Pres. Obama continues leading our politics and the Democratic Party to the right. The right’s absurd “Obama is a socialist” hysteria is helping him do it, as are obstructionist Republicans who give Obama and his loyalists an excuse for why he’s tilting right, even if he’s doing it during a moment when he has a historic Democratic majority.
But as I’ve written countless times, when you have a Congress that enables the conservative Executive Branch like Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid’s Senate have done, while having no principles to push left, Pres. Obama is certainly not afraid of being challenged by his own.
Meanwhile, oblivious “Obamaphiles” continue to aid Obama’s rightward shift by accepting any definition of accomplishment offered up, as long as their guy gets credit. It doesn’t seem to bother the loyalists that as predicted by many movement progressives, Obama’s health care plan will allow insurers to limit doctor and hospital choice, while the “mandate” that I deplore is exactly what I said it would be, an insurance mandate tax on the middle class.
Our country is not a right-leaning nation at all, which is likely why some Democrats are turning independent in the age of Obama, feeling no party represents them. Meanwhile independents are running as fast as they can away from Obama. There’s simply no place for many to go, which includes women, because the Democrats are betraying us, while Republicans want to control us. A real possibility that some women could boycott voting in 2010, but also 2012. Maybe Charlie Crist’s independent run will inspire more mutinies among the big two parties.
Obama’s getting away with his rightward policy lurch through cover provided from Rush, his brother David, who today calls Obama the “most racial president,” which actually means in Republican speak “the blackest,” as well as Sean Hannity and his mini me, Mark Levin, Fox News, Laura Ingraham and the Glenn Beck crowd, with a lot of help from the Tea Party. Because they continue to drive the ridiculous “socialist” meme, which allows Obama’s conservative actions not to be noticed. If I didn’t know the right’s hatred of Obama, as well as the racism deeply rooted in the wingnuts was so virulent, I’d say the right plotted and planned this strategy, enticing Obama to lean right by suckering people about the whole “socialist” nonsense.
Obama’s going right? Let me count just some of the ways.
We were told we have to offset every damn dime of [new teacher spending]. Well, it ain’t easy to find offsets, and with all due respect to the administration their first suggestion for offsets was to cut food stamps. Now they were careful not to make an official budget request, because they didn’t want to take the political heat for it, but that was the first trial balloon they sent down here. … Their line of argument was, well, the cost of food relative to what we thought it would be has come down, so people on food stamps are getting a pretty good deal in comparison to what we thought they were going to get. Well isn’t that nice. Some poor bastard is going to get a break for a change. – Obey: White House Suggested Cutting Food Stamps to Pay for Education Program
Obama’s “Deficit Commission,” with rumblings of Social Security “adjustments” being considered, with all options on the table in the era of austerity and budget fever.
That’s not to make light of our deficit. But seriously, since when do Democrats suggest balancing the budget on the backs of the poor, the elderly and the sick?
There’s also Obama’s puny stimulus, as well as his corporate giveaway health care “reform,” not to mention financial reform that is more talk than actual reform.
There’s Obama’s backtracking on holding the Netanyahu government accountable on settlements, as he now veers into status quo territory. Pulling his punches on withdrawal from Iraq, which the latest bombings offering more ammunition to support a possible backtrack. The Afghanistan strategy post McChrystal, with a clamp down on reporters, while denying what McChrystal’s career implosion revealed about our precarious position in that country. The continued procrastination about Gitmo. All talk on DADT. No energy vision even after BP’s blowout and the historically catastrophic environmental holocaust it caused. …and the list of Obama’s Bush-esque actions goes on and on.
The damage done to women’s individual freedoms through mini-Stupak’s now being seen across this country, because Pres. Obama, through Speaker Pelosi’s leadership, let the right and the religious in the room to help craft the health care bill, selling out women’s access, with insurance pools for abortion coverage likely to eventually become non-existent, something that serves the right and not women. Then the Administration goes further by disallowing access to abortion coverage to high-risk women, something that was their choice.
So the latest from Rep. Obey shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Oh, but it’s all better than the status quo, right? Given the advantages Obama came into office with and the huge support he had, including in the press, I’d say the progress is embarrassingly miserly. It is also decidedly rightward, corporate based, status quo across the board.
But on the right chants about Obama being a “socialist,” with a little “most racial” fear added on top. The right’s over the top rhetoric opened a perfect opportunity for Pres. Obama to move right under the cover of “socialist” hysteria.
It’s actually quite fitting, however, because Pres. Obama is really more of a Republican at heart anyway. There was just no way for Barack Hussein Obama to run as one, because Republicans aren’t exactly welcoming to blacks, let alone someone with a name like his; not even considering Mr. Obama is brilliantly slick.
