Why the Right-Wing Bullies Will Hold The Nation Hostage Again and Again

[Pryderi]

http://robertreich.org/
Why the Right-Wing Bullies Will Hold The Nation Hostage Again and Again
Saturday, April 9, 2011

When I was a small boy I was bullied more than most, mainly because I was a foot shorter than than everyone else. The demanded the cupcake my mother had packed in my lunchbox, or, they said, they’d beat me up. After a close call in the boy’s room, I paid up. Weeks later, they demanded half my sandwich as well. I gave in to that one, too. But I could see what was coming next. They’d demand everything else. Somewhere along the line I decided I’d have a take a stand. The fight wasn’t pleasant. But the bullies stopped their bullying.

I hope the President decides he has to take a stand, and the sooner the better. Last December he caved in to Republican demands that the Bush tax cut be extended to wealthier Americans for two more years, at a cost of more than $60 billion. That was only the beginning — the equivalent of my cupcake.

Last night he gave away more than half the sandwich — $39 billion less than was budgeted for 2010, $79 billion less than he originally requested. Non-defense discretionary spending — basically, everything from roads and bridges to schools and innumerable programs for the poor — has been slashed.

[butterfly77]

1. And there will be more of this...

The full list of policy riders in HR1 includes: (from http://www.ombwatch.org/files/budget/OMB_Watch-HR1_Poli ... ):

Policy Riders in H.R. 1

Sec. 1284 - Prohibits funding for fresh fruits and vegetables in the school lunch program. under section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

Sec. 4013 - Prohibits funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., or any of its affiliates.

Sec. 1112 - Prohibits transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay.
Sec. 2237 - Prohibits HUD funding for rental assistance to the elderly.
Sec. 4006 - Blocks the FCC from implementing Net Neutrality.

Sec. 1802 - Prohibits funding new Job Corp centers.
Sec. 4017 - Strips funding for any provision of the health care reform law.
Sec. 4030 - Prohibits BATF from collecting information on multiple rifle/shotgun sales to the same person.

Sec. 1590 - Prohibits DC from using its own, non-federal funds, for abortion services.
Sec. 4046 - Prohibits finding for a govt-sponsored consumer product complaints database
Sec. 1746 - Prohibits funding for EPA efforts to regulate greenhouse gases

Sec. 4027 - Prohibits funds to carry out medical loss ratio restrictions in the health care reform law. (These provisions require insurers to spend at least a certain percent of their premium revenues on medical care.)

Sec. 4009 - Prohibits funds to pay the salaries and expenses of the following Presidential �czarsŽ: Obama Care Czar, Climate Change Czar, Global Warming Czar, Green Jobs Czar, Car Czar, Guantanamo Bay Closure Czar, Pay Czar and Fairness Doctrine Czar.

[SHRED]

2. link broken

[HowHasItComeToThis]

3. THE RIGHT WING IS THE ENEMY WITHIN

[northoftheborder]

4. I had an interesting conversation with someone from another culture.....

.....We were discussing politics, and things at issue nationally. I commented about Obama's perhaps overly compromising habits in negotiating in role as President; (we are both Democrats and had the same overall viewpoints.) She volunteered that she agreed but understood his makeup thoroughly. Her parents had immigrated to the US when she was a child, and she grew up in an affluent family in New York City, but still, was always a minority. She described how she had to adapt to the customs, always figure out how to blend in, how to become part of the majority. That became part of her DNA. She said Obama had to do that also, it was part of his DNA, and a major part of who he is. That insight made me think, and I now have a slightly more patient attitude toward him.

However, that line of thought does not apply to the Democratic leaders. They need to be MUCH stronger, and if not lead Obama into a stronger foothold, then push him there. I think the American people, are on their side, if they are asked for their opinion. This behind the scenes negotiating has got to STOP.

[TheKentuckian]

7. Understanding and tolerance are very different things.

This nation's people cannot stand by for a President who doesn't want to make waves and please the existing structures. Too much is at stake. If that is who he is he should be a minor diplomat to an ally not President or indeed any position that requires pissing someone off and scraping for what is needed.

You describe a poor personality fit for any leadership position. The dude should have become ombudsman or something.

[northoftheborder]

8. I agree with you. He's not a leader. We need a leader in these times, but

he's what we've got now, and SOMEBODIES need to shove, push, scream to make him get out of his ditch of appeasement.

[aquart]

5. If you negotiate with terrorists, they will take more hostages.

It really isn't the same as community organizing.

[Skidmore]

6. Needs a companion thread entitled

"Why the left wing won't get organized and quit kneecapping each other in a circular firing squad."

[earthside]

9. "I hope the President decides he has to take a stand"

This is becoming a rather pathetic, plaintive lament.

[Pryderi]

10. Dems new logo: Naked eunuch grabbing ankles.

[CrispyQ]

11. "I hope the President decides he has to take a stand..."

This president take a stand? :rofl: