Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Hey Joe. Movement progressives and activist Democrats, aka Obama’s base, are not Pres. Obama’s political electoral tool. They helped get you elected, but considering what your boss did with the majority they don’t owe you squat.
There is no Democratic establishment in recent memory that deserves a Left rise up like what the Tea Party has done to establishment Republicans more than the current 111th Congress, much of it because of Pres. Obama’s tepid ideological compass and horrific party leadership, which has now manifested a letter by Blue Dogs demanding the Bush tax cuts be extended. Under Obama, conservative is in.
Despite what you might have heard in the media, the tax debate in Washington is not about a tax increase on working and middle income families like yourselves – it is about whether the wealthiest Americans will receive not one, but two huge tax cuts. – Not one but two tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans
Oh, and that lip smacking you’re hearing is Steny Hoyer salivating that he’ll be the new minority whip.
Hell, Obama’s even rehabilitated George W. Bush!
Obama’s rightward lurch, which began with health insurance deals and forced mandates, is what has rendered health care an untouchable issue, even if it took up every ounce of energy and alienated Democrats from one another.
We haven’t even gotten to the serial political messaging malpractice of Obama’s White House, which is the worst I’ve ever seen. Biden proved it again last night, though at least he didn’t blame movement progressives. He simply is the latest to insult the people Dems need in November, saying basically that the Democratic base has no other alternative, so Wake up and save our ass.
I honestly don’t know how Ms. Maddow controlled herself from offering a rejoinder the likes of which would have deservedly blown Mr. Biden’s hair askew. Something like, “Mr. Vice President, surely you understand that Democrats in 2008 didn’t elect a majority and Barack Obama in order to compromise with Republicans, something Bush never did with less.”
The Other Guys Are Worse won’t cut it in the current climate of Democratic disaffection, discontent and demoralization. Why the White House thinks it will is part of Obama’s problems, which he’s going to face head on and personally once he starts running for re-election.
That Democrats are actually considering extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans illustrates the purposeless staggering that’s come to represent Democrats under Barack Obama. Independents and others widely support not extending these tax cuts, while instituting healthy middle class tax relief. The problem is that under the current Democratic majority no one will fight for it.
The ones who have needed to “get in gear, man,” is the entire Democratic establishment. You reap what you sow, baby.
Taylor, you said it.
Again, in the interview, Biden’s: “Don’t compare me to the All Mighty. Compare me to the alternative.” Took the cake.
And here I am…I’ve voted Democrat since I could vote except for one Green Party candidate against Blagojevich. The party has dismissed me in more ways than 10. And yes, I’ve not just sat on my hands about it. They think people like me are silly.
ABSOLUTELY, they need to get in gear.
Staying just left of Right is never a strategy; but especially dangerous while the passion of the Tea Party Movement is fully ignited.
Oh, my thank you, Joe. I’ve seen the light. Oh, wait, I do have a few nagging questions …
Like, for instance, why is it that the only time they talk to progressives is when they’re telling us to get our lazy, ungrateful asses moving and help them?
Love it, Cujo359, classic post.
…and you’ve got that right.
So is what passes for Dem leadership at this point defined by terms like hapless and clueless, arrogant and egotistic, wimpy and lost? Or maybe by them doing exactly what they want to be doing, going in the “right” direction by intent. I’d guess it’s some of all of that, but mostly, I think the Dem party “leadership” is as bought and paid for as the Rep party “leadership.” Not that there’s much new or suprising about this, except more people are noticing that the little emperors have no clothes.
Yes, They all sold their souls…and now will pay the piper. But if they have no balls, who needs them. None of the Democrats fight. It’s sad. But what does it say about Democrats?
They don’t need my help…
I’m just a f@#$ing retarded, ungrateful, drug addled, loser who has nowhere else to go….
And to top it off the First lady thinks her job is “hell”! I know this comes via the Daily Mail (from a book just released in France) but something about it rings true to me.
I guess it is just too much to ask that she do a little work for the country on the way to being part of the global elite.
I am disgusted.
Maybe you would do well to look a little more thoroughly at both source and likelihood that Carla Bruni said that. Seriously, this is grabbing from the trash can, I thought you were above this dribble.