But then again, he’s actually doing the Republicans a service. By moving the Democratic Party rightward he’s helping the political narrative of this country to move in that direction as well. It simply renders people’s choices into something more miserly than the lesser of two evils. There’s not a lot of difference between Obama’s Democratic Party and the Republicans, except of course the right’s fear of all things black.
Expect Pres. Obama to lean further right if Republicans gain ground in November. That’s the case whether Republicans win a majority in the House or not. It will serve Obama perfectly, as he will then be able to work with Congress even better on his way to re-election, especially considering Newt Gingrich is leading the pack on the Republican side right now, a laughable turn of events. That’s just how bankrupt, an epic fail, and back to the future the Republican brand is today.
lol… and then sob.
I know, it’s *very* discomforting, WonktV.
It’s such a bind on the practical level of the equity argument (all women should have the same freedom and ability to exercise their choice on abortion as wealthy women do) and on a fundamental level of political freedom, it keeps women STUCK in LIMBO, unable to exercise their full political voices and argue for or against the meat of public polic agenda because they’re stuck fighting for their BASIC human rights.
I submit my latest letter to President Obama.
Oh and ABC now stands for Another Bill Clinton.
Bill Clinton who threw welfare recipients under the bus with the 1996 Whelllllfare law and now President Obama has given millions of retired and disabled people near nothing on fixing tghe prescription drug benefit.
Dear President Obama
I voted for you in 2008 with enthusiasm.
In 2010 I find myself disappointed in the health care law. I consider the glass 1/8 full.
There appear millions of retired and disabled people out in the country who wanted a real fix to the prescription drug benefit by placing the benefit in Medicare Part B and covering 80 percent of all patented and generic medications. Medicare Part B already covers some medications and an extension of this benefit would have appeared the logical choice even as early as 2003.
No but the GOPranos made retired and disabled people in the middle class spend extra money and having 2 sets of expensive monthly premiums and 2 sets of yearly deductibles to get one drug benefit with a lousy coverage gap. If the benefit had gone in Medicare Part B then people would have only had to pay one set of monthly premiums and one yearly deductible and saved money ripped off by the Republicans.
Now in this new health care law you and congress perpetuated this fleecing of middle class retired and disabled people and even watered down the closing of this so called coverage gap in 10 years, a cruel joke. The 50 percent discount would have gotten wiped out when the drug companies double their prices next year for medications.
For this reason, I plan to go to the polls this November and only vote for county office candidates and referenda.
I will abstain from voting for representative and senator here in NY.
You have until November 2010 to enact a real prescription drug benefit in Medicare Part B by expanding the current drug benefit that only covers a small set of prescription drugs. I may also do so in 2012 and also abstain from voting for President. I will encourage other liberals to do so.
Perhaps you have calculated that you do not need the votes of liberals and progressives in NY. If that appears the case then I find that disappointing.
Millions of middle class retired and disabled people appear annoyed by the miniscule near nothing benefit that the health care law will provide for us and alot of us appear liberals and progressives.
I’m sorry to have to write you this. I hope you will reconsider the meager benefit that you provided people like us.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PS I will remain a Democrat but will not reward my party for acting so parsimonius as the conservative Republicans have on the issue of prescription drugs. Big Pharma has won again.
Once again I offer to the people a way to petition for progressive legislation. Most people have chose not to do so and that leaves them complaining with very little results.
Instead of petitioning congress for legislation, petition the corporate friends of conservatives in both the GOPranos and the Democratic party for legislation and include a boycott threat in your email petitions as you see below. Spread the word please.
send this email to contacttheboard@riteaid.com at Rite Aid for a strong public option.
To the Rite Aid CEO:
I join with many other people who demand that you get congress and the President to enact a single payer health care plan that will work like HR676 but will not ban private insurance. Your company PAC has given money to conservatives over the years.
This public option will get fully funded by US government general federal taxes.
People will have no monthly premiums, no copays, no yearly deductibles, no coverage gaps, no means tests and no yearly or lifetime caps for coverage.
This public option will cover 100 percent of the cost of: all doctor’s visits including dental visits, all generic and patented medications, surgery and all hospital visits, hospice and nursing home residence and abortion, contraception and other family planning costs.
People can choose this single payer public option health care plan at will even if they had or have private plans presently.
People will have the option to choose private plans or keep the private plans that they have now.
This legislation should appear implemented as amendments to HR676
Until this legislation gets enacted into law, I REFUSE to do business with Rite Aid Pharmacies
Do as I demand, or you will lose my business and the business and income from many other people as myself.
Good day.
send this email to Brown-Forman@b-f.com at Brown Forman to stop conservatives from filibustering legislation.
