"Obama is weak. He will fold like a lawnchair."

[rusty fender]

David Stockman speaking to Fareed Zacharia about the curren budget crisis.

Link at: CNN International (blog) - 4 related articles - Shared by 10+

[Courtesy Flush]

1. And? nt

[atreides1]

2. That's what many are waiting for...

Let's hope this time he calls their bluff...and I'm saying this as someone who works for the federal government!

[ixion]

3. Indeed. He's been consistently weak

and has caved every chance he's been given.

[Sherman A1]

15. Agreed

It's a shame, but I thought I had voted someone who would fight for Democratic values such as working people, SS and alike.

I believe I was wrong in that assumption.

[Peregrine Took]

26. +100000.

Looking back I think we didn't know enough about him. His campaign just seemed to catch fire at some point and we were so anxious to put someone into the WH who was totally different that W. "We are the people we have been waiting for..." etc.

Most people in Chicago had no idea who he was. If anything he needed more a lot more political seasoning before trying a run for the highest office.

Durban was very wrong to have encouraged him to run.

[amandabeech]

66. No kidding. n/t

[emilyg]

40. Yes.

[blogslut]

4. Lovely

David Stockman can bite my ass.

[closeupready]

5. Not exactly news.

nt

[Javaman]

6. It will be interesting as to what he will do since he announced his running for 2012.

what kind of image does he want to project? Spine or spineless.

this is the first test.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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

[sufrommich]

7. Well, if David Stockman said it, who are we to doubt it

must be true.:eyes:

[frazzled]

30. My thoughts exactly ...

If it's an anti-Obama statement, it is immediately embraced here. Even if the source is Ronald Reagan's disastrous supply-side OMB director, architect of the "Reagan Budget."

[sufrommich]

37. Unbelievable to me. David Stockman? Really? nt

[Zorra]

8. I'm afraid of the last second deal. Dems give away the farm to republicans, again.

Then, Harry Reid, the Boner, and the Prez all get together and crow about the glorious wonder of cooperation and bipartisanship, claiming a great hard fought victory, when in reality republicans head for the winner's window to cash in all the chips while we Dems walk home in the rain and try to explain to the kids why we have to live in the car again.

[zipplewrath]

36. I suspect we will never know

This is all Kabuki theater right now anyway. The GOP knows that they can "buy" Obama with the right package of compromises, cuts, and sweeteners. We may never know what he gave up in negotiations, nor the GOP. Boehner right now is doing an act which is saying he won't give up on more cuts until the last minute. That way he can claim that he "did all he could". He may even decide to shut the government down over the weekend (to little real impact) and then next Monday or Tuesday say that he was "declaring victory and moving on". For all we know the script has already been written, and the numbers established. That may be what Biden was suggesting last week. But Boehner can't let anyone know until he is shown to be "stepping back from the brink".

Obama may know too, but benefits from doing the whole schtick as well. He'll then step out and make a speech about how he wasn't going to be sanctimounous and stick to his guns just to get a political victory. He'll state he got the "best deal" he could and that there are alot of good things in it. He'll state that it is in the best interest of the American people to pass a final budget and "look forward". He'll state that both sides didn't get all they want but that is somehow proof that it is a "good/bipartisan" deal.

And in the end, as I say, you'll never know who gave up what that they didn't have to.

[Distant Observer]

9. Caving in to Bill & Hillary gang on Libya, against Defence and Intel judgement has made me question

whether President Obama was willing to ever hold the line on principle.

War and killing is the ultimate trust in the hands of a leader. To be killing
people in another country without absolute certainty of the justice of the cause
worst think a President can do.

[Godhumor]

13. I'm absolutely certain of the justice, so I'm glad he supported the UN n/t

[Distant Observer]

32. According to the Whitehouse it was State Dept that brought Arab League and UN to the table, NOT, NOT

at all what you suggest happened.

A decision was made among certain parties (not saying who) and then the US orchestrated the various votes. That is the way it happens in general, so that is not the issue. The issue is the
morality of the decision to intervene in such a massively destructive way, weighting 3rd party reports over intelligence judgment. Its WMD in Iraq all over again.

[Godhumor]

35. Again, UN decided and I'm glad they did. No one vetoed. Obama did well n/t

[Distant Observer]

44. Well, you directly CONTRADICT Deputy national security advisor Dennis McDonough on HD-Ball

He stated emphatically, to Mathews surprise, that it was the Administration that orchestrated the votes in Arab League
and UN once a decision was made regarding the best interest of the US. He pushed back strongly against the suggestion of Mathews that US was "enforcing" the UN.

