters somewhere, out there. Keep up the good fight.

[keith the dem]

104. The Supreme Court did the betraying!

With the Citizens United decision, he is only facing reality.

We lost those last elections because the uneducated majority is actually influenced by those awful commercials funded by the greedy.

The media backs those elite, because in the end, it is they who gets those advertising dollars.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

106. After two years in this political environment, with these racist Republicans, blocking

all the successes gained by the House of Representatives. Somehow, some way, DU and the *irrational* liberals find a way to blame it all on one man. One man.

Obama represents the entire U.S. government.

This dribble represents the tragedy of the American public school experience.

If we don't understand basic-level Civics, then there's no hope for this nation.

[creon]

113. Do something about it.

Do not just complain here.
Organize at the local and precinct level to find good and competent candidates for the HoR and Senate.

Get them nominated, get them elected.

[UrbScotty]

115. +1,000,000,000! THANK YOU!

That is how we will send the message we need to send!

[creon]

151. Congress

Congress is just as important as the President!!

[hulka38]

122. How do you know these people aren't

doing something about it. You have no idea what people are doing. Discussing discontent about a political situation is a worthwhile activity on its own for a number of reasons and may serve to motivate people into taking the very action you stated.

[creon]

152. Good

I hope that it does. People need to learn and pay attention to politics, govt and current events.



40 to 60% of the eligible voters do not vote.
In Europe, the turnout is consistently 20 to 30 percentage points higher

[RainDog]

121. sadly nails the way too many people I know view Obama at this time.

what a wasted opportunity for this nation.

[madamesilverspurs]

123. I'm sick of this shit.

I'm quite liberal. Apparently, for some, not liberal enough unless I feel 'betrayed' by Obama. Which I don't.


-

[OwnedByFerrets]

124. Reluctantly and sadly kicked and recommended

[ctsnowman]

130. I fell for the whole thing in 08. Goosebumps and all.

Sad part is we won't get anything better in the next cycle. O will get my vote because the R will be a total whack job.

[humbled_opinion]

131. Did Obama just Start a War in Libya ....

To protect the flow of OIL to Europe? If this is true that the coalition in Europe is only doing this so that they can regain oil flow out of Libya then this is truly a criminal act.

[Safetykitten]

133. This will be looked back as the true end of Liberalism.

[ClarkUSA]

144. lol! This is another bullshit Obama-bashing op-ed from a no-name internet media whore wannabee.

They're a dime a dozen. Whatever sells hits to a whiny website, I guess. I can't wait until this type of unsubstantiated garbage is blocked after Obama 2012 campaign season begins in earnest. It will be great to have a respite from these kind of lies about our Democratic president. :)

Perhaps the what's --his-name author can be paid by Murdoch to appear next to Kucinich the next time Faux airs its obligatory, "See, even Democrats hate Obama the Devil Incarnate! It's not just us insane teabaggers!!"

[JTFrog]

146. Indeed.

[Marcel]

147. Lol!

[ecstatic]

150. Agreed. And when this crap is debunked (as usual),

he/she won't appear to apologize or at least acknowledge the truth. Pathetic.