To the Brown Forman CEO:
Your company PAC has given money to Sen. Mitch McConnell in the past. I will not buy Jack Daniels Whiskey and Southern Comfort until you convince Mitch McConnell to stop all filibusters on legislation and holds on appointments for the duration of the Obama administration.
Good Day.
send this email to contacttheboard@riteaid.com at Rite Aid for a Real prescription drug benefit in Medicare Part B.
To the Rite Aid CEO
Congress and the President must enact a new prescription drug benefit in Medicare Part B covering 80% of the cost of all patented and generic drugs with no extra monthly premiums, no extra yearly deductible, no means tests, no coverage gaps, no late sign up penalties and remove the means test for Medicare Part B and this benefit will get administered by the government and not any private company and until that happens, I refuse to buy ANYTHING from Republican contributor Rite Aid Pharmacies.
Good day.
send this email to john_barker@wendys.com at Wendy’s corporation for a $10 an hour minimum wage.
To the Wendy’s CEO
Congress and the President must enact a $10/HR MINIMUM WAGE into law and until this happens I will not go to any Republican contributor Wendy’s Restaurants.
Good Day.
send this email to Brown-Forman@b-f.com at Brown Forman to get the employee free choice enacted into law.
To the Brown Forman CEO
Brown-Forman of Kentucky, the maker of Jack Daniels Whiskey and Southern Comfort gave Mitch McConnell money for his campaigns. SENATOR McCONNELL MUST MUST GET CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT HR 1409,S 560 THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT INTO LAW AND AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS I WON’T BUY JACK DANIELS WHISKEY OR SOUTHERN COMFORT OR ANY OTHER OF BROWN-FORMAN’S PRODUCTS.
Good Day.
You mentioned this but I think his foreign policy has lurched to the right also. This administration has at least restored the notion of using diplomacy to achieve certain ends as opposed to just threatening people as we did during the Bush years. The problem is, while we got rid of the illogical phrase “War on Terror,” our efforts to combat terrorism are based largely on Bush’s policies and in some cases, have radically expanded upon them- for example, the unbelievable, largely unquestioned claim by the admin. that they have the authority to assassinate American citizens abroad if they think they are involved in terrorist activities. That is truly radical and legally suspect. See Glenn Greenwald for a good discussion of this:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/07/01/assassinations
Wow. You’re really smoking, Taylor Marsh.
Keep up the excllent work.
Let’s face it, the Democrats are likely to be decimated in the November election — with Republicans likely holding all the cards in both the House and Senate, then Obama will have to negotiate with the right in order to move forward on issues such as immigration and the war in Afghanistan. Ironically, I am not sure Pres Obama’s views cannot be shifted to the right on immigration, and I think even the Republicans are growing weary of the war in Afghanistan, so the marriage may go well. The good news is that Obama will have already passed healthcare and banking reform, so these are no longer on his “to do” list. Yes, I think Pres Obama wil work closely with Republicans to move ahead on immigration reform, and I suspect the Republicans will work with the President on ending the war in Afghanistan. As for the economy, I suspect that Pres Obama is about to announce some government guarantees for “clean energy” research that the Republicans and Wall Street will love him for…
“Let’s face it, the Democrats are likely to be decimated in the November election — with Republicans likely holding all the cards in both the House and Senate,”
Yeah, right. And jeebus gonna come back REAL soon too!
Taylor you have come around to what I have thought all along. Obama has always been a Republican but knew the silly libs in the Dem party would not be able to resist him.He has hijacked our party and now it has a collective stockholm syndrome.
In some ways this move to the right goes beyond parties. What we have now is a ruling elite and a manipulated,ill-informed,confused electorate. The old contructions of right and left really don’t work very well anymore. It is beyond too bad that the people are getting tribal and fighting each other while our rulers steal our country from us.
The MSM has abdicated any responsibility to the people and make no attempt to dispell all the faux “socialist” charges.I consider most talk shows to be an exercise in kabuki.More interested in ratings than truth it happens on both sides,they just want the conflict to continue. The truth is rarely spoken. Sometimes you can see in their faces they know it. Thank God for Dylan. I don’t know how long he will last but he gets it and he shares it.
“What we have now is a ruling elite and a manipulated,ill-informed,confused electorate”-Lake Lady
This what they want…us to pay no attention to those behind the curtain holding power. American political news of “substance” no longer exist. Its all ratings driven…these pundits search for news stories of little relevance to get the public attention away from the real issues. As for Obama he has the heart of a republican…but the outside look of Democrat. Where stuck with this man for at least a good four more years. I don’t know if this will be a good thing or bad for the Democrat brand. Because once Obama finally leaves office Dems will have a tough time overcoming the rightward tilt Obama took the party.