Let’s hope the First Lady is so eager to leave her “hell” and join the elite as soon as possible that she persuades her groom to forget about running for the presidency in 2012. That would be a major piece of work she could do for our country.
And even still, President Obama’s soon to be released children’s book, “Of The I Sing: A Letter To My Daughters” couldn’t be released at a worst time.
Do his handlers believe this will help him????
Trying hard to belive Random House when they claim he wrote it before inauguration. What about the editing? ALL done before inauguration? When did he do this? When he was fighting the primary of a lifetime against Hillary Clinton?
He didn’t do the editing – a professional editor did. He probably just told a few stories to a ghost writer — just like his other books and the famous 45 minute long speech he stayed up all night writing all by his own self.
I think this book is another of his “branding” efforts.
My guess is Random House is releasing the book now because they probably paid big bucks for it, and now that he’s clearly crested they want to sell it before he’s too stale and it ends up on the remainder tables.
In other words, I doubt his handlers have a say. It was probably sold a long while ago.
Well VP Biden needs to look at some in president Obama’s administration and see them putting down the base and he wants to base to go and be happy and get energized !! While the base is being called names !! At least the tea party are cleaning house and getting new faces, even though I don’t agree with their views. Some of these democrats deserve to get booted and if president Obama still has the team he has, things will only get worse for him.
I read BC30 post and I cannot believe the president is going to release a book especially with all the crap going on with the economy and our going’s middle class disapearing. This stuff usually waits until their out of office.
I quit voting against people in 2008. If there is no one to vote FOR then I’m not showing up. I’m sick of voting against the GOP at this point in time.
There are probably times when voting against someone will be necessary – that’s how life is sometimes. It’s a bad habit to get into, though, because you’ll inevitably end up with the lesser of two evils. Better to vote for what you want, and if the parties can’t come up with someone good enough, write in or don’t vote in that race.
The movement progressives have no solution to this problem.
I do.
People can begin today but I can see that they will not.
So suffer.
Michelle “The Lazy Elitist” Obama
!!WOW!!
You can “WOW” all you want Sandman and gef49 can scold me for delivering a low blow. This is the first time I can remember being critical the First Lady. I have said repeatedly that I love her style and she appears to be a great Mom. I think her push to get kids to eat healthier and exercise is laudable if somewhat tone deaf in the current economic circumstances.
Nevertheless, a narrative is starting to build about the Obama’s and that comment fits.
Our country is experincing a depression no matter what Washington wants to call it or how it is technically determined by economists. One out of 10 americans is out of work,forclosures are up,poverty is up,whole sectors of the economy are shut down. Yet the Obamas blithly vacation with friends in Spain and make a token appearance to the Gulf before they do ten days on the Cape. I certainly believe that they should have time off but their style has a real “let them eat cake” ring to it.
I have said it before,… think Eleanore Roosevelt traveling the country going into the coal mines and into the urban tentiments to report back to her husband on the suffering.
What is wrong with my wanting her to care about the country and it’s people and show a little more solidarity?
LL — I see what you see as well. I know the argument is always made that the Obama’s behavior is no different than other first families… but in this particular time… an economic crisis… playing it low-key would be the better choice. Especially after having promised so much change.
The Obamas do come across as elitist and it is a big turn-off to many.
Ahh whitepaw~ That is my point exactly. These are exceptional times and I don’t see a believable recognition of that from the Obamas.
I don’t care where they vacation, who they vacation with, or the price tag associated with it. The carnival barkers on the right use that kind of language to misdirect anger towards the undeserving, and this is just a supplemental meme that originated with the “Michelle hates America / not proud of her country” line.
No Sale.
While I would not disagree that the Dems are in trouble, I would disagree with some of your suppositions along the way. First, I’ve never understood the whole “obama is too centrist” idea. To me he clearly is way, way left. It’s just that he goes centrist (or absent) on the stuff he doesn’t care about, or that proves way, way too hard for him to deal with (such as Afghanistan and closing Guantanamo, or not torturing people). With the stuff that he’s really passionate about (reaching out to Muslims, green whatever, being the first this, being the first that, being the first XYZ, well, he’s all over you, baby. He does not know how to govern. Period. He doesn’t have the experience. He has a vision, but he thinks he just has to snap his fingers and he’ll get there. He’s not “cool,” he’s aloof and dispassionate.