But, I am getting the sense that facts don't matter to you.

http://www.livedash.com/transcript/hardball_with_chris_matthews/52/MSNBC/Wednesday_March_23_2011/574041/


-McDonough -

No, I think -- the bottom line here is that the president brought the international community along, I think, with an expanded set of authorities out of the united nations security council, that allows us frankly, chris, at a time when we're seeing us stretched to unbelievable military support of the situation in japan, ongoing effort, obviously in afghanistan and our ongoing effort to wind down the war in iraq, we thought it was much more important rather than sit by and watch the slaughter of these innocents, to bring along is the international community.

[defendandprotect]

48. First move: LIBYA ASKED FOR NFZ and humanitarian aid ...

did either Afghanistan or Iraq ask for us to invade their countries?

There are right wing influences on this issue, needless to say, wanting to not

only distort the purpose, but also the results.

If it remains what the UN calls it -- "a humanitarian aid mission" -- then it was

the right thing to do --

[Distant Observer]

52. Libya Asked?? Who is Libya?? If David Koresh called for NFZ and protection,== US CALLED FOR..

[defendandprotect]

54. The Libyan freedom fighters, recognized by a good part of the world -- !!

[Godhumor]

50. So, asking for international support is a bad thing? No one vetoed this in the security council

No one. And no matter how much anyone tries to demonize the rebels, it doesn't change the fact that this is a global action against one of the most batshit insane dictators in modern history. Conspiracy theories don't hold squat on reality.

[Distant Observer]

53. Do you have a CLUE on UN SC votes. Since the fall of USSR almost NO US back resolution is vetoed

The UN SC was designed to allow the big powers to maintain their global interest.

The fact that all the Big countries that were not part of the Coalition ABSTAINED - GERMANY, BRAZIL, INDIA, RUSSIA, CHINA -- shows shocking lack of support for the action. Usually there are many UNANIMOUS VOTES on UN SC issues before any enforcement action is taken.

[defendandprotect]

55. ... and how many times does that control work counter to democracy? This time, perhaps not!!

[Godhumor]

58. They could have vetoed. Fact is, this is a morally sound and just action undertaken

You (The royal you, not you specifically) can scream and shout all you want, you can try to paint the rebels as evil terrorists, you can try to explain how Gaddafi is one of the good guys--in the end, no one went against the resolution. And, might I add, the US didn't get it for Iraq.

Obama was principled and he did the right thing. No tinfoil thinking will ever change that fact.

[defendandprotect]

47. Agree ... some seem to think this is a war on Libya !! Did Iraq ask for our help?

Afghanistan and Iraq are immoral and illegal wars of aggression on those countries -- !!

Based on the myriad lies of 9/11 by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld --

Libya protesters asked for a NFZ to protect them from the WEAPONS the UK, France and

Russia have armed Kaddafi to the teeth with!!

Seems simple redemption now that they help these people!


Meanwhile, note that after 3 days of criticism by the protesters that NATO wasn't doing

enough, NATO MISTAKENLY attacked rebel forces!!

[Godhumor]

14. Multi-posting error strikes again! n/t

[katnapped]

10. Not a matter of "if", but "when" n/t

[Skidmore]

11. I'm kinda getting a whiff of Luntz.

[Rex]

12. Not this time.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. Obama is NOT weak. American voters put MORE Republicans/Teabaggers in the House!

Budget bills originate in the U.S. House of Representatives!!!

The Democrats didn't pass a bill last year. What happened?

The Republicans/Teabaggers now control the House.

Give me a budget bill that can pass the House!!!!!!

[Raschel]

17. He's weak because he doesn't have a big mouth that's always flapping loudly and stirring up fear?

He's weak because he's pragmatic and carefully considers things?

He's weak because he's not like who the Republicans consider powerhouses; Palin, Bachmann, and the other assorted goofballs in their circus?

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. Yes. He's weak. n/t

[dennis4868]

19. The first president...

in 55 years to bring affordable health insurance to 95% of the country (by 2014) is not a man that will fold to anything....no other president who tried could do this....HISTORICAL!

[zipplewrath]

25. Not particularly affordable

Not for many anyway. Heck, many who were already insured couldn't actually afford medical care as it was. He raised the insured rate from about 88% to about 95% or so, and raised alot of peoples premiums in the process. And left us with a health CARE system that is still projected(by the White House) to grow costs at over 6% per year for the foreseeable future.

[dennis4868]

42. ummm....

I said it will be much more affordable in 2014....unfortunatelt, because of the repubs and DINOs we have to wait until 2014 (I know this is DU but I will not blame Obama for this).