I await with baited breath for you to tell people to begin a huge consumer boycott of companies that give money to conservatives in both parties and force these CEOs to get us the progressive legislationthat we want.
But in reality I see very little people doing so, rather they wish to complain about these ruling companies and not boycott them, i.e. going on a purchasing strike for legislation.
LLady, it’s not “come around.” Check my archives.
I definitely do expect Obama to continue the rightward movement, as I have expected the Democratic Party to do, in general, for years (and primarily why I chose to go independent) — whether because it’s out of fear of being successfully labeled un-American, unpatriotic, anti-Christian, non-traditional, “tax and spender,” “weak on defense,” etc., or because “right” is the direction the Dems really want to go as the Corporate nature of both legacy parties continues growing, or a combination of each, and more … the increasingly steep lean to the right is sliding us all into the resulting Corporate World.
Looking through my files for something else, I came across a copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963. An excerpt:
“My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure. Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral than individuals.
“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was ‘well timed’ in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’”
Obviously circumstances and times are very different, though the realities of racism certainly continue to play out. But as I read I thought about how the “Wait!” tactic is still used. For me, that’s particularly tied to the decades of “Wait!” from Democrats, regarding LGBT rights. It’s just as relevant, though, regarding, for one issue you cite, Taylor: health care. And of course there are other issues and needs when we get some version of “Wait!,” some half-measure, “it’s the best we can do” excuses: unemployment, immigration reform, environment, energy, Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Palestinian people, etc.
MLK wrote “it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily.” So the Dem Elites move right, because that’s the direction from which they can better protect their privileges. The ridiculous but obviously successful “socialist” label does make that move easier, though by now, I wonder if that isn’t more a “bonus” than anything else, because clearly the movement was occurring long before the “socialist” cries began.
And as we “Wait!,” and continue to play “lesser of two evils,” the slide right picks up speed.
“I definitely do expect Obama to continue the rightward movement, as I have expected the Democratic Party to do, in general, for years (and primarily why I chose to go independent)” —Joyce Arnold
I stop calling myself an Dem years ago and just say Independent…for that some family members stop speaking to me for a while…they are just now understanding why I made the choice to become an independent in the age of Obama. I expect more and more Democrats to stop identify as such…since the party no longer represent their core ideals. Neither party can be trusted…so where does voters in the middle go?!
Well, we certainly have more company now
Yes, we do…lol
“There was just no way for Barack Hussein Obama to run as one, because Republicans aren’t exactly welcoming to blacks, let alone someone with a name like his; not even considering Mr. Obama is brilliantly slick”- Taylor
I really loved your post today…because it speaks to how I have been feeling for a while now that Obama is Dem in name only. I even mention to my husband two months ago that if Obama had been White (well he is part White but that is still not good enough for repubs) he would have switched parties an ran as a Republican. Bobby Jindal, a republican, has the same diverse heritage as Obama…but Jindal lack the charisma Obama has plus Bobby is barley tolerated by the Right. So, Jindal like Obama would have never made it out to well in a Republican primary for President. The governorship is the limit for a man of color like Bobby Jindal.
I think Sarah Palin at heart maybe more liberal than Obama. That if one ignores the fact she is anti-choice and a Fox News talking point machine. But yet, I think Ms. Palin may turn out as time goes by a liberal wolf in republican clothing. I could be entirely wrong here…but would not be at all shocked if the Republican right learns this out too late about Sarah.
I think Sarah Palin would switch her views in a minute if the tide was going that way. From what I read, Sarah Palin did not govern from the far-right in Alaska. Something is up !!
Bristol got pregnant out of wedlock and now she is getting back with the father of her child and is getting married, and she told US weekly first even before she told her own mother. That tells you something if her own daughter Bristol Palin is scared of her mother, I would hate to see what Sarah Palin would do to her political enemys.
“From what I read, Sarah Palin did not govern from the far-right in Alaska.”
Maybe that’s because she didn’t “govern” for very long before she quit.
But you have to admit, that pushing shooting Wolves from airplanes and offering a wolf bounty, them is some FAR left policies them is!
“pushing shooting Wolves from airplanes and offering a wolf bounty, them is some FAR left policies”-secularhumanizinevoluter
No, all that says is Sarah Palin like to hunt. I’ve met many people with liberal leanings who love to hunt all types of animals. Its a trap to believe only people with republican views would hunt in the manner she does.
I agree…I think the right is being tricked.
“I think Sarah Palin at heart maybe more liberal than Obama. That if one ignores the fact she is anti-choice and a Fox News talking point machine. But yet, I think Ms. Palin may turn out as time goes by a liberal wolf in republican clothing. I could be entirely wrong here…”
Ya THINK!
Palin is a populist rightwinger. Obama is a closet conservative. He is not a populist.