And next, I was going to say that you and millions of others (in my own opinon and others, too) misread the results of the election. It wasn’t so much as a pro-liberal mandate as it was a “let’s get rid of bush” mandate. Obama brought in plenty of independents who bought Obama’s “I’m a centrist” guy schtick. He wasn’t, he hasn’t governed that way and now all those people are fleeing in horror.
What are some examples of the president being way left? I can see if you are talking about rhetoric; but in action and follow through?
The guy is a cameleon. At county fairs and BBQ joints he plays the Centrist, the consensus builder. Remember his stump line? “Psst. Hey. I’m Republican, but I like you.” And in mansions in California, at Big Ticket, private events, Conservatives were “Clinging to their guns and religion.”
Once in a while, he plays Reagan, unconvincingly, and throws out lofty ideas so that Centrist plateau can be settled upon.
Way left we’d have a guy who rolled back DOMA through executive order, agreed with marriage equality, actually see to the shutting down of Gitmo in lieu of symbolic gestures, remove ALL troops from Iraq, investigate the Bush Admin, nominate more radical left to the cabinet instead of old the Chicago guard, get a plan on true immigration reform instead of ramping up border security, abolish the electoral college and urge states to get rid of the unfair caucus system, take a firm look at wire tapping, show more support for Palestinians, make greater, more meaningful strides at revamping schools and education rather than testing and firing, and push states to support legalizing (and taxing) marijuana.
Really BC30~ Nothing left about Obama. I don’t understand why Beth sees him that way.
Yes, showing support for Palestinians….a great idea…which Palestinians do you mean? The ones in Gaza or the ones on the West Bank? The ones who make women wear burkas? The ones who execute gays? Or the majority who support Hamas? But Obama does show support for Palestinians….He is very sympathetic to Islam. I hardly think this has helped our foreign policy. And I certainly don’t think the majority of Americans view it as a selling point. But Obama is absolutely favored by Muslims in this country. Maybe they will be inspired to vote for him. In fact, he has more interest in the problems of Palestinians than he does for working Americans.
Nowhere did I say that supporting Palestinians is a great idea. I was saying that if Obama were WAY LEFT as Beth said, he would see them as WAY LEFT liberal people I know do: As victims.
I’m not going to pick apart my views here; but I am no way, shape or form way left personally. I was giving examples of super liberal views.
I agree. He was a nobody with few accomplishments, not even remotely up to the job and the stupid Dems marketed him and dumped the qualified one….and now their new symbol is an O with a D in the middle. This is their idea of branding. Amateurish isn’t even the word for this. Taylor has been right on point lately. The Dems need their own tea party….but then, it seems, Dems are wimps…and they generally elect wimps….and when winners come along, like Hillary and Bill, they kick them in the face. What can one say?
The sad thing is the Democrats could have passed a real tax break for the middle class, say Robert Reich’s proposal for an elimination of payroll taxes on the first 20k in income paid for by raising the cap after 250k eons ago and then they could have just let all these tax cuts for the wealthy expire. I really don’t support any extension of the Bush tax cuts. There are much better way to lower taxes for the middle class. Bare in mind 80% of Americans pay more in payroll taxes than they do in income taxes. That link you post to gets it right. The real debate is one tax cut for the wealthy or two, but then wants to extend the one that pertains to the middle class anyway. Well, here is where we are, but that was another huge missed opportunity from the Democrats.
Great post!
Jeffrey Sachs would call Robert Reich a naive Keynesianism.
Link to such an argument from Sachs please? I am not being critical just interested.
http://capitalism.columbia.edu/files/ccs/SACHS%20TimetoPlanforPostKeynesianEra%20Jun%207%202010.pdf
Thank you!
Just so you know,the link did not work for me but I will goggle it.
Lake Lady, if you have the time, I would like know what you think of this video.
http://fora.tv/2010/03/03/Richard_Wolff_Capitalism_Hits_the_Fan