[zipplewrath]

61. No, it won't

For large numbers of americans it (health insurance) will be more expensive by then. Health CARE won't be more affordable, and in fact by Obama's own numbers the costs will continue to rise at around 6% per year. So by 2014 it will less affordable.

HCR predominately saved the federal government money, mostly by changing medicare and medicaid rates, as well as getting rid of some programs that were suppose to save money, but didn't. A small number of folks, mostly in high density urban areas, will be able to make use of clinics that are suppose to be created (and that the GOP is threatening to not fund). But predominately the effect of HCR was to save the government money by slowing the rate of THEIR costs.

But the vast majority of people will save very little at all, and will predominately see their costs continue to rise at the same, or higher, rates. Roughly 8% more folks will actually HAVE health insurance now, although half of them were already eligible to have government assistance in the first place, they just chose not to have it anyway, either out of ignorance or as an economic strategy. There is little guarantee that they will be able to afford health CARE mind you, but they will have (occasionally by force)insurance.

HCR is never quite as bad as the critics suggest, nor as good as the proponents claim. Predominately it just reshuffled the deck, with some winning, and some losing. The vast majority will see little effect at all. Even Obama explains this as why his plan isn't particularly wildly popular at this point. It isn't because the vast majority have actually experienced very little change, and won't. It was designed that way so as to disrupt as few of the currently insured as possible. They were unfortunately very successful at that aspect.

[dflprincess]

67. It doesn't matter how "affordable" health insurance is

if it comes with out of pocket expenses that are so high a person still can't afford access to health "CARE".

All Obama did was hand the insurance companies millions of new patsies to cheat.

[bvar22]

33. You forgot the "Sarcasm" thingie.

*

[dennis4868]

43. i did?

[Marr]

68. More like HYSTERICAL.

Obama saved a big industry-- not people. He did it the same way he saved the big investment banks; by grafting them directly to the Federal spigot.

Suggesting that's a big progressive victory is pretty ridiculous.

[lonestarnot]

20. Teabaggers make weak fucking tea. Hmmmf.

[jillan]

21. This is one time when I hope he is more like a BarcaLounger.

[Edweird]

22. 'Weak' or 'complicit'?

[GreenArrow]

34. Yep. I suspect it's less weakness than pretense. n/t

.

[defendandprotect]

49. Exactly -- !!

[Bluebear]

62. !

[lonestarnot]

23. Wonder if that fucker has ever been swallowed by a weak fucking lawn chair.

They have a tendency not to fucking let you get off very easily. :7

[dionysus]

24. he'll be the new DU hero for sure.

[sufrommich]

28. Apparently, Mr. Trickle Down is the voice of authority now. nt

[ProSense]

29. Oh wonderful, the

media assholes take a break from praising Ryan.

Anything to make the GOP look good.

[gkhouston]

31. No, I got the impression after watching the Ed Show last night that Obama,

Reid, and Boehner all know there's going to be a shutdown. The person who seemed nervous about it was Boehner.

[Orsino]

38. Gee. I wonder how Obama will vote on the deal. n/t

[Codeine]

39. "I'm gonna talk shit. And DU will parrot it." nt

[lpbk2713]

41. McLame and Failin said the same thing.

Whatever happened to them? :shrug:


:rofl:

[defendandprotect]

45. David Stockman ... a name from the past -- Reagan era?

Devised the concept of starving government programs/safety nets based on budget considerations!!

[defendandprotect]

46. How many Democrats think the same thing about Obama -- should we be surprised?

And true of how many more of our Democrats? --



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 that, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along!

:)

[ClarkUSA]

51. Agreeing w/a Republican attack on Democrats' only presidential candidate is the realm of freepers.

Or so I used to think. Until now.

[Distant Observer]

56. Sockman STRONLY SUPPORTED OBAMA's policy of ending Bush Tax cuts, on economic grouinds

The President is now paying a very high price for that compromise, in that he is now treated with less respect.

But the cost of that compromise for the poor in out country will be far greater.

[roman7]

57. lincoln

much of the public thought every negative thought possible about our greatest president too. especilly when he was at his most vulnerable.

[RegieRocker]

59. Lounger is a better description

[Blue_Tires]

60. Who is David Stockman and why should I give a rat's ass?

Not that he isn't saying something I don't see on DU every hour of every day...

[muriel_volestrangler]

63. A failed businessman, who avoided charges for fraud, and a Repub pol and Reagan appointee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Stockman

I think not giving a rat's ass would be the correct thing to do.

[Poboy]

64. "Obama is weak. He will fold like a lawnchair." -truth. nt

[Ramulux]

65. Thank you captain obvious

[Canuckistanian]

69. Lawn chairs don't fold THAT well

Obama, on the other hand.....