I think the difference comes in because of Palin’s populist streak rather than Palin being any sort of liberal wolf in conservative cloth. Calling either of these two liberal moves the political center too far right.
Hey, I said I could be wrong…okay…sheesh…lol
An interesting read. Obama going right? TM has made a valid argument. But why? Perhaps like mckibbinusa mentions about ‘to do’ list. That’s all. Just ‘things’ to check off on the ‘to do’ list. Nothing more, nothing less.
And President Obama will go down in history as a mediocre president, superficial legislation passed and destruction of the Democratic Party. He might just be behind Carter and above Buchanan. He’s a lightweight in the league of Presidents.
Obama will always be historic, but I think he’ll go down as a PR change that broke a monumental barrier but used that opportunity and capital to keep the broken political system on the path it was on in the Reagan/Bush-Cheney years.
so much for change. he may be historic but not in the sense of doing anything visionary. what a crock the entire exercise was.
“so much for change. he may be historic but not in the sense of doing anything visionary.”-Jane Austen
I don’t think you and many progressive fully understand…that the shear fact Obama was able to become president is revolutionary to the minority class living in America. He is the living in embodiment of these people dreams. I work with minority kids from all walks life crossing many different social classes and they idolize this man. When you ask why he has done nothing visionary…they see him has the vision of all their hopes to overcoming a racist & sexist society.
Michelle has symbolically helped to overcome some aspects of racism/sexism double bind to some extent, for a LOT of girls who see themselves in her. But, Barack himself has not done anything to overcome sexism, imho. His campaign expertly rode a tidal wave of sexism into the WH and his administration used women’s rights as bargaining chips once they got in there. Hillary Clinton, Sonia Sotomayor, Michelle Obama, Elena Kagan, Ann Dunham, Lilly Ledbetter, etc. do not make up for the damage Obama has done on that front of women and women’s rights.
Obama broke a racial barrier that was long overdue to be broken, and that is HUGE symbolically and has a lot of domino effects throughout societly. Ultimately he hasn’t tied this to a policy cause bigger and deeper than making himself president and building his brand/legacy, though. So he broke the system to become the realization of MLK’s dream–but he used that capital to further the system that MLK fought against.
“overcoming a racist & sexist society.”
By running the most sexist, misogynistic primary campaign in Democratic politicol history! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
–Cornel West
Cornel West….Is consider a joke in the poor working class Black community. Majority does not even know who the hell the man is…but they do know and idolize Obama. I work and talk with every day minorities and have many in my family…and Conrel West is a race hustler.
As for the sexism comment… I was talking about how “Minority women” view his presidency…through his wife …you know the First Black Female First Lady in history…that everyone outside of the minority class ignores accept for her clothing styles…lol
She made history too with her husband. Many woman of color follow and admire her strength.
secularhumanizinevoluter…. I was talking about his wife…you know the First Black First Lady Michelle almost every feminist ignores…and when they do spot light the woman its to put her down.
As for Obama running the most sexist campaign in history…well, if that is true Hillary Clinton would not be working for the sexist monster…now would she?!!!
You know who ran the most sexist and insulting campaign John McCain…why?…because he picked a woman of lesser accomplishment to be cardboard copy of Hillary as a Representative for all women in 2008. I can already see the battle cry coming from former disgruntled Hillary supporters aka PUMA at Obama vs. Palin in 2012…Obama is sexist vote for Palin, never mind she is against major women issues…lol
Yes, that’s why I brought up Michelle. When I said lots of girls who see themselves in her, I meant women too, just forgot to type it. I’m a woman of color, btw.
As to your Cornel West comment…
http://vastleft.blogspot.com/2010/04/american-extremists-empire-stated.html
Wonk the Vote…your correct, I was talking about his wife with the sexism comment…thanks for clearing that up for me. As you notice most of the replies seem to ignore that his wife made history being a woman of color facing both sexism and racism. The poor woman still faces crazed sexist attacks by the likes of Rush and Glenn Beck everyday…and you barely hear a peep from feminist standing up for the woman.
I seriously believe because she is a woman of color…it cause many to ignore the constant sexist attacks against Michelle. But, anyway that was the jest of what I meant about finding a way to overcoming “sexist” and racist attacks in America to seek higher office.
Marie205 says:
18 July 2010 at 9:13 pm
1.”secularhumanizinevoluter…. I was talking about his wife…you know the First Black First Lady Michelle almost every feminist ignores…and when they do spot light the woman its to put her down.”
Michelle Obama is first lady? How is overcoming “sexism” involved? NObody votes for “First lady” Frankly anyone who DID vote for a candidate because they wanted his wife to be “first lady” I hope would take a pass on voting in the future.
2.”As for Obama running the most sexist campaign in history…well, if that is true Hillary Clinton would not be working for the sexist monster…now would she?!!!”
The concept of thinking the good of the country is bigger an issue then any bad feelings over a sexist misogynistic campaign is beyond your ability to imagine?
3.You know who ran the most sexist and insulting campaign John McCain…why?…because he picked a woman of lesser accomplishment to be cardboard copy of Hillary as a Representative for all women in 2008.”
I am slack jawed in awe at this nonsense!
4.” I can already see the battle cry coming from former disgruntled Hillary supporters aka PUMA at Obama vs. Palin in 2012…Obama is sexist vote for Palin, never mind she is against major women issues…lol”
Project much?
And incidentily I did NOT say Obama ran the most sexist campaign in history. I would suggest you read a little more carefully before launching into your little tirades that are somewhat disconnected from reality.
What I said was “the most sexist campaign in DEMOCRATIC history.” WE are supposed to be the good guys. WE are supposed to represent higher ideals then the repugnantklan. I will forever be indebted to the Obama campaign for straightening me out on that point. WE as in the Democratic Party, Liberals and Progressives are as capable of running as sexist and misogynistic campaign as ANY repugnantklaner.
” I would suggest you read a little more carefully before launching into your little tirades that are somewhat disconnected from reality.”-secularhumanizinevoluter
Why the personal attack…little tirades…disconnected from reality…really. As for Michelle Obama I was simply trying to state that for many minority women…who are seen as almost invisible in this country she is a historical figure for them…I’ve talked with many who find inspiration in watching her have to live with the daily racist and “SEXIST” attacks directed at her…And yes, she helped with Obama winning over minority women in the primaries…
In saying that I wish you nothing but peace and harmony..
“And President Obama will go down in history as a mediocre president, superficial legislation passed and destruction of the Democratic Party.”-Jane Austen
Wow…while I agree with you about Obama having done future damage to the Dem brand for progressives. I have to strongly disagree about how history will view him…at the rate of American population changing to high minority levels in the future…I highly doubt minorities will rate the First Black President ever as something bad. In fact, historians have already begun to list the guy high in its rankings see link….http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39283.html
So your contention is that simply because he is Black minorities will give him a pass for the pathetic job he is doing? JEEBUS CRISPIES if the sentiments you express, that minorities will simply overlook his mediocricy to ineptness simply because he is Black and that when there are MORE minorities reality won’t matter because a majority will give him a pass for his Blakness….I gotta wonder what the hell I have been fighting for all my life.
What are you talking about I never said that…lol
I was expressing their happiness at him breaking a glass ceiling for their aspirations…No, they don’t like all his policies no one does no matter the race. But compared to Republicans daily racial attacks on this man family…is helping to give cover over most of his right leaning policies. You may be aware of that not so nice things about Obama governing style…but the mass of minorities don’t…when they turn on the TV all they see is a man of color being attacked not for his policies but race.
Marie205, you were talking about sexist attacks against Michelle Obama, and I am curious what examples there might be of that claim. I have not noticed such “attacks” but maybe you could enlighten me.
I don’t believe everything I read. And while he may go down as historic with the minorities it remains to be seen what he has done to the Democratic Party. taking the Democratic Party to the right isn’t going to exactly help the people who need help. All it has done is to sell our government to the highest bidder. And that is the corporations. The last time I looked our Constitution said “We the People” not “We the Corporations.” But maybe that’s what this was all about. Taking the power away from the people and giving it to those with the money. I guess money does talk in this society so anything the people may want is futile. We are owned. I don’t like people who say one thing and do another. I am extremely unhappy with Obama, the Democratic Party and the so-called Democratic Congress. And I will not send one red cent to any of them. I’m voting as an Independent, not a Democrat and I’ve been a Democrat for more than 50 years and have voted Democratic for all those years but this is the end.
I would completely disagree that he leans right, because he’s about as left as they come. He wants to “transform” America, and he means left.
The problem is, he doesn’t have the experience. Frankly, he’s inept. He’s done some of the things (not closing Guantanamo, for just one example) because … well, it turns out GOVERNING is a lot harder than he thought. He has these grand, grandiose and glorious VISIONS that are not REALITY. And he doesn’t know how to make them reality. And those are the things he really cares about. So he makes pronouncements — Gitmo, Iraq, whatever. And then he can’t deliver, because he doesn’t know how, and really, he’s too busy preparing speeches for Cairo (he DID say, you know, that that speech was one of his most important foreign policiy initiatives of his first year), or some other thing, rather than being in the trenches doing policy and trying to get nuts and bolts things through. Obama doesn’t do mundane, don’t you know that? He’s way too good for that. He’s way too important, he’s way too “transformational.” Whatever he does is unprecedented, always. If he does Sunday mornign shows, he does more of them than anyone has ever done. Ever. HIs whole presidency is like that. Every damn thing has to be the ultimate.
You know what? Most of us would settle for competent. And he’s not that, either.
In any case, all that “right-leaning” stuff is the stuff that’s too hard, too pesky to do. He doesn’t know what else to do, so he simply lets the status quo ride.
He’s a terrible president. And if we’d had a media that wasn’t in love with his “vision,” we’d have HIllary, instead.
Your post is right on target. I applaude you. You seem to have inside knowledge of this man and how he runs the WH.
The media is why we have him instead of Hillary…oh well…we can all hope she is not out of politics yet!
I haven’t heard whether Obama and Michelle is going to the wedding…has anyone else??
Actually Hillary apepars more conservative than Obama and so I would not have voted for her. I had no illusions that Obama would appear progressive but what he did to retired and disabled people in the health care law by continuing the fleecing of middle class retired and disabled people on the prescription drug benefit will lead me to abstain from voting for representative, senator and President in 2010 and 2012.
If we want to get progressive legislation we cannot just wait until election time. We need to go on a purchasing strike agasinst the corporate friends of conservatives who give them money.
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So, basically your saying he is a lucky moron…that somehow beat the highly intelligent Hillary Clinton with the sole help of the media ( Remember now Fox News was still the number one cable news station in America when Obama was running and they hate the man). The truth is the guy, ran a more effective campaign in 2008 and but can’t govern worth shit as president. I expect him to run another highly effective campaign against the next Republican nominee…because he can’t stand losing.
The only thing I could agree with your post about was the fact Obama has a huge ego…but than most politicians do.
This is not about Hillary Rodham Clinton. It’s not about a comparison. Obama won a decisive victory, with the country and the world coming in behind him to support his presidency.
…and you’re simply wrong about Obama being a leftist. If he was we’d have a public option without emboldening the private insurers, with women not having separate rules; the stimulus would have been a massive infrastructure spending and job creation project; DADT would have been pushed forward via Exec. Order giving Congress more push to do something; Obey would never have had this interview; Obama wouldn’t have doubled-tripled down on Afghanistan; Gitmo would have been closed; we wouldn’t be expanding our covert military presence, and on and on.
You all need to get a new definition of “left.”
I don’t know how history will say about President Obama, but he was the first African American President, so I don’t think it will say anything bad in my opinion, even if he does govern from the right. American is changing becoming more diverse,which is a good thing, but there will be people that are going to disagree with it and are going to try to cause racial tension between people and we already see states starting to create there own laws and the divide is starting sadly !! I hope the union in this country holds,but there is going to be trouble along the way and we already see the cracks in union.
I see those cracks growing every day and the media is helping it along.
If I wanted a Republican president I would have voted for John McCain. Obama ran as a Democrat and from my experience he’s anything but.
Your correct…he does lean republican more often than Dem.
He is leaning right because its the easiest way to go…its the road with as few bumps in it as possible.
Everything that Taylor said at 8:32 am this morning is correct. What she failed to mention was the political calculation that went into Obam’s decisions. Let’s take one example: Obama’s expansion of the war in Afghanistan. On one side of that issue we had Obama, Biden and much of the WH team. On the other side we had the neocons. The neocons were represented by most of the military, the Hillary Clinton State Department and all of those who supported the concept of ‘nation building’. I believe that Taylor was one of those. Politically speaking if Obama had refused to ‘go BIG’ in Afghanistan the entire Republican Party, all of the conservative right, much of the necon faction, or the conservatives in the Democratic party, and the military would have come after him hammer and tongs. In fact it was the right wing of the Democratic Party which drove Obama to the right on the war, on health care, on the stimulus, on Gitmo and on almost every other issue. These folks should look at themselves in the mirror rather than blaming Obama for the rightward drift of his presidency. Peace
Your definition of “neocon” is not only incorrect, but wildly so, Imhoep. However, most people reading your comments understand that the finer points of fact are often lost on you. Neoconservatives are not only for doubling down in Afghanistan, but they abhor the diplomatic muscle required, preferring militaristic solutions only. Neoconservatives also believed in preemptive war Iraq wholeheartedly, which I did not, having said so in print, on the air and everywhere else. Neoconservatives also believe we should stay in Iraq, which I do not. Neoconservatives are also for preemptive action on Iran, which I obviously do not and have been one of the most vocal in new media against it going back years. Neoconservatives believe in aiding Netanyahu at all costs, which I do not, also being vocal on this, including writing endlessly against what the Netanyahu gov. is doing, which extends to essays on Huffington Post. In fact, I’ve been vocally supportive of Obama on his strong settlement stance, backing him up, that is until he caved because of domestic political concerns that his strong stance might cost him with Jewish voters. His latest conservative shift on Israel for political sake something I do not support. I could go on and on proving the false nature of your charge.
As for Afghanistan, I’ve made absolutely no secret of my belief that Obama’s initial strategy was not only correct, but a moral imperative after what happened after Bush-Cheney abandoned Afghanistan for Iraq. Pres. Obama was correct in his actions when he came into office.
For the record for people who aren’t aware, I also stated clearly and emphatically after Gen. McChyrstal’s career implosion that I was no longer leaning into our nation building efforts anymore, proving I’m not wedded to a position based on ideology, which is a tenet of neocons. McChrystal’s public airing of his frustrations, to the point of ruining his own career, finally did what hadn’t been done since Obama came into office. It put the COIN strategy employed by McChrystal on the losing side for the first time, unequivocally and convincingly. Now Petraeus has to figure a way forward, as well as how we begin moving out this time next year, though I’ve always thought the July 2011 date for drawdown from Obama was based on 2012 politics, which I wrote from the start. Also writing that we are going to be in Afghanistan for a very long time, though whether we have the number of troops there is unlikely.
I await a progressive or Democrat, even an independent, who has a vision of how we manage our foreign policy challenges differently than the current class. We simply cannot afford what we’re doing abroad, with that expense also represented by the Dana Priest – William Arkin story today.
A dumb Southern conservative woman runs this country and has for years.
Whom do you mean?
The entire class of dumb southern conservative women has tipped the balance of power to conservatives for decades so even with Democratic Presidents, mainly they came from the South since 1964 and they acted conservative to moderate. We have not had a liberal President since FDR. Harry Truman while a decent President did not act very liberal. He took on the unions.
These women hate blacks, jews, people on welfare, on unemployment insurance, social security, ignore corporate excesses and do not mind the widening gap between wealthy and poor people.
If the South seceded tomorrow I would not mind, because we would have gotten rid of conservative ballast off the U.S. ship of state.
We would have a more liberal congress and a more liberal President.
The Democratic Party would not have to cater to Southern conservative women.
The New Confederacy could then crap in their own eating area with their backward notions of social order and not social justice and Super PatRIOTism and continue their FEAR state tactics used by the RepubliKLAN party of today.
Let the Soutrhern Conservative women go. Good riddance to them. Let them breed their hatred in their own New Confederacy.
What escapes me is how Obama expects to get re-elected. Sure he replaying Bill Clinton’s playbook and is sacrificing the House and the Senate to get re-elected but we have seen this before. Bill Clinton got away attacking his base but he never went as far as Obama has to trash his base. Who will knock on doors for him in 2012? Who will man his campaign headquarters?
I must tell you early this month I was at a meeting of Progressive/Liberal Democrats and the mood was nasty. Half the folks were wondering how to get a message to Obama to let him know how upset they are and the other half was telling them that not to bother because he doesn’t care. I never remember this during the Clinton years – Obama has so alienated his base I just don’t see them coming back even if Newt and all his evil friends come back to town. Folks are pissed and hurt and they figure Obama is just gonna get what he deserves and sadly we are along for the ride.
Don’t forget Pres. Clinton fought against a Rep. Congress.
Obama’s got a Dem majority of both houses of Congress.
As for the mood being “nasty”, the women I know and in the larger progressive movement are not motivated in the least, except for specific progressive candidates. The only thing that could motivate them for 2012 unless Obama changes, which he won’t, is Palin.
What Obama has succeeded in doing is alienate just about every group that mks up the Democratic Base. Its not just the les/bi/gay community that feels betrayed but environmentalist, union members, women and teachers. Throw in the coming attack on Social Security and I’m not sure who is left to infuriate.
Rest assured based on my experiences so far we are not alone and the consequences are going to be a bitch for the Democratic Party. All I want to know now is who’s is going to primary Obama.
Which progressive group do you belong to and may I have their email address. I have a ball crushing strategy to get progressive legislation enacted into law.
I too recall Bill Clinton and he threw welfare recipients under the bus with the mean spiritied welfare law of 1996 so Mr. Clinton also gets my criticism. We need to throw the conservaties out of the Democratic party by shunning them with our lack of monetary support for them.
Obama apparently has done similarly by turning off many groups inclusing disabled and retired people by caving into big pharma and not fixing the prescription drug benefit by moving it to MEdicare Part B, an nout patient benefit that covers doctors visits and some drugs now.
I don’t hate Obama but I will probably not vote for him in 2012. I will prbably abstain from voting for President.
Liberal and progressive Consumers have power that can crush the balls of the conservatie establishment with purchasing strikes against the corporate friends of conservatives. Unfortunately up until now Most liberals and progressives don’t use this power.